The Limits of Black Pragmatism the Rise and Fall of David Dinkins, 1989–93

Abstract

In April 1989, the National Conference of Black Mayors took place in Oakland, California. Crime, drugs, economic development, and reduced federal funding were discussed at great length, but, as one attendee noted, race emerged as a primary concern among the participants. Former Congressman Darren J. Mitchem pointed out that “within the white community, there’s a group that even if you walked on water wouldn’t vote for you [as a black candidate].”¹ Carl H. McCall noted that black candidates faced a unique political obstacle when compared to their white counterparts because, “if the language of black politicians is not sufficiendy ‘militant’ . . . sections of their black base will abandon them, forcing such hopefuls to ‘use sharp language’ to solidify their base which in turn frighten[s] white voters.”² The answer, according to some, was to diminish the importance of race or to “deracialize” their campaign. Others maintained that the future lay in rainbow coalitions such as the one that secured Harold Washington’s 1983 victory in Chicago. Further confusing future electoral strategies, Republican and conference president Mayor James L. Usry related some advice a white political consultant had provided him in 1986 as he prepared for his race in predominantly black Atlantic City: “Do not put your foot in one white house or one white ward.”³