Ticker tape

Jet, Dec 3, 2001 by Simeon Booker

Confidential: Look for few new Black members of Congress in the next decade as members of the Black Caucus and Black state legislators feud over redistricting proposals in the South where a majority of Blacks live. Incumbent U.S. lawmakers fear loss of their seats during any district boundary changes.

The Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies says that White Republicans represent 53 percent of the nation's Black voters, White Democrats represent 20 percent, while the Black members of Congress represent only 26 percent of Black voters ... Missing from lists of recent election winners: Helen M. Marshall, a former councilwoman who became the first Black woman ever elected as Queens Borough president. She takes over the role on Jan. 1 ... Rushed off by the State Department to serve as spokesperson in Islamabad was Arabic-speaking former U.S. envoy to Qatar Kenton Keith ... The biggest donors to Baltimore's public library since 1882 were Eddie C. and Sylvia Brown, a Black business couple, with a $1 million gift. An African book collection bearing their names will be housed at a downtown annex ... Nuptials: Alicia Frances Rangel, daughter of Rep. and Mrs. Charles Rangel, married Howard L. Houghton, a corporate financial manager and son of an Army officer on Nov. 10 at NYC's Regency Hotel ... Honoring ex-Rep. Louis Stokes for his 30 years in Congress and his fight to improve Black health conditions, Howard University dedicated its new health services library in his name.