Harold Washington Quotes

#1. Affirmative action works but we're going to need to muster all our political resources if we are to keep it in place.

Harold Washington

#2. I am interested in garnering the white vote, and the black vote, and the Latin vote, and the Asian vote, and the business vote, and the labor vote.

Harold Washington

#3. Throughout American history many of our social gains and much of our progress toward democracy were made possible by the active intervention of the federal government.

Harold Washington

#4. Our concern is to heal. Our concern is to bring together.

Harold Washington

#5. I am not interested in splitting the white vote.

Harold Washington

#6. Let's not be overconfident, we still have to count the votes.

Harold Washington

#7. Chicago has been characterized as the most segregated city in the United States, a city they said could never change.

Harold Washington

#8. I cannot watch the city of Chicago be destroyed by petty politics and bad government.

Harold Washington

#9. The third fallacy is that affirmative action doesn't work.

Harold Washington

#10. What is so remarkable about the success of affirmative action is that it has been accomplished despite the Justice Department and the policies of the federal government.

Harold Washington

#11. That fallacy flies in the face of studies that show, every day, in every way, things are getting a little worse for America's minorities relative to the progress made by those in the top percentiles of assets and income.

Harold Washington

#12. Business as usual will not be accepted by any part of this city.

Harold Washington

#13. Chicago is one city. We shall work as one people for our common good and our common goals.

Harold Washington

#14. I have been urged by the earnest pleas of thousands of people to enter this race. Therefore, I hereby declare my candidacy for Mayor of Chicago.

Harold Washington

#15. I want to be a mayor who helped, really helped.

Harold Washington