Mildred C. Crump is an American Democratic Party politician, Councilwoman at-Large of Newark, New Jersey,[1] though all nine council members of Newark are elected on a nonpartisan basis at the regular municipal election or at the general election for terms of four years. On July 1, 1994, she was sworn in as the first African-American Councilwoman in the 336 year history of Newark.
Crump was born in Detroit, Michigan, where she attended and graduated from the local public schools. Upon graduation from Wayne State University, she was the recipient of the David D. McKenzie Honor Society Award. This honor is given by the university to the most outstanding female student for Leadership and Scholarship. She also made another mark in the history of Detroit by becoming the first African-American Braille teacher. It is this profession that has brought her to Newark, New Jersey, in 1965, also establishing herself as the first African-American Braille teacher in this state.
In 1994, Crump ran for the municipal council as Councilwoman-at-Large. She made history on July 1, 1994, when she was sworn in her new office. After being re-elected to the position on July 2006, she created history once again by being elected president of the Newark Municipal Council, making her the first female ever to hold that position.
Crump is former president and member of the Board of Trustees for Integrity House, Inc. She is a Volunteer in the School Leadership Council of Weequahic High School, and a member of the South District Precinct Association.
Crump became the first African-American President of the Greater Newark Chapter of the New Jersey State Opera Guild, a founding member of the New Jersey Coalition of 100 Black Women, Inc, and of the Global Women’s Leadership Collaborative of New Jersey.
Crump is very active in her community was Vice-Chairperson of the Steering Committee for Bridge to Recovery and a member of the Board of Trustees for the Boys and Girls Club of Newark. She is still an active member of Delta Sigma Theta sorority, a public service sorority.