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Vanessa Nakate to Open Giving Black Conference 2026 With Climate Justice Keynote
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Ronald Dellums was a distinguished American politician and activist who served as a U.S. Congressman for 27 years and later as the Mayor of Oakland. His career was marked by a commitment to civil rights, anti-war advocacy, and social justice.
After leaving Congress, Dellums consulted for this international health-care company, which invests in health insurance programs in developing countries.
Dellums lobbied for the East Bay Peralta Community College District in Washington, D.C.
Dellums lobbied for AC Transit, the public transit district serving the East Bay, in Washington, D.C.
Dellums's firm lobbied for Rolls-Royce plc, a company known for manufacturing aircraft engines.
Dellums worked on behalf of the San Francisco International Airport in its efforts to build additional runway capacity.
His company was engaged in community relations work for the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, which conducts scientific research for the Department of Energy.
Dellums lobbied for Bristol-Myers Squibb, a multinational pharmaceutical corporation.
Dellums was hired by representatives of Vladimir Putin, alongside Howard Schweitzer, to lobby members of Congress to repeal the Magnitsky Act and remove Sergei Magnitsky's name from the Global Magnitsky bill. He also worked with the Human Rights Accountability Global Initiative to oppose sanctions on Russia.
Dellums lobbied for the Haitian government during 2001–2002 and worked to support Jean-Bertrand Aristide, the former President of Haiti.
Ronald Vernie Dellums was born on November 24, 1935, in Oakland, California. After serving in the United States Marine Corps from 1954 to 1956, he pursued higher education, earning an A.A. degree from Oakland City College (now Merritt College) in 1958, a B.A. from San Francisco State University in 1960, and an M.S.W. from the University of California, Berkeley, in 1962. Before entering national politics, Dellums worked as a psychiatric social worker and became a political activist in the African-American community. His early political career began with his election to the Berkeley City Council, where he served from 1967 to 1970.
Dellums was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1970, becoming the first African American elected to Congress from Northern California. Throughout his 27-year tenure in Congress (1971-1998), he was a prominent voice against military interventions and a consistent advocate for human rights and social programs. A significant achievement was his leadership in the anti-apartheid campaign against South Africa, which culminated in the passage and override of President Reagan’s veto of the Comprehensive Anti-Apartheid Act of 1986. He chaired significant committees, including the House Committee on the District of Columbia and, later, the House Armed Services Committee.
Following his impactful career in Congress, Dellums continued his public service as the Mayor of Oakland, serving from 2007 to 2011. During his mayoral term, he focused on public safety, education, and promoting Oakland as a “Model City.” He initiated programs to increase police force numbers, improve teacher retention and diversity, and attract federal stimulus funding to the city. Dellums passed away on July 30, 2018, at the age of 82, leaving behind a legacy of dedicated public service and a steadfast commitment to progressive ideals.
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