When the Community Service Society announced back in March that nearly half of Black men in New York City were unemployed, many residents and some elected officials were stunned by the news. Councilman Charles Barron quickly convened a workshop on the issue.

But not enough were moved to do anything about it, charged the Rev. Al Sharpton. ''I am simply amazed that this is happening to almost deafening silence in our community,'' the presidential candidate recently told the Amsterdam News. ''We must begin to come together to deal with this critical issue.''

To that end, the minister has set June 21 as a day when Black men and other concerned citizens will gather and march from Ground Zero to City Hall. ''It's time for us to take to the streets again,'' Sharpton said. ''This is a particularly disturbing fact in view of Bush talking about an economic recovery, and a city budget proposing all kinds of construction and development and no mention of Black unemployment.''

Sharpton said that he is convening a city-wide meeting to discuss how the various boroughs can assemble and galvanize the march. ''I'm asking everyone to join me at Emmanuel Baptist Church this Saturday morning so we can share our ideas on the march,'' he said.

The June 5th meeting at Emmanuel Baptist Church will be the first of several meetings leading up to the march, Sharpton explained. The church is located at 325 East 118th Street in Harlem. For additional information call 212-987-3707/3360, or fax: 212-987-0847.