After 27 years as the chief editor of Essence magazine and the visionary credited with building the brand, Susan L.
Taylor left publishing to devote her life to building an organization that is devoted to breaking the cycle of intergenerational poverty among African Americans. A community-mobilization movement, National CARES is the only organization dedicated to providing mentoring, healing and wellness services on a national scale for Black children. At Essence magazine, Taylor not only served as chief editor, but also authored the magazine's most popular column, In the Spirit —the first in a mainstream U.
Under her guidance, the publication's readership soared in the U. But nowhere outside the magazine did she bring people and Black culture together so beautifully as with the launching of the Essence Music Festival and its famous empowerment seminars.
In 58 U. To date, National CARES has trained and deployed more than , mentors to schools and youth-support and mentoring organizations. Deepening her commitment to create pathways out of poverty that equip children with the confidence, well-being and skills they must have to succeed, Susan Taylor is leading National CARES in taking a bold leap forward. In , Taylor formed a brain trust of nationally renowned educators, community activists, business and faith leaders, physicians, psychologists and nutritionists.
Their charge was to bring their best thinking to moving what is most needed for African Americans to move to wellness in body, mind, spirit and community.
Susan L. She is the recipient of scores of prestigious awards, including the Phoenix Award, which is the highest honor given by Congressional Black Caucus, presidential citations, Image Awards, the NAACP President's Award for Visionary Leadership, and has honorary doctorate degrees from more than a dozen colleges and universities.
A widely sought-after speaker on inspiration and creativity, she encourages us to reclaim our lives and empower leaders who are devoted to creating peace, top-tier schools and safe, self-sustaining communities. Disorder and disruption are impacting us personally, professionally, and politically as a malignant misalignment of values pulls us further apart and into troubled, uncharted waters.
We must demand radical change from our leaders. If we want peace, prosperity, and a less stress-filled life for ourselves, our families, and our communities, we must be flexible and adapt to change.
Change is inevitable. Change for the better is possible, but only if it takes root in each of us first. We have to be and bring the change we want to see. I had no man. No money. I had a cosmetics business that was gone. He had a girlfriend.
How long did it take you to rebound from that? It threw me out on my own. I am the person I am today because of that shake-up. I have come to see that everything in our lives— even the most painful or shameful things—are all in divine order. The truth, I was living with the pain of poverty, more than the pain of a marriage gone.
But I am a worker. I love it! Have you ever wanted to quit publishing work? Did you ever worry about your work not being successful? You worry less when you are younger. I worry now more than I did then. Today, I would never have such confidence.
Not finance. I absolutely gravitated to the aesthetics because it was my interest from the time I founded a cosmetics company and then at Essence, where I had the responsibility for working with style teams and art directors for my pages, which as fashion and beauty editor, was the majority of the magazine.
When I became Editor-in-Chief, I was more representative of the reader than any of the editors because they had all graduated from college.
I had not gone to college at that point. Right after high school, I went to acting school. From there, I built my cosmetics company. I went to college after I became the chief editor of Essence magazine.
Many were single moms, juggling the personal and the professional, trying to hold it all together, balance it all. I stepped into the Editor-in-Chief position not wanting to write a monthly editorial. The person I was succeeding not the one who lost the job who really created the foundation that I built upon, Marcie Ann Gillespie, was brilliant, as were her editorials. Even though I was worried, I decided to write about what I was really pursuing: spiritual knowledge and growth.
Morrison was the first American woman to win in 55 years and the first African American to ever win this coveted award. Our readership was 8 million. Circulation was about 1. It was just print at that time. Was there one person during your tenure at Essence that made more of a difference than anyone else?
Who and why? Marcia Ann Gillespie, who was the Editor-in-Chief for nine years. I am from a Caribbean family that was part of the British system in Trinidad and St. Kitts, where my dad was from. It really encouraged me. So, Marcia Ann Gillespie was my greatest encouragement. You are now in the not-for-profit space. You asked me about choices. I think life takes us where we need to be. New Orleans is the site of the Essence Festival.
Hurricane Katrina had devastated the city and devastated many of the lives of people and families of those who worked with us. It has to be a party with a deeper purpose. What might we ask of them? We recruit, train and then deploy mentors to youth-serving organizations. Magazine editor Susan L. Taylor was born in Harlem, New York on January 23, Her parents, Lawrence, from St.
Kitts, and Violet, from Trinidad, came to New York in the s and owned a clothing store for thirty years until it closed in the early s. Taylor attended a Catholic school in her youth, and after graduation become a licensed Cosmetologist. She married William Bowles, and they had one daughter, Shana-Nequai. Classroom Support. Susan L. About Susan L. Biography Donate Now. List of Stories in The HistoryMakers Digital Archive Tape: 1 Slating of Susan Taylor interview Susan Taylor lists her favorites Susan Taylor explores her father's background Susan Taylor describes her father's personality and work ethic Susan Taylor details her mother's background Susan Taylor addresses stereotypes of West Indians Susan Taylor shares childhood memories Susan Taylor lists her schools Susan Taylor reflects on her childhood Susan Taylor recalls her early sexual experiences Susan Taylor compares her personal traits to her parents Susan Taylor remembers her grandmother Susan Taylor recalls her high school experiences Susan Taylor recounts her childhood job experiences Susan Taylor remembers her first boyfriends.
Tape: 2 Susan Taylor recalls getting out on her own Susan Taylor recounts her stint as an actress Susan Taylor remembers her first marriage and founding a cosmetics company Susan Taylor details the early years at Essence magazine Susan Taylor relates how she became editor in chief at Essence Susan Taylor discusses overcoming discrimination and building Essence magazine Susan Taylor recounts her experiences as editor-in-chief of Essence.
Tape: 3 Susan Taylor illustrates the value extroversion to her career Susan Taylor discusses balancing career and family Susan Taylor recalls her first issue as editor-in-chief of Essence Susan Taylor remembers meeting Winnie and Nelson Mandela Susan Taylor details the creation of the Essence Music Festival and the Essence Awards Susan Taylor reflects on the challenges and triumphs of making Essence a major publication Susan Taylor describes her new position as publications director for Essence Susan Taylor talks about her marriage.
Tape: 4 Susan Taylor reflects on her courtship and second marriage Susan Taylor discusses the challenges of parenting Susan Taylor remembers her mother's death Susan Taylor describes her spiritual reawakening Susan Taylor shares her views on the future of the black community Susan Taylor ponders civil rights history in America Susan Taylor lists her role models Susan Taylor ponders her legacy.
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