100+ Organization Leaders - Brief Article

Ebony, May, 2001

PETER M. ADAMS President Phi Beta Sigma

GWENDOLYN BOYD President Delta Sigma Theta

JOHN W. BOYD JR. President National Black Farmers Assn.

SAMUEL BROGDON JR. Sov. Grand Cmdr. (North) Prince Hall Masons

BARBARA W. CARPENTER Grand Basileus Zeta Phi Beta

EDWARD P. DARNELL Imperial Potentate, A.E.A.O. Nobles Mystic Shrine

ARDENA DIXON Supreme Basileus Phi Delta Kappa

THOMAS W. DORTCH JR. National President 100 Black Men of America, Inc.

PATRICIA L. FLETCHER President National Association of Colored Women's Clubs

HELEN GIDDINGS President National Order of Women Legislators

RODNEY HOOD, M.D. President National Medical Association

RONDALL JAMES Grand Polaris Iota Phi Theta

HARRY E. JOHNSON President Alpha Phi Alpha

LLOYD J. JORDAN Grand Basileus Omega Psi Phi

WILLIAM LUCY President Coalition of Black Trade Unionists

JEWELL JACKSON McCABE Chair National Coalition of 100 Black Women

JAMES M. McGEE President National Alliance of Postal and Federal Employees

JOHN J. OLIVER President National Newspaper Publishers Association

HELEN OWENS Grand Basileus Sigma Gamma Rho

HENRY PONDER President & CEO National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education

HILDA RICHARDS President National Black Nurses Association

RANDALL M. ROBINSON President TransAfrica

FRANKLYN SCOTT, D.D.S. President National Dental Association

YVETTE SIMMONS President The National Bar Association

BARBARA DIXON SlMPKINS National President The Links, Inc.

WILL SUTTON President National Association of Black Journalists

JAMES L. THOMAS President National Black Caucus of State Legislators

C. DELORES TUCKER Founder and Chair National Political Congress of Black Women

HOWARD L. TUTMAN JR. Grand Polemarch Kappa Alpha Psi

GENE UPSHAW Executive Director NFL Players Association

NORMA SOLOMON WHITE Supreme Basileus Alpha Kappa Alpha

CARLA HOLLOWAY WILLIAMS President Jack & Jill of America, Inc.

EDDIE N. WILLIAMS President, Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, and Grand Sire Archon, Sigma Pi Phi

DONALD P. WILSON Grand Exalted Ruler I.B.P.O.E.W. (Elks)

CLEOPATRA VAUGHNS President, National Assn. of Negro Business and Professional Women's Clubs Inc.

WHO ARE THE MOST POWERFUL BLACK AMERICANS?

Power is sometimes a function of place. And to situate Blacks with vast influence, it is helpful sometimes to pc?se questions about the foundation of their power. Toward that end, we consulted influential opinion-leaders. Here are the questions and the consensus answers:

Q. Who is the most powerful Black in Washington?

A. COLIN POWELL, the first Black secretary of state

Q. Who is the most powerful woman in America?

A. OPRAH WINFREY, talk-show host, entrepreneur and impresario

Q. Who is the most powerful Black in medicine?

A. Surgeon General DAVID SATCHER, who was asked by the new administration to remain in that office until 2002

Q. Who is the most powerful Black in pop music?

A. L.A. REID, CEO of Arista Records

Q. Who is the most powerful Black in education?

A. ROD PAIGE, secretary of education

Q. Who is the most powerful Black in Hollywood?

A. QUINCY JONES, producer and behind-the-scenes mover and shaker