HaroldWashington-pt 1/3

[1 of 3, Sound level is low, so turn up volume] Before there was Barack Obama, there was Progressive Chicago Democratic Mayor, Harold Washington. Voted into office by a progressive, diverse, multi-cultural, multi-racial constituency in 1983, Washington fought against racist GOP AND Democratic lead opposition during his tenure.

An avid reader and captivating public speaker, Washington lead Chicago through a redevelopment & reinvigoration of a previously slumping Chicago economy. (Sounds familiar?)

In this TV interview from April 24, 1984, Washington talks about economic stimulus, redevelopment, investment in urban infrastructure, race relations, political sabotage (from a then racist City Council majority), and his plans for the future of the City of Chicago -- including development of a new main public library (which was later re-named for Washington after his passing in 1987.)

Washington died of a massive heart attack while in office, the week of Thanksgiving, 1987. Like Barack Obama (actually well BEFORE Obama), Washington was a long-time resident of Chicago's southside neighborhood, Hyde Park. African American politician Eugene Sawyer succeeded Washington.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Harold Washington
• Chicago
• Politics
• Progressive
• Democratic
• Hyde Park
• Daley
• Democrat
• Urban Policy
• Library
• Racism
• Illinois