In politics, there’s an old saying that if a Black person is elected to tell white folks what to do things must be in such bad shape that only a superhero or a scapegoat will do. Former New York City Mayor David Dinkins was both of those things to Gotham, and he died earlier this week at the age of 93 leaving behind a legacy that seems complex to many, but all too familiar to those of us in Black spaces and from our unique points of perspective.
I agree with everything that you said about Former Mayor Dinkins. As an HBCU graduate and HBCU Mom myself, as well as a native NYer, I know that our schools prepare our best and brightest to take on leadership roles in the wider society based on the nurturing and intellectually affirming institutions that they are. Dinkins had to deal with a lot of overt hatred during his tenure as Mayor. When people talk about how NYC is such a great "liberal bastion" I laugh derisively, because I saw what the white media did to constantly discredit his accomplishments as Mayor. I do believe that part of Mayor Dinkins' inner strength and ability to withstand the racist attacks on his tenure as Mayor and his legacy as Mayor came in part, from his being nurtured at Howard University, being a member of a BGLO and other organizations exclusively for African American men and people. It is very important that WE African Americans take control of the narrative that describes David Dinkins' legacy and all African American leaders for that matter especially if they attended HBCUs. We must constantly remind ourselves and American society, of the crucial and important work being done by all HBCUs currently and over the last 150 years.
I agree with everything that you said about Former Mayor Dinkins. As an HBCU graduate and HBCU Mom myself, as well as a native NYer, I know that our schools prepare our best and brightest to take on leadership roles in the wider society based on the nurturing and intellectually affirming institutions that they are. Dinkins had to deal with a lot of overt hatred during his tenure as Mayor. When people talk about how NYC is such a great "liberal bastion" I laugh derisively, because I saw what the white media did to constantly discredit his accomplishments as Mayor. I do believe that part of Mayor Dinkins' inner strength and ability to withstand the racist attacks on his tenure as Mayor and his legacy as Mayor came in part, from his being nurtured at Howard University, being a member of a BGLO and other organizations exclusively for African American men and people. It is very important that WE African Americans take control of the narrative that describes David Dinkins' legacy and all African American leaders for that matter especially if they attended HBCUs. We must constantly remind ourselves and American society, of the crucial and important work being done by all HBCUs currently and over the last 150 years.