In 1990, in her first bid for public office, Sharon Pratt Dixon was elected mayor of Washington, D.C., following Marion S. Barry, Jr., whose term in office was described as “marred by drug and corruption scandals.” With her election Dixon became the first African American woman to serve as mayor of a major American city. While in office Dixon led an initiative to increase black and Hispanic business ownership. She was unsuccessful, however, in her efforts to achieve statehood status for the District of Columbia. Dixon lost to Berry who staged a remarkable political comeback in 1994.
Sharon Pratt was born January 30, 1944 in Washington, D.C. to parents Carlisle Pratt and Mildred (Petticord) Pratt. Carlisle was a Washington, D.C. Superior Court Judge. Mildred Pratt died of breast cancer when Sharon was four years old. Pratt’s father played a major role in her life by instilling certain values and encouraging her commitment to public service. Sharon Pratt attended public schools in Washington, D.C. and graduated with honors from Roosevelt High School in 1961.
Although she initially wanted to pursue an acting career, her father persuaded Pratt to attend Howard University where in 1965 she received a B.A. degree in Political Science. She then enrolled in Howard University’s School of Law. While in law school, she married Arrington Dixon in 1966 who later became a Washington, D.C. city councilmember. In 1968 Dixon earned her law degree and gave birth to their first daughter, Aimee Arrington Dixon. A second daughter, Drew Arrington Dixon, was born in 1970.