The Ebony Story

The creator of Ebony Magazine is John H. Johnson, and he was 27 years old. At the time it was November 1945. Ebony was founded to project all dimensions of the Black personality in a world saturated with stereotypes. They wanted to give a new sense of self-respect and somebodiness. Johnson wanted to tell the black community how they were and what they could do. He believed then and now that Blacks needed positive images to fulfill their potentialities.

Ebony began chipping away at old stereotypes and replacing them with positive Black images by highlighting the achievements of Black men and women that had been ignored by the general press. In the past, people had serious doubts about Blacks performing as well as the White communities. Ebony helped that. With pictures and articles, it shows how the Black communities triumph poverty and racial barriers. Blacks had history all the way to slavery, and Ebony magazine wanted to show the history.

While civil rights were going on in the 50's and 60's, Ebony became the mirror of the struggles such as segregation in lunch counters, buses, and public schools. At Ebony Magazine's own risk, they showed photos and articles about the murder of Medgar Evers, Emmett Till, and the four little girls killed in the bombing of a church. Ebony was around to pick up all of the historical events in the 50's and 60's, such as the March on Washington. They wanted everyone to see what Blacks have achieved and how they can also change the future as the years pasted on until the present time.

Since Ebony was started 60 years ago, its circulation has risen from its original press run of 25,000 to 1,700,000. As a result, Ebony reaches more Black men, more Black women and more Black professionals than any other magazine, Black or White.

John Johnson passed away August 8, 2005 at 87. His daughter Linda Johnson Rice has vowed to continue building her father's inspiring legacy and "will move forward with courage, conviction, confidence and indomitable spirit."


For more information on John Johnson and Johnsons Publishing Company, Go to:

http://www.johnsonpublishing.com/assembled/home.html