Letters.

BRILLIANT WORK

Your September 1998 issue is one of the most informative and useful editions I have read. The articles "15 Franchises You Can Run From Home" by Gerda D. Gallop, "5 Things You Should Know Before Starting a Business" by Roz Ayres-Williams and "Partnering For Success" by Robyn D. Clarke were the most useful to me. These articles were brilliantly researched and every topic of importance and inquiry was included.

The first article taps into a growing industry that will be useful to the disabled. I suffer from sickle cell anemia and have had many complications with the disease in the past. A home-based business is something that may be of great convenience to me. "5 Things You Should Know Before Starting a Business" directly complemented the feature on home-based businesses. To open a business, whether home-based or not, you need to know these things. If I were to start a business, some of the topics mentioned would have been overlooked, had I not read this article.

The final article relates directly to my own experiences. I am a marketing major who attended North Carolina A&T State University for two years. This university is excellent--the business school is nationally accredited and the engineering program is one of the best in the country. However, because it is a state institution and a historically black college, it doesn't receive the credit it deserves. Unfortunately, but not regretfully, I had to transfer to Wake Forest University due to complications with my illness. Wake Forest immediately acknowledged the accreditation of A&T, and none of my credits were lost in the transfer. The ability of HBCUs to produce highly qualified workers is immensely underestimated in the corporate world.

Levar Hairston

Winston-Salem, North Carolina 

COMPELLING ISSUE

I just wanted to thank you for the cover photo on your August 1998 issue of BLACK ENTERPRISE [featuring black female entrepreneurs Audrey Rice-Oliver, Gail M. Conner, Amsale Aberra, Janice Bryant Howroyd and Norma Ross].

I am a 46-year-old African American woman, returning to college as an undergraduate major in communications. I can afford to take only one class per semester, and need at least 20 courses in order to graduate. So, as you see, I will be in college forever. It gets extremely discouraging when I focus on time; sometimes I want to quit.

But it is when I look at a cover such as the one on your August issue, seeing those five extremely bright, successful and stylish sisters, that I am encouraged to keep on keeping on. They are so beautiful. Their confidence and spiritual light illuminates their faces. Immediately upon seeing the cover, while shopping for groceries, I felt compelled to purchase this issue!

I cannot afford a BE subscription. Because of expenses for school, I have to buy what I need, rather than what I want. Your August issue fell into the "need" category. Thanks again for this issue and also for your years of committed and excellent service to my community.

Brenda F. Files

Washington, D.C.

BUSINESS ROAD MAP

I am a business owner and a BE subscriber. Your magazine has been both informative and very useful to my business. It has helped me to better understand my market, and for that, I thank you.

Articles about other business owners and how they made it have helped me to better appreciate that the road to success is rough, but surely [rewarding]. Over the years, your magazine has been like a road map to me.

Princess Ehi Thomas

IDIA African Accents East Longmeadow, Massachusetts 

Today, while browsing the local library for business magazines, I came across BE. I have just started my own business, and I found almost every article in your magazine to be of relevance to my business. I was particularly inspired by the numerous examples of real-life success stories.

The issues you raise in BE are central, and the quality of the magazine is absolutely first-rate. It was refreshing to read that the challenges I face are the same ones shared by many African American entrepreneurs (I am not African American), and your message was clear: one doesn't need the old (white) boys' network to succeed, just solid business skills and access to resources.

Your magazine shows leadership and vision and is a valuable resource for all enterprising Americans. I can't wait for the next issue!

Dana Linnet 

Arlington, Massachusetts [e-mail]