Those We've Lost: Politics

Thomas I. Atkins - Thomas I. Atkins, a hard-driving champion of racial justice who rose from rural Indiana to become Boston's first Black at-large city councilor, died after struggling for nearly two years with Lou Gehrig's disease. Atkins faced off against opponents of busing in the 1970s as an NAACP leader. He was 69.

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Thomas I. Atkins - Thomas I. Atkins, a hard-driving champion of racial justice who rose from rural Indiana to become Boston's first Black at-large city councilor, died after struggling for nearly two years with Lou Gehrig's disease. Atkins faced off against opponents of busing in the 1970s as an NAACP leader. He was 69.

Rep. Julia Carson - Rep. Julia Carson, the first African American and the first woman to represent Indianapolis in Congress died of lung cancer. She was 69.

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Rep. Julia Carson - Rep. Julia Carson, the first African American and the first woman to represent Indianapolis in Congress died of lung cancer. She was 69.

Douglas Dollarhide - Douglas Dollarhide, the first elected Black councilman of Compton, Calif., in 1963, who made history again in 1969 as the city's first Black mayor, died after a lengthy illness. He was 85.

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Douglas Dollarhide - Douglas Dollarhide, the first elected Black councilman of Compton, Calif., in 1963, who made history again in 1969 as the city's first Black mayor, died after a lengthy illness. He was 85.

Anna R. Langford - Anna R. Langford, an attorney and the first African-American woman to serve on the Chicago City Council, died after a brief battle with lung cancer. She was 90.

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Anna R. Langford - Anna R. Langford, an attorney and the first African-American woman to serve on the Chicago City Council, died after a brief battle with lung cancer. She was 90.

Levy Mwanawasa - Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa, who broke the African tradition of silence and solidarity among leaders to denounce neighboring Zimbabwe's economic ruin, died weeks after suffering a stroke. He was 59.

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Levy Mwanawasa - Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa, who broke the African tradition of silence and solidarity among leaders to denounce neighboring Zimbabwe's economic ruin, died weeks after suffering a stroke. He was 59.

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Eugene Sawyer - Eugene Sawyer, Chicago's second Black mayor, died of cardiac arrest. Sawyer, who suffered a series of strokes in January, was 73.

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Eugene Sawyer - Eugene Sawyer, Chicago's second Black mayor, died of cardiac arrest. Sawyer, who suffered a series of strokes in January, was 73.

Leonard H.O. Spearman - Leonard H.O. Spearman Sr., the sixth president of Texas Southern University, who held U.S. ambassador posts in Rwanda and Lesotho, died following a stroke at a nursing home in Katy, Texas. He was 78.

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Leonard H.O. Spearman - Leonard H.O. Spearman Sr., the sixth president of Texas Southern University, who held U.S. ambassador posts in Rwanda and Lesotho, died following a stroke at a nursing home in Katy, Texas. He was 78.

John Stroger - John Stroger, the first Black president of Chicago's Cook County Board, died from complications related to a stroke. He was 78.

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John Stroger - John Stroger, the first Black president of Chicago's Cook County Board, died from complications related to a stroke. He was 78.

Terence Tolbert - Terence Tolbert, who worked as the Nevada state director of Barack Obama’s presidential campaign died after suffering a heart attack while driving near Obama’s campaign offices. He died on the same day as Obama’s grandmother. He was 44.

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Terence Tolbert - Terence Tolbert, who worked as the Nevada state director of Barack Obama’s presidential campaign died after suffering a heart attack while driving near Obama’s campaign offices. He died on the same day as Obama’s grandmother. He was 44.