Remembering… Charles N. Rangel The Lion of Lenox Avenue

I was heartbroken to hear of the passing of my dear friend and colleague, Charles Rangel. When I arrived in Washington in 1983, Charlie had already spent over a decade blazing a trail for Black lawmakers and speaking truth to power. As a founding member of the Congressional Black Caucus, he didn’t just open the door—he helped build the house. His leadership gave a generation of us the courage to lead with conviction.

We served together for thirty years, representing neighboring districts—he in Harlem, I in Brooklyn. We often worked side by side to deliver for New Yorkers. Charlie was a towering figure in Washington and a deeply trusted voice at home. They called him the Lion of Harlem for good reason. As chair of the Select Committee on Narcotics Abuse and Control, he confronted the drug crisis head-on, long before it was politically easy.

He was also a strong leader as chair of the New York State Congressional Delegation, helping to coordinate our efforts and unify our message in the fight for federal resources. Whether it was pushing for affordable housing, supporting veterans, or protecting programs that lifted families out of poverty, Charlie made sure communities of color had a seat at the table and a champion in the room.

Even in tough moments, Charlie never backed down. He faced every storm with the same grit that carried him through the battlefield in Korea and nearly five decades in public service. I was proud to stand by him during difficult times, because I knew the full measure of the man. His legacy won’t be defined by any one chapter, but by the thousands of lives he touched and the battles he fought for justice and dignity.

Charlie loved Harlem with his whole heart, but his voice and vision reached far beyond it. He made our city—and our country—better. I will miss his friendship, his counsel, and his steady leadership.