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Dr. Ed James

For more than 36 years Dr. Ed James has been bringing ABC 7 viewers stories of black hope, black pride, black accomplishment and black history. Dr. James produces and hosts "Black Almanac" which airs on ABC 7 on Sunday mornings. It is the longest airing, locally produced, public affairs program in the Southeastern United States.

It would be impossible to tell you everything about black history in 30 minutes. That's why Dr. James is dedicated to bringing you stories on the Suncoast often left out of history books and classroom lessons every week.

Dr. James is active in the community, working with organizations from the Boys Club, NAACP, Coalition of African American Leadership, Sarasota Committee of 100, North Sarasota County Civic League and many more. In fact, Dr. James was honored with a Lifetime Service Award and a Freedom Award by the Sarasota County NAACP. He was also given the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Sarasota African-American Chamber of Commerce.

He lives in Sarasota with his wife Helen.

Black Almanac - November 22nd
The first great terrorist trial of the 21st century will take place in the shadow of the World Trade Center. U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder announced on November 13 that the trial of alleged 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and four co-conspirators would be held in federal court in Manhattan, and, as would be expected, the announcement opened a floodgate of opinion for and against the decision.

Black Almanac - November 15th

Did the outcome of the recent gubernatorial elections in Virginia and New Jersey provide clues about how people - particularly independents, who typically determine a winner - feel about their country, their president and the party in power one year after Democrats won the White House?

Black Almanac - November 8th

In 2008, the Janie Poe Projects in Sarasota's Newtown was a housing development that was home to many, but a blight in the community. The place that once was a "distressed" housing project is now making a huge turnaround with a new name: Janie's Gardens -- and a $16.2 million makeover for its first phase, funded through a public-private partnership.

Black Almanac - November 1st

Since it first emerged in April, the global swine flu epidemic has sickened more than 1 million Americans and killed about 500. It's also spread around the world, infecting tens of thousands and killing nearly 2,000.

Black Almanac - October 25th

Vitriol and invective stain American political history, but falsehoods, half-truths and innuendo now spread with the speed of light across partisan airwaves and the Internet - the din drowning out the country's moderate political center.

Black Almanac - October 18th

Early Education for Black children in Sarasota didn't always mean a modern building, adequate supplies, and the recommended teacher-pupil ratio spanning a nine-month term.

Black Almanac - October 11th

There are several multi-million dollar projects approved for Sarasota's Newtown community that are currently underway. Others have been put out for bid or are awaiting contract signing before starting the actual construction process.

Black Almanac - October 4th

This will be a busy week for the Sarasota County Branch NAACP as well as the Men's and Women's Ministries of Bethlehem Baptist Church.

Black Almanac - September 27th

On this past Tuesday, House Majority Whip James E. Clyburn, a South Carolina Democrat, introduced a resolution of disapproval with the concurrence of the House Democratic leadership that reprimanded Rep. Joe Wilson, the South Carolina Republican who yelled "you lie" during President Obama's address to a joint session of Congress on Wednesday before last.

Black Almanac - September 13th

Most of us have someone in our family or in our neighborhood that falls into the uninsured or under-insured category. If you don't have that, I am certain you have a senior citizen in your family whose need for prescription medicine has forced them to decide between buying the medicine, or cutting back on food or some other necessity.

Black Almanac - September 6th

"This awful slaughter," was how Ida B. Wells described lynching, the murderous act of domestic terror which claimed the lives of about 5,000 Black Americans from 1890 to 1960.