Page 8 - IPAMA Grand Opening Booklet

A History of African American People in Milwaukee

The Significant Other: A History of African American People in Milwaukee is an exhibit of
approximately 135 photos and drawings from the Wisconsin Black Historical Society
Museum. The exhibit provides school children, adults, educators, African Americans, and
non-African Americans with the opportunity to learn more about Milwaukee’s rich African
American heritage. African American people have played a significant, though unrecognized,
role in Milwaukee history. The Significant Other displays the large extent at which African
Americans have contributed to Milwaukee in business, housing, churches, and social
organizations.

The Walnut Street Community, sometimes called Bronzeville, was an important center of
African American Labor where entrepreneurial skills were developed.Businesses such as
beauty shops, barbershops, insurance agencies, taverns and nightclubs, mortuaries, health
care and legal services flourished in Bronzeville. These businesses were a source of
community identity and pride, and provided employment for neighborhood youth and
returning college students. The clubs were a vehicle, which connected Milwaukee African-
Americans with the national African-American community, bringing in such major
entertainers as Duke Ellington, Lionel Hampton, Dinah Washington, and Joe Lewis.

The series of photos, accompanied by text, display the struggles and the strides that African
Americans experienced in Milwaukee. Due to prejudicial housing practices Milwaukee’s
African American residents were severely limited to the areas in which they able to reside.
With an over flow of residents, these areas quickly became over populated and, in some
cases, broken-down.

The churches provided a great deal of assistance in dealing with the housing problems.
Churches such as St. Mark A.M.E. and Calvary Baptist all played a significant role in creating
better housing conditions for the communities. The churches were able to provide spiritual
and social opportunities for growth and enrichment.

Numerous social organizations also provided support for the African American community.
Fraternal organizations such as the Prince Hall Masons, the Odd Fellows and the Knights of
Pythias offered more than entertainment to their members. They also provided them with
sickness, disability and burial benefits. Service clubs, literary societies, self-improvement and
women’s clubs were all part of the social scene. Organizations like Milwaukee’s Urban
League sponsored fund-raising socials, balls, picnics, cultural programs, and entertainment
for charitable purposes.

The Significant Other: A History of African American People in Milwaukee is made possible
by a generous grant from the Helen Bader Foundation in celebration of the sesquicentennial
of the City of Milwaukee.

Wisconsin Black Historical Society Museum 2620 West Center Street Milwaukee, WI 53206 414.372.7677