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OFFICE OF THE MAYOR
CITY OF CHICAGO
LORI E. LIGHTFOOT
MAYOR
December 15, 2021
TO THE HONORABLE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO
Ladies and Gentlemen:
I transmit herewith, together with Aldermen Sigcho-Lopez, Martin, Sadlowski Garza, Vasquez, Ramirez-Rosa, Silverstein, Coleman, Cappleman, Taylor, Waguespack, Hadden, Smith, Scott, Ervin, Lopez, Dowell, O'Shea, Rodriguez, Osterman, Hopkins, King, Villegas, La Spata, Brookins, Hairston, Thompson, Burnett, Rodriguez-Sanchez, Nugent and Tunney, a memorial resolution honoring the life and memory of civil rights icon Timuel "Tim" Black.
Your favorable consideration of this resolution will be appreciated.
Very truly yours,
RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The Members of this Chamber were deeply saddened to learn of the death of Timuel "Tim" Black, a beloved activist, educator, and historian, on October 13, 2021, at age 102; and
WHEREAS, Tim was born on December 7, 1918, in Birmingham, Alabama, to Mattie and Timuel Black. The youngest of three children, Tim and his family relocated to Chicago's Bronzeville neighborhood to seek better opportunities when Tim was a baby; and
WHEREAS, Tim graduated from DuSable High School in 1937, and he went on to work in several ma-and-pa stores to support his family; and
WHEREAS, In 1943, Tim was drafted into the Army, where he served in the 308th Quartermaster Railhead Company and fought on D-Day and in the Battle ofthe Bulge. He received four bronze Battle Stars and the French Croix de Guerre for his service before being honorably discharged; and
WHEREAS, After World War II, Tim returned to Chicago and received a bachelor's degree in sociology from Roosevelt University in 1952, and a master's degree in history and sociology from the University of Chicago in 1954; and
WHEREAS, During his career, Tim held many different jobs serving many different populations, including as a high school history teacher and social worker; president of the Chicago chapter of the Negro American Labor Council; and dean, vice president, and professor at the City Colleges of Chicago; and
WHEREAS, Driven to fight for equality for all, Tim was a passionate civil rights activist. Among his many accomplishments, Tim led freedom trains from Chicago to Dr. Martin Luther King's 1963 March on Washington and helped establish organizations like the Chicago League of Negro Voters and the Congress of Racial Equality. Tim also protested Chicago housing and public school segregation; and
WHEREAS, Tim's passion for civil rights carried over to politics. Tim was instrumental in Harold Washington's 1983 campaign for Chicago mayor. Tim also served as an adviser for Carol Moseley Braun's campaign for United States senator and Barack Obama's campaign for state office and president; and
WHEREAS, Tim stayed involved in academia after retiring as a professor. He continued lecturing at various Chicago-area universities and wrote two volumes of oral histories on the Great Migration of African Americans to Chicago as well as a memoir titled Sacred Ground: The Chicago Streets of Timuel Black; and
WHEREAS, An iconic activist, advocate, and mentor, Tim will be remembered for his passion and drive to bring transformative change to all communities. For his immeasurable accomplishments, Tim received more than 10 honorary degrees and sat on more than 50 organization boards in his lifetime; and
WHEREAS, Predeceased by his son Timuel Kerrigan Black, Tim is survived by his wife, Zenobia; daughter, Ermetra; and many other family members and friends; now, therefore,
BEIT RESOLVED, That we, the Mayor and Members of the City Council of the City of Chicago, assembled this fifteenth day of December, 2021, do hereby honor the life and memory of Timuel Black and extend our most sincere condolences to Timuel Black's family, friends, and