Long before Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, Ebony magazine was Black America’s social media. In 1945, legendary founder and visionary John H. Johnson set out to create a magazine for Black America much like that of the trailblazing Life Magazine, and that he did. For the African American community, Ebony has been a breath of fresh air, speaking on issues and events from the Black perspective, celebrating Black standards of beauty and elevating heroes of Black America—athletes, entertainers, activists, elected officials, or some combination thereof.

EBONY: COVERING BLACK AMERICA (Rizzoli; February 2021), by Lavaille Lavette, is a celebration of the treasure trove of the magazine’s rich history, glamorous covers, groundbreaking cultural impact, and authentic coverage of Black American life from the magazine’s inception to the present.

In 1945, Ebony’s legendary founder John H. Johnson set out to create a magazine for Black America much like that of the trailblazing Life Magazine,and that he did. For the African American community, Ebonyhas been a breath of fresh air, speaking on issues and events from the Black perspective, celebrating Black standards of beauty and elevating heroes of Black America—athletes, entertainers, activists, elected officials,or some combination thereof. EBONY: COVERING BLACK AMERICA, by Lavaille Lavette, is a celebration of the treasure trove ofthemagazine’s rich history, glamorous covers, groundbreaking cultural impact, and authentic coverage of Black American life from the magazine’s inceptionto the present. “Ebony was Black America’s social media long before the birth of Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram”, says Lavette. Rizzoli International Publications, Inc.300 Park Avenue SouthNew York, NY 10010Tel. (212) 387-3400Telefax (212) 387-3535

Curated by Lavette, this all-out feast of a book is packed with exclusive contributions by a host of celebrities, influencers, and cultural icons, including Common, Gabrielle Union, Dwyane Wade, Sean Combs, Kimora Lee Simmons, Ciara, and Venus Williams.

The book also includes more than 600 covers and photographs featuring political forces such as Martin Luther King Jr., Michelle and President Barack Obama, and Congresswoman Barbara Jordan; entertainers such as Diana Ross, Sidney Poitier, Dorothy Dandridge, Oprah Winfrey, and Prince; as well as sports heroes like Serena Williams, Muhammad Ali, Russell Westbrook, and Simone Biles. Lavette has chosen select articles, features, and reportage of note, including Martin Luther King Jr.’s advice column, and Ebony Fashion Fair photo shoots, divided into categories found within the magazine, including Civil Rights & Social Justice, Love & Family, Ebony Men,Ebony Women, and Ebony Music.

Unique in the quality of its photographs and contributors and chronicling everything from fashion and food to politics and social change, to sports and entertainment, EBONY: COVERING BLACK AMERICAis a monumental milestone in African-American history and culture, and will be a treasured volume for the magazine’s legion of loyal readers.

ABOUT   THE   AUTHOR: Lavaille   Lavetteis abest-selling   author,educator,   producer, social entrepreneur and the president and publisher of OneStreet Books and Ebony Magazine’s imprintEbony Publishing. With a master’s in education, Lavaille is a formerschool   district   administrator, speechwriter, marketing executive, and she served asspecial advisor to the U.S. Secretary of Education, Dr. RodPage(2001 -2005).

Beyond her work in community engagement, nonprofit and the education spheres with her bestselling series, The Adventures of Roopster Roux,Lavette is co-founder of Every Child an Author, (ECAA) Class-by-Class, School by School. ECAA is on a mission to make every child in America a published author, one grade level at a time.

Credit for the book must read: Ebony: Covering Black Americaby Lavaille Lavette,©Rizzoli New York, 2020. Photography to be credited on a case-by-case basis.Select press images will be made available, but no image may be used, in print or electronically, without written consent from the publisher. Serial rights are available; please contact Ron Longeat (917) 312-5571or rlonge@rizzoliusa.comEBONY: COVERING BLACK AMERICABy Lavaille LavetteWith contributions by Common, Gabrielle Union, Dwyane Wade, Sean Combs(Diddy), Kimora Lee Simmons, Ciara, and Venus WilliamsHardcover/ 9 1/3”x 12 1/3” /352pages / 800colorand black & whitephotographs$57.50U.S. / $75.00Canadian/ £44.00U.K.ISBN:978-0-8478-6901-5/ Rizzoli New York / Release date: February 202