Edward T. Lewis biography

A year later, Lewis, along with another young black businessman from the Bronx, Clarence O. Smith, founded Essence magazine, a magazine specifically targeted to black women. Lewis explained his vision for Essence: "We just had this desire to bring something into the world that black women could feel good about -- to give hope, to provide jobs, to provide a voice for black women ... to begin to see their voices,

to begin to see themselves in the pages of a magazine that they could call their own." The first issue of Essence was published in May 1970 with a modest print run of 50,000 copies. Since then, Essence has grown into what the New York Times called the "pre-eminent voice for black women," with a readership of more than 7.5 million.

Business Success

Propelled by the extraordinary success of Essence, Lewis has become one of the most successful and respected magazine publishers in the country. Over the course of the 1980s and 1990s, he expanded Essence Communications to include a weekly television show, fashion line and mail order catalogue, as well as an annual awards show and music festival.

In 1995, Lewis also founded Latina magazine, a bilingual publication geared toward Hispanic women. In honor of his remarkable success, in 1997 Lewis became the first black chairman of the Magazine Publishers of America (now known as the Association of Magazine Media), the industry's premier trade association representing over 700 publications.

Edward T. Lewis is one of the premier publishers and entrepreneurs of his generation and a pioneer in the field of minority journalism. He has been invited to the White House to consult with President Bill Clinton and counts such other luminaries as Bill Cosby and former New York City Mayor David Dinkins among his close friends.

Nevertheless, Lewis is not satisfied with his success so far in life. "I want to be like Time Warner," he said. "If Time Warner can employ over 30,000 people, I want Essence Communications to employ over 30,000 people." He added, "We've come a long way. We've got a long way to go."

Lewis married Carolyn Wright, a speech pathologist, in 1991.

© 2013 A+E Networks. All rights reserved.

© 2013 A+E Networks. All rights reserved.