YSB (magazine) explained

YSB, an acronym for Young Sisters and Brothers, was an African American monthly lifestyle magazine, in print publication from 1991 until 1996.^{[1] [2]} The magazine was founded by Robert L. Johnson as a subsidiary of BET.^{[3] [4]} It was the first national African American lifestyle magazine specifically for teenagers age 13 to 19.^{[5] [6] [7]} It was designed to build teenagers self-esteem,^[8] and marketed for the "hip-hop generation".

History

YSB debuted the first issue in September 1991.^[9] The magazine offered news stories on music, fashion, as well as then-current issues facing teens including substance abuse and HIV/AIDS.^{[10] [11]} BET's publishing division also published Emerge magazine, BET Weekend, and Heart & Soul magazine.^{[12] [13]} Contributors to the magazine included Kenji Jasper (journalist),^[14] Jelani Cobb (journalist),^[15] Frank Dexter Brown (editor),^[16] Fo Wilson (also known as Folayemi Wilson; creative director),^[17] and Lance Pettiford (creative director).^[18]

Shortly before the last issue in October 1996, BET and Microsoft joined efforts to publish the print magazine online, and at the time only 11% of African American households had access to the internet at home (compared to 29% of white households at this same time).^[19] The magazine had been operating at an annual loss of almost $2 million prior to closure.

See also

• Essence (magazine), an earlier African American monthly lifestyle magazine for adults

Notes and References

1. News: Iverem. Esther. October 23, 1996. Death of An Ideal. Washington Post.
2. Book: Whitaker, Matthew. Icons of Black America: Breaking Barriers and Crossing Boundaries [3 volumes]

   Breaking Barriers and Crossing Boundaries [Three Volumes]]

   . 2011-03-09. ABC-CLIO. 978-0-313-37643-6. en. 487.
3. News: Elliott. Stuart. 1991-09-16. Addenda: Black Media Concerns To Offer Package Deals. en-US. The New York Times. 2022-02-13. 0362-4331.
4. Muhhamad. Tariq K.. June 1997. B. E. Company of the Year. Black Enterprise (magazine). en. Earl G. Graves, Ltd.. 27. 11 . 156–164. 0006-4165.
5. Book: Radical America, Volumes 24-25. 1990. Alternative Education Project. 15. en.
6. News: Kuntz. Tom. 1994-04-24. Word for Word/Teen Magazines; Read This. It's Just So Totally Freaked Out. I Mean, Go for It, Dude.. en-US. The New York Times. 2022-02-13. 0362-4331.
7. News: Carmody. Deirdre. 1991-05-23. The Media Business; Black Cable TV Service Starts Magazine Drive. en-US. The New York Times. 2022-02-13. 0362-4331.
8. Book: Capace, Nancy. Encyclopedia of Mississippi. 2001-01-01. Somerset Publishers, Inc.. 978-0-403-09603-9. 249. en.
9. News: Ross. Michael E.. 1993-12-26. At Newsstands, Black Is Plentiful. en-US. The New York Times. 2022-02-13. 0362-4331.
10. Web site: Fields-White. Monee. August 23, 2010. Black Magazines of the '90s: Where Are They Now?. https://web.archive.org/web/20120706131313/http://www.theroot.com/multimedia/black-magazines-1990s. July 6, 2012. The Root.
11. Krishnan. Satya P.. Durrah. Tracy. Winkler. Karen. 1997. Coverage of AIDS in Popular African American Magazines. Health Communication. 9. 3. 273–288. 10.1207/s15327027hc0903_5. February 26, 2016.
12. Book: Smith-Shomade, Beretta E.. Pimpin' Ain't Easy: Selling Black Entertainment Television. 2012-08-21. Routledge. 978-1-135-86948-9. 67. en.
13. Web site: June 2, 2005. Debra L. Lee steps to CEO level at BET. African American News.
14. News: Weeks. Linton. June 22, 2001. Street Smart Book Smarts. Washington Post.
15. Web site: Cobb, William Jelani. 2022-02-13. Encyclopedia.com.
16. Book: Reynolds, J. R.. Billboard. 1994-01-29. Nielsen Business Media, Inc.. 23. en. Labels Examine Black History Via Lecture Series.
17. Web site: Bateman. Anita. Vendryes. Margaret. Onward Fo! From Graphic Designer To Conceptual Artist And More. 2022-02-13. International Review of African American Art (IRAAA).
18. Web site: Newman. Robert. 2013-02-25. Archive: YSB Magazine: Classic 1990s Covers. The Society of Publication Designers (SPD).
19. 1996-02-26. BET and Microsoft Team Up To Go On-line. Jet (magazine). en. Johnson Publishing Company. 62.