tary of state; and Dinkins. He was the longest serving Manhattan borough president holding the position from 1966 to 1977. Despite a failed 1976 bid for a mayoral seat, Sutton still exer-
cised influence in local politics and business. “As Borough President, Sutton advocated for and implemented
programs that specifically targeted the City’s most vulnerable pop- ulations,” said Arva Rice, president and CEO of the New York Urban League. A fixture on the legendary 125th St. as a young man, Sutton
was able to give back to the community that helped shape him when he purchased a financially beleaguered Apollo Theater for $250,000 in 1981. With the acquisition, ICBC also acquired or launched a magazine, record and publishing companies, an artist management company, and several other related entities, including a syndicated television show, “Showtime at the Apollo.” Along with the purchase Sutton secured investors for an $18 million renovation of the theater. In addition to his radio holdings, Sutton also headed a group
that owned The Amsterdam News, the second largest black weekly newspaper in the country. The paper was later sold. “[Sutton’s] life-long dedication to the fight for civil rights
and his career as an entrepreneur and public servant made the rise of countless young African Americans possible,” remarked President Barack Obama. Sutton’s achievements mark a staunch dedication to educa-
tion instilled in him and his siblings by his father, Samuel, who was born into slavery just before the Civil War. Samuel went on to become a high school principal. Sutton, the youngest of 15 children, was born in San Antonio on Nov. 24, 1920. Samuel
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April 21-23 Forging New Pathways for Diversity and Inclusion, Washington, D.C. (202) 483-0700 or www.nmci.org
April 22-24 The Fourth Annual Gathering of Leaders: Re-imagining Schooling for Boys and Young Men of Color, Washington, DC. www.coseboc.org
April 22-24 National Alliance of Market Developers, Inc. 58th Annual Conference, Baltimore, MD. (908) 561-4062 or www.namdntl.org
April 22-24 Miami Minority Corporate Counsel Association (MCCA) 7th Annual General Counsel Invitational Diversity Leadership Summit. www.mcca.com
April 22-25 Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Midwest Region Convention, Dayton, OH. (410) 554-0040 or www.apa1906.net
Apr 22-25 Travel Professionals of Color (TPOC) 8th Annual Conference & Trade Show, Nassau, Bahamas. www.tpoc.org
April 22-25 National Alliance of Market Developers (NAMD) 58th Annual National Marketing Conference, Baltimore, MD. www.namdntl.org
made sure that all 12 of his surviving children went on to attend college. Black Enterprise recognized Sutton with the Arthur G.
Gaston Lifetime Achievement Award in 2000, one of many awards, including the 1987 NAACP Spingarn Medal, to his credit. Also in 2000, Black Enterprise readers named Sutton one of the “10 Most Important Black Business Luminaries” of the 20th century. “Tuskegee Airman. Civil-rights activist. Attorney for the
family of Malcolm X. First black (and longest-serving) Manhattan Borough President. BE 100s CEO and founder of Inner City Broadcasting Corp., one of America’s largest black-owned companies. Key strategist for the ground-break- ing presidential campaigns of Rev. Jesse Jackson. Any one of these designations would make Percy L. Sutton, the youngest son of a former slave, a giant among men,” says Black Enterprise Publisher Earl Graves. “The combination of these, only a sampling of his achievements, stamps Sutton as a true titan. He lived a life full to overflowing, setting a standard truly worthy of emulation, and I am blessed and proud to have been his friend.” Sutton is survived by his wife, Leatrice; his son Pierre, and
daughter Cheryl. Source: BlackEnterprise.com
April 24 Business Assistance Center Emerging Women CEO’s Small Business Camp, Dallas, TX. (214) 376-6530 or www.bac5.org
April 24 The Alamo City Chamber of Commerce Village Market Place, Gospel Showcase, Fashion & Beauty Showcase, San Antonio, TX. (210) 226-9055 or www.alam- ocitychamber.org
April 24-28 National Forum for Black Public Administrators (NFBPA) Forum 2010, Greensboro, NC. (202) 408-9300 or www.nfbapa.org
April 25-28 Institute for Supply
Management’s 95th Annual International Supply Management Conference and Education Exhibit, San Diego, CA. (800) 888-6276 or www.ism.ws
April 26 2010 Brazil Summit, sponsored by Brazilian-American Chamber of Commerce, Inc., New York, NY. www.brazilcham.com
April 26-28 The Summit on Leading Diversity, Atlanta, GA. www.linkageinc.- com/Pages/DiversityandInclusion.aspx
April 26-29 Billboard Latin Music
Conference & Awards, San Juan, Puerto Rico. www.billboardevents.com
April 27 Women's Leadership Exchange (WLE) Virtual Summit. www.womens-lead- ershipexchange.com/index.php?page- name=virtual
April 27-28 The Women’s Leadership Conference, New York, NY. www.con-fer- ence-board.org
April 27–29 10th Annual National
Multicultural Business Conference, Wash- ington, D.C. www.diversitybusiness.com
April 27 DiversityInc Webinar Series: Recruitment,” Webinar. www.diversityinc.- com
April 29 Annual Dinner Awards, sponsored by the Edmund G. “Pat” Brown Institute of Public Affairs, Millennium Biltmore Hotel, Los Angeles, CA. (323) 343-3770
April 29-May 2 LuckyRice Asian Food Festival,” New York, NY. www.luckyrice.com
April 29-May 2 Festival of Nations, St. Paul, MN. www.festivalofnations.com
May 3-5 Meet The Money, Sheraton Gateway LAX Hotel, Los Angeles, CA. www.jmbm.com/mtm
May 4-6 14th Annual Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Investment Conference (CHTIC),
Black Meetings & Tourism March/April 2010: www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 29
