---America Behind the Color Line: Dialogues with African Americans---
In this country, some Blacks have made it; others have not. Why? What determined the difference? Preeminent scholar, best-selling author and Harvard University faculty member Henry Louis Gates, Jr., seeks answers in AMERICA BEHIND THE COLOR LINE, a compilation of nearly 30 thought-provoking essays on the Black experience. The four-part PBS documentary, based on the essays, will air (Check your local listings) Tuesday, Feb. 3 and Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2004, from 9 p.m. to 11p.m. Gates took the cross-country trek to discover why and how African-Americans have grown into what he sees as two very different Black communities, one privileged, and one disenfranchised. In the introduction, Gates explains that he wanted to let the world see how Black Americans really live and think. Harkening back to his years as part of Yale's Class of '69 and as one of the first large group of Blacks to be admitted there as undergraduates, he recalls promises he and his classmates made, to themselves and "to the race" that they would be "accountable to the people" and bring them along to scale "the historical barriers to racial progress." America Behind The Color Line is Gates' evaluation, a celebrity-filled report card, on his generation's attempt to keep those promises. Gates talked to some of the Black community's most notable figures -- including accomplished actors like Samuel L. Jackson and Don Cheadle; powerful and influential decision makers like Colin Powell and Russell Simmons; MTV favorite Alicia Keyes, and literary giant Maya Angelou..

---Pickering pick---
President Bush recently made a recess appointment and placed the controversial U.S. District Judge Charles Pickering on the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for about a year. Pickering will handle appeals from Mississippi, Texas and Louisiana. FYI President John F. Kennedy used a recess appointment to place Justice Thurgood Marshall on the Second Circuit of the U.S. Court of Appeals and later Marshall worked his way to the Supreme Court.

---The Diversity Channel and Accenture---
The Diversity Channel will outsource the hosting and support of The Diversity Channel Now, the company's electronic-learning Web-based diversity-education tool, to Accenture. The agreement with Accenture will allow The Diversity Channel to concentrate on expanding its proprietary diversity frameworks and improving the diversity solutions it delivers to its customers. Services will be provided through Accenture Learning, a business process outsourcing (BPO) business wholly owned by Accenture, which offers outsourced transformational learning solutions to companies and governments. "Accenture is widely respected for its strong commitment to the learning market," said Marius Swart, CEO/President of The Diversity Channel. "We look forward to meeting the diversity goals of our top-tier customers and other companies through partnering with world-leading content and technology providers like Accenture."
The Diversity Channel Now provides large organizations with dozens of web-based e-learning courses, as well as "at your fingertips" resources in areas such as the strategic business impact of diversity, daily diversity interactions, global cross-cultural travel and diversity best practices. Accenture is a global management consulting, technology services and outsourcing company. For more information, contact Mtucker@thediversitychannel.com.

---New York: Fashion & Arts Xchange Inc. honors Geoffrey Holder and Carmen De Lavallade---Celebrating its 10th anniversary, the Fashion & Arts Xchange Inc. (FAX) in collaboration with Fashion Institute Technology's Office of Educational Opportunity Programs will honor actor, dancer, choreographer, and designer, Geoffrey Holder and his wife, renowned dancer, Carmen De Lavallade with the Black History Month Lifetime Achievement Award in an evening entitled "Paradise: A Celebration of Excellence.". The event, will take place on Friday, February 6, 2004 at New York's Fashion Institute of Technology (Haft Auditorium), 27th St. (7th / 8th Aves.). Program presenters include TV/film actresses Diahann Carroll and Phylica Rashad. FAX also will recognize the pioneering contributions of Ophelia Devore, Dee Simmons (of Grace Del Marco), designer J Wesley Tann, Illustrator Glenn Tunstall, Wall Street Journal journalist Teri Agins and, president of Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) Dr. Joyce F. Brown. The program will include a presentation of "Complexions" performed by the Dance Theater of Harlem, as well as a display of selected gowns designed by Mr. Holder for and worn by Ms. De Lavallade to White House galas for the President. For information and tickets, call (212) 730-0900 ext. 120.

---Bishop T.D. Jakes to receive special NAACP Image Award---
Bishop T.D. Jakes will be given the President's Award, NAACP Image Award. The special award will be presented during the March 6 taping of the 35th NAACP Image Awards. The broadcast, "Salute to Excellence," will air on Thursday, March 11 (8:00 p.m. ET/PT) on FOX. The President's Award, selected by the NAACP President and CEO Kweisi Mfume, is presented to individuals exemplifying high standards of character, conviction and achievement. "Bishop T.D. Jakes has been called the 'Shepard to the shattered,' as he reaches out to the poor and the rich, the young and old; those behind bars, those in the classroom, people in the inner-city and people in the suburbs, " said Mfume. "From The Potter's House in Dallas, Texas, he preaches to people of all colors and ethnicity."

---Florida: ZORA! Celebration of New Black Cinema, January 28-29---
It's a mini film festival packing a powerful punch. ZORA! Celebration of New Black Cinema will screen several documentaries and films including a world premiere, plus host a panel of accomplished industry insiders like actor Richard Roundtree of the original "Shaft" and director Charles Burnett of "To Sleep With Anger." "I'm hoping people walk away with a keener sense of our history and the meaningful works that address our community through the arts," said Anthony Major, assistant director of The School of Film and Digital Media at the University of Central Florida. The Zora Neale Hurston Institute is an institution for documentary film where teachers of Black cinema come for instruction during its summer program. The institute falls under the umbrella of Major's department at UCF. The School of Film and Digital Media at the University of Central Florida will host ZORA! Celebration of New Black Cinema, January 28-29. The Association to Preserve the Eatonville Community, Inc. (Preserve Eatonville Community) will host the 15th Annual Zora Neale Hurston Festival of the Arts and Humanities (Hurston Festival '04), January 28-February 1, 2004, in Eatonville, Florida, Hurston's hometown (located ten miles north of downtown Orlando). The theme for Hurston Festival '04 is "A Feast for the Eyes -A Celebration of Visual Art". An incomparable line-up of guest artists is set to participate in this event that features a mixture of world-class arts and humanities programming. Legendary artist, Elizabeth Catlett, will headline "In Conversation", Thursday, January 29. Dr. John Hope Franklin, James B. Duke Professor Emeritus of History, Duke University will present the inaugural Zora Neale Hurston Arts and Humanities Lecture on Friday, January 30. Additionally, Elizabeth Catlett, Gordon Parks and Samella Lewis will be the 2004 recipients of the Zora Neale Hurston Festival Award. For more information or schedules, call (404) 346-0410 or send e-mail newideas@bellsouth.net

---New York: NGLCC Diversity Development and Procurement Program inspired by the National Minority Supplier Development Council ----New York advertising agency Prime Access Inc., an African American-owned business and member of the National Minority Supplier Development Council, will become the first business certified by the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) as part of a bold new initiative encouraging major corporations to do business with gay-owned suppliers. The NGLCC Diversity Development and Procurement Program, founded in partnership with IBM, was established to give certified gay-owned businesses opportunities to bid for supplier contracts with major corporations, according to Chamber co-founder Justin Nelson. According to Howard Buford, founder of Prime Access Inc., the recognition by the Chamber will provide another important bridge to corporate clients. Founded in 1990, Prime Access is a leader in multicultural advertising and marketing services. With $27 million in billings, the company serves blue- chip clients including Ford Motor Company, JPMorgan Chase, Merck & Co., and Showtime Networks. In the gay and lesbian market, Prime Access represents more Fortune 500 companies than any other agency. The NGLCC Diversity Development and Procurement Program (DDPP) was inspired by the National Minority Supplier Development Council, the nation's largest certifying body for minority-owned businesses, and its mission to create opportunities for minority-owned businesses to gain development and procurement opportunities with major corporations.

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