Susan L. Taylor facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Susan L. Taylor
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Taylor in 1998
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| Born | January 23, 1946 Harlem, New York City, U.S.
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| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | Fordham University |
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Susan L. Taylor (born January 23, 1946) is a famous American editor, writer, and journalist. She was the editor-in-chief of Essence magazine for many years. From 1981 to 2000, she led this important magazine. In 1994, a magazine called American Libraries said she was "the most influential black woman in journalism today."
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Early Life and Background
Susan L. Taylor was born in Harlem, a neighborhood in New York City. Her mother was from Trinidad, and her father was from St. Kitts. She grew up in East Harlem, where her father owned a clothing store. She went to a Catholic school and was raised Catholic. Later, as a teenager, her family moved to Queens, another part of New York City.
Leading Essence Magazine
Susan Taylor began working at Essence magazine in 1970. This was the same year the magazine started. Essence is a magazine created for African-American women. Her first job there was a freelance fashion and beauty editor.
By 1981, Susan Taylor became the editor-in-chief of Essence. She held this top position until 2000. While working, she also went to night school. She earned a college degree, a B.A., from Fordham University during the 1980s.
Beyond editing, Taylor helped Essence grow into a big brand. She was the executive producer and host of Essence, the Television Program. This TV show was broadcast on over 50 stations for four years in the 1980s. In the 1990s, she also started Essence Books.
Her monthly column in the magazine, called "In the Spirit," was very popular. It shared inspiring messages with readers. She later published three books that collected these popular columns.
In 2000, Taylor was promoted to publications director. She continued to work with the magazine until she left in 2008.
Awards and Honors
Susan Taylor has received many important awards for her work.
- In 1986, she received a Candace Award from the National Coalition of 100 Black Women.
- In 1987, she was given the Matrix Award by New York Women in Communications.
The Magazine Publishers of America gave Taylor its Henry Johnson Fisher Award in 1998. This is one of the highest honors in the magazine industry. She was the first African-American woman to receive this award.
In 2002, Susan Taylor was added to the American Society of Magazine Editors' Hall of Fame. This recognized her great work at Essence magazine.
Exceptional Women in Publishing honored Taylor with their Exceptional Woman in Publishing award in 2003.
In 2006, the NAACP gave Taylor its President's Award.
She also became an honorary member of the Delta Sigma Theta sorority on July 13, 2013.
Family Life
In 1989, Susan Taylor married writer Khephra Burns. They were married at their home in upstate New York. Susan's daughter, Shana, owns a beauty supply business. Shana is married to NBA Hall of Fame player Bernard King.
Books by Susan L. Taylor
Susan L. Taylor has written several books, often sharing her inspiring thoughts.
- In the Spirit: The Inspirational Writings of Susan L. Taylor, published in 1993.
- Lessons in Living, published in 1995.
- Confirmation: The Spiritual Wisdom That Has Shaped Our Lives, published in 1997. She wrote this book with Khephra Burns.
- All About Love: Favorite Selections from "In the Spirit" on Living Fearlessly, published in 2008.
