ESSENCE, the magazine where “Black Women Come First” *snickers* decided to put what some are calling and old pic of Reggie Bush on the cover of the “Black Men, Love & Relationship” issue. Now Mr. Bush currently dates a woman who is not African American. Although some have gone to great pains to point out she is Armenian, I would ask them to pull out a map of say.. EUROPE and figure out just where Armenia is. #Iblametheschools.
In any regard, Mr. Bush is not the issue. Its the brain trust that’s hellbent on driving ESSENCE magazine into an abyss. This cover was no accident. No matter how much ESSENCE’s Sex Editrix protest-eth otherwise.
I don’t believe for one moment that ESSENCE’s staff is surprised at the reaction. One can only assume that ESSENCE did this intentionally to get a rise out of Black women to place a man on the cover of their LOVE & RELATIONSHIP who isn’t in a relationship with a Black woman. After all, its supposed to be a magazine where BLACK WOMEN come FIRST.*snickers*
I’ve got $50 that Angel Burt Murray is going to be writing one of her essays whining and complaining about the reaction, despite the fact that they did this on purpose. You can’t tell me there wasn’t at least a half dozen Black women that could not have alerted ESSENCE’s editorial staff what the reaction in many quarters would be to selecting Kim Kardashian’s boyfriend.
As you know, I officially gave up on Essence six months ago when they took the morally bankrupt position that Black women should seek out men at strip clubs. This was from a magazine that pushed “Take Back the Music.” afterall. I am working on a BIG BIG BIG project that requires combing through old archived issues of ESSENCE ( we’re talking microfiche y’all) and to read the old issues will make you weep at the magazine’s decline.
Well anywhoo, this is clearly a cry for attention from ESSENCE.. Because while ESSENCE readers might look beyond things like older men having sex with underage girls, infidelity, or being advised to go compete with STRIPPERS for a Black man’s attention and any host of other foolishness ESSENCE has thrown at us, apparently if you want to have a REVOLT, bring up dating a non-Black woman on an issue that supposed to be about LOVE & RELATIONSIHPS with BLACK WOMEN.
Here is a sampling of the disgruntled readership from the ESSENCE blog:
Why would the magazine “Where black women (supposedly) come first” choose to put a black man on its cover who doesn’t put Black women first or anywhere for that matter on his list? As a long time subscriber I am confused. I know there are many beautiful black men out there who are dating, engaged, or married to beautiful black women. The selection of Reggie Bush in no way uplifts or supports Black women. And it’s becoming clear that Essence is no longer concerned with doing that either.
Tiffany saidNot impressed with this one AT ALL. It’s not even about the race thing, his girlfriend is famous for a sex tape!! I’m not interested in what he looks for in a potential mate or anything else he has to say. So glad I stopped subscribing years ago..
Anonymous
To each is own but I won’t be buying this. Yeah he looks good but he’s investing his money in someone who’s not a sister…further tearing down the black community…
Did Essence pick him just to get a rise out of us?
Mojo
Reggie Bush has a nice body but I think it’s backwards to choose him to cover the first issue on Black men, love, and relationships.
I don’t think it would’ve killed Essence to find a Black man (hello Lance Gross) who is with a Black woman and who has a killer body to be on the cover. Yes Reggie is entitled to be with whatever race of woman he chooses, but why not highlight a man who chooses to be with a Black woman for a Black woman’s magazine?!
Team Lance
I agree w/Shawn I’ve been a faithful subscriber since the early nineties, and I remember when the magazine actually had *useful*, higher-level content–now each issue is all sex, sex, sex (ladies, look at your previous issues & count the ones that DON’T have the word ’sex’ on the cover–amazing!!) We are smarter and far better than this, Essence, and you’d better make some changes QUICK before your readers do (to another magazine!!)
AnonymousThis cover makes me want to revoke my subscription. Essence, if I had to give you guys a grade based on the cover, I would give you a D+. You guys are way to predictable, and this Reggie Bush nonsense didn’t make things better. I’m forced to see it next month. Thanks Essence for reminding Black women that men like Reggie Bush truly don’t want us. :O)
KMR
next time essence, just put Robin Thicke on the cover. At least I know he loves black women
Lemonade 42
Read more at the ESSENCE blog.
Gurl please their male overseers wouldn’t let them put Robin Thicke on the cover. Stop playing. No Robin Thicke on the cover would be a provocative act on their part, but they don’t do provocative, only sensationalism..
“ESSENCE MAGAZINE: Where Black women come FIRST… unless a Black man is in front of them and then they come SECOND!”
If you were ever thinking of launching a new platform for African American women, let me know. I have plenty of ideas 
. It is time that we deliver Black women from this grievous situation. Yes, astroturfing Time Warner cubicle warriors, I’m coming for y’all. One cubicle at a time! Happy New Year!
Previous Posts on THE DEMISE OF ESSENCE:
When Time Inc. Employees ATTACK with “Astroturfing” !!! What Are they Afraid of?
Bedroom Bioterrorism :Why You Should Burn the June 2009 Issue of ESSENCE Part II
ESSENCE Writer Responds-Strip Club Dating is the Best Black Women Can Hope For
Why You Should BURN the June 2009 Issue of ESSENCE Magzine Part 1
98 comments ↓
Sister, to say Messence mag is on the decline is a serious understatement; you are much too kind.
Believe it or not, I still have my very first issue of Essence magazine, May 1970! That’s 40 years of reading and subscribing; I used to be so thrilled to get each issue. Then I saw how long it took for them to put a very dark skinned sister on the cover, i.e., super-model Alek Wek; yep, she was on the cover of Elle magazine BEFORE she was on the cover of Essence.
My subscription ended 18 months ago; good riddance, huh? OH MY HOW FAR WE SLAVES HAVE COME!
Gina, kudos on another well-written post.
If there is anything positive to come out of this, I hope it will be the beginning of a shift in Black women’s thinking on a mass scale pertaining to media, people and other institutions that claim to be for ‘us’ and put our needs ‘first’ yet their actions are stating otherwise.
I have to say I don’t do messence. If Essance wanted to be provocative they should start putting white men on a cover who MARRY black women. i.e. Robin Thicke, Robert Deniro, David Bowie. But they’ll put wife beaters like Steve Harvey or Babby Daddies like P. Diddy or black men who don’t date or marry black women like Terrance Howard. The content of essence is horrible. I picked up a recent copy and it’s too mysogynistic. Everything evolves around finding a black man, lowering your standards, pleasing a black man, and articles or interviews written by black men who tell black women what they’re not doing and what they should be doing. Essence has gotten away from self love and really setting standards for yourself and our men. Essence tells black women that they’re not good enough unless they have a black man by their side. Oh, and if that means you have to go to strip clubs then so be it.
This is horrible. Essence do better!
Hi Gina *smiling and waving excitedly*.It’s been a while since i posted here *computer virus* I missed ya’ll.I can’t wait for this@ “I am working on a BIG BIG BIG project that requires combing through old archived issues of ESSENCE ( we’re talking microfiche y’all) and to read the old issues will make you weep at the magazine’s decline.”I’ve known since i were a kid something was wrong with these mags that alledgedly cater to black women.
They all seemed hell bent on making us believe that there is always something irreparably wrong with all of us.Shame on ‘em!
In regards to Reggie -i take porn stars home to meet my mama-Bush being on Essence all i have to say is that this was typical of essence.They hate us just as much as dbrbm.They think just like them.Also i’d like to add that i’m not understanding how people can think that we should not be offended by the issue.They,messence, are not catering to their core audience.I can see if they were marketing to armenian and other non black women but they are marketing to us.This was just ridiculous.So were most of the comments to the site you directed to.Just not good business sense on the part of messence.I do think they are just really used to putting down and abusing black women and having black women still buy their garbage anyway.They probably didn’t expect outrage because they’ve been doing this for years and getting away with it.I hope all they do fails.Yep!,imma hater *rolling my eyes*
While I consider the Kardashians to be a culturally white family, I wouldn’t really say Armenia is straight up in Europe. It borders Iran, is *east* of Turkey, and far to the northeast of Israel. It’s what used to be called Asia Minor, and what most would consider today as West Asia. (And for real, for real, “Europe” as its own continent is some bullshit – it’s really all just part of Eurasia, but perception can be reality, so…)
It is frustrating that self-love & self-respect are acts of rebellion.
In addition, I happen to know a sista who grew up with Reggie in San Diego and she confirmed that while growing up, he ONLY DATED white women. This includes his time at USC.
Kim Kardashian is a white woman (of Armenian descent) but white none the less.
Please don’t turn this into a who hates/loves BW issue. A black couple belongs on a black love issue period. A IR couple where the woman is black is not acceptable either.
The main point is that black media for the most part plays black people for fools. Essence is now in the same category as BET and hip hop radio now, who would have thought that years ago?
blkchik- I agree 100%. The cover should have featured a black couple. Contrary to what many believe, there are countless loving black couples they could have chosen from. I also agree it would have been inappropriate to have featured a bw/wm couple on the cover. The Black Love issue should be about black love.
Essence is supposed to support and lift up those that support black women….whoever that is. Reggie Bush can date whoever he wants as I can do the same, but why would he be an example of a man that black women should love since he doesn’t want anything to do with black women in a romantic way. That seems very stupid…why invite yourself to be devalued. But that seems to be Essence’s job these days. I mean they had Steve Harvey on the cover with that home wreker….so what does that tell you?
“A black couple belongs on a black love issue period. A IR couple where the woman is black is not acceptable either.”
I agree.
I have been reading some of the responses by BW on the issue, and I found that many were accusing the others opposed to Reggie Bush being on the cover of the magazine as being ‘insecure’, ‘jealous’ and needing to ‘get over it’.
I found it interesting that some BW were very swift (and harsh) when it came to invalidating other BW’s concerns about this matter.
Just thinking out loud here, but I wonder if any of these women complained about BM/boys not seeing themselves represented (example: the controversial Disney movie ‘The Princess and The Frog’).
And if so, why the shift in attitude?
I was thinking about your Robin Thicke comment and what would be more controversial. A BM in a relationship with a WW on the cover of a ‘Black love’ issue (lol) or a man who is married to a BW and clearly adores her but just happens to be White?
Why do I have a feeling it would be the latter? lol
You know, even as I think about it, approaching Dr. MLK Jr.’s birthday, back in the day, he even made a comment, something to the effect, “we must love ourselves . . . and our Negro features.” In other words, as much as Dr. MLK Jr. has been lied about, misquoted, taken out of context, etc., his statement about love for self did not in any way negate other people, certainly not White people.
Which is just all to say, Messence had a lot of you-know-what nerve with this Reggie Bush stuff!
I was wondering when you’d get around to writing about this, having read some of the debate on other blogs.
The cover is a slap in the face, to say the least. However, I am more disappointed that black women are lashing out at other black women for their reaction. It does not make one more “enlightened”, “intellectual” or “evolved” to have no opinion of the choices a black man makes, nor does it make one “jealous”, “bitter” or “insecure” to have opinions.
I believe that black women have the responsibility to hold black men accountable. If you choose to love a woman who is not black, that is your choice, however we, as black women, do not owe you our support. If anything, you should seek the support of the women you choose to love. But I don’t think we’ll see Reggie on the cover of an Armenian magazine, or even Cosmo.
But I digress.
I’m more disappointed that whenever a black woman speaks up about the lack of reciprocity received from certain black men we are insulted for not going along with the okey doke. Really? Is that what it has come to?
The stance on this blog is a bit stronger than my own personal opinion on some matters. However, what I respect, and love, about WAOD is that this is a place that I know is ALWAYS about black women FIRST.
And sadly, it’s one of the very, very few.
I really hope that Black women will make it clear to Time, Inc. how they feel about this cover and Essence in general by not buying this issue.
Btw, I stopped buying Essence when it was sold to Time, Inc. I knew that was the end of the Essence I used to love.
ok, folks want to say Kim is “a woman of color.” Ok, fine, I know where Armenia is on the map. On the wall of my cubicle.
AND I ALSO KNOW WHERE AFRICA IS, AND SHE AIN’T THERE!
opps, my bad, “PAGING MARCIA GILLESPIE! PAGING MARCIA GILLESPIE!”
This is sad and ridiculous.
Next it will be Lamar Odom and Khloe on the cover and a few quotes from Lamar’s children mother about their relationship…just like they tried to make Kim Porter come off bitter when they asked her questions about Diddy and J-lo.
Messence stand for messy????
@RevMamaAfrica: “AND I ALSO KNOW WHERE AFRICA IS, AND SHE AIN’T THERE!”
ROFL… Thanks for my first big laugh of the day!
Is it just me, or should I be comfortable with Essence having an article titled: “LIVE YOUR FANTASY – 10 OF THE SEXIEST MEN YOU’VE EVER SEEN” as the MAIN feature in the “Black Men, Love, & Relationships” issue?
I see why y’all call it is “Messence”…
Plus, they stopped delivering my issues on time years ago – I skim when I get my hair done.
I used to also subscibe to Essence and being in the UK it was one of the few Black magazines that I enjoyed but that was way back in the day.I would though say that the Essence of old had more substance and took a stand on serious issues pertaining to the lives of Black women, raising children with cultural pride, domestic violence and what Black women in other countries went through.The current editor Ms Burt Murray is key to why Essence is so bad, repetitive and almost empty now.She is a superficial person who wants to turn Essence into a Black Glamour with nothing of substance.I stopped reading after the Michelle Obama cover with her mother and they had clearly lightened them both to not look so dark.I to hated the P-diddy/Kim cover and was shocked that Ms Burt Murray tried to justify that decision without even an apology.Sadly Black skin does not mean we value and respect each other.I am sure she knew what she was doing to put Reggie on the cover I think this is his second.The only issue I have is that even if you choose to put a Black man with a white partner on the cover at least make sure it is one who at least dates all types of women, Reggie is well known for not liking or respecting Black women and that truly is wrong, anyway leave the issue where it belongs on the newstand-do not purchase it.
I’m starting to believe Essence staff are a bunch of self-hating black women, that gets a kick out of subliminally attacking and misleading other black women.
I was on another black forum when this came up, and of course the “enlightened” BW came on there yelling and screaming about how BW are bitter and need to stop “hating on Kim” and get over it. They were even more vocal in their comments than many of the BM.
Once again many BW are more than happy to serve as “guard dogs” for DBRBM. They think that it makes them look “secure”, but I know that this is nothing more than a pathetic attempt to prove their loyalty. This is one of many ways that BW defeminize themselves. It is not our job to avenge a man’s honor, he is fully capable of defending himself. I am sure many of these men just sit back and laugh at how easily manipulated we are.
Going back to the cover, I was disturbed for many reasons. First, this is a “black love” edition. But second, the title is “live your fantasy”. Why are we encouraging BW to “fantasize” about men who do not want us?
Essence clearly got what they wanted, controversy and attention. Many will buy it to see what it is about. Which of course will line their pockets and encourage them to make articles that are more and more offensive.
@ cool beans were black men outraged when the movie “Hancock” about the first?black superhero featured a ww as his wife.I heard no black men speak up or out about that.So why should we bw even care? @”Just thinking out loud here, but I wonder if any of these women complained about BM/boys not seeing themselves represented (example: the controversial Disney movie ‘The Princess and The Frog’). “
Essence is staffed by a bunch of black man-worshipping old guard black women. Why else would they continuously put down black women to make black men look/feel better.
Essence = toilet paper.
As a freelance writer I have turned down jobs from them in THIS economy. Yes, I hate them and everything they stand for so much that I will not accept a penny from them.
“It is not our job to avenge a man’s honor, he is fully capable of defending himself. I am sure many of these men just sit back and laugh at how easily manipulated we are. ”
Yes. Exactly.
On another note I really hope the outraged women on the Essence forum don’t just complain, but actually STOP buying the magazine or visiting its website. Essence knew exactly what it was doing – they knew this was the response they would get, and this was precisely the sensationalism they were going for.
The best thing the women on the forum who are upset can do is to stop supporting the magazine financially.
*STANDING UP GIVING A BIG ROUND OF APPLAUSE* FOR AMELIA.So glad you see through these “confident” black women.All you have to do to get most african american women to deny the truth that staring them right in the face is to accuse them of being jealous angry or bitter.It is not our faults that Reggie like T.O and numerous other black males have a hatred and predjudice against black women.Stating that doesn’t make me bitter jealous or angry.It’s just the truth.I don’t care about the opinions of dbrbm but I am NEVER going to allow these dumb women to convince me that I have to support bm that don’t like me for racially predjudiced reasons.I will NOT allow these dumb women to silence me when I ,dbrbm,and the non black women they are with all know just how hateful dbrbm are towards bw.I won’t be tricked into loyalty with them.I will not be silenced for speaking the truth either.A spade is a spade.I calls it like i sees it.
Sorry at my misspelling *prejudice*:I am NEVER going to allow these dumb women to convince me that I have to support bm that don’t like me for racially predjudiced reasons.
Regarding a Robin Thicke Essence cover: Robin Thicke doesn’t love black women any more than Heidi Klum loves black men. They love individuals who happen to be black. I think it is a mistake to see it as anything more than that.
@Anon
Naw – Robin Thicke loves black women. Or likes them a lot I should say. lol.
He’s been dating his wife off and on since high school – and in his videos (even his early ones pre. his beak out album) his love interests were always black.
Back then his music wasn’t even really R&B but pop and the chicks were still black.
I think he’s like Matthew or Dinero who prefer their women black for whatever reason.
I stayed out of the fray on A Belle in Brooklyn, but I will say that accusations of “low self esteem” for any woman who has a problem with a black man who isn’t or doesn’t date black women on the cover of a “black love issue,” is ridiculous.
The HUGE disconnect that seems to be happening within the black community as well as at Essence is astounding.
But like Gem said – perhaps it was no accident after all.
Is Robin Thicke the new Justin Timberlake . . . or is it just me? Didn’t we revoke J.T.’s BC pass back in 2002? Or was it 2004?
@jj whaaaaaaaaa? Oh lawd. That sound you hear is the breaking of the 7th Seal. JJ might have agreed with me on something.*rushes into her undisclosed location*
Surely the end is nigh!!!
@gem2001
LMAO.
The law averages let’s us know that it’s bound to happen sometime.
@RevMamaAfrika
No he’s not. As Thicke pointed out to someone who tried to compare him to Timberlake: The difference between him and Justin is that he’s married to a black woman.
lol
The last time I purchased an Essence was when the Obama’s were on the cover in 2008 or early 2009. And before then I stopped reading it b/c I found it repetitive. Same people on the cover. Same stories. The last series I read that had any impact on me was the War on Our Girls series that ran earlier this decade. I think the editors knew what they were doing when the put Reggie on the cover. If Reggie is truly one of those men who need to justify liking non-black women by denigrating black women (they’re too loud, have to many expectations, etc) he should not be on the cover of an issue about black love. There are so many men they could have chosen.
Stopped reading Essence after it was purchased by Viacom.
hummm-mm, actually, I kinda like Robin Thicke; once his voice matures and he keeps that swagger of his going . . . oh my!
but I would run over your mama and mine for a Jimmy Smits, Carlos Santana (yeah I know about him an Deborah), Esai Morales . . . . etc. . . . . and I STILL think Ricky Martin is fine!
@RevMamaAfrika
but I would run over your mama and mine for a Jimmy Smits, Carlos Santana (yeah I know about him an Deborah), Esai Morales . . . . etc.
LMAO!
HI-Larious!
seriously @RevMamaAfrika I can soooo relate..
Thanks Gina for informing me about Messence and BET!
Dailyfare~I stopped watching BET after it was purchased by Viacom. This is no coincidence and too many dumbass women are falling for it.
thanks for informing me about Messence and BET and let’s not forget about Steve Harvey!
@RevMamaAfrika stole the words out of my mouth…
@Revmama-too funny!!!
Y’all got me ROFL in here!! MamaAfrika, don’t forget to add Ben Bratt to your latin mix!!
Question: Does anyone think that the magazine industry will snap back after this recession is over? Most magazines are kept going by ad sales (see Oprah mag for ads on over HALF the mag) and mags are folding everyday..
But….are we now fully in the internet/technology age, or is a glossy still viable? I would love to see a magazine for progressive bw, even start one, but do you all think that is possible?
Thanks! oh, and I would like to see Bobby DeNiro and wife on a cover!!
I vote for Adam Rodriguez…..
Seriously, I wonder who’s decision it was to take a gamble on using a recycled photo of Reggie and controversy increasing sales. I promise you for each extra issue the publisher sells, they will lose a subscriber. This was the last straw for me: hook up with dudes you meet at the strip club, be a professional baby mama, cheat on your wife and leave her without a pot to piss in, and, now, screw a talentless celebrity who can’t even fake an orgasm on a “private sex tape, that was stolen” and you too can be in the pages or cover of Essence.
I knew it would never the same when Susan Taylor left.
I personally don’t care who Reggie Bush dates, but I’m not surprised at the reaction received from Essence readers. Its easy to write this off as black women having low self esteem (as Belle does), but people need to put this in context. Let’s see:
- black women are systematically devalued in mainstream media and black media for GENERATIONS;
- black women are told repeatedly that they have LITTLE TO NO CHANCE of finding a husband.;
-publications like Essence promote the idea that black men are the only men on this earth that exist and we should remain loyal and expect some sort of reciprocity.
And then BAM, Kim Kardashians boyfriend lands on the cover our “OUR” magazine. For Essence pretend they’re surpised is pretty disingenous. This is calculated. The fact that they went as far as using an old played out photo of him for their COVER shows the desperation.
I hope to see the day where my sisters aren’t hurt by this and they can move past this type of manipulation.
-
There folks out there and trying to get paid by Essence, so they are obviously bias. It marketing 101, the audience does not owe them $5 they have to put out something the audience wants. The nerve of them to act like we owe them something.
Most of these magazines that purportedly are for black women are owned by whites. If I’m not mistaken essence was bought out by a large white owned corporation.
These company’s are probably trying to track believing something is wrong with them so that they will be easy prey for various cosmetic products, drugs, and surgeries. Which in turn would unpaid pitchwomen for those products.
It would be marketed in a way to other women around the world in the form of: “If we could do this for black women, just think of what we can do for you?”
Which is basically a backhanded way of making a fool out of black women again aside from the initial propaganda of the magazine article.
The above should be: “track black women into believing something is wrong with them”
@Iman
And for the life of me after reading Belle’s response and other responses of “B;ack women get over it and go get some self esteem,’ I don’t understand what’s so hard to about what you understand.
Essence routinely defines black love as a black man and a black woman.
You can’t then put a black man on the cover who is involved with a non-black woman – on the blak love issue no less-and NOT expect your black women readers to have a revolt.
I’ve got low self esteem b/c I don’t think the black mag for black women that encourages black love couldn’t live up to their own standards?
Sigh.
Sorry for the crazy sentence structure..lol
It should read:
And for the life of me after reading Belle’s response and other responses of “Black women get over it and go get some self esteem,’ I don’t understand what’s so hard to understand about what you said.
I AM SO ASHAMED ANGELA BURT MURRAY IS A HAMPTON ALUM. WE ARE SO MUCH BETTER THAN THIS.
Did the magazine state “black love and romance” or just “love and romance’?
and I STILL think Ricky Martin is fine! –RevMamaAfrika
Please, I’d love me some Ricky Martin. I doubt that he likes black women though; or white women or latinas or Asian women for that matter. Get my drift?
While I believe that Reggie should be with whomever he wants, he should not have been placed on the cover of messence. Black women and the men who love us (regardless of race) should have been front and center.
I now truly believe that there are black women out there who really believe that all black women are stupid (except them).
I use to love Essense. When Susan Taylor wrote her piece at the end of the issue, I felt uplifted. Now, I am suppose to want to believe that anything and everything that is not nor ever will be like ME is preferable.
Who in the heck are these black women who have raised THESE young men? They should be ashamed of themselves, but I am sure they will come up with some reason not to do some introspection. I bet some of them are the same black women who believe that the very women they have taught their sons to disregard are the very same women who should have their backs. I bet they sit in church telling young black women what they owe the “black community”.
I would be too embarrassed to show my face let alone speak. Do what ever you will, but don’t bring your BS into my life. Do what you will, but don’t expect me to value what you do. Don’t scream “black” when black is the last thing you value or want.
I dont see what the big deal is.. Love is love and comes in an assortment of colour.
Plus I don’t think that the magazine was about specifically black love. He’s a black man and so what he has found love with an armenian/american. They’re happy and for that as people, we should be happy for them.
A magazine or media should make you feel that something is wrong with u. It’s common knowledge that black men date whoever they like. It’s nothing new.
Armenians are ethnic minorities as well in Europe… Armenians, Blacks, Turkish, Romanians etc
Kim Porter needs to stop running after a cheating man and being on of his mistress.
So what if some black men don’t want to date black woman… too bad for them… that’s them not us! I wouldn’t want a man who has issues with his skin or ethnicity.
it’s a pity that the media only portray black women in negative light… even Oprah with her films like Precious etc etc… Messed up! But then again, the media will always be negative towards us in most cases… hence don’t allow the media to educate your children. Be a positive role model to your kids.
How long y’all think @Als Simmons will last around here??? 3,2,1….
Well of course you don’t see what the big deal is. You don’t believe in reciprocity and I am too bone weary to attempt to teach you about it. You likely are the type to ignore warnings to evacuate from hurricane zones. Have no smoke detectors in your home and routinely drive without a safety belt. None of which I will lecture you about, I will merely watch as you are swept out to sea, burn alive or fly through your windshield. No big loss.
All the best!
Well, the issue is not Reggie and Kim, the issue is Messence magazine. They made a conscious, business decision to this. Shame on them!
@ Tracy, re: Benjamin Bratt — HELL YEAH!
He also has good politics, i.e., acknowledges the African influence throughout Puerto Rican culture, supports Palestinian rights, etc. I have some very handsome Gay brother-friends, I joke with them all the time, “brother, if you weren’t Gay . . . .!” 
@ Monica, re: Adam Rodriguez — THANKS FOR REMINDING ME! “I’ll be your Eve . . . .”
@ LorMarie, Gay or Straight, Ricky Martin is just fine, PERIOD!
@ Als Simmons, pleez! Armenian genocide of 1915, notwithstanding, in Armenia, Miss Kim is Armenian, but over here in the good ol U.S. of A., she a White girl and I bet you all the gold in Africa, she signs off as White. White skin privilege is like that, like a checkbook, you just whip it all when you want to . . . . .
@gem, do you really believe Al is a black woman? Come on. He/she is either a White woman or a black man. He/she sounds like an absolute idiot. No one is talking about folks not being able to be with or love anyone they choose. A black woman would understand that Essence is a magazine for black women. It always has been. I don’t expect any other publication to cater to me, but I do expect a magazine that is “FOR” balck women to at least feature black men who love and choose black women. There is nothing wrong with that. If buy a small chance Al is a black woman, then we all have witnessed and example of a “sick” black woman who would raise her sons to devalue black women.
To add to to dailyfare’s comment, it appears that for now Time Warner owns Essence. Time Warner is looking to merge with viacom
http://www.finalcall.com/artman/publish/article_1772.shtml
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Essence_(magazine)
http://247wallst.com/2009/12/03/viacom-time-warner-next-big-media-merger/
Essence is not a black-owned publication. AFAIC, it is NOT a black women’s publication.
@Scorpious and Al
I’ve been to Turkey – tell you what, you go there and ask the good folks if they are “Black” or anything other than white – if you make it back in one piece, I will personally give you $100.00…
and Al – who cares….Black Women care! If you want BM that lust over ABBW – go read Smooth, or Black Men Today! I think that BMT is yet again paying homage to Ice-T’s bottom bit – excuse me “wife” CoCo… knock yaself out!
3..2..1..
I came to the forum to late! All the good stuff has already been posted – even comments by a troll and G’s verbal beat down of said troll!!
Just my 2 cents…I love RICKY Martin too. (My kids hated that I played his CD so much one day it came up missing….I found it a couple months later UNDERNEATH my entertainment center. Ya know, one person hold up the edge, the other slide it under. Got the hint, and now rock him on my IPOD). Sorry, I digress.
great post Gina!
Kim said:
“Who in the heck are these black women who have raised THESE young men? They should be ashamed of themselves, but I am sure they will come up with some reason not to do some introspection. I bet some of them are the same black women who believe that the very women they have taught their sons to disregard are the very same women who should have their backs. I bet they sit in church telling young black women what they owe the “black community”.”
ok, i am a little confused…are you saying that it is the fault of the bw that bm despise and discriminate against bw? are you suggesting that BW should be ashamed?
i can tell you from firsthand knowledge, that but for the love, nurturing, sacrifices, and teachings of bw…quite a few bmales would have died hungry and naked in infancy. this fact, notwithstanding, does NOT prevent bm, in large numbers, in adulthood, from hating/rejecting black bw.
maybe i missed your point? it sounded like you were plucking the “who raised these bm..bw” chord to which i would suggest to you that clues are harder to miss.
i long ago stopped supporting Essence.
i still rearrange magazines where ever i go. anyone else ever notice the faces of bfolks are at the bottom of the displays?
blessings all,
focusedpurpose
Is Reggie Bush an All-Pro football player . . .? No!
Is Reggie Bush a starter for the New Orleans Saints . . .? No!
Is Reggie Bush an all around top notch endorser of goods and/or service . . .? Hell No!
So why is Reggie Bush on the cover of the nation’s leading magazine for Black women? Because he is sexing a white women, whose claim to fame is a sextape with Brandy’s brother. Essence should be renamed L’Essence because it simply has reduced in stature. The sale to Time-Warner was suppose to create synergies with the Time Warner platform and network with awesome authentic content. Wrong!
One of the hardest, meanest looks I EVER had in my life was when I mistakenly asked a Christian Turkish woman if she was Muslim. He skin was somewhat dark…so I “assumed”, she might be Arabic Turk or an Muslim of Arabic descent. She coldly informed she was European.
I will never make that mistake again, I assure you.
As Tracy says, I dare you stand in front of an Armenian and call them Arabic.
Some Black people give me the giggles for sure.
That’s like ……go to Cairo and find me TWO Egyptians who describe themselves as “Black” or “African”.
Having a large behind, automatically makes you a black woman? Sandra Bernhardt has full lips…she must be black, right??? Angela Jolie too!
I am indifferent to Reggie Bush….and his cover.
Of course that doesn’t mean I am against BM in IR or I dislike KK. I think KK is quite attractive.
I say if Essence is so forward thinking and color blind, I agree with posters who say let’s have a Robin Thicke cover, then we will see how forward thinking Essence really is. I would put the Prince of Lichtenstein on the cover before a Kanye West….as he did make a BW Princess.
Finally, as Gina says we just have to STOP financially supporting those that don’t support us And we know who they are. Don’t buy their CDs, jerseys, books, sneakers, whatever they are selling. Let them sell to the people they love.
I think that is worth repeating often.
“@ cool beans were black men outraged when the movie “Hancock” about the first?black superhero featured a ww as his wife.I heard no black men speak up or out about that.So why should we bw even care?”
I think you may have misunderstood my point, but nevermind.
I agree with the majority of the posts here. Rev Mama Afrika is too funny!
Someone mentioned Adam Rodriguez. Good lawd that man is too fine! His gf is a Black woman (Ciarra Pardo), so I certainly wouldn’t be opposed to seeing him on the cover.
A friend and I were talking about this issue and she said “BM who prefer non-Black women will look at this and think ‘well we can love whoever we want, and we know that the sistas will still be there lusting after us even though we don’t want them”.
I wasn’t going to way in because I am no fan of the Kardashian prostitue/porn/baby mama/jumpoff clan NOR am I a fan of Reggie Bush.
What I see is the fact that a wealthy black man has chosen yet another non-black “superhead” in an attempt to turn a “h@e into a housewife”. It’s wierd because there are so many better looking men with black wives that could have been chosen for the cover.
What I find ironic is that most black women who are married to successful athletes like Reggie are typically well-educated and aren’t running around making sex tapes with D list pseudo-singers from terrible Vh1 reality shows. In fact, the black women married to athletes are typically courted and have actually had a relationship with said wealthy black male athlete that was pre-fame and wealth.
People like Kardashian and Bush stalk each other at the it places to be seen or are recycled through their own networks. How many men did KK have to screw before she hit the Jackpot? How many women did Bush have to discard before he reached the already worn-out and well-used Kardashian.
Black women consider yourselves lucky that a man like Bush doesn’t want you and continue to heed Gina’s advice BURN ESSENCE.
I stopped reading essence years ago.
@ cool beans I reread your comment and you’re right i completely misunderstood you.My sincere apologies.
You said:”I found it interesting that some BW were very swift (and harsh) when it came to invalidating other BW’s concerns about this matter.
Just thinking out loud here, but I wonder if any of these women complained about BM/boys not seeing themselves represented (example: the controversial Disney movie ‘The Princess and The Frog’).
And if so, why the shift in attitude?”
Me:I’m asking myself the same thing right now cool beans.In the minds of these silly women it’s okay for black women to be constantly bombarded with images of non black women with black men yet many of these same women likely stood up against the Princess and the Frog movie because it didn’t feature a bm as the love interest.Many of them only think about what’s best for black males.
Wow, so Reggie Bush is not even a starter? I am not a football fan so I didn’t know that, all I heard was guys saying that he needs to dedicate himself to the game, I had no idea he was a bench warmer. Whats next a back up singer on the cover of Essence?
truth p: It’s all good.
“Me:I’m asking myself the same thing right now cool beans.In the minds of these silly women it’s okay for black women to be constantly bombarded with images of non black women with black men yet many of these same women likely stood up against the Princess and the Frog movie because it didn’t feature a bm as the love interest.Many of them only think about what’s best for black males.”
I was thinking the same thing.
It’s ‘unacceptable’ to pair a BW with a non-BM because it sends out a ‘bad’ message, but it’s okay to put a BM on the cover who is dating a WW on the ‘Black LOVE’ issue of a magazine that claims to put ‘Black women first’.
Why are these women not getting the point? Are they so brainwashed to think in terms of Black men’s interests first and foremost?
I am seriously lol’ing at people saying Kim is ‘not White, she’s Armenian’ as though there is a seperate Armenian racial group.
I guess Dita Von Teese isn’t White either. lol
@BLKSeaGoat..well said my brother well said!
coolbeans said:
It’s ‘unacceptable’ to pair a BW with a non-BM because it sends out a ‘bad’ message, but it’s okay to put a BM on the cover who is dating a WW on the ‘Black LOVE’ issue of a magazine that claims to put ‘Black women first’.
Why are these women not getting the point? Are they so brainwashed to think in terms of Black men’s interests first and foremost?
I am seriously lol’ing at people saying Kim is ‘not White, she’s Armenian’ as though there is a seperate Armenian racial group.
Ditto! On all these points. Whoever said my papi chulo Adam Rodriguez should be on the cover needs to get out of my head LOL. He is so fine!
I don’t know why any of you are surprised at Essence. I stopped reading this rag many years ago. They are famous for this type of crap. I think that they are more concerned about being on the “in” with these black male celebrities than they are with the very women they are suppose to cater to. Again I am not surprised.
I’m with you. They knew what they are doing. They can’t all be that stupid. Someone had to have at least considered he would be a bad choice. Not to mention no one is really hyped over this guy so even if he was dating a black woman he would still be a bad choice.
E Mag sales over the last 5 years have hovered around 1.03 Million. Elle Mag started below E Mag and has steadily risen. If I recall Elle stopped with the all white covers and mixed in Ethnic celebs. I think you are correct that this stock photo of Reggie was a part of a plan. I think they wanted to start shifting E mag from a black women’s magazine to an urbane woman of color magazine. Before if I recall correctly Honey magazine switched but without any fanfare and it failed. This time they switch by putting Reggie on the cover knowing it would draw a lot of anger. They then can control the conversation (black women are upset about a man that doesn’t date black women on the cover of a magazine issue about ‘black love’ as it relates to black women) and reflecting it to a mainstream audience as black women are bitter, man less and racist. It’s just a thought but if this controversy starts making more mainstream time/Warner sources then I’m sure they meant to do it.
This is how Essence expresses open contempt for black women. Apparently, black women didn’t get the hint that Essence magazine and its editors could care less about them. One of many clues should have been the “get men at strip clubs” article.
I would like to say something – and no its not about that crap mag MESSence.
I luuuuuvs me some Adam Rodriguez. AMEN.
Carry on
What Jacy at #81 said could be quite true, and something I thought about myself. I mean CNN, Essence – it’s all Time Warner isn’t it? I can just see CNN or some other MSM taking this story (along with all the other current anti-PBW propaganda) and create new storylines that black women are “bitter, man-less and racist.” Failing to realize that the real issue has nothing to do with black men and their girlfriends.
That’s why I said earlier that the best thing the disgruntled readers can do is remain silent and simply speak with their pockets – don’t buy the magazine.
And I didn’t even know all that stuff about Essence telling black women to go to strip clubs to look for black men until I read the links that were included on this blog. I stopped reading Essence when they introduced this Finesse character, who in my opinion just gives awful advice to black women. I remember once he told a woman that she should feel honored that her fiance chooses to watch porn with Asian and white women, instead of with black women.
This is why I stopped reading Essence. All they do is write articles about how black women should lower their standards to get black men. They never bother to show black women that maybe there is another way, that there are men other than black men out there. Essence is supposed to be a magazine for black women. I mean heck, why Reggie Bush? Why not Obama?
@Jacy, that doesn’t sound far fetched at all. In fact, there are times when I think it is some type of conspiracy to discredit, devalue, and vanish Black women in all forms of media. Speaking of music, it’s almost funny how so many hip hop artists don’t acknowledge black women in their music positively, or even include them in their videos, when truth be told, we are the ones that buy their music and support them when they mess up. Sadly, I have been on the receiving end of watching a “Brotha” that you loved and support, somehow decides that we are not good enough when they “make it”. I digress. Above all, we see the games that this mag along with tv shows and music, etc. play to attempt to make us feel unworthy. This is why now more than ever, Sistas realllllllly need to love and support one another.
Stop subscribing to essence and stop buying the magazine the easiest thing to do.
I am tempted to end my subscription to Essence, but then where does that leave us? Jet Beauty of the Week?
I wish that Essence would do their homework! Why not Boris Kudjoe, Dwayne Wade or Sterling K. Brown. All three of them are either dating or married to beautiful Black women of varying shades. And, they are intelligent and artistic. Why not them? Why? Because Essence didn’t do their homework and they chose to be reductive and frankly stupid. The average Black American grown ass woman is not interested in a celebrity troll like Reggie Bush and his girlfriend.
With an OVERWHELMING majority of black athletes married to beautiful Black wives, there’s no EXCUSE for putting Reggie on the cover… other than sensationalism.
Tracy McGrady. LaDainian Tomlinson. Dwayne Wade. I could go on all day. Celebrity couples?
Kenyan Martin (w/ Trina). Carmelo Anthony (w/ Lala). There are a plethora of more qualified men. I don’t usually agree with most of these blogs… but this post was ON POINT for me. My boys and I have your back on this, for whatever it’s worth.
Does Essence even care what Black men think, though? We’re not exactly their target audience so we can’t exactly “not buy” their magazines anymore… because we never did in the first place.
I’ll figure something out. This was VERY disrespectful of LESSence. Black women don’t have a lot of outlets where they can vent and relax.
Yeah this issue was pure garbage. Don’t argue about it just stop reading it and buying the rag!
@ K Michel – Just a clarification. Lala Vasquez is not black nor is she married to Carmelo. Dwayne Wade may still be married to his wife but he’s dating Gabrielle Union now.
Let’s just stop holding these celebs up on pedestals!
Tiffany,
I’m curious… What will Messence have to do in order for you to cancel your subscruption?
My copy just arrived today. I thought I was alone in being underwhelmed by Essence during the past few years. I kept feeling like I wasn’t the audience for Essence anymore.
The strip club story did throw me for a loop, I don’t have boyfriend but I’m not so desperate that I’ll compete with strippers for a man’s attention. However I had already been disillusioned by an earlier column. A woman wrote in to the career advice column and expressed her frustration with coworkers who didn’t work as hard as she did. When the coworkers didn’t do work correctly or on time her projects suffered as well as the department they all worked in. The advice seeker wanted to know what she should do and the columnist chastised her for a being a busybody and that she should relax and join in on her coworkers fun. Now I come from a family with hard workers on both sides and I pride myself on doing a good job so this answer threw me for a loop. I kept looking for an indication that this was a joke answer but it was serious.
I think Essence is following the example of other women’s magazines; the cover picture has no real relationship to the cover blurbs and the are columns with men telling women what the women are doing “wrong” and how the women can change to please the men. However Essence has readers who remember its former depth and we resent the fluff.
I am tempted to end my subscription to Essence, but then where does that leave us? Jet Beauty of the Week?
Michelle, you are already “left behind”. You don’t have anything. There are many blogs (like this one) and other online resources that should be able to meet your needs. Start your one mag-online or print. That kind of enslaved thinking is why this rag continues to get away with this mess. Just b/c the cover says “blackety black black blacka black” does not mean that is is [good] FOR you.
LaJane Galt,
I 100% co-sign. Instead of BW continuing to feed MESSence oxygen by venting on their site, the best response is to simply walk away and NEVER buy that poison rag again.
{laughing at the “blackety black black blacka black” bit}
Peace, blessings and solidarity.
LaJane Galt, here’s your co-sign.
Michelle, I hope your insurance covers suicide, because I know mine doesn’t — hence, my wholesale avoidance of MESSENCE and its ilk. I realize they want us dead and think we’re stupid…
I’m so glad I found this site! I have been copying and pasting and post on the essence site encouraging the sisters to cancel their subscriptions.
I am so done with essence as of this morning there was about 700 comments on that heinous cover. The anti-black woman sentiment being posting on that website it revolting. Again, I’m so glad I found this site, I thought I was the one going crazy.
You are not alone. Welcome home Shirley!