ABSTRACT
Harold Washington’s popularity as mayor of the city of Chicago was unquestionable. Washington’s considerable political skills combined with his intellectual gifts and enormous popularity enabled him to become very effective as a political leader. Chicago was brought into a new awareness of itself during the tenure of Washington. He vastly increased the political confidence and efficacy of black citizens, while laying the foundation for the first real multiethnic progressive coalition in the city’s history. The crisis of black leadership in Chicago became readily apparent after Washington’s death. He was, in brief, the right man at the right time; his untimely death was a blow to all of Chicago’s citizens—especially blacks—but before his death, he left a legacy that would be hard for other black to follow. One of Chicago greatest accomplishments was bringing the outs into his administration and giving them responsible positions of leadership.
