Let’s be clear about something: Essence Festival belongs in New Orleans.
But we must make sure the people who built the culture—and the Black businesses that sustain it—actually benefit from it.
For over three decades, Essence Festival has been more than a concert series. It has been a cultural pilgrimage. Hundreds of thousands of Black women—and the families and friends who come with them—travel here from across the country and around the world to celebrate culture, empowerment, entrepreneurship, and community…