Ivy Taylor made history over the summer by becoming the first Black woman to serve as mayor of San Antonio. After serving the “River City” as a three-time councilwoman, Mrs. Taylor’s appointment to the seat could signal bigger things to come. Taylor grew up in New York and attended Yale University for her undergraduate […]
Jacksonville’s Alvin Brown made history in 2011 by becoming the city’s first Black mayor. Mayor Brown won his election in a tight race during a time where Tea Party Republicans were surging, pulling off a major upset. Brown, born December 15, 1961, grew up in Beaufort, S.C. He came to the “River City” to attend […]
Tallahassee’s Carrie P. Meek is a political trailblazer of Florida politics. Meek is the first Black woman to elected to the state’s Senate, and the first Black elected official to represent Florida in the U.S. House of Representatives since Reconstruction. Meek, born April 29, 1926, is the daughter of former slaves and sharecroppers in […]
Samuel “Sam” Jones is the first Black mayor of Mobile, Ala. After years of serving in a smaller public office role, Jones took the city’s top job in 2005 before losing an reelection bid in 2013. Jones, a native of the city, gradated from Central High School. He attended college in Jacksonville, Fla., graduating […]
Richard Arrington, Jr. made history on this day in 1979 after winning a run-off election to become Birmingham, Ala.’s first African-American mayor. For twenty years, Arrington led the city to a new level of prominence and provided grand opportunities for people of color during his tenure. Born October 19, 1934 in the town of Livingston, […]
This past weekend, the Congressional Black Caucus hosted its annual weekend extravaganza that included expensive dinners and lavish partying. Yet, Black politicians in the present day are standing by as the GOP and its right-wing zealots run amok in cahoots with local and state police departments. They have become the modern-day example of Alderman Fred […]
Ray Nagin, the former mayor of New Orleans, is heading to federal prison for 10 years. A jury concluded that Nagin took bribes, kickbacks and turned his back on the Black citizens of New Orleans when they needed him most: In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. He deserves the punishment. In all, Nagin was found […]
Hear the first installment of the Reality Radio with Cathy Hughes’ “Living History” segment, featuring Chaka Fattah here In the Philadelphia area, Congressman Chaka Fattah is a household name. Elected to the Pennsylvania State House at age 27, Fattah, now 57, has long been known for his support for African-Americans, the working class and […]
