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"Kenneth Allen Gibson, the first African American mayor of Newark, New Jersey, was born in 1931 in the town of Enterprise, Alabama. He graduated from high school in Enterprise in 1950 and joined the U.S. Army as a civil engineer. He remained in the Army until 1958. After his discharge, he took a job as a New Jersey State Highway Patrol trooper while simultaneously attending Newark College. Gibson graduated with a B.S. in Civil Engineering in 1963. After college Gibson took an engineering position for the Newark Housing Authority where he oversaw urban renewal projects from 1960-1966. In 1966, he became Newark's chief structural engineer. He was also the head of Newark's Business and Industry Coordinating Council and served as vice president of the United Community Corporation, which fought poverty in Newark during that time. In 1970 Gibson ran for Mayor of Newark, New Jersey and defeated incumbent Hugh J. Addonizio, who was subsequently convicted of extortion and conspiracy charges. Gibson took over a predominantly African American city, still recovering from the race riot of 1967 which left 23 people dead. He was credited for economic revival that resuscitated the city's economy. When he first came into office, the city was in the midst of a population loss from 400,000 to 300,000. By the end of his first term, the numbers slowly began to grow again as Gibson encouraged the return of middle class residents with urban housing developments such as Society Hill."--Provided by publisher.

Mayors --- African American mayors --- Urban renewal --- Interviews --- Gibson, Kenneth A. --- Newark (N.J.) --- Newark (N.J.) --- Newark (N.J.) --- Newark (N.J.) --- Politics and government --- Economic conditions --- Social conditions --- Mayor, for the people, Newark, Kenneth Gibson, New Jersey, New Jersey, first African-American mayor of Newark, city in crisis, 1970s, black politicians, history of Newark, New Jersey history, United States, American history, leadership, 1980s, Newark politics, David Dinkins, 1967 Newark riots, Newark Rebellion, structural challenges, economic challenges, the Gibson Years, the Gibson Legacy, City of Newark 1970-1986, Americans cities, African American history, Civil Rights Movement.