Douglas Dollarhide
Encyclopedia
Douglas Dollarhide was the first African American
mayor of a metropolitan city in California
.
from a predominantly white Los Angeles suburb into one of the most heavily concentrated African American
communities in the United States
. He was elected to the City Council in 1963, becoming its first African American
member.
In 1969, Dollarhide made history again, when he became not only the first black mayor of Compton
, but the first African American
mayor of a major town in California
since American rule. After his election crime rose and property values declined throughout Compton.
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
.
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
mayor of a metropolitan city in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
.
Biography
Douglas F. Dollarhide witnessed first hand the transformation of Compton, CaliforniaCompton, California
Compton is a city in southern Los Angeles County, California, United States, southeast of downtown Los Angeles. The city of Compton is one of the oldest cities in the county and on May 11, 1888, was the eighth city to incorporate. The city is considered part of the South side by residents of Los...
from a predominantly white Los Angeles suburb into one of the most heavily concentrated African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
communities in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. He was elected to the City Council in 1963, becoming its first African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
member.
In 1969, Dollarhide made history again, when he became not only the first black mayor of Compton
Compton, California
Compton is a city in southern Los Angeles County, California, United States, southeast of downtown Los Angeles. The city of Compton is one of the oldest cities in the county and on May 11, 1888, was the eighth city to incorporate. The city is considered part of the South side by residents of Los...
, but the first African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
mayor of a major town in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
since American rule. After his election crime rose and property values declined throughout Compton.
Compton's Dollarhide Neighborhood Center is named after him.
Dollarhide died on June 28, 2008, aged 85, at his home in Northridge
Northridge, Los Angeles, California
Northridge is a community located in the San Fernando Valley region of the City of Los Angeles, California, United States.The 1994 Northridge earthquake is named for the place based on early estimates of the location of the quake's epicenter; however, further refinements showed it to be technically...
in the San Fernando Valley
San Fernando Valley
The San Fernando Valley is an urbanized valley located in the Los Angeles metropolitan area of southern California, United States, defined by the dramatic mountains of the Transverse Ranges circling it...
.