The struggle for political power: upcoming Town Hall meeting discusses the relationship between race and politics. (Entrepreneurs Conference).

"During the past decade, our increasing, and appropriate, focus on economic advancement has caused some [people] to conclude that the battle for greater political representation is, if not won, then at least no longer a central factor in continuing the empowerment of African Americans. Nothing could be further from the truth. The task of gaining true political representation and empowerment is unfinished business--and will remain so for as long as the U.S. Senate and the National Governors' Association remain taxpayer-financed, white-only clubs."

Earl G. Graves Sr.
(Publisher's Page, April 2002)

In essence, politics and business are inseparable. Even though African Americans have made significant strides over the past decades, we must continue to fight for full inclusion in the political process and achieve new ground. Our mission is to show black entrepreneurs the critical role they must play if they are to receive an equitable share of government contracts, financing from public and private institutions, and legislation to advance their enterprises.

From the controversy during last year's presidential election to the use of racial politics in the New York mayoral and upcoming gubernatorial races, examples of attempted voter disenfranchisement abound in America. At this year's Black Enterprise/Microsoft Entrepreneurs Conference's Town Hall session titled "Race and Politics," we have assembled a panel of entrepreneurs, elected representatives, political leaders, and legal scholars to examine the barriers facing blacks in politics and what can be done to fully leverage our political power at the ballot box. (Confirmed guests include the Rev. Al Sharpton, founder and president of the National Action Network and Harvard Law Professor Charles J. Ogletree Jr.) While we constitute more than 12% of the nation's population, we have never experienced more than 1% of senatorial representation. And, according to our publisher, it has everything to do with the way we, as a community, do business.

In this issue, our lead Newspoints story reports on the various black gubernatorial candidates who hope to break the color barrier that has seemingly denied many well-qualified candidates in the past. There are 36 gubernatorial races and 34 U.S. Senate seats available in 2002. And while blacks tend to win positions such as attorney general and comptroller, it is imperative that we support blacks for the No. 1 statewide position--governor If corporate America can see a visible increase in black CEOs running Fortune 500 companies such as American Express, AOL Time Warner, and Merrill Lynch, then there has to be a visible increase in the number of blacks elected as governors and senators. Former Virginia Gov. L. Douglas Wilder should not be the only African American since the Reconstruction Era to serve as governor, and Edward M. Brooke and Carol Moseley-Braun the only senators.

There is a new crop of black gubernatorial candidates actively campaigning in Florida, Illinois, Michigan, Oregon, New York, and Wisconsin (and two veteran politicians running for U.S. Senate in Texas and North Carolina). This year, we remain hopeful that America sees a visible increase in the number of black governors and senators.

Black Enterprise Unlimited is a division of Earl G. Graves Ltd. dedicated to the creation of products and services designed to meet your business needs. We can be contacted at 8.E. Unlimited, 130 Fifth Ave., New York, New York 10011-4399; fax: [phone]; e-mail: [e-mail]. The following is contact information to help you learn more about the programs and products of B.E. Unlimited:

BLACKENTERPRISE.COM

Check out the latest features and links at the new and improved www.blackenter prise.com. Not only can you track your portfolio but you can also customise your Web page at MyBlackenterprise.com.

BLACK ENTERPRISE/MICROSOFT ENTREPRENEURS CONFERENCE

For more information on the 2002 Entrepreneurs Conference. May 15-19, 2002, at the Opryland Hotel in Nashville. Tennessee. call 800-543-6786.

BLACK ENTERPRISE/PEPSI GOLF & TENNIS CHALLENGE

For more information on the 2002 Black Enterprise/Pepsi Golf & Tennis Challenge, August 29 to September 2, at the La Quinta Resort & Club in Palm Springs, California, call 800-598-3828 or visit our Website.