Harold Washington became mayor 25 years ago

On this date a quarter century ago, Harold Washington made history, getting sworn in as the first African American to lead the city of Chicago.  I have written before about Harold Washington's remarkable journey; today I want to post that link again, as well as links to a few other people's memories of Mayor Washington.

My thoughts on the twentieth anniversary of Mayor Washington's death last November.

Salim Muwakkil (of In These Times, and at one time the best writer on the Sun-Times's op-ed page) from last November.

Josh Kalven on today's anniversary.

ArchPundit on today's anniversary.

Today, as I sadly watch two of the more remarkable leaders from Chicago go after each other in the media, I want to remember a man who overcame incredible opposition to lead the city of Chicago into a better time.  I hope remembering this achievement may serve us well as we try to move this nation into a better time.

•  Thanks again, Harold

  Your election was one of the greatest political events I have experienced.

  by Nuisance Industry on Tue Apr 29, 2008 at 02:51:09 PM PDT

•  I remember it well

  by chicago minx on Tue Apr 29, 2008 at 02:53:45 PM PDT

•  and David Axelrod

  worked on the campaign.

  It was a good time to be a political junkie in Chicago!

  by dannyinla on Tue Apr 29, 2008 at 02:53:53 PM PDT

•  Does anyone remember Adrienne Goodman

  She was a member of Washington's inner circle.  I lost track of her.

  by llbear on Tue Apr 29, 2008 at 02:58:29 PM PDT

•  Diary corrected for slight error

  Today is the anniversary of the day Harold Washington was sworn into office, thus officially becoming Chicago's mayor.  April 22 was the anniversary of his victory over Bernie Epton.

  You would think I would recall the distinction, as I went to school with the son of the man who administered the oath.  

  by Nuisance Industry on Tue Apr 29, 2008 at 02:59:31 PM PDT

•  Harold...

  ...was my neighbor on 53rd street.

  It was a real eyeopener to see the ...'Council Wars'...

  by elial on Tue Apr 29, 2008 at 03:00:35 PM PDT

  •  I lived on 53rd & Kimbark a bit later...

    ...that stretch of Kimbark named "Harold Washington Way."

    Was four blocks south of that for the excitement in 1983.  Quite a time.

    by Nuisance Industry on Tue Apr 29, 2008 at 03:02:48 PM PDT

    •  whoa

      Mayor Washington lived that close to the Shack?  I had no idea.

      by Adam B on Tue Apr 29, 2008 at 03:04:32 PM PDT

      •  no

        He was closer to the lake, in the Hampton House building.  (A bit nicer than the U of C student apartments across the street from Mr. G's.)

        But that block of Kimbark was named for him shortly after his death.

        by Nuisance Industry on Tue Apr 29, 2008 at 03:06:41 PM PDT

        •  That's it the Hampton House..

          ..the Shack however was my kitchen in those days.

          by elial on Tue Apr 29, 2008 at 03:19:26 PM PDT

  •  Talk about disgraceful pie fights

    Fast Eddie has contributed exactly what to the public good?

    by llbear on Tue Apr 29, 2008 at 03:03:11 PM PDT

    •  getting indicted

      Best news ever about Fast Eddie (a link on it is somewhere in the longer post I wrote in November).

      by Nuisance Industry on Tue Apr 29, 2008 at 03:04:44 PM PDT

•  So missed

  Everyone should take an hour today to listen to THIS AMERICAN LIFE's extraordinary hour on him.

  by Adam B on Tue Apr 29, 2008 at 03:02:16 PM PDT

  •  I was just coming her to post that link.

    That show brought tears to my eyes and I donated to TAL for the first time after listening to that episode.

    by ETinKC on Tue Apr 29, 2008 at 03:05:23 PM PDT

•  Bernie Epton

  "Before It's Too Late."  Can you believe that was a viable political slogan only 25 years ago?

  by Pangloss on Tue Apr 29, 2008 at 03:06:29 PM PDT

  •  I can believe it.

    Let me put it this way -- nothing that gets said in the coming weeks or months will surprise me.

    But what I remember is Harold beat that rhetoric anyway.  That was deeply, deeply satisfying.

    by Nuisance Industry on Tue Apr 29, 2008 at 03:09:10 PM PDT

•  120,000 to 150,000 new voters made the difference

  The moment I heard of Obama's plans for this summer I thought about the legendary gay guy with an ironing board who registered about 10,000 all by himself.

  by llbear on Tue Apr 29, 2008 at 03:06:39 PM PDT

•  Recommended as today - more then most days

  remembering Washington can remind us what we are striving for and show us that it is possible to achieve.

  by ETinKC on Tue Apr 29, 2008 at 03:08:00 PM PDT

•  how it paved the way

  for so many political figures.

  whether we talk about of the big city mayors or those who have walked the halls of Congress, Harold Washington was one who opened so many doors for those to come.

  by alpolitics on Tue Apr 29, 2008 at 03:12:46 PM PDT

  •  Carl Stokes too

    ...can't forget the man who took over Cleveland 40 years ago.  He paved the way for Tom Bradley, Harold Washington and many more.

    I imagine Carl Stokes had an eventful ride to the mayor's office in the late Sixties, having seen what 1983 was like in Chicago.

    (Speaking of history and Harold Washington, this fall I will join the faculty at Roosevelt University, the mayor's alma mater.  He was one of the first students there in the months after World War II ended.)

    by Nuisance Industry on Tue Apr 29, 2008 at 03:36:52 PM PDT

    •  and at Roosevelt University's Gage building now

      ...at 18 S. Michigan Ave in downtown Chicago is a photographic exhibit featuring images from the book Harold! Photographs from the Harold Washington Years.  The school is proud of its alumnus.

      by Nuisance Industry on Tue Apr 29, 2008 at 03:44:38 PM PDT