On 100th Birthday of the late Chicago Mayor Harold Washington

Chicago’s first Black mayor, Harold Washington, would have been 100 years old today. Even though his tenure was tragically cut short after only 4 ½ years in office, his impact is still being felt today.

Washington was dedicated to the people of his city and the people of his city truly loved him. Despite your background, what side of town you lived or what church you attended, he made us all feel as if we were part of his family. My parents and grandparents still have a framed picture of him on their mantles to this day.

This devotion wasn’t something he just happened to acquire. He worked tirelessly to earn his following. Even after suffering a staggering defeat in a bid for the mayoral office in 1977, he continued to champion for the advancement of all working families as he fought for the upliftment of Black and brown communities. His quiet but consistent victories earned him the respect and support of these residents, along with the labor movement, ultimately changing the course of the 1983 mayoral election and ushering him into office.

Washington stayed true to his commitment of ensuring equity and establishing a higher quality of life for every resident in the city, regardless of their income or ethnicity. His legacy stands the true testament of time as we recognize the coalitions he constructed and the bridges he built, changing the lives of Chicagoans for generations to come.

He passed the Public Employees Bargaining Act for city workers and established ethics ordinances enabling stronger rights for renters. He also barred city departments from cooperating with federal immigration officials making Chicago the first “Sanctuary City” in the Midwest.

One of his most significant legislative accomplishments was introducing a bill in the Illinois legislature to establish the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. Washington was instrumental in making Illinois one of the first states to recognize this historic day.

Late activist Timuel Black Jr., stated in his book, Sacred Ground, “It took a person with the charisma, the intellect, and the political skills of a Harold Washington to make this happen.”

The mighty city of Chicago stands tall because of the towering impact of Mayor Harold Washington. Today we honor this great leader, and we celebrate the legacy he left for us to build upon.

Happy 100th Birthday Mayor Washington!