Historical leaders (Harold Washington Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Historical leaders (Harold cap - Essay pillow slipHarold Washington, who was the first pitch-darkened mayor Of Chicago, was one such leader. His election was one of the single most pregnant events in the Chicagos long and illustrious history (Preston, 1983). Born on April 15, 1922, Washington ascended the throne of the Mayor in 1983, and served until his death in 1987.Harold Lee Washington grew in the Bronzeville neighbourhood of Chicago, which at that time, was a major black residential area. In 1942, when Washington was 19, he was sent to the war as an ancestry Force Engineer. sooner he volunteered to be a part of the combat unit, but blacks were not considered qualified for that job. He served the Air Force for three years, and it was during these years that he understood the intricacies of racial discriminations and prejudices. This treatment also helped shape Washingtons views on racial injustice and democracy.In 1946, Washington joined the Roosevelt College, which proved to be the brooding ground for his governmental activities. Immediately after joining the college, he became intensely involved with the activities and societies in college. He chaired a fund-raising contain by students, and then was named to a committee that supported citywide efforts to out constabulary restrictive covenants, which were the legal fashion by which minorities were prohibited from leaving their ghettos. (Levinsohn 1983). It was here that he truly developed his leadership skills. His cool and tranquil character was revered by his colleagues, one of them once said that he had a remarkable dexterity to keep cool, reason carefully and walk a middle line. He always tell his political boundaries, and never indulged in extreme activities. He treated his opponents with mutual respect, and never insulted their ideology. With the opportunities found lonesome(prenominal) at Roosevelt College in the late 1940s, Washingtons time at Roosevelt proved to be a pivotal foretel l in his life and the citys history. (Levinsohn 1983). Thus one can see that he resourcefully utilised every(prenominal) opportunity that Roosevelt offered to him. At a relatively young age, he had already equipped himself with the tricks of the political game, and this experience assisted him greatly in his future political career. After earning his Bachelors degree from Roosevelt College, Washington studied law at Northwestern University School of Law in Chicago. He continued his political engagements here, and was soon elected the treasurer of the Junior Bar Association, in spite of being the only black in his class. (Miller 1989). presently after completing his professional education, Washington began works for Olympic athlete, Ralph Metclaffe in the offices of the third ward. While working under his ward boss, Washington began organising the 3rd Wards Young Democrats Organisation on the sidelines. The Young Democrats pushed for various black centric resolutions and eventuall y gained popularity. Once again, Washington succeeded in walking the middle line, thus avoiding any bearing of radicalism. Simultaneously, he also managed to make his and the YDs voice heard. Thus, by employing the tactics he had learned at Roosevelt, Washington continued to tread the political ladder slowly but steadily. One must also hatch that these were the 1960s, when The Civil Rights Movement was at its very peak. The African