A new web project aims to capture the success and contributions of black community members in the city of Milwaukee through short videos. We talk with one of the organizers. We also take a look at what effect common romance plots in pop culture have on our understanding of sexual harassment and learn more about dental care in our state from one WPR reporter.
Featured in this Show
-
The Challenges Of Accessing Affordable Dental Care In Wisconsin
WPR Reporter Shamane Mills previews a three-part series on the challenges of accessing affordable dental health care in Wisconsin.
-
Website Aims To Change Narrative Of Black Milwaukeeans
When Romel Tolbert was a kid, his parents brought home a Commodore 64 computer.
He started tinkering around with it. He hooked it up to the back of his television and pulled out the instruction manual, which told him how to write basic coding.
“Little did I know I was creating a career for myself,” Tolbert says in a video for MyBlackStory.us.
Tolbert’s is one of several stories spotlighted on the website, which shares the stories of black advocates, policymakers and everyday people in the city of Milwaukee.
“We’re just trying to uplift and amplify the voices of people in Milwaukee who are traditionally not on mainstream news,” says Robert “Biko” Baker, who launched the website last summer with help from The Campaign for Black Male Achievement.
Tolbert went on to become a tech industry executive — a field where only 1 percent of executives are African-Americans — so telling his story is important for black children who may see themselves in Tolbert, Baker said.
Milwaukee is one of the most segregated cities in the country, and statistically one of the worst to be black in. But MyBlackStory’s tone is overwhelmingly positive.
“We are struggling. There are real, statistical problems here,” Baker said. “But the power of storytelling allows us to see new futures and new ideas.”
Baker is a Milwaukee native who came back to the city after getting his PhD from the University of California-Los Angeles. He said he’s proud of the people working to change the city’s narrative, whether that’s starting businesses, building families, or changing policy.
“Unfortunately, Milwaukee has sort of a bad rap,” he said. “And every day when I walk through the city, or I’m online, I’m seeing some amazing visionary genius leaders.”
The site currently features video stories of 19 black men and women in Milwaukee. They’re authors, advocates, community leaders, musicians and businesspeople. The videos let them tell their stories in their own words, speaking straight to the camera.
While the stories are only from Milwaukee, Baker said the website may expand in the future. He said the videos have been viewed more than 100,000 times, and he hopes they’re seen outside of Milwaukee and across the state.
“You don’t have to be from the black community to be proud of what’s going on in black Milwaukee,” Baker said.
-
New Project Tells Stories of Black Milwaukeeans
A new multimedia project is telling the stories of black Milwaukeeans, from advocates and policymakers… to everyday people. My Black Story highlights people making a positive difference in the city of Milwaukee. We talk with its creator.
-
When Pop Culture Romance Veers Into Harassment And Assault
In the midst of the #MeToo movement, a writer says we should take a closer look at the way pop culture portrays romance–with tv shows, movies, and songs often giving positive depictions of stalking, harassment, and assault.
Episode Credits
- Rob Ferrett Host
- Judith Siers-Poisson Producer
- Gretchen Brown Producer
- Rob Ferrett Producer
- Shamane Mills Guest
- Robert "Biko" Baker Guest
- Julie Beck Guest
Wisconsin Public Radio, © Copyright 2024, Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System and Wisconsin Educational Communications Board.
