Former US Congressman Charles Rangel, "A Friend of the Caribbean", Has Died At 94

NEW YORK, New York – Caribbean-American legislators have expressed “profound sadness” over the passing of former United States Congressman, Charles B. Rangel, who died on Monday at his home in Harlem. He as 94.

Former United States Congressman, Charles B. Rangel, who died on Monday aged 94.The trailblazing former congressman, considered a “friend of the Caribbean” and Dean of New York’s Congressional delegation, served the US Congress for over four decades.

He was also the first African-American congressman to chair the powerful US House of Representatives’ Ways and Means Committee.

“It is with profound sadness to hear of the passing of my friend and mentor, the Hon. Congressman Charles Rangel,” Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke, the daughter of Jamaican immigrants and chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, told the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC).

“Charles was a decorated war hero, and a good and faithful public servant for over 40 years to the people of this nation and New York City. During his time in Congress, he founded the Congressional Black Caucus and was the first Black man to chair the Ways and Means Committee,” said Clarke, who represents the 9th Congressional District in Brooklyn, New York.

She said Rangel sat on the Judiciary Committee during the historic impeachment hearings of President Richard Nixon, and helped pull the nation out of the 2008 recession through his influential leadership role in the House of Representatives.

“Mr. Rangel was a true New Yorker and a son of Harlem, who earned his recognition as ‘the Lion of Lenox Avenue.  As Dean of New York’s US House delegation, he understood the diversity of his city and advocated for the rights of Haitian migrants, for strengthening US and Cuban relations, and for fostering economic development and opportunity for the people of his city.”

Clarke said Rangel also fought to “break down racial barriers, for equality, and against injustice.

“We have lost a giant who embodied a lifetime of service. I pray that he is reunited with his beloved wife, Alma. May he rest in peace and power.”

Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, whose 8th Congressional District encompasses large concentrations of Caribbean immigrants in Brooklyn and Queens, New York, said New York City and the nation have lost “a giant.”

“Known as the ‘Lion of Lenox Avenue’, and, to me. as a friend and mentor, Chairman Rangel was truly one-of-a-kind. He was a patriot, hero, statesman, leader, trailblazer, change agent and champion for justice, who made his beloved Harlem, the City of New York and the United States of America a better place for all,” Jeffries told CMC. .”

Jeffries said Rangel’s “matchless career” began in the Korean War, where his “brave and courageous actions” in battle earned him a Purple Heart and Bronze Star.

“He brought the same spirit to his time as a federal prosecutor, where he stood up for the rule of law and held the powerful to account,” he said, stating that Rangel broke barriers in the US Congress as the first African American to chair the Ways and Means Committee.

As the author of the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit, Jeffries said Rangel helped facilitate the development of millions of affordable housing units across the nation.

In 1987, he said the “Rangel Amendment” denied foreign tax credits to US companies investing in Apartheid South Africa and was instrumental in dismantling the system of racial separateness in that country.

“There are many who will attempt to imitate, but the great Charlie Rangel will never be replicated. Whether in the United States Army, the federal courtroom, the halls of Congress or the streets of Harlem, Congressman Rangel led a life of public service that is second to none.

“The prayers of a grateful nation are with his family and the legions who loved this iconic leader. May Charles B. Rangel forever Rest in Power,” Jefferies said.

Brooklyn Democratic Party Chair, Assemblywoman Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn, the daughter of Haitian immigrants, described Rangel as “a towering, inspirational leader in American politics and one of the most consequential legislators of our time.

“Congressman Rangel was a pioneer and mentor for countless Black politicians and civil rights advocates—from his hometown of Harlem, to Brooklyn to all across our county,” the representative for the 42nd Assembly District in Brooklyn told CMC.

“A patriot and a true champion for civil rights, his service, from the front lines of the Korean War to the halls of Congress, embodied an unwavering commitment to the people of New York and the principles of equity, dignity, and opportunity for all,” she added.

As the first African American Chair of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, and a founding member of the Congressional Black Caucus, Bichotte Hermelyn said Rangel was instrumental in “shaping progressive policy and advancing civil rights.

“He opened doors for generations of public servants and was a trailblazing mentor to so many of us who followed in his path. His legacy lives on in Harlem, in the state of New York, and in every community uplifted by his tireless advocacy for affordable housing, education, healthcare, and economic justice.

“On behalf of the Kings County (Brooklyn) Democratic County Committee, I extend my deepest condolences to Congressman Rangel’s family, loved ones, and the community he so faithfully served,” she said. “His memory will forever be a blessing, and his work will continue to inspire those who fight for a more just and equitable world.”

The Rev. Michael Blake, a Jamaican-American candidate for Mayor of the City of New York, said Rangel was a “political mentor to countless leaders across generations, especially those of us who are Brothers of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and 100 Black Men of America.

“Brother Congressman Rangel’s loss leaves an emptiness and grief felt not only in Harlem but across the nation. Brother Congressman Rangel was more than a public servant, he was a beloved son of his community, whose life embodied strength, resilience, and unwavering love for the people he served.

“His voice gave power to the powerless, and his legacy will forever echo in the hearts of those who called him family, leader, mentor, and friend. The Lion of Lenox’ was gracious enough to let me introduce one of our Alpha neophytes to him and Mayor Dinkins in 2019 at the African American Day Parade in Harlem,”  Rev Blake said.

The late David N. Dinkins was the first African American mayor of New York City.

The managing director of the Bronx-based Garifuna Coalition USA, Jose Avila, who traces its ancestral homeland to St. Vincent and the Grenadines, said Rangel was “not just a public servant; he was a true champion, a trailblazer, and a steadfast ally who dedicated his life to fighting for what is right and just.

“We, at the Garifuna Coalition USA, remember with immense gratitude his unwavering support and his consistent recognition of our community’s contributions and aspirations. Congressman Rangel himself was one of those monumental trailblazers, whose shoulders countless individuals and communities stood upon to reach for a better future.

“His legacy of tireless work, dedication to justice, and commitment to the people he served will continue to inspire generations. We were truly privileged to have his strong support and his voice advocating for issues that matter most to the Garifuna community and beyond” Avila added.

US Senate Minority Leader Charles “Chuck” Schumer described Rangel “a great man, a great friend, and someone who never stopped fighting for his constituents and the best of America.

“The list of his accomplishments could take pages, but he leaves the world a much better place than he found it,” said the New York Senator.

New York City Speaker Adrienne Adams, another candidate for Mayor of the City, said Rangel was “a giant in Harlem and in American politics.

“He served with unmatched wit, courage, and an unshakable belief in the power of government to change lives.It is especially profound to lose him on Memorial Day. He was a proud Korean War veteran whose patriotism was found not just on the battlefield, but in a lifetime of fighting for working people in Congress.

“His legacy lives on in the countless Black and Latino New Yorkers he lifted up and inspired. I’m so honored to have known him as a friend and inspiration,”  Adams added.