Organization Keeps Mayor Harold Washington’s Legacy Alive
Organization Keeps Mayor Harold Washington’s Legacy Alive
By Tia Carol Jones
The Mayor Harold Washington Legacy Committee commemorated the life and work of the city of Chicago’s first Black Mayor with a series of events in late November.
Washington was the 51st Mayor of Chicago and was sworn in on April 29, 1983, and served until his death on Nov. 25,1987. Prior to becoming Mayor, Washington served as an Illinois State Representative from 1965 to 1977; an Illinois State Senator from 1977 to 1981; and in the U.S. Congress from 1981 to 1983. He also served in World War II. Washington passed away 37 years ago after he had just won re-election for his second term.
The Mayor Harold Washington Legacy Committee was founded in 2013 by those who worked in Washington’s administration because they noticed years after his passing, his legacy wasn’t being talked about as much as other former Chicago mayors.
A.L. Smith is a longtime Chicagoan who worked with Washington and is a member of the Mayor Harold Washington Legacy Committee. Smith said Washington’s election as mayor was historic.
“It was not an easy climb to get there, it was very difficult, and he emerged victorious after a legendary legislative career in the House of Representatives in Illinois, in State Senate, as a U.S. Congressman for the 1st Congressional District,” Smith said.
Smith said when people rallied for Washington to run for Mayor, he didn’t at first because he was happy with his role as a U.S. Congressman. Then, he said in order for him to run he needed to register 50,000 voters and $150,000 to fund his campaign. Smith said a group of Black business leaders were able to register 100,000 voters and raised $250,000 to fund his campaign.
Smith said it is so important to keep Washington’s legacy at the forefront because it is so profound. On Monday, Nov. 25th, the Mayor Harold Washington Legacy Committee hosted its 6th annual wreath laying ceremony at his gravesite at Oak Woods Cemetery.
“We do that because we don’t want to ever forget, we don’t want the residents of the city of Chicago to ever forget who he was and how important he was for our political, social and economic justice,” Smith said.
Smith said the founder members of the Mayor Harold Washington Legacy Committee owe Josie Childs, who worked for Washington in the cultural affairs department, so much because she was a longtime advocate of Washington. Childs passed away in 2023. Smith said it is imperative that Black elected officials in the city, both past and present, are elevated and their legacies are recognized and celebrated.
On Saturday, Nov. 23rd, members of the Mayor Harold Washington Legacy Committee went to Rainbow Push Coalition Headquarters to recognize the support Washington received from the organization. During that weekend, members of the organization also accepted an award from the Illinois Labor History Society.
Washington’s legacy is celebrated through Harold Washington College, the Harold Washington Library, Harold Washington Park and a Roosevelt University scholarship.
For more information about the Mayor Harold Washington Legacy Committee, visit mhwlc.com.
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A.L. Smith - Harold Washington Legacy Committee
