Monday
Jan112010
Cry for Attention! ESSENCE Magazine Puts Reggie Bush on cover of "LOVE & Romance " Issue- Readers Enraged!
Monday, January 11, 2010 at 7:14AM The Blogmother 
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 said
Not 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!!)
Anonymous
This 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?
ESSENCE’s “New Normal” ain’t “Normal”–Part III of Why You Should Burn the June 2009 Issue of ESSENCE magazine
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
Reader Comments (96)
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.
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!
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'?