Michael Bullerdick, a white man who was acting as “managing editor” at the black women’s magazine Essence, recently left his position after snap-shots of his Facebook page revealed his staunch right-wing ideology, which “runs counter to what Essence has historically stood for,” as one reader said in an e-mail to Journal-isms. An Essence spokeswoman released a statement late last week, saying, “By mutual agreement, Michael has accepted a position in another division.” Maynard Institute reports on the story:

Essence magazine, and its white male managing editor — whom the leading magazine for black women has emphasized had a production, not an editorial role — are parting ways, a spokeswoman told Journal-isms Friday, after right-wing material on his Facebook page was brought to the editors’ attention.

The hiring of Michael Bullerdick last July created an uproar, partly because the title of “managing editor” implied to many a major role for a white man in the editorial process of a magazine for black women.

In his LinkedIn profile, Bullerdick lists “Edit stories for tone and style” among his duties, even though editor-in-chief Constance C.R. White insisted when he was hired, “Michael is responsible for production and operational workflow. He has no involvement in editorial content.”

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