Happy 4th of July weekend!

This week on The Best of Black Politics:

Calming your mind – with Jenny Phillips, she’s a practicing psychotherapist and the filmmaker behind “THE DHAMMA BROTHERS,” which tells the story of prisoners finding freedom through mediation. She explains how anyone can work towards “spiritual development” through meditation.

Chris will also be joined by journalist Gilbert King, author of “THE EXECUTION OF WILLIE FRANCIS: Race, Murder, and the Search for Justice in the American South” with his story on cruel and unusual punishment and the outrageous case that sparked his interest in the criminal justice system.

On today’s show

Chris Owens talks with Katrina Browne, who made a ghastly discovery about her family: she’s the descendant of one of the largest slave-trading families in U.S. history... and they were Yankees.

Browne is the filmmaker behind “Traces of the Trade: A Story from the Deep North,” which was just shown at the New York Human Rights Watch Film Festival this week but can be seen this summer on PBS, check local your local listings for “P.O.V.’s 2008 Season.” Visit http://www.tracesofthetrade.org/ to learn more.

Also joining Chris, Harold Fields – He is active in restorative justice and racial reconciliation projects across the nation and is featured in the film.

Plus, hear Chris’ take on this week’s news in politics.

Chris Owens previews next week’s election in Zimbabwe, that beautiful country in Southern Africa, bordered by Botswana, Mozambique, South Africa, and Zambia. The focus is the controversy surrounding its leader, Robert Mugabe, who’s been a magnet for much press attention and criticism. Representing two sides of the debate over Mugabe are NYC Councilman Charles Barron, an outspoken supporter of the president of Zimbabwe, and Carolyn Norris, Acting Deputy Director of the Africa division, Human Rights Watch. Both have very different views on what’s happening there.

Plus, check out our new online feature: We’ll also have posted online Chris’ interview with Boston Globe religion reporter Michael Paulson, with his report on the oppression of Anglicans in Zimbabwe below.

On this week’s show:

Chris Owens will speak about the untimely passing of journalist Tim Russert at 58.

He’ll take on the downturn in our economy with Rep. Caroline Maloney, congresswoman from New York and later with Cass Sunstein, from the University of Chicago and the co-author of “NUDGE: Improvising Decisions about Health, Wealth and Happiness.” They’ll talk about how encouraging transparency from our financial institutions and government could impact your pocketbook. Sunstein will also give us the real deal behind Jason Furman’s appointment as an economic advisor to the Obama campaign.

And, Chris talks about the Supreme Court’s landmark decision this week to allow terror suspects to have their cases appealed in civilian courts with Vincent Warren, Executive Director of the Center for Constitutional Rights.

. . . and Happy Father's Day weekend everyone!

In honor of almost-Father's-Day, this week’s show is about Fathers and sons. Chris is talking politics with his dad, Major Robert Odell Owens, who served in the US House of Representatives from 1982- January 2007, among his achievements -- passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

And, we’ll have a lively roundtable discussion between Chris, Congressman Owens and Rep. Maxine Waters (CA-35th District). On the table: what’s ahead for the Dems, including the stakes for VP and how Waters feels having initially backed Hillary Clinton, only to have endorsed Obama this past Tuesday.