'Ebony' is very inspirational and aspirational to its readers.
The horse is my favorite animal.
We have signed an exclusive licensing agreement with a company called TurnerPatterson, another African-American company, and what I thought would be a great vehicle for 'Ebony,' since it is such a strong brand name with tremendous loyalty, is to grow that brand name even more across different areas.
Johnson Publishing Co. has always had a first-class image. And until the day I die, I want to keep that image.
Fairness and equality means that what you are never limits who you can be. It means that a young African-American man like my father can start a business with $500 and a dream. It means that a young African-American woman like my mother can walk into European fashion houses with her head held high and be treated with respect.
We've been here so long. The history and richness runs so deep within the community. We own this. It's personal. It's very personal.
In regards to black people, we have a treasure trove of information that nobody else really has.
I think I'm curious by nature because I always want to learn, and I think you can learn from so many things around you on an everyday basis.
Yves Saint Laurent has a special place in my heart because he was my mother's favorite designer.
I'm not so sure we've influenced the general market. But I'm not sure we're trying to do that.
I am struck by the memories of all of the fantastic Links ladies who worked so hard to host the Ebony Fashion Fair shows.
We know in our hearts that none of us get ahead when some of us are stuck with second-class status.
We understand our audience. We write to the things that concern our audience. At one point, it was civil rights. You know, during the '50s and '60s, we were at the forefront.
Almost 63 years ago, my father, John Johnson, named the publication 'Jet' because, as he said in the first issue, 'In the world today, everything is moving faster. There is more news and far less time to read it.' He could not have spoken truer words. We are not saying goodbye to 'Jet'; we are embracing the future as my father did in 1951.
The bitter might be just an initial reaction of, 'Oh my goodness, it's sold,' but not really understanding fully that I will be chairman emeritus of the new company, which is Ebony Media Operations. It is African-American led and owned, and I have a seat on the board, and I also have an equity position in the company, so I'm still there.
In light of the overall economic challenges that are affecting many, including our potential corporate sponsors, we have arrived at a most difficult decision to cancel Ebony Fashion Fair's fall 2009 season.
I think the most challenging aspect from my father's perspective was probably getting advertising. He really did pattern 'Ebony' after 'Look' and 'Life' magazines.
They couldn't have a little kid occupying an important spot on the front row, so I sat in the back where all the models changed clothes. I remember vividly the rustling and the rush of the fabrics of the clothes and the swoosh of textures and color as they went by. I was in the back, but I had a front-row seat, in my opinion.
We're the curator for the African-American experience for the past, present and future. That's my job.
My playground was our company. That's really where I grew up.
