Harold!

"Every journalist wants to bear witness to history as it is being made. For those of us who covered the tragedies and triumphs of the Harold Washington era, the presence of Antonio Dickey and Marc PoKempner, was part of the scenery, visual and audible confirmation as they snap-snapped their shutters that history was happening here. Thanks to their captured moments, a new generation can share what we saw, guided by the eloquently streetwise narration of another eyewitness, Salim Muwakkil. His perspective, like mine, has only been enriched by the hard-earned lessons of passing time. Time helps one appreciate Harold Washington, not only the first black mayor of a city not always associated with brotherly love, but also as a transformational leader with a prophetic vision and perceptive wit. He was an insightful coalition-builder who broke away from the nation's most notorious big-city machine, challenged its dominance and won. He did not live to lead his great American city into the new century, as he often hoped he would. But he prepared the way for those who do."  --Clarence Page, Chicago Tribune columnist and editorial board member

"This wonderful book of Marc PoKempner's and Antonio Dickey's photographs of Harold Washington and the rocky road he traveled to the Mayoralty, plus the perceptive commentary of Salim Muwakkil -- is a natural for any thoughtful Chicagoan to have around the house. It has everything: charm, wild kicks in the groin by his opponents, and hope. It is a winning book, not only for African-Americans but citizens of all complexions and faiths."--Studs Terkel