A Mayor's Life
| Company type | Book |
|---|---|
| Industry | Publishing |
| Founded | 2013 |
| Founder | David N. Dinkins, Peter Knobler |
| Products | Memoir |
A Mayor's Life: Governing New York's Gorgeous Mosaic is the memoir of New York City's 106th mayor, David N. Dinkins, co-written with Peter Knobler. Released in 2013 by PublicAffairs Books, the book narrates the journey and professional milestones of David Norman Dinkins, who triumphed over Ed Koch and Rudy Giuliani to assume the mayoralty of New York. The New York Times characterized it as a "moving... inspiring account of New York's first black mayor." The narrative unfolds amidst Harlem's growing political prominence, which played a key role in mobilizing support that contributed to President Barack Obama's election. It explores Dinkins' early years in Trenton, NJ, his service in the U.S. Marine Corps, academic pursuits at Howard University and Brooklyn Law School, and his political rise from involvement with the Carver Democratic Club to roles as City Clerk, Manhattan borough president, and ultimately mayor.
Within the book, Dinkins highlights accomplishments during his administration such as a significant reduction in the city's crime rates; the transformation of Times Square; rehabilitation efforts in Northern Harlem, the South Bronx, and Brooklyn; securing the continued hosting of the US Tennis Open in New York City—a deal lauded by Mayor Michael Bloomberg as a national model; and welcoming Nelson Mandela on his inaugural international visit following imprisonment. The memoir also examines obstacles encountered throughout his term.
Crown Heights
Dinkins offers an in-depth examination of the Crown Heights riot in Brooklyn, refuting claims that there was any directive or implicit agreement for law enforcement to refrain from action or permit violence against the Jewish community.
Racism
According to The New York Times, Dinkins shares reflections on race relations—a subject he frequently sidestepped as New York’s first African-American mayor. He partially attributes his 1993 electoral defeat to racial prejudice and accuses his Republican challenger, Rudy Giuliani, of conducting a racially charged campaign, though he concedes this was not the only cause.
"Gorgeous Mosaic"
Dinkins portrays New York City as “not a melting pot, but a gorgeous mosaic... of race and religious faith, of national origin and sexual orientation – of individuals whose families arrived yesterday and generations ago, through Ellis Island, Kennedy Airport, or Greyhound buses bound for the Port Authority.”
Further reading
- Rangel, Charles B.; Wynter, Leon (2007) And I Haven't Had a Bad Day Since: From the Streets of Harlem to the Halls of Congress. New York: St. Martin's Press.
- Walker, John C. The Harlem Fox: J. Raymond Jones at Tammany 1920–1970, New York: State University New York Press, 1989.
- Paterson, David (2020). Black, Blind, & in Charge: A Story of Visionary Leadership and Overcoming Adversity. New York: Skyhorse Publishing.
External links
- Dinkins, David N. and Knobler, Peter. A Mayor's Life: Governing New York's Gorgeous Mosaic, PublicAffairs Books, 2013