Time of Essence

Season 1

This documentary series highlights the ways Essence has informed and reflected Black culture in America over the past 50 years with firsthand commentary from the icons and trailblazers, never-before-seen footage and exclusive behind-the-scenes moments.

Where to Watch Season 1

5 Episodes

  • Chapter One: The 1970s
    E1
    Chapter One: The 1970sAt 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.
  • Chapter Two: The 1980s
    E2
    Chapter Two: The 1980sIn the 1980s, Black women are thriving both personally and professionally, yet President Reagan's "welfare queen" stereotype poisons America's perception. Essence works tirelessly to portray Black women accurately while also dealing with internal turmoil.
  • Chapter Three: The 1990s
    E3
    Chapter Three: The 1990sIn 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 didn't see coming.
  • Chapter Four: The 2000s
    E4
    Chapter Four: The 2000sIn the early 2000s, Black women are driving culture, but is their magazine losing its way? A takeover by the predominantly white-led media giant Time Inc. alters the DNA of the magazine, alienating some of the demographic Essence was created to empower.
  • Chapter Five: 2010 Onwards
    E5
    Chapter Five: 2010 OnwardsIn 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 company's resilience.

 

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