Thirty years ago, what began as a one-time celebration of Black excellence has now grown into one of the most powerful cultural, economic and social festivals in the world — the Essence Festival of Culture. As someone who was there from the beginning, I know firsthand just how far we’ve come — and how important it is that we don’t let this jewel slip through our fingers.
I was a young New Orleans City Council member when then-Mayor Marc Morial — now president and CEO of the National Urban League — extended the city’s arms to welcome Essence for what was then envisioned as a one-year event. I had the privilege of working closely with him to help weave Essence into the permanent cultural fabric of New Orleans. What followed was more than we could’ve ever imagined.
Over the last three decades, the Essence Festival has grown into a global destination for music, art, commerce, activism and sisterhood. It’s become a multiday, multimillion-dollar infusion into the lifeblood of New Orleans — filling hotel rooms, energizing restaurants and small businesses, and bringing visitors from around the world to experience the soul of our city. It’s not just a party. It’s a party with a purpose.
Yes, this year brought some hiccups — late starts, scheduling confusion and a well-documented debacle with the super lounges. But Essence has acknowledged those shortcomings and pledged to do better moving forward. And it deserves that opportunity. Any major event with this kind of scale and legacy deserves grace — and commitment — from those of us who benefit from its presence…