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W. Wilson Goode’s term as mayor of Philadelphia ends after serving eight years as the City of Brotherly Love’s first Black mayor.
1992 (Jan 2)
W. Wilson Goode's term as mayor of Philadelphia ended with the inauguration of Ed Rendell. Goode served eight years (1984-92) as the City of Brotherly Love's first Black mayor. During his tenure, there was enough new office construction to change the Philadelphia skyline. For the first time, buildings exceeded the height of the City Hall Building. Goode also helped promote Black American business; before he left office, there were four Black-owned shopping centers, three of which were built during his tenure. While Goode brought more business and financial strength to the city, some critics believe that such positive contributions were overshadowed by his inability to handle the conflict with MOVE, a predominantly Black "back to nature" group. MOVE members had held Goode responsible for the destruction of a square block of homes after he had authorized police to bomb a house on Osage Avenue, where MOVE members held police at bay in a day-long shootout in 1985.
References:
- • Hornsby, Alton. Chronology of African-American History: Significant Events and People from 1619 to the Present. Detroit: Gale Research, 1995.