Basil A. Paterson Way (Manhattan)
Present name:None
Location:At the southeast corner of 135th Street and Malcolm X Boulevard
Honoree: Basil A. Paterson (1926-2014) was a lawyer, civil rights leader and public official. He served as President of the NAACP - New York City Branch and in 1965, was elected to the New York State Senate. His support, while a Senator, for the right of public employees to strike led to a career as a specialist in labor law. In 1970 he won the Democratic nomination for Lieutenant Governor. It was only the second time in U.S. history that an African-American was nominated for a statewide office on a major party tickets. In 1972, Paterson was elected Vice Chairman of the Democratic National Committee. In 1979, he became the first African-American to serve as Secretary of State of New York. (Perkins)
LL:2019/158