Harold: His Struggle to Greatness as Chicago's First Black Mayor (1988)

Harold, published in 1988 by Tom Floyd Visuals, is a rare editorial cartoon collection dedicated to chronicling the historic political career of Harold Washington, Chicago's first Black mayor. This full-color publication features original editorial cartoons by Thomas Wesley Floyd, Sr. — one of the most significant Black cartoonists in American history — documenting Washington's journey from underdog candidate to transformative civic leader.

Each cartoon captures the drama, racial tension, and triumphant moments of Washington's tenure, including his landmark 1983 election, the brutal "Council Wars" standoff against the Vrdolyak 29, and his hard-won second-term victory in 1987. Floyd presents Washington not merely as a politician, but as a symbol of Black resilience and political power in one of America's most racially charged cities.

Harold was a trailblazer in African American political cartooning, giving visual voice to one of the most consequential Black political victories of the 20th century across civil rights, urban politics, race, and community empowerment. The book sought to preserve Washington's legacy in real time, provide counter-narrative imagery to mainstream media depictions, and serve as a living historical document of Chicago's transformation.

Its influence endures as a rare, firsthand artistic record of Black political history created by and for the Black community — providing a blueprint for how Black editorial cartooning can document and elevate Black political power for future generations.