O'Brien hosted a fascinating program called, "Black in America:The New Promised Land, Silicon Valley,"

"Black in America:The New Promised Land, Silicon Valley," which blew me away. Silicon Valley is the Mecca of innovative technology--it's where all the magic happens in the "dotcom" world.

But it is a very "White World." Diversity is not it's strong suit despite having the motto of "green is the only color that matters." Solidad wanted to explore that moniker to see if it was indeed true and found that less than one percent of start-up companies there are by African American. Less than one percent. That is a troublingly low number.

Why? Is it racism, bias, lack of minorities educated in the field of technology or was it a combination of all the above plus a deeper, more troubling question?

A group of young, Black entrepeneurs set out to break through that seemingly impenetrable "color" ceiling and O'Brien followed them on that intriguing but hard journey. She found out that though the color green was front and center, that other color. "black," also mattered a great deal.

Many like to think that in 2011, "meritocracy" rather than color is the benchmark used measure or ensure success. As the 8 contestants manuervered the complexities of Silicon Valley, they quickly learned that wasn't entirely true.

One executive blatantly told the contestants his secret to "making it" in the Valley: "get a white front man" and half their obstacles will be removed. People trust what you have to sell more if you align yourself with someone who is Caucasian. He actually said this--and again, we're in 2011 fast approaching 2012 with Barack Obama in the White House.

I think another aspect to the "Black Out" in Silicon Valley is the abysmal education our children receive in many public schools, where poor or low income children are not exposed to the same technological advances as other children. The lackluster, uninspiring curriculum from Kindergarten to High School does not foster, motivate or challenge children to reach for science. Expand their perceived limits into technology.

Sports and Rap seem to be the main careers aspired to, especialy by boys and though there isn't anything wrong with those choices, there are more out there--much more. Brown vs. The Board of Education desegregated America's public schools but in 2011, the education gap between African Americans and Caucasians children is staggering. Check out the High School graduation rate for boys.

According to blackboysreport.org, these are the deeply disturbing statistics:

Black males graduating in the U.S.--47%

White males graduating in the U.S.--78%

Blacks graduating in NY--25%

Whites graduating in NY--68%

Blacks graduating in NJ--69%

Whites graduating in NJ--90%

Whites graduating in NE--83%

Blacks graduating in NE--40%

Blacks graduating in CA--54%

Whites graduating in CA--78%

Blacks graduating in FL--37%

White graduating in FL--57%

Silicon Valley's lack of diversity is a result of the systemic epidemic in our education system and America's deeply ingrained "color barrier" demon which continues to raise its ugly head despite valiant efforts to slay it.

Can our current public education system produce a "black" Mark Zuckerberg or Steve Jobs? The world is changing and experts predict this change will only accelerate. An important part of this change in America, will be the "minority and majority switch-up." 'Brown' is quickly becoming the dominant "color" and by 2050, Caucasians will reportedly no longer be the majority. Stands to reason and self preservation, the U.S. would have to start thinking about what it will take to survive and compete in the global market.

An inclusive, well-educated, trained, talented, productive population makes a prospering, competitive country. Ignore a large segment of the population and we may see our already poor economy reduced to substandard performance and position on the global tier.