Business
Johnson Publishing’s archives in legal battle
CHICAGO CRUSADER — Ariel Investment President Melody Hobson and her husband, Star Wars movie mogul George Lucas, have filed a lawsuit to take control of Ebony and Jet’s massive archive of historic photos, chronicling African-American life over the last seven decades.
By Crusader Staff Report
Ariel Investment President Melody Hobson and her husband, Star Wars movie mogul George Lucas, have filed a lawsuit to take control of Ebony and Jet’s massive archive of historic photos, chronicling African-American life over the last seven decades.
The move is the latest development after Johnson Publishing Company filed bankruptcy last month. The company plans to sell Fashion Fair Cosmetics and its $40 million photo archives collection to pay off its enormous debts.
In 2015, the archive was used as collateral to secure a $12 million loan from Capital Holdings V, a company Hobson and Lucas control. The loan has been in default for several years and Capital Holdings is owed $13.6 million. Capital Holdings is concerned about the safety of the collection, noting it is sitting uninsured on leased premises.
In bankruptcy court filings April 24 in Chicago, Capital Holdings sought to foreclose on the archive, saying it feared damage to the archive and not being repaid by Johnson Publishing.
“The Johnson Publishing archives are an essential part of American history and have been critical in telling the extraordinary stories of African American culture for decades,” the company said in a statement April 24, according to the Chicago Tribune. “We want to be sure the archives are protected for generations to come.”
According to Crain’s Chicago Business, lawyers involved in Johnson Publishing’s bankruptcy proceedings told a federal judge that they hope to sell the photo collection to a party that will donate it to a museum.
Johnson Publishing, which sold its magazines three years ago, has been trying unsuccessfully to sell its photo archives for more than four years. It filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy earlier this month.
In 2016, Johnson Publishing sold Ebony and Jet magazines to Clear View Group, a private equity firm in Texas. In 2010, Johnson Publishing sold its iconic headquarters on Michigan Avenue to Columbia College Chicago, which then sold the building to a real estate developer in 2018.
This article originally appeared in the Chicago Crusader.
Activism
Oakland Post: Week of January 8 – 14, 2025
The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of January 8 – 14, 2025
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Activism
Oakland’s Black Chamber of Commerce Awards 63 Businesses $1,000 Micro Grants
“Our members are essential to Oakland’s economic and cultural fabric,” said Cathy Adams, president of the OAACC. “These grants are a testament to our dedication to fostering business growth and sustainability within our community.” The microgrants are designed to provide vital support for members to strengthen their operations, invest in growth opportunities, or meet pressing needs, Adams added.
By Oakland Post Staff
Last week, the Oakland African American Chamber of Commerce (OAACC) announced the distribution of $63,000 in microgrants to 63 member businesses. These $1,000 grants, generously sponsored by Supervisor Nate Miley, Amazon, and the Tides Foundation, reflect the organization’s goals and unwavering commitment to empowering Black-owned businesses in Oakland.
“Our members are essential to Oakland’s economic and cultural fabric,” said Cathy Adams, president of the OAACC. “These grants are a testament to our dedication to fostering business growth and sustainability within our community.”
The microgrants are designed to provide vital support for members to strengthen their operations, invest in growth opportunities, or meet pressing needs, Adams added.
As part of this initiative, OAACC leaders are encouraging all grant recipients to inspire their communities to support Oakland-based businesses by shopping locally, sharing referrals, and following their social media pages.
For more information about the OAACC and the organization’s initiatives, please visit www.oaacc.org.
Activism
Port of Oakland to Host January Meeting for Interfaith Council of Alameda County
State, county, and city officials have been invited to join ICAC board members and the community to explore effective strategies for addressing these interconnected challenges across Alameda County, including ICAC’s Safe Car Park program expansion and efforts to convert trailers into shelter for the unhoused.
Special to The Post
The Interfaith Council of Alameda County (ICAC) will hold its first meeting of 2025 on Thursday, Jan. 9, at the Port of Oakland, located at 530 Water St. Hosted by the president of the Port of Oakland, the meeting will run from 1-2:30 p.m. and will focus on pressing community issues including environmental justice, housing solutions, and crime and safety.
State, county, and city officials have been invited to join ICAC board members and the community to explore effective strategies for addressing these interconnected challenges across Alameda County, including ICAC’s Safe Car Park program expansion and efforts to convert trailers into shelter for the unhoused.
All are welcome and encouraged to attend and contribute to this important discussion. For more information, visit interfaithAC.org.
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