On June 5, 1973, Doris A. Davis made history by becoming the first African American woman to govern a major metropolitan city in the United States when she was elected mayor of Compton, California. Davis, a former schoolteacher and the city’s first Black city clerk, defeated incumbent Douglas Dollarhide in a hard-fought campaign that marked a turning point in both local and national politics.

Born in Waukegan, Illinois, in 1935, Davis’s path to leadership was marked by perseverance and achievement. After earning degrees in education and administration, she moved to California, where she taught in Los Angeles schools before entering city politics. In 1965, Davis became Compton’s first Black city clerk, serving three terms and earning a reputation for integrity and dedication.

Her election

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