photo by steed media service

At a time when social networking sites like Facebook and MySpace seemingly dominate the way people connect on the Web, James Parker sees a vital component missing from the cyber mix: a black-owned, social networking site. As president and CEO of GoBlackBook.net, he plans to provide an outlet for Web surfers to connect professionally and personally in this red-hot, billion-dollar industry. “Part of our launch [is] people can win a $1,000 just for signing up, adding their picture, and having at least 10 friends. It’s really the members who make up these social networking sites, not the other way around,” says Parker, whose site is set to officially launch on May 30. “And part of our goal is, in coming out of the gate we’re letting people know that we thank [them] for being members.”

With his core group of creative talents, which includes chief operating officer Sandra Tedford and multicultural director Jacqueline Ortega, the charismatic businessman hopes the site will foster mutually beneficial relationships between students and professionals.

“African American students coming out of college or high school students going into college, will be able to build this infrastructure of networking so that they’re able to almost mentor each other … [and] we’re going to be strategically placing black-owned firms in some of these community groups online where these college students can have direct access with different companies,” explains Parker who created GoBlackBiz.com, a Chicago-based advertising and consulting firm.

Although Parker is saving details about the site’s features until its launch, he promises that his “little black book online … will be a social networking site like no other.” -marissa mitchell

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