Name: Time of Essence
Released: 2023-08-18T00:00:00.000Z

Available on Philo, WATCH OWN, Prime Video, discovery+, Hulu, Sling TV, HBO Max

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.

Documentary · 2023 · 42 min

EPISODE 1

Chapter One: The 1970s

At the dawn of the '70s, as Black women yearn for representation in media and politics, Essence magazine is born; during this era, while there are wars on the outside for the soul of America, there are also battles taking place within Essence.

41 min · Aug 18, 2023
EPISODE 2

Chapter Two: The 1980s

In 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.

41 min · Aug 25, 2023
EPISODE 3

Chapter Three: The 1990s

In the 1990s, Essence subscribership is soaring, and the team fearlessly embraces hard-hitting stories about the power of Black women.

41 min · Sep 1, 2023
EPISODE 4

Chapter Four: The 2000s

In the early 2000s, Black women are driving culture, but their magazine is taken over by the predominantly white-led media giant Time Inc.

41 min · Sep 8, 2023
EPISODE 5

Chapter Five: The 2010s to the Future

In 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.

41 min · Sep 15, 2023