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| source: Brent Jones, Amistad Digital Resource |
If Ethel Payne were alive today she would be incredulous at
the sight of an African American family occupying the White House. In her time,
Payne did experience a similar triumph, though on a smaller scale, when a
coalition of African Americans, Latinos, and poor whites put Harold Washington into
Chicago’s mayor’s office in 1983.
The
victory came in two parts: First, he managed to beat the incumbent mayor, Jane
Byrne, and the son of past mayor Daley, Richard M. Daley. Second, frustrated
Democrats unwilling to support a black candidate made one last desperate
attempt to thwart Washington’s election by supporting the white Republican
candidate. For a while the slogan for the Republican campaign was “before it’s too
late,” until wiser heads prevailed. The only issue with which they gained
traction was that Washington had once done prison time for failing to file
federal income tax returns.
Payne
watched the election from her post as a professor at Fisk University. “Like so
many of exiles whose hearts have never left Chicago,” she said, “I went ape
when it was finally officials that Harold Washington had won the Democratic
primary.”
Payne
returned to her native Chicago at the end of April 1983 to attend Washington’s inauguration.
A few days later Payne told a friend about the experience. “For me,” she said, “it was quite an
emotional experience, something I never dreamed of seeing in my lifetime. Far
more than the matter of color is involved here. Despite the repetition and
exaggerated accounts of his tax problems, he is a refreshing example of
morality in public office. He has courage and integrity, and best of all the
strength to hang tough.”
