There is much discussion lately, in the Black communities of our nation, around "open season" attacks on high profile Black men. There stands accused as a rapist, Kobe Bryant, one of the most successful basketball players today; Michael Jackson, accused as a child molester, is reportedly the greatest entertainer of the Twentieth Century; and now in the cross-hairs, Barry Bonds, the greatest home-run hitter in history, for suspected steroids use. There are Black political leaders, businessmen and corporate managers also under assault.

In the San Francisco Bay Area, successful and high profile Black men have been ambushed and destroyed for decades. In the past 30 years, multi-million dollar Black owned companies such as Teleport Oil, Scott Concessions, Smith Engineering, Grigsby Financial, etc., have been accused by the government of various law breaking activities. However, all were vindicated, but in the process, their businesses and personal reputations were destroyed. Any minor accusation, such as tax evasion, is front page news when it comes to a Black man. High profile African Americans today are experiencing affirmative reaction, known as plain "ole racism."

Harlan Kelly, the Black San Francisco PUC Deputy General Manager for the $3.4 billion Hetch Hetchy Water System expansion, is under siege by the media and even the PUC General Manager, because he had his City owned SUV painted for a pricey $4,000. Can you imagine such a petty accusation for a manager of a $3.4 billion project? A call to my Jaguar dealer, British Motors, rendered an estimate of $10,000 to paint a SUV. Is it "open season" on Black men?

Speaking of high profile Black men, President Clinton was amicably known as the first Black President because of his cultural identities. Senator John Kerry; the Democratic Presidential candidate, recently told a radio interviewer, "I wouldn't be upset if I could earn the right to be the second." His wife, who is very white and wealthy, was born in Mozambique and often refers to herself as, African American. The Kerrys need to be reminded that to be a Black male today means living 20% below the poverty line, 40% somewhere in the criminal justice system, 22% with no high school diploma and being 2 to 3 times more likely to die from prostate cancer.

'There are no good times to be Black in America, but some times are worst than others."

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