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CDC Experts Dispel Myths About the H1N1 Flu

Editor's Note: PhxSoul.com is publishing this article to help educate African Americans and other minorities about the facts and the myths regarding the H1N1 (Swine) Flu. We all have our questions about this illness ... it's time to get the answers from health professionals who are on the front lines instead of paying attention to the rumors from people who have no expertise.  

New America Media, News Report, Valeria Fernández, Posted: Nov 10, 2009

PHOENIX, Ariz.-- “If I get the shot, could I catch the H1N1 flu?”

That’s one of the most frequently asked questions Spanish-language media hear from communities in Phoenix.

“The answer is no, you can’t get the flu from the flu shot,“ said Dr. Corey J. Hebert, medical director of the Louisiana Recovery School District.

The vaccine that contains the dead virus can cause a flu-like reaction, but that’s not the same as having influenza, he said.

More than a dozen journalists from Latino, Chinese, Filipino and Native-American media attended a briefing with experts from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), organized by New America Media in Phoenix on Nov. 5.

The experts dispelled some of the myths that seem to have spread faster than the virus among minority communities in Arizona. And the journalists described the challenges of getting accurate information to their audiences.

“People don’t want to get the vaccine,” said Victor Hugo Rodriguez, a reporter for Univision. “They’re afraid they’ll catch the flu.”

“There’s a kind of a disparity of knowledge," said Alan Janssen, a health communications specialist at the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases for the CDC. "They hear bits and pieces. They really don’t understand what this disease is. It’s new. They don’t know about the safety of the vaccine. And that’s were you play a role.“

Another concern was the situation of low-skilled workers.

“I hear time and time again from workers who get sick, ‘If I don’t show up to work, I’ll lose my job,'” said Lizeth Felix, of Prensa Hispana, a weekly Spanish newspaper. “Bosses threatened them, 'If you don’t come to work there’s a line of people ready to replace you.'”

There was also an underlying fear among undocumented immigrants, said Felix.

The group also happens to be one of the populations the CDC is trying to reach out to.

“You should not be asked for an ID when you get the vaccine,” said Arleen Porcell-Pharr, spokesperson for the CDC.

Language and geography seem to also be a barrier in getting the proper information for ethnic groups.

The Chinese-American community doesn’t have much information about H1N1 as they have in their home country, so they tend to disregard it, said Tinna Xie, correspondent for Arizona Chinese News in Arizona.

Native Americans tend to live in remote communities making it harder for the information to reach them, said Jeri Thomas, from the Gila Bend American Indian Community.

Native Americans are over-represented when it comes to hospitalizations and deaths due to the virus, according to Janey Pearl, a spokesperson for the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS). While they account for 7 percent of documented cases, they represent 20 percent of those hospitalized and 20 percent of deaths.

Cultural competence is crucial for those doing outreach. Among Latino immigrants, yerberias – stores that sell herbal and home remedies — may be preferred to a visit to the doctor, said Rodriguez, the Univision reporter. The yerberia owner’s advice could weigh more than that of health officials, he added.

The H1N1 virus has caused most cases of influenza this year. The CDC estimates between 2-5 million people have been infected since the outbreak in April, and 2,000 people have died, including 100 children, said Dr. Andrew Kroger of the CDC’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases.

Unlike the seasonal flu, which mostly affects people between ages 25 and 60, infants and young children are considered a group at higher risk of hospitalization due to the H1N1 virus.

That’s why they are targets for the vaccination campaign, together with pregnant women and people with a chronic disease.

“One message that should be consistent throughout is that vaccination is prevention. You do it while you’re healthy. You do it now,” said Dr. Kroger. "It’s the most effective thing you can do to prevent both influenza and complications from influenza.”

For more information on the flu visit the CDC website at www.cdc.gov/h1nh1 flu, or www.cdc.flu.gov, or call 1-800-CDC-INFO.

New America Media Taps PhxSoul.com to Serve as an Environmental News Platform for African Americans in Phoenix

Two resounding themes in Barack Obama's 2008 presidential campaign were "change" and the "environment."

Historically, we haven't invested much energy in improving the quality of our air, land and water resources on Earth. Yes, many of us recycle and some of us have gone "green" in our homes and offices. But for the most part, you don't see too many African Americans getting involved with environmental issues of today.

I have to admit that I am one of those people who hasn't paid much attention to environmental topics. But I do know that if I want our planet to be a safe place to live for centuries to come, I and ALL African Americans must heed President Obama's message and change ...

In October 2009, PhxSoul.com took its first step toward to helping Phoenix's African American community become more educated and involved. PhxSoul.com was invited by New America Media to participate in a Summit on the Environment which featured ethnic journalists from the Southwest. New America Media is the country's first and largest national collaboration, representing more than 2,000 ethnic and youth news organizations. The Summit on the Environment was held at the Walter Cronkite of the Journalism at ASU's Downtown Campus in Phoenix.

During the morning session, PhxSoul.com, the Arizona Informant, Southwest Green and the African American Voice (Colorado) represented the black point of view regarding the environment. We discussed subjects ranging from racism, the Fisher Sand and Gravel air pollution problem in south Phoenix, and the need for more financial resources so we can devote more time to covering the environment. 

However, my main reality check from the Summit is that people throughout the nation see PhxSoul.com as a major gateway to the black community in Phoenix. Since we live in the fifth-largest city in the United States, we are an important market! Ultimately, New America Media wants PhxSoul.com to become a vital voice in its efforts to share Arizona's African American environmental news with the rest of the country. Therefore, PhxSoul.com has to work harder to get up to speed on this important subject. I encourage any local experts to contact PhxSoul.com so we can work together to effectively educate our people here. In the coming months, PhxSoul.com aims to publish more information that could impact your way of life from an environmental, economic, medical and/or political standpoint!

I hope PhxSoul.com readers embrace the emerging partnership with New America Media because there is so much for us to share with and learn from other ethnicities!

Black Radio Station in the Valley? How Would You Like the Sound of That?

A long time ago, I wrote a blog about having an "African American TV Show in the Phoenix Area." I wasn't necessarily saying that I was going to start it up, I was more or less thinking out loud about the possibilities. I still think it can be done. I just don't have the capital to make it happen. Well, not yet ...

In the meantime, I've seen and heard a lot of people complaining about our lack of a REAL black radio station here in the Phoenix area.

I admit it's a damn shame we don't have one. Well, I shouldn't say we don't have one because Gospel 860 AM and several Internet radio programs (including kbeaonline.com, Let's Talk Arizona, Atypical Sports Show and The Voice of Gospel Music Show) are based in the Phoenix area.

However, when I think of a black radio station, I envision an FM radio station, with entertaining, knowledgeable, respectable black DJs and hosts who talk about issues of the day and play R&B, soul, neosoul, hip-hop music. The station also provides news and other information that the community needs to know.

We clearly don't have a mainstream radio station like that - well, not yet ... I've been told from several sources that black radio and TV programming is on the way!

Phoenix has been the home to black radio stations in the past (remember KUKQ 1060 AM? remember KMJK 107.3 FM?), but inadequate financial support forced them to move on.

In order for a black radio station to survive here, it would have to establish a SOLID business plan and work constantly to find out what Phoenix listeners want! We all know that Phoenix's black market is really fickle! If the black radio station can't find a happy medium here ... ohhhh man!

Moreover, a black radio station would need BANKABLE community support! We can't take it for granted this time. We would have to treat this radio station like WE ALL own it - after all, radio is BIG BUSINESS!

I look forward to your feedback on this blog! What's your vision of the ideal black radio station in Phoenix? How would you support the radio station? Is a black radio station the key to unifying our people?

Share your thoughts in the COMMENTS area below!

NPMG to Pay $415K to Settle EEOC Lawsuit for Racial Harassment of African American Workers in Phoenix

Credit Card Company Subjected Blacks to Racial Slurs and Insults, Agency Charged

PHOENIX – NPMG Acquisition Sub, LLC, a Phoenix credit card processing company, will pay $415,000 and furnish significant remedial relief to settle a race harassment lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the agency announced today. The EEOC had charged that NPMG subjected a group of African-American workers to racial slurs and epithets.

In its lawsuit (EEOC v. NPMG, Acquisition Sub, LLC., CV 08-01790-PHX-SRB), the EEOC charged that two supervisors at NPMG created and perpetuated a racially hostile work environment against black employees. The racially hostile workplace allegedly included severe verbal abuse consisting of numerous racial slurs and epithets. The EEOC’s suit was filed on behalf of three African-American discrimination victims and a class of nine similarly aggrieved employees.

“It was unbelievable, the things they said,” said Michael Buckner, one of the discrimination victims. "My supervisors often referred to my fellow African-American employees and me as ‘n-----rs’ and ‘porch monkeys’ and forced us to play so-called ‘Civil War games’ where employees were divided into North and South. They also referred to black children or mixedrace children as ‘porch monkeys’ or ‘Oreo babies.’ On several occasions, I was told to turn off my ‘jigaboo music.’”

Such alleged conduct violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The EEOC filed suit after first attempting to reach a pre-litigation settlement.

“For those who may assume racism in the workplace no longer exists, this case and many others like it nationwide tell a far different story,” said EEOC Acting Chairman Stuart J. Ishimaru. “Unfortunately, race discrimination and harassment are anything but past history in too many contemporary workplaces – more than four decades after passage of Title VII of the landmark Civil Rights Act.”

In addition to the monetary relief, the consent decree provides for extensive remedial relief, including a written apology to the victims on company letterhead; anti-discrimination training; written anti-discrimination policies; discipline of discriminatory conduct and the posting of notices.

EEOC Regional Attorney Mary Jo O'Neill of the Phoenix District Office added, “The racial slurs used in this case, and tolerated by management at NPMG, are disgusting and outrageous. These same supervisors were involved in a prior case the EEOC filed against NPMG, and these same supervisors were permitted by NPMG to continue their discriminatory practices and torment minorities in the workplace.”

The EEOC settled a prior national origin discrimination case against NPMG in April 2008 for $62,000.

Acting EEOC Phoenix District Director Rayford O. Irvin said, “No employer should ever allow supervisors to engage in continuous racial abuse of any employees, as was the case at NPMG. The EEOC applauds these brave individuals who stepped forward to challenge NPMG’s racially charged work environment.”

The EEOC enforces federal laws prohibiting employment discrimination. Further information about the EEOC is available on its Website at www.eeoc.gov.

Editor's Note: What in the #@?! is going on with these businesses in Phoenix? I know racism is a huge problem in Arizona and America, but why do employers think they can get away with discrimination in the 21st century? PhxSoul.com will continue to put these unscrupulous companies on blast and we welcome your Comments regarding this case.

Hood Access Weekly Radio Show Plays Independent Music from Local, National Recording Artists

PRLog (Press Release) – Sept. 16, 2009 – Hood Access is a locally owned ”Urban” formatted radio show broadcasting live on RadioPhoenix.org in Phoenix, Arizona. Hood Access is seeking music submissions from independent local and national Hip Hop, Rap, and R&B artists looking for airplay.

The show’s music library features music from artists, like Brother Ali, Chali 2Na, LaCoka Nostra, Keignz Ransom, 3Riple Threat, and Tri Camp. It also plays newly released singles from major artists, like Maybach Music Group Triple C’s under Rick Ross’s record label.

Owner and DJ, Tiffany Edenfield, launched the radio show on September 5, 2009 and is extremely thrilled over the growing popularity in the first two weeks. Edenfield states “most new radio shows are very slow in building interest, but with hot producers, like Charlie Mac of www.whosthehottestrapper.com, the popularity of the show is beyond expectations.” The station boasts of listeners from Phoenix, Las Vegas, New York City, and Maryland, including international listeners from United Kingdom.

Edenfield admits “it’s awesome to receive an e-mail from listeners across the states. Internet radio is becoming more accessible so people are able to listen to the show on their smart phones and PDAs. This is great because independent music artists gain more exposure and potential fans outside of their home city, even their state!"

Hood Access would like its music library to contain more than 30% of local independent music to add to its playlist that can be occasionally mixed with music from national independent and major artists. Some of the Phoenix artists currently receiving airplay include Ruttown Kru recording artists MsZ2Much, Jrue, and J’Me (Phoenix, Arizona), along with Tony Bars (Litchfield, Arizona), and Dragon X (Phoenix, Arizona). National independent recording artists include Russell Young (Waynesboro, Virginia), Bigg Fev (Las Vegas), Smokee (Las Vegas), and Tilly Key (Hollywood, California).

Independent music artists and their representatives are encouraged to submit professionally produced MP3 formatted recordings to airplay@hoodaccess.com, for consideration.

About Hood Access: is syndicated and broadcasted live on www.radiophoenix.org. The station is based out of Phoenix, Arizona that is available on the Internet every Saturday, from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM (Arizona).

For additional information about Hood Access, send email to press@hoodaccess.com. You can also join their social networking pages at myspace.com/djhipnotik, myspace.com/hoodaccessshow, and twitter.com/hoodaccess. The official website launches November 2009 - www.hoodaccess.com.

About Wutz Hood Network: is a media company that provides promotional exposure for independent music artists in the form of radio airplay, Internet TV, and Internet magazine publishing. To learn more, e-mail info@wutzhood.com.

L&W Supply Corp. to Pay $49,500 for Race Bias

EEOC Said Company Supervisor Used Racial Slurs, Based Work Assignments on Race

Submitted by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

PHOENIX – L&W Supply Corporation has agreed to settle a lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) for nearly $50,000 and other relief on behalf of an African American employee who was subjected to discrimination based on race, the federal agency announced today.

The EEOC maintained in its suit that L &W Supply Corporation, which operated Coyote Building Materials, assigned African American employee Kevin Hamilton and his team member, Ricardo Lopez-Gonzales, to less desirable and lower-paying jobs because of Hamilton’s race. The EEOC charged that the L&W supervisor responsible for determining job assignments referred to Hamilton using racial slurs, including racial slurs in Spanish and use of the “N-word.”

Such alleged conduct violates Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy or sexual harassment) or national origin and protects employees who complain about such offenses from retaliation. The EEOC filed suit (No. 07-CV-1364-PHX-JWS) after first attempting to reach a voluntary settlement out of court.

“An employee’s race should not impact his paycheck,” said Regional Attorney Mary Jo O’Neill of the EEOC’s Phoenix District Office, who oversaw the case. “In the current economy, the consequences of discriminatory pay decisions can be especially devastating.”

“The battle to eliminate race-based discrimination from the workplace is far from over,” said EEOC Phoenix Trial Attorney Valerie Meyer. “We still see egregious instances of racial bias at job sites across the country, as evidenced by this case and many others.”

In addition to paying $49,500, the EEOC settlement by consent decree requires L&W Supply Corporation to provide training and other relief aimed at educating its employees about race discrimination and their rights under Title VII.

Acting EEOC Phoenix District Director Rayford Irvin added, “It is the responsibility of every employer to make sure that its decisions about work assignments and pay are free of race discrimination.”

In Fiscal Year 2008, the EEOC received 33,937 charges alleging race-based discrimination.

The number of race-based charges has increased each year since 2005. Historically, race-based charges have been the most frequent type of filing with EEOC offices nationwide.

The EEOC enforces federal laws prohibiting employment discrimination. Further information about the EEOC is available on its Website at www.eeoc.gov.

The press release can be downloaded here.

Editor's Note: Why is this happening in the 21st Century? Feel free to share your ideas and thoughts by clicking on the Comments link below.

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.

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!

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)

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?

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, The Write Up!, and Soullist.com.

You'll find nightclub and entertainment news on urbanaz.com, hybentertainment.com and aznightlife.com!

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!