Kierna Mayo

Last updated
Kierna Mayo
Born
Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
Occupation(s)Writer, editor, media executive
Years active1990–present
Known for Ebony (editor-in-chief)
Notable workHoney magazine (co-founder)

Kierna Mayo is an American writer, editor, and media executive. She started her journalism career as a member of the original writing staff for The Source . Mayo co-founded the lifestyle magazine Honey in 1999, and was later the editor-in-chief of Ebony . Mayo is the vice president and executive editor of Random House and Roc Nation's imprint Roc Lit 101.

Contents

Life and career

Early life

Mayo was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. She was a fan of hip-hop music during her adolescence, and attended high school at Murry Bergtraum High School with Q-Tip and Ali Shaheed Muhammad (of A Tribe Called Quest fame). [1] She received her bachelor's degree from Hampton University. [2]

Journalism and editing

Mayo was an original staff writer and editor at The Source , where she worked for four years. [3] Her writing frequently pushed back against sexism in the music industry and blanket criticism of hip hop. [4]

In March 1999, she co-founded and was named the inaugural editor-in-chief of Honey, a bimonthly lifestyle and fashion periodical geared toward young multicultural women. [3] [5] She and her co-founder Joicelyn Dingle sold the magazine and ultimately shuttered it one year later due to creative differences with the new owner. [6]

Mayo worked as Ebony 's editorial director beginning in 2011 and was promoted to editor-in-chief in 2015. [7] [8] A few months into her tenure she attracted both praise and condemnation for a cover depicting the fictional Huxtable family of The Cosby Show in a smashed picture frame. [9] [8] The accompanying article, written by Goldie Taylor, contextualized Cliff Huxtable's legacy in light of the scores of women that accused Bill Cosby of sexual assault and misconduct. [10]

In 2016, Mayo resigned from her position after Ebony's owners sold the publication to ClearView Partners. [11] Later that year she was named senior vice president of content and brands for Interactive One. [12]

As of 2021 she is the vice president and executive editor at the publishing imprint One World/Roc Lit 101. [13]

Other work

Mayo wrote the foreword to Joan Morgan's cultural history book, She Begat This: 20 Years of The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill (2018). [14] She also contributed the essay “Hip-Hop Heroines” to the Smithsonian Anthology of Hip-Hip and Rap (2021). [15]

Mayo appeared as a commentator for On the Record and We Need to Talk About Cosby . [16] [17]

She was previously a part of the human rights organization, Malcolm X Grassroots Movement. [18]

Accolades

Related Research Articles

Lilakoi Moon, known professionally as Lisa Bonet, is an American actress. She portrayed Denise Huxtable on the sitcom The Cosby Show (1984–1992), for which she earned widespread acclaim and a nomination for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series in 1986; she reprised the role of Denise in the spinoff series A Different World (1987–1993).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lauryn Hill</span> American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer

Lauryn Noelle Hill is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer. She is regarded as one of the greatest rappers of all time, as well as one of the most influential musicians of her generation. Hill is credited for breaking barriers for women rappers, popularizing melodic rap, redefining hip hop, and helping neo soul reach mainstream popularity. In addition to being named one of the 50 Great Voices by NPR, Hill has been listed as one of the 200 Greatest Singers of All Time by Rolling Stone. In 2015, she was ranked as the greatest woman rapper by Billboard. Her accolades include eight Grammy Awards, the most for a female rapper to this day.

<i>The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill</i> 1998 studio album by Lauryn Hill

The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill is the debut solo album by American singer and rapper Lauryn Hill. It was released on August 25, 1998, by Ruffhouse Records and Columbia Records. The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill is a neo soul and R&B album with some songs based in hip hop soul and reggae. Its lyrics touch upon Hill's pregnancy and the turmoil within her former group the Fugees, along with themes of love and God. The album's title was inspired by the film and autobiographical novel The Education of Sonny Carson, and Carter G. Woodson's The Mis-Education of the Negro.

<i>MTV Unplugged No. 2.0</i> 2002 live album by Lauryn Hill

MTV Unplugged No. 2.0 is a live album by American singer and rapper Lauryn Hill. The performance comes from her 2002 MTV Unplugged special recorded on July 21, 2001, at MTV Studios in Times Square, New York City. Hill abandoned the hip hop sounds of her debut album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill (1998) in favor of folk and soul songs she performed with an acoustic guitar. The songs were interspersed with spoken interludes about her personal and artistic struggles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Doo Wop (That Thing)</span> 1998 single by Lauryn Hill

"Doo Wop (That Thing)" is a song by American recording artist Lauryn Hill for her debut solo studio album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill (1998). It was written and produced by Hill. The song was released as the lead single from The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill on August 10, 1998, by Ruffhouse Records and Columbia Records. No commercial release was originally intended for the single in the US, but limited-quantity physical formats were issued two months later, on October 27.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rudy Huxtable</span> Fictional character from The Cosby Show

Rudith Lillian "Rudy" Huxtable is a fictional character who appears on the American sitcom The Cosby Show (1984–1992). Portrayed by actress Keshia Knight Pulliam, Rudy is the youngest child of Cliff and Clair Huxtable. First appearing alongside her family in the pilot episode "Theo's Economic Lesson", which premiered on September 20, 1984, Rudy matures from a precocious five-year-old girl into a teenager longing for independence throughout the course of the series' eight year-long run.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Camille Cosby</span> American writer and television producer (born 1944)

Camille Olivia Cosby is an American television producer, philanthropist, and the wife of comedian Bill Cosby. The character of Clair Huxtable from The Cosby Show was based on her. Cosby has avoided public life, but has been active in her husband's businesses as a manager, as well as involving herself in academia and writing. In 1990, Cosby earned a master's degree from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, followed by a Doctorate of Education (Ed.D.) in 1992.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Everything Is Everything (Lauryn Hill song)</span> 1999 single by Lauryn Hill

"Everything Is Everything" is a song recorded by American recording artist Lauryn Hill for her debut solo studio album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill (1998). It was written by Hill and Johari Newton, and produced by Hill. During the recording sessions, Hill wanted to write about injustice and struggles amongst youth communities in inner city areas of the United States. The song contains R&B, 1960s soul, and hip hop influences. It marked the first commercial appearance of singer and pianist John Legend, who was 19 years old when he played the piano on the song. The song was released as the third and final single from The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill on May 3, 1999, by Ruffhouse Records and Columbia Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ex-Factor</span> 1998 single by Lauryn Hill

"Ex-Factor" is a song by American recording artist Lauryn Hill for her debut solo studio album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill (1998). Written and produced by Hill herself, it incorporates elements of R&B, neo soul and hip hop soul. The song features a sample of "Can It Be All So Simple" by Wu-Tang Clan. It has been claimed to be about Hill's former Fugees groupmate Wyclef Jean. The song was released as the second single from The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill on December 14, 1998, by Ruffhouse Records and Columbia Records.

<i>Ms. G.O.A.T.</i> 2008 mixtape by Lil Kim

Ms. G.O.A.T., an acronym for "Greatest Of All Time", is the debut mixtape by American rapper Lil' Kim. It was officially released on June 3, 2008 and was produced by Mister Cee and DJ Whoo Kid, DJs from New York City. The title references the 2000 album G.O.A.T. by American rapper LL Cool J.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rapsody</span> American rapper from North Carolina

Marlanna Evans, better known by her stage name Rapsody, is an American rapper. After signing with music producer 9th Wonder's music label It's a Wonderful World Music Group, she released a series of mixtapes and collaborated with Erykah Badu and Talib Kweli. Soon afterwards Rapsody released her debut album The Idea of Beautiful (2012). She would attain further prominence when she was featured on Kendrick Lamar's 2015 album To Pimp a Butterfly, on the track "Complexion ".

Audra The Rapper is an American rapper, songwriter, and television personality. She is a cast member on the third season of Oxygen Network's hit series 'Sisterhood of Hiphop' executive produced by T.I. Audra started writing music at the age of six years old and recording herself at age thirteen in her mother's closet. She released her first mixtape, Sweet and Sour Vol. I at age 16 and sold it at local malls and car washes. Audra has released 5 studio projects including her most recent, 'Anti Love Songs' which she released under her own label alongside Sony Music's RED Distribution.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jamilah Lemieux</span> American journalist

Jamilah Lemieux is an American writer, cultural critic, and editor. She rose to prominence for her blog, The Beautiful Struggler. She has worked for Ebony, Cassius Magazine, and Interactive One, part of Radio One, Inc. Lemieux currently writes a parenting column for Slate, and co-hosts an accompanying podcast, Mom & Dad Are Fighting.

Joan Morgan is a Jamaican-American author and journalist. She was born in Jamaica and raised in the South Bronx. Morgan coined the term "hip hop feminist".

Feminist activism in hip hop is a feminist movement based by hip hop artists. The activism movement involves doing work in graffiti, break dancing, and hip hop music. Hip hop has a history of being a genre that sexually objectifies and disrespects women ranging from the usage of video vixens to explicit rap lyrics. Within the subcultures of graffiti and breakdancing, sexism is more evident through the lack of representation of women participants. In a genre notorious for its sexualization of women, feminist groups and individual artists who identify as feminists have sought to change the perception and commodification of women in hip hop. This is also rooted in cultural implications of misogyny in rap music.

"Lost Ones" is a diss song by American rapper and singer-songwriter Lauryn Hill. It was released on August 25, 1998, through Ruffhouse and Columbia Records. The song was written by Hill and produced by Hill, alongside Vada Nobles and Che Pope. Despite never naming him in the song, the song is widely presumed to be about Hill's former Fugees Bandmate Wyclef Jean.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sasha Lane</span> American actress

Sasha Bianca Lane is an American actress. She made her film debut in American Honey (2016), directed by Andrea Arnold, before portraying Hunter C-20 in the first season of the Disney+ television series Loki, set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Black Girl Magic is an entertainment, broadcast, and apparel brand, with a TV show and podcast of the same name, created in 2014 by Beverly Bond. Bond is an author, celebrity DJ, model and founder of the women's empowerment organization and acclaimed award show Black Girls Rock!®, established in 2006, which celebrates the power, beauty, and brilliance of black women. In 2014, Bond founded and trademarked Black Girl Magic for an apparel line and talk show she developed under BondVision Media, Inc., Bond's production company. Since 2015, Bond featured Black Girl Magic talks at the annual BLACK GIRLS LEAD Summit for teen girls in New York City. In 2018, Bond launched the Black Girl MagicPodcast to elevate the lived experiences of Black women. In 2019 Bond featured Black Girl Magic panels and talks at the inaugural BGR!FEST held at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC.

Leslie Segar also known as "Big Lez", is a dancer, choreographer, actress, radio and television personality, and fitness specialist. She is known as a host of Rap City and as the dancer in the opening credits of Living Single.

References

  1. ↑ Hicks, Kenneth (2016-03-24). "4 Gems from Kierna Mayo's Interview on the Combat Jack Show". Blavity.
  2. ↑ Ogunnalke, Lola (23 May 1999). "PULSE: HERS; Young, Urban And Glossy". The New York Times. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
  3. 1 2 Lustig, Jessica. "A Taste of Honey". New York Magazine. Retrieved 31 January 2022.
  4. ↑ Anderson, Joel (2020-02-14). "Slow Burn Season 3, Episode 4: Against Those Thugs". Slate Magazine. Retrieved 2022-02-01.
  5. ↑ Fern, Aneya. "Ebony.com's Kierna Mayo on Digital vs. Print". Adweek. Retrieved 2022-02-01.
  6. ↑ "7 Business Lessons We Learned From The History Of Honey Magazine". Essence. Retrieved 2022-02-01.
  7. ↑ "White Cover Girl On A Black Magazine?". NPR.org. 2013-04-03. Retrieved 2022-02-01.
  8. 1 2 McAfee, Melonyce (16 October 2015). "Ebony 'Cosby Show' cover causes a stir". CNN.
  9. ↑ "Kierna Mayo and the Maverick Legacy of Ebony". Chicago Magazine. Retrieved 2022-02-01.
  10. ↑ Puente, Maria (16 October 2015). "'Shattered' Bill Cosby on 'Ebony' cover enrages, gratifies Twitter". USA Today. Retrieved February 1, 2022.
  11. ↑ Kelly, Keith (2016-06-22). "Former Ebony editor slated to become exec at Interactive One". New York Post. Retrieved 2022-02-01.
  12. ↑ "Kierna Mayo Named SVP Of Content & Brands At Interactive One". HelloBeautiful. 2016-06-16. Retrieved 2022-02-01.
  13. ↑ "People, Etc". Publishers Lunch. 2021-05-26. Retrieved 2022-02-01.
  14. ↑ She begat this : 20 years of The miseducation of Lauryn Hill. OCLC   1041212001 . Retrieved 1 February 2022– via Worldcat.
  15. ↑ White, Brooklyn (2021-08-24). "Ladies First: Smithsonian Hip-Hop Anthology Honors Women's Contributions To The Genre". Essence. Retrieved 2022-02-01.
  16. ↑ Brown, Jeffrey (28 January 2022). "New documentary explores America's 'complicated' relationship with Bill Cosby". PBS. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
  17. ↑ Lee, Shanon. "How 'On The Record' Is About More Than Russell Simmons". Forbes. Retrieved 2022-02-01.
  18. ↑ "Why We Work to Free Political Prisoners of the Black Power Era". Hammer & Hope. Retrieved 2023-04-22.
  19. ↑ "The Root 100 - 2015". The Root. January 2015.
  20. ↑ Lee, Janet W. (4 December 2020). "Meryl Streep Pays Tribute to Ruth Bader Ginsburg at Equality Now Gala". Variety. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.