On November 7, Black Florida voter turnout increased by 50% from 4 years ago, a percentage higher than the total Florida voting population.? This signaled an awakening of Black political power and gives credence that ìevery vote counts.î? But, as many African Americans across the country would suspect, in Palm Beach County, home of the notorious ìbutterfly ballotsî, Blacks made up 75% to 95% of the electorate in eight of the 10 precincts most questioned.? These 10 precincts have the highest incidence of voting for more than one presidential candidate.? In addition to the confusing ballots and other irregularities on the morning of the election, white Florida State police set up an automobile checkpoint in Leon County, two miles from a Black church polling site to check driverís licenses and safety equipment.? ìBlack people in Florida will not be turned back by intimidation!? They know that since Gov. Jeb Bush, Republican Presidential Candidate George Bushís brother, got rid of affirmative action in Florida by Executive Order, that their progress is dependent on the civil rights and affirmative action policies of the man in the White House.? Thatís why they turned out for Gore,î states Geneva Harris, a prominent Black businessperson in Parkland, Florida.

Yet, quietly, affirmative action pundits were betting heavily on Washington State Democrat Maria Cantwell beating out incumbent Republican Senator Slade Gorton in a recount to give a 50-50 tie between Republicans and Democrats in the U. S. Senate; if Republican George Bush wins.? The significance is that the Republican Party is against affirmative action for minorities and a tie could block a Republican controlled presidency and congress from ìguttingî affirmative action throughout the United States.? The possibility of a tie exists because Senator Joe Lieberman ran for both the Democratic Vice Presidency and his old Senate seat from Connecticut.? However, the Republican Vice President, Dick Cheney, would be able to break a tie in the Senate.? Observing all of this, Eddie Rye, one of the organizers of the Black Chamber in Seattle called with a quote from baseball great, Yogi Berra, ìIt ainít over, ëtil itís over.î

Many African Americans have mixed emotions over Viacomís purchase of BET cable television channel for 2.4 billion dollars.? Some Blacks are still lamenting the disintegration of Americaís first Black owned billion dollar company, Beatrice Foods of Chicago, when its owner, Reginald F. Lewis, died in 1993.? Although Black ownership of BET was a source of pride for many, other Blacks are happy that corporate America has valued a Black owned company for mainstream acquisition.? Founder, Bob Johnson, will get $1.4 billion out of the deal, making him possibly the wealthiest Black man in America.

Two days before the BET transaction, Black America lost another icon.? Covad Communicationsí President, Robert Knowling Jr., one of two Black CEOs in Silicon Valley, resigned under pressure after the company experienced a huge 3^rd quarter loss.? Knowling, one of 6 Black CEOís of the 1,000 largest US publicly traded companies, was a leading advocate for bridging the digital divide for Blacks and other minorities.? Ironically, 3.5 million Black Internet users came on line for the first time last year increasing the rate from 23% to 36% for Americaís 34.5 million Blacks.

ìUp, up, you mighty race!? You can accomplish what you will.î? Marcus Garvey

For past affirmative action articles, visit web site, http://rxfactory.shop/