Essence Communications Inc.

In this pivotal election, Black women everywhere could, for the first time, see a reflection of our grandmother’s dreams as Commander in Chief. This moment isn’t just about casting a ballot; it’s about claiming our space, our rights, and our future. That isn’t lost on Vice President Kamala Harris. She knows where she stands, firmly at the intersection of freedom and power. We’re not just voting; we’re shaping a legacy of freedom for generations to come. The stakes are high, but so is her spirit. In a very special Chief -to- Chief interview filmed at the 30th ESSENCE Festival of Culture, ESSENCE Ventures CEO and President Caroline Wanga sat down with Vice President Kamala Harris to discuss what inspired her to enter politics, her plans as President, and the potential impact of the upcoming election on everyone. This is our special, Collector’s Edition September / October subscriber cover. Read her cover story here: https://lnkd.in/eB-8TDCd

When we give ourselves permission to be ourselves, we open the door for others to do the same! Eva Marcille dropped a few gems ahead of her hosting duties at the 2024 ESSENCE Fashion House: Luxury Undefined! We’re kicking NYC Fashion Week off with ESSENCE Fashion House today at 6 pm in the heart of New York City. Didn’t get a ticket? Don’t worry, we’ve got you! You can stream the event live at ESSENCE.com!

June Ambrose is an icon-maker and shape-shifter. The style maven has created looks that have not only become a part of hip-hop history but also the American lexicon. June’s legendary resume includes the likes of Jay-Z, Missy Elliott, Busta Rhymes, and many more. For 30 years, with a distinctive eye, she has brought that vivacity to rap through her creative direction. June spoke to ESSENCE about her legacy, reminiscing on the iconic looks that shaped the culture, what she hopes will be her legacy will be, and a glimpse of the future of fashion. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/g3muqzrK Grab your copy of our September/ October Fashion Issue available on newsstands now! Photographed by Rasaan Wyzard Styled by Kutendereza “Tukie” Babumba Hair: Nicole Newland using Kymms Creations Extensions Makeup: Darline ‘Dar’ Balthazar using Dior Forever Glow Foundation Photography Assistant: Chianne Gibbs Production Assistant: Jordan Santisteban Shot at Rein Studios Production by The Morrison Group

ESSENCE Fashion House™ is back today, Friday, September 6, 2024! Hosted by Eva Marcille with sounds by New York City native DJ David, we welcome you to “Luxury Undefined.” This year, ESSENCE Fashion House™ will celebrate Black creatives, visionaries, and designers' influence on fashion culture while shining a light on the way Black fashion enthusiasts have cultivated trends ingrained in fashion’s DNA. Our SOKO MRKT will also come to life with trending and emerging fashion collections and access to exclusive new product lines across jewelry, fashion, footwear, and more. Can't wait to see you there!

ESSENCE sends our condolences to the family and loved ones of Ugandan Olympic athlete Rebecca Cheptegei. Cheptegei passed away at the age of 33 after being treated for burns covering 80% of her body, sustained in an attack by her partner. Today, as we honor her legacy as an athlete, we also speak up for the women around the world whose voices have been muted by domestic violence.

Let’s Get ready to binge watch! Natasha Rothwell is adapting Tareasa “Reesa Tessa” Johnson’s popular “Who TF Did I Marry?” TikTok series into a TV show. Natasha will also serve as an executive producer and play the lead role of Reesa. You might recall the TikTok series, consisting of 50 videos, documenting her relationship with her ex-husband, whom she describes as a pathological liar. Her videos garnered over 450 million views, and she gained more than 3 million followers in just two weeks. ESSIES, are you ready to rewatch this epic story?

Written by: Dr. Candacè King We are currently living in an era where police terror is being televised. For every precious Black life we tragically witness being unjustly taken by police violence, there is a Black family that mourns and a larger community of Black people whose mental health hangs in balance. According to data from the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities, African Americans are 20 percent more likely to experience serious psychological distress than white Americans. These studies also show that Black women are about half as likely to seek mental health care. While it’s common to dismiss these concerns as “cultural,” the fact is the root of these issues are largely systemic. Black people’s fear of misdiagnosis or being labeled as “crazy” by a clinician who does not fully understand their life experiences are valid. There is a devastating trend in which Black women are either overdiagnosed or underdiagnosed based on preconceived racial and gender biases. Furthermore, as we saw in the tragic case of Sonya Massey, these misreadings can have deadly consequences. As many as half of all police shootings involved untreated severe mental illnesses. The persistent failure to keep Black women safe forces them to take matters into their own hands, often at the expense of their emotional labor. Read more at ESSENCE.com

On Wednesday, the Supreme Court put on hold the Biden administration's latest multibillion-dollar plan to lower payments for millions of borrowers, while lawsuits made their way through lower courts. The justices rejected an administration request to reinstate most of it, and the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals blocked it. In an unsigned order, the court expects the appeals court to issue a fuller decision on the plan “with appropriate dispatch.” The Education Department aims to streamline the process for loan cancellation and lower monthly income-based repayments from 10% to 5% of a borrower’s discretionary income. Under the plan, borrowers earning less than 225% of the federal poverty line — which is $32,800 a year for a single person — would not be required to make payments. Last year, the conservative majority of the Supreme Court rejected a previous plan to eliminate over $400 billion in student loan debt.

A federal judge has dismissed major felony charges against two former Louisville police officers, Joshua Jaynes and Kyle Meany, who were accused of falsifying the warrant that led to the fatal police raid at Breonna Taylor’s apartment in 2020. U.S. District Judge Charles Simpson ruled that the actions of Taylor’s boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, who fired at the police during the raid, were the legal cause of her death rather than the allegedly faulty warrant. The court’s ruling has reduced the civil rights violation charges against Jaynes and Meany from carrying a maximum sentence of life in prison to misdemeanors. However, the judge has decided not to dismiss the conspiracy charge against Jaynes and a separate charge against Meany for making false statements to investigators. The U.S. Justice Department said that it “is reviewing the judge’s decision and assessing next steps.” Read more updates about Breonna Taylor’s case at ESSENCE.com

The highest criminal court in Texas will review the case of Crystal Mason, a Texas woman who received a five-year prison sentence for attempting to cast a provisional ballot in the 2016 presidential election when she was ineligible to vote. In 2016, she tried to vote. However, when the poll workers couldn’t locate her name on the registered voters’ list, they provided Mason with a provisional ballot. Provisional ballots are used when there is uncertainty about an individual’s eligibility, and they are counted only if the individual is later confirmed to be eligible to vote, as required by federal law. Mason was on supervised release for a federal tax felony. Texas, like several other US states, prohibits individuals convicted of a felony from voting until they have completed their sentence. Although Mason’s supervised release officer testified that they did not advise her that she could not vote, prosecutors argue that she was aware of her ineligibility but attempted to vote regardless. Her ballot was never counted. The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals said it would decide the case without oral argument. It did not immediately set a schedule for the parties to submit briefs, so a timeline for a resolution was not immediately clear. Read more about Crystal’s case at ESSENCE.com