Milwaukee
Milwaukee is the largest city in the state of Wisconsin and the home of America’s Black Holocaust Museum. Originally settled by German immigrants, Milwaukee became more of a melting pot during subquest immigration waves. The city was well known for manufacturing materials and beer, and local sports teams such as the Brewers still pay homage to those roots. Milwaukee’s Bronzeville neighborhood, of which America’s Black Holocaust Museum is a part, was originally settled by Germans before becoming the African-American center of the city.
Currently, Milwaukee has 1.18 more Black or African American residents than any other race. Racism is often prevalent, and Milwaukee is also known as the most segregated city in the country. The economic disparities are especially dire, with Black Milwaukeeans experiencing poverty at five times the rate of their white counterparts. Racial issues in Milwaukee made the city important in conversations about race during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Milwaukee is more politically liberal than much of Wisconsin, perhaps because of the demographics of its residents. Due to political lean, some politicians have attempted to influence politics by closing polling places in the city, much like they attempt to control elections by changing polling maps.
Nevertheless, the Black community and culture survive and even thrive in Milwaukee. The city welcomes speakers, organizations, and events recognizing and celebrating Black culture, including an annual weekly celebration of the Bronzeville neighborhood, which includes America’s Blakc History Museum. Mayor Cavalier Johnson is the city’s first Black mayor, while the city recently inducted its first Black woman as deputy fire chief.
Posts Tagged ‘Milwaukee’
History of Black Milwaukee Presented by John Gurda
ABHM is excited to announce that John Gurda will be presenting some of this expansive history that he has researched over the course of his career at the museum. There have been Black Milwaukeeans for as long as there’s been a Milwaukee. African Americans were present when the future metropolis was just a fur-trading post, and they grew with the city during its rise as a hotbed of abolitionist activity, an industrial powerhouse, and a haven for immigrants. The group’s numbers soared during the Great Migration of the twentieth century, and Black Milwaukeeans are the city’s largest single cultural group today. Unfolding over nearly two centuries, their story is an inspiring chronicle of struggle, resilience, and pride.
Read MoreCommunity Breastfeeding Gathering: In-Person
Community Breastfeeding Gatherings are education sessions for pregnant people and their families.
Read MoreExhibit — Living for the City: The Black Middle Class in Milwaukee
A traveling exhibition in conjunction with the “Living for the City: The Black Middle Class in Milwaukee” oral history project, which challenges and complicates existing narratives about Black Milwaukee mired in narrow assertions of poverty, segregation, incarceration, and educational underachievement. These are not the only stories to tell about Black Milwaukee. Research confirms that Milwaukee’s…
Read MoreBlack Men in White Coats Youth Summit: Milwaukee
The Advancing a Healthier Wisconsin Endowment (AHW) and the Medical College of Wisconsin, along with our community partners, invite those interested in maximizing the state’s health workforce and advancing health equity in Wisconsin to join them in a unique event designed to provide underrepresented minority youth with exposure to the medical field. All students 6th…
Read MoreDYNAMIC RANGE: Photographs by Bill Tennessen
Discover the rich tapestry of Milwaukee through the lens of Bill Tennessen at the Haggerty Museum of Art, situated within Marquette University. Mr. Tennessen’s extensive documentation of life in Milwaukee since 1981 is showcased, providing a compelling and diverse narrative of the city’s evolution.
Read MoreMCTS Announces 8th Annual Rosa Parks Scholarship
The Milwaukee County Transit System honors Rosa Parks each year while helping students pursue higher education with a scholarship.
Read MoreSecond annual Blackity Black Holiday Market connects shoppers to Black-owned businesses
HYFIN Radio Milwaukee hosted its second annual Blackity Black Market to highlight Black businesses in Milwaukee.
Read MoreBlackity Black Holiday Market
Hosted in conjunction with The African American Chamber of Commerce of Wisconsin, Historic King Drive BID and We Got Soul MKE as market partners, this market is open to all and will delight the senses as we celebrate community and move forward into our Holiday Season.
Read MoreTaking A Ride: Our Time Together Bus Tour
On our tour (which has been a year in the making), we will learn more about the Black community’s rich history in Milwaukee, centering on the compelling stories of Black women from our city and the importance of archives.
Read MoreLynching Site of George Marshall Clark Is Dedicated With Official Marker
Local officials, area leaders, and community members gathered in the Third Ward of Milwaukee County to honor George Marshall Clark, a victim of racial violence who was lynched on September 8, 1861. The dedication ceremony was organized by the Milwaukee County Landmarks Committee, part of the Milwaukee County Historical Society, and marked a vital step forward in acknowledging the past, promoting social justice, and preserving the memory of George Marshall Clark.
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