Business Focus
Briefs
Xerox faces race, gender complaint
(Special to the NNPA) ? A group of minority
employ ees based in different offices around the nation has
; filed a racial and gender discrimination complaint against
Xerox Corp. with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportu
nity Commission.
The employees, based in Atlanta. Cincinnati. Dallas.
> Houston and New York, allege that they were subjected to
j offensive jokes, language, and black dolls hanging from
j nooses. The complaint also states less qualified whites
' were given promotions before their black co-workers.
Daw n Clarke-Hinton. a 15-year employee in Atlanta,
told reporters. "1 started experiencing racism two weeks
after I started (in Atlanta!." Clarke-Hinton said she was
called "Buckwheat" because of the way she wore her hair.
Clarke-Hinton, who transferred to Atlanta from Cali
fornia in September 2000, went to human resources. She
said nothing was done about her complaints.
James Vagnini. attorney for the plaintiffs, said, "This
company ranks itself as one of the most diverse compa
nies to work in for African Americans. I think it's a joke
how they can turn and point to the one or two minority
people in high-level executive positions and think they're
off the hook. It makes me question why they have these
people in those positions."
Xerox officials deny the allegations.
"We will vigorously defend ourselves," said Christina
Carone. spokesperson for Xerox. "In no uncertain terms.
Xerox strongly denies any behavior of systematic dis
crimination."
Biloxi prepares for possible
Black Springbreak 2002
BILOXI. Miss. (AP) - City work crews are
preparing for an estimated 60,000 to 90,000 young
adults who might converge on the Mississippi Gulf
? Coast early next month for Black Springbreak 2002.
Biloxi and New Orleans are the cities being con
sidered for the April 5 weekend event. Where the
party takes place will depend on subscribers to the
Black Beach Week newsletter.
The subscribers will choose between Biloxi and
New Orleans in an online vote.
The Internet newsletter had announced this year's
event would be held at Jazzland theme park in New
, Orleans, but park officials said earlier this month that
they could not prepare for the crowds.
Black Beach Week will reveal the results of its
online poll next week. ?
If Biloxi is chosen, public work crews will be
ready to roll out the orange security fencing that was
part of a public safety plan to keep U.S. 90 traffic
moving and pedestrians safe during Black Spring
break 2001, the second year the event was held on the
coast.
"I kind of have a gut feeling that something's
going to come here," said Biloxi Mayor A.J. Hol
loway. "We don't want to overreact, but to be pre
pared for something like this, it takes a week of good
weather to get ready."
Police from Biloxi and Gulfport and representa
tives from the Harrison County Sheriff's Department
were scheduled to meet Tuesday to decide how they
will advise the public about traffic and public safety
issues if Black Springbreak comes back to Biloxi.
Anheuser-Busch donates $250,000
to Tom Joyner Foundation
Anheuser-Bfcch Inc. and the Tom Joyner Foun
dation have joined forces to help provide scholar
ships for adult students attending historically black
colleges and universities (HBCUs). The scholar
ships are designed specifically for non-traditional
students 30 and older, to help them obtain college
degrees.
Through the Budweiser Urban Scholarship Pro
gram. Anheuser-Busch will donate $250,000 to the
Tom Joyner Foundation to help with the scholarship
program. The pledge is part of the company's $5
million commitment to education over the next five
years, a pledge that was announced last year.
"Anheuser-Busch is extremely proud and excited
about our commitment to higher education." said
Johnny Furr Jr.. vice president, sales development
and community affairs. Anheuser-Busch Inc. "Col
laborating with the Tom Joyner Foundation will help
us reach millions across the country, to raise aware
ness about the company's commitment to education
and to filling a niche by providing scholarship dol
lars for adult students who need finances to start a
late college career or to complete a degree."
Furr made the announcement at a live Sky Show
concert in Nashville at Tennessee State University's
Gentry Center. Furr presented a check to radio per
sonality Tom Joyner during the early-morning show
featuring R&B artist Keith Sweat. In 2002.
Anheuser-Busch will sponsor a total of 23 Sky
Shows in cities across the country, including St.
Louis. New York. Houston and New Orleans.
Founded in 1998, the Tom Joyner Foundation
raises scholarship funds for students who attend
HBCUs. Funds are raised during Joyner's nationally
syndicated Tom Joyner morning radio show and dur
ing the popular Sky Shows, which feature famous
vocal artists at early-morning concerts. The founda
tion also sponsors a "Fantastic Voyage" cruise that
raises more than $1 million for scholarships. Of the
funds raised for the foundation. 100 percent are used
for scholarships.
Like the Tom Joyner Foundation, the Budweiser
Urban Scholarship Program is instrumental in help
ing college students obtain college degrees
Established in 1999, the Budweiser Urban Schol
arship Program is a jqint effort between the compa
ny. its local wholesalers and community-based
organizations that include various National Urban
League affiliates and 100 Black Men of America
chapters from across the country.
NAACP recognizes UPS with award
Group lauds UPSs commitment to
education and supplier diversity
SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE
NEW YORK - Citing UPSs
commitment to help build strong
communities nationwide, the
NAACP has presented the compa
ny w ith its coveted "Corporate
Citizen of the Year Award." w hich
recognizes U.S. corporations igr
their involvement and support of
critical community issues. The
award was presented to UPS
Chairman and CEO Mike Eskew
during the NAACP's 93rd Annual
Meeting in New York City.
"For more than three decades.
UPS has worked with the NAACP
to expand educational and eco
nomic opportunities for minori
ties and other citizens," said
Kweisi Mfume. president and
chief executive officer of the
National Association for the
Advancement of Colored People.
"We salute the company for its
commitment, and applaud its
I
employees across (he nation who
are working every day to help
build strong communities."
Mfume praised UPS for its
national and local charitable giv
ing programs, as well as its man
agement training initiative that
allows company executives to
work with nonprofit groups to
better understand the needs and
problems of the community.
In accepting the award. Eskew
said. "We're proud of our long
history of collaboration with the
NAACP. and today's award rein
forces the strength of the friend
ship. UPS and the NAACP share
similar values: we both under
stand that our organizations are 1
only as strong as the communities
we serve."
in addition to working with
the NAACP on community
improvement initiatives. UPS was
cited for its work to expand edu
cutional opportunities for minori
ty youths through the NAACP's
ACT-SO program, and for
expanding business opportunities
for minority and women-owned
companies through the UPS sup
plier diversity program.
"We are proud of the opportu
nities we've had to contribute to
the ongoing success' of the
NAACP," Eskew said, "and we
look forward to continued part
nerships to build the communities
in which we all live and work."
Kweisi Mfume, president of NAACP, presents UPS CEO Mike Eskew
with his award.
Black
employees
to receive
nearly $2
million
I 111 XSSOt I \\|D PRESS
CHICAGO - Factory
employees who were harassed
with epithets, racist graffiti
and displays of hangman's
nooses will receive a $1.82
million settlement, federal
officials said.
A lawsuit filed in January
2(M)<) on behalf of 32 current
and former black employees
of Scientific Colors Inc.
accused the company of racial
harassment at its Rockdale
facility.
The U.S. Equal Employ
ment Opportunity Commis
sion announced a settlement
in the law suit Wednesday.
"Racial harassment,
including racist graffiti, is no
more acceptable in a factory
than at any other place of
business. It's illegal, and
companies that permit it to
continue may be exposing
themselves to costly risks."
said EEOC attorney Ethan
Cohen said.
The settlement also
requires implementation of
preventative discrimination
measures such as jjwployee
training and using a camera to
monitor the factory for racist
graffiti.
Scientific Colors manu
factures pigments used in
printing ink and employs
about 200 people.
The company did not
? immediately returns calls
seeking comment.
Left to right: William Souder Jr., CLU, president of Atlanta Life General Agency Inc.; John Wilcher
and Pearlie Wilcher of the Wilcher Insurance Group of South Carolina; and Grand Master Melvin
Chambers.
Insurance group signs agreement
with Prince Hall Grand Lodge
SPECIAL TO THE CHRONICLE
ATLANTA - The Atlanui
Life General Agency Inc. Presi
dent William Souder Jr.. CLU.
and the Wilcher Insurance
Group of South Carolina
recently announced an agree
ment with the M.W. Prince Hall
Grand Lodge of Free and
Accepted Masons of North Car
olina and Jurisdiction Inc. of
Durham. N.C.. to provide mem
bers benefits program offering
life insurance products and
financial services products.
The Grand Lodge has more
than 25.000 members. The
agreement is the first of its kind
for the agency since it became a
member of the newly restruc
tured Atlanta Life Financial
Group.
"We are pleased to offer a
wealth-building program."
Souder said. "Atlanta Life has
effectively provided insurance
coverage and financial services
for other large organizations,
and we will continue to do so as
part of our expanded portfolio
of insurance products and serv
ices. The plan makes it possible
for over 25.000 members to
take advantage of wealth-build
ing products. such as insurance
products at competitive rates,
financial management semi
nars. financial services prod
ucts. and much more."
Marvin D. Chambers, most
worshipful grand master, said.
"We have been in negotiation
for some time with several
companies for a program thai
will provide this additional ben
efit to our members. Atlanta
Life General Agency worked
with us to craft what we believe
is an excellent opportunity. We
know our members will be
pleased."
The Atlanta Life General
Agency is a subsidiary of
Atlanta Life Insurance Co..
which provides insurance prod
ucts and financial services
through more than 22 general
agencies throughout the United
States.
The Wileher Insurance
Group of South Carolina oper
ates in 22 states. A former
slave. Alonzo Franklin Hern
don. founded Atlanta Life
Insurance Co. in 1905.
Jackson wants
companies to
repay blacks
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
GREENVILLE, S.C. -
Rev. Jesse Jackson says insur
ers should repay blacks that
"paid more and got less"
when they bought policies
from Liberty Life Insurance
Co. and other companies.
Jackson said Saturday his
Rainbow/PUSH coalition will
| set up a hotline for people
who think they were over
charged based on race. People
calling the hotline can have
the status of policies checked.
The state Insurance
Department fined Liberu Life
$2 million and suspended the
Greenville company from
selling insurance in South
Carolina for one year. The
Company. owned by the Royal
Bank of Canada, is appealing.
The agency focused most
ly on policies sold between
the 1940s and 1960s and said
Liberty Life had race-based
policies that cost blacks more.
Jackson said policyhold
er Jackson " A9
Jesse Jackson