---Best of the Best---
Congrats to all of the winners at the 74th Annual Academy Awards and especially to Halle Berry and Denzel Washington for taking top honors during this history-making night. Denzel won in the category of "Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role." Berry made history by becoming the first African American woman to receive the award for "Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role." She accepted the award on behalf of all of the African American actresses that came before her, and for the great work of other women of color actress, while also crediting Spike Lee for giving her an early opportunity to be in one of his films. Sidney Poitier was also recognized for his lifetime achievement. What do you think about the Academy awards, the wins of Berry and Washington, and ways these wins might change the film industry? Send in your comments to editors@unityfirst.com.

---From: Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney: America's war on minorities?---Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney expressed alarm over recent statistics released by Human Rights Watch (HRW) that show that Blacks, Latinos, and other minorities continue to be unfairly targeted by America's criminal justice system. The February 27 state-by-state study entitled "Race and Incarceration in the United States," shows that 63%, nearly two-thirds, of America's state prison population is made up of African-Americans and Hispanics, while these two communities constitute only 25% or one quarter of the population as a whole. These figures follow a May 2000 HRW report, "Punishment and Prejudice: Racial Disparities in the War on Drugs." which first outlined some of these shocking disparities. The latest report shows that African-Americans are hugely overrepresented in the prison population in every single state in the union and in some states by as much as 15 times or more. In addition to the grossly disproportionate incarceration rates, the report also stresses that Blacks are prosecuted in federal courts more frequently than whites for similar crimes and that minorities, particularly youth, are mistreated more frequently than their white counterparts. Congresswoman McKinney also expressed concern over the ongoing detentions, harassment, and raids directed at Arabs and Muslims, including U.S. citizens, and their institutions. "Just as with our prison population and criminal justice system, the Justice Department's ˜interviews of as many as 8,000 Middle Eastern and South Asian men, its imprisonment of hundreds, if not thousands without charge, and the ongoing raids on Muslim homes and institutions demonstrate that racial and religious profiling are becoming the standards of American justice." Congresswoman McKinney added, "First they told us it was a "war on crime," then a "war on drugs," and now a "war on terrorism," said Congresswoman McKinney. "But the reality we see coming from the criminal justice system and the Justice Department looks more and more like a war on America's minority and immigrant communities."

---NYPD, African Americans and Latinos---
The New York City police -- "New York's finest" or NYPD -- have received many accolades for their bravery, and much sympathy for their loss of life, on September 11th. It has been a very long time since the police have had such positive media coverage. Harris Interactive wanted to see if the attitudes of the American people toward their local police have changed in any way, as a result. The answer is "no". In both 2000 and 1999, The Harris Poll showed the public's attitudes toward their local police. Repeating these questions now shows that, with some modest exceptions (which, as explained below, we do not believe result from the events of September 11th), attitudes are not significantly different now compared to what they were three years ago. Most people, but not overwhelming majorities, continue to have generally favorable attitudes toward their local police. Most people also rate them favorably on both preventing crime (65%) and solving crimes (61%). While these numbers are reasonably positive, the replies of African Americans and Hispanics are far more negative. For example: Only 43% of blacks and 41% of Hispanics, compared to 61% of whites, believe their local police treat all races fairly. African Americans (80%) and Hardly any whites (6%), but far more blacks (32%) and Hispanics (24%), believe that police brutality against minorities in their communities happens "often". Fully 42% of blacks and 39% of Hispanics, compared to only 16% of whites, say they are sometimes afraid that they will be arrested when
they are completely innocent.

---90th Birthday Tribute to Dorothy Height Raises Millions for NCNW---Oprah Winfrey, Don King, Danny Glover and a host of others made civil rights leader Dorothy Height's 90th birthday wish come true. The gala, in honor of her birthday, raised over $6.5 million to retire the mortgage on the historic National Council of Negro Women national headquarters building at 633 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. What began with a challenge and a donation by Don King of $110,000 was quickly taken up by Oprah, who announced a $2.5 million gift. The Freddie Mac Foundation added $1 million. Danny Glover, who co-hosted the evening with Oprah, added $100,000 in memory of his mother who was a long-time NCNW section president in San Francisco. The outpouring of corporate and private philanthropy continued. Even some children and teens stepped forward to make $100 donations.
The building fulfills one of NCNW founder Mary McLeod Bethune's greatest wishes -- to establish a strong presence of African American women in the nation's capital to insure their voices are heard. Located midway between the White House and the Capitol and is the only property owned by an African American organization on the "corridor of power." It will house the National Centers for African American Women, including the Dorothy I. Height Leadership Institute. The property has added historic significance because it stands on the corner of the historic site of Washington's slave market. There, in 1848, 77 fugitive slaves were sold after the largest group to attempt escape attempt on the Underground Railroad. In that group were two teenage girls, the Edmondson sisters, who played a crucial role in galvanizing public support for the Abolitionist Movement and inspiring Harriet Beecher Stowe to write "Uncle Tom's Cabin." The National Council of Negro Women is a coalition of 38 national organizations and 250 community-based chartered sections with an outreach to 4 million members. NCNW is headquartered in Washington, DC and has international offices in Senegal and Zimbabwe.

---Detroit: Queen of Soul's Church home celebrates 70th Anniversary---New Bethel Baptist Church celebrated its 70th Church Anniversary, Sunday, March 24, 2002. The church home of the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin and her father, the legendary civil rights leader, C.L. Franklin, has had a long history of fighting for equal rights on behalf of African-Americans in Detroit. Some important events in New Bethel history: (1) In June of 1963, members of the church led by Rev. Franklin helped organize the "March On Freedom" down Woodward Avenue, where over 25,000 people heard Dr. Martin Luther King give his first version of the "I have a dream" speech. (2) In 1969, Rev. Franklin rented the church to members of the Black separatist group, the Republic of New Africa. After a gunman shot dead an undercover police officer outside of the church, Detroit police rushed the church and arrested the crowd, including children. They fired hundreds of shots in and outside of New Bethel. Police arrested 142 people and took them to police headquarters.

---New Corporate Community Programs Stress Investment, Not Philanthropy---Some innovative corporate programs to improve life in communities across America are going beyond traditional philanthropy and focusing on investment, according to a new report by The Conference Board.
These companies' programs are not simply charity, because they boost economic growth rather than redistribution of dollars. And they are not purely commercial activities, since they are expected to aid entire communities and not just the company and its shareholders. The Conference Board study provides concrete evidence of successful corporate community development programs in four case studies involving large companies: JPMorgan Chase, John Deere, General Mills, and Cascade Engineering. Social investments take several forms: job training (developing human capital), bricks and mortar (developing physical capital), and financial subsidies (developing financial capital). The study finds that mastering the cultural differences between corporate executives and community activists remains one of the most important challenges in making community redevelopment work. To build or rebuild bridges, companies need to cultivate relationships with nonprofit groups and community leaders who enjoy credibility and stature with local residents. As important as these relationships are, corporate liaison staff should also make a point of maintaining visibility and contact at the grassroots level, so that they are not relying solely on peer-level meetings with local leaders for their impressions of community opinions, concerns, and priorities.

---American Association of Blacks in Energy Reaffirms Support for Nuclear Energy---Reacting to ongoing controversy regarding the role of nuclear power in the U.S., the American Association of Blacks in Energy issued a statement reaffirming its position on the use of nuclear energy. In response to the Administration's call last fall for expansion of nuclear energy in the United States as a major component of our national energy policy, AABE issued the following position: AABE supports environmentally sound development and re-licensing of nuclear facilities. The organization particularly supports making a decision on a deep geologic repository for nuclear waste. There will always be uncertainties and, hence a need for carefully monitoring, but protection of public health can better be accomplished in one site instead of continuing the current practice of onsite storage. The American Association of Blacks in Energy is an organization of energy professionals dedicated to ensuring the input of African Americans and other minorities into the development of energy policy.

---Spa for the Spirit---
Self-care and wellness direct sales company WARM SPIRIT debuts their "Spa For The Spirit" series at the Bethesda Marriott in Maryland on Saturday, April 6, 2002. Open to the public and media, "Spa For The Spirit" is a sumptuous day of pampering, renewal and empowerment, with onsite massage services, refreshing herbal teas, a light lunch buffet and keynote addresses from author and speaker Debrena Jackson Gandy, and business entrepreneur Nadine Thompson. For more information contact, Kierstyn Richards at 1-888-296-9854 or kierstyn@warmspirit.com. Founded in 1999 by Nadine Thompson and Daniel Wolf, WARM SPIRIT is a niche player in the African American health and wellness marketplace and employees a network of over 1,000 nationwide direct-sales consultants to further their products and message on the advancement of women. Developed by a global exchange of healers, WARM SPIRIT offers over 70 aromatherapy products that range from skin, body and hair care, holistic remedies, dietary supplements, therapeutic teas, shower gels and lotion, to a newly introduced baby line.

---Kodak forms External Advisory Panel on Diversity---
Eastman Kodak Company announced the addition of three members to its outside panel that advises the company on issues of diversity and inclusion, bringing the panel to its full constituency of seven members. Kodak formed its diversity panel in late 2001 to advise the company regarding its strategy for strengthening diversity among employees, customers and suppliers. The panel reports to Kodak Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Daniel A. Carp. It is chaired by former Deputy U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, Jr., currently a partner in the law firm of Covington and Burling. The three new members are: Jean E. Dubofsky, an attorney in Boulder, Colorado, who has served as Deputy Attorney General for the State of Colorado and was formerly a justice of the Colorado Supreme Court; Dr. Taeku Lee, Assistant Professor of Public Policy for the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University; and Lionel Sosa, an advertising executive and the founder of Sosa, Bromley, Aguilar & Associates (now Bromley Communications), the largest Hispanic advertising agency in the U.S. Named to the panel when it was formed last December were: Dr. Johnnetta Cole, Emory University's Presidential Distinguished Professor of Anthropology,; Rev. Norvel Goff, Sr., president of the Greater Rochester chapter of the NAACP; and Richard McCormick, president of the International Chamber of Commerce.

---Travel: Gospel Cruise----
Here's a new twist for cruise travel! The "Harmonies At Sea" Gospel Cruise features gospel music, comedy and inspirational speakers. According to Deirdre Booker Pippins, of Cruises For Causes, developing a gospel cruise addresses a need for the gospel music listener and persons leading a Christian lifestyle."
The cruise features traditional and contemporary gospel entertainment, fitness instruction and seminars for singles and married couples. The next annual "Harmonies At Sea" Gospel Cruise will set sail aboard Royal Caribbean's Monarch of the Seas, for a 5-night Western Caribbean itinerary including Key West, Cozumel, Mexico and Costa Maya, Mexico. The cruise leaves September 2 and returns September 7, 2002. For more information, contact Deirdre Booker at (800) 448-1039. or send email to CruisesForCauses@aol.com .

---Men of color face health crisis---
Because men from racial and ethnic minority populations face such a high risk of heart disease, diabetes, HIV/AIDS, and other conditions and often lack access to basic care, they are now experiencing a health care crisis, according to a report released by Community Voices: HealthCare for the Underserved. There is a growing urgency to recognize and to stem this crisis as the diversity of our nation continues to expand. Unless action is taken soon, the crisis, and attendant financial implications related to treating large numbers of men living in poverty, will grow. The report, A Poor Man's Plight: Uncovering the Disparity in Men's Health, examines the health status of Black, Hispanic, Asian/Pacific Islander, Native American, and mixed race men and identifies strategies that can reduce this alarming health gap. Authored by Dr. John Rich of the Boston Public Health Commission and Dr. Marguerite Ro of Columbia University, the report finds that men of color are overall less likely to have health insurance and less likely to access health care services than their White counterparts. Moreover, the report finds, men of color disproportionately lack access to much-needed mental health, substance abuse, and oral health services. A Poor Man's Plight: Uncovering the Disparity in Men's Health also offers insight into health issues that adversely impact minority communities:
(1) On average, African Americans, Latinos, Native Americans, and Native Hawaiians are nearly twice as likely to have diabetes as non-Hispanic Whites of similar age.
(2)HIV/AIDS is the second leading cause of death for African American men between the ages of 25 and 44 and the third leading cause of death for Latino men in the same age group.
(3) In 1998, men of color accounted for 70% of deaths by homicide in theU.S. Homicide is the leading cause of death for African American men between the ages of 15 and 34 and the second leading cause of death for Latino men in the same age group.
For more information or to download a copy of the report, please visit the Community Voices web site at http://www.communityvoices.org .

---Juneteenth Holiday Petition---
If you are interested in seeing Juneteenth become a National Holiday in the U.S., learn more about the National Juneteenth Holiday Campaign by going to www.19thofJune.com. The White House will confirm receiving a copy of your petition within 60 seconds. For more information, contact Rev. Ronald V. Myers, Sr., M.D.Chairman, National Juneteenth Holiday Campaign 662-247-1471

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