Fire on the Prairie: Harold Washington, Chicago Politics, and the Roots of the Obama Presidency

Urban Life, Landscape, and Policy

by Gary Rivlin

Harold Washington's historic and improbable victory over the vaunted Chicago political machine shook up American politics. The election of the enigmatic yet engaging Washington led to his serving five tumultuous years as the city's first black mayor. He fashioned an uneasy but potent multiracial coalition that today still stands as a model for political change.

In this revised edition of Fire on the Prairie, acclaimed reporter Gary Rivlin chronicles Washington's legacy--a tale rich in character and intrigue. He reveals the cronyism of Daley's government and Washington's rivalry with Jesse Jackson. Rivlin also shows how Washington's success inspired a young community organizer named Barack Obama to turn to the electoral arena as a vehicle for change. While the story of a single city, this political biography is anything but parochial.

Genres: Politics, Biography, History

290 pages, Paperback

Published October 26, 2012

Reviews

[Elena]

it's hard to say how to rate this bc the information is super in depth and good but I SUSPECT it suffered in the revision down to a few hundred pages bc there are odd gaps and flat out obfuscatory passages. still, invaluable in terms of understanding how the sausage gets made specifically with regards to racial and racist opposition in Chicago (and to some extent nationally).

[Frank Lucchese-soto]

I loved this book and it’s such an eye opener, and it makes me hate Ed Burke even more than I do. Plus it makes me despise Chicago mainstream media.

[Happyreader]

Best book I’ve ever read on Chicago politics. It’s got it all – race baiting, corruption, aldermanic turf wars, prostitute fund raising raffles, all swirling around and battling our most charismatic, intelligent, community-minded, and genuine mayor. Man died with a heart three-times too large, both figuratively and literally, fighting to end disparities, waste, and general civic stupidity. Fast-paced political page turner illustrating how democracy can be manipulated to ensure that systemic racism is allowed to proliferate and thrive in an environment that is minority white and supposedly liberal.

[Sharlyn]

Essential reading for anyone organizing in Chicago today, as the "Harold Washington Coalition" is a consistent reference point and not-distant-history. Plenty of the players are still around and holding office and the same strategies are employed (like a Daley trying to run as the outside candidate fighting "the machine!"). It's also an easy and enjoyable read, since Rivlin is a great writer with a concise style.