1971 – Kenneth Gibson Becomes Mayor of Newark

On June 6, 1971, Kenneth Gibson took office as the mayor of Newark, New Jersey, becoming the first African American elected mayor of a major Northeastern city. His election marked a turning point for Black political empowerment in urban America, especially following the civil unrest and racial tensions of the 1960s. A civil engineer by training, Gibson’s campaign focused on restoring faith in city leadership, addressing police brutality, and improving public services. His victory signaled a growing political consciousness among Black voters in the North and opened the door for other major Black mayoral victories in cities like Detroit, Los Angeles, and Atlanta in the years that followed. Gibson served four terms, helping to reshape urban governance and amplifying the role of Black leadership in American politics.