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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

CNBC to Feature Documentary about Black Millionaire Celebrities - NEWBOs

NEWBO? What's a NEWBO?

Apparently a NEWBO stands for "New Black Overclass," the generation of self-made, young (under the age of 40), black multimillionaires who have built their fortunes in sports, media and entertainment.

On Feb. 26, The Wall Street Journal's Lee Hawkins is going to interview several NEWBOs such as LeBron James, Terrell Owens, Diddy and The Cash Money Millionaires, in a documentary called NEWBOs: The Rise of America's New Black Overclass. The show will be featured on CNBC at 11 PM on Feb. 26 (Arizona time). You can confirm by checking your local listings or visit CNBC.com for more information.

Although I'm a big fan of success stories, something about this documentary just doesn't pass the smell test for me. Maybe it's because most of these guys have been in trouble with the law. Maybe it's because many of these stories really aren't that new to the public. Maybe it's because I don't see any women on the interviewee list!

I wish Hawkins would focus on interviewing millionaires who are not living in the limelight. Regular folks who have achieved success in the business, media or entertainment worlds. I think those stories will be much more intriguing and educational and will give more hope to African Americans. Of course featuring regular folk on primetime television would be tough to market but then again, the Black In America series on CNN was wildly popular!

I encourage you all to check it out ... maybe Lee Hawkins will prove me wrong!

Obama Inauguration on Jan. 20! What a Historic Day!

As I watched Barack Obama's inauguration (while I was at work) on Jan. 20, 2009, I gave a special thanks to our ancestors and people of all races who fought to abolish slavery and risked their lives to end slavery, racism, voting disenfranchisement and so many other injustices.

There is no way that a President Barack Obama could ever be possible without the strength, courage and vision displayed by our forefathers and predecessors. For that, I will be eternally grateful!

People have asked me if I've always believed that a black man would be elected as President of the United States! My answer is, "Yes!" I didn't exactly know when it would happen, but I knew the dream would come to fruition "someday."

I never doubted it because I was fortunate enough to be raised by a "village" of caring, intelligent, encouraging and successful role models who made me feel that ALL things were possible! When I was a young boy in the 1980s, my family and friends used to frequently repeat a statement that really seemed empower us - "I AM SOMEBODY!"

The "I AM SOMEBODY" mantra was born from a poem that was written by Jesse Jackson in the early 1970s. When Jesse Jackson used to shout that phrase among large crowds, I used to get chills even back then because it filled me with so much pride and hope!

Every time Barack Obama speaks, he fills me with the same pride and hope that I felt during those days when Jackson used to lead us in the "I AM SOMEBODY" chants! However, Obama takes my pride and hope to another level because he makes Americans of ALL races feel like "WE ARE SOMEBODY!"

His dedication to our nation should never be questioned and I believe that he and his cabinet will get our country back on track! It's OFFICIAL! Obama is here!!!

PhxSoul.com wants to know your thoughts on Barack Obama's inauguration! What were your feelings as you watched the ceremony?

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.

TV Show about African American Life in Arizona? Would You Tune In?

As the creator of PhxSoul.com, I've been privileged to learn about NUMEROUS African American organizations and individuals who are really trying to make a difference here in Arizona!

I always wonder about the black people who say that there's nothing goin' on in Phoenix! I want to ask them, "Are you living in a cave?!!"

The African American Town Hall that took place on January 10 at Tanner Chapel AME Church highlighted a number of issues that are affecting our community and showed me that that there are hundreds, if not thousands of black people here who want to make Arizona a better place to live!

With the momentum that I'm seeing for black people in Arizona, I think it's time for us to develop and host a television show on African American culture and progress in Phoenix!

During the African American Town Hall, a number of problems were listed including poor education, insufficient family and health resources, violence/crime, incarceration and economics. They're all valid issues for our community!

However, I think POOR COMMUNICATION is one of the key problems we have in Arizona!

Yes, we have PhxSoul.com, the Arizona Informant, the Ebony Cactus, AzNoir, the Soul List, Arizona Black Pages to report our news and promote our organizations and businesses.

But for reasons unknown to me, a large portion of African Americans aren't interested in reading these mediums to find out what's goin' on in our community!

Why?

Maybe it takes too much time to read them? Maybe people don't know how to access these publications and Websites? Maybe people don't even know they exist? Maybe we're intimidated by the Internet and technology? Who knows ...

But there is ONE medium that can reach everyone!

TELEVISION!! Everybody watches TV!

I'd love to see a weekly 30-minute program that informs people about what's goin' on from an African American perspective in the Phoenix metro area! We've had these shows in the past (in fact I was a guest on one of these shows when I was a kid), but of course the TV programs fizzled out due to lack of support.

If we had an ENTERTAINING, INFORMATIVE local television show that made black people aware of our efforts, success stories, businesses, entertainment venues, community events and organizations, celebrities, pioneers, nightlife and planned projects, I think African Americans would tune in! I think black people are craving a convenient place to SEE information about our community and television is it!

Maybe I'm being foolish for not keeping this idea to myself - I could do the research, then I could be the host and make some serious change! I've been on television numerous times and really enjoy being in front of the camera.

However, I'm not really connected to local TV network industry anymore so I don't know how to put the wheels in motion for this idea. I don't mind proposing this idea to the public because I'm sure that we have somebody who works in the local media industry who can make this happen quickly!

We'd have to find a local channel and staff willing to support this effort, VIBRANT, ATTRACTIVE and INTERESTING hosts (male and female) and local corporations who would be excited about advertising on the show! The local channel would probably need to air each television show several times per week (repeats) to make sure that it gets exposed to a wider audience.

I'm curious peoples, what do you think about this idea? Is it something that could work here? Do we already have a similar television or radio program that I haven't heard about?

Please submit your Comments today!!!