1938-2024
Mildred Crump was Newark’s first African American councilwoman in 1994 and first female council President, from 2006-2010 and 2013-2021. She was also the first African American Braille teacher in NJ.
Born in Detroit, as Mildred Coleman, Mildred came to Newark in 1965.
In 1973, Mildred was a teacher at Newark’s Helen Keller School, for disabled students. By 1984, she served as an educational consultant for the NJ Commission for the Blind. She said, “I teach basic survival skills to my students. It’s important for them to know that no one is going to sympathize with them because they’re blind….I want them to be well prepared.”
Mildred got involved in civic life early in her time in Newark. In 1973, she was appointed chairman of the committee of management of the Newark YMWCA, the first Black woman to hold the post. In 1975, she was appointed one of 5 directors for the Newark Y. In 1976, she is listed as corporate secretary. In the early 1980s, she was involved in fundraising for the United Negro College Fund.
In 1986, she told the Star Ledger, “I want to stay in Newark. I want my children to have that sense of themselves, of their ethnic identity of a strong positive environment.”
Mildred ran for council in 1986, running on addressing crime and education. She was a Democratic delegate for Jesse Jackson in 1988 and ran for Council again unsuccessfully in 1990. Mildred won, in a runoff election, in 1994, making her Newark’s first Black councilwoman.
Throughout her life, Mildred was involved in a multitude of Newark organizations including Bethany Baptist Church, Integrity House (Board President), and Newark Branch NAACP. She also was a founding member of the NJ Coalition of 100 Black Women, National Political Congress for Black Women of Newark and the Global Women’s Leadership Collaborative of New Jersey. She founded the Newark Women’s Conference, Inc., “an organization whose purpose is to promote the empowerment of women in Newark and vicinity.” She was a member of Delta Sigma Theta. She was also president of the Golden E. Johnson Civic Association and on the Board for the Essex County Volunteer Center.
Mildred also traveled the world speaking on women’s issues in China and Africa. Her son C. Larry Crump currently serves on as Council President (2024-). Mildred received many honors and awards for her work.
Bibliography
Extensive Star Ledger coverage
Digitized material at Newark Library (2) including transcribed oral history
“Mildred C. Crump – Rutgers African American Alumni Alliance”. Retrieved 2022-02-18.
Barbara J. Kukla Papers, Newark Library
Newark Elections Collection, Newark Library
“Y Panel Elects Black Woman Chief” Star Ledger Jun 1, 1973
“The Newark Y” Star Ledger May 30, 1975
“Lovell” Star Ledger May 23, 1976
“College Fund…” Star Ledger Mar 2, 1983
Lucas, Caryl “Braille brings…” Star Ledger Jun 11, 1984
“Successful blacks work to change…” Star Ledger Jan 29, 1986
Kukla, Barbara “The race for mayor…” Star Ledger Feb 10, 1986
“Profiles and…” Star Ledger May 5, 1986
Walker, Steven T. “Crump, Quintana…” Star Ledger Jun 15, 1994
“Jackson hints…” Star Ledger Jul 17, 1988
“Volunteer clearinghouse” Star Ledger Nov 16, 1988