The End of Ebony Magazine

 Ebony Magazine Cover from Spring 2019

Sad news for Black media. Johnson Company magazine, Ebony, is on life support. The once-iconic Black news and celebrity magazine, the Time magazine of Black America, abruptly fired all of its staff and writers with close to no notice.

I used to read both Ebony and Jet magazine and was looking forward to the next issue.  For decades, Ebony and Jet has been one of several Black-owned publications that gives us news that are not reported in mainstream media.  The writers and editors bring objective news information pertaining to Black America as well as entertainment and fashion.  It was that magazine that cover fashion and started Fashion Fair fashion events to various cities around the nation because Black women weren't allow to model fashion due to Jim Crow and general American racism.  Those shows were very popular among Black women and Black organizations.  The company also started Fashion Fair cosmetics that are still sold in department stores around the country. 

It's so sad to see the magazine I grew up as a child and teenager gone forever.  I hope someone buy the archives so we can read about historic milestones of Black America without distortions and lies so often offered in mainstream media.

With so few news outlets catering to Black America, this is the biggest blow to our collective history as well as getting accurate information without bias and distortion that often comes from mainstream media outlets. 

Rest in peace, Ebony and Jet!
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Here's the scoop from The Atlanta Voice:

Ebony and Jet magazines fire remainder of staff, may close

Legacy publications beset by financial issues by Miana Massey, Atlanta Voice Ebony magazine — along with its sister publication Jet — has potentially closed its doors for good. Former employees of the company took to Twitter last week using the hashtag #EbonyOwes to air out their frustrations with the company, as it has fired all of its employees with little to no notice. According to USA Today, members of Ebony magazine’s digital team say they’ve been fired and haven’t received their final paychecks in the latest controversy to hit the struggling publication that has chronicled black life in America for decades. Michael Gibson, co-chairman and founder of Austin, Texas-based Clear View Group, which owns Ebony, declined to comment to USA Today on the digital team’s dismissal, citing a “policy of not commenting on any employment practices or issues.” The Chicago Tribune previously reported how Ebony was being pressed by the National Writers Union to pay more than $200,000 it alleged the magazine owed to freelance writers who contributed stories back in 2017. The drama sparked the hashtag #EbonyOwes on Twitter. According to a report on Ebony.com, the magazine’s previous owner, Johnson Publishing Co., filed for bankruptcy liquidation in April, which Ebony said would not affect its operations. “EBONY Media Operations, LLC brands, which include EBONY magazine, EBONY.com, digital magazine JET and jetmag.com and its related businesses, have viably operated independently of Johnson Publishing Company dba/ Fashion Fair Cosmetics (JPC) since Black-owned Ebony Media Operations, LLC (EMO) purchased the media assets of JPC in 2016. Black-owned investment firm CVG Group LLC assisted in the formation of EMO,” a statement read. “EMO is unaffected by the Chapter 7 bankruptcy announcement regarding the dissolution of JPC. EMO is not able to comment further and is not familiar with the facts or events of the JPC business.” The first issue of the iconic magazine hit stands 74 years ago and took the industry by storm.  Founded by John H. Johnson in November 1945, the black-owned publication has striven always to address African-American issues, personalities and interests in a positive and self-affirming manner. Editions of Ebony featured some of the biggest stars in Black America, including issues covered by Diana Ross, Sidney Poitier, as well as President and first lady Barack and Michelle Obama.