When Linda Johnson Rice recalls what her father, EBONY’s founder John H. Johnson, taught her about the publishing business, she remembers very clearly this: “You can’t have editorial without having advertising.”

For the 71 years her family would publish EBONY magazine, securing advertisers had its share of systemic challenges. When companies repudiated the value of Black consumers, Mr. Johnson felt more empowered getting the word out about EBONY’s impact, reach and cultural relevancy.

“They would go across the country and do whatever it took to sell advertising. That is what my father would do. There were times when you did get rejected, but that didn’t stop him. That’s when you really go to work,” says Johnson Rice, the CEO of Johnson Publishing Company. “My mother [Eunice Johnson] woul

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