Edward James, II
Newtown residents know Dr. Edward E. James II as a community advocate and civil rights leader who stands in the gap insisting, resisting, refuting, and disrupting arcane systems that block equal opportunity.
As producer and host of the ABC 7 television show, “Black Almanac” for 43 years, he covers issues that impact the African American community. The Sunday morning program is the oldest, locally produced public affairs show in the southeast. He joined ABC 7 in 1972 as a weekend news anchor.
The Florida A&M University graduate served as a columnist and governmental reporter for the Sarasota Journal newspaper. He was a writer/associate producer of “Positively Black,” a half-hour TV show on New York’s WNBC-TV, and also worked as an editorial assistant for the New York Post.
With an extensive background in government and public relations, Dr. James served as the public information officer and deputy chief investigator for the State Attorney’s office for the 12th Judicial Circuit of Florida; public relations director of the New York Urban Coalition, and Assistant Director of the first Urban Job Corps.
He is a recipient of the President’s Award, a Lifetime Service Award and a Freedom Award from the Sarasota County NAACP, and was presented a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Sarasota African American Chamber of Commerce. Dr. James’ interview was provided by New College of Florida Oral History Program.
