Black In Business

In November of 1987, Mayor Harold Washington died. Harold becoming Mayor of Chicago was something more black people are proud of than Senator Obama running for President. Mayor Washington was beloved by black people all over the country. I was not a resident of Chicago during the Washington years, having lived in Dallas and Buffalo, but was well aware of his story.
Mayor Washington was Chicago’s first black Mayor. When I was a child raised in upstate New York, my mother would always say, thanks God you do not live in the south. As I grew up I discovered that the north had it share of race haters. I had often visited Chicago; several times a year but still had no true idea of the racial divide.
Mayor Washington overcame so much hate and a city council divided by 29 whites versus 22 blacks.
Mike Ryko a legendary Chicago columnist open a article the day after Washington stunning but close victory, by claiming, he told his Uncle, Mayor Washington will not marry your sister or daughter. The fact that this democratic city had a close election speaks to the color factor being the only platform for many whites. Anybody but the black guy was the rallying cry of white voters..
Mayor Washington was a gregarious consensus builder and builds a rainbow spectrum of support. He builds support with black nationalists, black business people, Hispanics and eventually the city council. He was reelected Mayor and died 9 months later.
It has been said, if Washington had lived there would have never been another white mayor. He was a special leader and is still missed.