Racial Justice

In 2004, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel called Milwaukee’s central city economy more severe than during the Great Depression, with 59 percent of black males unemployed.

Years after federally enforced desegregation of schools and public places, Milwaukee is still known as hyper-segregated. If you pay attention, you don’t need statistics to understand this reality. But if you need those statistics, you can check out some of Mark Levine’s reports which show why Milwaukee is in the top rankings for segregated cities in this country.

What do we do about this?

I don’t have all the answers, but the beginning of finding them lies in first addressing this problem head-on by naming it. We have a crisis in our midst –one that we can do something about — and in some circles, we barely acknowledge it.

At a recent forum at UWM commemorating the 40th anniversary of the open housing marches, one young man gave his insight on solving the problem. “We need to talk to each other,” he said.

Yes, we need to have these discussions around our kitchen tables, in our churches and among our leadership, whether Black, White, Latino, Hmong or other minority groups.

Sound city planning, focusing on jobs and access to jobs in the city, would address a huge part of the problem. We can’t have racial justice while economic disparities continue.

I believe people of all ethnicities in this city want to begin to solve the problems that stem from racial segregation. We need leaders who can address this problem with heart and soul who are willing to listen to people’s needs and fears and be willing to act and take some risks.

Our city and all of its residents are at least worth that.

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