Sharpe James Archives

Marie Villani, Newark city councilwoman for 20 years, dies at 100

July 17, 2021 10:26 pmJuly 19, 2021 9:39 am

HMarie L. Villani, a six-term Newark City Councilwoman and the first woman to win a citywide election in the state’s largest city, died on July 13. She turned 100 on July 4. Villani was appointed to fill an at-large city...

Trailblazer: Senator Ronald Rice

January 18, 2021 12:25 amJune 8, 2021 4:08 pm

Ronald L. Rice (D-Newark) is the longest-serving Black legislator in New Jersey history and has made his mark as an advocate for social justice and civil rights. Rice was elected to the State Senate in a 1986 special election following...

Trailblazer: Congressman Donald Payne Sr.

January 18, 2021 12:10 amJanuary 17, 2021 1:57 pm

Donald Payne, Sr. (1934-2012) was the first Black to represent New Jersey in the U.S. House of Representatives. He had run for Congress twice before winning the seat in 1988. In 1970, Payne became the first African American to serve...

Trailblazer: Mayor Kenneth Gibson

January 18, 2021 12:09 amJanuary 17, 2021 1:51 pm

Kenneth Gibson (1932-2019) became the first Black to serve as mayor of a major northeastern city when he ousted two-term incumbent Hugh Addonizio in 1970. Gibson had served as an engineer for the New Jersey Highway Department and as the...

Trailblazer: U.S. Senator Cory Booker

January 18, 2021 12:06 amJanuary 16, 2021 11:02 pm

Cory Booker, is the first Black to win statewide office in New Jersey. He was elected to the United States Senate in 2013, winning a special election to replace the late Frank R. Lautenberg. Booker sought the 2020 Democratic nomination...

Booker sworn in for third time as U.S. Senator

January 3, 2021 12:46 pm

Cory Booker was sworn in today for the third time as a United States Senator from New Jersey after winning re-election in 2020. Booker was sworn in by outgoing Vice President Mike Pence. His previous two oaths, in 2013 and...

Clifford Minor, who ran against Cory Booker in 2010, dies

November 25, 2020 9:26 amNovember 25, 2020 9:28 am

Clifford Minor, a former Essex County Prosecutor who challenged Cory Booker in the 2010 Newark mayoral race, died on November 17. He was 78. Minor began his career as a Newark police officer, rising to the rank of detective. He...