BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – Founder/Publisher of Black Enterprise Magazine, Earl G. Graves Sr. says Democrat Presidential hopeful, African-American and Illinois Sen. Barack Obama “stands a fairly good shot at being elected president of the United States this coming November and I certainly never expected to see that come to pass in my lifetime.”

“Just to erase any doubts you may have, let me state for the record that I unequivocally support Barack Obama for President,” Graves told 600 patrons at the 7th Annual Prime Minister’s New Year’s Gala at the Grand Ball Room of the St. Kitts Marriott Resort and Royal Beach Casino on Saturday, January 6.

“The January issue of BLACK ENTERPRISE, which I’ve brought with me, makes the Obama case in detail. My personal perspective, in brief, is that Barack Obama stands head and shoulders above the other Democrat and Republican contenders in his ability to #1) reunite a sharply divided America with his message of hope and possibility, and #2) restore America’s credibility as a productive and cooperative member of a global community rather than the reckless, ill-informed dictator that George Bush unleashed after 9-11,” the prominent American entrepreneur and Philanthropist said.

“On issues as far ranging as foreign policy and immigration, I sincerely believe that an Obama presidency is the right choice for a nation – and a world – that must think beyond borders, as opposed to creating them,” said Graves, who was invited by St. Kitts and Nevis’ Prime Minister Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas to speak on the topic: “Beyond Borders.”

Guest Speakers at previous galas included prominent United States Congresswoman, Maxine Waters; Actress Cicely Tyson; Nation of Islam Leader, Louis Farahkahan; Emmy Award Winner and Broadcaster Del Walters; Founder and President of TransAfrica, Randall Robinson and African-American icon, musician and actor, Harry Belafonte.

As Obama looks forward to New Hampshire and the other upcoming primaries, the question becomes: Will Black America now throw its support behind the candidate and become a pivotal force in electing a Black man president of the United States of America. All polls so far have indicated that Clinton is out polling Obama in support from the Black community.

Obama, who is the first Black candidate to take the Iowa Caucus, shows that he is a serious contender to win the Democratic nomination for president. Unlike previous years, there is only a five day window between the Iowa Caucus and the New Hampshire primary, which means his victory may have just enough of a carry over effect to see him through in New Hampshire as early polls are showing a neck and neck race for the upcoming primaries.

For months, debates raged, especially among Black Americans, with some arguing that Obama would not be accepted as a serious contender for the presidency, mainly because “America was not ready to elect a Black president”. His campaign is now hoping that he will get the Black support in crucial primaries where Blacks have the numbers.

As the various commentators on the several networks stated on Thursday night, Obama's victory is a strong signal that America wants change irrespective of color, race or religion. One interesting fact is that the Democratic turnout to the caucus in Iowa was one of the largest in the state's history.

Obama’s campaign for “change you can believe in” inspired new voters, republicans, independents and old time democratic to rally behind his ideals for a different America than the one that exists today.

Obama was able to garner 57 percent of the youth votes (voters under 30), which besides being an achievement in itself, bodes well with his theme of change, as clearly, this does not signal politics as usual.

Many political analysts believe that it is the votes of those under 30 years that will really guarantee change this year, and Obama has grasped an early momentum in this constituency.

Obama won 38 percent of the votes; John Edwards 31, and Clinton 29.

On the Republican side, Mike Huckabee, as was projected, defeated Mitt Romney, also by 9 points.

After his victory Obama, led his wife Michelle, and his two young daughters to the stage to acknowledge the lusty cheers of Iowa Democrats. In his speech he thanked the Iowans for being the catalyst of change in America adding that the period of change in America has really begun, and America will look back to the night of January 3rd as the time when this change went into effect.

Ironically, John Edwards, in his speech to his supporters also stated that the result of the votes on Thursday was a signal for change in the country.

The presidential campaign for both Republicans and Democrats now move on to the state of New Hampshire, where a primary will be held on January 8 and where, like in Iowa, the polls are flip-flopping between Obama, Edwards and Clinton. It is now left to see if the victory wave Obama started on Thursday night will wash over New Hampshire. Next, the campaign goes on to South Carolina, where polls show a clear lead for Obama. On January 29th, Florida will hold its presidential primaries.

New Jersey is expected this week to join four other states in America in apologizing for slavery.

Under a measure to be considered by its legislators, New Jersey will join Alabama, Maryland, North Carolina and Virginia in issuing formal apologies for slavery. If it does, it will also be the first Northern state to do.

"This is not too much to ask of the state of New Jersey," said Democratic Assemblyman William Payne, sponsor of the slavery bill.

"All that is being requested is to say three simple words: 'We are sorry. If former Confederate states can take action like this, why can't a Northeast state like New Jersey?" he added.

The Caribbean diplomatic corps at the United Nations ended 2007 on a positive note by getting the UN to pass a resolution by acclamation, designating March 25 as International Day in recognition of the Abolition of the trans-Atlantic Slave Trade.

The resolution also adopted by consensus a call by the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) for the erection of a permanent memorial in the halls of the United Nations "in acknowledgement of the tragedy and in consideration of the legacy of slavery and the trans-Atlantic Slave Trade".

Wisconsin Senator, Russ Feingold and Michigan Congressman, John Conyers are slated to introduce the “End Racial Profiling Act” on Thursday, December 13, 2007. If passed by both the U.S. Senate and Congress and signed into law, the Bill should significantly reduce a practice by law enforcement officers that has severely impacted Black people for years.

The Act, which would be welcomed in the Black community, attacks the insidious practice of racial profiling by law enforcement on three levels: first, it creates a federal prohibition against racial profiling; second, it provides funding for the training of law enforcement officials on how to discontinue and prevent the use of racial profiling; and third, it holds law enforcement officials and agencies that continue to use racial profiling accountable.

Numerous studies over the past few years have provided evidence that law enforcement agents at all levels have consistently used race, ethnicity and national origin when choosing which individuals, especially motorists, should be stopped, detained and searched.

Racial profiling, though more overtly done in some states than others, exists throughout the US. Right here in South Florida, Tony Phillips, Caribbean resident recalls being stopped by a Florida Highway Trooper on New Year’s Day in 1992 for speeding on Florida’s Turnpike. According to Phillips, he was going well under the then speed limit of 55 mph, when a trooper, who saw him as he entered the Turnpike from the Miramar ramp, followed him for miles to the Bird Road Toll Plaza, where he pulled him over and accused him of speeding. When Phillips asked at which point he was speeding, he accused him of resisting an officer. He was then ‘cuffed and taken to a police station in the Hammocks, Kendall.

If anyone was wondering what effect Oprah Winfrey’s run with Barack Obama on the campaign trail had, they can sum it up in one word – positive. The ‘O’ train is now on the move and seems to be gaining steam as it barrels through Iowa and New Hampshire. Polls out on Wednesday showed Obama slightly leading Hillary Clinton in Iowa, and having now surged into a tie in New Hampshire as well.

The WMUR/CNN poll released Wednesday showed that Clinton lead, which was at a robust 20 points a month-and-a-half ago in New Hampshire, has dwindle to a statistical tie with Obama. The poll showed Clinton with 31 percent and Obama with 30 percent.

Though Clinton still retains double-digit leads over Obama in recent national polls, her lost ground in New Hampshire could be significant, as her camp recently outlined new strategies to build a fire wall around the state to stave off any surge from her rivals. “Wednesday’s revelation can prove crucial to the Clinton strategists as they publicly admitted that they were allocating huge resources to securing the state,” according to Dale Holness, Lauderhill Commissioner and a campaign volunteer for Obama. He added, “I’m elated at the surge that the campaign has had and I predict that Obama will be the next President of the United States. We are hoping more people will come out and lend support in cash and kind to his campaign, and make their contribution to history.”