Milwaukee

Explore Our Online Exhibits

voting_rights_1960-thumb-640xauto-5660
Voting Rights for Blacks and Poor Whites in the Jim Crow South
WeWashForWhitePeople
The Five Pillars of Jim Crow
Shackles from Slave Ship Henrietta Marie
Elmer Jackson – Working Man, Beloved Son and Brother
slaves in cotton field
How Slavery Became the Law of the Land “For Blacks Only”
FredDouglass w:firewks
Frederick Douglass: “The Meaning of July Fourth for the Negro”
Bernard Lafayette
Bernard Lafayette: An Unsung Veteran of the Voting Rights Struggle
George Zimmerman
Why the Zimmerman Jury Failed Us
The Scourged Back: This slave named Gordon ran for 80 miles to join the Union Forces in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in March 1863. This famous photo of the welts on his badly "scourged back" was taken while he was being fitted for a uniform.
The Scourged Back: How Runaway Slave and Soldier Private Gordon Changed History
Engene Crawford, center, grandson of lynching victim Anthony Crawford, and his family react during a reconciliation service at Friendship Worship Center Tuesday in Abbeville, S.C. (Mary Ann Chastain  /  AP)
Service Seeks Reconciliation Over 1916 Lynching
In this Sept. 15, 1963 file photo, emergency workers and others stand around a large crater from a bomb which killed four black girls in the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Ala. The windows of the building across the street in the background were also blown out. (AP Photo)
The Speech That Shocked Birmingham the Day After the Church Bombing
"Contrabands": During the Civil War, thousands of slaves escaped their owners in the South by getting to Union Army camps. Thus freed, many continued on to settle in the North.
The Freedmen of Wisconsin

Breaking News

Worldwide Community Events

2026 April

Week 5

Sun 29
Mon 30
Tue 31
Wed 1
Thu 2
Fri 3
Sat 4
Sun 5
Mon 6
Tue 7
Wed 8
Thu 9
Fri 10
Sat 11
Sun 12
Mon 13
Tue 14
Wed 15
Thu 16
Fri 17
Sat 18
Sun 19
Mon 20
Tue 21
Wed 22
Thu 23
Fri 24
Sat 25
Sun 26
Mon 27
Tue 28
Wed 29
Thu 30
Fri 1
Sat 2
  • No Events

  • No Events

  • No Events

  • No Events

  • No Events

Share

The Black Holocaust Through One City's Eyes

 

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. Milwaukee's Bronzeville neighborhood, of which ABHM is a part, was originally settled by Germans before becoming the African American Center of the city. The city was well known for manufacturing materials and beer, and local sports teams such as the Brewers still pay homage to those roots.

Currently, Milwaukee has 1.18 more Black or African American residents than any other race. However, racism is often prevalent and 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. Milwaukee was important in conversations about race during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Milwaukee is more politically liberal than much of Wisconsin, perhaps due to the demographics of its residents. Due to this, 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 that recognize and celebrate Black culture, including an annual weekly celebration of the Bronzeville neighborhood.  Mayor Cavalier Johnson is the city's first Black mayor, while the city recently inducted its first Black woman as deputy fire chief.

DYNAMIC 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.

Lynching 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.

Genealogists want faster action from UWM and others on Milwaukee County Poor Farm Cemetery remains

Two Wisconsin genealogists want to highlight the significance and protect the sanctity of Milwaukee’s poor burial sites, such as Cemetery One.

George Marshall Clark: Unmarked Grave of Milwaukee Lynching Victim Gets Headstone After 160 Years

Nearly two centuries after his brief life and brutal death were entered into public record as the only recorded lynching in Milwaukee history, George Marshall Clark’s unmarked grave was memorialized with a granite headstone during a special ceremony at Forest Home Cemetery on September 8. The moving event was sponsored by ABHM and Forest Home Cemetery.

Juneteenth and the future of Milwaukee

American descendants of slaves have celebrated Juneteenth for 153 years, but freedom remains elusive for many.