History

YBE Magazine was conceived in 2002 by Eric Foster in response to the overwhelming amount of negative images in mass media directed towards young black people. With the popularity of so many hip-hop magazines, none dealt with real issues; instead, they often showcased and glamorized images in rap music and perpetuated the numerous stereotypes about blacks. Enter YBE.

Created in late 2003 as a prototype for a print magazine, YBE started on its quest to become a positive magazine for the black community, especially for young men. YBEMagazine.com launched on June 1, 2004, produced almost entirely by its creator. Over one year later, YBE has been visited by over 12,000 people with over 30,000 page views and has received praise from visitors for the quality of its content. Currently an online exclusive, YBE’s next challenge is becoming a successful print publication.

Purpose

YBE Magazine was created to combat the negative influences in media. About the young black experience, YBE targets young black men, ages 17 to 30, and deals with life issues they face. Rather than focus on sports, entertainment, and fashion, YBE educates and empowers young black people to be responsible in all aspects of life and inspire them to achieve success and not be limited by stereotypes and societal constraints. YBE stimulates thought and encourages readers to challenge what they are taught by society rather than blindly accept misinformation as truth. And YBE motivates young people to deal with the issues of the black community in order to create a better community and better world for future generations.