By April Ryan
(NNPA Newswire) – “She was a warrior within the truest sense of the phrase and an activist extraordinaire.” These phrases are from the Rev. Al Sharpton, who’s celebrating the life and activism of the enduring Hazel Nell Dukes, civil rights activist and chief throughout the ranks of the New York State chapter and Nationwide Board of Administrators of the NAACP. Dukes, 92, died March 1 at her house in New York.
Simply two weeks in the past, Dukes was wheelchair sure and current to carry out her obligation as NAACP Election Supervisory Chair certifying the elections of the rights teams’ board members.
Dr. Ben Chavis, elected in 1993, was the seventh govt director and CEO of the NAACP and spoke on the lifetime of Dukes saying, “The transformative management legacy of freedom fighter Hazel Dukes will now be enshrined with the best honor and respect as a pacesetter of the NAACP in America and all through the world.”
NAACP Nationwide Board of Administrators Chairman Leon W. Russell informed Black Press USA that Dukes led the NAACP New York State Convention for 50 years acknowledging, “Her work has helped make sure that the 116-year-old NAACP may stay related and proceed its work all through the years. She has been constant in her work and her help as a member and a pacesetter.”
Sharpton says he knew Dukes for nearly 50 years since he was a teen. “There by no means was a problem that she was not out entrance. We’ve gone to jail collectively and the White Home collectively,” he says.
Sharpton expects to supply feedback at Duke’s funeral service. He remembers she was “genuine, dedicated, and anxious.” The rights chief and TV host additionally says, “We are going to by no means have one other Hazel Dukes. However thank God we had this one.”
The NAACP Board was notified of the passing of Dukes via the next correspondence on March 1:
Passing of a Liked One. To God Be The Glory!
Colleagues, it’s with a heavy coronary heart and a profound sense of unhappiness that I inform you that our sister, Momma Dukes, went to be with the ancestors at 6:20 AM right this moment. Her transition was formally recorded and introduced at 6:38 AM. Please elevate her up in prayer and proceed to wish for her son Ronald and all of her prolonged household.
It’s at all times exhausting to ship a message like this however as Hazel would say, she is in God’s arms now.
Dr. Hazel Nell Dukes, President of the NAACP New York State Convention and Member of the NAACP Nationwide Board of Administrators was daring and brave. She was a real warrior for civil rights and social justice. Her voice and her affect at our desk can be missed, however we are going to all proceed to be influenced by that very same voice as we proceed to combat for that very same trigger. Hazel was one of many giants on whose shoulders we are going to proceed to face as we proceed to do God’s work right here on Earth.
I’ll preserve you knowledgeable as preparations are introduced and finalized. Please know that Hazel handed peacefully surrounded by lots of the individuals who beloved her and clergy who knew and pastored to her.
Might our sister Hazel relaxation in energy.
With a heavy coronary heart.Leon W. RussellChairmanNAACP Nationwide Board of Administrators
