Clarence O. Smith, a pioneering drive in Black media and co-founder of ESSENCE journal, handed away on April 21, 2025, on the age of 92. ESSENCE shared the heartbreaking information on-line. His visionary management and unwavering dedication to uplifting Black ladies reworked the media panorama and left an indelible mark on American tradition.
A Legacy of Empowerment
Born on March 31, 1933, within the Bronx, New York, Smith served within the U.S. Military earlier than embarking on a profession in enterprise. In 1968, recognizing a void in media illustration for Black ladies, he co-founded ESSENCE alongside Edward Lewis, Cecil Hollingsworth, and Jonathan Blount. The journal’s inaugural subject was printed in Might 1970, rapidly changing into a cornerstone of Black tradition and a platform celebrating the sweetness, energy, and achievements of African American ladies.
As president of Essence Communications, Smith was instrumental in increasing the model past print. Beneath his steering, ESSENCE launched the ESSENCE Awards, ESSENCE Tv, and the ESSENCE Pageant of Tradition—an annual occasion in New Orleans that has grown into one of many largest gatherings celebrating Black tradition and music.
Championing the Black Ladies’s Market
Smith’s strategic acumen was evident in his efforts to focus on the financial energy of Black ladies. He coined the time period “Black Ladies’s Market,” shifting the promoting trade’s focus and inspiring funding in a demographic lengthy ignored by mainstream media. This not solely bolstered ESSENCE‘s progress but additionally paved the best way for better illustration and inclusion throughout varied industries.
Susan L. Taylor, former Editor-in-Chief of ESSENCE, mirrored on Smith’s affect, stating, “He shifted hearts, minds—and funding selections—within the typical promoting world. With the revenue he and his groups primarily generated, we editors had been in a position to develop the journal’s magnificence and depth.”
Honors and Remembrance
All through his illustrious profession, Smith acquired quite a few accolades, together with the Ernst & Younger Entrepreneur of the Yr Award for Publishing in 1994 and the A.G. Gaston Lifetime Achievement Award in 1997.
He’s survived by his spouse, Elaine, and their household. In a heartfelt tribute, ESSENCE journal honored Smith’s enduring legacy, stating, “With Clarence Smith’s passing, we’ve misplaced a mighty thoughts, however not a legacy. It lives on.”
Clarence O. Smith’s visionary contributions proceed to resonate, inspiring future generations to champion illustration, empowerment, and cultural satisfaction.
