And some of their readers are highly upset!
Fashion media personality Najwa Moses told CLUTCH, “How could such a prestigious title who is deeply rooted in its target audience let someone who is not even apart of the African Diaspora detonate our image?” She added, “How can a White woman dictate and decide what style and beauty is for the Black woman?”
However some readers feel as though Essence Magazine missed the mark on representing today’s black women a long time ago.
According to Charing Ball of the Atlanta Post, she think Essence don’t even needs a black perspective anymore:
“From the few issues that I had skimmed through during my monthly visits to the hair salon, I can tell you that I don’t think I am missing much. Unlike its history of uplifting and honoring the holistic experiences of the black woman, I began to find much of the magazine trite and full of regressive articles much inline with the Cosmo woman of the 18th Century (think Celia advising Harpo on how to handle his Sophia problem). And with the exception of a few featured articles, great covers editorials, and the recipes in the back, I find Essence to hold little relevance to this 21st Century woman of color.”
What’s your perspective on this issue?
Conversations Of A Sistah 
As a black woman I say big friggin’ deal! She’s just the fashion editor, and she has the experience and qualifications needed (I would hope her ethnicity wouldn’t factor into that), so what’s the problem? It’s not like she’s the hair editor…that would be awkward. I don’t think having one non-black editor on the staff will diminish the magazine’s mission– and I mostly agree with Charing Ball’s assessment of the magazine’s direction lately.
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I have no problem with this. As long as it’s still a magazine that represents AA beauty, I have no problem with who they hire in the fashion department.
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Personally I think it is a bold move on their part. It opens up a dialogue, and gets their name out there being discussed. Boring!
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This is a bit ridiculous. As a black female, I am not offended or saddened by the hiring of a white fashion director. Last time I checked, black females do not shop from different stores than white females, and except for hair products and makeup, there isn’t that many ways she can go wrong.
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And…..It amazes me how so many people are willing to assert that this woman was the best person for the job, as if that there was no black woman who were also qualified.
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On the other hand, I can see why some folks would be upset on this score – the fact that white women’s magazines routinely close ranks against black women, and so the argument goes that Essence should not have opened ranks because of this. After all, that’s why it was created in the first place – because other magazines excluded black women.
I’m personally not an Essence fan – or a fan of women’s magazines in general. Never have been. Oh well.
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What is wrong with evolving! I asked myself would Vogue, Elle and others take such
a bold step. I don’t know and I also don’t think it should matter.
Could we someday just get beyond color and cultural differences?
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@Attorney, Not until institutional racism is eliminated. I feel sorry for people like you, you don’t even realize when you are oppress.
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You got that right. That institutional racism is no joke. Its brutal.
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I guess Essence wouldn’t be an EOE if they had an all black staff. I subscribe to Essence and look forward to my Monthly subscription. I say give o-girl a chance. However if she is not fit and or she’s not portraying us in the proper light. Her @$$ needs the boot!!!!
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Maybe she was the best person for the job?
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“How can a White woman dictate and decide what style and beauty is for the Black woman?”
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white women cannot make decisions about us!!! Bad enough they want and have some of our really GOOD black men.
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Essence expects their customers to believe that this white woman was the best and most qualified for the job over any of the Black candidates. It is disgusting that Essence magazine is more than eager to promote such racist thinking against their own customers.
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Black people need to start being vocal and stop being afraid to say whats on their minds. Stop being afraid of white people.
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I’m sure she was qualified.
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I’m sure she was qualified.
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What makes you think this woman is more qualified or experienced?
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Maybe you can explain how a white woman could have more experience being black.
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This is clearly racism
SHAME on you Essence!!!
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Until white people change, black people will have to have their own separate entities.
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I will never buy another Essence magazine.
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Hey, Good morning everybody! Did ya’ll see the many issues of s@me-sex couples featured in Essence Magazine, that’s what got me 2 now longer be interested in their magazine. So I don’t buy it anymore. so who cares who they hire, this will be the nail in their coffin.
Good day!
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I know and it is disturbing. White people have really taken over Essence.
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I know and it is disturbing. White people have really taken over Essence.
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Now watch, you will no longer see dark skin beautiful sistahs. you’ll start seeing these LS heifers. watch!!!!
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what’s the big deal people?
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What do you mean what is the big deal? Essence and Ebony have been the only magazines for black people period. Many of us have grown up as children with these magazines in our household. But white people have so many magazines to choose from they dont think its a big deal. Whites don’t hire people of color to head anything in their magazines. Why should we.
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What do you mean what is the big deal? Essence and Ebony have been the only magazines for black people period. Many of us have grown up as children with these magazines in our household. But white people have so many magazines to choose from they dont think its a big deal. Whites don’t hire people of color to head anything in their magazines. Why should we.
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AMEN!!!!
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Actually most of their readership did pay attention…they were not blind. Most black women had stopped reading Essence anyway. The quality of the content changed after it was sold and this is just another thing the new owner have no clue they should not do. My wife and her friends have all canceled their subscriptions long ago…but the magazines keep coming.
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Ty, I agree. It has changed.
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“I don’t doubt Ms. Placas is talented…..”
Yes that’s her name.
Have they (Essence) forgotten there are more people of color unemployed and have the most difficulty getting up the corporate ladder? This is not to disrespect Ms. Placas, But…I will doubt she’s talented, but I’m an artist/designer who happens to be a woman of color and I know many many talented people of color in the Fashion, Music, Art, Entertainment industry who are looking for work, but haven’t been given a chance.
Essence should have searched until the found a qualified black candidate. IMO
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If she is the most qualified and available candidate for the position at that time, I don’t care if her skin was blue – the magazine should always do the right thing and hire the best talent available at the time – end of story
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this is ridiculous it doesn’t matter who is or what the race of the lady is. The question is can she do the job. If she can do the job then there shouldn’t be a problem.
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The woman worked for Oprah, who is black. So what’s the difference between Essence which is black and Oprah which is black. We need to get over it.
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If Essence’s readers are so against this, maybe they should give up their Gucci’s, Coach’s, and LV’s.
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That’s why she got the job, her Oprah connection.
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Oprah’s target audience is not black women. I knew once Essence was sold, these types of changes would come to fruition. That is not to say that a white women could not possibly be in tune with black fashion, style or culture. Maybe Ms. Placas grew up in North Philadelphia, the Southside of Chicago or Baldwin Hill CA. I don’t know.
I believe complaints would primarily be based, at least in part, in the fact that there are so few jobs in the fashion and beauty media business for AA women. AA women, I’m sure feel slighted because Essence has a long and rich history of being focused on the health and beauty needs of black women. It’s akin to making a sweet potato pie, chitterlings or collard greens; it’s a black women’s thing. Black women may make excellent pasta dishes but most would probably concede that Italian women know how to do it better.
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Wow! We should totally boycott this magazine for being insensitive and racist. How dare they think a white women could have any fashion sense.
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Wow! We should totally boycott this magazine for being insensitive and racist. How dare they think a white women could have any fashion sense.
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are u bieng sarcastic? I can’t tell.
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It has nothing to do with fashion sense. The thing about Essence is that you would see models with bald heads, corn rows, and more Afrocentric hairstyles or skin complexions that are NEVER ever represented in white media… Will a white woman be willing to honor that and not succomd to mainstream ideals of beauty??
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The last time i checked, BET was owned by the white man. This is nothing new. Ol whitey is putting their stank on everything. (for all you white people out there, stank meaning putting their take on something).
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LOL @Ashanti., I laughed while trying to decide if I was offended. Turns out, I’m not.
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I’m glad. my intention wasn’t to offend anyone.
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If she’s the best person for the job then she’s the best person for the job.
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If she’s the best person for the job then she’s the best person for the job.
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I don’t THINK/BELIEVE they looked for the best person for the job, I think because of her OPRAH WINFREY connection, she GOT THE JOB!!! Essence did OPrah a favor.
So please!!!
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Damn!!!!
some of ya’ll serious with this conversation. this early in the morning.
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Black people are the ONLY people who are forced to swallow that “SHE WAS THE BEST QUALIFIED” BS. White people never had too.
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I’m not getting it? What’s the big freakin deal? I mean really?
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@Angel-hair, I see you didn’t read the post. This has nothing to do with racism – but balance in an industry mostly devoid of color. How many black fashion directors are employed by Elle, Glamour, Vogue, Cosmopolitan, etc. If you don’t get it – too bad…
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Evidently racism doesn’t exist until a white person’s capability is called into question.
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Cancelling MY SUBSCRIPTION! I am so done with all the Black sell outs WTH is wrong with them?
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This isn’t shocking. BET is not even black owned any more.
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