Charlie Rangel, the trailblazing Harlem U.S. Representative who spent nearly half a century in the House of Representatives and became a fierce advocate for civil rights and economic justice, died Monday, May 27. He was 94.
Rangel’s death was confirmed by the City College of New York, where he served as Statesman-in-Residence after his retirement from Congress in 2017. Details surrounding the cause of death have not been made public as of press time.
Born Charles Bernard Rangel on June 11, 1930, in Harlem, New York, he overcame poverty and early struggles to become one of the most influential African American lawmakers in U.S. history. His political rise began after a decorated military career. Rangel enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1948 and served during the Korean War. At the 1950 Battle of Kunu-ri, he led fellow soldiers out of a deadly Chinese encirclement despite being wounded. For his heroism, he received the Bronze Star with Valor, a Purple Heart and three battle stars.
After returning home, Rangel finished high school, earned a degree from New York University in 1957, and graduated from St. John’s University School of Law in 1960. He began his political career in the New York State Assembly in 1967. In 1970, he unseated controversial incumbent U.S. Representative Adam Clayton Powell Jr. to represent Harlem in the House of Representatives, launching a legislative career that would span 23 terms.
A founding member of the Congressional Black Caucus in 1971, Rangel became a powerful force on Capitol Hill. He authored or co-sponsored dozens of bills that became law, including the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit, the Earned Income Tax Credit expansion, and the national Empowerment Zone program, designed to revitalize underserved communities.
In 2007, Rangel made history when he became the first African American to chair the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, where he helped shape tax policy, trade legislation, Social Security and health care.
He was also known as one of the last surviving members of Harlem’s so-called “Gang of Four,” a political alliance that included former New York City Mayor David Dinkins, Manhattan Borough President Percy Sutton and New York Secretary of State Basil Paterson. Together, they were instrumental in advancing Black political power in New York and beyond.
Rangel’s political career, however, was not without controversy. In 2010, the House of Representatives formally censured him for ethics violations related to financial disclosures, rent-stabilized apartments and fundraising practices involving a college center bearing his name. According to reporting by The New York Times and The Washington Post, the House Ethics Committee found he had violated 11 rules of conduct. Despite the censure, Rangel remained a popular figure in Harlem and won re-election that year. He announced his retirement in 2015 and left office in 2017.
Throughout his career, Rangel was known for his humor, blunt honesty and ability to navigate political complexities. His memoir, “And I Haven’t Had a Bad Day Since,” published in 2007, reflected on his life, military service and legislative battles with characteristic optimism.
In recent years, Rangel remained active in Harlem civic life and at City College, mentoring students and attending public events. Upon his death, tributes poured in from across the country. Rev. Al Sharpton, founder of the National Action Network, called Rangel “a lion of Harlem,” noting in a social media post that they had “marched together, been arrested together and painted crack houses together.” Former New York Governor David Paterson, the son of Rangel’s longtime political ally Basil Paterson, told NY1 News, “We lost one of the greats today. Representative Rangel transformed Harlem, New York and the country.”
Rangel was preceded in death by his wife of more than 60 years, Alma Carter Rangel, who passed away in October 2024. They are survived by their two children and several grandchildren.
Known for his unwavering commitment to civil rights, anti-poverty initiatives and justice reform, Rangel’s enduring legacy includes not only legislative victories but the thousands of young leaders he mentored and inspired throughout his career. His journey—from a high school dropout and war hero to one of the most powerful African American voices in Congress—remains a quintessentially American story of resilience, vision and public service.
Funeral arrangements had not been announced at press time.
NATIONAL URBAN LEAGUE MOURNS PASSING OF CIVIL RIGHTS CHAMPION RANGEL
NEW YORK (May 26, 2025) — National Urban League President and CEO Marc H. Morial issued the following statement regarding the passing of former U.S. Rep. Charlie Rangel:
“Congressman Rangel was a longtime friend of the National Urban League and a true champion for civil rights and equal opportunity. The Federal Empowerment Zone project he spearheaded was instrumental in revitalizing urban neighborhoods across the nation. The Low Income Housing Tax Credit legislation he authored financed the majority of affordable housing built over a decade. He also championed the Work Opportunity Tax Credit, which created employment opportunities for thousands of young people, veterans, and ex-offenders. A founding member of the Congressional Black Caucus, he blazed a trail as the first Black chair of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee.
“He advocated tirelessly for his Harlem constituents, and was a key supporter of the National Urban League Empowerment Center, our new headquarters and the most significant community development project in recent Harlem history.
“He inspired a generation of activists and advocates, and his legacy lives on through them. Our deepest condolences are with his family and the community he dedicated his life to serve. ”
Statement on the Passing of Congressman Charlie Rangel
From Reverend Dr. Kevin R. Johnson
Senior Pastor, The Abyssinian Baptist Church
NEW YORK (May 26, 2025) – It is with profound sadness that Abyssinian Baptist Church and I mourn the passing of Congressman Charlie Rangel – a towering figure in American politics and a true champion for Harlem and communities across our nation. At 94 years old, Congressman Rangel leaves behind an extraordinary legacy of service, leadership and unwavering dedication to justice and equality.
Congressman Rangel’s partnership with our beloved late pastor, Dr. Calvin O. Butts III, exemplified the power of collaboration in community transformation. Together, they worked hand in hand to revitalize Harlem, combining Congressman Rangel’s legislative expertise with Dr. Butts’ vision for community development. Their shared commitment to creating opportunities for residents at all income levels helped shape Harlem’s renaissance and demonstrated how faith-based institutions and elected leadership could work together for the common good.
I will always remember Congressman Rangel’s personal call to congratulate me on my election as the 21st Senior Pastor of Abyssinian and his assurance that he was here to support me – just as Abyssinian has always supported him. That conversation exemplified his generous spirit and deep commitment to our community’s institutions.
For 46 years, Congressman Rangel served the people of Harlem with distinction in the United States House of Representatives, becoming one of the most effective lawmakers in Congress and a founding member of the Congressional Black Caucus. His legislative achievements—including his pivotal role in President Obama’s historic health care reform, the Empowerment Zone program, and the “Rangel Amendment” that helped end Apartheid in South Africa—have touched millions of lives and continue to benefit communities nationwide. His life reminds us that true leadership requires both vision and perseverance, and his legacy will continue to inspire future generations of public servants who understand that effective governance must be rooted in genuine care for the people we serve.
We extend our deepest condolences to Congressman Rangel’s family, including his children and grandchildren. We also remember his beloved wife Alma, who preceded him in death just months ago, and we take comfort knowing they are now reunited. During this time of profound loss, we commit ourselves to continuing the work of building stronger, more equitable communities—work that Congressman Rangel and Dr. Butts began together and that remains our sacred calling today.
REV. SHARPTON REMEMBERS HARLEM POLITICAL LEGEND AND LONGTIME REP. CHARLIE RANGEL UPON HIS PASSING AT 94
NEW YORK, NY (May 26, 2025) — Rev. Al Sharpton, Founder and President of the National Action Network (NAN), issued the following statement on the passing of former Rep. Charles Rangel, who represented Upper Manhattan for 46 years in the House of Representatives and was a longtime staple in Harlem politics.
“My heart is broken by the passing of a lion of Harlem today. I met Charlie Rangel as a teenager and we formed a bond that lasted over 50 years. Charlie was a true activist — we’ve marched together, been arrested together and painted crack houses together. After surviving the horrors of the Korean War, he made every day of his life count — whether it was coming home to get a law degree or becoming a fixture on the House of Representatives. Charlie made up the Big Four in Harlem — along with Percy Sutton, Basil Paterson, and David Dinkins — who fought for the community when the rest of the world seemed to be fighting against it. Black excellence in Harlem, in New York, and in the United States survived because of the work Charlie and his cohorts did to keep it alive. While his death, and that of Dr. Hazel N. Dukes earlier this year, marks the closure of that generation’s chapter, their legacy will be felt for lifetimes to come. It is on us now to pick up the torch Charlie Rangel carried for decades to fight for our communities, advance along the road of justice, and uplift ourselves.”