Milwaukee

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Map of the world showing which countries that traffic in humans to the U.S.; map shows how individual countries comply with anti-trafficking laws. The Kansas City Star 2009<p>

With BC-TRAFFICKING:KC, Kansas City Star by Mark Morris<p>

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Traces of the Trade: The North’s Complicity in Slavery
Brannan book cover
The Long Afterlife of a Lynching
The morning sun paints the Washington Monument red as it skims the top of the National Museum of African American History and Culture - NMAAHC  in Washington, DC.  The new museum opened to the public September 24, 2016.  When viewed from particular angles, the two structures fit together like puzzle pieces.
(Photo by Jahi Chikwendiu/The Washington Post via Getty Images)
After 100 Years Of Challenges, The 1st Nat’l Black History Museum Is Here
Illustration for YES! Magazine by Jennifer Luxton.
Peering Through White-Rimmed Glasses: A Letter to My Fellow White Americans
LPDAcknowledgement-1024x768
Georgia Police Chief, Other White Leaders Apologize for 1940 Lynching
Joshua Glover
How Does a City Choose to Remember its Past?
June Jordan posing for the cover of her book, Moving Towards Home. 1989. Gwen Philips.
The Double Struggles of June Jordan, Poet and Social Activist
The lynching crowd poses as Brown's body burns. No one served time for their participation in the riot or lynching. Brown was buried in a pauper's grave. His death was recorded in a log with just his name and the word "Lynched."
A Short Video History of the Long History of Terror Lynchings
A man stands in front of the Djingareyber mosque on February 4, 2016 in Timbuktu, central Mali. 
Mali's fabled city of Timbuktu on February 4 celebrated the recovery of its historic mausoleums, destroyed during an Islamist takeover of northern Mali in 2012 and rebuilt thanks to UN cultural agency UNESCO.
TO GO WITH AFP STORY BY SEBASTIEN RIEUSSEC / AFP / SÉBASTIEN RIEUSSEC
African Peoples Before Captivity
Shackles from Slave Ship Henrietta Marie
Kidnapped: The Middle Passage
Enslaved family picking cotton
Nearly Three Centuries Of Enslavement

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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.