James Nederlander, Winston Majette, Charles B. Rangel, Adriano Espaillat, Inez Dickens, Guest, Eric Adams, Jumaane Williams, Brian Benjamin, Kenneth Knuckles, Judge Milton Tingling
Harlem Week hosts gala celebrating the Life & Legacy of David N. Dinkins
By Audrey J. Bernard
Society Editor
This year’s Harlem Week hosted several main events but none was more auspicious than the esteemed celebration of the life and legacy of New York City’s first Black mayor, The Honorable David N. Dinkins, which took place Thursday, August 12, 2021, at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, 515 Malcolm X Boulevard, New York City. The private gala was hosted by The Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce in conjunction with Harlem Week, and paid tribute to the life, contributions and legacy of the beloved mayor who passed away Monday, November 23, 2020, at age 93. Mr. Dinkins was New York City’s 106th mayor and made history in 1990 as the first African American elected to the position that he held with grace and dignity.
This was an exquisite evening filled with pomp and purpose starting with a networking reception followed by a delicious dinner and an inspirational program that included a short film featuring retired U.S. Representative and “Lion of Lenox Avenue” Charles B. Rangel, NAACP State Conference President Dr. Hazel Dukes and publicist and former Dinkins Chief of Staff Ken Sunshine which captured the essence of the man and his charismatic journey.
Rev. Al Sharpton, Rev. Dennis Dillion, Rev. Jacques DeGraff, David Paterson, Dr. Hazel Dukes, Rep. Gregory Meeks, Sen. Charles Schumer, and Lloyd Williams also shared reflections from the stage along with video salutes by many more in attendance.
“David Dinkins and the rest of the famous Gang of Four were instrumental in the creation of Harlem Day (now Harlem Week) 47 years ago. He was a Board Member of The Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce, our mentor, and big brother,” said Lloyd Williams, President of The Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce.
“Dave Dinkins was the road that ultimately led to the election of Barack Obama,” said Rev. Al Sharpton. “There was David Dinkins talking about the gorgeous mosaic that made many of us understand when Obama said ‘Yes, we can,’ because we had done it in New York under David Dinkins.”
“Dinkins is the only mayor in New York City to ever leave office with a budget surplus,” explained 55th NY State Governor David Paterson. “It was my honor to be his friend and help him in any way I could.”
“This place would be spilling over if it weren’t for COVID-19,” said Dr. Hazel Dukes, NY State President of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Conference. “It is so fitting that tonight we stop and pay tribute to a husband, a son, a father, a lover of his people, the late David Dinkins. May he rest in peace.”
“I thank God almighty for making sure that David Dinkins, not only did he live, that he lived in New York, in Harlem, and was an example for us to follow. History will record his greatness,” said Congressman Gregory Meeks.
Schumer thanked the Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce for hosting the event and said, “I turn to the amazing words of another great New Yorker, Langston Hughes, who wrote these words, ‘O, yes, I say it plain, America never was America to me, and yet I swear this oath—America will be!’ And David Dinkins swore that oath every single day of his life,” said US Senator Chuck Schumer of New York. “He was a great man, because he never wavered from his values.”
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“So many did not get the chance to say goodbye to my brother, my friend, my buddy,” said the Hon. Charles Rangel. “Thank you to the Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce for putting this together.”
During his administration, Mr. Dinkins convened the Mayor’s African Burial Ground Committee, which navigated and preserved one of the largest burial grounds of free and enslaved African Americans. The committee later became the Federal Steering Committee on the African Burial Ground in New York City, led by former Schomburg Center Director Howard Dodson. The Schomburg Center holds the notes, reports, and correspondence from these historic meetings.
Mr. Dinkins’ tenure also included expanding affordable housing to combat homelessness, increasing the size of the New York City Police Department, which led to a steady drop in the city’s crime rate, and negotiating a 99-year lease with the United States Tennis Association. The deal resulted in a financial boost to the city’s economy. Additionally, the former mayor championed libraries and allocated money in the city’s budget to restore 6-day service, allowing more New Yorkers access to its materials and resources.
In his honor Mayor Bill de Blasio presided over the naming of The David N. Dinkins Manhattan Municipal Building. Although it was built around 1900, it remains one of the most striking buildings around City Hall Park and one of the tallest government buildings in the US. The eye-catching golden statue on the top of the building illuminates at night making it a beautiful sight to behold — not too unlike Mr. Dinkins.
VIPs in attendance included: U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer; U.S. Representative Adriano Espaillat; Rev. Al Sharpton, Civil Rights Activist and Founder/President of The National Action Network; Manhattan District Attorney Candidate Alvin Bragg; New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio; New York State Senator Brian Benjamin; Former Manhattan Borough President C. Virginia Fields; Former U.S. Representative Charles B. Rangel; New York City First Lady Chirlane McCray; David A. Paterson, New York’s First African-American Governor; NBA Legend Earl Monroe; Eric Adams, Brooklyn Borough President and New York City Mayoral Candidate; Manhattan Borough President Gail Brewer; and H. Carl McCall, Former New York State Senator and First African-American to be elected New York State Comptroller.
and Hazel Dukes, President of The NAACP New York State Conference.
Also New York State Assemblywoman Inez Dickens; James Nederlander, Theatre Owner and President of The Nederlander Organization; Former New York State Assemblyman Keith Wright; Kenneth Knuckles, President/CEO of The Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone Development Corporation; Lee Bollinger, President of Columbia University; New York State Attorney General Letitia James; Michael Garner, Chief Diversity Officer at The MTA and President of One Hundred Black Men of New York; Michael Pugh, President/CEO of Carver Federal Savings Bank; Rodney Capell, Vice President for Government Affairs within The Northeast Region for Charter Communication; Sally Hernandez-Pinero, Chairperson Of The Board Of Directors Of Metroplus Health Plan; U.S. Representative Tom Suozzi; NYC Public Advocate Jumaane Williams; and State Senator Brian Benjamin, among others.
Building on the theme Rebirth – Rebuild – Rejoice – this was an elegant salute to Mr. Dinkins and those associated with the evening included an illustrious list of luminaries including: Honorary Chairs: Dr. Harry Belafonte, Dr. Hazel Dukes, Hon. H. Carl McCall, Hon. David Paterson, Hon. Charles Rangel, Rev. Al Sharpton, and Lloyd Williams. Event Chairs included: Eric Adams, Brian Benjamin, Dr. Lee Bollinger, Hon. Gale Brewer, Hon. Bill de Blasio, Hon. Andrew Cuomo, Hon Inez Dickens, Hon. Espaillat, George Gresham, Hon. Letitia James, Hon. Gregory Meeks, Michael Pugh, Voza Rivers, May and Samuel Rudin, Ken Sunshine, and Hon. Keith Wright. Event Co-Chairs included: Eric Adams, Dr. Vincent Boudreau, Michael Garner, Josef Goodman, Nichol King, James Nederlander, Hon. Sally Hernandez-Pinero, and Michael Sutton.
Attendees were treated to a stellar performance from vocalist Elijah Ahmad Lewis accompanied by Music Director Kenny Seymour from “Ain’t Too Proud” brought the house down. In addition, Michael Garner presented four scholarships to students in honor of the beloved mayor. Guests departed with many memories about a giant who walked amongst us and a 16 page historic commemorative program containing a biography and photographs of Mr. Dinkins automatically became a collector’s item.
“As you all know the Schomburg Center collects, preserves, and exhibits the vast richness of black culture and history – everything from the early narratives of formerly enslaved people, the papers of Dr. Maya Angelou, and literary giant James Baldwin, to memorabilia of hip hop icon Fab 5 Freddy. I am happy to share that thanks to the assistance of the Dinkins family, Lynda Hamilton, and the former Mayor himself, we now have items that represent his remarkable life added to our archive,” said Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture new Director Joy L. Bivins.
The Schomburg is one of the research centers of The New York Public Library. The 2021 Harlem Week celebration is made possible by generous support from sponsors including: The Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce, West Harlem Development Corporation, Harlem Arts Alliance, Imagenation, The City College of New York, Columbia University, NYC & Company, the Office of the Mayor, President of the Borough of Manhattan, NYC Parks, National Park Service, NAACP, Schomburg Center (The New York Public Library), New York Road Runners, The Shubert Organization, Jazzmobile, Silicon Harlem, New York State’s SummerStage in Harlem, Blackfricka Promotions, Nederlander, Chase Bank, Citi Bank, Carver Bank, WBLS FM, Harlem Music Festival, and 100 Black Men. (Photos by Seitu Oronde)
For a video of the full Gala presentation, please click here.
For a complete list of events, please visit www.harlemweek.com.
About Harlem Week
Harlem Week is an annual celebration of the best of Harlem which works to promote its rich African-American, African, Caribbean, Hispanic, and European history, as well as arts, culture, religion, business, entertainment, and sports. Harlem Week began in 1974 as Harlem Day, a one-day event of encouragement and fellowship in Harlem for New Yorkers and beyond. Given the huge success of the celebration, additional days were added to showcase the community’s rich economic, political, and cultural history.
