1993: the year in review

Ebony, Feb, 1994

FROM the historic gains in the political arena to escalating Blagk-on-Black violence, from Toni Morrison becoming the first Black woman to win a Nobel Prize for Literature to the increasing racial incidents, Black America went back and forth between elation and disappointment in 1993.

The year marked the appointment of a record number of Blacks to influential cabinet positions that had been the exclusive domain of White males. The year also marked the growth of the Congressional Black Caucus to 40 members, and Kimberly Aiken, an 18-year-old advocate for the homeless, became the fifth Black chosen Miss America.

On the international scene, Nelson Mandela shared a Nobel Peace Prize with South African President F.W. DeKlerk, both of whom were instrumental in implementing plans to dismantle South Africa's apartheid system.

In the United States, a new wave of Black mayors took control in such cities as St. Louis, Minneapolis, Richmond and Rochester, N.Y. And political mainstays, Coleman Young in Detroit and Maynard Jackson in Atlanta (both of whom chose to retire), were succeeded by Dennis Archer and Bill Campbell, respectively. Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley also retired, and New York Mayor David Dinkins was defeated in his attempt for a second term.

Regrettably, the notable accomplishments made in Black America were tempered by a number of problems that still plague the Black community. In the area of health, Black America fell further behind, according to the Centers for Disease Control, which reported that the Black infant mortality rate is more than twice the White rate, and that the highest homicide rates were reported for Black teenagers and young adults. CDC also reported that Black women are 30 times more likely than White women to contract AIDS through heterosexual contact.

Despite these and other alarming statistics, particularly those involving the economy, Black America persevered in the struggle for justice and equality. On the 30th anniversary of the March on Washington, an estimated 100,000 marchers listened to speeches and songs at the Lincoln Memorial under the banner of "Jobs, Justice and Peace."

In another civil rights matter, one of the biggest events of the year revolved around the second trial of four White Los Angeles police officers who were accused of violating the civil rights of Rodney King, a Black motorist who was severely beaten after being stopped for speeding. A federal jury eventually convicted two of the officers. Similarly, in Detroit, dynamic prosecutor Kym Worthy persuaded a jury to convict two White police officers of murdering Malice Green, who had been beaten to death.

Elsewhere, 1993 was also a year of laudable "firsts." For the first time, all 50 states honored Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Rep. Ron Dellums, D-Calif., became the first Black to head the House Armed Services Committee; Jackie Barrett became the nation's first Black female sheriff when she was elected in Fulton County, Ga.; Norman Doucet became the first Black student chosen regimental commander of The Citadel military college in Charleston, S.C.; and the nation's first Black surgeon general, Dr. Joycelyn Elders, was confirmed by the Senate.

In sports, after leading the Chicago Bulls to their third consecutive championship last spring, Michael Jordan shocked the sports world when he abruptly announced his retirement, saying he had "accomplished everything in basketball." And in baseball, Toronto Blue Jays manager Cito Gaston became the first manager to lead his team to back-to-back World Series titles in 1976.

Among nationally known Blacks who died in 1993 were jazz trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie, gospel great Thomas A. Dorsey, activist and tennis great Arthur Ashe, publisher Robert Maynard, Judge James Benton Parsons, the first Black federal judge, world-famous opera singer Marian Anderson, entrepreneur Reginald Lewis and musician Sun Ra.