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Ebony Magazine and Ebony Fashion Fair fashion shows, created by the entrepreneur and philanthropist Eunice W. Johnson and her late husband John Johnson were my first glimpse into the glamorous world of high fashion.

 The presence of Ebony in my home as a child in Detroit helped to map the road to self esteem, self empowerment and the kind of community self actualization needed that one day would produce our giants like Oprah and Obama.

 Today, the Costume Institute of The Metorpolitan Museum of Art in New York City (http://www.metmuseum.org/) honored the spectacular legacy of the great philanthropist and publisher, Eunice W. Johnson (http://www.johnsonpublishing.com/assembled/management_eunicewjohnson.html).

 The elegant luncheon was hosted by Carol Sutton Lewis, daughter of the late Percy Sutton Lewis, founder of the Apollo Theater in Harlem, Gayle King of Sirius Radio, Andre Leon Talley of Vogue and Isabel and Ruben Toledo. Mrs. Toledo famously designed Mrs. Obama’s chartreuse inauguration dress. 

Gayle King and Desiree Rodgers

Valerie Simpson from Ashford and Simpson with Andre Leon Talley

Isabel and Ruben Toledo

Celebrities such as Whoopi Goldberg, Lynn Whitfield, Ashford and Simpson, Susan Taylor founder of Essence Magazine, Ana Wintour of Vogue and a who’s who of the fashion world sat in the Egyptian Temple of Dendur, a fitting site for the tribute, since many of Egypt’s Pharoahs were women, like Nefertiti and Cleopatra, who wielded power over the entire known world. President Bill Clinton spoke to honor Mrs. Johnson and her family’s achievements. The current administration dispatched press secretary Desiree Rodgers to read a letter written by Barack and Michelle Obama in praise of her contribution to the community at large as well as to their own success on the road to the White House.

Me and Whoopi Goldberg

Lynn Whitfield with Whoopi Goldberg

<img class='aligncenter size-medium wp-image-38' title='Anna Wintour and Linda Rice Johnson' src='http://veronicawebbisode.com/superfreshwebb/wp-content/uploads/IMG_2338-225×300.jpg