Essence Mag Hiring of White Fashion Director Causes Storm of Criticism

MediaBistro reported that Essence magazine has hired a white fashion director, causing writer, stylist and cultural critic Michaela Angela Davis to tweet: “It is with a heavy heavy heart I have learned that Essence magazine has engaged a white fashion director, this hurts, literally, spiritually.”

The new fashion director is Ellianna Placas, who has worked at O: The Oprah Magazine and Us Weekly. New York Mag writes: “Commenters on Facebook have called Davis’s point of view ‘reverse racism,’ but that’s not quieting a whole lot of upset people.”

Joan Morgan, an award-winning journalist, author and long-time writer for Essence says she could care less how qualified the brand’s new white Fashion Director could be. “This is about the fact that the publishing industry, particularly when it comes to mainstream women’s magazines remains just about as segregated in its hiring practices as it did in 1988.” via New York Mag