2008 Woodie Awards
Milwaukee African-Americans in crisis
Stephanie Beecher
Issue date: 5/9/08 Section: Special to the MATC Times
Milwaukee also has the nation's highest teen pregnancy rate. Nationally, two out of three African-American mothers are single mothers. With each new single mother, frightening statistics follow. Without a father in the home and with the mother usually working, children of single mothers are at an alarming risk of committing theft, joining gangs, abusing drugs and alcohol, selling drugs, becoming pregnant or being involved in violent acts.
In addition to the aforementioned, African-Americans in Milwaukee also have the country's lowest home ownership rate.
Is it safe to say that Milwaukee African-Americans are in
crisis?
Milwaukee Sheriff David Clarke thinks so. "Without a doubt, it is in a crisis stage. The black income level, low levels of home ownership, high crime rates and a failing public school system are all serious risk factors." He also cited, "the middle class flight" (middle class blacks who flee to the suburbs) as reasons for the emergence of what he called "the underclass."
When asked whether high crime rates had also risen amongst other demographics, Sheriff Clarke said they had not.
Some Milwaukee residents blame the recent spike in crime, violence and other problems occurring in the community on Milwaukee's pertinent segregation.
They believe that the resulting disparities between the whites and blacks of the city stem from disproportionate opportunities.
Although the six members of MATC's Black Student Union interviewed refuted the idea that these problems are to blame on "the man," (the white man), they still felt that blacks were treated unfairly. Miquel Davis said, "Society is so judgmental.
Second chances are not given. Sometimes I think it's all a trap." Vanidy Perkins, also of BSU, believes unfair portrayal in local media is additionally to blame.
Part of the problem, they explained, is that there is a lack of leadership within these neighborhoods. "It's not like the '50s and '60s where we had people speaking for black people, lobbying for what is important," said Samson Ray, president of BSU.
In addition to the aforementioned, African-Americans in Milwaukee also have the country's lowest home ownership rate.
Is it safe to say that Milwaukee African-Americans are in
crisis?
Milwaukee Sheriff David Clarke thinks so. "Without a doubt, it is in a crisis stage. The black income level, low levels of home ownership, high crime rates and a failing public school system are all serious risk factors." He also cited, "the middle class flight" (middle class blacks who flee to the suburbs) as reasons for the emergence of what he called "the underclass."
When asked whether high crime rates had also risen amongst other demographics, Sheriff Clarke said they had not.
Some Milwaukee residents blame the recent spike in crime, violence and other problems occurring in the community on Milwaukee's pertinent segregation.
They believe that the resulting disparities between the whites and blacks of the city stem from disproportionate opportunities.
Although the six members of MATC's Black Student Union interviewed refuted the idea that these problems are to blame on "the man," (the white man), they still felt that blacks were treated unfairly. Miquel Davis said, "Society is so judgmental.
Second chances are not given. Sometimes I think it's all a trap." Vanidy Perkins, also of BSU, believes unfair portrayal in local media is additionally to blame.
Part of the problem, they explained, is that there is a lack of leadership within these neighborhoods. "It's not like the '50s and '60s where we had people speaking for black people, lobbying for what is important," said Samson Ray, president of BSU.
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