Young Black Professional Guide

I haven’t seen it being publicized in too many circles, but this story is amazing and is a ‘must watch’.

One of the PR firms for MSNBC contacted me and wanted to share a special they are doing tonight about a very unique experience of a young black professional, 28-year old journalist David Wilson. He traces his roots through the history of slavery and ultimately back to Africa. What makes this story amazing, however, is that he attempts to dialogue with his ancestors’ slave owners family in North Carolina, specifically the current generation son, whose name is also David Wilson.

The trailer posted below is extremely deep and I anticipate this special following suit. MSNBC is also planning a frank discussion on race, after the program, to be moderated by Brian Williams. The special is being hosted by Tiki Barber and sponsored by Ford.

Meeting David Wilson
April 11, 2008
9pm EST on MSNBC

(video below)

Popularity: 1%

Every now and then, we try to give props to members of our community that are doing great things. While the Civil Rights Movement gave birth to our current opportunities more than 50 years ago, ‘firsts’ for African-Americans are still happening.

Such as the case with Maj. Shawna R. Kimbrell, the first African-American female fighter pilot.

I have family who are military (Dad and Uncle are Marines), and I know firsthand the words of ‘honor’ and ‘country’ and ’sacrifice’. To excel to the heights of F-16 fighter pilot in today’s Air Force, screaming through the air with a $60 million dollar aircraft while slicing up targets like a skilled surgeon is no drop in the bucket. This sista is the shite. Period.

BlackMilitaryWorld.com does her story justice, but I wanted to highlight her accomplishment here on our web space since her life is about protecting my family’s way of life.

“I am still amazed that in this day and age there is still so much room for firsts especially for females and for African-Americans,” Major Kimbrell said. “It is an important step for progression and although I am not fond of the spotlight I think it is important for people to know that this barrier has been breeched. Especially for the African-American community and for women to know what types of opportunities are available to them.”

BigUps.

Hat Tip to BlackVoices.com

Popularity: 1%

I received a nice email from a PR rep at CNN about a special tour they’re doing to get a ‘grassroots’ perspective on what it means to be Black in America. The concept is pretty neat as it enlists the opinions of students on HBCU campuses to provide a report, documentary style, to share with the world.

The tour started at Florida A&M University today and will continue as follows:

-April 10 North Carolina Central

-April 11 North Carolina A & T

-April 16 Hampton

-April 18 Howard Unviersity

-April 22 AUC (Spelman, Morehouse and Clark ATL)

Chosen winners that submit and upload their projects to CNN’s ireport.com website will win digital cameras and automatically be placed in the running for a grand prize, a trip for two to the Essence Music Festival in New Orleans over the 4th of July weekend.

FAMU’s winning entry is embedded below, and I must say, the young brother did an excellent job. Be sure to check out the comments of the video on the actual page, as well as additional videos about why students chose to attend HBCUs and their importance.

Popularity: 1%

There is a way to invest in gold and precious metals without copping a watch or chain. As a matter of fact, having a small percentage of your portfolio invested in precious metals can be very beneficial for your overall balance, especially in times like these. Keep reading to find out why.

People have been buying and selling gold for almost as long as the Earth’s creation. The ancient Egyptians buried the Pharaohs with gold ornaments because gold doesn’t rust or decay. In the US, one of the primary reasons for western migration was because of the gold rush. Most monetary systems were built on the gold standard. Over time, the use of gold has faded because of the increased reliance on paper currency, but gold still remains a solid investment for the following reasons:

Bank & Credit fears: The price of gold and the level of uncertainty regarding banks is directly correlated. If people fear a bank failure, then it is possible (but highly unlikely these days) that a bank run will occur. This makes gold more desirable to hold.

Increased inflation: In Germany in the 20’s and in Zimbabwe today, paper currency was basically worthless. As a matter of fact, Germans used the currency to light their stoves. As people feel that their dollars are worth less and less, the value of gold increases.

Low or negative real interest rates: If the return on bonds, equities and real estate is not adequately compensating for risk and inflation, the demand for gold and other alternative investments such as commodities increases.

Decreased value of the American dollar: Put shortly, investors have choices. When faced with investing in the depreciating dollar vs. gold, most would choose gold.

Now that you know the ‘Whys’, here is the ‘How’

Buying gold bullion or bars: While this is probably the least efficient way to buy gold, it definitely has to be the most fun. I get giddy just thinking about building my own mini Fort Knox at my house. Keep in mind that once you buy the gold, you have to find a way to keep it safe and undamaged. Also gold in the physical form is very illiquid, meaning you can’t easily sell it once bought.

Gold mutual funds and ETF’s: The Street Tracks Gold ETF (GLD) represents one tenth of an ounce of gold and replicates the movement of the underlying commodity. There is also the iShares Comex Gold Trust (IAU) that operates in the same fashion. Another route to take is to invest in mutual funds that own companies involved in the mining and exploration of gold and precious metals. These companies give you exposure to the gold market but not 100%(which may not be a bad thing)

Keep in mind that gold can be very volatile, so don’t have more than 5-10% in your portfolio.

For more info check out www.molifeney.com

Popularity: 1%