We must continue to tell our stories!
HBO Max announced their development of a new drama series about Essence magazine’s founding with the founder at the helm, Shadow and Act reports.
The new series will focus on the launch of Essence, set during the post-civil rights era. The series centers around the men who founded the Black women’s magazine and the women who served as its creative force. Executive producing the project is Essence co-founder and chairman, Edward Lewis. He is the publisher emeritus of Essence Communications, Inc., one of the largest Black-owned communications companies in the United States.
Lewis founded Essence Communications in 1968 with Clarence O. Smith, Cecil Hollingsworth, and Jonathan Blount. They began publishing the lifestyle magazine in 1970 as an ode to Black women. The new series will explore that origin story as well as the social and cultural climate of the time and its impact on Essence, Black startup culture, and “the pursuit of the American Dream.”
Will Packer Productions’ veterans, Korin Huggins and Monique Nash, will executive produce alongside Lewis under their Kronicle Media banner and 5 More Minutes Productions’ John Sacchi and Matt Groesch.
No word yet on when the new series will air, but we’re excited!
Photo Courtesy of Fortune.com