pictured above: County Supervisor Yvonne Burke poses next to a picture of herself, part of a downtown exhibit celebrating her many landmark accomplishments in politics.

BY LEILONI DE GRUY (Los Angeles Wave)

A woman of many firsts — first African-American to serve on the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, first Black woman elected to Congress from California, and the first member of Congress to give birth while in office — Yvonne Brathwaite Burke is approaching a rare last: her final day as an elected official. Her successor as supervisor will be sworn in to represent the 2nd District on Monday, but the retiring Burke has left an indelible legacy on the office she has held since 1992.

As one of the most accomplished and visible women in the history of American politics, she has not been without controversy: many have blamed Burke for the failure of the former King-Drew Medical Center, and a large group of constituents have been angered by her handling of a controversial oil field in Baldwin Hills. But to her many supporters, the USC Law School graduate’s tireless work with foster children and seniors, concern for those living on public assistance and commitment to providing her district with world-class parks and recreation services are the true test of her character and approach to governance. On the eve of her last meeting as a county supervisor,  Burke gave The Wave an exclusive interview in which the 76-year-old spoke candidly about her political career, overcoming racial and sex discrimination, why she has no regrets and the reason her immediate future political future lies in Washington, D.C.