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Type:
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Resolution
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Status:
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Adopted
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Intro date:
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12/12/2018
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Current Controlling Legislative Body:
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Title:
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Congratulations extended to Dr. Timuel D. Black on 100th birthday
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Attachments:
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1. R2018-1427.pdf
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OFFICE OF THE MAYOR
CITY OF CHICAGO
RAHM EMANUEL
MAYOR
December 12, 2018
TO THE HONORABLE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO
Ladies and Gentlemen:
I transmit herewith, together with Aldermen Austin, Beale, Brookins, Burnett, Cochran, Curtis, Dowell, Ervin, Foulkes, Hairston, Harris, King, Mitchell, Mitts, Moore, Sawyer, Scott and Taliaferro, a congratulatory resolution regarding Dr. Timuel D. Black.
Your favorable consideration ofthis resolution will be appreciated.
Mayor
Very truly yours,
<^pted by Tlie Gity Gouncil ofthe Gity of Gkicago, Illinois
itahsJL Derrick G. Curtis, Willie B. Cochran, Howard B. Brookins Jr., Walter Byrne
jfjresented by Mayor Rahm Emanuel \ qjj
Aldermen Sophia King, Leslie A. Hairston, Pat Dowell, Carrie Austin, Emma Mitts, Michelle A. Harris, Toni L. Foulkes, Christopher Taliaferro, Anthony Beale, Michael Scott, Jr., Roderick T. Sawyer, David Moore, Greg Mitpfipll Derrick G. Curtis, Willie B. Cochran, Howard B. Brookins Jr., Walter Burnett Jr., Jason C. Ervin and
December 12, 2018
^Qli&V&lS' Tne Members of this Chamber extend our .congratulations and. best wishes ;to Dr. Timuel D. Black, an esteemed and revered educator, political activist, community leader, oral historian, author and philosopher, on the occasion of his 100th birthday; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Black was born to sharecroppers in Birmingham, Alabama' on December 7, 1918. In 1919, his family relocated to Chicago as part of the first Great Migration, and ultimately settled in the Bronzeville neighborhood; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Black attended the all-black DuSable -High School, where his
classmates; included Nat King Cole, John .Johnson and Harold Wd
stud^ht^Se^eliyeVed^ newspapers'for the Chlcdgq.-QM his•3pm';.;=
and '.'•;•:. :t.''\'\. •„•• .• -v ' :/ .''. .'"■•■.•">•■- ■' j v^-'v''' 't~'Z-\: ■
WHEREAS, During the Great Depression', while working as.a delivery boy in a local
grocery store, he organized a campaign known as "Don't Spend Your Money Where
You Can't Work." The campaign ultimately Jed to Dr. Black form chapter pf .
the Retail.Clerks. Union and gaining exposure to the life of q cdmmuhity%c.tivist1 and
organizer; and. . ' ....... "'.■. ,; '■-.■'■■.■ . ■';./.':"''■■■.;.
WHEREAS, After organizing several causes, including the Congress . on Racial Equality, which worked to desegregate Chicago department stores and public accommodations, he was drafted into the U.S. Army, where.he served iri the 308th Quartermaster Railhead Company. He saw action in two of the most .pivotal battles of World War II: the D-Day invasion of Normandy and the Battle of the Bulge; and
WHEREAS, For his service and valor, Dr. Black was awarded four Battle Stars and a Croix de Guerre, the highest military honor accorded by France to non-citizens; and
WHEREAS, After the war, Dr. Black obtained degrees from Roosevelt University and the University of Chicago, studying sociology and history. Applying his studies, he became an educator, teaching history and social studies at several of Chicago's public high schools, including DuSable and Hyde Park; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Black was first exposed to the teachings and philosophies of Dr. Martin Luther King while working toward his doctorate from the University of Chicago. He saw Dr. King speaking on television in December of 1955, and was so inspired that he abandoned his studies and boarded an airplane to Montgomery, Alabama, to meet Dr. King in person; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Black's support for Dr. King was ardent and unwavering, and he was entrusted by Dr. King to organize the Chicago contingent for the 1963 March on Washington, where he witnessed Dr. King's historic "I Have a Dream" speech; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Black was committed to instilling Dr. King's legacy and lessons into the future leaders of America through his work as an educator. As part of this mission, he fought for the desegregation of Chicago Public Schools, and served as an administrator in the City Colleges of Chicago system; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Black's mission of activism and political engagement included running for several political offices, including the Chicago City Council and the 22nd District of the Illinois House of Representatives. Employing his extensive experience in community organizing, in 1983 Dr. Black led a voter registration campaign that was instrumental in electing his former schoolmate, Harold Washington, Jr., as the first African-American mayor of Chicago; and
WHEREAS, Even today, Dr. Black continues to be heavily involved in community activism and political causes, has become close friends with former President Barack Obama, and was involved in the successful campaign to bring the Obama Presidential Center to Chicago's South Side; and .
WHEREAS, Dr. Black has received many recognitions, awards,: and honors, including the Benton Medal for Distinguished Public Service/ for which one nominator wrote that he was "one of the most influential civil rights leaders in Chicago History." In addition tp the heralded Benton Medal, he has also received a Distinguished Alumnus Award from the University of Chicago and a Doctorate of Humane Letters from Roosevelt University; and '
WHEREAS, Dr. Black has touched the. lives of thousands of residents of the City of Chicago through his inspired activism, vision, advocacy, and dedication; now, therefore
BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the Mayor and Members of the City Council of the City of Chicago, assembled this twelfth day of December, 2018, do hereby honor and congratulate Dr. Timuel D. Black on the occasion' of his 100th birthday; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Dr. Black as a token of our esteem and good wishes.
■ 7,-l.^.—-<-£■'-
MAYOR
CITY CLERK
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