Breaking Barriers: The Legacy of Harold Washington, Chicago’s First Black Mayor

It’s election season in Chicago, and nearly every major candidate for mayor is Black. That reality feels almost ordinary today. But in 1983, it was anything but.

That year, Harold Washington, a Black man, ran for mayor and won in a city deeply divided by race, political machines, and power. His victory marked a turning point in Chicago’s history, one that still shapes the city today.

What’s striking is how easy it is to live in Chicago and not immediately know who Harold Washington was.

When I first moved to Chicago, I lived just five blocks from the Harold Washington Library Center. I visited that library at least once a month. It became part of my routine. Yet for nearly two years, I didn’t know who the building was named after or why his name mattered so much to the city.

When I finally learned who Harold Washington was, it stopped me in my tracks. He wasn’t just a former mayor. He was a pioneer, a disruptor, and a symbol of what political change can look like when it’s driven by community power rather than political convenience.

Black Chicago Has To Stop Chasing The Ghost Of Harold Washington - WBEZ Chicago

A Mayor Who Changed Chicago

In 1983, Harold Washington became the first Black mayor of Chicago. His election challenged the city’s long-entrenched political machine and faced intense resistance from those determined to maintain the status quo. Despite these obstacles, Washington built a broad coalition of Black voters, reform-minded whites, and Latino communities who believed the city could be governed differently.

His leadership emphasized transparency, fairness, and inclusion at a time when many Chicagoans felt shut out of decision-making. Washington worked to open city government to communities that had historically been ignored, pushing for equitable representation and accountability.

Why Harold Washington Still Matters

Many Chicagoans hold Harold Washington in high regard, and for good reason. His legacy is visible not just in policies, but in possibility. He proved that leadership in one of the largest cities in the country could reflect the diversity and voices of its people.

Washington’s influence extends beyond Chicago. His election sent a national message about Black political power, coalition-building, and the ability to overcome deeply rooted opposition through grassroots support and perseverance.

Today, his name lives on through landmarks like the Harold Washington Library Center, but his true legacy lives in the political pathways he opened and the leaders he inspired.

A Legacy Worth Knowing

Harold Washington is not just someone Chicagoans should know. He is a figure every American should know.

Learning about him reshaped how I see the city I live in. It reminded me that history isn’t always loud or obvious. Sometimes it’s five blocks away, hiding in plain sight, waiting for us to ask the right questions.

Washington’s story is a reminder that progress often begins with people who are willing to challenge power, rewrite narratives, and lead with purpose even when the odds are stacked against them.