Black Women Speak Out About Essence Magazine’s Decision To Hire A White Female Fashion Director.
Here are some comments from black women about Essence Magazine’s decision to hire a white female to be the new fashion director. 
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Creme A la says:
I love Essence because it represents me. However, they need to venture out with articles and fashion spreads. The same people are recycled from month to month. March and December it is Mary. In the May issue they have Jada.Then, on the January issue they have Queen Latifah,Lastly, on the September and November they have Beyonce and Alicia. I mean really….lol. There are so many people doing so many things. By now, they should have an Essence Africa, France, Britain…they are not expanding the brand nor are they keeping the US customers. They need to clean house and start over. Would Vogue hire a minority..nope but there circulation is crazy and they make the money to make big demands. We need to do better. Let’s not even talk about Ebony….wow…I don’t buy that at all…they need a younger staff……
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nancyregan says:You black people are nothing more than ass kissers when whites, asian, latinos, and many non blacks have their own magazine which many of you can’t read based upon the language barrier alone. But, it not about racism its about pride and being able to have something of our own that reflects us becauses were always being told that we are wrong in the way we look, dress, sound, eat, body wise and so many other things.
Yet, we know dam well if you or I walked into vogue or any white runned magazine and asked for a f ucken job we would be denied straight out. This job should have went to a black person and I don’t care what they kumbaya dummies think. The fashion is full of racism and it has been acceptable since the beginning of its inception that is why its good for us to have our own.
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chandrab says:can’t you see we are only segregating ourselves more in thinking like this! it just doesn’t make sense to me, to work for years and years to achieve equal rights and then after having come so far we choose to isolate ourselves and lash out when a white person attempts to work with us. say what you will but I think it is despicable that this is even an issue in the first place
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[…] that “in grandmama dull as dishwater” Fashion Fair wig. But if you haven’t read this (Clutch is so on it) story by now there’s a woman by the name of Ellianas Placas whose […]
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Cree says:Oh! and i won’t be buying Essence anymore, as a matter of fact, I been stopped when Time Warner took over!
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de says:Yeah, I won’t be buying them anymore. I do just how THEY do, when someone of color takes over, keep my money in my pocket.
This is not against a certain color, but of all places for a sister who is well into fashion and beauty to get a job, she can’t even get one at Essence??? I say no! My money sticks with me!
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[…] Click here to read more […]
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[…] Davis is very upset, and since she is also a writer, I can understand her concern; Essence is one of the few places that has consistently provided employment to Black female journalists–and Black stylists and designers. Davis was quote in Clutch Magazine as saying that “I feel like a girlfriend died.” (Click on t… […]
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omg says:this not really about giving people chances, etc.
this is about the reason for the existence of ebony, essence, jet, etc.
do we remember why these publications exist in the first place?
they exist to:
1. EMPLOY and give breaks to our people because white publications do not.
2. EDUCATE our people about our own selves because white people do not/cannot.
3. EXPOSE ourselves to the greatness of each another.this is not about giving a white woman a chance. obviously, this woman has worked at large publications; people have given her chances and opportunities. and that’s the problem isn’t it? how many bw and bm have been given opportunities at large magazines? very very very few.
the fashion industry (and magazine industry in general) is known for being racist and exclusive. i watched the vogue documentary september. i recall seeing two black, gay guys – andre and some other guy. i saw no black people at all. it’s probably worse at other mags – allure, bazaar, seventeen, glamour, madamoiselle…
i’m amazed that people are okay with this. i wish i knew the ages of people posting; i suspect lots of teens and very early 20 somethings who barely even understand why a mag such as essence exists, beyond the superficial reason of to help find a nice lipstick or moisturizer.
sorry, don’t mean to be too condescending. but, i’m almost left breathless by the lack of consciousness and self-awareness exhibited by people here. then again, that ninja thread really told me all i needed to know.
i feel sorry for black folk. it seems we will never learn to put ourselves first the way others do.
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Sable M. says:Thank you! *snaps fingers* Thank you for laying out what any black owned anything, especially in the media has ever been about!! It’s so disappointing to hear trying to make equal opportunity for white people… it’s totally missing the point, like the big point! What it’s always been about, historically, socially, economic and politically in this dayum country!!!
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[…] Clutch Magazine Online – […]
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[…] First Susan Taylor left than Mikki Howard followed suite. Then there was the sustainable layoffs reported in November 09, which had folks speculating if Essence was on its last pages. But now it appears that the publishers are looking forward in a universal way with the hiring of Ellianna Placas, former editor of O Magazine and US Weekly, who will now begin her tenure as the new fashion editor at the magazine. Oh, one more thing: Placas is white. […]
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serenissima says:I’m 22… And I must agree that this is not about reverse racism or equal opportunities for white folk. I mean come on, really? You honestly expect me to believe that there is a lack of opportunities for white people in the fashion industry?
No way… I have a degree in journalism and while the entire industry IS suffering, white folks STILL have it better than the rest of us. It’s not about this woman being qualified. It’s about the fact that there are probably hundreds of Black journalists just as qualified, that won’t be given the opportunities outside of Essence that she would.
It also may sound exclusive to say that Essence is a Black publication that should have a Black staff, but exclusivity isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Especially when the White publications refuse to hire us, the runways refuse to use us, and this year White models are being painted Black. We need something for US, not more White women claiming th know us better than we know ourselves.
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Honey says:I did not receive my damn august issue yet that’s all I can say right now and this news adds up to my feeling that I won’t be renewing my subscription
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[…] on Clutch Magazine–an awesome online magazine for young, black women–that announced Essence magazine has hired a new Fashion Director. And she is […]
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Furaha says:I subscribe to both ELLE and VOGUE and love them. I look over my mother’s Essence because fashion is not poppin in there.
But does anybody remember Suede??? It was created by Essence and had excellent fashion spreads. I still look at them for inspiration. Of allll the women involved in Suede, none of them could help Essence? Suede got canceled due to the Time Warner takeover and hence the reason for the situation Essence finds itself in now.
If I want a white opinion about fashion I’ll go to ELLE and VOGUE so why is there a white fashion editor at ESSENCE???? Where is our voice??
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[…] Essence Hires White Fashion Director, Leaves Loyal Readers Asking Why [Clutch] […]
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BC says:Nancy Reagen, it’s all in the name…she has about as much a leg to stand on as I do a toilet to take a S__T!
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[…] called out by some of its readership and supporters for reportedly hiring a white Fashion Director, according to CLUTCH Magazine. Ellianna Placas, formerly of O: The Oprah Magazine and US Weekly is said to be starting at the […]
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2nd Thought says:For those who don’t regularly read a masthead, this new hire prob comes does as a great surprise and shock. But considering the new Fashion Director has been freelancing with them for quite a while now- and no one has complained- I
am unclear why readers think she’s not going to be able to nail the voice and mission of the magazine.Why did no one reach out to Essence for an explanation or a quote? Especially if this website is “the little sister” of the publication??
Question- how many Black fashion EDITORS (not stylists, those are two totally different different jobs) are there in the industry that are willing to work for what Essence can afford to pay? How many even applied for the position? Show me this information and then I might be willing to feel some type of ways.
This one-sided conversation is so disappointing and typical.
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The Joy Krystal says:The idea of the black publications being made only for the sole purpose of education and knowledge from our people to our people is understood and respected but just the thought of having someone that is a caucasian sit there and be a leader in a african american dominated magazine is the problem. As long as she puts as much effort if not more than her african american counterparts into making the magazine fit to our lifestyle then i really wont have a problem with it.
now, if i start seeing more and more lighter faces then we will have a problem…. I am a MAC nc50 and i understand that i’m not dark but like hell will i read or subscribe to essence if they start putting other races other than african american or latino in the magazine.
Maybe the new director will actually have a nice fashion spread ya know…
Maybe she can get the magazine to put somebody else on that dayum cover… Sorry Mary,Jada,Latifah,#BEYONCE, Alicia, and Monique but i’m tired of seeing ya’ll.. how about joy Bryant, or Janelle Monae, Solange (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!), Erykah, Christina milian, Kelly Rowland(!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) ,CHRISETTE MICHELLE (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!), Estelle, Thandie? SOMEBODY other than these people! I’m good and dog gon sure that Mo’Nique is not the only big person who is famous…. they could even put the big Gabby on there or something.. ANYBODY! I think i’m gonna write a letter-not that they’d read and consider it but i am REALLY tired of them on the cover!
okay let me hush… i’m through
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[…] Essence Hires White Fashion Director, Leaves Loyal Readers Asking Why [Clutch] […]
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Karen says:I don’t want Honey. The new owners of it have messed it up in my opinion. No thanks. If they bring it back I want Kierna and Joceyln (sp?) owning it. And since that wont’ be happening. no thanks.
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[…] called out by some of its readership and supporters for reportedly hiring a white Fashion Director, according to CLUTCH Magazine. Ellianna Placas, formerly of O: The Oprah Magazine and US Weekly is said to be starting at the […]
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Burcie L. Payne-Martin says:I will not buy or support Essence Magazine in the future.
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mallie says:The “fashion” section of Essence could use some new blood anyway; it’s boring as hell. And to be honest, I don’t see what makes it so black to begin with, save for a few black designer pieces it mixes in. Do you think this new white fashion director is NOT going to do the same? You think she’s going to edit out all the “blackness” or something? Gimme a break. She knows her audience and if she wants to keep her job she will serve them well. This is like one of us going into a job and giving it 250% because we know people expect more of us because we’re black. We’ll expect more of her because she’s white and she knows it and if she’s good, she’ll bring her A game.
And what’s with this outcry about representing “us” in the fashion section anyway? The “us” everybody talks about is out spending big money to buy designer labels headed up by Europeans. Are we being hypocrites?
Now, don’t get it twisted, OBVIOUSLY I know this is some kind of BS. CLEARLY they could have found a black person qualified enough to fill this role. Magazines are dying right now. DYING. This must have been some sort of move to stay afloat or to appease the powers that be or to appear to be more inclusive than exclusive and therefore reposition themselves in the market. Whatever the case may be, they are trying to keep their head above water and this was one tactic. Regardless of who’s editing the fashion section, it’s still a black magazine and you should go out and buy it and support it and keep it alive.
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mallie says:
ETA: And that rant came from someone who finds Essence HELLA boring, but I buy every month just the same. Yes, buy it. Every month. Newsstand sales mean more than subscriptions. Support black publications. End of discussion.
/rant
Serenity says:
Lisa says:
Gayblackcanada 
Sad indeed! Again we must show our children we can’t do it alone. How many of those who left us this heritage turn in their graves at this? Totally embarrassing.