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Oral history interview with David Norman Dinkins, 2014

Creator: Dinkins, David N.
Project: Individual interviews oral history collection.
(see all project interviews)
Phys. Desc. :transcript 122 pages
Location: Columbia Center for Oral History
Full CLIO record >>

Biographical Note

David Norman Dinkins, the 106th mayor of New York City (1990-1993), was born in Trenton, New Jersey on July 10, 1927. Shortly after graduating high school, Dinkins enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, serving from 1945 through 1946 at the segregated, all-black Camp Montford Point in Jacksonville, North Carolina. After receiving a voluntary discharge, he enrolled at Howard University studying mathematics. It was at Howard that Dinkins met his wife, Joyce (nee Burrows), whose father, Daniel L. Burrows-a leader in Democratic club politics in Harlem-would introduce Dinkins to the political sphere. After attending Brooklyn Law School, Dinkins practiced law and climbed the ranks of Harlem's George Washington Carver Democratic Club. With the support of political kingmaker, J. Raymond Jones, Dinkins was elected to the New York State Assembly in 1966. He went on to serve as President of the New York City Board of Elections (1972-1973), City Clerk (1975-1985), and Manhattan Borough President (1985-1989). In 1989, running on a platform of racial unity, Dinkins became the first African American mayor to be elected in New York City. After losing as an incumbent to Rudolph Giuliani in 1993, Dinkins accepted a position at Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA) as Professor of Professional Practice

Scope and Contents

In the first of four interviews, Dinkins discusses his early life, including the influence his parents had on shaping his worldview, his time in the Marines, his academic trajectory, and his first years in Harlem after college. Dinkins focuses on overcoming adversities, elaborating on what it meant to be a small child during the Great Depression as well as what it was like to attend law school at night while supporting a new family. Dinkins also reflects on the particular experience of being a World War II veteran at Howard University. In this interview, Dinkins also subtly touches on experiences with segregation and racism during his youth. In the second of four interviews, Dinkins touches on the evolution of his early political career in Harlem. He discusses the central importance of Democratic clubs in Harlem as well as the many temporary and shifting alliances that were formed as black politicians attempted to gain influence for their constituencies. He talks in detail about his time in the State Assembly and the coalition of African American politicians, led by Percy Sutton, that were struggling to expand access to resources for black New Yorkers. Dinkins also expounds on his relationships with Harlem political heavyweights such as Basil Patterson, J. Raymond Jones, and Charles Rangel. In the third of four interviews, Dinkins discusses issues central to his time as Manhattan borough president and as mayor, including crime and homelessness. Dinkins conveys feelings that the media as well as his critics race-baited major campaign issues. He focuses some detail on the circumstances of the police riot in the fall of 1992. He talks in brief about an attempt by the people of Staten Island to secede from New York City, the first World Trade Center bombing, as well as campaign experiences. In the fourth of four interviews, Dinkins reflects at length on some of his accomplishments during his tenure as mayor. He focuses attention on his relationship with Nelson Mandela as well as the strict sanctions enacted on South Africa's apartheid government by his administration. He also elaborates on his stance on controversial social issues in New York City at the time. Dinkins, a tennis aficionado, talks in depth about his love of the sport and his efforts to retain the U.S. Open in New York. The interview is comprised of a transcript and WAV audio files

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Copyright by The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York, 2015

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