Ticker Tape

Jet, Sept 3, 2001 by Simeon Booker

Confidential: Imagine a Black man serving as the major law enforcer of the U.S. Senate: When retired Army Major Gen. Alphonso E. Lenhardt takes over in September as sergeant-at-arms, he will be the most powerful Black on the Hill in the post that includes performing as the Senate's protocol chief and administrative boss ...

Look for an impressive 50th anniversary national celebration of the Supreme Court's school desegregation decision now set for May 17, 2004. The U.S. Senate voted to establish a commission to encourage and provide for commemoration of the historic event. Besides lawmakers from the states listed in the suit, the legislation also salutes the NAACP Legal Defense Fund ... Quietly Dr. Andrew Brimmer resigned as chair of the governing board of the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies in Washington. Under the economist's long leadership, the Center has grown into a major institution that provides research and analysis to civil rights groups. Ford Motor Co. executive Elliot Hall is the replacement ... Celebrating the 100th anniversary of their Astoria Beneficial Club at a Richmond, VA, banquet, members paid tribute to the 22 founders and marveled at the civic record of the city's oldest Black social group. Despite campaigns to prod city officials and the police force to integrate staffs, the club is best known for its erection of a statue in the Black community honoring tap dancer Bill "Bojangles" Robinson.