Against all the forces attempting to stop change, progress, and the redevelopment of the Third Ward, I Stand With Alderman Tillman!

In the April 17, 2007 run off aldermanic election in Chicago’s historic Third Ward, I wholeheartedly, and unequivocally, stand with and support the reelection of Alderman Dorothy Tillman. She has for over twenty-three years represented the best tradition of Dr. King’s Dream in implementing, through the electoral process, an economic program that has provided an opportunity for African Americans in a variety of business enterprises and community development initiatives.

I have known the Alderman since the late 1960s when she first came to Chicago, at the age of 17, as a field staff organizer for the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), headed by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Part of young Dorothy’s role as a staff organizer for SCLC was to travel ahead and help lay the groundwork for the arrival of Dr. King and his staff. She arrived in Chicago to help Dr. King fight to expose the racism in Chicago’s housing policies that led to the historic open housing campaigns.

Prior to her arrival in Chicago, Dorothy Tillman was assigned the task as an SCLC field organizer to Choctaw County, Alabama to assist in organizing the Summer Community Organization for Political Education (S.C.O.P.E.) Project, which provided successful political education and voter registration. This project sparked the upliftment of racial pride and political consciousness that planted the seeds for African Americans to become elected to public offices throughout the south.

Sometime in the late 1970s, I began working directly with Dorothy Tillman as she began challenging the unacceptable teaching and learning strategies of the curriculum at Mollison Elementary School, called Continuous Progress, where her children attended. Mrs. Tillman organized a group of parents that fought this racist curriculum. She eventually filed a lawsuit that led to a yearlong campaign where nationally Tillman’s description of the school system being “factories of failure” was picked up in the media and cited in various news articles. 

Dorothy Tillman’s organizing work, along with the late activist and organizer Marion Stamps, helped lay the foundation for the election of Chicago’s first African American mayor, Harold Washington. Whether it was organizing through the Parent Equalizers in more than 400 schools to improve inner city education or challenging the racist policies of public housing, Alderman Tillman was at the forefront.

When Harold Washington became Mayor of Chicago in 1983 and a vacancy opened up in the third ward, he appointed Alderman Tillman. It took six months before her appointment was confirmed due to the white majority block aldermen who fought to block it.

The same vigor and fighting spirit Dorothy Tillman exhibited as an activist and organizer was brought by her to the new role as Alderman of the Third Ward launching a major campaign to clean up this blighted and greatly neglected community. Alderman Tillman set forth a vision to begin revitalizing and redeveloping the Third Ward that we are witnessing today. The following are some examples of this vision that is clearly evidenced by Alderman Tillman’s leadership of the Third Ward:

1. The creation of a 70/30 Plan to provide an opportunity to African American workers, suppliers and businesses that often times are not afforded opportunities by majority enterprises. This program’s initial launching was the historic African American Showcase of Homes and later was a factor in building the splendid Harold Washington Cultural Center.

2. She turned one of the largest, illegal dumps on the south side into the beautiful Grand Boulevard Plaza Shopping Center, creating some 200 jobs for the community.

3. She has successfully organized public funding and private capital to provide thousands of rehabilitated and new housing units for singles and families.

4. Provided an opportunity for NBA star, Chris Weber and his group to purchase the Shultz Bakery aimed at creating jobs and housing for community residents.

I suggest that everyone take a tour of the Third Ward and observe the tremendous revitalization and redevelopment taking place under the leadership of Alderman Tillman. Stop by the historic Parkway Ballroom, Jokes & Notes, Bishop Plaza at 47th & Bishop, the Amber Inn and Pearl’s Place Restaurant, Café Bionda at 1924 S. State, Legends South on the State Street Corridor, and Park Boulevard on the State Street Corner just to cite a few examples. Stop by Alderman Tillman’s Office at 4645 S. King Drive and ask for a full tour of the progress made under her leadership.

Finally, I stand and support Alderman Tillman because of her leadership in passing the historic Reparations Legislation that is called the Slavery Era Ordinance. This ordinance calls for all corporations doing business with the City of Chicago to reveal if they had any ties to slavery. This legislation has given a great boost to the Reparations Movement and serves as a legislative model for the entire country. This legislation has helped expose banks, mortgage companies, and other financial institutions’ ties to slavery.

I support Alderman Dorothy Tillman’s reelection because she is “repairing” the Third Ward and helping to repair America through her leadership inspired by her work with Dr. King. 

BC columnist Conrad W. Worrill, PhD, is the National Chairman of the National Black United Front (NBUF). Click here to contact Dr. Worrill.