phxsoul.com

Sharpe Wins 2009 Arizona Media Diversity Award

Editor's Note: PhxSoul.com congratulates Ed Sharpe for receiving this honor. He has been a great friend and supporter of this Website and the Valley's black community. His coverage of the 2008 Arizona Black Expo was top-notch! 

The Arizona Association of Black Journalists is pleased to announce Ed Sharpe of the Glendale Daily Planet as winner of the third-annual Arizona Media Diversity Awards Contest.

AABJ honors Sharpe for a collection of stories including a visit to Glendale by acclaimed poet Nikki Giovanni, coverage of the city’s first Arab American Festival and the 2008 Arizona Black Expo. Sharpe entered his work in the online/new media category.
  
“We’d like to salute Ed Sharpe and the Daily Planet for not only the quality but volume of his submissions,” AABJ President Weldon Johnson said. “Ed has demonstrated a commitment to showcasing the diversity of experiences of Glendale’s residents. He has also exhibited a great enthusiasm for concept of community journalism and telling the stories of all of the people of Glendale.”

This is Sharpe’s second Arizona Media Diversity Award.

Entries were judged on displaying the fundamental elements of journalism while reflecting the spirit of diversity in content and subject matter.

About AABJ: The Arizona Association of Black Journalists - www.azblackjournalists.org - is an affiliate chapter of the National Association of Black Journalists. Founded in 1995, AABJ is dedicated to fostering opportunities for professional and aspiring journalists through various programs and scholarships.

CNN's "Black in America 2" to Air on July 22-23

From health to education, CNN's "Black in America 2" continues to investigate some of the most significant and challenging issues facing African Americans.

Airing on July 22-23 at 5 PM Arizona (check local TV schedules), host Soledad O'Brien focuses on emerging leaders, innovative community programs and business ventures that are addressing the most persistent and pressing issues and disparities facing African Americans.

Below is the trailer and some brand new clips, as well as the episode summaries for both nights.

For more exclusive clips and information, follow Black in America on Twitter at http://twitter.com/blackinamerica or check out www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2009/black.in.america/.

Black in America 2 Video

• Can a trip half-way around the world help at-risk kids in Brooklyn appreciate what's at home? Malaak Compton-Rock thinks it can:

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/living/2009/06/12/bia2.journey.for.change.cnn

• On Chicago's Southside, life expectancy for Black men is eight years less than the national average. Can barber shops help?

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/living/2009/06/12/bia2.project.brotherhood.cnn

• John Rice grew up guided by high achievers who taught him how to succeed. Now, he passes the lessons on to tomorrow's leaders:

http://www.dailymotion.com/metsguy1/video/16459172

• In this inner city school and against all odds, every graduating senior goes to college. So, what's their secret weapon?

http://www.dailymotion.com/user/metsguy1/video/x9srrj_john-rice-in-cnn-black-in-america-2_shortfilms

Rev. Al Sharpton Says He Supports Immigration Reform, But What Else Is He Fighting For?

You may not like the fact that I'm saying this but I have to admit that I haven't been the biggest fan of Rev. Al Sharpton over the years!

Yes, I understand he has been a pivotal figure in the fight for civil rights for the last four or five decades. Without his contributions, I probably wouldn't have the freedom to own PhxSoul.com and say what's on my mind. I completely respect him for his bravery and his willingness to stand up for our rights.

However, I haven't been a fan of the manner in which he serves as one of America's black leaders. He's been loud, boisterous, overbearing and in some cases, he's stood up for people who made him look bad in the end (Tawana Brawley)!

But today, Rev. Al Sharpton made me realize something - he is a smart businessman! You should have seen all of the media that converged on the Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church Gymnasium this morning in Phoenix (June 19)! He is a polarizing personality and he knows how to capitalize on his "brand!"

As he spoke to the crowd, I paid attention to the reaction of the crowd and the messages he was conveying. He really got people riled up!

The majority of the attendees were Latino because Rev. Sharpton came to Phoenix to help local politicans and organizations "lobby" for immigration reform. During his speech, Sharpton talked about Section 287(g) of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act (IIRAIRA) which basically allows law enforcement to get away with racial profiling! 

Section 287(g) has allowed Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio to make life miserable for Latinos here! Section 287(g) gives his deputies the authority to detain people based on their color! His deputies have raided entire neighborhoods! Remember Arpaio's raids on Guadalupe and Mesa?

That kind of racial profiling is completely unfair and reminds me of the Jim Crow era and all the injustices that our forefathers endured! Rev. Sharpton is absolutely right ... African Americans and Latinos should be working together to stop racial profiling and enact immigration reform.

Rev. Sharpton said all the right things today but I had to wonder ... why is he REALLY here?!

Is he REALLY here to fight for Latinos or is REALLY here to stay relevant? 

No doubt, Rev. Sharpton is a civil rights crusader! He earns his living off divisiveness and racism! And Arizona is a hotbed of divisiveness and racism!

Illegal immigration is a major issue in America that won't see a resolution anytime soon!

If Rev. Sharpton can become of the major faces in the fight for immigration reform, he'll have a job for the rest of his life!

You can't tell me that Rev. Sharpton doesn't have a business interest here! And the fact that he's going to have a "showdown" on television with Arpaio makes me even more curious about his motives!

PhxSoul.com readers - what do you think about Rev. Sharpton's visit to Phoenix area? Is he here for the right reasons? Do you feel that more African Americans should help Latinos fight for their civil rights? Click on the Comments link below to share your thoughts!

President Obama Is Here for the 2009 ASU Graduating Class! Why Are So Many Other People Complaining?

President Barack Obama is scheduled to deliver his commencement speech to the graduating ASU class at 7:52 PM on Wednesday. Commencement starts at 7 PM. Obama is set to arrive on Air Force One just before 6 PM and leave at around 9:30 PM. Obama's visit to Sun Devil Stadium is expected to draw more than 60,000 people!

I've been reading the coverage on azcentral.com regarding President Barack Obama's participation in the Arizona State University graduation ceremonies. And frankly, I have to say that I'm disturbed by the negative stories and most of the comments that I've read on the message boards!

I'm not one to pull out the racism card very often, but the hateration spewed by many azcentral.com readers doesn't make any sense to me! I can't think of any other logical reason why so many people are complaining about his visit here!

There are stories that point out the expected traffic jams, light rail congestion and security restrictions. Yeah, yeah, yeah ... we've had presidents visit the Phoenix area before and the same damn restrictions were in place then! Roads were closed, security was tight, blah, blah, blah ... we dealt with it then, we can deal with it now! When you are hosting the Leader of the Free World, you have to make sure he (or she) is safe, right?

But it seems that people have taken their whining about President Obama's visit to a whole other level! C'mon man, he'll be here for less than four hours!

I'd say that 90 percent of the idiots complaining won't be affected by at all by the traffic jams, security inconveniences, etc. They don't have children who are graduating from ASU! They won't be riding the light rail that night. They probably don't even live near Sun Devil Stadium!

They just want a VEILED reason to complain about Obama!

He's only been in office for three or four months! He hasn't been in office long enough to rescue or ruin America! He's just beginning to establish his policies - we won't know for years whether Obama's decisions are good or bad for our country! 

Bottom line, it doesn't make any sense for all these Arizonans to be complaining ... except one reason ... they are absolutely PISSED that a black man is President of the United States! They can't stand to see him on TV everyday! You know it makes them sick! Yeah, I said it! His confidence, intelligence, calm demeanor, amazing personality ... Obama detractors can't contain their hatred!

Did you already forget that George W. Bush brought America to its knees?!

I just want all these complainers to remember that Obama is only here to help the ASU 2009 graduates celebrate their incredible accomplishments! I'm sure he has some political motivations, but I think he genuinely wants to give the graduates a speech that they can remember for a lifetime!

Even though Mr. PhxSoul.com is a proud Arizona Wildcat, I salute the ASU 2009 graduating class and I hope that President Obama makes your day a special one!!

I invite all readers to Comment on this post - it is a FREE country! What are your thoughts on Obama's visit to ASU?

Southwest Green Magazine Podcast Discusses How Stimulus Package Helps Arizona Small Businesses

Southwest Green Magazine posted a podcast on its Website to help Arizonans more clearly understand the benefits from the "American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 - The Stimulus Package."

Dr. George Brooks, Publisher of Southwest Green Magazine, interviewed Robert Blaney, Arizona Small Business Administration District Director, State Of Arizona to learn more about the $15 Billion in 90-percent and 100-percent guaranteed loans for small and green businesses, $255 million in interest-free loans, billions of dollars for green projects that will need small business contractors and much much more.

If you are small business owner like myself, this podcast should interest you.

Please click on the link below to listen to the podcast:

http://www.sw-green.com (go to Featured Podcasts)

How Are You Staying Strong While Our Economy Appears to Be Getting Weaker?

With the economy in a deep recession, President Barack Obama is trying to do everything in his power to stem the tide of job losses, foreclosures and business failures.

However, his policies haven't yet taken hold so Americans are continuing to hurt financially, emotionally, mentally and physically.

All the doom and gloom in the media is making Mr. PhxSoul.com ill so I'm in search of some inspiration! I'd like to know how Arizonans are managing to stay positive in these tough times! Even though we can't completely fix the economy, I believe that we can get ourselves back on the road to feeling more confident and hopeful if we share our personal strategies for staying afloat in these muddy waters!

You never know, you might just read or write something today that will change a life forever!

I'd like for PhxSoul.com readers to submit positive, inspirational and helpful tips, advice and stories about how you are coping with the troubled economy:

• What are some of the unique ways you are reducing personal expenses?
• How do you entertain yourself without having to spend a great deal of money?
• What creative ideas have you developed at your job to generate sales and revenue?
• If you are searching for a job, how do you set yourself apart from other candidates?
• Have you learned new skills?
• Have you considered working in fields that are completely different from your normal skill-set? 
• Do you have a hobby that you've turned into a money-making business?
• Do you know about any programs that have helped you overcome financial troubles?
  

Please do not submit your personal contact information or solicitations for personal donations.

You can click on the Comments link below to get started!

Has the Obama Honeymoon in America Ended?

After watching the State of the Black Union and Rush Limbaugh's tirade on C-SPAN last weekend, one question kept lingering in my mind ... Has the Obama Honeymoon in America Ended?

The State of the Black Union program was an eye-opening reminder that African Americans need to hold their political leaders accountable. For the most part, we tend to just be satisfied that black people are actually being elected to city, county, state and federal offices. We rarely check up on our African American politicians to see what kind of a difference they are making.

Unfortunately, I don't quite know how to make our leaders accountable aside from writing letters about issues that matter to me.

Do we need to appoint a citizen council? Or do we have effective organizations in place to represent African American citizens such as the Arizona Commission on African American Affairs, Greater Phoenix Urban League, Maricopa County NAACP or African American Strategic Leadership Group?

It seems to me that if we're going to have major media blowhards like Rush Limbaugh yellin' and screamin' on television and radio about they want Obama to fail, we better get educated about politics and how Obama is running the United States!

Truthfully, deep down in my heart, I was mad when I saw Limbaugh's rant on television because he was unapologetically disrespecting the most powerful black man in the world. I have to wonder if I would be as furious at Limbaugh if our new president was white, Asian, Hispanic or a woman! The reality is ... I would not be angry! I can recall laughing at all of the jokes about former president George Bush for the past eight years. I wasn't upset then! But now that we have a black man in office, I can't stand to see anyone criticize him!

So I ask ... is it already time for us to end the euphoria over Barack Obama's historic election to the White House? Is it time for us to get down to business, get over the racial aspect and find out how Obama's decisions are going to affect our futures?

I support my new President and his efforts to get our nation back on track, but I know I won't be doing myself or my country any favors if I don't take race out of the equation and judge him on his merits and actions!

I'd love for PhxSoul.com readers to share your thoughts and feedback about how we can hold Obama and our other black politicians accountable. Is the honeymoon over? How do we check up on our leaders? And how do we keep our racial allegiances in check?

Let Charles Barkley Be a Lesson For All of Us on New Year's Eve - Get a Designated Driver!

Are you kidding me?  Are you %$@#&+$ kidding me?

Charles Barkley, the former NBA legend and current TNT basketball analyst, was arrested in Scottsdale early Tuesday on suspicion of drinking and driving?

Please click HERE to read the story!

As they say on ESPN ... C'mon man!!

I'm sorry folks, I know we are all human and we are bound to make mistakes but this is inexcusable! Anyone in his/her right mind knows that it's foolish to be ridin' dirty in Scottsdale! The po-pos are out in serious force every weekend! I rarely go to Scottsdale because the cops can't wait to swarm on you! And please don't tell me this is racial - the police in Scottsdale enjoy arresting people of ALL cultures!

Are you telling me that Charles Barkley can't afford a cab? Are you telling me that Charles Barkley didn't have a friend that he could call to take him home?

Yes, yes, yes, I know we are all innocent until proven guilty. Yes, yes, yes, I know Charles Barkley said that athletes are not role models.

However, Charles has A LOT to lose because of this error in judgment. Does he think that he'll be able to run for governor in Alabama with a DUI on his record? Will he be able to keep his job at TNT? Will he lose other endorsement deals?

Worse yet, what if Charles seriously hurt or killed somebody while he was ALLEGEDLY driving drunk?

He doesn't have a squeaky clean past so this most recent blunder will be a BIG DEAL in the news! The media will jump all over this!

I hope Charles learns a HUGE lesson from this incident!

Moreover, I hope ALL of you have a SAFE New Year's Eve! Please DO NOT DRINK and DRIVE!!    

U.S. Secret Service Needs to Step Up Its Game!

Maaaaan, if I was Barack Obama, I'd be a little less confident about the U.S. Secret Service after that Iraqi reporter threw his shoes at current President George W. Bush yesterday!

I have to admit that Bush showed some pretty good reflexes by dodging those shoes! However, I wish he could've showed some good judgment during his two terms in the White House!

How in the $@&# was that reporter able to get off a two-shoed attack on the President during the press conference? What was the Secret Service doing? Seemed to me that the Iraqi reporter had at least 5 seconds to pull off his second shoe.

What's even more amazing is that the reporter's act of showing the soles of his shoes is considered the ultimate insult in Arab culture! After the overthrow of Saddam Hussein in 2003, Iraqi people were filmed battering his fallen statue in Baghdad with their shoes.

Even though millions of people abroad have praised Obama's victory, there is still a tremendous anti-American sentiment around the world.

This shoe attack is a prime example of why Americans need to feel somewhat relieved that we elected the Obama-Biden team. If something - God forbid - happened to Obama, I'd be at ease with Joe Biden as our nation's leader. Could you imagine what would happen if we elected John McCain and something - God forbid - happened to him?

We'd have Sarah Palin as our President! I would move to Canada immediately!

I hope this is a major wake-up call for the U.S. Secret Service! Get your act together!

We Shall Overcome the Arizona Daily Wildcat Comic Strip Controversy

So I'm guessing that many of you have heard about the racially offensive comic strip about President-Elect Barack Obama that was published in The Daily Wildcat newspaper at the University of Arizona.

If you haven't seen the comic strip yet, click HERE.

As an alum of the University of Arizona, I was extremely disappointed in the judgment of The Daily Wildcat. At a time when the nation should be celebrating a tremendous achievement in American history and race relations, this comic strip definitely was not necessary.

The comic strip, created by artist Keith "Keef" Knight (who is black), should have been run several weeks BEFORE the election when it was more relevant to discuss how the issue of how racism would affect Obama's chances for victory.

Now The Arizona Daily Wildcat is suspending its use of Knight's comic strip. In the end, the editor in chief apologized to the community and explained how the newspaper will revamp its editing efforts. Unfortunately, the brotha lost his Wildcat audience! I'm not sure who got hurt more in this whole deal!

However, I'm a huge supporter of my alma mater and this unfortunate mistake is not a reflection of the school that I love. The University of Arizona is an incredible institution and African Americans who want to receive a quality college education would be smart to study there. My 4.5 years in Tucson were some of the best times of my life!

Let's move on and keep the Obama positivity flowing!

ABC 15 Jumps on the Black Community Bandwagon

Boy oh boy! We negroes are in vogue now!

Channel 15 recently came up with a TV report about the Black Community's feelings about Obama and his run for the presidential office!

I'm a journalist by trade and I have to say that it makes me laugh that we're getting all of this coverage.

It's a double-edged sword because on one hand, it's great that we're finally receiving some primetime attention. However, it bothers me because many media members want you to believe that RACE is NOT an issue in this election!

If race is NOT an issue, then why are WE in the spotlight all of a sudden?

Makes you wanna say hmmmmm ...

Well, I am hoping that we'll continue to receive increased, positive coverage from the Valley media that seek our opinions on local and national issues after the election.

Channel 12 News Report Focuses on the Valley's Black Community

Take time to view this interesting report from Channel 12 News reporter Kim Covington about the Black Community in the Phoenix area.

The report backs up my sentiments about the small but strong African American Community in the Valley of the Sun and how we are spread out all over the place. Because we make up 3 to 5 percent of the total population here, we have to work harder to interact with each other socially and professionally.

Although a TV news report about our Black Community is LONG overdue, it goes to show that if Barack Obama is elected as President of the United States, we will gain some of the spotlight too! The winds of change are coming!

Gotta admit that I was a little disappointed that PhxSoul.com wasn't mentioned but I'll get over it ...

What do you think about the Channel 12 News Report? Click on the Comment link to share your opinions with PhxSoul.com readers!

East Valley Tribune Goin' Down in Flames! What's the Future of Journalism?

Sad news from the East Valley Tribune ... it appears that the newspaper will lay off 142 people (almost 40 percent of its staff) by January 2009 and will stop delivering to Scottsdale and Tempe homes.

Also, the East Valley Tribune will go from a seven-day-per-week publishing cycle to only four days per week!

As a journalism professional and former employee of the East Valley Tribune, this truly breaks my heart. It is a true testament to the fact that newspapers are becoming dinosaurs and the U.S. economy is in SERIOUS trouble! I wish nothing but the best for my former colleagues who will be affected by the reduction in force.

Here's the article from the East Valley Tribune:

http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/127527

As a result of this major shake-up, the Arizona Republic will surely become the 400-pound gorilla of the Valley! However, I'm concerned that the future of the Republic may not be totally secure.

It appears that more and more people are turning to television and the Internet for their immediate news fix. This is great for PhxSoul.com but not-so-good for printed publications that publish their news one day later. By the time, we get our newspapers, we are reading OLD news!

So, how do newspapers stop the bleeding?

My former journalism professors at the University of Arizona would probably take me out to the woodshed for saying this, but I think newspapers need to throw objectivity out of the window!

This may sound ridiculous to some people, but I think daily news organizations need to start encouraging their reporters to become paper shock jocks! Everything they write needs to tap into peoples' emotions while telling the facts!

Readers love controversy, they love to argue with someone and they love to be influenced!

Why don't newspapers take a cue from Bill O'Reilly, Rush Limbaugh, Don Imus and Howard Stern? These guys are making a boatload of money and have a great deal of fame because they don't hold back! They don't have any strict rules about using "confirmed sources" for their stories! They just spit fire and collect big paychecks!

Newspaper reporters need to quit being so soft! They need to make readers laugh, cry, scream and cheer! If a reporter thinks that a murderer is scumbag, he or she should write that in the story! If a reporter thinks that an athlete is a spoiled brat who doesn't deserve the millions that he is getting paid, he or she should write that in the story! Quit dancing around the real truths - tell us what you think instead of being fair and unbiased!

If newspaper reporters can change the game, I think more readers would be more interested and buy more subscriptions! 

If the newspapers want to hold onto tradition and report the straight-forward, unbiased, objective facts, they can publish those stories on their Websites! This way, you'll still be able to restore true journalism.

However, I think it's time to put the real juicy, hard-hitting, opinionated pieces for the printed publications so you can save the newspaper industry!!  

Arizona Professional Development Network Forms Website Partnership with PhxSoul.com

If you haven't logged onto the Arizona Professional Development Network's Website in a while, you may want to consider more frequent visits to azpdnet.com in the future.

Recently, the Arizona Professional Development Network (AZPDNET) updated its 411 and Links Web pages to feature the PhxSoul.com Community Calendar, News Headlines and Local Business Directory.

PhxSoul.com is a Website that informs Phoenix-area residents about African American community events, initiatives, entertainment, arts, politics, businesses, organizations and much more.

This partnership is a win-win for both entities because it allows the AZPDNET to provide the Valley of the Sun with fresh, relevant and interesting community information through its Website while helping PhxSoul.com to expand its exposure to Phoenix-area businesses.

"I am excited about our collaboration because PhxSoul.com has a solid opportunity to increase its audience through the Arizona Professional Development Network while hopefully developing more advertising and content partnerships for my Website,” said Tremaine Jasper, owner of PhxSoul.com.   

Michael Kelly, creator of the AZPDNET stated, “Partnership with Tremaine Jasper and PhxSoul.com is a model which should be replicated over and over in the metro marketplace.  It illustrates how cooperation among African American businesses makes us stronger and better able to meet the needs of our target audiences.”

The purposes of the Arizona Professional Development Network are:

• To provide brand sampling - which includes non-alcohol beverages, to a professional African American audience
• To introduce this special audience to the Co-Sponsors unique products, services and community events
• To offer a networking event that enhances business and professional development and mentorship

To learn more about the Arizona Professional Development Network, please click here.

If you would like to add a PhxSoul.com News Widget to your Website, please click here to get started.

If you want to subscribe to PhxSoul.com's Feed, please click here.

Affirmative Action: Should America Keep It or Let It Die?

As we all know (or should know), Affirmative Action is a hot-button topic in the news today.

Barack Obama's and Hillary Clinton's overwhelming success in the presidential race have proven that minorities are seeing great progress in this country. As a result of Obama's and Clinton's achievements, the mainstream media is starting to question the relevance of affirmative action.

For example, azcentral.com has a blog titled, "Time to End Affirmative Action?"

The blog asks if it is now time to end affirmative action because the presidential campaigns of Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton show the time has come to do away with special efforts to place minorities and women in coveted jobs and schools. 

I recently had a discussion with some of my caucasian friends about affirmative action and they all agreed that affirmative action is a form of reverse discrimination. Moreover, white people are frustrated with affirmative action! In their eyes, affirmative action and minority quota systems have denied many white people opportunities to earn a college education, be hired for quality jobs and bid on/win government contracts. They contend that in order for the United States to truly achieve equality, "exceptions" for people based on gender and race must be eradicated.

They wanted to see proposals like the Arizona Civil Rights Initiative appear on the November ballot because it's time for people to stop receiving promotions and scholarships based on their race and gender. 

I'm glad that the Arizona Civil Rights Initiative was disqualified, but I have to admit that the opponents make some extremely valid points.

It's clear that minorities are more successful now than ever! We own businesses, we own land, we are executives in large corporations, we hold top political positions, we are college presidents ... minorities are making tremendous achievements in America! But I largely credit affirmative action with helping us achieve prosperity after slavery and the Civil Rights era.

To suggest that we should end minority quota systems in America is ludicrous! Although minorities are doing better than we were decades ago, we still have millions of people who are struggling! Millions of minorities are poor, uneducated, homeless, jobless, etc.

Do I blame that all on the white man? Absolutely not! We have many minorities who are causing their own problems. 

But until the playing field is leveled, there's no way that this country can afford to wipe out affirmative action! We may need to reform affirmative action so it includes income-based guidelines (thereby helping people of all races), but we can't end this system.

Minorities still need a hand up when it comes to college scholarships, employment opportunities and economic independence. Can you imagine how many minority kids will be denied the opportunity to receive a quality college education if quotas are outlawed?  

America will turn the clock back at least 50 years if it ever eliminates affirmative action!

What are your thoughts on affirmative action? Should America disband minority quotas? Can minorities succeed without affirmative action? Or should we keep the affirmative action program alive?

PhxSoul.com Participates in Media Forum About Sub-Prime Mortgage Crisis Affecting African Americans

PhxSoul.com served as a panelist for a Black Media Forum hosted by the Arizona Commission on African American Affairs on April 17 in Phoenix titled ...

Saving our Homes from the Sub-Prime Debacle through the African American Media: A Community Forum on Recapturing our Image by Spreading the Word

Why?

The Arizona Commission on African American Affairs recently learned that many African Americans in Arizona are faced with the possibility of losing their homes due to the Sub-Prime mortgage debacle. The statistics show that the mortgages in significant portions of entire neighborhoods are about to reset to higher rates placing these homeowners in direct jeopardy.

There is help available. The problem is that though significant efforts have been made by the State of Arizona and others, the word is still not reaching many who need it most.

PhxSoul.com, along with other black news organizations in Arizona, participated in a media forum on April 17 to discuss ways to work with the State of Arizona, real estate and financial experts to share information with African Americans about the dangers of sub-prime mortgages.

In the near future, PhxSoul.com aims to provide helpful, expert information that will hopefully help those who are mired in a troublesome mortgage situation. PhxSoul.com wants to make sure that homeowners are aware of the numerous community resources that are available so they can acquire assistance as soon as possible.

Even if you are financially secure, this information should be of interest to you because you may know someone who needs a helping hand.

PhxSoul.com looks forward to bringing this important issue to your attention. In the meantime, if you have comments or any professional advice, please feel free to click on the Comments link below.

African American Media in the Phoenix Area

If you are searching for newspapers, magazines, Websites and other media outlets that cater to the black community in the Phoenix area, below is a list of the most well-known organizations:

• Arizona Informant - Longest running black newspaper in the state of Arizona.

• Arizona Black Pages - Your 411 to the Black Community. Offers a Commerce Directory, News, Advertising and more.

• The Write Up - Phoenix Urban News Source

• Ebony Cactus - Online magazine that focuses on culture, cuisine and couture in Arizona

• Nxt Horizon - Online magazine that covers the minority business community in Arizona

• AzNoir.com - e-Newsletter that provides news and events to the African American community in Arizona

• The Soul List - e-Newsletter and Website that provides information about businesses, employment opportunities, community events, etc. to the African American community in the Phoenix area

• PhxSoul.com - Blog and e-newsletter that informs the African American community in the Phoenix area about community events, networking opportunities, black businesses/organizations, nightlife, arts/entertainment, education opportunities, activities for kids and more. PhxSoul.com also features Opinion pieces on Relationships and Social Issues that affect African Americans in the Valley. Readers are encouraged to make comments and share their thoughts on any of the articles posted on PhxSoul.com.

Please take time to learn more about what's going on in Arizona's black community by supporting your black media outlets - buy a subscription, log on and/or advertise today!

If you have a company, product or civic organization that you want to promote to the African American community in the Valley, you can add your information for FREE to PhxSoul.com's Business Directory!

Or you should strongly consider purchasing a Banner Ad so your business will get the VIP treatment on PhxSoul.com!

Black People Who Are New to the Phoenix Area Need to Make BIG Adjustments!

I'm glad to see that my blog entry, "Are You an African American Who's Planning to Move to the Phoenix Area? Here's Your Guide ...," has been so popular among my readers! I've received a lot of questions about various neighborhoods in the Valley.

I encourage all of my readers to keep posting Comments and asking Questions on my blog if you are already here or considering a move to the Valley! It's smart to plan ahead!

I met a ton of people from all over the nation who move here and complain about how Phoenix is not like Atlanta, Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, Washington DC, Charlotte, etc. Of course it isn't! Arizona is still a young state (less than 100 years old) with a THIN African American legacy. We're still trying to strengthen our roots here ...   

In the meantime, I hear peoples' criticisms about the Phoenix area ...

• We don't have many black cultural events or entertainment venues
• If you're single and black in Phoenix, you're gonna struggle to find love
• The black population here is just too small

To those complainers, I say that you need to quit yer bloodclot crying! Phoenix is a great city - you just have to be more aggressive in finding social outlets, cultural events, black organizations, black churches, etc.

I admit that we don't have a popular African American-centered television show or radio program yet.

Instead, you'll find most information about us in the Arizona Informant newspaper, the Arizona Black Pages, the Ebony Cactus, Arizona Noir, HaveaWonderful.com and Soullist.com.

You'll find nightclub and entertainment news on urbanaz.com, hybentertainment.com and my favorite, Warcondo's Chicago Style Entertainment Page!

If you're out and about, don't be afraid to ask black people what they know about Phoenix! I've heard many great stories about how people became friends after approaching strangers in public with the same question! I've made great friends the same way!

If you're sitting on the couch, waiting for Phoenix to come to you, you're not gonna like this place.

BUT if you are OPEN-MINDED and you do your homework, you'll find that Phoenix has plenty of exciting things to do and see!