---Study on African-American women released by Essence---
In the first report to provide a full attitudinal and behavioral portrait of African-American women, Essence Communications Partners (ECP), publishers of ESSENCE magazine, announced the findings of the WOW Report-Window on Our Women. This major study, conducted by Harris Interactive and commissioned by ECP, also highlights the psychographic differences between African-American and Caucasian women. The findings revealed that African-American women are independent, self-confident, in charge, and want a better life. They tend to be the primary decision-makers in their households, and they are committed, knowledgeable and brand-centric consumers. African-American women are also active consumers with an emphasis on individual style, who are willing to experiment and pay more for what they want. For example, the results showed that 61% of African-American women consider themselves the primary decision-makers for major purchases, such as homes, while only 43% of Caucasian women surveyed indicated the same. According to the WOW Report, African-American women are more likely to want to establish their own businesses (38% Black women vs. 15% White women) and deem getting as much education as possible as a priority (87% African-American women vs. 63% Caucasian women)."This report underscores key demographic trends in education and entrepreneurialism," said Michelle Ebanks, ECP group publisher. "The increase in the number of African-American women earning undergraduate and post-graduate degrees has increased at nearly twice the rate for Caucasian women in the last five years. And one in three minority-owned businesses is started by Black women." When surveyed about purchasing decisions and branding, 75% of African-American women said they are "always looking for new products and services that will help me develop my individual style" as opposed to only 56% of Caucasian women. In addition, compared to White women, Black women were nearly twice as likely to strongly agree that brands "say a lot about the type of person I am," were "willing to pay more for well-known brands," and feel "when I want something, money is no object."

--- American Experience filmmaker receives MacArthur fellowship--- New York-based documentarian Stanley Nelson, producer of American Experience's upcoming "Emmett Till," has been named recipient of a MacArthur Fellowship. Nelson received word of the prestigious grant while on a location shoot in Mississippi." The MacArthur Fellowship will give me time to think through new projects, like the series we have in development on the economic history of the transatlantic slave trade," said Nelson. "I really hope that getting this kind of recognition will help more people appreciate the importance of documentary film, and will encourage other documentary filmmakers, who are so often left wondering if their work has any impact." Nelson's 60-minute documentary is the story of a young African American boy from Chicago who was brutally killed for whistling at a white woman while visiting relatives in Money, Mississippi. The murder and corrupt trial that followed horrified the nation and sparked the civil rights movement. "Emmett Till" will air on PBS's American Experience January 20, 2003.
"Stanley is a treasure," says Margaret Drain, executive producer of American Experience. "His work is about race, and his approach is unique. In every film he tries to peel away the layers-to move beyond the predictable, to expose the common human traits we all share, and he does it with great sensitivity and skill." Nelson is the only filmmaker to receive the MacArthur grant this year, and the eleventh in the Fellowship's history. American Experience is a production of WGBH Boston. For more information, call Daphne B. Noyes at 617-300-5344.

---New York: Circle of Sisters Book Party, October 19----
Avid readers will be elated after visiting the Circle of Sisters Book Party on Saturday, October 19th from 3:30pm to 6:00pm in the Special Events Hall at Manhattan's Jacob Javits Convention Center during fourth annual Circle of Sisters Expo. The Book Party will bring African-American women together with some of their favorite writers as well as introduce them to some rising new literary stars. The Circle of Sisters Book Party is co-sponsored by Black Issues Book Review and will be hosted by DeeDee McGuire, on-air radio personality and co-host of The Doug Banks Morning Show. Among those who will be on hand to spotlight their books and greet their fans will be, legendary public relations guru and best-selling author Terrie Williams debuting her new book "A Plentiful Harvest", as well as Michael Baisden debuting his new novel "God's Gift to Women". They'll be joined by NY Times bestselling author Eric Jerome Dickey signing copies of his hot off the press "Thieves' Paradise", Shannon Holmes who penned "Be More Careful", and Donna Hill will be signing her latest book "An Ordinary Woman". Benilde Little is back and she will be on hand promoting her soon to be released novel entitled "Acting Out". Nicole Bailey-Wilson who wrote "A Little Piece of Sky", and "Threesome" author Brenda Thomas will also be there. Circle of Sisters Expo is presented by Inner City Broadcasting radio stations WBLS-107.5 FM and WLIB-1190 AM. For the complete schedule of authors and poets, as well as further information about The Circle of Sisters Book Party, call 212-592-0477 or visit the web site at www.circleofsisters.com.

---Study: African Americans more likely to attempt to start a business than Whites---Some 10 million American adults are involved in the process of starting nearly six million potential new businesses at any one time with African Americans 50 percent more likely to start a business than Whites, according to a new report that answers who is involved in start-up ventures in the United States. The Panel Study of Entrepreneurial Dynamics (PSED) finds that African American men with graduate experience between the ages of 25-35 are the most actively engaged population starting new businesses in the U.S. today. Hispanic men are 20 percent more likely than White men to be involved with start-up ventures. Among the key findings:
1) Approximately 10.1 million adults in the U.S. are attempting to create a new business at any given time. With nearly one half of all new ventures started by teams of people, this represents about 5.6 million potential new businesses.
2) Men are twice as likely to be in the process of starting new businesses as women; young men ages 25-34 are the most active.
3) African American women have a higher propensity for entrepreneurship than White or Hispanic women, who are about equally as likely to attempt to start a business.
4) Education significantly predicts nascent entrepreneurship, particularly for African Americans and Hispanics. Approximately 26 of every 100 African American men and 20 of every 100 Hispanic men with graduate education experience report efforts to start a new business. This compares to 10 of every 100 White men with graduate education experience.
5) The impact of urban context varies for Whites, African Americans and Hispanics. For White and African American men and women, the tendency to initiate start-up efforts is greatest among those living in more urban contexts. But for Hispanic men and women, the highest levels of activity are among those in the least urban contexts.

---African Americans and jobs---
The National Urban League Institute for Opportunity and Equality says new Census figures on the increasing poverty rate and declining median household income illustrate the need for economic policies that protect African Americans and other low-income families most severely hit by the jobless recovery. Numbers released by the U.S. Census Bureau showed that median income for African American households dropped by 3.4 percent, and the poverty rate for African-American families increased by 1.2 percent. "The significant decline in median income for African American households is greater than it has been in the past," said Dr. William E. Spriggs, Executive Director of the National Urban League Institute for Opportunity and Equality. Spriggs said that given the continued weakness in job growth, it is likely that median income for African-American households will fall below 1999 levels of $29,646.

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