I applaud the invaluable service that THE BLACK COLLEGIAN Magazine has provided African-American students {with} for the past 30 years and wish {you} continuing success.  Education continues to be one of the vital keys for African-American progress, and THE BLACK COLLEGIAN plays a crucial role in encouraging students to seek higher education and launch successful careers.  We at the Joint Center are also celebrating three decades of providing analysis on policies affecting African Americans, and view THE BLACK COLLEGIAN as a kindred spirit in the drive to equip people of color with the tools to succeed. In the past half century, African Ameri­cans have made enormous strides in educa­tional achievement, but by most measures, we still lag behind many other Americans.  Faced with the reality of an information-driven future, it is imperative that we become more aggressive in seeking to close the education gap.  THE BLACK COLLEGIAN will play a major role in achieving this goal.

Eddie N. Williams President and CEO Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies URL: http://www.jointcenter.org