David Dinkins, New York City’s First Black Mayor, Dies at 93

David Dinkins, New York City’s first and so far only Black mayor, has died at 93.

Dinkins’ health aide found him unresponsive in his Lenox Hill apartment Monday night, having apparently died of natural causes, NBC reported. The former mayor died a little more than a month after his wife, Joyce Dinkins, passed away.

David Dinkins Began His Career In Politics As A District Leader

Born in Trenton, New Jersey, Dinkins briefly practiced law in New York City before he began his career in politics as a district leader and was elected a Harlem state Assemblyman in 1966.

He went on to serve as President of the Board of Elections and City Clerk before winning election as Manhattan Borough President in 1985.

David Dinkins Becomes Mayor of New York City

Dinkins ran for mayor in 1989 and defeated Mayor Edward I. Koch and he went on to defeat Rudy Giuliani by the narrowest electoral margin in New York City history: 47,000 votes.

During his tenure as mayor from 1990 to 1993, Dinkins vowed to be “mayor of all the people of New York,” and declared: “We are all foot soldiers on the march to freedom.

He received praise for his ability to arbitrate peace during periods of racial unrest in the city. In 1991, violent protests erupted in the city after a car in the entourage of a local Jewish leader, struck and killed a young black man. Dinkins worked with representatives from both communities to establish calm and end the violence.

The following year, his peacekeeping skills were again put to the test, when rioting broke out in New York and elsewhere around the country, following the acquittal of the Los Angeles police officers involved in the infamous beating of Rodney King. Dinkins was credited with easing racial tensions in New York City, and was widely acknowledged in the press for his leadership during this tumultuous time.

Mayor Dinkins concentrated on making improvements for city residents concerned with issues such as drug abuse, AIDS, affordable housing and better schools. His criminal justice plan, “Safe Streets, Safe City: Cops and Kids,” reduced crime and, through its youth programs, expanded opportunities for New York City’s children. However, in 1994, New Yorkers switched party leadership, electing Republican Rudolph Giuliani as mayor.

Life Aside From Politics

Dinkins graduated from Howard University with a BS in mathematics before serving in the Marines in Korea.

After marrying his wife Joyce, Dinkins returned to school graduating from Brooklyn Law School in 1956.

David Dinkins is survived by his two children and two grandchildren.