03/03/2026
Oh, my history with Essence under the leadership of Susan L. Taylor runs deep. I can still see my mother disappearing into the bathroom with her latest issue of Essence and not emerging for two full hours. We lived in a two-bedroom apartment, four kids in one room, one bathroom for all of us. And when she was in there reading Essence, you simply had to hold it until she came out. No knocking. No rushing. That was her sacred time.
It wasn’t just a magazine. It was an affirmation because ! So imagine what it meant for me to later lead and her husband, Kephra Burns, into the celebration. Full circle doesn’t even begin to describe it.
She still wore her iconic braids. Still regal. Still radiant. Still, the embodiment of an era that shaped generations of Black women, including my Ghanaian mother.
Susan L. Taylor did not simply edit a magazine. She helped shape how Black women saw themselves.
As Editor-in-Chief of Essence from 1981 to 2000, she transformed the publication into far more than glossy pages. Under her leadership, Essence became a cultural compass. It centered Black women’s beauty, intellect, spirituality, ambition, relationships, and political voice at a time when mainstream media rarely did.
What many do not know is that she began her career in the beauty department. Before leading the entire magazine, she worked as a fashion and beauty editor. That foundation gave her a deep understanding of presentation and identity, and she used it intentionally. She made sure Black women were not just visible, but dignified.
In 1987, she helped launch the Essence Awards, creating a platform to celebrate excellence in Black music, arts, and culture long before social media amplified those achievements. During her tenure, the magazine’s circulation grew significantly, solidifying it as one of the most influential publications for Black women in America.
But her work did not stop in publishing.
After stepping down as Editor-in-Chief, she founded the National CARES Mentoring Movement, mobilizing thousands of mentors to support and guide Black children. She shifted from shaping narratives to shaping futures. In 2009, she was awarded the Presidential Citizens Medal for her dedication to service and community leadership.
Her voice remains steady and instructive:
“Be clear about who you are and what you stand for. Then stand for it.”
— Susan L. Taylor
That clarity defined her leadership. She did not chase trends. She built standards.
Susan L. Taylor did not just run Essence.
She helped define the essence of cultural confidence for a generation.
Her legacy lives in every woman who saw herself reflected with strength, grace, and purpose.
