Remembering Dr. Hazel N. Dukes, Beloved Civil Rights Advocate
Dr. Hazel N. Dukes, a trailblazing civil rights leader and longtime president of the NAACP New York State Conference, died March 1, 2025, at her home in New York City. She was 92.
Born in Montgomery, Alabama, Dukes moved to New York in the 1940s, where she embarked on a lifelong journey advocating for racial equity in healthcare, education, and housing. Her activism led to her appointment by President Lyndon B. Johnson to the Head Start program, where she worked to improve early childhood education for low-income families.
Dukes made history in 1990 when she succeeded Enolia McMillan as president of the NAACP, serving until 1992. At the time of her passing, she remained a key figure in the organization, serving as president of the NAACP New York State Conference and holding positions on the NAACP National Board of Directors, the Executive Committee, and multiple board sub-committees.
Beyond the NAACP, Dukes was a pioneering force in government and social justice. She became the first Black American to work at the Nassau County Attorney's Office and held leadership roles at the New York City Off Track Betting Corporation. She was also an influential political figure in New York, bridging the gap between business, government, and social causes.
In 2023, Dukes was awarded the NAACP’s highest honor, the Spingarn Medal, presented by former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, in recognition of her seven decades of civil rights work. She also received numerous other accolades, including the Ellis Island Medal of Honor and the YWCA City of New York John La Farge Memorial Award for Interracial Justice.
Dukes made history again in 2020 as the first civilian to administer the oath of office to a governor, swearing in New York Governor Kathy Hochul. In honor of her legacy, Hochul ordered state flags to be lowered to half-staff, stating, "Her contributions to making our state and our country more just, more equitable, and more fair are impacts that will long endure after her passing."
New York City Mayor Eric Adams also honored Dukes, describing her as a "trusted advisor, a cherished friend, and a guiding light" and directing city flags to be flown at half-staff.
Dukes' career extended into consulting, as she served as president of the Hazel N. Dukes & Associates Consultant Firm, specializing in public policy, health, and diversity. She was deeply involved in numerous organizations, including the National Council of Negro Women, the National Black Leadership Commission on AIDS, and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority’s Northern Manhattan Alumnae Chapter.
Her academic achievements included a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Adelphi University, post-graduate work at Queens College, and honorary doctorates from the City University of New York Law School, Medgar Evers College, and Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine.
A lifelong advocate for justice, Dukes often spoke out against systemic racism and injustice. "A harsh system of civil and human injustice persists; intimidation, violence, and the recent rash of 'nooses' speak to the widespread de facto absence of a civil and human rights agenda in America," she once said. "The fires of frustration continue to burn."
Dukes was also an active member of the Assembly of Prayer Baptist Church, serving as executive assistant to the pastor, a member of the board of trustees, and a Sunday school teacher.
She is survived by her son, Ronald Dukes, and daughter-in-law, Janet Dukes.
Dukes' unwavering commitment to justice and equality leaves an indelible mark on New York and the nation. As she often quoted, "If I can help somebody as I pass along, then my living shall not have been in vain."
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