---BLACK ENTERPRISE shares special report that examines diversity, intolerance, and discrimination in America's workforce--- In 2000, COCA-COLA announced that it would pay $192 million in damages after workers alleged that the soft drink giant discriminated against minority employees in pay, promotions, and evaluations. The court further appointed a task force to ensure that the company improves its human resources policies, investigates complaints, and writes periodic reports evaluating how well it implements a workforce with greater access to opportunity. The latest issue of BLACK ENTERPRISE, on newsstands July 1, contains the special report "Does Your Company Discriminate?" which examines the COCA-COLA settlement and similar litigation while offering advice concerning how to identify and fight discrimination in the everyday workplace from Bob Stroup, assistant council at the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund Inc. The legal action and resulting victory in the COCA-COLA matter illustrates a growing number of educated and experienced African Americans who are taking their employers to court. In 2001, more than 21,000 discrimination lawsuits were filed in federal court. That same year, close to 5,000 complaints regarding promotions, or the lack thereof, were filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). Although many lawsuits have been successful, experts say ending workplace discrimination requires more than just a payout. While many companies appear to be committed to creating equal opportunities, the problem may be a lack of implementation of these diversity initiatives. There may be a long way to go before true diversity is embraced in America.

---Mosaica, new national diversity directory launched for communications/public relations professionals, diversity/HR practitioners, business owners and corporate or agency professionals ---Mosaica is the newly launched business to business, national directory for cultural communicators (public relations, advertising, marketing professionals and agencies) and other supporting industry resources (diversity/HR practitioners, journalists, corporations, diverse businesses, and cultural/professional groups). The directory will share useful diversity-focused information, tools, and resources - including experienced, culturally-centered professionals who authentically represent the diverse communities as well as are knowledgeable about diversity related issues emerging in the workplace and market. Overall, the directory will bring bottom line success to businesses, communities, corporations and agencies who seek to stay on top of the ever changing and fast growing, emerging diverse markets! Mosaica invites you to share your business services/products, web sites, news journals, diversity initiatives, corporate testimonials or PR/marketing/advertising services in the guide and reach a broad range of key industry contacts, direct consumers, diverse businesses, agencies, communities and corporations. For more information or to be listed in the guide, send an email to: editors@unityfirst.com. The deadline for entry in the guide is July 25, 2003.

---Congressional Black Caucus, mourns the passing of Maynard Jackson, Jr.---U.S. Rep. Elijah E. Cummings (D-MD), Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, issued the following statement on the passing of Maynard Jackson, Jr.: "…We sadly mourn the loss of Maynard Jackson, Jr. Maynard served many roles in his lifetime, including holding the distinction of being the first African American mayor of Atlanta. Maynard was also a great husband, father, leader, and friend. Maynard's dedication to public service is commendable and his leadership will be sorely missed. He served his country with dignity and honor. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and many friends, his legacy will not be forgotten."

---Secretary of Education Rod Paige talks about Supreme Court decision---U.S. Secretary of Education Rod Paige issued the following statement on the U.S. Supreme Court's decisions about the University of Michigan's admission policies: "The court's decisions reaffirm the president's and my position that diversity in our public institutions is an important value, and that institutions of higher education must engage in a good faith assessment of workable race-neutral, non-discriminatory ways to achieve diversity on our nation's campuses. We agree that not all applicants to college and graduate school start from the same place -- too many students in this country have been left behind by schools that have failed to prepare them to meet the competition of college and graduate school admission. But there are many effective, race-neutral options available to promote broader access and diversity in higher education today. As the court acknowledged, race-neutral policies can and are working across the nation. This spring, the department's Office for Civil Rights released a report detailing these programs and brought together many of our nation's distinguished higher education leaders for a conference to discuss effective race-neutral ways to achieve diversity. Consistent with the court's opinions today, the department will continue to do its part by examining and highlighting effective race-neutral approaches to ensure broad access to and diversity within our public institutions. The department will also continue with our mission to close the achievement gap to ensure that all students are prepared at the front end to meet the competition in higher education, without the benefit of special preference at the back end. That's the president's and my mission with the No Child Left Behind law: to fundamentally change the way we educate our children in America -- to change our public schools from a system that does a good job educating some of the children, to a system that's held accountable for educating every child, from every walk of life."

---Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus Comments on U.S. Supreme Court Decision Strengthening Affirmative Action---U.S. Rep. Elijah E. Cummings (D-MD), Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, issued the following statement commending the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling upholding the constitutionality of affirmative action: "The decision by the U.S. Supreme Court regarding the University of Michigan's admissions policies is a resounding victory for all Americans. Diversity in our institutions of higher education and indeed, in our entire society, is a compelling state interest. I concur with the hope, articulated in the majority opinion, that in twenty-five years affirmative action may no longer be needed to redress the scourge of discrimination. I am also hopeful that from this day on we can work together, as one nation, toward eliminating those barriers that prevent a level playing field for all Americans. It is past time we move beyond the debate on the merits of affirmative action. From this historic day forward, let us re-double our efforts to close the educational achievement gap, to remedy the inequities in home ownership and economic wealth, and to mend all other disparities that perpetuate an inequitable society. The future of our country depends on it." In March, the Congressional Black Caucus and hundreds of other organizations, corporations, universities, retired military officers and individuals filed amici curiae briefs in support of the University of Michigan.

---Comments: Leadership Conference on Civil Rights"--Here is an excerpt from comments by Wade Henderson, Executive Director of the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, the nation's oldest, largest, and most diverse civil and human rights coalition. "In a great victory for the cause of civil rights and equal opportunity, the Supreme Court has affirmed that diversity is a compelling national interest and that race can be used as a factor to achieve that goal in university admissions decisions. The Court's decision in Grutter v. Bollinger, upholding the University of Michigan Law School's affirmative action program, is momentus in its importance both for the cause of equal opportunity in university admissions, and for what it says about the permissible use of race to achieve diversity in other contexts, such as business and the military. By reaffirming its 1978 decision in Bakke, the Supreme Court has declared affirmative action alive and well in America. We are, of course, disappointed that the Court did not uphold Michigan's undergraduate program. However, given the strong support for the permissible use of race as a factor in the Law School decision, we do not see the remand in Gratz as an impediment. The landmark decision also sends a strong signal to the Bush Administration to abandon its opposition to constitutionally permissible affirmative action programs and to join with all Americans in working to achieve a more inclusive society. With their decisions today, the Supreme Court has made it clear what many of us have always known: that diversity and excellence are not mutually exclusive. Rather, affirmative action is a critical tool that can help universities and other institutions in our society achieve a workforce and a student body that is diverse, racially integrated, capable and multi-talented.

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