Essence Gets Rid of their White Fashion Editor
When news broke about Essence Magazine hiring a white fashion editor back in 2010, many loyal readers of the magazine–whose tagline is “Where Black Women Come First”– were shocked. Even those in the fashion community were puzzled by the magazine’s decision to grant one of the most coveted positions in the fashion world to a woman who was not a reflection of the demographic to which she was serving. Black women struggle to find opportunities in media, and many white magazines refuse to hire African Americans. So, the odd decision by Essence to hire a white female over qualified African American women angered millions across the country.
But now, Ellianna Placas, the white fashion editor who filled that coveted and influential role for two years has been fired, according to the New York Post. She served as fashion director at Essence for two years. We are not sure why she was fired, but the move is sure to draw the attention of loyal readers of the magazine, many of them African American women seeking media outlets that are reflective of their interests.
At the time of Placas’ hiring, many expressed their displeasure with the choice all over social media. Even former Essence fashion editor and image activist Michaela Angela Davis spoke out.
“It is with a heavy heavy heart I have learned that Essence magazine has engaged a white fashion director, this hurts, literally, spiritually.”I am so so hurt and confused and frankly angry by this news. I feel like a girlfriend has died,” she posted.
Many argued that there were equally qualified African-American women who could have filled the role, as Essence typically represents one of the few faces of color at fashion industry events, including Fashion Week. The New York Post is reporting that Placas’ departure had less to do with race and more to do with her butting heads with the magazine’s editor-in-chief Constance White. There is no word on her replacement.
Essence also drew attention earlier this year, when it turned out that a white managing editor, Michael Bullerdick, was posting racially-inflammatory comments on his Facebook page. Observers were curious as to how Bullerdick was given significant responsibilities with a leading black female publication when it was clear that his views did not align with the magazine’s demographic. Essence has changed quite a bit.
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Isn’t being glad that the magazine fired the white editor because she is white “racist”? Given that white racism has dramatically decreased over the past several decades and continues to decrease, I fail to see how some black Americans think responding with racism will help to continue that positive trend? And, if it won’t, exactly what are you seeking to accomplish?
This article did NOT say that anyone was glad that this white woman was fired. The article was giving us the information that her firing occurred.
What makes you think that white racism has dramatically decreased and continues to decrease? That’s your white opinion. Ask a Black person about that.surveys have shown time and time again that whites have their heads in the sand about racism in this country. What…Blacks should feel racial issues are better because we are not lynched in the party/picnic setting by throngs of whites anymore? We are lynched in other ways now…like these recent shootings of handcuffed Black and Latino men.
You speak as though Black people are not permitted to be displeased that Essence would hire a white person in the editor position while passing over many talented Black women. That is racism in itself.
Maybe you should post only after waking from your “post racial” (what a joke) slumber.
great great comments, big annie! so “white racism has dramatically decreased……..” according to Dyer above? if this stmt wasn’t so utterly utterly bizarre, farfetched & pathetic it would b laughable! Where has this person been living, on Mars maybe? Blks have always been invisible to whites & considered less than human by many. There is no other way to explain how they could b so totally ignorant & dismissive of the blatant racism that still exists n this country & has never really abated.
great great comments, big annie! so “white racism has dramatically decreased……..” according to Dyer above? if this stmt wasn’t so utterly utterly bizarre, farfetched & pathetic it would b laughable! Where has this person been living, on Mars maybe? Blks have always been invisible to whites & considered less than human by many. There is no other way to explain how they could b so totally ignorant & dismissive of the blatant racism that still exists n this country & has never really abated.
What a waste is was for me being part of the Civil Rights Movement in the late 1950′s and early 1960′s. I always suspected if Blacks were a majority in the South they would oppress Whites.
That is your personal nightmare. Black people are very forgiving and have a strong sense of fairness. The woman was given a chance and she did not fit.
This Alan guy always makes negative comments that he knows will get people riled up. Im sure that’s why the picture is posted as well, to be “in-your-face.”
A good example of how he operates is to look at his comment. How in the heck does ‘Blacks oppressing Whites” come into play in this article at all?
I never respond to him because he is an agitator.
If the article said that the grass is green, he would say that it is blue and that Black people believe that it is purple. It sounds stupid, and that is just how this guy operates.
A lot of people are wasting their time commenting to him. He does this all the time. No one’s going to change this guy’s attitudes. And please don’t be fooled if he makes an occasional “positive” comment.
The “Browning” of America will not bring about suppression of whites by Blacks. Your personal participation in the civil rights movement didn’t eradicate racism. No matter what color you are, you’re losing your job if you can’t get along with the boss.
EIC Constance White made a mgmt. decision regarding a hire that was problematic from the door. This white woman has the civil rights movement to thank for getting this job in the first place!
Seek comfort in the lily white bubble of your retirement community while reflecting on your past white saviour complex activism.
Alan, I am a 55 yr old African American professional and I have experienced FAR MORE racism in the last 10 years than I have in a lifetime! I can best compare the racism today to “white noise”, you know the noise is there but you get used to it (like a noisey radiator). Racism is the same way, you only see all white commercials, magazines, bill boards, etc, but once in a while
they make a commercial catering to a specific minority group or throw a black person in a commercial with all whites (his date is usually white or he is not paired up like the others. Is this fair to you? You don’t recognize the racism because you have gotten used to it, its OK for a company to hire all white employees with maybe one black person, but you will never see that same white company hire all black with only one white. In addition, I live in northern Calif, there are numerous white couples that have adopted black children, I have yet to see a black person be allowed to adopt or foster a white child, and yes they have tried! The article stated that she “butted heads” with her boss and she was fired. No one knows if this is the real reason, but if it is then her firing was legit.
OK… so now it’s wrong to have someone work for you that more closely aligns with your vision. How could this woan serve the targeted client, me an African American woman or my daughter, grand daughter, niece, etc. I have sent several emails to the Editor in Chief trying to bring her attention to the fact that our females need things to cater to their beauty as Blacks. My last email went out two weeks ago and included a Facebook story about a young WHITE girl petitioning Seventeen Mag to present more images she could relate to. If Essence is a mag for women of color, why is more than 50% of the advertising done with WHITE models? Why is the clothing showcased not even available to some African American women because of body shapes, etc. They should revise the complete staff anf the advertising should be te first to be revised. Glad to she snow white gone.
whites want to buy us out of all we own: black hair care products, bakeries, etc I heard that they buy out successful black businesses whenever they can. but why do they sell in the first place. Dr. Miracle is said to be owned by a white man now. Doo-Gro is owned by whites. etc etc.
A White woman should never have been hired in the first place – what were these people thinking. Perhaps they have now learned their lesson: People can only communicate with others if they understand their language. The idea that a White could ever understand Blacks is ludicrous.
Alan Black people did not need you in the 50″s and 60″s, and do not need your tainted remarks now. The few whites that were involved benefited and their respective groups, Black people are in worse condition to day overall than back in those days. So who cares that you were there. Just like the linked story of the racist managing editor of Essence, Black women stop buying the magazine. Create our own and control our selves.
D.A. Dyer
What America are you living in?
“Given that white racism has dramatically decreased over the past several decades and continues to decrease”
Wake up & Smell the Teabaggers, GOP and the constant bombardment of RACIST Attack’s against the POTUS & his Family!
SNAP OUT OF IT!!
Any form of racism is not good. Dr. King said: “Black racism is just as bad as White racism”. In this global economy it pays for a company such as Essence to reflect diversity amongst its employees and Directors to attract Adverisers which keep the company afloat by the purchase of ads. It takes an editor in chief with a superb business acumen to keep a magazine competitve, one who is willing to hire the best qualified indidvidual for the job at hand regardless of race.
Essence is not the first African themed business to give coveted positions to whites and they will not be the last..You need not look any further than your local resturants and see who has the better positions. These are the same business owners who complain that they should have more support from the African American community. Perhaps we support those who support us.
wait a minute “”! didnt not to long ago these folk were running around in the caves and hill’s of EUROPE like savage’s some of them on thier all fours ? wearing SACKCLOTH and ANIMAL SKINS?? when we as black people were IN FACT in VIBRANT COLORED SILK’S AND FINE GARMENT’S maybe im confused !!! but why are they all of a sudden the AUTHORITY on fashion ??? wait a minute didnt not to long ago they these same people thought that the world was FLAT !!
@markee it’s like this I can appreciate all the cultural jazz you spouting but at some point those animal skin wearing cave dwelling savages stood upright long enough to to build ships big enough to put our sharp dressed a***s in the holds of slave ships. It was called the middle passage And rewrite a bible that we use every Sunday That’s like the parent to the child it wasn’t that long ago that you were the sharpest dressed boy in day care. Yeah that’s all good moms but now I’m 17 and my shoes don’t fit and my clothes are busted so that accolade rings hollow. Are they better h**l NO they are just different. Don’t get sidetracked the fight is in front of you
Peace
What is really the surprise? A White magazine hiring a White fashion editor or a White magazine trying to convince Black Women that it is still has our best interest@ heart? No love for Essence since Time Warner took over. No longer a subscriber.
Amen! Cancelled my subscription in 2010 or 2011 after seeing so many ads that didn’t represent us and one too many articles on how sexually repressed we are.
I knew something was wrong with essence. I stopped subscribing to them LONG ago. They just seemed fake. They were just fake.
Being black in America, one has to exist in two worlds, the black and the white.
When you are white in America you exist in one world only.
On that premise, a white woman, no matter how talented, would never, never be able to identify with me, she does not understand my hair, she does not know what it is to try to find a skirt that hangs evenly all around and not hike up in the back. She does not know what it is like to be almost knocked down by a white man who is trying to open the door for the perky and cute white woman. She does not know what it is like to live in my skin on any level and therefore, she can not edit a magazine that was intneded to reflect my life.
WTH?
Last time I checked, hiring for a job was about who could best PERFORM.
I wonder how many would be up in arms if a black woman was passed over an editorial position simply because of the color of her skin…….I know I would because that would be RACISM.
Are we interested in furthering racism against ANY race?
Or are we interested in true equity and fairness?
Having hired hundreds of folks in my life, I have always striven to hire the BEST APPLICANT for the position, white, black or rainbow colored.
I’m surprise black women still support this white own rag of a magazine. I bet she’ll claim racial discrimination and turn around and sue them. They should have never hired her. The only reason she was hired is because Essence like a lot of so called black media is white owned. The bill of goods called “racial diversity” that white liberals sold us was about taking over black own businesses or shutting them down. They (whites) are now the voice of black Americans by controlling our media. Whites are now the ones we mainly depend on for jobs instead of doing for ourselves.
U missed it!
Come now, isn’t this a bit racist?
They hired a white woman because she was able to do the job, surely?
Why all the hate?
I would like to say I am sorry for all the hate. I am considered white, however I am ashamed of what the white people have said and done to hurt others. I love all people and have a african american husband. I thank God for all the fighting and rising up of our black people, because without it i wouldnt be able to love so many people and have such a beautiful family………. Thank you to ALL my sisters and brothers that fought for your rights you have given us all a chance to live together and love each other. I know there is still a long battle and a lot of struggles, don’t give up and please remember its not all white people……… its the ignorant ones……… Peace and love to all my colors………….