The H.N.I.C.
Wow...
By GLENN TOWNES
Special to the AmNews
The cover photograph was engaging and pervasive, but the title was disturbing and racist. A brilliant and bright color photograph of President-elect Barack Obama graced the cover of an Atlanta newspaper earlier this month with the letters H.N.I.C. boldly emblazoned across it.
It isn’t until one looked below the acronym that would one see that the letters didn’t stand for the derogatory epithet featuring the dreaded N-word. Instead, H.N.I.C. translated to HIS NAME INSPIRED CHANGE! Barbershop Digest is a 1-year-old monthly publication and brainchild of African-American publisher and writer Brian Egeston. The free newspaper is distributed at metro-area Atlanta barbershops and salons and has a circulation of about 80,000.The newspaper focuses on current issues and events relevant to African-Americans. Egeston said the notion to put Obama on the cover with the acronym H.N.I.C. was a way to perhaps spark some initial controversy and shock value that is immediately followed by a creative alternative and solution.
“In the past, most people saw those letters as derogatory and racist,” Egeston said. “We wanted to show that now those letters are significant and have a positive meaning along with our new president.”
In the previous issue of Barbershop Digest, current President George Bush was featured on the cover with the title, “American Gangsta,” plastered across the bottom of the photo. The subsequent story featured an unflattering tongue-lashing of the out-going Bush administration. To view the current issue of Barbershop Digest, go to www.barbershopdigest.com.
I NEED THAT PAPER IN MY LIFE.
By GLENN TOWNES
Special to the AmNews
The cover photograph was engaging and pervasive, but the title was disturbing and racist. A brilliant and bright color photograph of President-elect Barack Obama graced the cover of an Atlanta newspaper earlier this month with the letters H.N.I.C. boldly emblazoned across it.
It isn’t until one looked below the acronym that would one see that the letters didn’t stand for the derogatory epithet featuring the dreaded N-word. Instead, H.N.I.C. translated to HIS NAME INSPIRED CHANGE! Barbershop Digest is a 1-year-old monthly publication and brainchild of African-American publisher and writer Brian Egeston. The free newspaper is distributed at metro-area Atlanta barbershops and salons and has a circulation of about 80,000.The newspaper focuses on current issues and events relevant to African-Americans. Egeston said the notion to put Obama on the cover with the acronym H.N.I.C. was a way to perhaps spark some initial controversy and shock value that is immediately followed by a creative alternative and solution.
“In the past, most people saw those letters as derogatory and racist,” Egeston said. “We wanted to show that now those letters are significant and have a positive meaning along with our new president.”
In the previous issue of Barbershop Digest, current President George Bush was featured on the cover with the title, “American Gangsta,” plastered across the bottom of the photo. The subsequent story featured an unflattering tongue-lashing of the out-going Bush administration. To view the current issue of Barbershop Digest, go to www.barbershopdigest.com.
I NEED THAT PAPER IN MY LIFE.
Hey! I'm the creative director for Barbershop Digest. Email me your info and I'll mail you all of this year's issues. Thanks for the luv and support! Check out and join our community: www.barbershopdigest.ning.com
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WOW
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