Nancy Leftenant-Colon, when she served in the U. Army Nurse Corps in the s and s. Credit: Courtesy Nancy Leftenant-Colon. History is known to repeat itself, and there is a lot of repetition happening on Long Island. Across industries, in government, within the halls of education and beyond, Black Long Islanders became pioneers in their fields, and now a new group of leaders is blazing a path.
A recent history maker is Siela Bynoe — a cancer survivor, first-generation American and the first Black state senator to represent Long Island since the chamber was founded in With her November victory, she follows in the footsteps of Barbara Patton, the first Black state representative from Long Island.
The Rt. Orris Walker made history when he became the first Black elected bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Long Island in He supported ordaining women and backed the controversial election of a gay Episcopal bishop in New Hampshire, according to Newsday archives.
From breaking news to special features and documentaries, the NewsdayTV team is covering the issues that matter to you. By clicking Sign up, you agree to our privacy policy. Walker retired in after members of the diocese urged him to step down, although neither he nor the diocese disclosed why. He was succeeded by The Rev. Lawrence Provenzano, who retired in December.
Walker died in at She was warned that the seat was predominantly white and Republican and that she would likely lose the race. The opposite happened. In a interview with Newsday, Patton reflected on her political win. And while this was a district that was made up of minority people, I had people from across the spectrum of politics, race, religion, gender, people who came to work on my campaign. William Willett rose in the ranks from patrolman to commissioner, the first Black person to hold the job, during his nearly 50 years on the Nassau County police force.
