My upcoming book has a quote, "To every misfortune, there is a good fortune." When now defrocked Senate Republican Leader Trent Lott of Mississippi made that nostalgic unfortunate comment, that the United States would have been better off if then-segregationist candidate Strom Thurmond had won the presidency in 1948, it may be good fortune for civil rights in this country. Not only was that a wake-up call for white and Black America that racism still exists in the higher echelons of government, but in his "contrition" on Black Entertainment Television (BET) with Ed Gordon, Dec. 16, Senator Lott firmly came out in support of affirmative action in front of millions of people. This exposure and subsequent repentance of a Republican leader can be nothing but good! Minorities should now hold his "feet to the fire."

In January, 12 of the nation's most influential Latino organizations stepped forward to ask anti-affirmative action President Bush to support affirmative action in higher education as the Supreme Court hears oral arguments on two legal challenges to race-based preferences at the University of Michigan in April, 2003. The new reality is that 30% of the nation's 35 million Latinos are under 18, approaching college, and will be screened out of college admissions like African Americans, if the Michigan admission policy is overturned. Subsequently, Bush attacked the Michigan affirmative action program as a "racial quota system." But, the New York Times says that Bush's position is an "Anti-Quota Smoke Screen" to appease his right wing supporters because the Michigan Admissions system does not use racial quotas.

By contrast, Republican Senator Sam Brownback of Kansas has initiated efforts to establish a congressional committee on race relations to address issues as a national apology for racial segregation, reparations for slavery, and construction of a Black history museum on the National Mall. With even more good fortune, incoming Senate Republican Leader William Frist of Tennessee "is known to be a friend to Black America," states Harry Alford, President and CEO, of the National Black Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Alford was with Senator Frist on September 11 when the World Trade Center was attacked. He was thanking Senator Frist for personally intervening on behalf of embattled S.R. Smoot Construction Company, the nation' largest Black contractor, on a $40 million Hope 6 Housing Project in Chattanooga. Tennessee.

Speaking of misfortunes, "There was no joy in Mudville, because Mighty Casey had struck out," seemingly was the epitaph not only for the Super Bowl Oakland Raiders, but also for the once mighty Bay Area Urban League as it closed its doors. The 56 year old organization was a leading affiliate of the National Urban League, which is the nation's oldest and largest community-based movement empowering African Americans to enter the economic and social mainstream. "It is unfortunate that the Bay Area has no one to advocate the creation and provision of jobs targeted at young Black and Latino adults now." states Stan Hall, retiring Urban League Executive Director. "But fortunately now African Americans will increase their resolve to survive for a better day," he continued.