Chicago: A Stench in the Political Camp

Is it About Money? Before Voting Know Black History and Politics!

By Rev. Harold E. Bailey

President, Probation Challenge

CHICAGO, IL - Can you possibly see if not smell the horrific stench that’s under the Chicago taxpayers’ nose?  I humbly suggest that if caring people connect the political dots therewith, they will discover culprits with ill intents.

With masks of pretense, deceitful political candidates with questionable agendas are well concealed among other like-minded thieves!  You might want to carefully observe the various deceitful candidates. Watch as they smirk at the various communities they represent. Truth is, they have politically assured the incumbent on the Fifth Floor… that they will deliver on promised ethnic votes.

Not being a politician nor desiring to become one, nonetheless, I’ve watched their masterful demeanors and observed their political steps … which in some cases lead to their demise.  Political history in my parents’ household included strong black leaders conducting business just above a whisper.  My parents were considered leading ward captains who could deliver a winning vote for the ward boss. A ward captain had the responsibility to stimulate voters to bring into play a winning vote to please not only the ward boss but the ‘Man’ downtown.

As powerful as black ward leaders thought they were… wards had limited power and resources. Each ward was determined to make his honor, the Mayor happy and not to do so would have major consequences!

The powerful seat of Chicago Mayor has turned incredible aspirers into vicious culprits.  Political history dictates that the white power structure strips each credible candidate of any reasonable decency, while those left are by way of the media’s hidden hand labeled as powerless. However, because of the all mighty dollar and their level of intelligence … may become a political ‘broker’.  It is said that those who remain standing are with financial double digits.

Ward bosses know not to displease the Mayor. To displease the mayor/boss/master, by not delivering ‘mandated’ votes, was telling the mayor that you didn’t want your assigned city jobs. And, not to deliver an expectant amount of pro-party votes, the ward worker was instructed to not report for work the next working day. You were terminated from a place of employment without any questions having to be asked. The mayor has that kind of power, but only because people give it up via the vote.

Though the philosophies of our many yesterdays have changed, the political game is still the same! Politicians: Democrats and Republican alike have always slept and conspired together especially in regard to Coloreds, Negroes, Blacks and now African Americans. The game is still the same just the players have changed!

History dictates that African Americans have given blood, sweat and tears to bring about constructive change for all Americans … which include blacks.

Note: Frederick Douglass

In 1888, Frederick Douglass was invited to speak at the Republican National Convention. Afterwards, during the roll call vote, he received one vote, so was nominally a candidate for the presidency. In those years, the candidates for the presidency and vice presidency were chosen by state representatives voting at the nominating convention. Many decisions were made by negotiations of state and party leaders “behind closed doors.” Douglass was not a serious candidate in contemporary terms.

Note: George Edwin Taylor

In 1904, George Edwin Taylor, was president of the National Negro Democratic League.[1] Southern Democrats were enacting laws that disfranchised most Black voters and were imposing segregation through “Jim Crow” laws. Northern Democrats seemed unwilling and/or unable to control the excesses of their Southern parties. The National Negro Democratic League was fractured by the debate over the issue of linking the nation’s currency to silver as well as to gold. By 1904, Taylor was positioned to abandon the party and bureau that he had led as president for two terms. It was not a good time to be a Black Democrat. It also was a time when lynching was creeping northward and when scientific racism was gaining acceptance within the nation’s intellectual and scientific community.

The Deceitful Game of Politics: Republicans have been known to dress unofficially in democrats clothing for various reasons.  Democrats have been known to inform political workers to join ranks with another party to bring back pertinent information that would be helpful in sabotaging votes.

It’s known that those having large sums of money then may rest in the arms of one-another, before and after an election!  Money has always been a common denominator and a determent factor as to who is better able to sleep with whom. After a black has slept with the enemy, they get up from the bed of prostitution only to realize in hindsight … they have been used! History states it better: When are we going to learn and do better? Women have always led the charge, such as:

Note: Shirley Chisholm

In 1972, Shirley Chisholm, was the first African American major party candidate for president. She was a candidate for the Democratic Party nomination and participated in the Democratic primaries in numerous states. [9] She campaigned in 12 states and won 28 delegates.  In the actual balloting at the 1972 Democratic National Convention, she gained additional votes from disaffected Democrats and ended with 152 delegates.

A man with a vision was:

Note: Jesse Jackson

In the 1984 presidential election and 1988 presidential election, Jesse Jackson was the first major party black candidate to run nationwide primary campaigns. He also competed as a Democrat. In 1984, he garnered around 3 million votes in the primaries and in 1988, around 7 million.

In 1992, Alan Keyes, was the first African-American candidate to run in the Republican presidential primaries.  Keyes participated again, unsuccessfully, in 1996, 2000, and 2008.

In 2004, Carol Moseley Braun and Al Sharpton were unsuccessful candidates in the Democratic primaries. “Tea Party” Republican Herman Cain staged a run for the presidency in 2012, and received a brief surge of attention and popularity, but withdrew before any primaries were held.

After having tried many vehicles to get into the Chicago World of Politics, the name of a gentle spirit came about… as though it was divine intervention… and it was! That name was Harold Washington!

Mayor Harold Washington:

Harold Lee Washington (April 15, 1922  – November 25, 1987) was an American lawyer, politician and elected in 1983 as the 51st Mayor of Chicago. He was the first African-American Mayor of Chicago, serving from April 29, 1983 until his death on November 25, 1987. He was also a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1981 to 1983 representing the Illinois first district, and also previously served in the Illinois State Senate and the Illinois House of Representatives.

Washington was the first African American mayor of the largest segregated city in North America.

Records indicate that only a few black politicians have emerge from the ‘world of politics’ unsoiled … Mayor Harold Washington did so with grace and dignity!

Even the political enemy well understood that Mayor Harold Washington was honestly interested in not some but all the citizens. As history would dictate… Washington laid down his life for constructive change. He surrendered his life to counter the political powers that sought to break the back of decency.

Question: Can the Chicago taxpayer once again select a candidate of moral and spiritual decency to rule over what was once known to be a great city?

Answer: Only God truly knows.

Rev. Harold E. Bailey is the founder and president of Probation Challenge

Contact Rev. Bailey: 773.978.3706 or

WWW.ProbationChallenge.org