Soledad O'Brien in Conversation at Harvard's Institute of Politics

Soledad O’Brien spoke at Harvard’s Institute of Politics with Callie Crossley, a Boston-area journalist with WGBH and producer of the documentary series Eye On The Prize.

Besides discussing journalism and social media, the discussion also took in some criticisms she has received for her Black In America, which has also been praised and received awards.·



A video from the Harvard Institute of Politics is available. This discussion is part of The IOP’s John F. Kennedy Jr. Forum.

O’Brien was named Distinguished Visiting Fellow for 2013-2014 at Harvard’s Graduate School of Education.

Soledad to Speak Tonight in Florida

Award-winning journalist Soledad O’Brien, known for her Black In America documentary series as well as being a former CNN Anchor, will be the keynote speaker at the #IamCHANGE Youth Town Hall tonight at 7 p.m. Friday at Broward College South Campus in Florida.

Presented by L.E.A.D. Nation, the town hall meeting is for youth to discuss issues affecting their communities and suggest solutions and O’Brien's talk will address making youth aware of challenging education, youth violence, and child obesity in their homes and communities.

The event is free and open to the public.

More at www.miamiherald.com

Soledad O'Brien Delivers Commencement Address in Georgia

Soledad O’Brien, Emmy-winning journalist and CNN special correspondent, delivered remarks at Agnes Scott College in Georgia at the 124th Commencement on May 11. O’Brien was also awarded an honorary degree for her distinguished career as a broadcast journalist, trailblazing documentaries about race, ethnicity and American identity and personal philanthropic commitment to the education and empowerment of young women.

The small women's college had 187 graduates, ranging in age from 20 to 52 years and hailing from 34 states and 12 countries.

“As you leave here, over the next few years, you’ll be told all the things you cannot do, cannot achieve and those things you absolutely, positively will fail in. Please do not listen … if you listen to those naysayers, then you’re the bigger idiot,” O’Brien said.

She recounted the tale of how her Cuban black mother and Australian white father had met in Baltimore, fallen in love, and married in 1958 despite a law against interracial marriage and despite the disapproval of society at the time.

She told the graduates, “You have an opportunity to be a role model to those who look like you and those who look nothing like you.”

A Conversation with Soledad O'Brien & Callie Crossley

A conversation with Soledad O'Brien & Callie Crossley will occur on Thursday, May 02, 2013 at 6:00pm EDT at Harvard University.

Soledad O'Brien, Award-winning broadcast journalist and Harvard College ’88 and Callie Crossley, host of  Under the Radar on WGBH-FM and Institute of Harvard Politics Resident Fellow (2002) will discuss the media and African-American issues at the John F. Kennedy Jr. Forum at the Institute of Politics at Harvard University.

You can also watch this event online at http://forum.iop.harvard.edu/content/conversation-soledad-obrien-callie-crossley at the scheduled date and time.

The John F. Kennedy Jr. Forum at the Institute of Politics is Harvard University’s premier arena for political speech, discussion and debate. Located at the heart of the John F. Kennedy School of Government, the Forum regularly hosts heads of state; leaders in politics, government, business, labor and the media; academics; community organizers; and artists.

Next Black in America Documentary in Production

Soledad O'Brien on a location shoot for the next installment in the Black in America series.

Soledad and Her Thoroughbreds

Soledad on "Joey"  Photo by Melissa Hogan

Soledad O'Brien did an interview with  OffTrackThoroughbreds.com and talked about how her love of horses has led her to adopt two Thoroughbreds that might have ended up slaughtered otherwise.

“It’s amazing to me that horses like mine could be slaughtered. Horses that are really a throw-away for some people are, for our family, horses that we’ll have forever.”

Soledad returned to her childhood love of riding when she received an imported Warmblood, as a 45th birthday present from her husband.

Unfortunately, in 2010,the mare spooked and in a fall O’Brien tore her knee badly.

It also damaged her confidence. Her Warmblood was a bit too much horse for her, but when she decided to find another riding horse (her Warmblood is being leased), they found Sedona, a five year old mare at Akindale Thoroughbred Rescue. Soledad and Sedona hit it off  and was soon at her upstate New York farm.

Now, Aoja, whose barn nickname is Joey, has also found a home with the O’Briens. This adopted bay, described as “bombproof” by O’Brien, has become a favorite with her two daughters.

“Sophia (12) is a shy rider, with a long, beautiful leg. He goes much slower for her. And 10 year old Cecelia is the gymnast who wants to go faster and is teaching him to jump cross-rails,” she says, adding that not only does he accommodate their styles, but also those of their friends. She even rides him herself from time to time.

“When you’re riding, you can’t do three things at once. You can’t be texting and emailing. All you can do is ride. It’s amazing. I like the idea of learning and focusing and figuring it out.”

Soledad O'Brien Continuing the Black in America Series With Her Own Production Company

In a Businessweek column, Soledad O’Brien revealed that she struck a deal with CNN which allows her to maintain the rights to the Black in America series she produced.

O’Brien said, “We struck an unusual deal, I’ll get to leave CNN with my catalog and documentaries. We were able to create a brand at CNN — Black in America — that I now own. I can take that brand and extend it in any way I want. You have Netflix and all these channels that are looking for interesting and different ways to tell stories. To have ownership of Black in America and Latino in America is hugely important”.

She went on: ”I absolutely pushed for that — it was critical to me. I’m so affiliated with this brand that there wasn’t a real struggle. I don’t just own it, but I can now take it across other platforms”. Previously, O’Brien has said that she enjoys exploring areas of American life which go ignored by most people, and has long wanted to do a “Poor in America” series as well.

This arrangement provides O’Brien the opportunity to do just that. She also said that her focus is not necessarily on being an anchor at another network, but being creative in her own way.

“What’s exciting is to own my own product. I think of myself as a journalist and a storyteller. Now I get to be an entrepreneur, too.” she said.  

Source: Soledad O'Brien Says She Owns Rights to the 'Black in America' Series | Your Black World:

Lecture and Seminar at Holy Cross Given by Soledad O'Brien

Soledad O’Brien delivers the 47th Hanify-Howland Memorial Lecture at Holy Cross

O’Brien conducted a seminar on campus
Photography by John Buckingham and Rob Carlin

O'Brien is Mistress of Ceremonies at Kunta Kinteh Premiere

Soledad O'Brien wears South African gown
 at Kunta Kinteh VIP screening.
Photos: Alicia Edwards, Urban Style Examiner

Tyler Perry and filmmaker Elvin Ross held a black tie screening of the new documentary film produced by Elvin Ross Studios, Kunta Kinteh Island: Coming Home Without Shackles. The event in Atlanta, premiered the film which honors the African captive, Kunta Kinteh, who gained worldwide recognition in the 1977 ABC television series Roots.Soledad O'Brien served as the mistress of ceremonies at the event.

Perry, Ross with his sons  and Soledad at the premiere