Millennium City: Richard M. Daley & Global ChicagoMain MenuChicago in 1989Richard M. DaleyA Livable CityDiversity and NeighborhoodsGlobal ChicagoInto the MillenniumAboutComplete Interviews and TranscriptsBiographies of and links to each full-lenth interview and corresponding transcript.Larissa Mukundwa0c6cb03c337751b5774fa39d09352cf04aec006eDan Harpereff3db32ed95b3efe91d381826e2c10c145cd452University of Illinois at Chicago Library
Richard M. Daley and Eugene Scott greet spectators at Bud Billiken Parade
1media/EXH_RMD16_07_0213_0001_002_024_thumb.jpg2020-03-04T22:10:16-06:00Dan Harpereff3db32ed95b3efe91d381826e2c10c145cd45256Mayor Richard M. Daley and Colonel Eugene Scott, editor-in-chief of the Chicago Defender, greet parade goers at the 72nd annual Bud Billiken Parade, August 11, 2001. Richard M. Daley papers, University of Illinois at Chicago Library, EXH_RMD16_07_0213_0001_002_024.plain2020-03-04T22:13:22-06:00Anonymous
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1media/EXH_RMD16_07_0213_0001_002_024.jpgmedia/EXH_RMD16_07_0213_0001_002_024.jpg2019-12-19T22:02:41-06:00Diversity and Neighborhoods89image_header1512020-05-22T13:40:09-05:00When Mayor Richard M. Daley took office in 1989, he recognized that some Chicagoans believed City Hall favored the downtown financial district and other areas over other, often poorer, neighborhoods. He realized that African Americans felt especially excluded in light of widespread, deeply rooted racism and past policies that had encouraged racial and ethnic segregation.
President Barack Obama (2009-2017) discusses Chicago’s racial divide in the 1980s and comments on Daley’s “strategic genius” in recognizing the problem:
Avis LaVelle, the mayor's press secretary (1989-1992) remembers questioning Daley about racism in Chicago when he invited her to work with him: Daley wanted to change that reputation. He tried to make Chicago known as a diverse city that welcomed and drew strength from its diversity. He sought the perspectives of residents from Chicago's many neighborhoods and instituted a community policing program. He urged the creation of “anchors” to revitalize local areas. He maintained and defended the city’s affirmative action programs. And he celebrated the many cultural traditions of the city's residents.
