Senate Resolution No. 441

BY: Senator STEWART-COUSINS

MOURNING the death of Dr. Hazel N. Dukes,
distinguished citizen and devoted member of her
community

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to pay tribute to
citizens of the State of New York whose lifework and civic endeavors
served to enhance the quality of life in their communities and this
great Empire State; and

WHEREAS, The members of this Legislative Body are deeply saddened by
the passing of Dr. Hazel Nell Dukes on March 1, 2025, at the age of 92,
and wish to express their heartfelt condolences to her family, friends,
colleagues, and the countless individuals whose lives she touched; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Hazel Dukes was a trailblazing civil rights leader, a
tireless advocate for racial and social justice, and a champion for
equality, dedicating her life to uplifting marginalized communities and
fighting for the rights of all people; and

WHEREAS, Born in Montgomery, Alabama, on March 17, 1932, to parents
Alice and Edward Dukes, Hazel Dukes demonstrated an early passion for
education and community service, attending Alabama State Teachers
College before pursuing studies in Business Administration at Nassau
Community College and later earning a bachelor's degree from Adelphi
University in 1978; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Hazel Dukes made history in 1966 as the first African
American to work at the Nassau County Attorney's Office, where she
worked to promote equal access to justice and public resources; and

WHEREAS, She was instrumental in the implementation of President
Lyndon B. Johnson's "Head Start" program, which provided crucial early
childhood education to underserved communities and helped countless
children and families achieve better futures; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Hazel Dukes held numerous leadership roles throughout
her lifetime, including serving as the national president of the NAACP
from 1989 to 1992, during which time she guided the organization through
critical years of advocacy and reform, and later serving for more than
four decades as president of the NAACP New York State Conference; and

WHEREAS, She was a fearless advocate for voting rights, fair
housing, economic opportunity, and education, and in 1972, she played a
historic role by seconding the presidential nomination of Shirley
Chisholm, the first Black woman to seek a major party's nomination for
President of the United States; and

WHEREAS, Her advocacy continued into the 21st century, influencing
President Joe Biden's decision to select a Black woman as his running
mate in 2020, and in 2023, she was awarded the NAACP's highest honor,
the Spingarn Medal, presented by former Secretary of State Hillary
Clinton in recognition of her extraordinary contributions; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Hazel Dukes also led efforts in public administration,
serving as president of the New York City Off-Track Betting Corporation
and later founding Hazel N. Dukes & Associates, a consulting firm
specializing in public policy, health, and diversity; and

WHEREAS, She remained a steadfast leader in the NAACP National Board
of Directors and countless other civic organizations, ensuring that
future generations continued the fight for justice and equality; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Hazel Dukes' commitment to education was further
exemplified by her service as a trustee of the State University of New
York and Stillman College, where she worked to expand educational
opportunities for underrepresented communities; and

WHEREAS, She was a devoted member of the Assembly of Prayer Baptist
Church, where she served as Executive Assistant to the Pastor, was a
member of the Board of Trustees, and taught Adult Sunday School,
demonstrating her deep faith and commitment to community service; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Hazel Dukes received numerous accolades for her
unwavering dedication, including the Ellis Island Medal of Honor, the
YWCA City of New York John La Farge Memorial Award for Interracial
Justice, and the Guy R. Brewer Humanitarian Award, reflecting the
profound impact of her work on both local and national levels; she was
an active member of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Northern Manhattan
Alumnae Chapter and was selected to receive the sorority's Althea T.L.
Simmons Social Action Award in August 2010; Dr. Dukes was Incorporated
in 2007 as a Pi Eta Kappa Fellow and her biography has been selected for
publication in many journals and directories including Fisk University
Library, Minority Women Contribution, American Biographical Institute
Personalities of Northeast, Who's Who Among American Women and Who's Who
Among Black Women; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Hazel Dukes has shown outstanding commitment to
education, leadership, and community service; she was awarded an
Honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the City University of New York Law
School at Queens College in 1990, an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters
from Medgar Evers College in Brooklyn, New York, in 2009, and a similar
honor from Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine in Harlem, New York, in
2012; Dr. Dukes has also held leadership roles, including serving as the
former President of the Metro-Manhattan Links Chapter and being
appointed the National Links NGO Representative in 2010; her
contributions to higher education include serving as a trustee for both
the State University of New York and Stillman College; additionally, she
has been an advocate for social justice and public health through her
involvement with the National Council of Negro Women, Inc., and the
National Black Leadership Commission on AIDS, Inc.; and

WHEREAS, In recognition of her lifelong commitment to civil rights,
a street in Roslyn Heights, New York, where Dr. Hazel Dukes once
resided, was named "Dr. Hazel Dukes Way" in her honor, serving as a
lasting tribute to her legacy; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Hazel Dukes resided in Harlem, New York, where she
continued her advocacy and community involvement until her passing; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Hazel Dukes' passing is an immense loss to the civil
rights community and the nation as a whole, yet her legacy will live on

in the policies she helped shape, the lives she uplifted, and the
generations she inspired; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pauses in its deliberations to
mourn the passing of Dr. Hazel Nell Dukes, to recognize and celebrate
her lifelong dedication to civil rights and public service, and to
express its deepest gratitude for her contributions to a more just and
equitable society; and be it further

RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to the family of Dr. Hazel Nell Dukes, the NAACP National
Office, and the NAACP New York State Conference as a token of
appreciation for her extraordinary work and enduring impact.