Butler Publisher Of Black Women Magazine Says It's 'Her Ministry'

MILWAUKEE COUNTY, WI—A Butler magazine publisher was inspired to be a champion for Black women thanks to her mother. For over 17 years, Linda Jackson Cocroft has been the voice and publisher of Black Women 50+ Health & Lifestyle Magazine.

Cocroft told Patch her magazine was launched in honor of her mother's memory and her mom's legacy to service for women. Her mother was a hairstylist and as a result, would hear stories from her clients. Her mother regularly shared food, clothing, and sometimes a shelter for people going through hard times.

While Cocroft didn't follow in her mom's professional footsteps, she did follow her in her entrepreneurial and community service nature.

Since 2003, the magazine has been one of the few periodicals nationally dedicated exclusively to exploring the challenges, hopes, fears, and celebrations of Black women.

"Black women are a direct link to the entire Black community. Research also reveals that we influence 80% of all purchasing decisions made by African Americans," Cocroft said.

Her magazine focuses on health issues impacting older Black women such as heart disease, cancer, and diabetes.

"The magazine gives access to information, resources, and information," she said.

Recently in November, she provided information on voting. Cocroft said voting is the only "legitimate voice" the average person has to impact policies.

"Black women, ages 50 plus, vote more than any other segment of the Black community," she said.

The magazine also has information on books for book clubs and a section called applause where individuals or groups are given kudos.

"We celebrate and take care of everyone else. We don't do enough for ourselves," she said.

Produced quarterly, the magazine is distributed to paid subscribers and also available free at businesses, churches, beauty shops, clinics, and at special events throughout southeast Wisconsin.

The mission according to the website is, "To educate and empower responsible, preventive health practices. To decrease disparities in treatment and services to Black Women 50+. To demystify, in simple language, major health issues. To inspire rewarding lifestyles while revealing resources, products and services. To celebrate the uniqueness of ages 50+."

The publisher doesn't have a staff of writers and editors and it is mostly on Cocroft's shoulders to get the issues out.

She admits there have been times when she wanted to give up or find a different career path.

"My friend said this is my ministry. You can't give this up. I started to think that way," Cocroft said, referencing a friend of hers who is a social worker, lecturer and minster.

Educating women

It is the stories of other Black women that have kept Cocroft going all these years.

"I would almost drown in stories of women who would call or come to my office with stories of how the information (in the magazine) made a difference," Cocroft said.

One story involved a woman with stage 4 breast cancer who came to her office. Cocroft said the woman's husband would take her to her appointments but didn't go in with her. He would ask the woman what happened and what the doctors said.

"She was so overwhelmed by the process and intimidated by the clinicians," Cocroft said.

She told Patch that women are often treated differently in a medical setting than men. The woman didn't understand what the doctors were saying until she read Cocroft's magazine.

One of the issues was a feature story on breast cancer. Cocroft interviewed, the now late, actress Diahann Carroll who was in town. She was able to get a picture of Carroll and breast cancer survivors.

"In health articles, I always included a list of terms you should know for a certain disease," she said.

As a result, the woman recognized some of the terms and had a better understanding of what doctors were saying. The woman ended up donating money to the magazine because it helps others like her.

"She cried and I cried," she told Patch.