By Victor Trammell

Photo credits: Johnson Publishing Company

When Ebony Magazine launched on Nov. 1, 1945, it quickly established itself as one of the most renowned publications in the African-American community.

It was a publication that honored all dimensions of Black life, sometimes via gorgeous images of prominent people.
When businessman John H. Johnson formed the Johnson Publishing Company, Ebony became the company’s main publication.

Jet magazine and a book section were launched, establishing the Chicago-based firm as the largest African-American-owned publishing enterprise.

Johnson emerged from poverty during the Depression to become one of the most successful African-American entrepreneurs in American history. Ebony has always sought to portray African-American issues, characters, and interests positively and encouragingly.

Advertisers spent decades designing ads for Ebony’s pages, which featured its stunning black models displaying their brands of fashionable wares.