Change Has Finally Come: Sharon Owens Makes History As Syracuse’s First African American Mayor

A New Era Dawns in Syracuse

Syracuse, New York — History has turned a new page. For the first time, the city of Syracuse in upstate New York has elected an African American mayor, Sharon Owens. It is a moment that echoes through decades of struggle, hope, and resilience within the Black community. For those of us who witnessed the city’s long road toward progress, this victory feels both historic and deeply personal.

Sharon Owens, newly elected mayor of Syracuse.

Syracuse Has Always Been Ready for Change

Syracuse has always seemed ready for change, all the way back to the 1960s when Sam Cooke’s anthem “A Change Is Gonna Come” became the soundtrack of a generation yearning for justice and equality. When Lee Alexander, a man of Greek ancestry, was elected mayor, it signaled a major shift in the city’s political climate. Alexander’s administration was remarkable for its inclusivity. He appointed African Americans to high offices and became one of the city’s most popular mayors.

The Other Side of Syracuse

Yet beyond the city’s borders lay a different reality. Communities like Baldwinsville, Fayetteville, and others in the Syracuse metropolitan area seemed untouched by change — seemingly solidly white, conservative, and resistant to diversity. These areas, rumored at times to harbor racist or even KKK sympathies, stood in sharp contrast to the city’s progressive spirit. Meanwhile, Onondaga County consistently elected Republican County Executives, reinforcing the perception of a city that leaned forward while its surroundings clung to the past.

Bearing Witness to History

I was right there in the midst of it all. As editor and publisher of the Syracuse Gazette, the city’s only Black newspaper at the time, I witnessed both the highs and lows of African American life in Syracuse: politically, economically, and socially. During the 1970s and 1980s, I watched as many Black professionals chose to migrate back South, joining a nationwide reverse migration that promised better opportunities and quality of life. I still remember the shock when two close friends, Craig Caldwell, a respected city official, and Cassandra Rhodafox, who had a great job and made good money in Syracuse, left for Atlanta in search of new beginnings.

Challenging Times for the African American Community

Those were challenging times. Our newspaper came under fire after we condemned police brutality against Dennis Collins, a young African American photographer on our staff who was assaulted by police officers. We faced a multimillion-dollar lawsuit threat from the police department, but we refused to stay silent. Despite the risks, we remained committed to truth and justice, believing firmly that change was “gonna come.”

Seeds of Change in a New Generation

And it did: slowly and steadily, then picked up momentum. A new generation of Black leaders began to emerge: Otis Jennings, Alphonso Davis, Walt Dixie, Mike Atkins, Khalid Bey, Bill Simmons, among others. Guided and encouraged by elder statesmen like Van Robinson, Charles Anderson, and others who had long fought for inclusion, they kept pushing for a place at the table. Their efforts laid the foundation for what has now become a defining moment in Syracuse’s political history.

The Sharon Owens Moment

Today, that long-awaited change stands embodied in Mayor Sharon Owens. Having served as Deputy Mayor for eight years, she knows City Hall inside and out: the systems, the struggles, and the people. Her leadership arrives at a time of political division nationally, yet her victory offers something rare: hope. For Syracuse, this is more than just an election; it’s a symbol of how far the city has come and how much further it can go.

It’s an Obama moment for Syracuse, a milestone of pride, resilience, and renewal. We want one of our own in City Hall. We got it. What happens now? The question now is not whether change has come, but how far it can go under the steady, informed, and courageous leadership of Mayor Sharon Owens.

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