Historical Marker: C. Delores Tucker

Dedicated in 2006, this historical marker commemorates C. Delores Tucker, a civil rights activist, politician, and advocate for women's rights. Tucker became the first woman and first African American to become Secretary of State of Pennsylvania. Under her leadership, Pennsylvania becomes one of the first states to pass the Equal Rights Amendment in the 1970s. Tucker is best known for her participation in condemning misogynistic and violent rap lyrics that infiltrated the music industry during her time.

Cynthia Delores Tucker was born in Philadelphia on October 4, 1927. Her father was a minister and her mother was a strong, Christian woman. Having been born into a large and growing family, Tucker was the tenth of thirteen children. As a teenager, Tucker attended and graduated from Philadelphia High School for Girls. Tucker attended Temple University, a public research institution in Philadelphia. Tucker then went on to attend the University of Pennsylvania s Wharton School of Business. Later on in life, Tucker received two honorary doctoral degrees from Morris College, Baptist Trading Union, and California State University Northridge. Because of this, Tucker is sometimes referred to as "Dr. C. Delores Tucker."

In the year 1951, Tucker became a successful realtor in the Philadelphia area. She went on to serve as an officer in the Philadelphia NAACP, which is the nation's oldest and largest civil rights organization. Here, Tucker was able to lead as an advocate for civil rights in communities, demanding equal opportunity for all. As a result of her association with NAACP, Tucker worked closely with the local branch president, Cecil Moore.

In the year 1968, Tucker was chosen by Philadelphia mayor, James H.J. to serve on the city's Zoning Commission. Tucker is also said to have been responsible for the Governor's appointment of more women judges and more women and African Americans to boards and commissions than ever before. Being appointed to serve on the city's Zoning Commission was the very first of several prestigious appointments on Tucker's behalf. Shortly after, in 1970, Tucker is appointed as vice chair of the Pennsylvania Democratic Committee.

In 1971, governor Milton Shapp appointed Tucker Secretary of State of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, As a result, Tucker is the first woman and first African American to become Secretary of State of Pennsylvania. Under her influence, Pennsylvania becomes one of the first states to pass the Equal Rights Amendment. The Equal Rights Amendment promoted voter registration by mail and lowered the voting age from 21 to 18.

In 1984, Tucker and New York Congresswoman, Shirley Chisholm, establish the National Political Congress of Black Women. This establishment was and remains dedicated to the educational, political, economic, and cultural development of African American women and their families. Furthermore, in 1990, Tucker is the founder of the African American Women for Reproductive Freedom. She does this with the help of 15 other dedicated men and women.

Tucker's "war on rap" does not commence until "gangster rap" beings to emerge in the 1990's. Tuckers plays a pivotal role in the suppression of such music. Tucker vocalized her disdain for rap lyrics by picketing stores that sold rap music and by purchasing stock in Sony, Time Warner, and other big corporations in order to protest at shareholder meetings. Tucker even joins conservative Bill Bennett in endorsing a national campaign which sought to punish major companies for supporting artist profiting from rap music. Tucker spends the last majority of her life fighting rap music.

On October 12, 2005, Tucker dies at age 78 at a Rehabilitation Center in Norristown, Pennsylvania. She was survived by her husband as the two bore no children. At her funeral, former Vice President, Al Gore, called Mrs. Tucker a "four-star general in the battle of righteousness." In essence, Tucker was a remarkable politician, activist, and advocate for women's and African American rights whose legacy will live on.

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Philadelphia NAACP. Accessed May 8th 2021. http://philadelphianaacp.org/.

Horning, Timothy. Public Education in Philadelphia: Philadelphia High School for Girls , The Philly History Blog. February 2nd 2011. Accessed May 8th 2021. https://blog.phillyhistory.org/index.php/2011/02/public-education-in-philadelphia-philadelphia-high-school-for-girls/.

Wikipedia. African-American Women for Reproductive Freedom, Wikipedia. Accessed May 8th 2021. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African-American_Women_for_Reproductive_Freedom.

Martin, Douglas. C. Delores Tucker, a Voice for Minorities and Women, Is Dead at 78, The New York Times. November 6th 2005. Accessed May 8th 2021. https://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/06/us/c-delores-tucker-a-voice-for-minorities-and-women-is-dead-at-78.html.

Wikipeda. C. Delores Tucker, Wikipedia. Accessed May 8th 2021. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C._Delores_Tucker.

Weinraub, Judith . Delores Tucker, Gangsta Buster, The Washington Post. November 29th 1995. Accessed May 8th 2021. https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1995/11/29/delores-tucker-gangsta-buster/14aa1896-7d1b-4cc3-b5b4-746fedf430c8/.

Laight, Jane Margaret. C. Delores Tucker, IMDb. Accessed May 8th 2021. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1059625/bio.

Accessed May 8th 2021. https://eds.a.ebscohost.com/eds/detail/detail?vid=5&sid=485a90d7-f276-4910-9078-bcba23b71f28%40sdc-v-sessmgr01&bdata=JkF1dGhUeXBlPWlwLHNzbyZzaXRlPWVkcy1saXZl#AN=edsgcl.139717500&db=edsggo.