Forgotten city.

I WAS SOMEWHAT DISAPPOINTED BY THE 2008 BLACK ENTERPRISE CONVENtion Calendar (January 2008). Nothing in regard to any African American-related event in New Orleans was on it. It seems that the African American middle and professional classes have somewhat chosen to remain uninvolved in the rebuilding

I think that an opportunity is being lost, one in which BLACK ENTERPRISE should have a major role. There needs to be a greater involvement from African American businesses, organizations, and individuals to ensure that things such as governmental laws on contract allocations to minority businesses benefit the people in Louisiana and to ensure that the organizations involved in rebuilding have African American businesses to supply them, African American employees seeking jobs, etc.

I've heard complaints from Louisiana business owners who say they have skilled apprenticeship positions but are unable to fill them. Louisiana has again gained the title of murder capital of America, but the New Orleans Police Department has been recruiting for two years--and this is a police force where the last three police chiefs were African American.

As the premier economic magazine for African Americans, I believe BLACK ENTERPRISE must lead the charge. BLACK ENTERPRISE must lead with more of its excellent ideas and reporting but also be proactive in making those ideas a reality. To that extent, I believe that BLACK ENTERPRISE is failing New Orleans and the Gulf Coast.

Seyi Aiyegbusi, LLB

Marrero, LA

seyi@falconlaw.com