[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 24 (Wednesday, February 24, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E228]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


 CELEBRATING THE LIFE OF HARLEM'S BELOVED JAMES E. BOOKER, SR. FONDLY 
  KNOWN AS THE DEAN OF BLACK JOURNALISTS & FORMER SPECIAL ADVISOR TO 
                    PRESIDENT LYNDON BAINES JOHNSON

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CHARLES B. RANGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 24, 2010

  Mr. RANGEL. Madam Speaker, I rise with great pride, admiration and 
sadness as I pay tribute to my dear friend and life-long buddy, Brother 
James E. Booker, Sr., as we celebrate the passing of one of Harlem's 
greatest National Correspondents and Political/Community News 
Columnists at Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Harlem.
  As I speak with profound honor and respect for my friend Jimmy, I 
ascend to celebrate a life well-lived and to also remember the many 
journalistic professional accomplishments of this remarkable man. 
Always dressed in his signature bowtie look, Jimmy Booker penned his 
name in history. He was the classic newspaperman, a writer with a 
remarkable flare for accuracy, integrity and style. Jimmy's columns, 
``The Uptown Lowdown'' and ``Top Drawer Stuff,'' were informative, edgy 
and insightful capturing unfolding stories about Harlem, Black New 
York. City Hall, Albany and our Nation's Capital.
  James E. Booker, Sr., was born in Riverhead, New York to Fletcher and 
Elizabeth Booker on July 16th, 1926. He was reared, attended school, 
and worked on his father's farm in Riverhead, New York. In 1948, Booker 
graduated from Howard University in Washington, DC, with a Bachelor's 
in Arts in Journalism, and then moved to New York City to begin a 
career in Journalism working as a reporter for the Amsterdam News in 
Harlem. In 1950, he served in the United States Army during the Korean 
War. He later returned to his job as a Journalist with the New York 
Amsterdam News.
  Jimmy referred to his 16 years at the Amsterdam News, where he 
eventually became Executive Editor, the most exciting of his 
journalistic career. He traveled the country, interfacing with such 
notables as the Rev., Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Harlem Congressman 
Adam Clayton Powell, National Urban League Director, and Whitney M. 
Young, all of whom he developed a first name relationship with.
  On December 22nd, 1956, he married the former Jeanne Carol Williams, 
in New York, and moved to the newly erected Lenox Terrace, where he 
lived for the remainder of his life. In 1964, the couple had a son, 
James E. Booker Jr. (Reverend James E. Booker, Jr). In 1966, Jimmy took 
his family to Washington, DC, to work as Special Advisor to President 
Lyndon Baines Johnson. In 1968, Jimmy returned home to Harlem, and 
opened up his own public relations business, ``James E. Booker 
Associates'' on 527 Madison Avenue in New York City.
  Jimmy leaves behind a great written legacy of stories, history, 
adventure, and legendary achievements that will continue to uplift all 
of our African American families to the highest levels of advancements. 
Jimmy story includes some of the most important historic episodes of 
the 20th century. When Fidel Castro arrived in Harlem in 1960, Jimmy 
Booker was there, interviewing the young Cuban for one hour at the 
famed Theresa Hotel. Figures like Malcolm X, Dr. Martin Luther King. 
Jr., Congressman Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. and National Urban League 
founder, Whitney M. Young.
  Even the notorious Bumpy Johnson who ruled the streets of Harlem did 
not escape the pen. Jimmy knew first hand how dangerous a man he was. 
``He put a gun to my head and told me he didn't like what I had been 
writing,'' Booker once told a group of friends one night at the Theresa 
Hotel where he frequented, amusing listeners with many incredible 
tales.
  He covered us many times, Percy Sutton, Basil Paterson and David 
Dinkins, the infamous Gang of Four with those same remarkable 
attributes that made us so revered in his famous national and local 
weekly columns. He served the cause of justice by covering the biggest 
stories of the Civil Rights Movement, giving the world insight on 
groups like the NAACP and the Black Panthers Party.
  For years his column in the Amsterdam News was chocked full of 
tidbits and gossip about Harlem, the kind of ``who shot John'' stuff 
that never failed to keep readers' attention. Later, during his tenure 
at the New York Beacon, he maintained his tireless contact with every 
facet of the community's activities, roving from board meetings, to 
funerals, to rallies, to wherever the action was. Booker's Columns were 
published weekly in many independent and syndicated news and community 
publications including: ``The Afro Times,'' The Daily Challenge,'' 
``Big Red,'' and ``The Twilight.''
  Jimmy was also a very close advisor to many politicos, activist and 
community organizations, past and present, including Lloyd E. Dickens, 
``The Fox'' J. Raymond Jones, Fred E. Samuels, Professor Preston 
Wilcox, Dr. John Henrik Clarke, Edward Fordham, Inez E. Dickens, Keith 
L.T. Wright, C. Virginia Fields, Hazel N. Dukes, Dr. Annie B. Martin 
and the NAACP to name just a few.
  Jimmy was also fond of Harlem's Nightlife where he covered many 
luminaries, entertainers and personalities like Count Basie, Billy 
Eckstine, Sammy Davis, Jr., Charles Honi Coles, Leroy Myers, Gregory 
Hines, Pop Brown, George Benson, Nat Davis, Irene Reid, Jimmy 
``Preacher'' Robins, Gloria Lynne, Savion Glover and the Prince of 
Harlem, Lonnie Youngblood, at the Theresa Hotel and later at Harlem's 
famous Showman's Jazz Cafe. Mr. Booker held court on a regular basis 
with his longtime friends Al Howard, Mona Lopez, Diamond Lil Pierce, 
Tanya Alfonso, Ida Fernandez, and members of ``The Showman's Elites'' 
and ``The Disciples.''
  He will long be remembered for his extraordinary commitment, humor, 
liveliness, energy, wisdom, discipline, principle and clear purpose 
which won the admiration of all who were privileged to come to know and 
work with him during his distinguished career. Jimmy E. Booker, Sr. was 
called home on Friday morning, February 5th, and his home going 
services took place on February 9th, at Harlem's historic Bethel 
African Methodist Episcopal Church, which was a major stop on the 
Underground Railroad.
  Madam Speaker, I consider myself fortunate to have had the 
opportunity to observe and experience his example as a personal 
inspiration. Though Jimmy is no longer with us, we will continue to 
keep his memory alive in our hearts and minds, and continue to honor 
his legacy with our advocacy for the issues he cared about the most. We 
are all blessed to have known, Jimmy E. Booker, Jr., a titan of a man 
who witnessed history with a pen that gave us all life.

                          ____________________