Anna Langford
Encyclopedia
Anna Langford was an American politician
and lawyer
who served on the Chicago City Council
in Chicago
, Illinois
. Langford became the first African American
woman elected to the Chicago City Council in 1971. She ultimately served three nonconsecutive terms on the council.
Anna Langford was born in Springfield, Ohio
to an African American father and a white mother. Both of her parents died when she was young. However, it was the circumstances of her mother's death which would having a lasting impact on Langford's life and her involvement with the civil rights movement. Her mother, who was white, was taken to an Ohioan hospital suffering from appendicitis
. However, when her children, including Anna, who were biracial, came to visit their sick mother, the hospital immediately ordered her transferred to another hospital for African Americans. Langford's mother suffered a burst appendix while enroute to the second hospital and did not survive. Her mother's death, which was caused by racism and discrimination, would shape the rest of Langford's life.
Langford moved to Chicago after the death of her parents. She graduated from Hyde Park High School
and Roosevelt University
. She enrolled at John Marshall Law School
and became a lawyer
in 1956.
She became intimately involved in the Civil Rights Movement
, both within the Chicago Metropolitan Area and nationwide. Langford met with Martin Luther King Jr. in the living room
of her own home in 1966 to plan a march on Cicero, Illinois
, to promote racial integration
within the suburb
.
Langford ran for a seat on the Chicago City Council
in 1971 after losing in her first attempt four years earlier. She was the Chicago's first woman to be elected alderman
on February 23, 1971. She was elected to represent the 16th Ward, which encompassed portions of the Back of the Yards, Gage Park
and Englewood
.
Langford lost her re-election bid for city council
in 1975. She lost another election attempt in 1979, before finally winning election a second time to the Chicago City Council in 1983. She was re-elected in 1987 and retired from her seat four years later. In the Chicago City Council reorganization of 1988, Anna Langford became Mayor Pro-Tempore of the Council, a post she held from 1988-1991.
In the early 1980s, Langford challenged United States Congressman Harold Washington
, to run for Mayor of Chicago
. She reportedly told Washington that she would run for mayor if her didn't, even going so far as to have "Langford for Mayor" cards printed to pressure Washington into entering the race. Her persuasion worked. Washington successfully ran for Mayor and was elected 1983. Washington's death in 1987 of a heart attack, brought Langford into the public spotlight as a mediator between two rival African American aldermen, Eugene Sawyer
and Timothy C. Evans
, who sought to succeed him. Langford ultimately backed Eugene Sawyer who was selected by the Chicago City Council to fill the Mayoral vacancy.
Langford was a supporter of Barack Obama
's candidacy for President of the United States
during her later life.
Ann Langford died of lung cancer
on September 17, 2008, at her home in the Englewood
neighborhood of Chicago at the age of 90. Langford was survived by her son, Larry Langford, three grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
and lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
who served on the Chicago City Council
Chicago City Council
The Chicago City Council is the legislative branch of the government of the City of Chicago in Illinois. It consists of 50 aldermen elected from 50 wards to serve four-year terms...
in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
. Langford became the first African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
woman elected to the Chicago City Council in 1971. She ultimately served three nonconsecutive terms on the council.
Anna Langford was born in Springfield, Ohio
Springfield, Ohio
Springfield is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Clark County. The municipality is located in southwestern Ohio and is situated on the Mad River, Buck Creek and Beaver Creek, approximately west of Columbus and northeast of Dayton. Springfield is home to Wittenberg...
to an African American father and a white mother. Both of her parents died when she was young. However, it was the circumstances of her mother's death which would having a lasting impact on Langford's life and her involvement with the civil rights movement. Her mother, who was white, was taken to an Ohioan hospital suffering from appendicitis
Appendicitis
Appendicitis is a condition characterized by inflammation of the appendix. It is classified as a medical emergency and many cases require removal of the inflamed appendix, either by laparotomy or laparoscopy. Untreated, mortality is high, mainly because of the risk of rupture leading to...
. However, when her children, including Anna, who were biracial, came to visit their sick mother, the hospital immediately ordered her transferred to another hospital for African Americans. Langford's mother suffered a burst appendix while enroute to the second hospital and did not survive. Her mother's death, which was caused by racism and discrimination, would shape the rest of Langford's life.
Langford moved to Chicago after the death of her parents. She graduated from Hyde Park High School
Hyde Park Career Academy
Hyde Park Career Academy is a public 4-year high school located in the Woodlawn neighborhood in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It is a part of the Chicago Public Schools District 299.-Notable alumni:...
and Roosevelt University
Roosevelt University
Roosevelt University is a coeducational, private university with campuses in Chicago, Illinois and Schaumburg, Illinois. Founded in 1945, the university is named in honor of both former President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt. The university's curriculum is based on...
. She enrolled at John Marshall Law School
John Marshall Law School
John Marshall Law School may refer to:*John Marshall Law School in Chicago, Illinois*John Marshall Law School in Atlanta, Georgia*Cleveland-Marshall College of Law in Cleveland, Ohio...
and became a lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
in 1956.
She became intimately involved in the Civil Rights Movement
Civil rights movement
The civil rights movement was a worldwide political movement for equality before the law occurring between approximately 1950 and 1980. In many situations it took the form of campaigns of civil resistance aimed at achieving change by nonviolent forms of resistance. In some situations it was...
, both within the Chicago Metropolitan Area and nationwide. Langford met with Martin Luther King Jr. in the living room
Living room
A living room, also known as sitting room, lounge room or lounge , is a room for entertaining adult guests, reading, or other activities...
of her own home in 1966 to plan a march on Cicero, Illinois
Cicero, Illinois
Cicero is an incorporated town in Cook County, Illinois, United States. The population was 83,891 at the 2010 census. Cicero is named for the town of Cicero, New York, which in turn was named for Marcus Tullius Cicero, the Roman statesman and orator....
, to promote racial integration
Racial integration
Racial integration, or simply integration includes desegregation . In addition to desegregation, integration includes goals such as leveling barriers to association, creating equal opportunity regardless of race, and the development of a culture that draws on diverse traditions, rather than merely...
within the suburb
Suburb
The word suburb mostly refers to a residential area, either existing as part of a city or as a separate residential community within commuting distance of a city . Some suburbs have a degree of administrative autonomy, and most have lower population density than inner city neighborhoods...
.
Langford ran for a seat on the Chicago City Council
Chicago City Council
The Chicago City Council is the legislative branch of the government of the City of Chicago in Illinois. It consists of 50 aldermen elected from 50 wards to serve four-year terms...
in 1971 after losing in her first attempt four years earlier. She was the Chicago's first woman to be elected alderman
Alderman
An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members themselves rather than by popular vote, or a council...
on February 23, 1971. She was elected to represent the 16th Ward, which encompassed portions of the Back of the Yards, Gage Park
Gage Park, Chicago
Gage Park is one of Chicago's 77 well-defined community areas, located on the city's southwest side; it is also the name of a park within the neighborhood. Gage Park's population is largely working-class, and its housing stock is mostly bungalows. For generations, the neighborhood was Eastern...
and Englewood
Englewood, Chicago
Englewood, once known as "Junction Grove" , is one of the 77 official community areas of Chicago. At its height, over 97,000 people lived in its approximately 3 square miles , but the neighborhood's population has since dropped dramatically...
.
Langford lost her re-election bid for city council
City council
A city council or town council is the legislative body that governs a city, town, municipality or local government area.-Australia & NZ:Because of the differences in legislation between the States, the exact definition of a City Council varies...
in 1975. She lost another election attempt in 1979, before finally winning election a second time to the Chicago City Council in 1983. She was re-elected in 1987 and retired from her seat four years later. In the Chicago City Council reorganization of 1988, Anna Langford became Mayor Pro-Tempore of the Council, a post she held from 1988-1991.
In the early 1980s, Langford challenged United States Congressman Harold Washington
Harold Washington
Harold Lee Washington was an American lawyer and politician who became the first African-American Mayor of Chicago, serving from 1983 until his death in 1987.- Early years and military service :...
, to run for Mayor of Chicago
Mayor of Chicago
The Mayor of Chicago is the chief executive of Chicago, Illinois, the third largest city in the United States. He or she is charged with directing city departments and agencies, and with the advice and consent of the Chicago City Council, appoints department and agency leaders.-Appointment...
. She reportedly told Washington that she would run for mayor if her didn't, even going so far as to have "Langford for Mayor" cards printed to pressure Washington into entering the race. Her persuasion worked. Washington successfully ran for Mayor and was elected 1983. Washington's death in 1987 of a heart attack, brought Langford into the public spotlight as a mediator between two rival African American aldermen, Eugene Sawyer
Eugene Sawyer
Eugene Sawyer was an American businessman and politician who served as Mayor of Chicago, Illinois as a member of the Democratic Party. He was the second African American to serve as mayor of Chicago....
and Timothy C. Evans
Timothy C. Evans
Timothy C. Evans is the Chief Judge of the Cook County Circuit Court. He is the first black Chief Judge of the Cook County Circuit Court and a graduate of the John Marshall Law School in Chicago. He was first elected to the bench in 1992....
, who sought to succeed him. Langford ultimately backed Eugene Sawyer who was selected by the Chicago City Council to fill the Mayoral vacancy.
Langford was a supporter of Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
's candidacy for President of the United States
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
during her later life.
Ann Langford died of lung cancer
Lung cancer
Lung cancer is a disease characterized by uncontrolled cell growth in tissues of the lung. If left untreated, this growth can spread beyond the lung in a process called metastasis into nearby tissue and, eventually, into other parts of the body. Most cancers that start in lung, known as primary...
on September 17, 2008, at her home in the Englewood
Englewood, Chicago
Englewood, once known as "Junction Grove" , is one of the 77 official community areas of Chicago. At its height, over 97,000 people lived in its approximately 3 square miles , but the neighborhood's population has since dropped dramatically...
neighborhood of Chicago at the age of 90. Langford was survived by her son, Larry Langford, three grandchildren and one great-grandchild.