Emil Wilbekin: Native Son, Vibe Magazine & Black Queer Legacy | Ep. 124

Our Black Gay Diaspora host Erick sits down with Emil Wilbekin — award-winning journalist, former editor-in-chief of Vibe magazine, founder of Native Son, and professor at the Fashion Institute of Technology — to discuss a career that has shaped Black culture, media, and LGBTQ+ visibility for decades.

Emil opens up about growing up Black and gay in Cincinnati, discovering his identity through Isaac Julien’s film Looking for Langston in London, and becoming the openly Black gay editor of one of America’s most iconic magazines. He reflects on breaking the careers of Mary J. Blige, Aaliyah, and Destiny’s Child, winning the historic National Magazine Award, and founding Native Son — a movement empowering Black gay men to celebrate and uplift each other.

Also discussed: HBCUs, Hampton University, mental health in the current political climate, and his forthcoming memoir.

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