The Man from Essence and the challenges of building a black magazine

Essence is a popular magazine for African American women.  If you are a black woman, at some point during your life you have heard about, seen, or even read at least one of the issues from the magazine. 

I remember whenever I went to get my hair done in Atlanta, there was always a copy of the magazine on the tables.  My mom had a collection of old Essence and Ebony magazines.  I especially loved these magazines because I could see all the beautiful and hard working black men and women across America.  Every cover portrayed a strong black female (and sometimes a black male) and it encouraged me to believe that I  could also grow up to be a success.  There's no value that can be placed on the importance of showing positive role models to the black community.

It's amazing to think about how long the magazine has been around.  Right after the Civil Right's movement, in 1969 the magazine started when a few business people of color decided to ban together.  As Capital Public Radio said,

"Today, it's a reading staple in many African-American households, doctors' offices, hair salons and other places black women gather. While Essence has undergone several changes over the years ... it is still a place where black women can turn to see diverse images of themselves, read about their most pressing concerns and see the latest trends in fashion and beauty."

And I hope Essence will continue to provide the black community and world with images of strong black leaders and stars for many more years to come.

Check out the new book:
The Man from Essence: Creating a Magazine for Black Women

Source: http://www.capradio.org/news/npr/story?storyid=320997345

List of ten books by African authors

The beautiful things that heaven bears by Dinaw Mengestu






 Tears of the Gireaffe by Alexander McCall Smith



Arrow of God by Chinua Achebe




Girls at War by Chinua Achebe




Half of a yellow sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie










Americanhah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie





So long a letter by Matiama Ba







The Stranger Albert Camus






The Beautyful ones are not yet born by Ayi Kweiarmah









Ghana must go by Taiye Selasi


Source: http://www.jaguda.com/2014/06/09/top-10-books-read-summer-explore-african-authors/
#Africa, #books

Africana History Fact: Peter Abrahams (novelist)

Peter Abrahams
(March 19, 1919, Vrededorp, South Africa), expatriate South African Novelist

His father was an Ethiopian and his mother was French and African, so Abrahams was considered "Coloured" in South Africa.  He grew up outside of Johannesburg and began working at the age of nine.  He didn't enroll in school until he heard about Shakespeare's Othello which sparked his interest in literature. 

He started out publishing his poems in local newspapers.  Later, he joined the South African Communist Party and tried to start a school for poor Africans.  After the school's failure, he moved from South Africa to England.  He wrote for the London Observer and the New York Herald and took an assignment in Jamaica.

He is known for the books:

Song of the City
Mine Boy
Wild Conquest
A Night of Their Own
This Island Now
Jamaica: An Island Mosaic
Return to Goli
Tell Freedom

From Africana: Encyclopedia of the African and African American Experience.