Events in the Life of Harold Washington

To evoke inspiration and empower progressive recollection, Lawrence's mural commemorates Washington's life and highlights the African diasporic population's victory against the white power structure of 20th century Chicago.

As an influx of Blacks increased the population of African diasporic people in Chicago from 109,000 in 1920 to 1.2 million in 1982, white Chicagoans reacted by moving out of their respective homes in the city, especially on the south side, towards the suburbs.

[1] White Chicagoans looked to Chicago's Democratic Party as a means to "at least conserve what they had for themselves while expecting improved schools, housing, and better jobs for their children…[seeing] the civil rights movement as a threat to these aspirations.

[8] However, Paul Kleppner notes in his research that the "leaders of Chicago’s Machine factions were simply unwilling to risk white ethnic support by representing black racial interests.

[10] His life accomplishments allowed him to transcend society's image of "Blackness", enabling him to appear as a serious and well-qualified candidate, as "scholar, athlete, Civilian Conservation Corps worker, soldier, lawyer, [or] U.S.

[11] In Events in the Life of Harold Washington Lawrence's motive was to re-create little-known historical images to inspire the audience to use their history to prove they were not inferior, but instead victors in past struggles.

[16] Lawrence's mural and its themes of progress and movement honor the accomplishments of former Mayor Harold Washington and the symbolic representation of Black Chicago's triumph in the struggle for political power.