ESSENCE Magazine is continuing their program of perpetuating mock victimization by masking the real issues with hyper-consumerism. The latest issue features the new prototype of Black manhood, USHER RAYMOND, on the cover. As usual the editors at ESSENCE have devised a byline for the cover that will titillate the senses of Black women everywhere – ‘MEN UNCENSORED, What they really feel about Sex, Porn, Love and Us’.
First off, do you see the topics and their respective order that the editors have chosen to highlight? As if sex and porn come before love and Black women. Next, I read the article and just as I expected, it was a covert attack against Black relationships. The men questioned were of various ages and all were described as progressive and upwardly mobile. I refuse to believe that this interview session even took place. The men’s responses were not three-dimensional, but stereotypically lame and quasi-chauvanistic. I am convinced this article was written by a Chinese woman imagining she was in a room of Black men. For instance, Black men are not complaining about getting head any longer. That was a funny comedy routine by CHRIS ROCK about seven years ago. Since then TRINA and LIL’ KIM have done a masterful job of influencing Black women to freely give up oral and anal sex. What we are complaining about now is not being allowed to pee on our girlfriends when we are in the shower together.
All I am trying to tell you is that ESSENCE magazine wants Black women to remain emotionally unsatisfied so that they will use their financial assets to compensate for the void. ESSENCE doesnt just want you to feel incomplete on a romantic level, they are even more sinister. ESSENCE wants you to hate the skin that you are in. I found several advertisements for beauty products that featured white in the photos.
SEPHORA – white model (ad text states ‘endless beauty options’)
MONISTAT – white skin
GILLETTE VENUS razors – semi-nude blonde model
McDONALD’s – white girls
DERMABLAND – white model (ad text states that ‘all skin imperfections
disappear’)
HUGGIES diapers – white baby
The worst thing that was advertised in this piece of shit magazine was the new fragrance from GIORGIO ARMANI. The photo featured a white couple. The name of the fragrance is BLACK CODE. Do you people know what the BLACK CODE is?!? The BLACK CODE was a name given to laws passed by southern states during the presidency of Andrew Johnson(post Civil War). These laws imposed severe restrictions on freed slaves such as prohibiting their right to vote, forbidding them to sit on juries, limiting their right to testify against white men, carrying weapons in public places and working in certain occupations. Can you imagine if faggot azz CALVIN KLEIN called a cologne HOLOCAUST? He would get shot between the eyes by the MOSSAD. And of all the magazines available to feature a launch ad for this stupidly named mens product GIORGIO ARMANI chose to do it in a publication geared to the African-American community. Just remember that you can’t spell gay without a G and an A in the beginning.
I know I have asked you good people to become active several times before but if you can’t find the time in your schedule to write an e-mail to Mrs.DIANE WEATHERS, the Editor-in-Chief of ESSENCE then don’t complain to me when your right to vote is revoked. It will be your own fault because you bought into the BLACK CODE.
I hate magazines. When you look at the covers its amazing what the differences are. Womens: What is he really thinking, What does he want, Is he cheating, Does he really love you, 100 ways to please him, Is he on the DL? Mens: Rock Hard abs, Have better sex. Stop confusing these women! Why do they make every man seem complicated and ignore any man who actually is.
Wow. And I thought ESSENCE was doing the black community a service.
Thank you for the heads up. I thought I was the only person who saw that connection…good looking out. Armani needs to come out with a statement. Really.
I no longer subscribe to ESSENCE, the mag has ceased to be relevant. I can see them folding within the next five years.
Always enjoyed your blog but never commented but I must co-sign on the entry. I swear there are “think tanks” out there structured to keep black women scared and paranoid (DL Brotha wave), unsatisfied, insecure and just straight hanging on to the words and wisdom of “experts” who riddle off contradictions (dont be too strong…dont be a gold digger…you gotta find a man). I have banned Ebony and Jet from my collection of periodicals and Essence was good for the long line wait at the super market…placed right back up there with Star and Enquirer.
In regards to BLACK CODE…It is sad. For no one at Essence to even do the research, just GOOGLE the name or even just give a damn, is classic. My beautiful Black people will be led into destruction because we choose to be blind and assume we have “come up”. We are a marketing team’s dream. Make it expensive and exclusive and we are dishing money: ie – clothing, cars, restaurants, parties, etc.
You know what…its a beautiful day in ATL and I am going to jump off my soapbox. You hit a nerve and I feel my facial muscles starting to mean-mug from frustration. LOL
Thanks for the entry and I will be spreading the message and writing Mrs Weathers.
wow, I took Tai’s advice and googled the name and was digusted by what i read. i can’t believe that essence a magazine pushed on black Culture would have eagerly advertised it without researching this. i know that this is a remix blog but what’s the update on it.