Oral+History+Reaction

I have always wanted to learn more about what actually happened during the 1960’s in Milwaukee because I am from Milwaukee. As I was researching I found out that not only was the summer of 1967 a big deal in Detroit but it was also a big deal in Milwaukee as well. I chose my grandmother because I thought she would have the most vivid memories of the time. As I was talking to my grandmother I could tell that this time brought back a lot of fear for her she kept saying “I just wanted to protect my family”. As the interview went on I could tell that this was hard thing for the white people to accept. She made a comment saying that during the riots she and her husband painted all the black statues in her and around her house white. In this time racial tensions were high.

Being from Milwaukee, I always knew that the wealthy lived on one side of town and the poor the other. I could have never guessed that 45 years ago people were fighting for the city not to be segregated. I found out during this interview that Milwaukee natives had always accepted change and civil rights. After this interview I strongly believe that the City of Milwaukee is trying to become less segregated.