The African American experience in Milwaukee can be defined by both resilience and racial inequities. Records show that African Americans were living in Milwaukee as early as the 1700s, and during a second wave of the Black migration from 1940 to 1970, Milwaukee’s Black population grew rapidly due to opportunities in industrial work.
This month, we are looking back on those that have shaped the Black history of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo Credit: Kaitlyn Ahnert)
In the 20th century, industry drove many African Americans to the city. (Photo Credit: Zach Lisko)
Currently, African Americans account for nearly forty percent of Milwaukee’s population and are integral to the city’s socio-economic fabric. Milwaukee, however, is reportedly one of the most segregated cities in the country and has a history of racialized housing and employment bias.
Historically, the fight for equality reached an apex during the late 1960s with the March on Milwaukee for fair housing, where local civil rights activists protested for 200 consecutive days from August 1967 to March 1968. That march ultimately contributed to the passage of the federal Fair Housing Act in 1968.
Because Black history matters.
And cries for justice continue. In 2020, the murder of unarmed Minneapolis man George Floyd sparked a year-long protest by Milwaukee residents, who have experienced similar incidents of police brutality in their own city.
To learn more about the culture and contributions of Milwaukee’s proud African American community, start by visiting these landmarks.
The History of Milwaukee
A short drive north of Milwaukee, take a self-guided walking tour of Paramount Plaza, which pays homage to Paramount Records – Wisconsin’s home for the blues – with a standout Walk of Fame sidewalk that resembles a piano keyboard. The record label roster included greats like Louis Armstrong, Ma Rainey, Ethel Waters, and Jelly Roll Morton.
Learn how the institution of slavery has shaped today’s systemic racism. (Photo Credit: Edwin Gonzalez)
This is the face of Milwaukee. (Photo Credit: Leroy Skalstad)
The Wisconsin Black Historical Society Museum is a resource for anyone interested in the state’s rich African American heritage. Current exhibits include “The African American Labor Experience in Wisconsin” and a fourteen-panel mural tracing people of African descent from ancient Egypt to modern Milwaukee.
America’s Black Holocaust Museum reopened in 2022 and has also maintained its online history galleries. The museum was founded in 1988 by Dr. James Cameron, who survived a lynching as a teenager and later became a civil rights activist. Exhibits chronicle the lives of African people before their captivity and how the institution of slavery shaped America’s economic, political, legal, and social systems.
The Culture of Milwaukee
Founded by Milwaukee native and Academy Award winner John Ridley, NO Studios is a hub for film and creativity. Check the public event calendar for free art events and performance pop-ups.
When art itself is a form of protest. (Photo Credit: Tom Barrett)
The Milwaukee Art Museum is home to the Richard and Erna Flagg Collection of Haitian Art which boasts the largest collection of Haitian art outside of Haiti, with a focus on family, community, and religion. The museum’s diverse collection also includes works by prominent Black artists like Kehinde Wiley, Winfred Rembert, Thornton Dial, Sr., and Rashid Johnson.
MKE Black is an online directory that celebrates and promotes Black businesses, events, and culture in the greater Milwaukee area. Use the website as a resource to find Black-owned eateries and shops.
3 Black-Owned Businesses to Support Now
The cheekily named cafe, Coffee Makes You Black, is a community hot spot for house-roasted coffee and hearty fare like chicken and waffles and shrimp and grits.
You come to Milwaukee for the authentic Ethiopian coffee. (Photo Credit: Eyoel Kahssay)
But stick around for the local chicken and waffles. (Photo Credit: Frankie Lopez)
Alem Ethiopian Village is a good pick for vegan and vegetarian-friendly fare, with flavorful options like collard greens, salads, lentils, and split peas. To keep with tradition, forgo the silverware and nosh from a common plate using your hands.
Dig in at the family-operated Daddy’s Soul Food & Grille, known for its daily soul food buffet with a choice of fried or baked chicken and crispy fried catfish and a selection of mouth-watering sides, including baked macaroni and cheese, sweet potatoes, black-eyed peas, and smoked turkey greens.
Check out the rest of our Black History & Culture blog series by following the tag below.
