On this date in 1990, David Norman Dinkins officially began his tenure as the 106th mayor of New York City, making history as the city’s first African American mayor. He started his first working day with a 7:00 a.m. appearance on NBC’s ‘Today’ show.

Dinkins secured the Democratic nomination after defeating the three-term incumbent, Edward Koch, in the September 1989 primaries. In the general election, he narrowly won against Republican candidate Rudolph Giuliani, marking a significant political shift in New York City.

His administration focused on racial unity, crime reduction, and economic development, though it faced challenges such as rising crime rates and economic struggles. Despite serving only one term (1990–1993), his legacy remains influential in NYC politics.