Like many African-American women, I grew up reading Essence Magazine, and feeling empowered by its images of beautiful, accomplished, black women. That’s just one reason I’m excited to attend my first Essence Festival.
Another: New Orleans – perhaps this country’s most intriguing city, with a history that is both rich and haunting, triumphant and tragic. Hurricane Katrina fixed the country’s gaze on New Orleans, but we didn’t linger nearly long enough.
There’s still so much to learn about this great, complicated city, with all its faults, and its challenges, and its incredible culture. That’s why I relish any chance to return there, and I’m glad msnbc is taking part in bringing the economic engine of the Essence Festival to N.O. The combination of Essence Magazine, New Orleans, and what promises to be an incredibly informative, entertaining weekend, was just too good to pass up. See you there!
Joy-Ann Reid
Joy-Ann Reid is host of “The ReidOut” at 7 p.m. ET on MSNBC. “The ReidOut” features one-on-one conversations with politicians and newsmakers while addressing provocative political issues both inside and outside of the beltway.