By Eva D. Coleman
Lifestyle & Culture Editor
Texas Metro News
From 1947 to 1983, Fort Worth-based Sepia Magazine published photos and stories from throughout the Black diaspora. Legendary journalist Bob Ray Sanders, acclaimed former book store owner and author Emma Rodgers and former radio general manager Greg Davis sat down for a lively discussion about the magazine’s history and impact during Sepia Magazine: Turning the Pages in the African American Museum of Dallas auditorium on Aug. 1, 2026.
The panel discussion ranged from origin of iconic photos, details of specific stories and overview of the magazine’s marketing and advertising strategy and success.
Sanders remarked about the use of celebrities on the cover that would draw you in to so much more “once you got inside the cover.”
Rodgers recalled writing book reviews that were featured in Sepia, pausing and reflecting on today’s technology compared to back then, remembering that she transmitted her reviews via fax machine.
The discussion, including a question and answer period, was followed by a reception featuring cake and mimosas in the museum’s solarium.
Visit the African American Museum of Dallas to check out the Sepia exhibit, and view additional walls throughout the museum that feature some of the magazine’s iconic photos.
