Backstage: An Unfurling of the Johnson Publishing Company | Ebony's Editorial Legacy

This event occurred on Nov 6, 2025.

Behind the pages of Ebony stood a remarkable editorial team that redefined American journalism and Black representation in media: from its 1945 launch, Ben Burns established the magazine’s editorial philosophy, creating a framework for coverage of Black life; Era Bell Thompson, a pioneering Black female editor, brought groundbreaking international coverage that broadened readers' understanding of the global Black experience; Lerone Bennett Jr. elevated the magazine's intellectual profile through his historical essays and cultural commentary, transforming Ebony into an educational resource that connected readers to their heritage.

This panel features Gabrielle M. Dudley from Emory University's Stuart A. Rose Library, Raquel Flores-Clemons from Chicago Public Library's Vivian Harsh Research Collection, and Kheir Fakhreldin from Chicago State University. They explore the editorial innovations of Bennett, Burns, and Thompson, examining how their work shaped not only Ebony but also influenced broader conversations about Black identity and culture in America.

The Johnson Publishing Company Archive is owned by Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) and J. Paul Getty Trust. In 2019, a consortium made up of the Ford Foundation, J. Paul Getty Trust, John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, and Smithsonian Institution acquired the JPC archive. In 2022, ownership was transferred to NMAAHC and the J. Paul Getty Trust, with a commitment to make the archive available to the public by 2029.

Learn more about the Johnson Publishing Company Archive: https://www.getty.edu/projects/johnso...

Visit the Getty Research Institute's Exhibitions and Events page for more free programs: https://www.getty.edu/research/exhibi...

Presenters:

LeRonn P. Brooks, Curator of the African American Art History Initiative at the Getty Research Institute

Gabrielle M. Dudley, Assistant Director of Public Services at the Stuart A. Rose Manuscript, Archives, and Rare Book Library

Kheir Fakhreldin, University Archivist at Chicago State University

Raquel Flores-Clemons, Head of the Vivian G. Harsh Research Collection at Chicago Public Library

Skyla S. Hearn, Archivist, Photographer, and Writer

Learn more about this event: https://www.getty.edu/calendar/backst...

This program is associated with the Getty Research Institute's African American Art History Initiative, which focuses on the history, practices, and cultural legacies of artists of African American and African diasporic heritage. The initiative aims to provide a more robust and accurate account of American art through Black history. https://www.getty.edu/projects/africa...

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