‘Time of Essence’ Unpacks ‘Reagan’s ‘Welfare Queen’ Stereotype’ | Watch

*We have an exclusive clip of Episode Two of “Time of Essence,” the imaginative new docuseries from OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network that celebrates the trailblazing magazine.

Per the network’s news release, Essence reaches a global community of over 20 million Black women and has revealed some of the most captivating and influential covers of the past half-century. As EUR reported previously, via a press release, featured voices in the five-part series include iconic ESSENCE Magazine editor Mikki Taylor, long-time Editor and Chief Susan L. Taylor, and current CEO Caroline Wanga alongside some of the brightest celebrities, thought leaders, and culture-shifting influencers of the past several decades including fashion model and icon Beverly Johnson and daughter Anansa Sims, Academy award-winning actors Halle Berry and Whoopi Goldberg, Regina Hall, Taye Diggs, Sheryl Lee Ralph and more.

“Time of Essence” tells the story of how ESSENCE has informed and reflected Black culture in America for over 50 years. Each episode explores a different decade – from the ’70s to today – and features first-hand commentary on that era’s biggest moments from the icons, trailblazers, staffers, and leaders who lived and defined them.

The synopsis for the second episode titled “Chapter Two: The 1980s” reads: “In the 1980s, Black women are thriving both personally and professionally, yet President Reagan’s “welfare queen” stereotype poisons America’s perception. Essence works tirelessly to portray Black women accurately while also dealing with internal turmoil.”

Watch a preview of this week’s episode via the YouTube clip below. 

“In 1970, ESSENCE recognized that Black women’s contributions to society were being undervalued, and set a new standard as the first publication to reflect Black womanhood, affirming her strength, style, and achievements and provoking industry reform and change,” Tina Perry, President OWN, said previously in a statement.  “This series will be a testament to what ESSENCE has been historically and how it continues to shape the culture at large today.”

“For the past five decades, ESSENCE has served as a lighthouse and an institution for shaping culture as we live our mission of deeply serving Black Women. “Time of Essence” is both a celebration of that remarkable and rich history and a catalyst for the critical work that remains ahead of us – reminding the world that Black women are not a monolith and that it is only through her that society and the world continue to progress,” said Caroline Wanga, President and CEO of Essence Ventures.

“Time of Essence” is produced by 51 Minds and ESSENCE Studios LLC for OWN.

Tune in to the new episode on Friday, August 25 @ 9 pm ET/PT on OWN.

READ MORE: OWN Announces ‘Time of Essence’: A 5-part Docuseries

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