Ticker tape

Jet, July 14, 2003 by Simeon Booker

Confidential: A yearlong Dr. Ralph J. Bunche Centenary Celebration will commence in Washington on Sept. 23 in the midst of the Congressional Black Caucus Week to pay tribute to the late UN undersecretary who made history by becoming the first Black to win the Nobel Peace Prize. A gala reception at the Library of Congress will launch the event with activities now being planned throughout the country ...

Promoters of D.C.'s first presidential primary next year expect to reap a $100 million windfall from the widespread media outlay on the area. D.C. is the only U.S. city in which residents don't elect voting members of Congress. Up to this time, few Americans realized citizens in the predominantly Black capital lack the right ... Already, four Blacks vie for posts in the next campaign drive of DNC chairman Terry McAuliffe. In the limelight are former labor secretary Alexis Herman, Voter Institute Director Donna Brazille, Ben Johnson, former director of the Initiative for One America, and Minyon Moore, former DNC chief operating officer ... After an acclaimed four-decade-long athletic career, Olympic runner Mal Whitfield has published his memoirs in Beyond the Finish Line. A self-styled goodwill ambassador, Whitfield spent recent years developing athletes and sports programs in Africa. Now he will travel the U.S. promoting his book ... The Dominican Republic's first beauty to be crowned Miss Universe, Amelia Vega was introduced in NYC by Harlem Rep. Charles Rangel. The visit focused on AIDS education and advocacy for controls, a subject that concerns the lawmaker ... Cleveland Rep. Stephanie Tubbs-Jones welcomed the crew of the Amistad America and Freedom Schooner on their first visit to Ohio cities in the Great Lakes area. The wooden boat is a recreation of the ship that came to the U.S. in 1839 with 53 illegally held Africans. President John Quincy Adams argued before the Supreme Court for their release.