The Jackie Robinson Foundation (JRF) mourns the loss of former congressman and Harlem legend Charles Rangel—a civil rights activist and war hero who rose from Lennox Avenue to becoming one of the most influential Black politicians in modern history.

Dropping out of high school in his junior year, Rangel worked a few low-paying jobs before enlisting in the Army in 1948.  With a fighting spirit that he would carry throughout his career,  he found himself in combat during the Korean war and risked his life to rescue 40 soldiers from behind enemy lines.  Returning home with a Purple Heart, Rangel was first elected to Congress in 1970 and would eventually serve 23 terms.

As co-founder of the Congressional Black Caucus, Rangel was also the first Black member and later chairman of the influential House Ways and Means Committee. Unwavering in his dedication to creating economic opportunities for all, Rangel joined the City College of New York where he served as Statesman-in-Residence. He launched the Charles B. Rangel Infrastructure Workforce Initiative to boost infrastructure jobs in areas of Manhattan and the Bronx that he called home for nearly a century.

A recipient of a 2005 JRF ROBIE Award, Rangel referenced Jackie Robinson’s enduring legacy in bridging the gap between Democrats and Republicans. In his Robie acceptance speech, he highlighted the moment when Jackie Robinson was honored with the Congressional Gold Medal during a ceremony at the Capitol Rotunda earlier that year and said,  “And for Jackie Robinson’s spirit to be in that beautiful room, I could see the rays of sunshine that were coming through the dome and shining on the radiant Rachel Robinson. And I said, ‘How lucky can a person be when all of their life they’ve tried to make a better world.’ But Jackie Robinson didn’t have freedom marches. He didn’t have the buses, he didn’t have the demonstrations—all he had was Rachel and his family.”

In celebration of a life so brilliantly lived, JRF extends its heartfelt condolences to Congressmember Rangel’s family and friends. May he rest eternally.