FoBy Isoul Harris
“UPTOWN was doing something that no other publication was,” says Massachusetts-born and Washington, DC-bred Keija Minor, of the time when she joined the magazine. “And it still speaks to a niche audience of professional, stylish, affluent African-Americans, and not just about business but about their lifestyle.” Following successful stints at Gotham, LA Confidential and Aspen Peak, the one-time corporate lawyer took the helm of the UPTOWN. As a graduate of UMass Amherst and Howard University School of Law, Minor was a living representation of the burgeoning brand.
“UPTOWN is special because it’s literally written by, for and about the same audience. During my time, we covered what our friends were doing, what we were wearing and where our crowd was going on vacation,” she says. “For me, it was a chance to break new ground.”
What excited you about joining the team at UPTOWN?
I initially turned down the job. But about a week later, I bumped into co-founder Len Burnett in an elevator. It was a sign. We were both heading to a Democratic fundraiser, and by the time the doors opened on the top floor, I was all in. Len could sell snow in the winter! And on top of him being very persuasive, the opportunity to build a media company from the ground up that celebrated the black community in a positive way was such an amazing opportunity. Passing it up would have haunted me for years!
What is your fondest memory?
I loved the camaraderie among the staff. The office buzzed with what I think of as scrappy startup energy. The entire edit team was in one loft space together, and our art director would ring a bell every time he completed a page. No matter what we were doing, even if we were on a conference call, we would stop and clap every time we heard that bell. It sounds silly and random, but at 10 p.m. on a Friday night, when you’re putting the finishing touches on an issue that you’ve spent the last month poring over, it all makes sense—trust me.
You made history as Condé Nast’s first black EIC in 2012. How do you feel about such a historical distinction?
I had always wanted to work at Condé Nast, so to become editor-in-chief (at Brides) was an incredible feeling. Certainly, a sense of pride comes with being the first person to do anything. And telling my grandmother, who has seen both black people and women accomplish so much in her lifetime, was a huge moment. But, I want my legacy to be that I was a smart and impactful editor—and also the first African American editor-in-chief at Condé Nast.
Do you feel pressure to succeed, being that you are blazing a trail?
Condé Nast empowers its editors to think like entrepreneurs. Each editor-in-chief is captain of his or her own brand. I think anyone who truly loves his or her job feels internal pressure to succeed.
What is the importance of UPTOWN?
It defies stereotypes and celebrates the sophisticated lifestyle of affluent African Americans. No other magazine celebrates this lifestyle in the same way!
Photo: David Land