Ebony & Jet HQ: A Colorful Cultural Legacy

Four years after the Civil Rights era, Chicago saw the rise of a significant landmark: the Johnson Publishing Company's 11-story headquarters at 820 S. Michigan Avenue. Designed by Black architect John Moutoussamy, the building served as a beacon of Black culture for four decades, publishing millions of Ebony and Jet magazines annually. Publisher John H. Johnson famously referred to it as "the miracle on Michigan Avenue."

The tower's interiors, created by Palm Springs designers Arthur Elrod and William Raiser, were never renovated, retaining their original colorful chevron patterns, peacock feathers, and swirling hues. These vibrant spaces, along with the company's extensive art collection and archives, have been preserved through various institutions and a new book.

Photographer Barbara Karant became captivated by the empty building, documenting its unique artistic legacy before its redevelopment. Her photographs, featured in the book "820 Ebony/Jet: Visions of the Johnson Publishing Company, an American Icon," highlight the company's role as "the heart and soul of Black America." The building, vacated by 2012, has since been redeveloped into residential units, with only the rooftop sign remaining as a trace of its past.

Joy Bennett, a former senior editor at Ebony, recalled the building as a testament to hope and success, a vibrant workspace crucial to Black America. Staff and visitors encountered numerous stars and public figures, from Lena Horne to President-elect Obama, who conducted his first print interview there in 2008. The building's interior design was a stark contrast to other contemporary offices, described as "dull and drab" by comparison.