Harold Washington's historic mayoral inauguration celebrated in Chicago 30 years later
theGRIO REPORT - As Chicagoans mark the 30th anniversary of its first African-American mayor Harold Washington’s inauguration on April 29, the effects of his rule and the movement that put him in office could still be felt across the country...
Fairness was his hallmark
According to Cook County Clerk David Orr, who was Washington’s vice mayor and part of the coalition of 21 City Council members who supported Washington’s proposals, fairness was his hallmark.
Washington brought a true sense of diversity and opportunity to the city of Chicago, Orr says. “This was the first time there were a lot of African-Americans, Latinos and women appointed to key positions in government. Even though it was only 5.5 years, the successes just kind of go on and on, and yet, they’re missed out there.”
His strong, non-invasive, non-bullying leadership would eventually prevail, gaining his supporting coalition control over the City Council by 1987, just before he passed.
“Against enormous opposition, most of it very serious racial opposition, he was able to do great things for the city. Even kind of a cultural democracy. People voted when he was mayor. People participated. People were listened to,” Orr said.
Chicago becomes an ‘open city’
Known widely as an advocate of reform, Washington would make significant changes in Chicago government. Starks says his most instrumental contribution to Chicago was making it an “open city.” He signed the city’s first Freedom of Information Act. Washington opened the city budget process to allow for public input. He also instituted reform in the Chicago Public School system, creating local school councils that would be responsible for hiring principals, officials and making basic decisions about local education policy.
Additionally, Starks says Washington was the first mayor to make Chicago a “sanctuary city,” allowing undocumented persons to travel to and live in the city without being arrested. He was also an advocate for women’s and gay rights.
But Starks, Orr and other politicos fear that Washington’s life and legacy could be lost in later descriptions of those times. “A lot of people kind of looked at that time as a dark time, as a bad time, and true, there was great political battle, but great political battle was not Harold’s fault. He was seeking change and those who had controlled things before weren’t going to give it up easily,” Orr said.
Harold Washington Day
“A lot of people inside Chicago forget about it,” said Childs about Washington’s legacy. “We were losing it, so I thought we needed to do something to keep it alive.”
According to Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, who worked with Washington, he offered Chicago inclusion, transparency and reform. “He really changed how people look at city government, and if you were black or brown, you looked at it as more of an inclusive operation. He made a real effort to be more transparent than had been the case in the past,” she said.
Current Chicago mayor Rahm Emanuel declared April 15th as Harold Washington Day in the city. “Mayor Washington brought this city together in a broad new coalition that endures to this day because it represented Chicago at its very best. His election as mayor proved the strength of the coalition he forged as well as the moral mettle of this great city,” Emanuel told theGrio.
As he unintentionally ushered in a new era of democracy that would reverberate around the country, Washington held a special place in his heart for Chicago. “He was a mayor who loved the city of Chicago,” said Starks, “and who believed that all people, regardless of race, class and ethnicity, should be involved in the operation of the City of Chicago, and participating in the city.”
Renita D. Young is a multimedia journalist based in Chicago. Follow her on Twitter @RenitaDYoung.
