This article explores the life and career of David Dinkins, New York City’s 106th mayor and the first African American to hold this prestigious office. Read on with manhattanyes to learn more about his childhood, political journey, and personal life. Read more at manhattanyes.com.
Early Years
David Norman Dinkins, an American politician and lawyer, served as New York City’s 106th mayor. He was born on July 10, 1927, in Trenton, New Jersey, to a family of modest means. His father worked as a barber and in real estate, while his mother was a domestic worker. When David was six, his parents divorced, and he moved with his family to Harlem. For his high school years, Dinkins returned to New Jersey, successfully graduating from Trenton Central High School.
After high school, from 1945 to 1946, Dinkins served in the U.S. Marine Corps. He was later awarded the Congressional Gold Medal by the United States Senate and House of Representatives for his service. Four years after completing his military duty, he earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Howard University. In 1956, he graduated from Brooklyn Law School.
Political Career and Mayoralty
David Dinkins practiced law for approximately nineteen years. He later became part of an influential group of African American politicians that included figures such as Charles Bernard Rangel, Basil Alexander Paterson, Percy Ellis Sutton, and Herman Daniel “Denny” Farrell Jr. He also ventured into investments. In 1966, Dinkins briefly represented New York State’s 78th Assembly District. Starting in the 1970s, he served as President of the New York City Board of Elections. In 1985, he became Manhattan Borough President.
David Norman Dinkins took office as Mayor of New York City on January 1, 1990. Early in his administration, he pledged to address the city’s pressing racial issues. Overall, during his mayoralty, David Dinkins made significant positive contributions. Notably, crime and murder rates, which had previously soared to historic highs, saw a substantial decrease. Additionally, Dinkins initiated a hiring program that expanded the New York City Police Department by nearly 25%. The mayor also actively confronted improper conduct by local patrols, which later led to a protest on their part.
During his leadership, the mayor cleaned up Times Square, oversaw the restoration of the New Amsterdam Theatre on 42nd Street, and signed a 99-year lease with the U.S. Tennis Association for city parkland. This deal led to the creation of the USTA National Tennis Center, which, incidentally, generated considerable revenue for the city. Furthermore, his administration undertook projects to restore dilapidated buildings in North Harlem, Brooklyn, and the South Bronx, and invested in housing for homeless individuals with mental illnesses. David Norman Dinkins left the mayor’s office in 1993 after an unsuccessful bid for re-election.
Later Career and Personal Life
From 1994 until his passing, David Dinkins served as a Professor of Professional Practice at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs. Beyond this, Dinkins was also a member of the board of directors for the U.S. Tennis Association and served on the boards of New York City Global Partners, the Children’s Health Fund, and the Association to Benefit Children. He also contributed to the advisory boards of Independent News & Media and the Black Leadership Forum, among others.
David Dinkins married Joyce Elizabeth Burrows, a civic activist and public servant, in 1953. The couple later had two children, Donna and David Jr. David Norman Dinkins passed away on November 23, 2020, at the age of ninety-three in his home on Manhattan’s Upper East Side.