EBONY Magazine...Is it superficial?

[AKA2D '91]

This is an email I received regarding comments made by Bryant Gumbel to students at Howard University.

In today's (6/12/01) Chicago Sun-Times

"Much of the Negro community is buried under a blanket of history and
circumstance," but nothing will change if "all you're going to seek is a
superficial Ebony magazine view of life -- one that accentuates only
your cars and your clothes." -- Bryant Gumbel, co-host of CBS' "The
Early Show," to graduates of Howard University.

"We're glad that you found time to visit Black America, but we regret
that you were not better informed. . . . We don't visit Black America,
we live here." -- Linda Johnson Rice, president and COO of the company
that publishes Ebony, in an angry letter to Gumbel that she later made
public.

"Ms. Rice's foolish letter has about as much merit as her stated desire
to 'not bicker publicly.' Instead of complaining about the truth,
maybe Ms. Rice should be more worried about the fact that everyone totally
understood the reference I made and applauded it loudly." -- Gumbel,
in a statement, according to the New York Times.

Is Ebony superficial?

[nikki25]

For as long as I could remember, Ebony Magazine has been the media source for positive information regarding the African-American experience. I looked forward to receiving those articles in my parents mailbox with great eagerness as a child. Articles by Lerone Bennett Jr. helped us to look at the present from a historical perspective, while there were also glossy article on the cars, homes, careers, etc. What has traditionally been missing from Ebony, however, is relevance. The connection between the plush materials and the lived experience hadn't been translated clearly enough for me. So, when I got older, and moved into my own place, I chose not to suscribe to Ebony Magazine. Instead, I suscribed to Essence, Time, and Black Enterprise. I believed that those periodicals provided me with steps toward actualizing those materials, lifestyle, etc. Ebony couldn't fit the bill.

So, in essence, I agree with Gumbel's statement, no matter the lack of class inherent in making such a statement. There wasn't much class in Mrs. Johnson-Rice's rebuttal either. On both ends, the situation was handled poorly. The media moguls could have engaged in some constructive dialogue. For Johnson-Rice to insenuate that Gumbel isn't knowledgeable of the Black experience is tasteless especially since everyone's "Black experience" isn't identical.

At any rate, I concur with Gumbel, and believe that Ebony must make itself more relevant and less superficial going forward.
IMHO


[This message has been edited by nikki25 (edited June 12, 2001).]

[MIDWESTDIVA]

Ebony Magazine makes me ill.

No, really. Every time I read it, my blood pressure skyrockets. The last article I remember reading was one that glamorized Black female celebrities that choose to have children and either postone marriage, or skip it altogether.

Whatever happened to social responsibility?

Maybe the editors of Ebony Magazine forgot that single teenage mothers are running rampant in the Black community.

[This message has been edited by MIDWESTDIVA (edited June 12, 2001).]

[This message has been edited by MIDWESTDIVA (edited June 13, 2001).]

[OhSoPrettyNikki]

Originally posted by nikki25:
For as long as I could remember, Ebony Magazine has been the media source for positive information regarding the African-American experience. I looked forward to receiving those articles in my parents mailbox with great eagerness as a child. Articles by Lerone Bennett Jr. helped us to look at the present from a historical perspective, while there were also glossy article on the cars, homes, careers, etc. What has traditionally been missing from Ebony, however, is relevance. The connection between the plush materials and the lived experience hadn't been translated clearly enough for me. So, when I got older, and moved into my own place, I chose not to suscribe to Ebony Magazine. Instead, I suscribed to Essence, Time, and Black Enterprise. I believed that those periodicals provided me with steps toward actualizing those materials, lifestyle, etc. Ebony couldn't fit the bill.

So, in essence, I agree with Gumbel's statement, no matter the lack of class inherent in making such a statement. There wasn't much class in Mrs. Johnson-Rice's rebuttal either. On both ends, the situation was handled poorly. The media moguls could have engaged in some constructive dialogue. For Johnson-Rice to insenuate that Gumbel isn't knowledgeable of the Black experience is tasteless especially since everyone's "Black experience" isn't identical.

At any rate, I concur with Gumbel, and believe that Ebony must make itself more relevant and less superficial going forward.
IMHO


[This message has been edited by nikki25 (edited June 12, 2001).]

DITTO!

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"Don't hate me because I'm beautiful"

When da EAST is in da house....Oh my GOD!!!! DANGER!

[Classy_Diva5]

Ebony Magazine does what most magazines do to keep readers interested:the latest news on current African-American celebrities.

Although I enjoy reading Essence magazine (I think that this is a great magazine for women of color), I'm not too particular on Ebony. The magazine includes recipes, an advice column, and horoscopes, but in my opinion something is lacking...

For once, I'd like to see a historical African-American figure on the cover-someone from today's government, or a ground breaking individual that ventured out to change the ways of today's society. We all like to keep up on our favorite stars, but to me Ebony magazine has no substance.

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"Mind ya own, stay true to ya own, be ya own."

Peace and God Bless
*Classy_Diva5*

[NOWorNEVER]

I despise Ebony magazine. Someone said it was "lacking" something and I couldn't agree more. Some articles look as if they were just thrown together for the sake of meeting a deadline and many of them are absoulutely pointless. I place Ebony along the ranks of Sister 2 Sister and Word Up magazines. My personal favorites include Essence, People, and Black Interprise.

[AKA2D '91]

well how do you all feel about JET?

[prayerfull]

I subscribe to both Ebony and Jet, along with Essence. I've read both Ebony and Jet since I was a young girl. What I've noticed over the recent years is that Ebony has fallen a bit behind the times. I would like to see a more youthful or up to date format and content. I am a bit tired of seeing the same articles about "health and fitness", "what every black woman should know about car care" and "beauty and pampering tips". Not that these are not relevant topics for black america. It's just that those articles are the same over and over. They never change around the content and the pictures are the same. They need to be updated and a little less frequent. It also seems like they publish the article on the 100 Most Influental Black Americans more than once a year.

I generally just thumb through Jet. My husband (like every other black man) goes straight for the beauty of the week. Then he tries to play it off and head to the sports section. I actually prefer the content of Jet over that of Ebony because it's more related to "current events".

We maintain our subscriptions to Ebony and Jet annually because we get them for free when we buy our tickets to the Ebony Fashion Show. Otherwise, I might not continue to pay for those annually. Jet is pretty pricey, too for such a small publication.

Now, Essence - that's my mag right there. Every issue I receive is read from front to back in its entirety. I thoroughly enjoy all of its content because it truly meets the complete needs for todays black woman - beauty, career, love and marriage, spirituality, celebrety profiles, fashion, travel, cooking, horoscopes, etc...now that's a complete magazine and 100% worth the cover price. No black woman should be without a subscription.

[AKA2D '91]

Now, you know you are still "paying" for that subscription when you purchase that ticket for Ebony Fashion Fair. Next time, look on your ticket!

That fashion show is played out, too!

[SweetestDiva]

Originally posted by AKA2D '91:
Now, you know you are still "paying" for that subscription when you purchase that ticket for Ebony Fashion Fair. Next time, look on your ticket!

That fashion show is played out, too!

Have y'all seen some of those clothes?!

[TempleAlum1993]

I think Ebony has its place. Unfortunately, we as a people do not have the luxury of having a very wide range of media publications to address all of our interests.

I enjoy Jet for what it is, a weekly "entertainment" publication. At times I find it more informative than Ebony with the political tidbits and brief articles about happenings in our community.

I think Essence is just ok. The price of the subscription is too high for me for what you get. Some of the articles are good but I think that Essence runs some of the same subject matter over and over again.

I enjoy Black Enterprise and enjoy most of the issues. After subscribing for three years, I'm trying to decide if I want to renew.

I subscribed to Savoy Magazine and so far I haven't made a decision. Part of my reason was that I missed two issues. When I called to complain to customer service, I was told that my subscription had been put on hold because an issue was returned for an incorrect address. Well you know a sista was pi$$ed! Shoot they had no problems cashing my check. Well I did receive the latest issue. There is an interview with Jesse Jackson in there. I browsed it BUT it seemed to have very little substance.

[The Original Ape]

This artical is like the pot calling the kettle black! Bryant Gumbel is one of the biggest shines(uncle toms) since Sammy Davis Jr.! And Ebony Magazine seems to be color struck. They also spend too much space covering material things, instead of promoting progressive, collective thinking for us, and offering suggestions for problems faced by most African-Americans.

I agree with most of you; they are rendering themselves obsolete.

[meeks]

Originally posted by prayerfull:
It also seems like they publish the article on the 100 Most Influental Black Americans more than once a year.

I though I was the only one who felt that way....

[DST Love]

Originally posted by MIDWESTDIVA:
Ebony Magazine makes me ill.

No, really. Every time I read it, my blood pressure skyrockets. The last article I remember reading was one that glamorized Black female celebrities that choose to have children and either postome marriage, or skip it altogether.

Whatever happened to social responsibility?

Maybe the editors of Ebony Magazine forgot that single teenage mothers are running rampant in the Black community.

[This message has been edited by MIDWESTDIVA (edited June 12, 2001).]

When I saw this thread, the article you mentioned was the first one I thought about. That article did it for me. My boyfriend and I too were appalled at the way they glamorized those Black celebrities for CHOOSING to have children and postpone or disregard marriage. It's one thing to discuss it but it's a whole other thing to make it sound like it's the best thing to do. I will not be renewing my subscription.


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#10 Sigma (Clark Atlanta University) Spring 1999
Currently: MAL, Southern Region

[This message has been edited by DST Love (edited June 13, 2001).]

[Chi_ZETABBW]

I agree with the pot calling the kettle black statement. Also I haven't been a fan of EBONY in almost 15 years or more. I glace it over my mom's house, because she will be a faithful subscriber to the day she goes "HOME". All they do is recycle stories.
Dorothy Dandridge at least twice a year, 100 most eligible, etc.
I detest the magazine, and JET is 100 times worse. Not a fan of Essence either.