1982 Ebony Magazine

One day, I was walking through a used bookstore with no plan in mind. I didn’t know what I was looking for, but I knew I would find something.

Normally, I skim the bookshelves and skip right past the bins of old magazines. But that day was different. I was in the mood to dig. I had nothing but time, and honestly, you can’t beat a $2 deal on a stack of random vintage magazines!

Collector’s Tip:
Used bookstores often have bins filled with overlooked magazines. Don’t sleep on those. You might uncover a treasure you never knew you needed. After about five minutes of flipping through nothing special, I was ready to give up. Not just because I hadn’t found anything, but because my knees were starting to hurt from crouching. Listen… Shawty is getting old. No, Megan Thee Stallion knees over here. 😂

Just as I was about to call it quits, I saw a classic Ebony logo peeking through the pile. I moved the other magazines out of the way. And there it was: a 1982 Ebony magazine featuring Jayne Kennedy and Leon Isaac Kennedy on the cover.

They were that couple. The original must-see Black celebrity couple of their time. Jayne was a pioneering sportscaster and actress. Leon was an actor and producer. Together they starred in the 1981 film Body and Soul.

The issue included an exposé on their relationship and their decision to part ways after ten years of marriage, citing irreconcilable differences.

Finding that magazine for $2 became one of my favorite surprise moments as a collector.

After it sat on my shelf for a while, I felt inspired. I decided to create an art piece, a snapshot of Black culture in 1982. Most of the magazine remained intact, but yes, I cut into some of the pages.

And I know some people would say I’m crazy for that!

But here’s the thing: once these items are in your hands, you’re free to use them however you choose. Preservation is one form of honoring history. Reimagining it is another.

Here’s a photo of the scrap paper canvas I created.