---Reverend Al Sharpton on BET TONIGHT---
Black Entertainment Television (BET) will provide one of the first interviews with the Reverend Al Sharpton on the day of his scheduled Washington, DC press conference where he is expected to address his thoughts regarding his role in the 2004 presidential election. The provocative interview will be nationally televised on BET at 11:00 p.m. (ET/PT). Addressing a national audience in a special episode of BET TONIGHT, with host Cheryl Martin, Sharpton will also discuss his incarceration and recent release following his conviction for protesting the controversial US military bombings on the Puerto Rican island of Viequez.

---Compaq and National Black Chamber of Commerce---
Compaq Computer Corporation announced a strategic partnership with the National Black Chamber of Commerce (NBCC) that will deliver enterprise technology infrastructure to members of the largest Black chamber of commerce in the world. "Compaq is a very familiar name in the African-American community and technology has become a centerpiece initiative for the NBCC," said Harry C. Alford, chairman and CEO of the board of the NBCC, the world's largest chamber organization representing the concerns of Black business owners. "We believe our strategic partnership through the Compaq Referral Program will promote the growth of African American and Black-owned businesses by bringing technology solutions to our members." As part of this agreement, the NBCC will recognize Compaq as its preferred technology partner, through joint marketing and promotion campaigns, as well as recognition and exposure at NBCC's events. In April, Compaq also signed a similar agreement with the 54,000-member Latin Business Association (LBA) in Los Angeles, CA. This organization represents the business interests of more than 440,000 Hispanic-owned businesses in Southern California. The National Black Chamber of Commerce represents 64,000 Black-owned businesses and provides an advocacy that reaches all 640,000 Black-owned businesses. About 190 affiliated chapters are locally based throughout the nation as well as international affiliate chapters based in Bahamas, Brazil, Colombia, Ghana and Jamaica.

---National Frederick Douglass Freedom Day, September 3 ---
Frederick Douglass IV has called for September 3, 2001 to be named National Frederick Douglass Freedom Day. This observance marks his great-great grandfather's escape from slavery in Baltimore 163 years ago. During a preliminary celebration at the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site Visitors Center, Douglass IV called for the national observance on September 3, 2001. He said "I chose the Martin Luther King, Jr. national historic site to announce the National Frederick Douglass Freedom Day Observance because I believe that Dr. King was the intellectual heir to my great-great grandfather's role in the vanguard of civil rights leadership. Douglass IV says the celebration of the National Frederick Douglass Freedom Day Observance will begin at sunrise in Baltimore on September 3, 2001 and will continue through September 8. "My great-great grandfather fled from slavery on September 3, 1838, leaving bondage in Baltimore and embarking on a trek across America that would change history. Douglass IV has partnered with Louis Fields of BbhTours (Bbhtours@aol.com) to coordinate this celebration. "We are asking freedom lovers throughout the world to convene for reading of speeches, laying of wreaths and other activities at sites bearing the name Frederick Douglass or that have an affiliation with civil rights, religion or other facets of the African American diaspora," says Douglass IV. "We are asking that individuals and organizations contact us at (frdouglass@aol.com) to let us know about their planned activities so that we can post a national listing of involved organizations and events."

---President Bush and Juneteenth---
Leaders of the campaign to establish Juneteenth as a national holiday continue to urge President Bush to support their efforts. Thousands of petitions have been sent to the White House requesting President Bush to issue a Presidential Proclamation recognizing Juneteenth Independence Day as a national holiday observance in America. President Bush, who refused to recognize Juneteenth at the White House this year, while hosting the Mexican freedom celebration "Cinco de Mayo" and addressing the nation in Spanish and English, still has not responded to numerous letters and request made by Juneteenth leaders from across the country. "As the former Governor of Texas, where Juneteenth is a paid state holiday, it is quite perplexing that President Bush will not respond to our request to establish a national Juneteenth holiday" states Rev. Ronald V. Myers, Sr., M.D., Chairman of the National Juneteenth Observance Foundation. For information on this effort, contact John Thompson at (909) 988-5810 or send email to: juneteentham@earthlink.net.

---Career Connection: Are you looking for a better job?
Go to UnityFirst.com and click on Job Opportunity Showcase to apply for these positions:
(1) Clark University: Assistant or Associate Director of Admissions and Coordinator of ALANA Recruitment
(2) Staples, Inc.: Director of Associate Relations and Diversity
(3) Event Coordinator for an International Lecture Management firm
(4) Senior Financial Management Consultant: Third Sector New England, a nonprofit resources center.
(5) Director of Consulting: Third Sector of New England, a nonprofit resources center.
(6) Smith College: Assistant Director of Admission
(7) Executive Director: Reggie Lewis Foundation, a progressive non-profit working towards the empowerment of inner city youth, families and community based organizations
(8) Harvard University:
Staff Assistant II (Faculty of Arts and Sciences Department)
Staff Assistant II (Harvard Law School)
Executive Director (University Administration/Interfaculty Initiatives)
Unit Programs Coordinator, Strategy (Harvard Business School)
Course Assistant, Technology and Operations Management.

--- NFL sports broadcaster James Brown talks about diabetes---
NFL sports broadcaster, James Brown, will be the diabetes spokesperson for the American Podiatric Medical Association's (APMA) "Diabetes is a Family Affair" campaign to be launched this November. Brown, who will begin his 8th year as host of the FOX NFL Sunday pre and post game shows, became involved in the campaign because of his mother's complications with diabetes. In the role of spokesperson, Brown has already completed video and radio public service announcements about the connection between diabetes and the feet, and the importance of taking preventative measures to keep feet healthy. He will also be featured in a poster celebrating the "Diabetes is a Family Affair" campaign. For more information, contact, Allison Brewer via phone: (301) 581-9221 or send email to: ajbrewer@apma.org.

---African Americans and the oil industry---
In the latest development of the "Buy Black Gas," or "BGAS," Campaign in the Metro Detroit area, the Rev. Horace L. Sheffield, III, president of the Michigan Chapter of the National Action Network civil rights organization, has joined forces with multi-millionaire African-American businessman La Van Hawkins, of La Van Hawkins Foods, to advocate for more African-American employees in the oil industry and more African-American gas station owners. Hawkins announced his pledge to purchase 10 gas stations. The joint venture by Rev. Sheffield and Hawkins is called "B-OIL" or "BOIL," for the "Black Oil Committee." Hawkins, Chairperson of B-OIL, and Al Edwards, an African-American and former owner of several gas stations in the Metro Detroit area, who serves as Vice-Chairperson, have initiated negotiations with the oil companies.

---Latino publication focused on auto industry---
The idea to deliver automotive content that appeals directly to the fastest-growing ethnic market in the U.S. has spurred the onset of Latinos On Wheels magazine. "This bi-lingual publication will highlight the interests of the Latino car buyers in an increasingly competitive automobile industry," says Andres Tobar, publisher and editor-in- chief, Latinos On Wheels (LOW). The premiere issue of Latinos On Wheels will make its debut at the 2001 Miami Auto Show (Oct. 26 - Nov. 4) in Miami, FL. Tobar entered into a joint partnership, with 51% interest, with On Wheels, Inc., having 49% interest, to create LOW. On Wheels, Inc., publishes African Americans On Wheels (AAOW) magazine, the first publication to target ethnic minority car enthusiasts -- LOW is the second. At 35.3 million, the growing number of Latinos in the United States constitutes one of the largest ethnic buying groups in the marketplace.

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