What does a white woman know about black fashion, how many white women subscribe to essence. where there no other black women candidates. anyway why buy a black magazine with white perspective. just go ahead and buy Instyle. dummies

So ppl damn near demand a black president but a white person at essence is completely out of the question? We will never evolve if we continue to be separate its just a magazine not the NAACP

Roland had a STRONG argument. Hopefully, this lade was not hired to market to white women. As the former editor said, it’s a BLACK PUBLICATION. All the products are for BLACK WOMEN. There’s no need to start marketing to whites, because there is nothing in the magazine for them.

I HATE ANDERSON COOPER! He always jumps on some bs like this. I remember when he did that ‘no snitching’ expose. STFU! He’s only interested in covering the Black community when it is some silly shit. Who cares if they hired a white woman?!?! I don’t even buy that simple minded magazine anyway.
Let’s just add him to the list of people/groups trying to destroy our community

1) VH1
2) BET
3) Republicans
4)The Real Housewives of Atlanta
5) Anderson Cooper

Oh and Anderson, come out the closet, you self-loathing prick.

Roland has a VERY good point. Hes a very smart guy.

CNN is garbage anyways. Last week they had “Lindsey Lohan cries about jail sentence” as their top “World News” story just above “Taliban Commander killed”.

I really dont care but why is white people always want to b a part of sumthing blk it will never equality in this world so get use to it we dont have a blk presidenT hes just an illusion 4 blks to think they care 4 us

This is just going to lower his ratings because CNN’s black audience is minuscule. White viewers don’t care about Essence.

MF’s just don’t get it!

@msbliss

You are right. It’s the ole minstrel show…

Anderson Cooper is gay – he should worry about his homosexual community, realtalk

AC need to get his head outta his a$$. Stop smokin pole and start thinking!

They don’t “SAY” they don’t want a black executive dumb a$$, THEY JUST DON”T HIRE THEM!

AC is FIONE!! I don’t care if he’s gay!!!

@WTF you are extremely hilarious your comment had me ROFLMAO!!!!

Hrrmph!
Where are all the women ready to lynch the editor of Essence for putting Reggie Bush on the cover at? Surely their gander must be up about this???

Well apparently this white women has studied y’all and knows to a tee what y’alls likes and dislikes are where all things fashion are concerned. Per Essence they tried her out for 6 months and everything she did was highly favorable, so now she’s permanent. So like Eminem, looks like she beat y’all at y’alls own game.

the same thing i want to know anderson

1st black men, now this

GOT CUT OFF…

TO DO WITH THIS CONVERSATION.
So what I’m trying to figure out is it’s ok for the ” white man” to fund the magazine but run it oh hell nah! So azz backwards cause if it’s all about blacks why aren’t they under black publication and i bet black people weren’t the only ones working for that magazine …..get over it.

The comments on this issue are so illogical and ill considered, its kinda pathetic in a way. A magazine fashion director can be any color. It doesnt matter what the demographics of the magazines readership are. Follow this through to its ludicrous culmination. Smart, talented , ambitious black editors, designers, FASHION EDITORS etc turned down for positions on Vanity Fair, Cosmopoliltan, Esquire etc “Im sorry ” says the hiring executive, “you may have the right credentials but our base readership is white ” See how stupid the whole thing becomes ? Blacks can work in any capacity on ‘white” magazines and they do. If you then slam Essence for hiring a white person , you are guilty of racism. Plain and simple. You can sugar coat as Im sure many will do, but thats what it is.

This guy has a lot of history. Gotta give it to him his biography was pretty darn interesting. Sharp dresser..

What was the vision in creating Essence magazine in the first place. Essence has gone completely down hill since it was sold to time warner. Time for some savvy sister to create another magazine for us while Essence goes out of business. The only reason it is still on the shelves is because of some loyal sisters who see it as a legacy. Don’t buy Essence, when the Editor is looking for a job I’m sure her race won’t matter. she has a margin of success before landing this job, she’a a condolezza rice of media.

I agree with roland’s argument

Whatr yall expect, WHITE PPL bought out Jet, Essence and them along time ago. They dont want anything to be all black and powerful with influence anymore..

GET IT?

http://twitter.com/Mogul_Maleena

Roland had some STRONG points. but lets see how she does before we judge o quickly.

smdh @purple love

where is my comment???

if u detect a duplicate comment and I have said that already why dont I see my post// where is my comment

I never comment, but I had to give my two-cents on this one.
As a journalist with nearly 20 years in the business, I can tell you why this hiring move upsets some black people.
There are newspapers, magazines, television stations and radio stations across the nation that has never hired a person of color. I am talking about black people, brown people, red people and yellow people. In short, if you are not white, they do not hire you. When the recession first rocked our country, people of color, and our numbers are dwindling year by year, were the first released from jobs at our nation’s communication and/or news organizations.
All across the board, our numbers at news establishments are down. It saddens me, but I digress.
The media is extremely powerful, and there are people in the industry who do not want faces that look like mine in this business.
Please know Essence could have easily given that job to a qualified black person. The white woman hired could have easily gotten a job elsewhere because opportunities for her are infinitely greater. Meanwhile, plenty of talented BLACK, BROWN, RED and YELLOW journalists are unemployed. They are tired, and they will not be coming back to the industry.
We have a growing number of all-white news outlets writing about us, talking about us, forming opinions about us and promoting agendas about us. The result is warped, biased and often racist news from people who are determined to paint pictures of individuals and communities about which they do not care and never intend on getting to know. This is the truth, and the truth shall set you free.

I agree with Michaela. Her point is not racist at all. She’s saying damn we already don’t hold many position as it is, so it bothers her that Essence would not give an up-in-coming black editor a chance.

As long as she is good at her job, who cares what color she is? If a Black woman were hired as the fashion editor of a traditionally white magazine, it would be considered “groundbreaking”, but people are up in arms about this? Please. There are more important things to devote time and energy to (war abroad, oil spill, economy, etc.).

really “reverse racism” anderson cooper???smh

don’t see an issue with this…essence mag felt this woman is qualified to do the job…so judge her on her work not the color of her skin…we as black people have to do better…we expect equality but refuse to except diversity when it comes to our products…smh

Michaela Angela Davis is part white herself! WTF! I love how it’s always the lightskinned/biracial/mixed/part white folk who are always so PRO BLACK!

Who gives a damn?! No one reads Essence anyway. GTFOH with that BS.

I tend to usually love Anderson but anybody smell another CNN special on Black People or Black Women lonely,evil or bitter series, I can so see it happening and Soledad will be the host
And why not Dateline,20/20, CNN have done I’m waiting on 60 Mins turn, to capitalize on our issues that show ZERO solutions
By the way when has someone not black done justice to black beauty images in the press
These are the same people that love airbrushing the hell out of white women in their magazines
So we as black women aren’t suppose to have at least a tad bit of concern over are images no longer in the hands of someone black,
at a magazine targeted to black women,yeah I get were suppose to be all inclusive and Rainbow Coalition, and racially evolve and all the jazz
but their isn’t a lot of us in charge at these white female geared magazines
Of which I tend to read to so I know what I speak, sure they may have a black writer and some staffers, at Glamour,Instyle,Marie Claire but that’s about it
Don’t get me started on Vogue

Diversity is wonderful, but people don’t read Essence for diversity. Stop trying to compare a magazine created specifically for black women to a mainstream fashion magazine. Those magazines weren’t created for just white women. They didn’t have to be, they were already everywhere. There are too many black stylists trying to break into the industry to not give one of them a chance. If Essence can’t even do that what exactly is it good for?

It doesn’t matter, first.

I second we can elect a black president but throw a fit due to a white editor at a black publicationv

Come on,as a black woman I’m offended that my fashion sense should be so narrowly defined that only a black person can speak to my tastes. I’m not a fan of how political black haircare has gotten that I have accept that it should cost more for me to get my hair done or I should accept dated hairstyles that age me and make me look sickly I.e bone straight hair with no style.regardless, fashion and beauty can do far better trying to appeal to us as the non homogenous group that we actually are… gfoh

Cosign@Pleezz,Terri,heru9 why didn’t Anderson investigate why there was a reason we needed Essense,Ebony,Jet,and BET cuz white run media organizations hardly showcase us except here and there and that then and now don’t cut it
These white female geared magazine hardly EVER give our women major covergae unless a black actress is nominated for an Oscar or Grammy, and its after our magazines and put them on the cover, its like ok we black people have to hope and wait for mainstream media to cover us
Typical pity and handout coverage we don’t need ,look at that girl from Precious they put her on the inside of Vogue, but put the same titled up and coming white actresses on the cover
Gabby got on the cover of whose magazine looking glammed up Essence
The mainstream is addicted to one type of image of black women and its
Beyonce and Halle both beautiful but neither looks nothing like myself, also Essence used to be about legit issues and decent solutions of the black womens issues
Name me one magazine that ever acknowledges issues black women face in those others
Also look at those Latina magazines, they aren’t trying to broaden their audience since its geared to Latina women
As usual black people have to be the torch carriers for including people who have no real interst in doing the same

I’m with him — of all the damn things to get upset about. If a bunch of white people got this upset everytime a black diva sang “Aida” at the Met, the “civil rights” crowd would be in a damn tizzy.

Such idiotic nonsense. If the white woman was deemed the most qualified, then that’s just the way it is —- just as Jessie Norman can sing RINGS around most white sopranos, and SHE deserves the starring role.

I like Anderson Cooper, however CNN commenting on this issue is saying to me that “what’s the big deal? We let y’all have a black president.” It’s a big deal because we as a people are always so accomodating and “nice” to others. If I were an alien from another planet and read mainstream publications, I would come to the conclusion that only white people inhabited planet earth. I bet there are no white or black reporters writing for La Opinion. The reason Esscence magazine even exists is becaue we are a forgotten and unimportant people in white America. This white editor has probably a 100 more prospects for jobs than the best and the brightest of qualified blacks. Why do we always compromise and fool ourselves into thinking that white people want diversity. If they could give us an island to live on they would. Where is our fight for ourselves? Don’t be dumb, this life is no love affair, for us as a people it is hard work and sticking together.

I don’t personally care who Essence hires but the coverage of this story is just another attempt by the media to portray black people as racist.

I’m just waiting for when Ice-T and Coco,
are on the cover of Essence,you know all in the name of broadening the mags horizon
My gut is telling me just like the Reggie cover Essence is doing this to get folks talking about them,
like we are hey its cheaper than actually creating better work over there

First of all why be mad that this company hired a white person that is qualify for the job where there is not enough blacks in that field that would fit the requirements of what they are looking for. This female was a intern for 6 months before they gave her the job. Be mad that there is not enough blacks in the fashion field that actually qualify.

Far as for Andy the grandson of a original member of the illuminati questioning whats the big deal of a black company. Now that is funny.

It ain’t Cooper’s business, why does he care except to put black folks’ concerns out in the street for all to ooh and ah at. That’s family business. He need to take his behind someplace where he’s really wanted and needed.

I agree with Michaela and I appreciate Anderson always bringing relevant issues to the forefront.

Its a big deal the same reason why Barack Obama becoming presdient of a PREDOMINANTLY white country was and still is a big deal. There were all white presidents in the past and to have a BLACK president of a white racist country was unbelieveable to most. Some white people are still pissed about that. The same goes with this magazine. The only difference is Barack Obama was raised in this country he is running and this white fashion deirect has NOT grown up in the black culture and hasnt lived Black fashion. But like Anderson Cooper said Essence is a TIME publication so they are owned by whites so they probably had no damn control over who the fashion director was.

I’m sorry but there is way too much discrimination still for this a racial issue against white people. As a reader of Essence, I already take what they view as beauty with a pinch of salt and now a white person is directing the magazine there is no trust.

Trust that the information you are putting out there is THE BEST for our people. It’s hard enough the media promotes the european features of straight long hair and thin nose as beauty and the ‘issues’ it has left so many of my sisters with or the over sexualisation of the black woman – just look at the trend of ‘big butts’ yet they do nothing to mention the other great attributes of our character like the nubian Queens, Sophia Stewart the black woman who wrote the Matrix and has just won her dues and many more. What direction can a white woman lead us when she doesn’t have the first idea of living as a black person? Our people are lost and they will use and abuse our ignorance and faults for their own profit.

the fact that it is even a story that Essence hired her is a testament to the fact that a lot of black ppl are ignorant.

What difference does it make at this point. Essence isn’t owned by black people anymore so is it really a “black mag” still?

Over compensating 4 her Skin Color Lame as Hell Michaela …:(

The question is “What kind of black perspective” can she bring to the magazine. I think none-she has no “black” experience, except, I betcha-in the bedroom!

White women think that just because they sleep “black” they know everything there is about black people.

I want to see what she can do

white women are taking over everything that’s black, except black women… LOL!

I have not read Essence in a long time. Who are we to blame for this white woman getting this position? Essemce is owned by Time Warner.
I bought 2 Essence magazines last year and left them both on the train. I didn’t even want to walk around with that garbage.
If this issue really bothers alot of black journalist/writers who feel like they were overlooked then perhaps they should band together and start their own publication.

Do people understand that Essence was created because there were no magazines being published that had any veiws or perpectives for black woman/people. NONE! No major black models/ desingers/ make up tips, etc. This magazine was created for and ran by black people. Lets be real, white people weren’t checking for us. They didn’t to want to put us in there magazines, therefore we had to go out an create OUR own. No there should NOT be a white anything when it comes to Essence. Jews don’t allow anything that pertains to them to be infiltrated. Why should we?!!!?? It’s not about being racist or evolving. IT’s about keeping whats ours, OURS! No white woman can relate to me. Can you tell me how to cornroll? Flattwist? What to use to grease my scalp with? OR how to rock a dashiki. GTFOH! This wont happen at Elle magazine. They won’t even put a black person on the cover. Like Spike Lee has stated.
WAAAAAAAAAAAAKE UUUUUUPPPPPPP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I just cancelled my subscription.

You are so right “Journalist”! So, so right!! I know because I am in the business. We may have more black news anchors than we’ve had before, but in positions behind the scenes, there are very few of us. Not because there aren’t any of us that are qualified, quite the contrary, they could be overqualified, they still won’t get the job. So in essence, pardon my pun, they dired a white woman who could get in anywhere, while her black couterpart, is fully qualified and can’t even get a job at a magazine that is geared towards her? How ridiculous and sad that is. So sad. I guess I won’t be reading Essence anymore.

It’s BLACK publication and should remain that way. Would Anderson want The Advocate to hire a straight person to write on an area that’s particular to gay culture??
I’m sooo done with Essence.

Black women can come 1st in terms of the “content” of the mag.Let the real consumers of Essence answer the q’s re the white editr. by the sales/revenue generated!!!

ANDERSON COOPER…it’s a “BIG DEAL” for the same reasons “some ppl” are making OBAMA’S presidency a “BIG DEAL”.

All I have to say is unless she was raised in the hood with a balck grand mother of mother her taste for African American womens fashion is non existant she better live up to the gig or shes out the readers and subscribers will make the call and trust me Essences Readers are vicious. They will make and have made a difference in what you see on the cover and between the pages of Essence. Let the Real Readers Speak and their voice will be heard.

I am sick of this reverse racism and I’m black – also pro-black, but this is ridiculous! We must evolve…why are we not questioning why more black people are not forging new ventures and monopolizing untapped niches for our communities. There is plenty of opportunity, not enough action or support and too much dang sideline lip service. When these mags were black owned we didn’t support them enough obviously, now we’re mad because BUSINESSES had to consider profit options by rebranding or expanding the target audience and appealing to what is popular. We don’t even support our own stuff so how are we mad when we don’t have anything….and if I see 1 MORE raggedy, black business that refuses to reinvest in itself I am totally going to set it off! If we support ‘Black’ and demand quality in what represents us then it doesn’t matter who can convey the message. If it’s not what the audience wants then it won’t succeed….whether it’s a white woman @ essence or a sista @ elle. Open your own business and hire only blacks then instead of telling other folks how to run theirs!

@Journalist

Please know Essence could have easily given that job to a qualified black person. The white woman hired could have easily gotten a job elsewhere because opportunities for her are infinitely greater. Meanwhile, plenty of talented BLACK, BROWN, RED and YELLOW journalists are unemployed. They are tired, and they will not be coming back to the industry. We have a growing number of all-white news outlets writing about us, talking about us, forming opinions about us and promoting agendas about us. The result is warped, biased and often racist news from people who are determined to paint pictures of individuals and communities about which they do not care and never intend on getting to know. This is the truth, and the truth shall set you free.”

_____________________

Kudos! The best explanation I’ve read on here. And I agree with you.

UMMM…. since when is fashion ever INDICATIVE of a person’s color, ethnicity, or race?! The fact that (black) people are making such a big deal only perpetuates the idea that black people and white people are different from each other!
If thats the case, Essence shoudl hire a black stylist and dress the models in all baby phat and house of dereon!! GET A FRIGGIN GRIP!!!

I don’t think it matter whether the editor is black or white. Personally I don’t see lot of different between fashion and beauty.

Who cares what color she is! What is black fashion anyway? Do you still think the baggy clothes/pants falling off your a.s.s look is cool? Aren’t all rappers and r&b singers talking about gucci/prada/louie and all that anyway? If she is trying to make you look sophisticated and presentable for jobs or in general, whats the problem? This is about fashion! Lets be honest, the best designers are not black! If there was a car company owned by nothing but black people, guess what, I would still buy a BMW or Mercedes because its the BEST! Get a grip people.

I coouldn’t agree more with Joe….

I’m reading comments like “it’s a black publication it should stay that way” or ” how fo they know what blacks find fashionable” and so on and so forth. So let me pee a question, since Vogue, allure, cosmo, Elle etc. Could be considered “white” publications, afterall if essence is “black” it’s only fair to call the others “white” right? So if those are white publications can the discriminate against black publicists or fashion directors or the like? And if the dud would they be in violation of civil laws? And what about affermative action? Why should a black publication be EXPECTED to discriminate against hiring someone white… But if the shoe was on the other foot there’d be a million man march and jesse Jackson and his mom would be out protesting? You can’t have no racism against blacks but harbor racism for whites Doesn’t work that way. What’s good for the goose is good for the gander.

LOL correction: *pose a question not pee

Also had some other smaller errors like “the” instead of they and “dud” instead of did.

Forgive me. I hate posting comments from my iPhone.

The question should have been posed to Anderson, ” If it were a Gay/Homosexual publication, would it be okay for a non-gay/homosexual person to cover that publication? I think his answer would have been no, it would not. How does a non-gay/homosexual person really relay/relate the experiences of one that is gay? It’s the same difference with Essence. When I read Essence, I want a fashion editor that really understands my fashion issues. I as a black woman have a big round behind, and small waist. Are the jeans that they are advertising made for someone like me or someone with european genes, a behind that is wide and flat? I’m personally very disappointed in Essence and as always, I show my disappointment in how I spend my dollars. I will cancel my subscription and won’t be buying Essence at the news stand.

UNTIL ANDERSON COOPER ADMITS THAT HE IS GAY, HIS COMMENTS DON’T MEAN SHIT.

@ Glok….The Most BEAUTIFULEST Thing in the World !!

You aren’t allowed to diss a journalist until you have a grasp of the English language.

And there is no such word a beautifulest…

@ Glok….The Most BEAUTIFULEST Thing in the World !!

You aren’t allowed to diss a journalist until you have a grasp of the English language.

And there is no such word as beautifulest…

@ tmf Anderson Cooper does admit that he is gay. He lives with his gay lover and they are quite an item. I’ve seen them in several publications appearing as a couple; so I don’t quite understand your comment.

i’m african -american and I wonder if Vogue would hire me for anything!!!!!!!!! NOPE!

The pimping will never stop until black women as a collective group want it to stop. There is an industry effort to own anything that black people support. Many of you have seen it but don’t care. Look at the black hair care industry. Millions of black hair product dollars are split between the jews, whites, asians, and arabs. The sisters continue to support this pimp move, so why should it be any different with a magazine that was once black now white/jewish. The pimping will always be here. Black women are pimped from their head to the tip of their toes. The powers that be know your not going to do anything but complain for a short minute and then go right back and support the non-black business. I wish you the best of luck. Who knows maybe your daughters or future generations will see different.