Black Enterprise articles from June 2008

Black Enterprise archives from June 2008

Recognizing true leadership.(publisher's page)
June 1, 2008... Leadership is highly valued in our society, with leaders usually reaping the greatest rewards in business. However, while many aspire to the mantle of leadership, we too often confuse some of the perks and byproducts of leadership-social...

Oprah's brand of leadership.(About This Issue)
June 1, 2008... That's the most important resource a company needs in order to grow? We know what you're thinking. And the answer isn't capital. American business needs leaders. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Today, more than ever, companies must have CEOs...

Can't run from responsibility.(Letter to the editor)
June 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] I was very disappointed in the comments of Vernon Jordan in your February 2008 cover story, "Power in the Boardroom," when he said, "I'm brow a different school. There is nothing in the articles of incorporation of...

Pride and concern.(Letter to the editor)
June 1, 2008... AS AN EMPLOYEE OF ELI LILLY & CO. FOR MORE THAN 18 YEARS, I AM proud to have been recognized by BLACK ENTERPRISE for my corporate board representation ("Power in the Boardroom," February 2008) and am equally proud that Lilly was recognized as...

We must press on.(Letter to the editor)
June 1, 2008... AFFIRMATIVE ACTION MAY GET US JOBS, but education, character, integrity, excellence, and entrepreneurship will get us the boardroom power critical and crucial to the next phase of our development as a people. The many pioneers featured in...

Green minds think alike.(Letter to the editor)
June 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] I was excited to see the article about how to find organic products and ensure that they are indeed green ("True Colors," Shopsmart, March 2008). As I read the first line of the article. I was intrigued to see that...

Change the environment to change the outcome.(Letter to the editor)
June 1, 2008... THIS LETTER IS IN REFERENCE TO ONE PUBLISHED IN THE March issue by Moussa Marry and Linda Paul Diakite of the Netherlands titled Charity Benefits. They raised a good point. Everyone always questions young inner-city kids about why they don't...

B.E. youth outreach.(Letter to the editor)
June 1, 2008... THIS E-MAIL IS IN REGARDS TO THE LETTER IN THE March issue titled Charity Benefits. The writer asked why BLACK ENTERPRISE doesn't donate magazines to local middle and high schools or publish a list of schools and have current subscribers...

Corrections.(Letters)(Correction notice)
June 1, 2008... In "Growing A Green Business," April 2008, Ibironke Oyekanle's name was misspelled. In "In Good Company," Enterprise, May 2008, Derick Halliman's name was misspelled.

Detroit mayor heads to trial: will the beleaguered city support him?(AROUND THE NATION)(Kwame Kilpatrick )
June 1, 2008... EVEN AS HIS TRIAL IS SCHEDULED TO BEGIN THIS MONTH, Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick refuses to resign and vows to fight several charges brought against him by Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy. Worthy announced the 12-count criminal indictment...

Turning "green" into green: an environmentally friendly job market may offer opportunities to black workers.(BUSINESS NEWS)
June 1, 2008... SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS SUCH AS RISING FUEL PRICES AND limited landfill space are creating a new "green" economy, a burgeoning market that could offer solid, long-term jobs to black and other minority workers. According to a study conducted...

Proposed education cuts: how President Bush's 2009 budget may affect HBCUs.(WASHINGTON REPORT)(George Bush)(Historically Black Colleges and Universities )
June 1, 2008... President George W. Bush's 2009 education budget proposal has many black educators concerned about the effect of federal cuts on historically black colleges and universities. Lezli Baskerville, president and CEO of the National Association for...

Radio One buys BlackPlanet.com: $38 million deal includes other ethnic community Websites.(B.E. 100s)
June 1, 2008... WITH ITS ACQUISITION OF COMMUNITY Connect Inc. for $38 million, Lanham, Maryland-based Radio One Inc. is expanding its Internet reach by adding BlackPlanet.com to its arsenal of media properties. In addition to BlackPlanet.com, CCI owns and...

Immigrants vs. Blacks: studies show that immigration affects the wages of African Americans.(WASHINGTON REPORT)
June 1, 2008... THE U.S. COMMISSION ON CIVIL RIGHTS INVITED A GROUP of labor economists and immigration experts to its Washington, D.C., headquarters in April to debate the thorny issue of immigration and race. Specifically, they wanted to know the effects of...

Mixed marriage: Blacks are less likely than other ethnicities to marry interracially.(FACTS & FIGURES)
June 1, 2008... AFRICAN AMERICANS REMAIN MUCH LESS LIKELY THAN American Indians, Latinos, and Asian Americans to marry outside of their race, but educational attainment increases the chances of interracial marriage. The U.S. Census reports that only 7% of...

Time to refinance? What you can expect if you're looking for a better deal.(PERSONAL FINANCE)
June 1, 2008... AS THE FEDERAL RESERVE CUTS INTEREST BATES, REFINANCING your mortgage might be less expensive. However, you may find it harder to refinance now, as lenders crack down. The key, more than ever, is to boost your credit score. When Jay and...

Don't overlook the financial sector: Fred Cummings says there's still money to be made in regional banks.(STOCK PICKS)(Elizabeth Park Capital Management)(Interview)
June 1, 2008... Some might think he's kidding, but Fred Cummings says investors shouldn't summarily dismiss banking stocks. Though it currently seems like one of the worst sectors and a most inopportune time, Cummings believes there are golden opportunities to...

Double-digit days: commodities fuel impressive returns for Charles Payne's picks.(STOCK UPDATE)
June 1, 2008... THE STOCK OF WHITE-SHOE INVESTMENT BANK GOLDMAN Sachs Group Inc. showed little muscle over the past year--but two blue-collar companies did enough heavy lifting to make Charles Payne's portfolio soar. Payne, CEO and chief analyst of his own...

It takes more than an apple a day ... Edward Green takes protective measures in a tough market.(INVESTMENT STRATEGIES)
June 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] EDWARD GREEN JR. IS AN ACTIVE INVESTOR--FAR MORE active than most. The 32-year-old lawyer began putting money in the markets in 2001. Based in Mount Vernon, New York, Green started casually and over time piled close...

The bears are back: is there going to be trouble?(MUTUAL FUND FOCUS)
June 1, 2008... With stock indices well off their highs of last year, the bears are back in vogue, once again making dire predictions of market performance for the years ahead. Of course, such prognostications are nothing new. However, this time around the...

Building a better bank account.(MONEY MATTERS)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... QA I just recently started saving and have accumulated around $1,200. I'm only getting a return of about 40 cents a month. What can I do to help grow the funds? --C. Thomas Via the Internet "Save" isn't a four-letter word, so...

Mr. fix it: with a goal of enhancing ethnic beauty, cosmetic surgeon builds lucrative practice.(MAKING IT)(Lexington Plastic Surgeons)
June 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "IF YOU OPEN ANY TEXTBOOK REGARDING PLASTIC SURGERY, the face that's always pictured is an Anglo-looking woman with a pencil-thin nose," says Dr. Michael E. Jones. "That just isn't our community. Where's the textbook...

Get creative with compensation: when paying employees, consider incentives other than cash.(MANAGEMENT ADVICE)
June 1, 2008... WHEN STEPHANY DEBERRY OPENED HER FIRST SIMPLY Salads and Smoothies restaurant in Leesburg, Virginia, limited funds left her with a dilemma. "You have all these dreams, but then you realize it's very difficult to grow a business when you're the...

Reel in the resources: government agencies provide training, funding to push business owners to the next level.(BUSINESS TOOLS)
June 1, 2008... "SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS NEED TO DO THEIR DUE DILIGENCE," says Lauren R. Beard, president of Valens Marketing & Consulting Group L.L.C., a Silver Spring, Maryland-based consulting and marketing firm with services that include helping small...

Command success: universal rules for victory with business ventures.(MANAGEMENT ADVICE)(small business best practices)
June 1, 2008... Before opening Dudley's Paw Inc., a New York-based pet store located in lower Manhattan, Yvonne Fox wanted to do everything possible to ensure the business' survival. "I did a lot of research on things like demographics, vendors, and...

Paying the bills.(SAVVY SOLUTIONS)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] QA I'm on my way to starting a medical billing, collections, and consulting home-based business. Although I already do this type of work for two companies, I've been reading and doing research on what I need to get...

Risky business: Richelle Shaw's FreshStart fills a telecom void.(BLACK DIGERATI)(FreshStart Telephone)(Company overview)
June 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] WHEN RICHELLE SHAW DISCOVERED THAT MORE THAN 300,000 Americans had their phone lines suspended every week for nonpayment, she knew she was onto a target market that few telecommunications firms wanted to take on....

Digital darkroom: here's how to get perfect prints.(B.E. WORKSHOP)(image processing)
June 1, 2008... YOU'VE BOUGHT YOUR CAMERA AND FILLED YOUR memory card with photos, now what? The answer depends largely on what the end is for your photographs. If you are a novice with little interest in the finer points of photography, but want to post shots...

Perfect prints.(TECHWATCH)(multifunction printers)(Buyers guide)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... So you've wrangled your images into some semblance of beauty and order. Next step, printing. Most consumers can do well with an all-in-one device such as Hewlett-Packard's Photosmart C8180 All-in-One (www.hp.com; $599). But if you want to...

Tekkeon's NavDock home media center.(B.E. REVIEWS)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... TEKKEON'S NAVDOCK HOME MEDIA CENTER IS A NEAT DEVICE THAT lets users navigate their iPod offerings on their television screens. The NavDock (www.tekkeon.com) comes with an infrared remote, a compact silver dock (and three universal dock...

TV on tap: AT&T mobile TV set to launch ... finally.(TECH NEWS)
June 1, 2008... AT&T INC. HAS ANNOUNCED PLANS TO LAUNCH AT&T Mobile TV with Qualcomm's MediaFLO (www.media flousa.com). Wireless subscribers will have access to a selection of live, simulcast, and time-shifted full-length television programming on their mobile...

Campbell sells Securiant: serial entrepreneur embarks on new tech venture.(DIGERATI UPDATE)(Richard J.B. Campbell)
June 1, 2008... In April, serial entrepreneur Richard J.B. Campbell embarked on a new venture when he sold his Atlanta-based network security company, Securiant. The company was acquired by Vigilar for a seven-figure sum in cash and stock. Securiant posted...

Mobile web.(CYBERWISE)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... QA I am a senior in college and started my own company online last year. I have a Website, but now I'm interested in looking at the mobile space for my business. Do I need to redesign my Website? Are there any resources for me to create a...

A journey toward excellence: a five-time Emmy winning producer of CBS' The Amazing Race raises the bar for reality TV.(EXECUTIVE SUITE)(Hayma Washington)(Interview)
June 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Name Hayma "Screech" Washington Title Executive Producer, The Amazing Race CBS Location Los Angeles Age 52 Power Play Maintains entertainment--and integrity--on a...

Getting to a more productive team.(ACTION PLAN)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... ON TOP OF THE FILING SHELF ABOVE HIS DESK, DARYL WAYNE WILKERSON, vice president of Support Services at New York's Mount Sinai Medical Center, has a stack of four Lego building blocks that read "Together Everyone Achieves More"--a popular...

Showing your business skills on the job.(POWERPLAY)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... INTRAPRENEURSHIP IS THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXERCISE YOUR ENTREpreneurial skills within a company or organization. It is a great way to gain corporate independence as well as increase your profile within the company and the industry. Robert Wallace,...

Sales sign.(SINCE YOU ASKED)(asking for merchandising role)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... Q&A I'm a college graduate working full time as a sales rep for several years. I don't like my job and want to be a buyer for a major department store, but I don't have any retail experience. And I can't decide whether to work as a sales...

Gordon Bobb.(On The MOVE)(Santa Monk & CA)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] New Position: Partner Organization: Del, Shaw, Moonves, Tanaka, Finkelstein & Lezcano Location: Santa Monk& CA Responsibilities: Providing entertainment legal services to a variety of clients,...

Wonya Lucas.(On The MOVE)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] New Position: Chief Marketing Officer Organization: Discovery Communications Location: Silver Spring, HD Responsibilities: Providing company-wide brand strategy leadership and coordination across the...

Stacey Ryan-Cornelius.(On The MOVE)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... New Position: Worldwide Controller Organization: Ogilvy & Mather Worldwide Location: New York Responsibilities: Managing internal and external financial accounting as well as reporting and analysis of operating companies ...

Michelle Green.(On The MOVE)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] New Position: Director, Business infrastructure, Corporate IT Organization: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB Location: Research Triangle Park, NC Responsibilities: Global infrastructure management...

Darrell Ford.(On The MOVE)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] New Position: Vice President/Corporate Human Resources Organization: Honeywell Location: Morristown, NJ Responsibilities: Overseeing global learning, organizational development, and talent management ...

Convention calendar.(POWERPLAY)(Calendar)
June 1, 2008... National Urban League 2008 Black Executive Exchange Program Leadership Conference June 4-6; Miami; 212-558-5441; www.nul.org Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc. Undergraduate Leadership Institute June 7-14; Orlando, FL; 215-228-7184;...

Diversity goes to school: what chief diversity officers can teach colleges and universities.(TRENDS)
June 1, 2008... AS MORE CORPORATIONS REAP BENEFITS FROM HIRING chief diversity officers, institutions of higher learning have begun to follow their lead. Growing numbers of colleges and universities are using CDOs to help provide a more diverse campus culture...

Magazines are in the Black.(TRENDS)(African Americans read more magazines)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... AFRICAN AMERICANS READ MORE MAGAZINES THAN other ethnicities, according to the African-American/Black Market Profile released in February by the Magazine Publishers of America. It stated that 86% of African Americans read magazines and that...

A new minority by 2050.(TRENDS)(population trends)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... BY 2050 THE WORD MINORITY COULD REFER TO A different racial group, according to projections from the Pew Research Center. If immigration trends continue, the U.S. population will increase by almost 50%, and whites will comprise only 47% of the...

Caribbean Tourism Summit.(WORTH CHECKING OUT ...)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... THE MOST INFLUENTIAL PLAYERS IN THE CARIBBEAN TOURISM INDUSTRY WILL BE GATHERED at the International Trade Center in Washington, D.C., June 21-24 for the Caribbean Tourism Development Co.' first annual Caribbean Tourism Summit. Policy makers,...

Time is money: the Colemans tap multiple income streams.(Black Wealth Initiative: SECURING YOUR FINANCIAL FUTURE)
June 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] EVERY FRIDAY AFTER WORK, ANDREA Coleman drives straight to the hair salon, The sole stylist and owner of The Renaissance Salon in Raleigh; North Carolina, usually books two clients for a wash and set, color, or cut,...

Taking flight: with two incomes, the Knox family is ready for the next step.(Financial Fitness Contest Winner No. 91)
June 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "I HAD TO STEP UP AND PROVIDE," SAYS Marcel Knox, who is no stranger to sacrifice. And that's no small feat for the father of a blended family of six children ranging in age from 4 to 20 years old. Marcel, 45,...

Recession survival guide: how to keep your head--your home, finances, and career--above water.(THE ECONOMY)
June 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "THIS ECONOMIC DOWNTURN IS AFFECTING more people than just those who have the least among us, and that's what is making everybody so uncomfortable," says Jessica Gordon Nembhard, assistant professor and economist at...

Bold leadership for the 21st century: innovation. Vision. Guts. Today's CEOs need these qualities to lead their companies to profitability--and growth.(B.E. 100s: 36th Annual Report on the Nation's Largest Black-Owned Businesses)
June 1, 2008... TODAY'S CEOS FACE MORE CHALLENGES than perhaps any other generation of business leaders. Not only is the U.S. economy on dubious footing, but the dollar hovers at or near all-time lows against foreign currencies. Consumer trends, shaken by...

Building new foundations: BE 100s CEOs tap new markets, diversify to grow the top line.(B.E. INDUSTRIAL/SERVICE OVERVIEW)
June 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] MANY OF AMERICA'S BLACK CEOS took a wallop in 2007 but carried on their right for survival in an unrelenting economic environment. In times like these, chief executives must grow their enterprises through strategic...

Industrial/service companies.(B.E. INDUSTRIAL/SERVICE 100)(Table)
June 1, 2008... Industrial/Service Companies This Last Chief Year Year Company Location Executive 1 1 World Wide Maryland Heights, David Steward ...

Oprah means business: by focusing on her message and expanding empire, she proved long ago that Harpo Inc. is about more than just talk.(B.E. INDUSTRIAL/SERVICE COMPANY OF THE YEAR)(Oprah Winfrey )(Cover story)(Company overview)
June 1, 2008... FOR THE PAST 15 YEARS, OPRAH WINFREY repeatedly told her team that production of her daily talk show was only the beginning. "This is the foundation of greater things to come," she would tell her managers as she developed a dizzying array of...

A long, cold winter in Detroit: international competitors keep U.S. automakers on ice.(B.E. AUTO OVERVIEW)
June 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] A FRIGID RESIDENTIAL HOUSING MARKET combined with cooling consumer confidence and already bleak new vehicle sales from domestic automakers have created a harsh business climate that's left many black auto dealers...

Auto dealers.(B.E. AUTO DEALER 100)(Table)
June 1, 2008... Auto Dealers This Last Chief Year Year Company Location Executive 1 1 Prestige St. Clair Shores, Gregory Jackson ...

All in the family: the Corleys turn small-town savvy into big business.(B.E. AUTO DEALER OF THE YEAR)(Table)
June 1, 2008... GRANTS, NEW MEXICO, IS THE KIND of place that reminds you of a town in an old western movie, a place where there is more tumbleweed crossing the street than cars. It was in this town that Eddie B. Corley Sr. and his wife, Gladys Mae, raised...

Surviving the game: with battles for ad budgets more competitive than ever, African American agency CEOs rely on solid leadership to win.(B.E. ADVERTISING OVERVIEW)
June 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] "THERE IS A REAL CRISIS AS IT RELATES TO African American advertising agencies, and while most are loath to talk about it, I believe there are serious battles when pitches come about for the few opportunities that...

Advertising agencies.(B.E. ADVERTISING AGENCIES)(Table)
June 1, 2008... Advertising Agencies This Last Chief Year Year Company Location Executive 1 1 GlobalHue Southfield, MI Donald A. Coleman 2 ...

Digging in: Black financial services firms entrench themselves amid a rocky market.(B.E. FINANCIAL SERVICES OVERVIEW)
June 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] CALLING THE FINANCIAL MARKETS over the last year erratic is an understatement. Triple-digit swings in the major indexes were commonplace, and the near collapse of the once-mighty financial services giant Bear...

Banks.(B.E. BANKS)(Table)
June 1, 2008... Banks This Last Chief Year Year Company Location Executive 1 1 Carver Federal New York, NY Deborah C. Wright Savings Bank...

Asset managers.(B.E. ASSET MANAGERS)(Table)
June 1, 2008... Asset Managers This Last Chief Year Year Company Location Executive 1 1 EARNEST Atlanta, GA Paul E. Viera ...

Investments banks.(B.E. INVESTMENT BANKS/PRIVATE EQUITY FIRMS)(Table)
June 1, 2008... Investment Banks This Last Chief Year Year Company Location Executive 1 4 Siebert New York, NY Suzanne Shank ...

Private equity firms.(B.E. INVESTMENT BANKS/PRIVATE EQUITY FIRMS)(Table)
June 1, 2008... Private Equity Firms This Last Chief Year Year Company Location Executive 1 -- MacFarlane San Francisco, CA Victor B. ...

Atlanta Life mourns CEO's passing: Ronald D. Brown reinvigorated the century-old institution.(IN MEMORIAM)(In memoriam)
June 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] RONALD D. BROWN, PRESIDE CEO of Atlanta Life Financial Group, our 2008 Financial Services Company of the Year, died April 29 from complications after surgery. Brown, 55, joined Atlanta Life in 2004, coming out of...

Unbeatable combination: by merging a venerable insurer, a thriving asset manager, and a revitalized investment bank, Atlanta Life Financial Group has become the industry's latest powerhouse.(B.E. FINANCIAL SERVICES COMPANY OF THE YEAR)(Company overview)
June 1, 2008... RONALD D. BROWN GREETS THE congregation of a dozen or so senior managers. With a flip chart and colored markers, he discusses the importance of creativity in today's business climate. "The status quo isn't working," he asserts, his calm...

The good of green: why you need to participate in the environmental movement.(ATTITUDE ENHANCEMENT)
June 1, 2008... THE NUMBERS ARE SURPRISING: EACH YEAR, CHANGES to the Earth's climate contribute to at least 5 million illnesses and more than 150,000 deaths resulting from extreme weather conditions such as hurricanes and excess heat. Pointing this out...

Second life: an entrepreneur learns it's never too late to right a wrong and pursue a passion.(TRIALS AND TRIUMPHS)(Doreen Motton)(Interview)
June 1, 2008... DOREEN MOTTON SAYS SHE KNOWS HOW IT FEELS TO hit rock bottom: It hurts. Feelings of inadequacy helped fuel a 20-year alcohol and drug addiction. "To hide and suppress my feelings, I'd go to the bar or indulge in substances," admits Morton, who...

B.E.'s successpert speaks.(MOTIVATION)(E. Carol Webster)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... E. Carol Webster, a licensed psychologist and author of Success Management: How To Get To the Top and Keep Your Sanity Once You Get There (Privileged Communications Inc.; $19,95), offers these action-steps to address addictive behavior: ...

Make a move: beat complacency by repositioning yourself.(WORDS TO STRIVE BY)(changing for a better life)
June 1, 2008... BISHOP T.D. JAKES, FOUNDER AND CEO OF THE DALLAS-BASED THE POTTERS House, believes change is good. Of course, it's all about how you do it. In his book Reposition Yourself. Living Life Without Limits (Atria Books; $24), Jakes challenges...

Life in limbo.(PEP TALK)(underemployment)(Brief article)
June 1, 2008... QA I left graduate school with a master's degree, headed for corporate America, but the environment was cutthroat, so I quit. I became an adjunct at a local college which led to a full-time position. With no pay increase since I started, I am...

Profitable renovations: in a plunging housing market, renovations can make the difference between getting a great sale price or no offers at all.(HOME IMPROVEMENT GUIDE)
June 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] IN MANY WAYS THE HOUSING MARKET RESEMbles a high-stakes poker game. For the last few years, people across the country have been snapping up big, unaffordable mortgages, putting their financial security on the line....

The perfect cup: Patrice Clayton instructs on hosting a great tea party.(THE ENTHUSIAST)
June 1, 2008... THE SOPHISTICATED RITUALS OF MODERN-day tea drinking were introduced by the Ming Dynasty in China and later adopted by the 17th-century English court. From Thomas Twinings' first dry tea and coffee shops in London to contemporary urban...

Sweet success in South Africa: a wine merchant finds opportunity in Johannesburg.(CITY INSIDER)(Son Gault)
June 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ALL EYES WILL BE ON SOUTH AFRICA WHEN THE COUNTRY hosts soccer's World Cup in 2010. But aside from the sports fanfare, fare, the capital city, Johannesburg, which will host the opening ceremony and final match, is...

Backtalk: Will.i.am on politics.(Interview)
June 1, 2008... SINCE THE POPULAR HIP-HOP GROUP BLACK EYED PEAS stepped onto the world stage in 2003, the group's front man, will.i.am, has gamered a lot of visibility on the political front This past February, will.i.am released a wildly popular video on...