Kenneth A. Gibson facts for kids

Kenneth Allen Gibson (born May 15, 1932 – died March 29, 2019) was an American politician. He was a member of the Democratic Party. Gibson served as the Mayor of Newark, New Jersey from 1970 to 1986. He was the 36th person to hold this important job.

Kenneth Gibson made history as the first African American to be elected mayor of a major city in the Northeastern United States. His election was a very significant moment for the city of Newark.

Early Life and Education

Kenneth Gibson grew up in Newark, New Jersey. He went to Central High School in the city. To help his family, he played in a dance band after school.

Gibson started studying civil engineering at Newark College of Engineering. This school is now called New Jersey Institute of Technology. However, he faced money problems. He had to leave school for a while. He worked in a factory and served in the military. Later, he worked for the New Jersey Highway Department. He finished his engineering degree in 1963 by taking night classes.

Early Career as an Engineer

Before becoming mayor, Kenneth Gibson worked as an engineer. From 1950 to 1960, he was an engineer for the New Jersey Highway Department. This department helps build and maintain roads.

From 1960 to 1966, he was the Chief Engineer for the Newark Housing Authority. This group helps manage housing in the city. Then, from 1966 to 1970, he was the chief structural engineer for the city of Newark.

Kenneth Gibson's Time as Mayor

Kenneth Gibson became mayor in 1970. He won a special election against the current mayor, Hugh Addonizio. Gibson was one of six candidates running for the job. When he took office, he said that Newark was "the most decayed and financially crippled city in the nation."

Gibson wanted to make big changes. He believed the previous city leaders were not honest. Later that year, the former mayor was found guilty of serious offenses.

Challenges Facing Newark

Mayor Gibson represented Newark's large African-American population. Many of these residents had moved from the South. They came during the Great Migration looking for better lives. However, Newark's factories had closed down. This meant many people lost their jobs.

The city also faced problems like people moving to the suburbs. There were also racial tensions. In 1967, three years before Gibson became mayor, there were major race riots in Newark. Many businesses and people left the city after these events.

Hopes for a New Future

Many people had high hopes for Mayor Gibson. Some saw his election as a sign of a new beginning. Poet Amiri Baraka wrote about the city becoming "liberated territory." Gibson himself said, "Wherever American cities are going, Newark will get there first."

Mayor Gibson and the new city council worked to change things. They wanted businesses to pay fair taxes. They also pushed companies to help the community more.

Reelection and Leadership Role

In 1974, Gibson was reelected as mayor. However, some of his early supporters became unhappy. They felt he was not doing enough for the residents. They thought he was too focused on big corporations.

In 1976, Mayor Gibson achieved another milestone. He became the first African-American president of the United States Conference of Mayors. This is a group of mayors from across the country. He served in this role for one year.

In 1979, Gibson received a special award. It was the U.S. Senator John Heinz Award for Greatest Public Service. This award honors public officials who do great things.

End of Mayoral Term

Kenneth Gibson served as mayor for 16 years. By the end of his time in office, Newark still faced many challenges. The number of people without jobs had grown. The city's population continued to shrink. There were very few movie theaters or supermarkets left. Also, only two-thirds of high school students were graduating.

In 1986, Gibson ran for a fifth term as mayor. However, he was defeated by Sharpe James. James was another Democratic politician.

Life After Being Mayor

After his time as mayor, Kenneth Gibson continued to be active. He ran an engineering consulting business until 1998. He then decided to return to politics. He ran for a position in Essex County. However, he lost that election.

In a 2005 interview, Gibson talked about his proudest achievements as mayor. He said improving Newark's health services was very important. This led to fewer cases of diseases like tuberculosis. It also helped reduce deaths of babies and mothers during childbirth. He also said he wished he had been able to bring more job-creating businesses to the city.

Death and Legacy

Kenneth Gibson passed away on March 29, 2019. He was 86 years old. His funeral services were held at Newark Symphony Hall.

In May 2019, a street in Newark was renamed in his honor. Broad Street became Mayor Kenneth A. Gibson Boulevard. This was done to remember his important contributions to the city.