869: Harold

Ira Glass introduces a rebroadcast of a 1997 episode of "This American Life" focusing on Harold Washington, Chicago's first Black mayor, drawing parallels to the current political landscape with New York mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani. The episode explores Washington's election in 1983, the racial tensions and political opposition he faced, and the challenges of governing in a city deeply divided along racial lines. It examines the dynamics between Black and white communities, the role of the Democratic machine, and the complexities of race and reform in Chicago politics, further analyzing how perceptions and realities differed across racial divides during Washington's tenure and how those divisions evolved over the years. The episode includes reflections on Washington's legacy and its impact on Chicago politics, concluding with insights into the election of Barack Obama and the persistence of racial dynamics in American politics.