----E/Watch - Election 2004 Coverage: West Virginia---
"Battle Ground: African Americans and the working poor in West Virginia seek a voice on their issues and concerns" by Barbara Charles
In a state where the Ku Klux Klan still march the streets freely and the NAAWP, the National Association Advancement of White People hold rallies and good old boy camp meetings, votes are expected from the African American community to help elect the next president of the United States. After the 2000 election where West Virginian voters helped elect George W. Bush Jr. President of the United States, the battle began between the Democrat and the Republican parties to win the State. It is for this reason the African American/Black and working poor communities want to make their voices heard from a State which has little, if any, voice from its minority community. On Labor Day weekend , September 4- 5, 2004, the East Beckley / Charleston Community Project will be 'Taking it to the Streets' in a "Back to School/Get Out and Vote Gospel Fest." It has been reported that the Rev. Jesse Jackson, Willie Nelson and others will be in West Virginia during the Labor Day weekend and they will be invited to attend. Our group is very important because we hope to register at least five hundred (500) new voters. The issues of the African American/Black community has not changed since the 1960s. The issues have only grown worse. Small business, jobs, health care, the war and the economy must be addressed on an open scale. West Virginia has never received such publicity and the world needs to hear our concerns. For more information or further comment, send email to wvoutlook@aol.com.

---Corporate America and women---
Despite the roadblocks in corporate America, Black women can and should play an active role in managing their career development. A recent study conducted by Catalyst, a nonprofit research and advisory organization that works to advance women in business, concluded that despite advances made over the last few decades, non-Hispanic Black women hold just 5.1% of the nation's total professional and managerial- related jobs. Black women constitute just 1.1% of corporate officers in Fortune 500 companies, which amounts to a mere 106 out of 10,100. Most surprising was the discovery that despite corporate diversity policies and practices, 37% of African American women see their chances for advancement to senior management declining, in contrast to Latinas and Asian women, who see their chances increasing. In the August cover story "Getting the Corner Office: How to Avoid the Mistakes Women Make that Put Them Outside the Power Circle," BLACK ENTERPRISE profiles four high-achieving women, their success strategies, the challenges that may have derailed their career climb, and how those coming after can avoid the same pitfalls. The August issue of BLACK ENTERPRISE is available on newsstands now.

---Working and getting paid---
A new Hudson survey has found that half (51 percent) of both working men and working women believe that they are being paid on par with others who do similar work. The survey reveals that race is a more prominent factor in determining attitudes about equal pay than gender. Only 33 percent of African Americans and 37 percent of Hispanics believe they receive the same pay for the same work, in contrast to more than half of whites (54 percent) who hold this belief.Nationally, 51 percent of all workers feel they receive equal pay for equal work, whereas 37 percent do not. "The Hudson compensation survey points to a very sensitive yet critical issue facing the American workplace," said Jeff Anderson, senior vice president of Hudson Global Resources. "Fair compensation is a business imperative, and yet nearly 40 percent of U.S. workers are not satisfied that it exists for them personally. With minority employees reporting the highest levels of perceived inequity, this suggests considerable room for improvement in diversity initiatives."The survey also finds that many employees do not see a strong connection between performance and pay at their workplaces. Only one third of workers (36 percent) believe that better performance generates better pay. Nearly twice (60 percent) feel that tenure-not performance-results in better pay. Women are less likely (30 percent) than men (42 percent) to believe that employees who do a better job receive more money and benefits.

---October is Black Women's Awareness and Appreciation Month---October is "Black Women's Awareness and Appreciation Month." This year, the National Million Woman March Organization (MWM) will launch a major grassroots AIDS/HIV Awareness and Prevention Project geared to Black women and girls of African descent. MWM "WAKE-UP" AIDS Walk for Philly will take place Sunday, October. 3, 2004. Other walk's are being scheduled in other cities during the month of October. To have a Walk and/or MWM AIDS/HIV information session call 215-213-0078 or e-mail the Million Woman March Organization and Universal Movement at: mwmorganization@yahoo.com.

---Check out UnityFirst.com/Reader's Choice Books and don't forget to keep us posted on your favorite books---Please enjoy the following list (Posted on UnityFirst.com) of books suggested by readers of UnityFirst.com and visitors to this year's Harlem Book Fair in New York City. The list, posted on UnityFirst.com, will be updated monthly to reflect the new choices submitted by readers and or publishers. Take a look at the list and perhaps you will find a new title of interest to you. Also, send UnityFirst.com your newest recommendations, including author, book title, and publisher. Also, stay tuned for the book of the week postings. Send your favorite book entries to: info@unityfirst.com.. Authors and publishers are encouraged to send an online press package referencing their books to info@unityfirst.com.

---Vanessa Williams to screen her Directorial debut "Dense" at the Martha's Vineyard African American Film Festival, August 12-15---NAACP Image Award Winner Vanessa Williams will screen her Directorial debut "Dense" at the 2nd Annual Martha's Vineyard African American Film Festival. Williams has starred in numerous television shows including Melrose Place, Murder One, Total Recall, The Pretender, NYPD Blue, The Steve Harvey Show, Malcolm and Eddie and Livin' Single among others. Now a household face, the world has come to know her as Maxine Chadway, a devoted sister, wife and mother on the Showtime's television series, Soul Food, for which she walked away with the NAACP award for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series and three NAACP Image Award nominations. The Martha's Vineyard African American Film Festival organizers are committed to incorporating the work of emerging and independent African American filmmakers into the mainstream. The festival has become an established opportunity for rising artists and industry innovators offering chances to filmmakers to gain the much needed tools they need to launch their careers and build effective strategic partnerships. Log onto www.mvaaff04.com for more information.

---Connecticut: Open Auditions---
The OBey Theatre Group will hold auditions for Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin in the Sun. on Sunday, August 15th @2pm and Monday, August 16th @ 7pm at the Mattatuck Museum, 144 West Main Street, Waterbury, CT. For more information, call (203) 753-0831. Attend and present a brief monologue. Also, be ready to read sides from the script. All roles are open.

---Send your news, events and press releases to editors@unityfirst.com! ---

For more information on African American Newswire, a national press release distribution service targeting the diverse press or UnityFirst.com, call 413-734-6444 or send email to editors@unityfirst.com.

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