Inauguration as mayor of Washington, D.C.

On January 2, 1991, Sharon Pratt was formally inaugurated as mayor of the District of Columbia, becoming the first woman to serve as mayor of Washington, D.C., and the first African American woman to head the government of a major American city. Her swearing‑in followed her decisive election two months earlier and marked the beginning of a four‑year term during which she sought to reform a troubled municipal government.

The inauguration took place against a backdrop of fiscal crisis, high crime rates, and national skepticism about D.C.’s capacity for self‑governance. Pratt immediately signaled a break with past practices by requesting the resignations of all 170 political appointees from the previous administration and pledging to restore accountability and transparency. As the first mayor born in the District since the 19th century, she embodied local aspirations for genuine home rule and responsive leadership.

This moment was historically significant far beyond city limits. Pratt’s inauguration cemented her status as a pioneering Black woman executive in American politics, demonstrating that women of color could not only win office but govern a complex urban jurisdiction under intense scrutiny. Her administration faced serious constraints—including federal oversight and structural inequities—but her presence in office challenged stereotypes about who could wield executive power, and it opened doors for future Black women mayors nationwide. January 2, 1991, thus stands as a milestone in the timeline of U.S. urban leadership, women’s political history, and the long struggle of Washingtonians for effective, dignified self‑government.