As Albany and Washington are experiencing a sea change in leadership, the tide is also turning for black lawmakers.

The November elections marked a major power shift as several black leaders gained powerful positions in Congress and state government.

David Paterson, D-Manhattan, made history in 2002 as the first non-white legislative leader in New York's history when he was elected minority leader of the state Senate.

This year, the pattern of firsts continued when Paterson was elected the state's first black lieutenant governor.

Paterson, who is legally blind, was first elected to the state Senate in 1984.

With Paterson's departure from the Senate, Sen. Malcolm Smith, D-Queens, was unanimously elected Senate minority leader.

Smith was first elected to the Senate in 2000 after years of service to constituents in New York City.

State Sen. Malcolm Smith with UFT President Randi Weingarten and NYSUT President Dick Iannuzzi.

This year also marks a dramatic shift in power at the national level.

After serving 36 years in Congress and more than 30 years on the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, Rep. Charles Rangel, D-Manhattan, in January became the committee's first black chairman.

Ways and Means is charged with writing tax legislation and bills affecting Social Security, Medicare and other programs.

 
Rep. Charles Rangel is flanked by UFTers LeRoy Barr and Evelyn DeJesus.

"Black lawmakers have long played a significant role in Albany and Washington," said NYSUT Executive Vice President Alan Lubin, "from H. Carl McCall, a great friend of NYSUT and the state's first black comptroller, to Basil Paterson, former secretary of state (and father of David Paterson)."

- Clarisse Butler Banks