"I dreamt of the day when products that speak to us and Black Beauty Brands are offered beyond the back of the store in the so-called ethnic aisles. After 30+ years of pushing for a revolution, as Essence Magazine's Beauty and Cover Director, I have seen the shift and the powerful arrival of Black Beauty Brands. That revolution has shown the industry that we don't just shop products, we shop experiences we want to own, and we show up and show out. Now with the closure of Ami Cole, a beloved brand that makes Black women feel seen, heard, and celebrated – I'm struggling and asking myself where is the disconnect? We will hold space for Ami Colé and Black-owned brilliance and keep the doors of possibility open for future collaborations for her and others like her to burst through and excel because Black women are a fight most worthy and our beauty is not to be denied." – Mikki Taylor, author, cultural storyteller, editor-at-large, Essence Magazine
