YSB, an acronym for Young Sisters and Brothers, was an African American monthly lifestyle magazine, in print publication from 1991 until 1996. ^{[2] [1]} The magazine was founded by Robert L. Johnson as a subsidiary of BET. ^{[3] [1] [4]} It was the first national African American lifestyle magazine specifically for teenagers age 13 to 19. ^{[5] [6] [7]} It was designed to build teenagers self-esteem, ^[8] and marketed for the " hip-hop generation". ^{[2] [1]}

History

YSB debuted the first issue in September 1991. ^[9] The magazine offered news stories on music, fashion, as well as then-current issues facing teens including substance abuse and HIV/AIDS. ^{[10] [11]} BET's publishing division also published Emerge magazine, BET Weekend, and Heart & Soul magazine. ^{[12] [13]} Contributors to the magazine included Kenji Jasper (journalist), ^[14] Jelani Cobb (journalist), ^[15] Frank Dexter Brown (editor), ^[16] Fo Wilson (also known as Folayemi Wilson; creative director), ^[17] and Lance Pettiford (creative director). ^[18]

Shortly before the last issue in October 1996, BET and Microsoft joined efforts to publish the print magazine online, and at the time only 11% of African American households had access to the internet at home (compared to 29% of white households at this same time). ^{[10] [19]} The magazine had been operating at an annual loss of almost $2 million prior to closure. ^{[2] [10]}

See also

• Essence (magazine), an earlier African American monthly lifestyle magazine for adults

References