Meryvn Dymally, Trailblazing Black Politician, Dies at 86

Mervyn Dymally was born in Trinidad in the West Indies, and went on to come one of California's most enduring politicians. In 1962, he became the first foreign-born black person elected to the State Assembly. He served in the State Senate and became Lieutenant Governor, the first black to serve in a statewide elected office. From there, he went on to Congress, and then — at age 76 — went back to the Assembly again, finally losing a State Senate election at the age of 82. Dymally died yesterday at the age of 86.