---June 19 - Juneteenth---
Shown is the newly released book, "Juneteenth: A Celebration of Freedom" by Charles Taylor, that will be used by many school systems around the country to educate children about Juneteenth and the meaning of freedom. It offers an extensive glossary, references and resources, while telling the story of African people in the United States from slave ship to freedom. For a copy of the book, send an email to MyersFound@aol.com.

WHAT IS JUNETEENTH?
Juneteenth or June 19, 1865, is considered the date when the last slaves in America were freed. Although the rumors of freedom were widespread prior to this, actual emancipation did not come until General Gordon Granger rode into Galveston, Texas and issued General Order No. 3, on June 19, almost two and a half years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation.

Juneteenth, a national holiday observance?
Rev. Ronald Myers., Sr., MD, chairman of the National Juneteenth Observance Foundation, urges President Bush to establish Juneteenth as a National Holiday. "Our country needs healing from what slavery has inflicted upon generations of Americans," says Myers. "Only when we are able to acknowledge the atrocity of slavery, where millions of our ancestors died in the middle passage and thousands more were murdered and lynched before and after the Civil War, can the healing of our nation truly move forward." Myers has galvanized support from across the country and to date, 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. In a recent letter to President Bush, Myers encourages him to lead the nation toward racial reconciliation and healing through participation in the National Juneteenth Black Holocaust Memorial Service, the National Day of Reconciliation and Healing From the Legacy of Slavery, establishment of a Presidential National Juneteenth Commission, issuing of a Presidential Proclamation establishing Juneteenth Independence Day as a National Holiday Observance and addressing the nation during Juneteenth Independence Day at the White House. So far, President Bush has refused to formally recognize Juneteenth at the White House although he hosts a special gathering for "Cinco de Mayo", a Mexican freedom celebration. President Bush has not responded to numerous letters and requests made by Juneteenth leaders from across the country. Myers says, "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. We are not asking for a paid federal holiday, but official recognition of the end of slavery in America. Juneteenth provides President Bush with an excellent opportunity to bring all Americans together to promote racial reconciliation and healing throughout the country." He adds, "The White House and the U.S. Capitol were both built through uncompensated slave labor during the tyranny of slavery. As the former Governor of Texas, where Juneteenth began in 1865, surely President Bush understands the significance of the '19th of June' in America." For information on the National Juneteenth Holiday Campaign contact the Rev. Dr. Ron Myers at 662-247-1471, email: MyersFound@aol.com

National Juneteenth events

June 19, 2002- National Juneteenth Holiday Observance
National Day of Reconciliation and Healing from the legacy of slavery
8 am Prayer Service: Embassy of the Prince of Peace, 9455 Newbridge Road, Potomac Maryland

June 19, 2002: Annual Juneteenth Frederick Douglass Freedom March
11:00am March begins at the Washington, DC historic home of Frederick Douglass at 320 "A" Street, N.E. and ends at the West Side of the U.S. Capitol Steps and Grounds, Washington, DC

June 19, 2002, Annual National Juneteenth Rally
12:00noon - 4:00pm West Side of U.S. Capitol Steps and Grounds, Washington, DC

June 19, 2002 Annual National Juneteenth Prayer & Praise Worship Service
7:00pm Rev. Jesse C. Brown, Esq., Washington Christian Center
Dr. A. Lorenzo McKinney, Pastor, 2200 Culbera Drive, Hillcrest Heights, MD

August 3, 2002: National Juneteenth Convention Expo - Unity 2002 - Ontario, CA
Ontario Convention Center 10:00am-6:00pm

---MBA preparation program for aspiring minority MBA applicants---Management Leadership for Tomorrow (MLT), a New York-based non-profit organization, and the Yale School of Management (Yale SOM) announced a partnership to launch a new MBA Preparation Program to increase success rates for minority applicants and expand minority representation at leading graduate business schools throughout the world. The Pre-MBA Preparation program is one of three new MLT initiatives that have resulted from a 2001 research and strategic planning study with the Boston Consulting Group (BCG), a leading management consulting firm. BCG's study concluded that African Americans, Latinos, and Native Americans are significantly under-represented at the top 50 MBA programs relative to their presence at both leading undergraduate schools and other graduate programs, such as medical and law schools. These three groups represent approximately 6% of all students at the top 50 MBA programs versus 14% of all bachelor degrees awarded at the nation's top 100 colleges, and versus 12% and 13% of all students at top 50 medical and law schools, respectively. The study also concluded that minorities, especially African-Americans, are not as successful in the MBA application process as are non-minority applicants due in part to lower average GMAT test scores and undergraduate GPAs, less competitive work experience, as well as less savvy application strategies and essay submissions. The MBA Preparation program will hold two instructional seminars on the Yale School of Management campus in New Haven, Connecticut, with an initial group of 75 participants who plan to apply to business schools in the fall of 2003.

---BET Awards on June 25 at the Kodak Theatre---
On June 25, BET will celebrate the extraordinary lives and careers of sports legend and activist Muhammad Ali, 70's super-group Earth, Wind & Fire, and BET's own Dr. Bobby Jones by bestowing three special awards -- the Humanitarian Award, Lifetime Achievement Award, and Chairman's Award. Telecast live at 9 p.m. on the East Coast (tape- delayed for broadcast in the same prime slot on the West Coast), the 2ND ANNUAL BET AWARDS SHOW. Once again, hosts Steve Harvey and Cedric "The Entertainer" are back in front of the cameras while Cossette Productions, famed producers of the Grammy Awards and last year's premiere BET Awards show, are back behind the scenes.

---Marriott named 'Corporation of the Year' by the National Black MBA Association---The Washington DC Chapter of the National Black MBA Association (NBMBAA) has named Marriott International as Corporation of the Year. NBMBAA is a premier business organization dedicated to developing, enhancing and adding value to the economic structure of the nation and African American communities. The Corporation of the Year award, which recognizes Marriott for its continuous commitment to support the organization's broad range of programs for its membership, will be presented at the Chapter's 18th Annual Scholarship and Award Reception to be held on June 18. Marriott has had a strategic partnership with the NBMBAA nationally and locally for over 10 years. NBMBAA delivers programs that support Marriott's business goals and objectives in recruitment, professional development, economic development, philanthropy, and other areas.

---2002 events Calendar on www.UnityFirst.com---
Send in your events to editors@unityfirst.com, so that interested parties can better support communities across the country and world. Go to www.Unityfirst.com for a full listing of events. Here are this week's new entries.

August 7-11, 2002 (Philadelphia, PA): American Association of Diabetes Educators---The American Association of Diabetes Educators will hold its 29th Annual conference /exhibition in Philadelphia, PA., on August 7-11, 2002, at the Philadelphia Convention Center. The association has many specialty practice groups (SPG) and among the SPG is the African American Association of Diabetes Educators. The group was formed 2 years ago and will sponsor a pre-conference for AA/SPG members on Friday, August 9th. For more information, call Ida Spruil at 843-792-5158.

July 19-28, 2002 ( Atlanta, GA) National Black Arts Festival
To learn about other performances/events presented by the National Black Arts Festival, go to http://www.nbaf.org or call 404-730-7315. NBAF offers film, theatre, dance, music, literary events, visual arts, education, and more.

June 29, 2002 (Harlem, NY) Cultural Circle Conference
From 12:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., African Voices will hold its Third Annual Cultural Circle Conference which will highlight several children's authors and present a forum on Writing Books for Children. The conference will offer a chance for writers to network and discuss politics and art and exchange information with other writers and independent publishers. Artists will also learn about promoting and protecting their work on the Internet. The forum will be held at St. Marks United Methodist Church, 55 Edgecombe Avenue on 137th Street in Harlem. Registration fee is $20. For information call 212.865.2982.

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.

###