"I really don't think life is about the I-could-have-beens. Life is only about the I-tried-to-do. I don't mind the failure, but I can't imagine that I'd forgive myself if I didn't try." — NIKKI GIOVANNI, poet

Through entertainment, sports, politics, publishing and business, black Americans are making an impact in their respective fields -- and making their mark in history -- in creative and phenomenal ways. Blacks are excelling in a myriad of areas and are poised to make significant contributions in 2008 -- and for years to come.

Tyler Perry, for example, continues to produce blockbuster films for black folks, starring black folks; Queen Latifah has emerged as a top black female spokesperson in the cosmetics industry and is taking Hollywood by storm, and Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois could become America’s first black president.

"America has gone through tough times -- and certainly African-Americans have gone through difficult challenges -- but we’ve gotten through it, and America has gotten through it," Obama told BlackAmericaWeb.com earlier this year. "As president, I will tell the truth. And keep Americans hopeful for a better future."

Others, like Susan L. Taylor of Essence magazine and Johnathan Rodgers, TV One’s president and chief executive officer, are also being guided along new and exciting paths.

Rodgers’ TV One, based outside Washington, D.C. and four years old, is on track to make a profit for the first time next year.

"Politically, socially and economically what we’re doing is important," Rodgers told The New York Times in a recent interview. "We are controlling our images and giving black viewers a choice."

Here is an A-list of high-profile black Americans to watch in 2008 for leadership, creative arts, business development, spiritual empowerment, and much more.

Barack Obama. The Illinois senator is running for President of the United States. The race between Obama and Sen. Hillary Clinton has tightened significantly, and pundits say the race in Iowa between the two Democrats is now a statistical dead heat. Obama is trying to become America’s first black president.

Susan L. Taylor. The soul of Essence magazine since she became its editor in chief in 1981 is leaving the magazine to build her Essence Cares mentoring movement. "I am taking a break in South Africa and will have little access to email. When I come back to the States in mid-January, I will be leaving Essence to do what at this juncture in my life has become a larger work for me -- building the National Cares Mentoring Movement, which I founded as Essence Cares and today is my deepest passion," Taylor said in an e-mail to friends and readers. Taylor‘s mentoring campaign will take shape in 2008.

John Thompson, Chairman and CEO of Symantec. Thompson pulled off what was supposed to be a deal that would forever change the security-storage landscape two years ago. Thompson is staying aggressive and has upped the ante by spending $350 million to acquire data loss prevention high flyer Vontu to stay competitive and excel in 2008.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. Rice, who loves sports, has suggested she wants the job as NFL Commissioner, which was recently filled. Look for her to have a high-profile position in the private sector after she leaves the Bush administration.

Johnathan Rodgers, TV One’s president and chief executive officer. In 2008, Rodgers is leading TV One into its first profitable year after taking over the reins four years ago. According to The New York Times, "Executives at the fast-growing TV One, in 42.2 million homes, are betting that there is a hunger among black viewers over 25 for programming aimed at them. At TV One, viewers find reruns of shows like 'Martin' and 'Good Times,' as well as programs like 'Baisden After Dark' and 'Turn Up the Heat with G. Garvin.'"

Tracey Edmonds. Edmonds is the point person for Our Stories Films, the film studio owned by BET founder and Charlotte Bobcats owner Robert L. Johnson. Johnson has entered into a multi-year marketing partnership with Cricket Communications to leverage each brand’s core target audience of urban consumers. Our Stories Films develops and produces comedies for African-American and urban audiences. Watch for Edmonds and big movies in 2008.

Kenneth Chenault, Chairman and CEO of American Express Company. Chenault is one of the most powerful and influential people on Wall Street. This veteran executive ascended to the top position by working hard and having a clear vision of what would make the $20 billion charge card company profitable. Chenault is poised to take American Express to new heights in 2008.

Cedric 'the Entertainer.' Cedric -- best known as one of the headlining stars of the hit, Spike Lee-directed feature film, "The Original Kings of Comedy," and a slew of television shows bouyed by his affable presence and solid comic performances -- is reveling in the news that ABC has extended the options on the entire cast of his untitled comedy pilot in 2008.

Rosalyn Durant, Vice President, Programming & Acquisitions for ESPN. Durant is an emerging high-profile executive at the ABC-owned network, where black top executives are few and far between.

Sheila Johnson, President of the Washington Mystics WNBA team. Johnson co-founded BET with her former husband Robert L. Johnson; the two equally split $1.5 billion in proceeds after BET was sold for $2.3 billion in stock. She is also president of the Washington International Horse Show, which turned a profit for the first time in history under her leadership. Her goal is to lead the Mystics to a championship in 2008.

Will Smith. Indeed, he is legend. His creent hit film, "I Am Legend," scored the biggest December opening in box office history. Smith continues in 2008 as one of Hollywood’s biggest stars.

Tyra Banks, televsion show producer and host. The model-turned-TV maven, with her Bankable Productions, has emerged as a successful televison talk show hostess and master marketer of everything Tyra leading into 2008.

Peter C. Groff, the highest ranking African-American elected official in Colorado. Groff, the first black state senate president in Colorado history and only the third in U.S. history. Groff created a national political black think, The Center for African American Studies at The Universty of Denver, and blackpolicy.org, which has emerged as a premier site for black political research and data. Look for Groff as a more visible political analyst in 2008.

Mary J. Blige. Miss Mary continues to release smash hits and pack concerts across the country. The R&B star has revealed she wants to do more acting. The 36-year-old singer, who appeared in TV shows "Entourage" and "Ghost Whisperer" this year, says she is looking for a dramatic role that suits her.

Washington D.C. Mayor Adrian M. Fenty. At 37, Fenty is the youngest mayor ever elected in the District of Columbia. He has ambitious plans in 2008 for improving D.C.’s public schools, social services and black neighborhoods.

Tiger Woods, professional golfer. Woods has won 82 tournaments, 61 of those on the PGA Tour. With his second Masters victory in 2001, Tiger became the first ever to hold all four professional major championships at the same time. He is the career victories leader among active players on the PGA TOUR, and is the career money list leader. And he's got more trophies to win in 2008.

Tyler Perry, playwright/actor/screenwriter and CEO of Tyler Perry Studios. Perry's first eight plays reportedly earned a cumulative gross of over $75 million dollars in ticket and video sales. His hits include "Diary of a Mad Black Woman" and the television series "House of Payne." Look for new blockbuster movie projects in 2008.

LeBron James, star of the NBA's Cleveland Cavaliers. An emerging businessman, James, who's already touting Microsoft's new Vista operating system in television ads, has signed a deal with the computer giant's MSN Web site heading into 2008.

Kanye West, producer/rapper. After bashing the president on national television three years ago -- "George Bush doesn't care about black people!" -- and suffering the loss of his mother in 2007, folks will be watching to see if West has more political commentary to offer or poignant reflections to share this year.