Harold!: Photographs from the Harold Washington Years

by Antonio Dickey (Photographer), Antonio Dickey, Marc PoKempner (Photographs)

This handsome book captures in words and pictures the powerful emotions that circled around one man in Chicago in the early 1980’ Harold Washington. More than one hundred pictures, from candid shots on the campaign trail to triumphant public appearances, give readers a window onto a man who won over an entire city. Washington’s mayoral win represented a faltering of the previously all-powerful Chicago Machine, and his campaign was a part of a larger civil rights crusade that forged unity in the black community in Chicago.

Antonio Dickey and Marc PoKempner were there with Washington throughout 1982-87, Dickey as his campaign and personal photographer and PoKempner on assignment for the New York Times , People , and Time , capturing the force of his personality and the inspiration he brought to Chicago. Their photographs have become the definitive documentation of the Harold years and were featured in the Chicago Historical Society’s 2003–2004 exhibit “Harold The Man and the Movement.” They were there for his underdog rise, his win, his first term, and his untimely death just seven months into his second term. The year 2007 marks the twentieth anniversary of Washington’s death, and this loving tribute in words and pictures will keep his message alive for future generations.

224 pages, Paperback

First published October 11, 2007

Reviews

[Anne Harm · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book! It is a wonderfully rich and meaningful lesson on a key chapter in Chicago history, race relations, and culture. I learned more about a great man who pulled together some disparate political factions, to accomplish alot. There's real delight in simply browsing the pages, reading it front to back, and/or any combination of these two approaches.

[Stop]

Read the STOP SMILING review of Harold!:

From 1983 to 1987, Harold Washington presided over Chicago as the city's first African-American mayor. Less than a year into his second term, he died of a heart attack while at work in City Hall.

Cameras in hand, Antonio Dickey and Marc PoKempner were witness to the big moments those five short years. Dickey came to Washington as his campaign photographer — later becoming his personal photographer — and PoKempner was there as a stringer for several publications, including the New York Times, People and Time.

Read the complete STOP SMILING review...

[Eric Hudson · Rating 4 out of 5]

yea I know I'm over my monthly book allowance, but after yesterday I need to reconnect with a leader who created a real movement with oppressed people,instead of a good politican who built a movement with wealthy white and black elite who are more about keeping the status qou than real change


UPDATE:

Mostly sad photos of a real agent of change during times that actually held promise

[Radioanngal · Rating 5 out of 5]

My former boss at KFAI gave me this book - she's from Chicago and we had talked about Harold Washington, the first black mayor of that city. What a life! What an inspiration, politically and personally! And told through fantastic photographs.