MAYOR
HAROLD WASHINGTON
THE
FIRST BLACK MAYOR OF CHICAGO
THE
FINEST VIEW OF HIS FIRST ELECTION NIGHT
COPYRIGHT
BY THOMAS YANUL
TO
SEE LARGER VERSION CLICK ON PHOTO
AT
ABOUT ONE-THIRTY IN THE MORNING ON APRIL 13TH, 1883, HAROLD WASHINGTON CAME
ON STAGE AT HIS ELECTION
HEADQUARTERS
IN THE OLD DONNELLY HALL PRINTING PLANT ON CHICAGO'S NEAR SOUTH SIDE.
HAROLD
BOUNDED THROUGH THE ENTHUSIASTIC CROWD TO REACH THE MAKESHIFT STAGE PLATFORM
TO ANNOUNCE THAT HE HAD INDEED BEEN ELECTED THE MAYOR OF CHICAGO - THE FIRST
BLACK (AFRICAN AMERICAN IN TODAY'S PARLANCE) TO BE ELECTED MAYOR OF
CHICAGO.
ALTHOUGH
THE ELECTION TOOK PLACE OFFICIALLY ON APRIL 12TH, THE RESULTS NECESSARY TO
KNOW WHO HAD ACTUALLY BEEN ELECTED DRAGGED ON INTO THE NIGHT, AND IT WASN'T
UNTIL THE CHANGE OF DAY EARLY IN THE MORNING THAT ELECTION OFFICIALS - AND
WASHINGTON HIMSELF - KNEW THAT HE REALLY HAD WON THE ELECTION.
THE
PHOTOGRAPHY SHOWN ABOVE WAS TAKEN FROM A BALCONY BEHIND THE PRESS PLATFORM
AND I WAS THE ONLY PHOTOGRAPHER ALLOWED ON THAT AREA. I WAITED THERE,
READY TO MAKE THE ONE BANQUET SIZE PHOTOGRAPH WITH FLASHBULBS FROM 1PM THE
PREVIOUS DAY, APRIL 12TH.
IT
WAS A LONG DAY BUT IT WAS WORTH THE WAIT. NOT MANY, INCLUDING MYSELF
ACTUALLY THOUGHT HAROLD WASHINGTON HAD A CHANCE TO WIN THE ELECTION AGAINST
THE INCUMBANT MAYOR JANE BYRNE....BUT IT HAPPENED. AND IN THIS COPYRIGHTED
PHOTOGRAPH, ONE CAN SEE THE ENTIRE CROWD, THE PRESS, AND IN THE BACKGROUND
MAYOR ELECT AS HE HAD JUST CLIMBED TO THE STAGE TO GREET HIS ENTHUSIASTIC
WELLWISHEERS. THE ROOM WAS FULL OF ELECTRICITY TO SAY THE LEAST.
THE
CHICAGO HISTORICAL SOCIETY OPENED AN EXHIBIT ON MAYOR WASHINGTON THAT WILL
RUN THROUGH MAY 31ST OF 2004. (EXACTLY WHY IT WAS OPENED IN OCTOBER
OF 2003 I HAVE NO IDEA.)
WHEN
I LEARNED OF THE EXHIBIT I CONTACTED THE CURATOR WHO TOLD ME IT WAS TOO LATE
TO USE MY PHOTOGRAPH IN THEIR EXHIBIT (THE SHOW WAS OPENING IN A DAY OR TWO).
SEEMS STRANGE TO ME THAT THIS PHOTOGRAPH, OFFERED TO THEM IN A 20X40"
ENLARGEMENT, WAS "TOO LATE" TO MAKE IT INTO THE EXHIBIT. AFTERALL,
HIS ELECTION DOESN'T EVEN OCCUR FOR ANOTHER 6 MONTHES !
SUCH
IS THE WAYS OF HARDENED BUREAUCRACY. SO I DECIDED TO PUT THE PHOTO
ON THE INTERENET AND LET PEOPLE SEE IT FOR THEMSELVES VIA MY OWN
WEBPAGE.
I
HOPE YOU ENJOY.
THOMAS
YANUL
PEOPLE
ARE WELCOME TO DOWNLOAD THE IMAGE FOR PERSONAL USE, BUT REMEMBER IT IS A
COPYRIGHTED IMAGE AND MY NOT BE USED FOR ANY OTHER PURPOSE WITHOUT MY
PERMISSION.