Hazel Dukes, the president of the New York state chapter of the NAACP and an enduring civil rights advocate, died Saturday at the age of 92. Dukes passed away peacefully at her New York City home, surrounded by her family. She led the New York state NAACP for almost five decades and dedicated her career to advocating for voting rights, economic development, fair housing, and education. Even in her later years, Dukes was a vocal opponent of police brutality and a proponent of healthcare access in underserved areas. She was recognized with the NAACP’s highest honor, the Spingarn Medal, in 2023, and she vowed to continue advocating and mentoring the next generation of NAACP leaders. Dukes played a significant role in the emergence of Black women in national politics, supporting Shirley Chisholm’s historic presidential candidacy in 1972 and encouraging the selection of a Black woman as Joe Biden’s 2020 running mate. Harris, who is running for president in 2024, paid tribute to Dukes as a hero upon whose shoulders we stand. Dukes also ran her own consulting firm and served on the NAACP national board of directors. Her legacy is hailed as an indelible mark on the civil rights movement, and New York City’s mayor, Eric Adams, has ordered flags to be lowered in her memory.

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/mar/02/hazel-dukes-civil-rights-leader-dies