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.David Greensteinc7fc3212990439fbd3c1dd961272d52f1519d8e6Dan Harpereff3db32ed95b3efe91d381826e2c10c145cd452Larissa Mukundwa0c6cb03c337751b5774fa39d09352cf04aec006eUniversity of Illinois at Chicago Library
Richard M. Daley at Chicago's India Independence Day parade
1media/EXH_RMD16_07_0095_0013_001_025A_thumb.jpg2020-04-28T14:56:40-05:00Dan Harpereff3db32ed95b3efe91d381826e2c10c145cd45252Mayor Richard M. Daley at India Independence Day parade in Chicago, August 15, 1992. Richard M. Daley papers, University of Illinois at Chicago Library, RMD16_07_0095_0013_001_025Aplain2020-04-28T14:56:43-05:00Dan Harpereff3db32ed95b3efe91d381826e2c10c145cd452
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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 Neighborhoods92image_header1512020-05-22T13:42:51-05:00When 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. 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.
