In 1945, Ebony’s legendary founder John H. Johnson set out to create a magazine for Black America much like that of the trailblazing Life Magazine, and that he did. For the African American community, Ebony has been a breath of fresh air, speaking on issues and events from the Black perspective, celebrating Black standards of beauty and elevating heroes of Black America—athletes, entertainers, activists, elected officials, or some combination thereof. EBONY: COVERING BLACK AMERICA, by Lavaille Lavette, is a celebration of the treasure trove of the magazine’s rich history, glamorous covers, groundbreaking cultural impact, and authentic coverage of Black American life from the magazine’s inception to the present.Ebony was Black America’s social media long before the birth of Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram”, says Lavette.
Curated by Lavette, this all-out feast of a book is packed with exclusive contributions by a host of celebrities, influencers, and cultural icons, including Common, Gabrielle Union, Dwyane Wade, Sean Combs, Kimora Lee Simmons, Ciara, and Venus Williams. The book also includes more than 600 covers and photographs featuring political forces such as Martin Luther King Jr., Michelle and President Barack Obama, and Congresswoman Barbara Jordan; entertainers such as Diana Ross, Sidney Poitier, Dorothy Dandridge, Oprah Winfrey, and Prince; as well as sports heroes like Serena Williams, Muhammad Ali, Russell Westbrook, and Simone Biles. Lavette has chosen select articles, features, and reportage of note, including Martin Luther King Jr.’s advice column, and Ebony Fashion Fair photo shoots, divided into categories found within the magazine, including Civil Rights & Social Justice, Love & Family, Ebony Men, Ebony Women, and Ebony Music .
Unique in the quality of its photographs and contributors and chronicling everything from fashion and food to politics and social change, to sports and entertainment, EBONY: COVERING BLACK AMERICA is a monumental milestone in African-American history and culture, and will be a treasured volume for the magazine’s legion of loyal readers.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Lavaille Lavette is a best-selling author, educator, producer, social entrepreneur and the president and publisher of One Street Books and Ebony Magazine’s imprint Ebony Publishing. With a master’s in education, Lavaille is a former school district administrator, speechwriter, marketing executive, and she served as special advisor to the U.S. Secretary of Education, Dr. Rod Page (2001 -2005). Beyond her work in community engagement, nonprofit and the education spheres with her bestselling series, The Adventures of Roopster Roux, Lavette is co-founder of Every Child an Author, (ECAA) Class-by-Class, School by School. ECAA is on a mission to make every child in America a published author, one grade level at a time.
EBONY: COVERING BLACK AMERICA
By Lavaille Lavette
Rizzoli New York
With contributions by Common, Gabrielle Union, Dwyane Wade, Sean Combs (Diddy), Kimora Lee Simmons, Ciara, and Venus Williams
Hardcover / 9 1/3” x 12 1/3” / 352 pages / 800 color and black & white photographs
$57.50 U.S. / $75.00 Canadian / £44.00 U.K.
ISBN: 978-0-8478-6901-5
