first African American

Osby ‘Looking Forward to Next Chapter’

“I have a lot of emotions,” said Los Angeles County Fire Chief Daryl Osby, who announced his retirement after almost four decades with the department. After 11 years at the helm, he will serve his last day on July 30.

General Lloyd Austin Is First Black U.S. Secretary of Defense

“I pledge to fight hard to rid our ranks of racists and extremists,” Gen. Austin pronounced during his confirmation hearings. He also pledged to overturn several discriminatory bans on military service put in place by the previous administration. The confirmation vote cleared by a 93-2 margin – Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) and Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Missouri) were the lone no-votes.

Biden Taps Ohio Rep. Marcia Fudge for HUD Secretary Post

“We are relieved knowing that the same determination Rep. Fudge brought to defending hungry families from cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program will be brought to tackle one of the biggest looming threats facing Americans during this economic crisis: evictions and housing insecurity,” The CBC offered in a statement.

IN MEMORIAM: David Dinkins, New York’s First and Only Black Mayor, Dies at 93

Dinkins was viewed as a compromise candidate during a time of turmoil in New York. Elected a year after the infamous 1989 “Central Park jogger” incident that led to the wrongful convictions of five Black and Hispanic boys, Dinkins proved to be a cautious and stoic figure who was a competent caretaker of the city, including its many fiscal, social and political challenges. Dinkins’ administration followed that of one of New York City’s most storied politicians, Ed Koch.