Harlem's Civil Rights Legend Hazel Dukes Dead At 92

HARLEM, NY — Harlem resident and civil rights leader Dr. Hazel Dukes died peacefully, surrounded by family, early on Saturday morning in her Harlem apartment at age 92, several reports confirm.

Dukes grew up in Montgomery, Alabama, before moving to Harlem where she spent most of her adult life fighting for liberties like voting rights, economic development, fair housing and education at the helm of the New York State Conference of the NAACP, the organization said in a statement.

She also served on the NAACP's national board of directors and several subcommittees, and ran her own consulting firm, the NAACP said.

She also spoke out against injustices like police brutality into her nineties, and held her position at the NAACP up until her death, according to the organization.

Over the course of her long career, she became a familiar face in New York City politics, and many local politicians remember her as their mentor and friend.

"Her legacy is woven into the very fabric of our communities, especially here in Harlem, where her presence was felt in every fight for dignity, equality, and progress," Harlem Senator Cordell Cleare said.

"Her mentorship, wisdom, and friendship were gifts that I, and so many others, will forever cherish. Dr. Dukes dedicated her life to uplifting Black people, ensuring that our voices were heard in the halls of power and that our communities had the resources and opportunities we deserved."

Dukes played a critical role in paving the way for Black women to reach the nation's highest offices.

In 1972, she took the stage at the Democratic National Convention to second the presidential candidacy of Shirley Chisholm, the first Black woman to run for the party's nomination.

Attorney General Letitia James, the first Black person to hold her position, said Dukes was an important mentor in her life.

“Hazel Dukes was a barrier breaker, a glass ceiling shatterer, and a leader for millions of New Yorkers and Americans," James said. "My heart is heavy as we say goodbye to my dear mentor and friend."

In 2023, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton presented Dukes with the NAACP’s highest honor — the Spingarn Medal.

“I’m not tired yet,” Dukes said in her acceptance speech for the award at the time.

"Harlem—and indeed, all of New York—has lost a pillar, but the impact of her work will be felt for years to come," Cleare said.

The Associated Press contributed reporting.