Milwaukee, WI

Why Black Women in Milwaukee See Hope in Kamala Harris – Milwaukee Courier Weekly Newspaper

Published

2 months ago

October 19, 2024

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Why Black Women in Milwaukee See Hope in Kamala Harris – Milwaukee Courier Weekly Newspaper

Black women across generations in Milwaukee are galvanizing for Kamala Harris for a variety of reasons.

By Princess Safiya Byers
Clara Lebron
and Chesnie Wardell

This story was originally published by Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service, where you can find other stories reporting on fifteen city neighborhoods in Milwaukee. Visit milwaukeenns.org.

Nationally, Black women are mobilizing to support Vice President Kamala Harris’ run for president of the United States in the upcoming election.
Many say they support Harris because they perceive the Democratic nominee as a candidate who understands them and will advocate for racial and gender equality for women of color.

Such support became evident in July when 44,000 Black women joined one Zoom call to support Harris’ newly launched presidential campaign, raising more than $1.5 million for the campaign, according to published reports.

Harris is expected to campaign in Milwaukee on Thursday.

Here is what Black women mobilizing for Harris looks like in Milwaukee.

A renewed interest

For some, Harris entering the presidential race was a turning point.

Dana Kelley has been reinvigorated by Kamala Harris’ run for the presidency. (Photo provided by Dana Kelley)

Dana Kelley, who formerly worked for Citizen Action of Wisconsin and ran for the Milwaukee Public school board, said politics had drained her, so when it came to the presidential election, she was uninterested.

“After being so invested in politics, I had no investment in this race,” Kelley said. “But seeing a Black woman running in this moment feels necessary, like a cultural reset or the country.”

Organizing for Harris

Ald. Sharlen Moore sees this as a historic election. (Photo provided by Sharlen Moore)

Some women, like Ald. Sharlen Moore, are using their community organizing experience and personal networks to reach voters.

Moore has been getting the vote out by having intentional conversations with community members, particularly about early voting.

Mia Moore, a University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee political science student, believes that the voices of young voters matter. (Photo provided by Matthew Moore)

Mia Moore, 18, a political science student at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, has been using social media platforms to share and repost content about voter registration.

Her goal is to reach the younger generation, so individuals like her friends can register for the first time.

She said this election is important to her because she believes racial justice, having basic health care for lower socioeconomic classes and basic rights are at stake.

Teresa Thomas-Boyd, pastor of Matters of the Heart Christian Ministries, plans to encourage early voting for the upcoming election. (Photo provided by Kalida Williams

Teresa Thomas-Boyd, pastor of Matters of the Heart Christian Ministries and a consultant for faith and community organizations, has been organizing community rallies and faith-based events to bring together advocates, leaders and elected officials for conversations.

Thomas- Boyd, 67, also does tabling events to tell residents about the importance of voting. Tabling is a common practice to provide information and answer questions at community events.

She said she believes people’s everyday lives are at stake as a result of issues like the elimination of education funding, lack of employment opportunities and a woman’s right to choose what to do with her body without government interference.

“Harris brings light and hope to a country that has been in disarray,” said Thomas-Boyd, who passed out voting information at the annual Harvest Day hosted by Walnut Way Conservation Corp. in September.

Cree Howard, a senior at Marquette University, has been sharing information on voting. (Photo by Clara Lebron)

Cree Howard, 21, a senior at Marquette University, studying criminology and sociology, has been tabling for voting organizations. Howard provides assistance to potential voters who might be unsure of who to vote for or even if they are voting.

“I have all the information from all the candidates and I give it to people to make sure they are informed,” she said.

Howard is also a member of Harris’ sorority – Alpha Kappa Alpha Inc., the nation’s oldest Black sorority. Harris has been a member of the organization since the 1980s, joining the international group’s original chapter at her alma mater, Howard University.

Cultural and historic resonance

For some Black women in Milwaukee, Harris’ rise will help bring attention to Black women’s ongoing struggle for racial and gender equality, especially when it comes to closing the pay equity gap.

They also believe Harris’ position, as the potential first Black woman and woman of color to be elected president, offers an opportunity for Black women to envision themselves in spaces of leadership and power that traditionally were off limits to them.

“To have the first Black woman is historical because she is a woman that is more qualified to hold the position of our highest office,” Sharlen Moore said.

Mia Moore appreciates that she can see someone representing her.

“I think seeing a Black woman that looks like me in this position is powerful and inspiring because it’s usually white men holding power,” she said.

Howard understands that feeling.

“I’m watching a Black woman on the screen running for president,” she said. “ If that ([Harris getting elected) happens, I’d have a woman in office that is a part of the same communities and groups as me. There are certain things that only AKAs do and knowing she has gone through those same processes truly makes me feel like everything will be better.”

A sense of hope

Some Black women think Harris becoming president brings them an overall sense of calm.

Kelley said Harris’ run for the presidency is a sigh of relief.

“Everything about her race is rejuvenating and graceful,” Kelley said. “Even if she doesn’t win, having the platform she has and displaying the integrity she has means something.”

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Milwaukee, WI

‘I’m just sickened’: Racist flyers discovered in southside Milwaukee neighborhood with growing immigrant population

Published

6 hours ago

December 19, 2024

Press Room

‘I’m just sickened’: Racist flyers discovered in southside Milwaukee neighborhood with growing immigrant population

Racist political flyers targeting immigrant communities were discovered Thursday morning near a southside Milwaukee park.

The flyers were found along sidewalks near Ohio Park, 974 W. Holt Ave., in the Morgandale neighborhood between Eighth, Ninth and 10th streets by West Oklahoma Avenue and West Holt Avenue, Ald. Marina Dimitrijevic told the Journal Sentinel Thursday evening.

The alderwoman said a constituent notified her office and staff then notified the Milwaukee Police Department. Dimitrijevic said “it appears” that more flyers were found in other parts of Milwaukee County and Wisconsin. “The FBI is involved … but it’s still under investigation,” she said.

The FBI and Milwaukee police didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday night.

Dimitrijevic said several versions exist of the flyers, one of which has circulated in a neighborhood group online. “MASS DEPORTATION NOTICE,” a flyer is titled. The flyer then calls for undocumented immigrants to vacate the U.S. or be forcibly removed upon the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump on Jan. 20.

The Morgandale neighborhood is about 50% Latino and is also home to a growing Burmese Rohingya community. “This was a targeted area,” Dimitrijevic said.

“Clearly someone with a terrible intent, racist intent, a hateful intent, spread these carefully in a certain area at a certain time and it almost felt like it was right before school and people were kind of getting moving,” she added. “It’s pretty painful to get these types of phone calls.”

Another flyer calls for “white power unity” and offers a phone number to call to report undocumented neighbors, Dimitrijevic said.

A substance was found in some of the baggies holding the flyers, but “the substance has been deemed nontoxic,” Dimitrijevic said.

“I’ll be asking the city attorney, the police department, to look at whatever the violation was, private property littering,” she said. “… I certainly wish that racism was illegal but I am just really concerned about the families who worked really hard to be here and make our city what it is and to discover this with your family and children, such hateful flyers is just totally unacceptable. I can’t say more about how I absolutely refuse to normalize this activity.

“I don’t know why people are feeling emboldened but I’m not going to let that happen, certainly in my district or our city. … I see the strength of my district and the city is diversity, so the fact that it’s being attacked again, I’m not going to tolerate.”

Longtime neighbor responds to flyers

Michelle Jensen has lived in the Morgandale neighborhood for 18 years. “I’m just sickened, to be honest, it makes me angry,” she said.

“I’m choosing to believe that this person doesn’t live in my neighborhood.”

Jensen described her neighborhood as “very diverse.” She said it’s been “great” having new communities move into her neighborhood.

“I truly have felt very blessed to live in this neighborhood because I’ve felt so supported by neighbors,” Jensen said. “This makes me feel uncomfortable and not safe in the neighborhood.

“People have taken it too far, their political divide. What an idea to think that it’s OK to hate like this. It’s just gone too far.

“I really feel like it should be followed up on by the police. That’s a serious threat and it makes me fear for my neighbors.”

Drake Bentley can be reached at DBentley1@gannett.com.

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Milwaukee, WI

Reporter-anchor Tajma Hall is leaving WDJT-TV (Channel 58) in Milwaukee

Published

14 hours ago

December 19, 2024

Press Room

Reporter-anchor Tajma Hall is leaving WDJT-TV (Channel 58) in Milwaukee

Reporter-anchor Tajma Hall says she’s leaving WDJT-TV (Channel 58) after two years at the Milwaukee CBS affiliate “to pursue new opportunities.”

In a post on Facebook Wednesday, Hall, who has been at Channel 58 since February 2022, said she’s leaving the station early in 2025.

Hall anchors Channel 58’s Saturday morning newscast, along with her reporting shifts and fill-in anchor duties. She came to Milwaukee from Madison, where she was an anchor-reporter for two years at WMTV-TV; before that, she was a reporter-anchor at WEAU-TV in Eau Claire.

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Milwaukee, WI

Milwaukee sensory-friendly 'The Nutcracker' performance inclusive for all

Published

22 hours ago

December 19, 2024

Press Room

Milwaukee sensory-friendly ‘The Nutcracker’ performance

Seeing “The Nutcracker” ballet can be mesmerizing, from the leaps, to the lights to the loud sudden noises. Last week, the Milwaukee Ballet went without some of those elements – for good reason.

MILWAUKEE – At the Marcus Performing Arts Center, a treasured Christmas tradition takes center stage.

Before “The Nutcracker” begins, Evan Sulik and his mother Michelle are on their own adventure, meeting the characters ahead of a sensory-friendly performance.

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“We purposely come to sensory night for ‘The Nutcracker’ every year,” Michelle Sulik said.

Evan Sulik and his mother Michelle Sulik

Many dancers walk out in costume beforehand to interact with kids. These connections help create familiarity when performers take the stage.

“I feel so happy,” Evan Sulik said.

Rachel Howell is community engagement manager at the Milwaukee Ballet. The performance planned for this night will have relaxed house rules and other changes for people who may struggle with a traditional theater environment.

“Taking his mask off so they can tell that it’s a person playing this role might allow them to stay throughout the entirety of the performance without being nervous,” Howell said. “The show in general will be a little more muted. No loud sounds, no smoke, no haze. Things like that could be jarring.”

Some of Evan’s friends have come because they need accommodation.

“Whether it’s the lights up, or if they need to hoot and holler and get up and move. They can hoot and holler and get up and move,” Michelle Sulik said. “This is the only way that they can sit through the show.”

It was the first meet and greet since the COVID-19 pandemic. Families captured the warm moments.

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“For him, it opened up ballet for him,” Michelle Sulik said. “Small accommodations open it up so that the arts are for everyone. And they really wouldn’t have that opportunity otherwise. Small things make a big impact.”