Charlie Rangel, a cornerstone of Harlem politics and the final founder of the Congressional Black Caucus, passed away at the age of 94. As reported by ABC7 New York, Rangel, whose tenure in Congress began in 1971 with a victory over Rev. Adam Clayton Powell, Jr., served as a representative for 46 years. He ascended to the helm of the House Ways and Means Committee in 2007.
According to the ABC7 New York release, including the fabled "Gang of Four" member, Rangel's legislation shaped American life through enactments like the Affordable Care Act and the Low Income Housing Tax Credit. Rangel, a war hero lauded for his effectiveness, witnessed his endeavors like the Empowerment Zone program and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act come into fruition.
The City College of New York, where Rangel's journey was interwoven with education and advocacy, spoke of his legacy as extending not just across Harlem but the nation and indeed, the world. His push for impactful policies like the 'Rangel Amendment' helped erode the apartheid regime in South Africa. Former New York Governor David Paterson, referring to the quartet that forever changed the political landscape of Harlem, said in a statement shared by ABC7 New York, "We lost one of the greats today."
Rangel's personal story of resilience and rise to prominence was embodied in the story told to The Amsterdam News, recounting a climb from a fatherless, high-school dropout to a decorated war veteran and influential legislator. After his military service, where he earned a Bronze Star and Purple Heart, he attended New York University and St. John's University Law School, saying, "Yet somehow, by age 30, I had acquired three degrees in six years, and was a newly minted lawyer admitted to the New York Bar."
Respect from colleagues was a constant for Rangel. Keith Wright, a former Assemblymember, told The Amsterdam News, that Rangel was a "political genius and a personal role model." H. Carl McCall, former NYS State Comptroller, echoed these sentiments, remembering Rangel as a "warrior for justice and equality" and a testament to political honorability. His legacy, from marching in Selma to lifting his beloved Harlem, is assured to live on in the institutional changes he championed and in the hearts of those who followed his journey.
