November 2, 2001
> > > > Mr. Robert Johnson
> > > > CEO Black Entertainment Television
> > > > 1900 W Street, N.E.
> > > > Washington, D.C.
> > > >
> > > > Re: Television Programming
> > > >
> > > > Dear Mr. Johnson:
> > > >
> > > > We write as a follow up to the meeting held on
> > > > September 27, 2001. The Council of Presidents of
> > > > the African- American Greek Letter organizations
> > > > that consist of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Alpha
> > > > Phi Alpha Fraternity, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority,
> > > > Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Iota Phi Theta Fraternity,
> > > > Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Sigma Gamma Rho
> > > > Sorority, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity and Omega Psi
> > > > Phi Fraternity, collectively have over 1.4 Million
> > > > members. It is our intent to call for a national
> > > > boycott of Black Entertainment! Television (BET).
> > > >
> > > > As discussed with you and your staff , we believe
> > > > that BET does not operate in the best interest of
> > > > the African American community. Your responses to
> > > > our concerns were not only unacceptable but were
> > > > also insulting. We raised concerns with you about
> > > > the type of videos shown on BET that have negative
> > > > influences on our community, particularly our youth.
> > > > We believe that these videos are an exploitation of
> > > > African American youth. We discussed with you our
> > > > concerns about BET's failure to advertise with and
> > > > support African American businesses and
> > > > institutions. BET's lack of reciprocity with the
> > > > African American community is woefully insensitive
> > > > and unfair. Further, we discussed with you that
> > > > BET's failure to communicate with community leaders
> > > > is unacceptable.
> > > >
> > > > Your response made it! clear to us that your priority
> > > > is to increase profits without regard to the
> > > > negative impact on the African American community.
> > > > You made it clear that the concerns we raised would
> > > > not increase the profits of BET and therefore BET
> > > > would not alter its business practices or
> > > > programming to address these concerns.
> > > >
> > > > It is our intent to communicate this boycott to all
> > > > African-American organizations and seek their
> > > > support. Additionally, it is our intent to
> > > > communicate this boycott to Viacom and all BET
> > > > advertisers. This boycott shall remain in effect
> > > > until our concerns are satisfactorily resolved.
> > > >
> > > > ___________________________________
> > > >
> > > > Lloyd J. Jordan, Esq.
> > > > Grand Basileus Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.
> > > >
> > > > __________________________________
> > > > Harry E. Johnson, Sr.
> > > > General President Alpha Phi Alpha ! Fraternity, Inc.
> > > >
> > > > ___________________________________
> > > > Norma Solomon White Supreme Basileus Alpha Kappa
> > > > Alpha Sorority, Inc.
> > > >
> > > > ___________________________________
> > > > Howard L. Tutman Grand Polemarch Kappa Alpha Psi
> > > > Fraternity, Inc.
> > > >
> > > > ___________________________________
> > > > Gwendolyn E. Boyd National President Delta Sigma
> > > > Theta Sorority, Inc.
> > > > ___________________________________
> > > > Arthur R. Thomas, Esq.
> > > > National President Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.
> > > >
> > > > ___________________________________
> > > > Barbara Carpenter, Ph.D.
> > > > National President Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.
> > > >
> > > > ___________________________________
> > > > Helen J. Owens International Grand Basileus Sigma
> > > > Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc.
> > > >
> > > > ___________________________________
> > > > Steve Birdine Grand Polaris Iota Phi Theta
> > > > Fraternity,! Inc.
--
For more of my poetry please check out
http://gw.cas.muohio.edu/umoja/www.ulbobo.com/umoja/index.html
also a new series ..the art of love the the emotionally impaired can be found at:
http://communities.msn.com/TheArtofLovefortheEmotionallyImpaired/_whatsnew.msnw
umoja
only when lions have historians will hunting cease to be glorified
rodneyc..
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