Us

The first Ebony magazine that was published was published in 1945. Many know that the word ebony is used to describe an African American because of their skin color. Ebony is actually a specific type of wood, by definition Ebony is 1.heavy blackish or very dark brown timber from a mainly tropical tree. African Americans also identify as “black” because of the racial binary; whatever white is, black is not. On the cover of the first Ebony magazine is six white boys and one boy of color in the middle. The expression on the white boys faces are happy and excited, the expression on the black child’s face is not as ecstatic. I feel some type of way that there are white kids on the cover of the first ebony magazine that is published; because I feel that white people should not be on the cover of a magazine that’s     meant for the black community.

As the magazine continues to grow throughout society you see a consistent pattern of African Americans consistently on the cover of the magazine.  Later down the line you see John F. Kennedy on the cover of the magazine which is important because he was a huge apart of the civil rights movement. A lot of peolple were affected by his death just like how we were effected by the death of Martin Luther kind and Malcom X. Ebony magazine over time is now something that is a contribution to the African American communinty. It's offensive to have white folk on the cover of a magazine that's not meant for them. It just shows how they will always have some type of superiority over us. Even on the cover of our own magazine the headlines would also be offensive and diminishing of the black culture. Like on the cover of the 1971 issue the headline is "The Black Male" and the photo is only a shadow of a figure of a black man, leaving the image black and blank and the 1982 issue with the headline "what every black woman should know about black men" , I mean what is there to know? About our own people. It's like a mocking of our existence our character and our ways. 
Now in days the Ebony magazine covers are more positive and uplifting. Highlighting the accomplishments and growth of our communities throughout the years. The magazine is filled with fun facts, ways to take care of our hair and health and ways to progress and get involved in the comminity and activities around us. Informing us about who really is a threat to us which in reality are law enforces like the police. Perfect example. Oscar grant shot in his back by police officer who walked free. If a black person even looks at a white person it's an issue which is ridiculous. Another example, Trayvon Martin, seventeen year of African American male shot dead by a neighborhood watchman! Who does that?! He smiles in his mug shot and he walks out the court house free. When there are African American men that are locked up just because the prison can make more money off of them being a cell mate. Yesterday I watch MIA music video to her song Born Free. There was a lot of heat thrown at her because of how she did her music video. She got the idea from a real life genocide that happened in 2009 in Palestine (I think) but instead of the people being executed being people of color, she instead had white people being executed by people of color in her video which rose hell in the industry. But people fail to realize she did it to show that what happens to US is real. White people don't care unless it happens to them, they don't care about us. They don't.