[sphinxpoet]

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 over1.4 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.

Joint Position Statement Regarding BET
Council of Presidents
National Pan-Hellenic Council, Inc.
November 2, 2001
Page 2



__________________________________
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.



___________________________________
Lloyd J. Jordan, Esq.
Grand Basileus
Omega Psi Phi 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.