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The author of Empire visited Windy City LIVE on June 24 where she discussed the biography with the TV show's co-hosts, Val Warner and  Ryan Chiaverini. A story about the appearance was also featured on the University of Illinois at Chicago's English  news website. 
Ryan Chiaverini and Val Warner, co-hosts of ABC 7 Chicago TV's WIndy City LIVE, share a moment with the Empire author following her live on-camera interview.
Excited audience members who shared stories of how EBONY and JET magazines were staples in their homes.
Waiting in the green room
Cary Elwes of The Princess Bride movie fame appeared on the show to discuss his top-rated Netflix series, Stranger Things.
Dacre Montgomery has come a long way since being the Red Power Ranger. He's now known for his sinister role as Billy Hargrove, the personification of "pure evil," on Netflix's top-rated series Stranger Things.
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I had a great time speaking with Art "Chat Daddy" Sims on "Real Talk, Real People" WVON 1690 AM, The Talk of Chicago, for Black Music Month about some of my memorable music moments, interviewing legendary recording artists on the pages of JET and EBONY magazines as an editor for both. My former JET magazine colleague, Clarence Waldron, joined us via phone. Toi Salter and Lisa Rollins were co-hosts for the evening. Rollins recounted lovely memories about John H. Johnson and Michael Jackson, explaining their dedication toward contributing to UNCF where she is regional director for workplace initiatives. I told her that it was in fact Mr. Johnson who suggested that MJ work with the organization. To this day, scholarships are still given out in MJ's name. The EBONY Fashion Fair's Chicago performances were always sponsored by UNCF. 
Art "Chat Daddy" Sims and Margena A. Christian are joined by (l) Toi Salter and Lisa Rollins at WVON 1690 AM, The Talk of Chicago. Salter and Rollins co-hosted with Sims on his show, "Real Talk, Real People."
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Former employees of Johnson Publishing Company (JPC) shared the stage on Saturday, June 8, for the first time during a historic panel discussion at the DuSable Museum of African American History where they spoke about time spent at the pioneering publishing company under the leadership of the iconic media giant John H. Johnson. Titled Empire: The House That John H. Johnson Built, the event was inspired by the biography of the same name that was written by Dr. Margena A. Christian, its organizer.

Former EBONY/JET Showcase co-hosts Darryl Dennard (host of V103's Chicago Speaks) and Deborah Crable were in the drivers' seats as co-moderators for the lively and informative discussion. In addition to Christian, a former EBONY Senior Editor and JET Features Editor, other panelists included the following: Charles Whitaker (Former EBONY Senior Editor) Dean of the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University, Christopher Benson (Former Vice President and Associate Counsel for JPC and EBONY Features Editor) Associate Professor in Journalism at Northwestern University and co-author with Mamie Till-Mobley of Death of Innocence: The Story of the Hate Crime That Changed America, Clarence Waldron (Former JET Senior Editor known as the "Dean of Arts and Entertainment Journalists") Adjunct Professor at Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism and Kevin McFall (Former Interim CMO/Senior Vice President of EBONY Media Operations f.k.a. JPC and Vice President, Integrated Marketing, Digital Strategy & Licensing JPC) Chief Operating Officer for Inner-City Computer Stars Foundation. Whitaker and Benson also co-authored the textbook Magazine Writing. 

Noting that JET magazine was a publication of firsts, Whitaker recently made his own history of firsts. He became the first academic to become a board member of the American Society and Magazine Editors in its 50-plus year history. A week later the former EBONY Senior Editor was appointed Dean of the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University. Medill is one of the top journalism schools in the country. Whitaker is the first African American in its history to hold this position.
(l-r) Darryl Dennard, Clarence Waldron, Charles Whitaker, Margena A. Christian, Deborah Crable, Chris Benson and Kevin McFall
A special thank you to Zandra Hayes, sales manager at DuSable Museum, for making this event possible by asking me one question: "What is your vision?"
Photos by Reginald Payton/RPM Urban Digital Media Production.
Images are the property of DocM.A.C. Writing Consulting. All rights reserved.

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DocM.A.C.'s Musings

I am Dr. Margena A. Christian aka DocM.A.C. Some folks feel my way with words, so I thought I would drop a few random "soul lessons" with a little bit of this and a whole lot of that. Keep the faith and always trust the process. #OnwardUpward

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