Source: Jim Spellman / Getty
, New York City’s first and only Black mayor, has passed away. He was 93.
NewsOne reports that Dinkins died on Monday night (Nov. 24) in his home of natural causes. Only a little over a month ago, his wife, Joyce Dinkins, had passed.
Dinkins was a graduate of Howard University, earned his law degree from Brooklyn Law School and was a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
The well regarded Dinkins was part of NYC’s “Gang Of Four,” which included Basil Paterson, Rep. Charles Rangel, and Percy Sutton; members of Harlem’s Carver Democratic Club who would each rise in the political scene.
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Dinkins would run for Mayor of New York City in 1989, defeating incumbent Edward Koch. Hip-Hop heads of a certain age will surely remember the late Phife Dawg rapping, “Mr. Dinkins would you please be my mayor, you’ll be doing us a really big favor,” on a Tribe Called Quest’s “Can I Kick It?”
However, Dinkins would not win re-election in 1993, losing to Rudy Giuliani. Ask anyone around during those times, and the reason was quite obvious. Hint: Think of a pioneering Barack Obama leading to a bottom-dwelling Donald Trump.
Immediately after news of his passing, memorials began pouring in honoring Dinkins for his pioneering life of service. See some of the notable reactions to Dinkins’ passing below.
Rest in powerful peace.
