Larry's Blog: Black History Month Honoree Marcia Ann Gillespie
By 1010 WINS' Larry Mullins
What a small, small world: Today I met the woman who taught me all I needed to know about women, how to treat them, what women wanted, and what was expected of me as a man.
Fellas (don't tell anybody I said this), but I got my best tips on how to be a gentleman from a "women's magazine" called Essence). My mom used to have it sitting on the coffee table, right in front of the "set-tee" which she kept covered in that thick plastic.
More: Black History Month Photo Gallery | One-On-One With Marcia Ann Gillespie
Marcia Gillespie was the "Editor-in-Chief" of Essence, back in the day. That magazine had the best articles, for black women, about black women (and men) and provided a wealth of information. Ms. Gillespie stopped by our studio's today, and what an amazing woman! This page will not allow me to express the education which rolled off the pages of her magazine back in the 70's and 80's. There's just not enough time. But let me just say that the accolades and awards and acknowledgements (NYABJ Lifetime Achievement, Lake Forest Outstanding alumni, Top Ten Outstanding Women in Magazine Publishing) aren't a joke.
She told me that she came from a background where (never mind racism and criticism from the outside), her biggest and most "constructive" critics came from inside her own family—an aunt who told her, "Baby, Essence is a good "1-cup" (coffee) read, but you need to make it at least "2-cups"…and then you've got something.
Hah! She did. In fact, under her leadership, you could end up sitting there drinking the whole doggone pot! Essence became the fastest growing women's publication in the United States. She says it's because black women were starving to see true articles and magazine covers and information "about themselves".
Gillespie would later meet iconic women's advocate Ms. Gloria Steinem, who eventually asked her to join "Ms." magazine in a similar role (editor-in-chief). She says she never dreamed things would take off as they did, but I like the quote she made, taken from a conversation she had with the late president of the National Council of Negro Women (Dorothy Height): It's good for women to crack thru the glass ceiling, but don't forget to raise the floor.
There's a rumor afoot (from her students) that Gillespie "raises the roof" at SUNY Old Westbury, where she now teaches. She says it's like a homecoming because she was born and raised in Rockville Center.
You will love Marcia Ann Gillespie, as much as I enjoyed talking with her. And in a way, who knows me better…(than the woman who taught me, through her articles) how to be a gentleman…and how to talk to a lady, like you've got some sense.
Thank you Ms. G!!!