Susan L. Taylor
Encyclopedia
Susan L. Taylor is an American
editor, writer, and journalist. She served as editor-in-chief of Essence
from 1981 through 2000. In 1994, American Libraries
referred to Taylor as "the most influential black woman in journalism today".
neighborhood of New York City
to a Trinidadian mother and a father from St. Kitts. She grew up in East Harlem, where her father owned a clothing store. She went to a Catholic school
. As a teenager, she moved with her family to the New York borough
of Queens
.
By 1981, Taylor had risen to become editor-in-chief, a position she held until 2000. During the 1980s, she attended night school and earned a B.A.
from Fordham University
.
In addition to her editing responsibilities, Taylor had success building the Essence brand
. She was executive producer and host of Essence, the Television Program, a syndicated interview program broadcast on more than 50 stations for four years during the 1980s. In the 1990s, she began Essence Books.
Taylor's monthly inspirational column, "In the Spirit", became a popular feature of the magazine. She published three volumes of selected columns.
In 2000, Taylor was promoted to publications director. She left the magazine in 2008.
The Magazine Publishers of America gave Taylor its Henry Johnson Fisher Award, considered one of the industry's highest honors, in 1998. She was the first African-American woman to receive the award.
In 2002, Taylor was inducted into the American Society of Magazine Editors
' Hall of Fame for her work at Essence.
In 2003, Exceptional Women in Publishing (EWIP), formerly Women in Periodical Publishing, presented Taylor its fifth annual Exceptional Woman in Publishing award.
The NAACP
gave Taylor its President's Award in 2006.
People of the United States
The people of the United States, also known as simply Americans or American people, are the inhabitants or citizens of the United States. The United States is a multi-ethnic nation, home to people of different ethnic and national backgrounds...
editor, writer, and journalist. She served as editor-in-chief of Essence
Essence (magazine)
Essence is a monthly magazine for African-American women between the ages of 18 and 49. The magazine covers fashion, lifestyle and beauty with an intimate girlfriend-to-girlfriend tone.-History:...
from 1981 through 2000. In 1994, American Libraries
American Libraries
American Libraries is the official news and features magazine of the American Library Association. Published six times per year, along with four additional digital-only supplements, it is distributed to all members of the organization...
referred to Taylor as "the most influential black woman in journalism today".
Early life
Taylor was born in the HarlemHarlem
Harlem is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Manhattan, which since the 1920s has been a major African-American residential, cultural and business center. Originally a Dutch village, formally organized in 1658, it is named after the city of Haarlem in the Netherlands...
neighborhood of New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
to a Trinidadian mother and a father from St. Kitts. She grew up in East Harlem, where her father owned a clothing store. She went to a Catholic school
Catholic school
Catholic schools are maintained parochial schools or education ministries of the Catholic Church. the Church operates the world's largest non-governmental school system...
. As a teenager, she moved with her family to the New York borough
Borough (New York City)
New York City, one of the largest cities in the world, is composed of five boroughs. Each borough now has the same boundaries as the county it is in. County governments were dissolved when the city consolidated in 1898, along with all city, town, and village governments within each county...
of Queens
Queens
Queens is the easternmost of the five boroughs of New York City. The largest borough in area and the second-largest in population, it is coextensive with Queens County, an administrative division of New York state, in the United States....
.
Essence
Taylor started her career at Essence, a magazine for African-American women, in 1970, the year the magazine was founded. Her first position at the magazine was freelance fashion and beauty editor. At the time, she was a divorced single mother without a college degree.By 1981, Taylor had risen to become editor-in-chief, a position she held until 2000. During the 1980s, she attended night school and earned a B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
from Fordham University
Fordham University
Fordham University is a private, nonprofit, coeducational research university in the United States, with three campuses in and around New York City. It was founded by the Roman Catholic Diocese of New York in 1841 as St...
.
In addition to her editing responsibilities, Taylor had success building the Essence brand
Brand
The American Marketing Association defines a brand as a "Name, term, design, symbol, or any other feature that identifies one seller's good or service as distinct from those of other sellers."...
. She was executive producer and host of Essence, the Television Program, a syndicated interview program broadcast on more than 50 stations for four years during the 1980s. In the 1990s, she began Essence Books.
Taylor's monthly inspirational column, "In the Spirit", became a popular feature of the magazine. She published three volumes of selected columns.
In 2000, Taylor was promoted to publications director. She left the magazine in 2008.
Awards
In 1987, Taylor received the Matrix Award from New York Women in Communications.The Magazine Publishers of America gave Taylor its Henry Johnson Fisher Award, considered one of the industry's highest honors, in 1998. She was the first African-American woman to receive the award.
In 2002, Taylor was inducted into the American Society of Magazine Editors
American Society of Magazine Editors
The American Society of Magazine Editors is an industry trade group for editors of magazines published in the United States. The group advocates on behalf of member organizations with respect to First Amendment issues, and serves as a networking hub for editors and other industry employees...
' Hall of Fame for her work at Essence.
In 2003, Exceptional Women in Publishing (EWIP), formerly Women in Periodical Publishing, presented Taylor its fifth annual Exceptional Woman in Publishing award.
The NAACP
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, usually abbreviated as NAACP, is an African-American civil rights organization in the United States, formed in 1909. Its mission is "to ensure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights of all persons and to...
gave Taylor its President's Award in 2006.
Published works
- In the Spirit: The Inspirational Writings of Susan L. Taylor, 1993.
- Lessons in Living, 1995.
- Confirmation: The Spiritual Wisdom That Has Shaped Our Lives, 1997. Co-authored with Khephra Burns.
- All About Love: Favorite Selections from "In the Spirit" on Living Fearlessly, 2008.