In a written statement to Black Voices, Essence Editor-In-Chief Angela Burt-Murray defended her decision to hire Ellianna Placas, the publication’s new Caucasian fashion director, after facing a tidal wave of  controversy.

“I understand that this issue has struck an emotional chord with our audience,” said Burt-Murray, “however I selected Ellianna, who has been contributing to the magazine on a freelance basis for the last six months, because of her creativity, vision, the positive reader response to her work and her enthusiasm and respect for the audience and our brand. We remain committed to celebrating the unique beauty and style of African-American women in Essence magazine and online at Essence.com.”

Clutch (one of my favorite web mags to read during down time) spoke with former fashion editor Michaela Angela Davis and fashion media personality Najwa Moses shortly after the news that Placas had been hired broke on Friday.

Offering her immediate reaction to the hiring, Michaela says, “I am so so hurt and confused and frankly angry by this news. I feel like a girlfriend has died.”

Michaela’s tweets and Facebook comments on the hiring informed many media insiders, and former Essence staff members who had no clue. “I am going against my own advice and publicly speaking when I’m so emotionally driven.” Michaela says she reached out to Angela Burt-Murray, current Editor-in-Chief of Essence.

“I emailed her as a respectful heads up informing her that I would be speaking up.” Michaela says her feelings on the news have much to do with Black women’s hostile history with the fashion industry. Further explaining her concerns around the issue, Michaela wrote on Facebook: “It is personal and it’s also professional. If there were balance in the industry; if we didn’t have a history of being ignored and disrespected; if more mainstream fashion media included people of color before the ONE magazine dedicated to Black women ‘diversified’, it would feel different.”

WHAT’S YOUR TAKE?