MC LYTE

Lyricist, pioneer, icon, veteran and entrepreneur could all be used to describe MC Lyte. One of the most prolific and well-respected female Hip Hop artists to ever bless the mic, MC Lyte has consistently found ways to reinvent herself musically, while expanding her resume and gaining new fans. Reared in Brooklyn, New York, she always has her finger on Hip Hop’s pulse. Many are familiar with her stellar music making skills, but over the course of her extensive career Lyte has ventured out to other avenues that have allowed her to show the world just how talented she truly is.

AND THEN THERE WAS LYTE…

MC Lyte first appeared on the scene in 1988 with her debut album Lyte As A Rock. At the tender age of 17 she began schooling other MCs in the art of rhyme, and since that time she has proven that greatness always prevails with a total of ten albums (9 plus a “GREATEST HITS”) to her credit. A pioneer in the industry, she opened the door for future female Hip Hop artists by daring to do what had never been done while doing something she loved. Lyte is the FIRST rap artist ever to perform at New York’s historic Carnegie Hall and the FIRST female rapper to ever receive a gold single. MC LYTE’s inspiring 1993 classic anthem, “Ruffneck,” was nominated for a Grammy for Best Rap Single. In fact, she was the FIRST female solo rapper ever nominated for a Grammy! Ten years later her 2003 album “Undaground Heat vol.1” hosted by Jamie Foxx, garnered this rap legend her second career Grammy nomination. It was released on her own label SGI/CMM. The single “Ride Wit Me” also received a BET Award nomination for Best Female Rap Performance. In 2006, MC Lyte became the first solo female rapper to be honored/inducted on VH-1’s HIPHOP HONORS! Lyte serves as a beautiful example that females can rock the mic just as good and oftentimes even better than a man! Lyte’s lyrical skills have also been tapped into by Hollywood. She co-wrote and performed the television theme songs for Fox’s “Dark Angel” and BET’s “Holla.”

Her last music offering, Back to Lyte (2006), featuring the smash hit “Wonder Years,” (produced by DJ Premier) was an in your face display of Lyte’s ability to stay timely and in demand. This can further be heard on her recent contribution to the remix of neo-soul songstress Jill Scott’s smash hit “Hate on Me.” Fans will be pleased to know that Lyte recently returned to the studio to record album number eleven. Currently untitled, this one will deliver what she calls “a perfect blend of grown and sexy music for Hip Hop lovers.” The first single, “Beautiful,” is currently receiving mad love nationwide and abroad from mix tape and underground outlets. The album is scheduled for release in April of 2008. Lyte is still a much sought after concert act. You can find her performing throughout the year. She recently returned from a very successful nationwide tour with The Roots.

ACTING…

It’s only natural that a woman who has mastered the studio and the stage take her incredible presence to the world of television and film. MC Lyte became a favorite on UPN’s primetime hit sitcom “Half & Half” as Kai, a hard but fair record company president. She even served as a recurring celebrity judge on CBS’ “Star Search” with Arsenio Hall. Her other credits include Lana, a recurring character on the WB’s long running comedy “For Your Love”. Lyte can also dish up the drama as evidenced in her roles on CBS’, “The District” and FOX’s “Get Real” series. She also had appearances on UPN’s “Platinum” and “In the House,”Nickelodeon’s “Cousin Skeeter” and MTV’s “DNC.” In 2006, she joined the world of reality TV and served as mentor to Shar Jackson, the winner of the MTV reality series “Celebrity Rap Superstar.”

In the world of film, Lyte co-starred in Playa’s Ball, which tells the story of the NBA’s newest rookie whose life is turned upside by a paternity suit and rape charge. Lyte shows what’s really going down in an all female prison in the Trimark/Lions Gate’s feature release, Civil Brand. Other big screen roles include Extreme Pictures’ Train Ride,Cinergi Pictures’ Burn Hollywood Burn, Warner Brother’s Fly By Night and the independent features, Luv Tails and Short Handed.

VOICEOVER & RADIO…

With her signature style and recognizable voice it only makes sense that Lyte would be tapped for national voiceover campaigns. She just finished recording a campaign for telecommunications giant AT&T and she has also been the voice behind the VH1 HipHop Honors and national campaigns for Wherehouse Music, Coca-Cola, McDonald’s and Nike. She assisted Mattel by lending her pipes to the overwhelmingly popular Mattel Diva Stars “Chat Doll”—Tia. Lyte’s sultry sound can further be heard while she hosts her own weekend radio show on Sirius Satellite Radio. She is also a featured guest of fellow Hip Hop veteran Kool Moe Dee’s Internet series “Spitfire.”

AUTHOR, MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER & ENTREPRENEUR…

Whenever possible, Lyte enjoys traveling to colleges and universities across the nation to use her expertise and story of success to motivate young people to take ownership of the world around them, while striving to be the best they can possibly be. A role model to women everywhere, Lyte never compromises who she is and consistently displays that a woman can turn heads fully clothed! More of her words of wisdom can be found in her first literary offering. Her self-published book “Just My Take,” words of poetry &inspiration for today’s Hip Hop generation can be purchased on her web site www.mc-lyte.com. Lyte is also very active in many social projects, involving herself in anti-violence campaigns, Rock the Vote, and contributing her time and expertise to several non-profit organizations. She is also a proud member of the national sorority Sigma Gamma Rho, Inc. Lyte is an intelligent woman with business savvy who has learned to make her money work for her with several successful entrepreneurial endeavors. Her most recent undertaking is her own line of home décor fashions, “The Lana Moorer Collection” by MC LYTE. Coming soon to a store near you.

STAY TUNED…

This incredibly talented woman has been in the game almost a decade and shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon. Many artists have come and gone but MC Lyte still remains shining brighter than ever!!!

Magic Johnson

"Earvin Magic" Johnson has always dreamed of becoming a successful businessman. So, whether he was on the basketball court at Michigan State, winning state championships or as the infamous 32 on the Los Angeles Lakers, winning with his no-look passes — Johnson's dream come true was not far behind.

Although, Johnson is known universally for his illustrious 13-year professional NBA career with the Los Angeles Lakers, he has re-defined himself as a businessman. To date, Johnson has provided over 20,000 jobs to minorities through his many business ventures. As Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Johnson Development Corporation (JDC), he has provided a sense of hope for Urban America by revitalizing under-served communities — providing quality entertainment services, creating much-needed jobs and employing local minority contractors and service vendors. Since JDC's inception in 1993, they have established a 50/50 partnership with Howard Schultz (Chief Global Strategist of Starbucks) and Starbucks Coffee Company to form Urban Coffee Opportunities (UCO), making him Starbuck's only partner to date. Johnson currently has 92 Starbucks, with a commitment to open up a total of 125 stores by the end of 2006. 100% of the stores are located in ethnically diverse neighborhoods, while a large portion are located in under-served communities.

Through Mr. Johnson's leadership, he formed a partnership with Canyon Capital Realty Advisors LLC to create Canyon-Johnson Realty Advisors LLC, which manages the Canyon Johnson Urban Fund. Johnson serves as managing director, along with Bobby Turner. The fund focuses on urban emerging real estate markets and fostering economic opportunities for the underserved residents of urban neighborhoods in which it invests. In January 2005, the Fund closed on its second round which at $600 million is twice as much as was raised in the first, 2001 go-round. The fund has made or committed to 15 investments utilizing approximately $320 million of its committed capital, facilitating over $1.5 billion of urban revitalization. Projects to date, include Sunset & Vine in Hollywood, CA, Park Place Condominiums and One Hanson in Brooklyn, NY, State Place in Chicago, Midtown Center in Milwaukee, WI, Downtown Dadeland and Miami Free Trade Zone in Miami. He has crossed the barriers of being just an athlete and opened doors for himself and others.

He has also established Magic Johnson Theatres, with six locations opened nationwide (Los Angeles, Atlanta, Houston, Cleveland, Harlem and Largo, Maryland in Prince George's County); Magic's T.G.I.F Fridays (in Los Angeles) and Washington Mutual Bank have opened 26 home loan centers dedicated to helping people build wealth, achieve their financial goals and realize the dream of home ownership in Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, Washington D.C., Atlanta, San Francisco, CA, Oakland, CA and Houston, TX.

Johnson definitely believes in empowering urban America by developing in under-served communities and providing much-needed jobs to minorities. He recently partnered with the Burger King Corporation in a multi-year agreement as a franchisee of 30 restaurants in Atlanta (five), Birmingham (eight), Dallas (14) and Miami (three).

Mr. Johnson also heads Magic Johnson Enterprises (MJE), which is responsible for the direction and expansion of the Magic Johnson Brand. His business ventures through MJE include Lincoln Mercury, NASCAR (Johnson is co-chair of their Diversity Steering Committee), Burger King, ZMagic, Cadbury Schweppes and 24 Hour Fitness Centers. Johnson can also be seen during the NBA season on TNT as a commentator for the games, along with Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith.

As Chairman and Founder of the Magic Johnson Foundation (MJF), Johnson addresses the critical issues of health, educational and social needs of inner-city youth. The non-profit empowers minority communities through advancing and supporting worthy charitable organizations. Johnson provides the inspiration and momentum for the Magic Johnson Foundation Taylor Michaels Scholarship Program that provides college scholarships, mentoring and internships. He has sent over 225 students to colleges (130 are currently in the program) across the country, including top schools like Howard University, Berkeley College at Boston, Morehouse College and Stanford. Many of them have gone on to work for some of the companies that helped to sponsor their education like American Express, SBC, etc. Johnson currently serves as a member of the Board of Trustees for the American Cancer Society Foundation.

To help bridge the digital divide in low-income communities, Johnson formed the Magic Johnson Empowerment Centers. He currently has 19 centers opened across the country, including sites in Lansing (Johnson's hometown), Los Angeles, New York, Miami, Seattle, Houston and DC, to provide urban communities with access to technology. The MJF also has four AID/HIV clinics located in Los Angeles, Jacksonville, FL, Oakland, CA and San Francisco.

Johnson was born and raised in Lansing, Michigan, where he led Everett High School to a state high school championship in 1977. He then won an NCAA title at Michigan State in 1979 where he was honored with a statue of his likeness unveiled on campus 2003. It was while playing at Everett High School that Johnson earned his now famous moniker, "Magic" from Michigan sportswriter Fred Stabley, Jr. Johnson has proven to the world and to himself that he has been successful in sports. He appeared on his first Sports Illustrated cover before he even entered the NBA draft (he's been on 22 covers to date). He's won five national championships with The Los Angeles Lakers (He is now Owner and Vice-President of the team), three MVP awards, a gold medal at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, Spain, played in 12 NBA All-Star Games, and was recently honored by the STAPLE Center and the NBA with the unveiling of the Magic Johnson statue. Now, Johnson's continued success demonstrates that his magic is a positive force on and off the court.

Mr. Johnson currently resides in Beverly Hills, California, with his wife Cookie and their children, Earvin Johnson, III (EJ), Elisa and Andre.

** Information is correct and updated as of the print date, November 16, 2005. *

Source: http://www.24hourfitness.com/health_clubs/signature_clubs/magic/magic_johnson_bio.html

Oprah Winfrey to Deliver Commencement Address to Spelman College's Class of 2012

On Sunday, May 20, at 3 p.m., global media leader and philanthropist Oprah Winfrey will inspire approximately 550 Spelman graduates when she delivers the commencement address to the class of 2012. Winfrey, who received an honorary degree from Spelman College in 1993 will also receive the institution’s National Community Service Award. Honorary degrees will also be given to Dazon Dixon Diallo, C’86, founder and president of SisterLove Inc., and actress, playwright and professor Anna Deavere Smith.

More: http://www.spelman.edu/_ezpost/data/pr_commencement_oprahwinfrey.shtml

Source: http://hbcuconnect.com/

Its Not Over Until You Win: How to Become the Person You Always Wanted to Be No Matter What the Obstacle

The man who inspired millions with his television shows and his bestselling book, "Live Your Dreams", returns with more great advice on overcoming life's obstacles. Imbued with Brown's optimism and enthusiasm, this book is an irresistible addition to the popular self-help market National print publicity. 6-city author tour. TV & radio satellite tours.

Rapper Styles P’s Juice Bar Promotes Healthy Living in Black Community

Anyone familiar with Castle Hill Avenue in the Bronx, NY is used to seeing an assortment of bodegas, car accessory shops, hair salons and nail shops. It’s not the neighborhood most would expect a healthy living juice bar to be located, but according to David Styles, known to music fans as Styles P, that’s exactly why it’s needed.

A little over a year ago, Styles, along with his business partners, established Juices for Life, a local juice bar that serves up natural and healthy beverages. According to Styles, who serves as the face of the business, his job is to spread the word on the benefits of juicing to communities of color. He swears by his commitment to the lifestyle daily on Twitter, in every interview he does and in general conversation. These days he wants to take being health-conscious a step further, whether that’s offering health tips or franchising his business, Styles is interested in pursuing it all. “One way or another,” he says, “we all need a reminder to stay healthy or spread the word about getting to that healthy way of being to someone else.” BlackEnterprise.com caught up with the enterprising entertainer, who spoke on his budding business and healthy lifestyle.

What was the impetus behind starting Juices for Life?

My partner had a juice bar prior to this one and I used to be a frequent customer of it. When I first started going, it was like me and six other people total as customers. It was just such a life-changer for me that I felt like I had to spread the word, so it kind of became my hangout spot. So I would be like, “If you want to meet me, meet me at the juice bar.” And it just became something that I tried to put all of my friends on to. It became home base for me, a way of life.

When exactly did you fully immerse yourself into the lifestyle of juicing?

I would say probably about 10 years ago. Yeah, I’ve been juicing for a while.

Most people wouldn’t necessarily associate rapping and juicing. How did these two worlds come together in your life?

Well, you know, just being a rapper, moving around so much and living the fast life, I would always look for balance. Coming off the road, I would get some juice, some natural fruits in my system—just something natural to bring some balance.

Did you grow up with that kind of thinking or was it something you learned along the way?

We all grow up with our moms telling us to make sure to eat an apple a day and to eat the veggies. I think that thought leaves you sometime around [the age of] 18. I think my body kind of knew. I was always tired and I was already not getting any sleep. I would eat something and I would feel weighed down. I just started paying attention to my body, like I really needed to balance it all out.

Then as I started balancing, it became a way of life for me. I started changing from eating a lot of fast food, to eating a little bit of fast food, to I don’t eat fast food at all. So you know, it was an eye-opener for me, plus it helped me with my work. I lost a lot of weight. In the studio, it would be a lot for me to lay [a track] in the booth, because I would always get short-winded. After juicing, everything just became more open, the vision became clearer for me.

So what is your approach to encouraging people who aren’t necessarily interested in juicing to get into it?

By giving them the real, you know. I think a lot of people, especially when it comes to being healthy or living a healthy lifestyle, they look at it in a light like how people look at nerds. Like, it’s not “cool” to be healthy. We try to change that mindset because your body is your temple. There is nothing more important than your body.

With [our customers] being a hip-hop crowd, we try to say: juice is cool, chicks are cool or dudes are cool—whatever sex you may be—cars are cool, nice gear is cool… all of that is cool. But it’s not cool, if you’re not in good health. Like, you can’t even begin to think about getting that or even if you do, you’re not going to [get the opportunity to] enjoy it if you’re not in good health. So we try to push them to understand basically that we are the future, our children are the future, and their children are the future. We’ve been doing this for a long time, as far as fast food and eating the wrong things, so it’s going to take a long time to get it back right. We just don’t hide the truth. When you get older, you’re going to wish you could do some of the things you were doing when you were young. By juicing up and coming here, that’s the way to do it.

Why did you choose Castle Hill Avenue as your location? Why the Bronx?

Our other location was in Harlem on 125th Street. When we were looking for a new location, we said we wanted to be somewhere that Harlem people could get to Yonkers people could get to, Bronx people could get to. The Bronx just seemed like a good spot, and actually, the Bronx is one of the poorest and unhealthiest counties in the world. So we felt definitely we had to start in the Bronx first.

A lot of the times with juicing, you think about Jamba Juice or you’re thinking straight islander. We like to fuse all of that. When you come here, you’ll see White, Black, Spanish, every age group. But as minorities we don’t get health insurance and we don’t go to the doctor before it’s too late, so this right here we feel is prevention for later on, in addition to exercising and eating well. We just tried to put it in a spot where there’s everything—multicultural, a big melting pot—where it was poor, uneducated and where it was needed.

Heavy D passed recently and many Blacks within entertainment are dying at a younger age. What are you doing about educating people about having a healthy lifestyle?

I don’t specifically go for entertainment; we go for people. People are people. But when I see entertainers—I live by it, so my every word whenever I see them, I spread the knowledge in a way that will get the word bigger and get it out there to even more people. As far as entertainers, I feel like those are the people who know about health, but keep it to themselves. Not so much in hip-hop, but in general because if you’re an entertainer, you get the trainers, the nutritionists, the dieticians and all that. It’s very hard to find an A-list celebrity who’s out of shape. Think about it realistically. We try to reach the people who don’t have the ability to shop at Whole Foods, or go to Mrs. Green’s [Natural Market], who need the education. If anything, we’re asking entertainers, athletes and stars for help to make it cool. We’ve got to make it look cool for the kids because they’re not thinking about their future.

How much of an education did you have to commit yourself to in order to keep this lifestyle and your business going?

Just from being a health-conscious person, I think that as you go and you look into things you get [your education] up just like with anything else you do. Everyday we try to learn things. We have customers who come here and put us onto things. We’re here for the community and we’re here to learn. If you have a problem and we don’t know about it, we’ll look it up, which we do when people come here for certain things or for certain reasons. We tell them to give us some time while we look it up and if we can’t help, we’ll recommend them to someone.

What’s your ultimate goal with this business?

Basically, juicing is a lifestyle and it goes hand-to-hand with eating correctly and exercising. We have people who come in here who give us eating tips. Like any customer, if you have good tips, spread it and we’re going to continue spreading that word. Like I was telling some of my dudes in here that I just found out about oil pulling, like sesame and sunflower oil pulling. I had never really heard of it, so we’re trying to see if it works and if it does, we’re going to spread the word. The thing about our juice bar is that we’re not about the dollar. We’re at 1026 Castle Hill in the Bronx, but we try to spread the word around the world. And of course everyone can’t get here, so we tell people to go buy a Jack LaLanne Power Juicer or a Breville juicer. Go get you fruits, and look up anybody’s juice bar—ours, anybody’s—and just mix your fruits and juice up. That’s our main focus and goal that we get up and do everyday.

Source: http://www.blackenterprise.com/2011/12/16/styles-p-opens-juices-for-life-in-bronx-ny/

The Little Black Book of Success: Laws of Leadership for Black Women

In this engaging and invaluable “mentor in your pocket,” three dynamic and successful black female executives share their strategies to help all black women, at any level of their careers, play the power game—and win.

Rich with wisdom, this practical gem focuses on the building blocks of true leadership—self-confidence, effective communication, collaboration, and courage—while dealing specifically with stereotypes (avoid the Mammy Trap, and don’t become the Angry Black Woman) and the perils of self-victimization (don’t assume that every challenge occurs because you are black or female).

Some leaders are born, but most leaders are made—and The Little Black Book of Success will show you how to make it to the top, one step at a time.

Earl G. Graves Sr.

Earl G. Graves Sr. is the founder and publisher of Black Enterprise magazine and a nationally recognized authority on black business development. In 1972, he was named one of the 10 most outstanding minority businessmen in the country by the president of the United States and received the National Award of Excellence in recognition of his achievements in minority business enterprise. He is also listed in Who’s Who in America and was named one of 200 future leaders of the country by Time magazine in 1974.

Today he is chairman of Earl G. Graves Ltd., parent corporation of Earl G. Graves Publishing Co., publisher of Black Enterprise magazine—a business-service publication targeted to black professionals, executives, entrepreneurs, and policy makers in the public and private sector. Black Enterprise magazine has been profitable since its 10th issue and yearly sales are steadily increasing. The magazine has a paid circulation of 500,000 with a readership of approximately 4 million. Since 1997, the magazine has been a five-time recipient of the FOLIO: Editorial Excellence Award in the business/finance consumer magazine category.

In January 2006, Graves named his eldest son, Earl “Butch” Graves, the company’s new chief executive officer. The promotion of Graves Jr. to CEO represents the transition of Earl G. Graves Ltd. to the next generation of leadership. His formal title is president and CEO.

Earl G. Graves Sr. was previously chairman and CEO of Pepsi-Cola of Washington, D.C., L.P., the largest minority-controlled Pepsi-Cola franchise in the United States. The company spanned a franchise territory of more than 400 square miles, including Washington, D.C. and Prince George’s County, Maryland. He acquired the $60 million franchise in July 1990 and at the end of 1998, sold it back to the parent company for which he continued to be actively involved as chairman of the Pepsi African-American Advisory Board. In March 2005, Pepsi awarded him the Harvey C. Russell Inclusion Award, recognizing him for outstanding achievement in support of PepsiCo’s diversity and inclusion efforts.

Graves is a staunch advocate of higher education and equal opportunity. In recognition of his support of entrepreneurial education and his many years of contributing to Morgan State University, including a $1 million gift to advance business education, the University renamed its school of business and management the Earl G. Graves School of Business and Management. The announcement was made by University President Dr. Earl Richardson during the Black Enterprise 25th Anniversary Gala on Aug. 9, 1995.

Graves was an administrative assistant to the late Senator Robert F. Kennedy from 1965 to 1968. After Senator Kennedy’s assassination, Graves formed his own management consulting firm to advise corporations on urban affairs and economic development. His firm’s clients included major multinational companies.

Graves is currently a director of Aetna Inc. He retired from the boards of AMR Corp. (American Airlines), DaimlerChrysler AG Corp., Federated Department Stores, Inc., and Rohm & Haas Corporation.

In 2002, Fortune magazine named Graves one of the 50 most powerful and influential African Americans in corporate America. He holds a seat on the board of selectors of the American Institute for Public Service, the Advisory Council of the Character Education Partnership, the board of the Steadman-Hawkins Sports Medicine Foundation, the board of The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, and the national advisory board of the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center. He is also a trustee of Howard University, the Committee for Economic Development, the Special Contributions Fund of the NAACP, and the New York Economic Club. Graves was appointed to serve on a presidential commission for the National Museum of African American History and Culture, and was a civilian aide to the secretary of the U.S. Army from 1978 to 1980.

In 2007, Graves was inducted into the U.S. Business Hall of Fame, which recognizes the contributions of the nation’s most distinguished corporate professionals who have enriched the econonmy and inspired young people to pursue excellence in business and in life.

Graves is an ROTC graduate. He attended Airborne School and Ranger School and finished his Army career (in the rank of Captain) as a member of the 19th Special Forces Group, the Green Berets. He received a U.S. Army Commendation Award.

Long active in scouting, Graves is currently a vice president on the National Executive Board and a member of the marketing committee for the national office of the Boy Scouts of America. He was formerly National Commissioner of Scouting and chairman of the National Communications Committee. He has also received the highest recognition awards for volunteer service in scouting: the Silver Beaver Award (1969), the Silver Antelope Award (1986), and the Silver Buffalo Award (1988).

During the span of his business and professional career, Graves has received numerous awards and honors for his outstanding business leadership and community service. In 1998, he received the Marietta Tree Award for Public Service from the Citizens Committee for New York City Inc., the Charles Evans Hughes Gold Medal Award from The National Conference for Community and Justice, the Ronald H. Brown Leadership Award from the U.S. Department of Commerce, and the Merrick-Moore Spaulding National Achievement Award at the 100th Anniversary celebration of North Carolina Mutual Life Insurance Co., among others. In 1995, he was named New York City Entrepreneur of the Year by Ernst & Young, and inducted into the National Sales Hall of Fame by the Association of Sales and Marketing Executives. Other awards he has received include the Dow Jones & Co. Award for Entrepreneurial Excellence (1992), the Free Enterprise Award from the International Franchise Association (1991), and the New York State Regents Medal of Excellence.

In 1999, Graves received the 84th NAACP Spingarn Medal, the highest achievement award for African Americans, and he was named one of the Top 100 Business News Luminaries of the Century by TJFR, a business journalism publication. That same year, he also received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Caribbean Tourism Organization. In 2005, Graves was inducted into the Sales and Marketing Executives International (SMEI) Academy of Achievement Hall of Fame and named Entrepreneur of the Century by Atlanta Life Financial Group at the company’s centennial celebration. In January 2006, he was immortalized in wax when ExxonMobil commissioned a likeness of him to be exhibited in the National Great Blacks in Wax Museum in Baltimore, Maryland. In August, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) for his contributions to the field of journalism and the publishing industry. In October, civil rights activist and founding Black Enterprise Board of Advisors member Julian Bond interviewed Graves for “An Evening with Earl Graves,” a program produced for The HistoryMakers that aired on the PBS network in February 2007.

Graves is a member of the National Black College Hall of Fame, and he has also lectured at Yale University as a Poynter Fellow. He received his bachelor’s degree in economics from Morgan State College (now Morgan State University) in Baltimore, Maryland, and has received honorary degrees from more than 65 colleges and universities, including his alma mater.

Elected a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2000, Graves is continually sought out as a keynote speaker by small and large corporations, as well as the public and non-profit sectors of business in America. He authored a book titled How to Succeed in Business Without Being White, in which he talks about his strategies for success. Published by HarperBusiness Publications, the book was released in April 1997 and made the best-seller list in The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal. It was also selected as a finalist for the 1997 Financial Times/Booz-Allen & Hamilton Global Business Book Award.

Graves was born in Brooklyn, New York, and currently resides in Westchester County with his wife of more than 48 years, Barbara. Mr. and Mrs. Graves have three sons, all successful professionals who work in the family’s businesses, and eight grandchildren.

Source: http://www.blackenterprise.com/management/earl-graves/