James Monroe Show

     Celebrating the Contributions of Black America

Black History is Every Month

James S. Monroe "Host"

With a thriving economy Brazil hosted  the 2014 World Cup  in the summer and will host the 2016 Olympics. More coverage on Brazil in "Heads Up".

International Spotlight on Brazil

Brazil has more Black people than any

place in the world outside of Africa. Latest figures show over 100 million!

Benjamin Banneker,1792-1802

Mr. Banneker also built the first clock made entirely of wood and kept accurate time for 40 years!

He also published an annual farmers almanac and did all  the calculations himself  that helped keep US troops from starving during the Revolutionary War.

A Black Man Designed Washington, D.C. Yes the capital of The United States of America and my hometown. Shout out to my family, friends and LeDroit Park. That's the neighborhood I grew up in. Howad University and the famed Howard Theatre are located there too. Also Dunbar High School, the first Black public high school in America was established in my neighborhood. Yeah I'm proud! Hey Chocolate City what's up with all that vanilla there now?

Benjamin Bannaker was hired by George Washington to design the nations capital. Of all the White architects  he could have hired,  but Washington chose him.  That alone speaks for itself in terms of the greatness of our people!

Featuring Current Entrepreneurs, Professionals & Leaders

Did you know that the Statue of Liberty in New York  City was a copy? Yes! The original idea was a Black woman (left) which still exists today in France. The original was offered to the United states but rejected because it was a Black women. The concept was stolen and the powers that be created what you see on the right.  The model by Agusta Bartholdi  to be adopted  by the United States had  broken chains at her feet and in her left hand to symbolize the broken chains of slavery.  It still exists today at the Musum of the City of New York, Fifth, Ave. & 103rd St. Bartholdi was largely influenced by ancient sculptor Phidias who built gigantic statues. Initiallyl he wanted the statue to be a combination of freedom and  "Isis" the Egyptian Queen of Heaven. Do the research!

Slave Trade: According to the Trans Atlantic Slave Trade Data Dase 12.5 million slaves were shipped to America. Black Americans not only performed such professions as stated: see "Shows", but they grew the food, raised and butchered the animals, cooked the food, and as quiet as its kept even raised some White folks children. All as slaves receiving no financial compensation and treated like animals. Records show that 2 million died on the way. Note: Incredible as these figures are, some say they are grossly under estimated, maybe because the people that kept the records may have left out some millions, if you know what I mean.

Next: The Last Poets, Chuck D, Tupac and up and coming poets. Want to be poets-rappers get some knowledge!

Gil Scott H-Heron, also an accomplished musician / author collaborated with Brian Jackson to create hits like "Winter in America" and "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised". Signed  by Arista Records. Born  in Chicago, Ill. and raised in Jackson, Tennessee, received a Grammy " LifeTime Achievement Award" in 2012 posthumous. He died in 2011.

Poets Corner; Coming Soon The spoken word has always been a tradition in our culture. Information was passed down thru generations in this manner. Unfortunately, and maybe strategically  a lot of relevant info was lost due to lack of written documentation.  Fortunately there is enough still available for Black folks  to understand who we are  and what to do to change the conditions for  ourselves, children, and grand children amidst the hatred and racism that is still prevalent in the USA, and South America. The exploitation of Africa is another conversation. Some have mastered this art form and have used it in a relevant, constructive  manner in an effort to provoke positive change for our people.

Gil Scott-Herron is one of those people, and some even call him respectfully "The Godfather" of so called Rap music.

In any case he is one of the greatest poets and conscious communicators of all time. Much Love, My Brother!

Marcus Garvey says,"A people without the knowledge of their past history is like a tree without roots". Good analogy!

Rihanna is one of the top selling singing artist of all time. Her string of 13 number one singles has tied Michael Jackson.  Her live performances pack  venues and sell out all over the world .

Born Robyn Fenton she's the youngest artist to score 12 #1 singles in US. Rihanna signed with Def Jam at age 16. Net worth $120  million.

 Black Men of Hollywood and Television:  More than just muscle and good looks; talented, smart, & savvy businessmen.

Ok ladies here you go; I hope I don't get anymore emails about it because nobody asked me to take my shirt off;

I do look like these guys when I come out of it, but being the host, I didn't think it would be appropriate anyway, ok.

Front page! So hope this works for you, my Sisters; I appreciate your support and as you see I will respond strong!

  • Power concedes nothing without demand. It never did and it never will.

          Frederick Douglas

  • Up, you mighty race ,accomplish what you will. Marcus Garvey
  • Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time, we are the ones we've been waiting for we are the change we seek. USA President Barack Obama

   Don Cornelius, Founder

The Jackson Five on Soul Train (Featuring Michael Jackson 2nd from right)

Did you know that  Don Cornelius's Soul Train, a Black American TV program, is the longest running show in American broadcast syndication history! The first episode was October 2,1971 and final episode March 25, 2006.

Note: Black People in America contributed over 400 years of free labor as slaves to build and establish what is now known as the United States of America. "We didn't land on Plymouth Rock, Plymouth Rock landed on us ." Malcolm X Shabazz

Juneteenth (June 19) is an important day.


  • FYI: Currently there are 35,000 Black millionaires in America. There are approximately 44 million Black Americans with a combined income of $1.2 trillion. Also 10 Billionaires worldwide, with the recent additions of Michael Jordan and Dr. Dre.
  • U.S. has 1.9 million Black owned businesses with $137 billion in receipts; fastest growing segment, census reports.
  • Congratulations to Attorney Benjamin L. Crump, the new President of the National Bar Association. Elected 7/2014.
  • According to US Census there are 4,579,000 Black Americans with a Bachelor's Degree or higher. 83% w/ HS diploma.
  • Religion is very important in our society. The National Black Baptist Convention USA, Inc. is the largest Black denomination in America with 7.5 million members. Trivia question: What is the estimated total annual member financial contribution?
  • Black Americans have bravely served in the military from the beginning. No war has been fought without the participation of Black Americans. We served in War of 1812, Revolutionary War, Civil War, the Spanish American War, the Korean War, the World Wars 1 & 2, the Vietnam War, Gulf War, the War in Iraq, and represented in current international conflicts. Today we are 11.3% of the military while only 14% of the total American population. US Census Bureau.

We need to encourage and guide our children and young people to be entrepreneurs and thought leaders today! Mr. Allen at the Allen Entrepreneurial Institute does a great job of; in their words," Developing young entrepreneurs and leaders into a mindset of ownership". Contact JMS for more information about AEI and Camp Exposure.

"Only in America" was his saying to express the pride of being American.

King is credited with getting Black fighters multi million dollar pay days.

Don King is probably the greatest boxing promoter of all time. Known (right) for his King Crown hairstyle shock the world with his, "Thrilla in Manilla": Muhammad Ali  and "Smokin"  Joe Frazier fight. Heavyweight boxing has never been the same in his absence.

I bet you can't do this pose. Oscar Robertson (left) the only player in NBA history to average a triple double in a single season. Now that's funky foreal! He was known as "The Big O". ( College photo from the University of Cincinnati.)

Bill Russell, (right) 11 NBA Championships with the Boston. Celtics ; extremely funky! Both are in the category of P Funk

"Pure" uncut, the bomb!

76% of players for the National Basketball Association (NBA), and 68% of the National Football League (NFL) are  Black.

James "Jesse" Owens won 4 gold medals in 1936 Olympic Games for USA, and had to come home to racism & hatred.

Just Saying

  • A wise woman knows the importance of speaking life into her man. If you love him, encourage him and be his peace. Denzel Washington

   James "JB"  Brown

    NFL Sportscaster

 Candace Parker

WNBA LA Sparks

FUNK-n-Sports:  If you don't know what it means, ask somebody  with funkinteleky. "It's all good"

         Skylar Diggins

     WNBA Tulsa Shock

        George Clinton

     Godfather of FUNK

The smartest 8 year old in the world is Black; she even takes college algebra.  Children are our future. Lets make sure we leave them a good inheritance. We have the power to make change for ourselves and our communities!

Congratulations to The Jackie Robinson West Little    League Team of Chicago for World Series spot!

Mabou Loiseau 8; speaks 8 different languages, sings, and plays 8 instruments says, "I was born smart, duh"

Good News: Black Businesses Lead the Way in Job Creation; JRW Goes To World  Series; 8 year old child genius Mabou Loiseau.

According to the US Commerce's Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA), employment at Black owned

businesses rose 22%, "a significantly higher rate than that of non-minority owned firms". Now we need to start more businesses to create more jobs and career opportunities for ourselves. See chart in Biz Spotlight for your niche.

   Aliko Dangote; $25 Billion  Sugar, Flower, Cement, NGA

       Isabel Santos; $3.8 Billion

   Telecom, Oil, Restaurants, AO

Michael  Adenuga;  4.6 Billion

 Banking, Oil, Telecom, NGA

Folorunsho Alakija; $2.5 Billion

  Oil, Banking, Clothing, NGA

Special International Report: Black Billionaires; four of the wealthiest in the world!   Africa is rich in natural resources and opportunities.  Export-Import with Africa; next! Ghana, Nigeria, and more!

Rev. Al Sharpton, Spiritual Leader, Social, Political and Human Rights Activist. Born

Alfred Charles Sharpton, Jr. in Brooklyn, New York. A leading figure against prejudice and injustice, was Youth Director for SCLC's program "Operation Bread Basket"; the program's goal was to encourage diversity in the work place by applying social and economic pressure on businesses. A  good tactic that can and should be used today.

Mr. Sharpton  started  his own organization  "National Youth Movement"  in the 1980's.

Ordained a minister in the Pentecostal Church at the age of 10, "Rev Al" now heads

the National Action Network, a leading civil rights organization with chapters across US.

The organizations criminal justice initiative focuses on the right to equal justice under the law, "the law should not be conditional or based upon a person's color or economic status. " High profile cases handled:  Tawana Brawley, Travon Martin, Michael Brown, and Kendrick Johnson of Valdosta, Ga. - Support Attorney Benjamin L. Crump

National Conference of Black Mayors (NCBM) represents more than 650 Black Mayors in United States with a collective membership representing 48 million Americans.  Carl Stokes was the first Black Mayor elected in 1967, Cleveland, OH.

Thanks for tuning in. Click and browse. Come back for information updates and shows. New season starts next month!  -  As always, "I wish you Prosperity in Mind, Body, and Soul." JM

                                                                                              JMS Entertaining and Informative

Our Ancestors built the entire railroad system in the southern US. They also Invented equipment for better operations and increased productivity, such as Elijah McCoy's inventions for the lubrication of steam engines. Frederick McKinley Jones invented the Automatic Refrigeration Systems for long haul trucks & rail cars. He is credited with inventing air conditioning and designed a unit specifically for military field hospitals. Mr. Jones was posthumously given the National Medal of Technology in 1991.

Black Americans contributed thousands of inventions to improve society. Maria Van Britton Brown; Home Security

System, Wilbert Dyer; Satellite Tracker, Lloyd Douglas Hall: Methods of Processing & Sterilization of Food, Garrett Morgan 

Traffic Light, Otis Boykin; Control Unit & Wire Resister for Heart Pacemaker. Examples. We are creators w/ a rich heritage.

   Opportunities; contact JMS

       Crowd Funding: Investing together!!

Janet Emerson Bashen, CEO of the Bashen Corporation is the first Black women to patent a software invention. Link Line, is a web based application for Equal Employment Opportunity claims intake and tracking document management, Claims management and numerous reports. Patent # 6,985,922. The "Method Apparatus and System for Processing Compliance Actions  over a wide area."   This  is  followed by Ms. Bashen's federal based counter part  EEOFedsoft MD715, web based application  for  building  Affirmative Action Plans.

Ulysses "Junior" Bridgeman,  An American retired NBA player is a successful entrepreneur of Fast Food restaurants who has a reported net worth of $400 million. Born in Chicago, Ill. he owns 160 Wendy's franchises in America and 118 Chili's restaurants. Mr. Bridgeman also owns stake in Milwaukee soda's Black Bear Beverages, and sits on the board of the PGA.

" Junior" called by most obtained a bachelor's degree from the University of Louisville. Drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers in 1975, had a very successful 12 year  pro  hoop career.

John  W. Thompson,  the new Chairman  for the Microsoft Corporation replacing Bill Gates.  Born in New Jersey, his mother a school teacher and father a career soldier in the Army. A recipient of the Morgan Stanley Information Technology Award for Global Commerce, his focus is on  professional management and professional leadership. Mr. Thompson believes that leadership is about creating something different that people get excited about, and then following thru.  He considers Microsoft as "one of the true, iconic companies in our country."  In the U.S. he is the only Black person to hold  a chairman position  in a major tech company.

Serena Williams wins US Open

Halle Berry wins Oscar

Former United Nations Ambassador, Civil Rights

Leader, Entrepreneur, and Mayor of Atlanta, Ga.

   JMS "Good News, Positive People, and Lots of  Love"

JMS Global News and Views

Information and inspiration to empower the Black community.

Jafora E. Dove,

Model and  Co-Host


      Mr. Andrew Young,