Mayor Harold Washington at a rally at the Robert Taylor Homes in 1983 (Marc PoKempner photo).
Remembering Mayor Harold Washington
If it wasn't for Mayor Harold Washington, I don't know where I would be today. Yes, he gave me a job as a teenage mom, but he also gave credibility to my hopes and dreams. Through his vision of how Chicago is the city of big shoulders for all people and not just some, people like me have been able to soar. Thank you, Mr. Mayor, and Happy Birthday.
Aaron Freeman created the satirical sketch comedy “Council Wars” in the early 1980s. Fr e e m a n’s stage show compared the Chicago City Council in Mayor Harold Washington’s first term to the movie “Star Wars” (1977). In the film, Lord Darth Vader led an evil Galactic Empire against the Rebel Alliance and a young Luke Skywalker. The principal characters in “Council Wars” were Lord Darth Vrdolyak, (modeled after Ald. Ed Vrdolyak and his 29 aldermen on the 50-member City Council), and Harold Skytalker. Freeman has been a member of the Second City troupe, host of a talk
show on WPWR, a writer for National Public Radio and Eight-Forty-Eight on Chicago Public Radio, and an adjunct professor of telecommunications at Columbia College. I loved his vocabulary. That’s why the Council Wars character was called Harold SkyTALKER. Campaigning for him on the North Side allowed me to meet and connect with a lot of new people. His greatest achievement was that of any pol – he won. I think he made me and all his supporters feel like winners. My fondest memory is the event where this picture was taken. He said, ‘Harold Skytalker shall return.’ Also, Harold’s election was a measure of the possible. If Chicago could have a Black mayor, future wonders seemed inevitable. Regarding his legacy, however, my kids feel no connection.
COVER STORY
Tumia Romero is a PhD candidate and chief of staff to U.S. Rep. Danny K. Davis (D-Chicago)
Aaron Freeman
Freeman laughs with Washington (photo provided by Aaron Feeeman).
(Courtesy photo)
Tumia Romero
compiled by Suzanne Hanney
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