Hazel Dukes, the president of the New York State chapter of the NAACP and lifelong civil rights advocate, died Saturday on the age of 92.
Dukes peacefully handed away in her New York Metropolis dwelling surrounded by household, her son, Ronald Dukes, stated in an announcement.
Dukes, who led the New York State NAACP for almost 5 many years, fought tirelessly for voting rights, financial growth, honest housing and training by means of her profession. Even in her 90s, she spoke out in opposition to police brutality and for satisfactory well being care in underserved neighborhoods, the NAACP’s New York State chapter stated in an announcement.
In 2023, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton introduced Dukes with the NAACP’s highest honor — the Spingarn Medal.
“I am not drained but,” Dukes stated in her acceptance speech for the award. She added that she would proceed her advocacy and empower the subsequent technology of NAACP leaders.
Dukes helped lay the inspiration for Black ladies to ascend to the nation’s highest places of work. In 1972, she took the stage on the Democratic Nationwide Conference to second the presidential candidacy of Shirley Chisholm, the primary Black girl to run for the celebration’s nomination.
Dukes was instrumental in former President Joe Biden’s resolution to decide on a Black girl as his 2020 operating mate, she famous in an interview with CBS final yr. Her career-long battle was bookended by former Vice President Kamala Harris’ 2024 bid for the presidency.
In a put up in X Saturday, Harris known as Dukes one of many heroes “upon whose broad shoulders we stand.”
“I’m simply pleased with Kamala. I’m simply excited if I can reside to see this occur. It might be the enjoyment of my life,” Dukes stated within the CBS interview.
Dukes was the president of her personal consulting agency. She additionally served because the member of the NAACP Nationwide Board of Administrators. Leaders of the NAACP stated in an announcement Saturday that Dukes was a “residing embodiment” of the NAACP and that her legacy has touched each side of the motion.
New York Metropolis Mayor Eric Adams ordered flags to be lowered at half-staff as a tribute to Dukes.
