Letters.

ONE FLORIDA

I want to thank Publisher Earl G. Graves for having the clairvoyance to recognize a Trojan horse ("Florida's Trojan Horse," Publisher's Page, May 2000), and the literary genius to point it out with such skill.

One Florida is a two-faced mirage, the long-range goal of which is to placate the angry white male. It pretends to want to change a system which made affirmative action necessary, without dismantling the institution. New leadership embraces the paradigms of the old guard, and repackages them for resale. I am not buying. It is a mirage which suggests that the apparitions of Jim Crow still lurk among us.

There is one hurdle the governor of Florida, and many others who foster initiative like One Florida, cannot overcome: they have never been part of a minority group, whose ethnic origin, race or color closed the door on educational or business opportunities and negatively impacted them and their families, both in the present and for the future. One cannot vicariously feel that kind of psychological warfare. The collateral damage cascades for generations. Do they have minorities who share their views? Of course.

Whether One Florida, the policy, produces one Florida in terms of educational opportunities, state contracts and other projects for minorities remains to be seen. On the face of it, One Florida looks like one mirage.

Danny B. Chandler
Madison, Mississippi
[e-mail]

I was very pleased to see that the Publisher's Page of the May 2000 issue featured the One Florida Initiative. As a subscriber to BLACK ENTERPRISE, this is exactly what readers need to see about how Florida is attempting to hinder the progression and equality of minorities and women.

In this election year, I hope that African Americans are clearly paying attention and notice that the brother of Florida's governor killed affirmative action in Texas and could be our next president. I am glad to see that BE is continuing to put issues that affect the livelihood of African Americans into the limelight.

Artenous W. Brown
Tallahassee, Florida
[e-mail]

RIGHT ON TIME

Let me start by saying, I love you BE! When I started my M.B.A. program at Claremont Graduate University's Peter F. Drucker School of Management, my advisor suggested that I subscribe to the Wall Street Journal. I went a step further and subscribed to BE. I give a great deal of praise to BE for continuing to guide me on career, financial and education choices.

I graduated in May 1999 and have continued to read BE monthly from cover to cover and I am always excited about the articles. They are on time whenever I need clarification on anything. For example, the interview with U.S. Department of Labor Secretary Alexis Herman ("The Magnolia Mediator" by Marjorie Whigham-Desir, May 2000) was perfect timing for me. I work with the Job Training Partnership Act Program and was in the process of writing our proposal for the new Workforce Investment Act, and I was thoroughly enlightened by your article. Ms. Herman cleared up the maze of confusion for me.

In addition, I want to thank you for your information on the Ph.D Project, which was advertised in your February 2000 issue and underscored the need for African American professors in business schools. I contacted the Ph.D Project and was called by a representative, who explained the project in detail. I'm now looking forward to the three-day conference in November. I knew nothing about the Ph.D Project before reading BE. I will start my Ph.D Program in September 2000. My goal is to teach at one of the historically black universities after I complete my Ph.D.

BE, keep up the good work and I will continue to read your magazine.

Brenda Fleming Bell
Alta Loma, California
[e-mail]

INITIAL INVESTMENT

I picked up my very first investment magazine, after carefully perusing the grand array of investment publications between flights. I chose BE and am thoroughly delighted. The magazine has everything I need to get myself started, especially the Black Wealth Initiative.

Thank you for your thorough approach, your pleasing layout and your belief in us! I feel supported in my quest.

Ann Plowman
Ambergris Caye, Belize
[e-mail]

BE welcomes comments from our readers. Address all correspondence to Letters, BLACK ENTERPRISE, 130 Fifth Ave., New York, NY 10011. Fax: [phone]; e-mail: [e-mail]. Letters should include the writer's full name, address and daytime telephone, and may be edited for clarity or space.