Leila Foley-Davis made history in 1973 after she became the first Black woman elected mayor in the United States. Her election predates the election of Doris A. Davis of Compton, Calif., who became the first Black woman mayor of a major metropolitan city later that year. Ms. Foley-Davis was born Lelia Kasenia Smith on November […]
Sharon Weston Broome has made political history twice in the state of Louisiana. Over the weekend, she was elected the first Black woman to serve as Mayor-President of the East Baton Rouge Parish. Broome, 60, will also effectively be the first Black woman mayor of Baton Rouge and will preside over several smaller […]
Robert C. Henry became the first African-American mayor of any major U.S. city when he was appointed mayor of Springfield, Ohio in 1966. Henry’s achievement is often overlooked because fellow Ohioan, Mayor Carl B. Stokes of Cleveland, was the first elected Black mayor of a major U.S. city. Henry was born July 16, 1921 in Springfield. […]
Carrie Saxon Perry is the first Black woman mayor of a major New England city, achieving the historic mark in 1987 at the age of 56. The former Howard University and community activist used the largely ceremonial role as Hartford’s mayor to address issues such as crime, racial tension, and more. Perry was born in […]
NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — Elevated levels of lead caused officials in New Jersey’s largest school district on Wednesday to shut off water fountains at 30 school buildings until more tests are conducted, but officials said they don’t believe the contamination poses any serious health risks. Newark Public Schools notified the state Department of Environmental Protection […]
Douglasville’s Rochelle Robinson makes history.
Kurt Schmoke was elected Baltimore’s first Black mayor in November 1987, and was sworn in on this day that same year. Schmoke served three terms and faced several challenges in his attempt to turn Charm City around. Kurt Lidell Schmoke was born in Baltimore on December 1, 1949 into a chemist father and social worker […]
Several key elections across the nation on Tuesday set the stage for a trio of historic mayoral wins for Black candidates. Dr. Karen Weaver (pictured) of Flint. Mich., Paula Hicks-Hudson of Toledo, Ohio, and Ed Johnson of Fayetteville, Ga. all made history in their respective elections. Dr. Weaver, a clinical psychologist and businesswoman, was an unlikely victor, […]
The late Coleman Young first made history in 1974 after being elected Detroit’s first Black mayor. On this day in 1981, Mayor Coleman’s third-term win was supported by a pair of elections of Black mayors who also made history. James Everett Chase, born March 29 1914, was elected as the first Black mayor of Spokane, […]
Hillary Clinton has secured a major endorsement from a wide-ranging group of prominent politicians that could help her solidify the all-important Black vote in the 2016 presidential election: Fifty current and former African American mayors have rallied to offer Clinton their enthusiastic support. Representing states from California to Florida, more than 50 current and former […]
Ambassador Andrew Young Discusses The 50th Anniversary of the Voting Rights Act And Voter Supression
It’s the 50th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act and sadly, it’s no time to celebrate. Ambassador Andrew Young says that vote suppression remains a problem despite the historic legislation to prevent it. “It is under fire. It’s more than the Voting Rights Act. Now I think it’s bad if not worse in Ohio, New Jersey, […]
ATLANTA (AP) — Former U.N. ambassador Andrew Young was taken to a hospital Monday afternoon as a precaution after a cement truck overturned on a car he was riding in, authorities said. Young, 83, was first treated at roadside by emergency crews after Monday’s accident, Atlanta police spokesman Sgt. Greg Lyon said. Young was in […]
