Ticker Tape

Jet, April 19, 1999 by Simeon Booker

Confidential: When he chaired the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Colin Powell kept a picture on his office wall of Henry O. Flipper, the first Black West Point graduate who was unfairly booted from the service. A few weeks ago, President Bill Clinton honored Flipper and cleared his military record.

Few mentioned how Powell quietly conducted his campaign to get justice for the Black pioneer ... Despite the nation's economic health, the outlook on chances that Blacks can finally overcome with welfare reform aren't too bright. One study shows two-thirds of Blacks on welfare have minimal skills, similar to high school dropouts, and are qualified for only the lowest-paying jobs with earnings less than $15,000 a year. Few states offer training ... Baltimore Mayor Kurt Schmoke watched his city's Baltimore Orioles baseball team defeat a Cuban all-star team in a historic contest in Havana ... With a $50 million payment and the purchase of seven stations in the Richmond, VA, area, Cathy Hughes expanded her Radio One network to 23 stations from Atlanta to Washington. And the businesswoman has not stopped adding to her operation.... The gulf between members of Congress was highlighted when White Rep. Ron Packard (R-CA) approached two Blacks at the Hershey retreat breakfast and asked if they were married. The man was Black Caucus chair James Clyburn (D-SC) and the woman was Rep. Stephanie Tubbs-Jones (D-OH) ... New director for the Democrats' voter participation drive is Dorothy Jackson, the former legislative counsel to Rep. Donald M. Payne (D-NJ) ... A House subcommittee has voted to approve a gold medal for civil rights heroine Rosa Parks, making it possible for the full body to approve the action after the Easter recess.