---GO TO UNITYFIRST.COM FOR THE FOLLOWING STORIES---
1) Bush's accusing John Kerry of being "a liberal' should be fighting words for Black voters by Ofield Dukes (Former Assistant to Vice President Hubert H. Humphrey)
2) Cast Your Vote - for White Supremacy by Stephen S. Smith
3) Essence Magazine's "Women Who Are Shaping the World" a Leadership Summit for Black Women
4) NEW PLAY AT HARLEM'S APOLLO THEATER: "The Gospel at Colonus" starring Charles 'Roc' Dutton (The play runs from October 25 until November 7, 2004) Don't miss it! This soul inspiring GOSPEL DRAMA features the Blind Boys of Alabama and the legendary Soul Stirrers.

---ELECTION/watch: BET and President George W. Bush---
After more than a month of waiting, BET finally got an answer from President George W. Bush to a formal invitation to address African-American voters in his own primetime BET NIGHTLY NEWS interview on the network. The answer is no. BET Founder and CEO Robert Johnson first issued invitations to both President Bush and Democratic Presidential hopeful Senator John Kerry (D- Massachusetts) on September 14. He asked each of them to appear on the network to discuss issues of relevance to BET viewers during this crucial stretch of the 2004 Presidential Election campaign. Senator Kerry accepted, and his half-hour interview was televised on October 7. But according to representatives of the White House, President Bush's current schedule will not allow time for him to appear on BET, and they asked that the network approach him again, "after the election." In response to the Bush decline, Mr. Johnson has sent an open letter to top African Americans in the Bush Administration -- Secretary of State Colin Powell, National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice, Secretary of Education Rod Paige, and Housing and Urban Development Secretary Alphonso Jackson; along with former Oklahoma Republican Congressman J. C. Watts, who is leading a grassroots group of African-American Republicans supporting the Bush re- election effort.

---Rev. Al Sharpton in Spike TV's new series "I Hate My Job"---
The Reverend Al Sharpton, the former Democratic Presidential candidate and political activist, will serve as the ultimate career counselor and motivational coach in Spike TV's "I Hate My Job," the first ever career makeover show. The new eight-episode series, premiering Tuesday, November 9 (9:00-10:00pm ET/PT), follows eight guys who quit their jobs and are given three months to pursue and obtain the job they've always wanted with the help of Spike TV. "Reverend Sharpton came from a modest upbringing and became a major political force and Presidential candidate," notes Kevin Kay, Executive Vice President Programming and Production, Spike TV. "He's lived the American Dream so he's the perfect person for our eight contestants to learn from." Rev. Sharpton says, "I fully support the message of this show - if you hate your job and want a change -get up and do it! I look forward to guiding these neophytes on a successful and enriching career path." In this new series, Rev. Sharpton and fellow "Life Counselor," California therapist Stephanie Raye, will help the contestants in their pursuit of the job they've always wanted. Along the way, Sharpton and Raye will sit on a panel to decide which of the contestants is worthy of continuing on his new career path. The three main criteria the contestants will be judged on will be their passion, persistence, and performance. By the final episode, there could be multiple winners. The winner or winners receive the chance at their dream job (example - a model wannabe has the chance to sign with a top modeling agency). Nothing is guaranteed - just like in real life. Spike TV, the first network for men, is available in 87 million homes and is a division of MTV Networks.

---Honest feedback most helpful to women's careers---
The most important career help management can provide women employees is a frank assessment of their job performance, according to nearly 1,800 human resources executives surveyed by Boston consulting firm Novations/J. Howard & Associates. Honest feedback from management surpasses even mentoring and flexible scheduling as helpful to women's careers, noted Novations/J. Howard Senior Vice President Audra Bohannon. "Today women know what it takes to succeed and don't wish to be patronized. There may still be a need for employee support groups or flexible scheduling, but women actually want to be treated in a way that ensures their success. This means giving them constructive, pertinent feedback as to how they're doing by the standards needed to do the job well. And the feedback also has to be areas that feel 'subjective,' for example, being politically aware of how to navigate in a professional setting." The Novations/J. Howard Internet survey of 1,780 human resource executives was conducted by Equation Research, an independent research firm. The findings were released at the "Diversity and Women Leadership Summit" held in Washington, DC. For more information or for the complete study findings, contact: Pat FitzGerald at (617) 787-2163.

---Better banking: Citizens South Bank and Banorte Bank in Mexico---
Citizens South Bank has developed a strategic alliance with Banorte Bank in Mexico in a unique effort to provide financial services for Hispanics residing in the Carolinas. Banorte is a $40-billion bank and the fourth largest financial institution in Mexico. Banorte is the only bank in Mexico that is wholly- owned by Mexican citizens. Citizens South Bank and Banorte will offer banking services through "Bodega Banks(TM)," which are kiosk branches located inside community retail stores known as "Bodegas" serving the Hispanic community in the United States. The Bodega Bank(TM) is a concept developed by Citizens South Bank after extensive research and consultation with Banorte officials regarding the Hispanic population in the U.S. and their particular financial needs. The Bodega Bank(TM) is designed to remove the cultural and language barriers between Americans and Hispanics, and to provide a more user-friendly and easier banking experience for Hispanic customers.