[T Lady]

"We need to address black churches, black radio, black magazines, black TV and other influences of opinion within the black community."

Lotsa luck on that, fella. Especially with the Black publications. It seems every time I pick up an edition of Jet Magazine, they're always addressing a Democratic issue in its Politics section. The same goes for Ebony, Essense, and even Black Enterprise. The day any of these DNC tip sheets say anything positive about the Republican party or President Bush in particular, will be the day that you-know-where freezes over. I can say this, because I'm Black, and grew up reading most of those publications prior to changing my party affiliation. They only make good kindling for a fire in my opinion.

-Regards, T.

[mhking]

It seems every time I pick up an edition of Jet Magazine, they're always addressing a Democratic issue in its Politics section

We have to crawl before we walk.

Nearly everything I write for Project 21 ends up appearing in most black newspapers across the nation (including the Nation of Islam's Final Call). I've had more than one piece to appear in regional black magazines as well.

Many of those editors are beginning to see the value of providing an alternative view.

I'll admit that it is done to try to bolster their own views in many cases, but in others, it is a legitimate effort to provide a well thought-out alternative to what is percieved as "mainstream" black thought.

The other posters here are correct. Exposure in black media is crucial. Black radio (at least Urban Contemporary) is among the most lucrative formats in American radio (third only to News/Talk and Country). Tom Joyner reaches more affluent black households than Rush Limbaugh ever could at the present.

And while the George Curry's (former editor of the now-defunct Emerge, known for referring to Clarence Thomas as a "handkerchief-headed Negro" in that magazine) of the world are still out there, they are no-longer legion.

The wheels of change roll inexorbly slow, but they do roll.

[jagrmeister]

What would you suggest in terms of making inroads into the black community. A recent Gallup poll showed that even amongst blacks, they thought of Colin Powell, a Republican, as the most important black leader- ahead of Jesse Jackson. It tells me there's an opportunity to be heard. The question is how?

[nopardons]

Most of those magazines, if not all, are owned, run, and were started by one family; the Johnsons ( sp ? ) of Chicago. Of course they're all going to have the same slant.