Lighting The Road To The Future Piano Great Henry Butler Data Zone Passes Page 8 “The People’s Paper” July 7 - July 13, 2018 53nd Year Volume 10 www.ladatanews.com A Data News Weekly Exclusive 2018 Essence Festival The Party With a Purpose Shines Bright Under New Leadership Page 2 Newsmaker State & Local Local NOLA Richmond Artists Bring Receives the Heat Endorsement Page 5 Page 13 Page 2 July 7 - July 13, 2018 Cover Story www.ladatanews.com Essence 2018 The Party With a Purpose Returns Bigger and Better than Ever Queen Latifah Presents “Ladies First” with Special Guests The dynamic girl group, Xscape returns this year to Essence Festival which promises to be one of Missy Elliott, Remy Ma, MC Lyte, Nikki D and more. the best ever for music fans. By Edwin Buggage is in a transition and headed in a new direction . Data tival in the country and even serving as inspiration for Data News Weekly Editor News Weekly caught up with Joy Profet, Essence the hit movie Girls Trip . Communications General Manager and Cori Murray, “The festival has grown to four days . First day is our It is that time a year again where a sea of ebony Essence Entertainment Director, to speak about this day of service communities throughout the City . We faces will converge on New Orleans from July 5th thru year’s festival, the Essence brand, the importance of will also be giving out awards to heroines across the July 8th for the Party with a Purpose; yes, it is Essence their platform for Black women, the MeToo Movement City at an event we are having the Ashe’ Cultural Cen- Fest and this year it is bigger and better than ever . and the festival and its connection to New Orleans . ter,” says Profet . Additionally, this has been a year of change and Essence Fest continues to grow in its over two de- Also, as the City recently elected its first Black Fe- growth where Essence is under new ownership and cade’s existence; becoming the Premier Summer Fes- male Mayor LaToya Cantrell, Essence feels it is the Cover Story, Continued on page 3. DATA NEWS WEEKLY P.O. Box 57347, New Orleans, LA 70157-7347 | Phone: (504) 821-7421 | Fax: (504) 821-7622 INSIDE DATA editorial: [email protected] | advertising: [email protected] Terry B. Jones Contributors Art Direction & Production CEO/Publisher Edwin Buggage MainorMedia.com Edwin Buggage Cover Story . 2 Commentary . 11 . Walter Isaacson Editorial Submissions Editor datanewseditor@ Cheryl Mainor Patrick Dobard bellsouth.net Newsmaker . 5 State & Local News . 13 Managing Editor Stacy M. Brown Advertising Inquiries datanewsad@ Calla Victoria www.henrybutler.com bellsouth.net Executive Assistant Freddie Allen/AMG/NNPA Distribution Data Zone . 8 National News . 15. June Hazeur On The Run Accounting Ron Harris Courier Services Please call 504-309-9913 for subscription information or to obtain a back issue of the paper ONLY. Dated material two weeks in advance. Not responsible for publishing or return of unsolicited manuscripts or photos. www.ladatanews.com Cover Story July 7 - July 13, 2018 Page 3 Cover Story, Continued from page 2. beginning of a new chapter in the taking the stage in the New Orleans dent is in a position to do new and relationship with the City of New Superdome over the three nights of exciting things with a brand that’s Orleans . “We are looking forward shows that will always delight . been serving African-American to Mayor Cantrell and a Kick-off Since this is a Party with a Pur- women for 50 years . “We are ex- Celebration . The first Black Female pose, the day programming is cited to be able to return this cul- Mayor a reader of essence and our meant to inspire, entertain as well turally relevant and historically sig- platform and we are looking for- as give festival goers a chance to nificant platform to ownership by ward to that relationship,” remarks support African-American busi- people and the consumers whom Profet of the City’s election of nesses that are from all over the it serves,” said Denis in a press re- LaToya Cantrell to the City’s high- country . This year’s keynote speak- lease about his company’s acquisi- est office . ers include, Rev . Al Sharpton, Mi- tion and future plans for Essence . chael Eric Dyson, Tarana Burke, Joy Profet talks about the syner- 2018 Best of the Fest Founder of the MeToo Movement gy between the new owner and the Headlining acts for this year and plenty of others that will leave Essence Brand, something that is include Janet Jackson, Mary J . those in attendance empowered . poised to make the company stron- Blige, Erykah Badu, Jill Scott and ger moving forward . “At the begin- the Roots an all-female hip-hop set 100 Percent Black: ning of the year an independent featuring Queen Latifah, Missy El- New Ownership and entrepreneur Richelieu Denis, who liot, Remy Ma and MC Lyte . Also, Direction for Essence had a history of working integrally standout artists who have become Earlier this year Essence, both with our community, as the Owner festival staples Ledisi and Xscape . its magazine and parent lifestyle of Shea Moisture Brand and the New Orleans will be represented brand were sold by Time Inc . to a Sundial slew of Brands . Before he by DJ Jubilee and Big Freedia holding company owned by Shea became our owner, he was a client who have both taken Bounce Mu- Moisture and Sundial Founder and deeply admired Essence . Addi- sic to new heights, also on deck is Richelieu Denis . “This acquisition tionally, he has five daughters who the alt hip-hop artist Pell and R&B of Essence represents the begin- are fans of Essence and a wife who Newcomer Daniel Ceasar, who ning of an exciting transformation is a fan as well .” has taken the music industry by a of our iconic brand,” said the com- Continuing speaking of the new storm . The festival as always has pany’s President, Michelle Ebanks, owner she says, “His entire life been something for everybody’s musical in a press release . about creating products for women palate and is a blend of classic artist Also, the company now being Cover Story, Continued along with new comers who will be Essence Communications General Manager, Joy Profet entirely Black-owned and indepen- on page 4. At home, in the airport, or at a music festival, Liberty Bank is with you coast-to-coast. Our fast and convenient virtual banking gives you access to: anyplace, anytime. Wherever You Are, We Are Financial Freedom in the Palm of your Hands Visit us online today at www.libertybank.net to satisfy all of your financial needs! Page 4 July 7 - July 13, 2018 Cover Story www.ladatanews.com Cover Story, Continued from page 3. of color, so it is great for Essence to join forces of his network of en- trepreneurs, promotional platforms into this rich audience of women’s FROECLUSRE network of expertise . They under- MAEKS stand the brand and how to invest in brand and its audience which is EEVRYHTIGN about, Black women and for Black women . The goal of building an COFNUISNG. audience of Black women glob- ally . It is existing as we are about the beginning of stages . They are all coming to New Orleans and we look forward to taking the Essence Brand to the next level, making it more relevant and reach- ing more people .” Empowerment: The Essence of what it means to be a Black woman in the 21st Century Throughout its rich history Es- sence has been about giving voice GET CLEAR ON FORECLOSURE OPTIONS. to excellence in Black women . “We CALL 1-888-995-HOPE. No one is good at going through foreclosure. Thankfully, there’s want to put the spotlight on Black a way for you to get free, trusted advice. Call the Hope Hotline New Orleans’ fan favorite, Doug E. Fresh returns with Kool Moe Dee, Dres, Whodini, Lady of Rage, YoYo and today and speak to a HUD approved counseling agency. Female Entrepreneurs which is DJ Captain Charles. one of the faster growing segments of business owners in America,” ex- 470,000 people to the City, with 200 plains Cori Murray, Essence Enter- million dollars in economic impact tainment Director while recently in for the City . New Orleans . Continuing she says, “We have a great relationship “We want to continue to tell stories with the City . We are positioned that celebrate women in business, quite well, and we will renegotiate but also talk about their spirituality, our contract with the City in 2019 . self-care, personal finance and how This will also allow the mayor to SHELTER to be beautiful and most of all em- have her inaugural this year and powered Black women .” help us to create something spec- PET & Echoing this holistic approach tacular for the 25th Anniversary of to telling the story of Black women the fest next year,” excitedly says FASHION Profet says, “Our brand is about Joy Profet . inspiration and being an advocate Murray also talked about the ICON for women of color . She has such special connection between Es- a weight on her shoulders and this sence Fest and New Orleans and is the voice of her aspirations to sees no other City as a better fit . tell those stories to be an advocate “Essence and New Orleans have for Black women in nearly our 50- been connected for 23 of the 24 year period not just at festivals but years we have been doing this fes- across the pages of the magazine tival and it’s been a strong bond .