Douglas Dollarhide (March 11, 1923 – June 28, 2008) was an American politician, notable for serving as the first
African American
African Americans, also known as Black Americans and formerly also called Afro-Americans, are an Race and ethnicity in the United States, American racial and ethnic group that consists of Americans who have total or partial ancestry from an ...
mayor of Compton, California.
Biography
Douglas F. Dollarhide witnessed first hand the transformation of
Compton, California
Compton is a city located in the Gateway Cities region of southern Los Angeles County, California, United States, situated south of downtown Los Angeles. Compton is one of the oldest cities in the county, and on May 11, 1888, was the eighth ci ...
from a predominantly white Los Angeles suburb into one of the most heavily concentrated
African American
African Americans, also known as Black Americans and formerly also called Afro-Americans, are an Race and ethnicity in the United States, American racial and ethnic group that consists of Americans who have total or partial ancestry from an ...
communities in the
United States
The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...
. He was elected to the City Council in 1963, becoming its first
African American
African Americans, also known as Black Americans and formerly also called Afro-Americans, are an Race and ethnicity in the United States, American racial and ethnic group that consists of Americans who have total or partial ancestry from an ...
member.
In 1969, Dollarhide made history again, when he became the first black mayor of
Compton. After his election crime rose and property values declined throughout Compton. He was defeated for reelection in 1973 by Doris Davis.
Compton's Dollarhide Neighborhood Center is named after him.
Dollarhide died on June 28, 2008, aged 85, at his home in
Northridge in the
San Fernando Valley
The San Fernando Valley, known locally as the Valley, is an urbanized valley in Los Angeles County, Los Angeles County, California. Situated to the north of the Los Angeles Basin, it comprises a large portion of Los Angeles, the Municipal corpo ...
.
See also
*
List of first African-American mayors
The first African-American mayors were elected during Reconstruction Era, Reconstruction in the Southern United States beginning about 1867. African Americans in the South were also elected to many local offices, such as sheriff and Justice of ...
*
African American mayors in California
References
External links
African Americans in California
1923 births
2008 deaths
African-American mayors in California
Mayors of Compton, California
20th-century African-American politicians
20th-century mayors of places in California
21st-century African-American politicians
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