Time of Essence

At the dawn of the 70s, as Black women yearn for representation in media and politics, Essence magazine is born. During this turbulent era, while there are wars on the outside for the soul of America, there are also battles taking place within Essence.

In the 1990s, Essence subscribership is soaring, and the team fearlessly embraces hard-hitting stories about the power of Black women. But with this success comes competition, and Essence misses the mark on a cultural movement they didnt see coming.

In the 2010s, Essence is a household name but is buried in a vast library of Time Inc. publications. Change is on the horizon when Essence is brought back into Black ownership, but external challenges and internal issues test the companys resilience.