The Black Informant

State of the Black Union 2007

WILLIAMSBURG, Va., Nov. 28 /PRNewswire/ — Jamestown 2007, the organizers of America’s 400th Anniversary, in partnership with Tavis Smiley Presents, Inc. announced today that the “State of the Black Union 2007″ will be held at the Hampton University Convocation Center on February 10, 2007, as part of America’s 400th Anniversary.

The symposium is free to the public, and will be broadcast live via C- SPAN. Anyone interested in attending can register online at http://www.tavistalks.com/ or by calling (213) 694-1883. More information about America’s 400th Anniversary can be found at http://www.americas400thanniversary.com/

Originating in 1999 and hosted by television and radio personality Tavis Smiley, “The State of the Black Union” brings together America’s black thought leaders, educators, public policy makers, religious leaders and community organizers to examine the African-American Imprint on America. The symposium takes on added poignancy in 2007 during the international commemoration marking the 400th anniversary of Jamestown, Va., and the arrival of the first Africans in America.

“Jamestown changed the world in many ways, but perhaps it shaped our nation most profoundly the day Africans arrived,” Smiley said. “I can’t think of a more relevant place to talk about the issues facing our community today than the place where African culture became American culture.”

A 36-member panel, including Angela Glover Blackwell, Cornel West, the Rev. Dr. Otis Moss Sr., Cathy Hughes, Bruce Gordon, Michel Martin, Tim Reid and the Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, will join Tavis Smiley and co-host Tom Joyner to examine the impact of African Americans on western culture as well as current issues of importance to the African-America community. (more…)