The Ypsilanti Courier
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
Ypsi style
Local man starts city's first magazine
By Tom Perkins, Special Writer
PUBLISHED: March 27, 2008
The "naysayers," "haters" and every other variety of skeptic Quincy Robinson encountered as he prepared to launch "Q's Blackbook" had a point - how would a lifestyle magazine focused on Ypsilanti make it in a town not exactly celebrated as a cultural hotbed?
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In the shadow of Ann Arbor and Detroit, Ypsilanti's assets are easily overlooked. But the more Robinson heard his magazine idea was doomed, the more he knew he was on to something.
"I heard everyone say 'Don't do this, you're wasting money!'" he recalls. "They said 'Who is going to buy it? This is Ypsi - this isn't a town for a magazine!' Those were the things I wanted to hear. I wanted to do something in Ypsi that's different, and it sparked a good response."
Half the new issues sold out during the full-color, glossy magazine's launch party at the Ypsilanti Marriot in December, and advertisers - the lifeblood of any successful magazine - are on board. Unlike most upstarts, Robinson pulled in enough advertising revenue in his first effort to make the project float without any loans.
Issue No. 1 will serve as a template for the bulked up run hitting the stands in late April, and what's in the pages are very much a reflection of Robinson's personality. He is a well-respected figure in the community regarded for his commitment to success, but also known for a much lighter side.
Thus, one can pick up the first issue and flip to an inspiring story of a successful single parent who beat the challenges of teen pregnancy, then turn the page to learn all there is to know on toilet paper trivia.
"You have to have something not so serious," Robinson said. "Money is low, there's a recession and if you watch the news everyday you're going to have a break down, so I want to give people something to laugh about."
But some of the jokes brought more talk than laughs. One section lists the responses of patrons at Aubree's Bar and Grill in Depot Town, who were asked what they would do if they had 48 hour left to live.
The answers ranged from respectable to inappropriate to "I would play the drums naked for Charles Pugh."
Pugh, a radio personality on Detroit's popular 97.9 WJLB hip-hop station, heard about the answer and discussed it on the air in an attempt to determine whether or not it was serious.
"That won't be a section we do again," Robinson laughs. "It was our first issue and we sparked a little bit of controversy and it was great publicity, but we didn't know that would happen."
Robinson was born and raised in a remarkably successful Ypsilanti family. His brothers, sisters and relatives are doctors, have MBA's and are accomplished by any measure.
Robinson graduated from Ypsilanti High School but took his higher education from his grandfather, Deacon Julius Powell, and uncle, Willy Powell.
His own father passed away before he was born and his mom held down a job at Saint Joseph's Hospital, so he credits the two father figures with teaching him some of life's most valuable lessons.
"They always have the answers," Robinson says. "I can't say I was one of those kids who was deprived, because I had a family who stepped in and helped a lot."
After learning to cut hair from his grandfather in the fifth grade, Robinson took to the lids of his classmates in the gym locker room. Six years of informal training cutting hair out of his basement recently lead to an apprenticeship at Hair Illusions on Washtenaw Avenue in Ypsilanti.
Though nothing on the surface seems to indicate Robinson should be founding a magazine, the social network he constructed through his Ypsilanti upbringing, professional career and dedication to his church has made him perfect candidate for such an effort.
Moreover, those around him have faith in his ability.
As his vision began to take shape, a friend at Cueter Chrysler and Jeep said he would buy a full-page ad if Robinson followed through with the magazine.
With the help of his wife, Amalia, and the slick visual work of Vivid Imaging Studios, he began selling more ads and produced a product many doubted could exist.
"I got all these great ideas, but those are the people who made it all come to life," Robinson says of his wife and the studio.
The upcoming issue will top out at 44 pages and Robinson is looking to talk with local politicians like Rep. Debbie Stabenow or Ypsilanti Township Clerk Brenda Stumbo. Restaurant reviews, a fashion page and a health and fitness are on the whiteboard, but count on it to have a local slant. Also, expect more of the positive energy Robinson aimed to produce in the debut issue.
"I want to not just uplift, but I want keep people looking at Ypsi and spending their money here," he says. "I want people to know they don't have to drive to Detroit or somewhere else to have a nice dinner or just to get out."
He also underscored that it is a magazine for the whole of Ypsilanti.
"Most people, when they see the name 'Q's Blackbook', they think it's for African-American people, but this is for people who are white, green, yellow, pink, blue, red or whatever," Robinson says. "I want it to be a lifestyle magazine and it's for all people who are local."
Tom Perkins is a freelance writer for the View/Courier. He can be reached at trperkins@gmail.com.
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