2024 Black History Month: ‘African Americans and the Arts’ in Wisconsin’s Black community

February is Black History Month and WISN 12 News is celebrating

Updated: 5:00 PM CST Mar 2, 2024

TOMORROW KICKS OFF BLACK HISTORY MONTH AND EVERY YEAR UW-MILWAUKEE HOSTS CELEBRATIONS THAT STUDENTS AND THE PUBLIC CAN ENJOY. I’M HERE WITH VICTORIA PRYOR AND ANNA BOAST GREER FROM UWM’S BLACK STUDENT CULTURAL CENTER, ALONG WITH PARKER SELTZER, A UWM STUDENT. THANK YOU ALL FOR JOINING US TODAY. WE’RE SO GLAD TO HOST YOU. CAN YOU EXPLAIN TO US WHAT IS GOING ON, WHAT’S STARTING TOMORROW THAT PEOPLE CAN STOP BY? YEAH. SO WHAT’S REALLY IMPORTANT ABOUT WHAT’S GOING ON HERE IS OUR BLACK HISTORY MONTH KICKOFF EVENT. UM, REALLY? WE WANTED TO YOU KNOW, CREATE A SAFE SPACE FOR FOLKS OF ALL WALKS OF LIFE, RIGHT? TO COME AND EXPERIENCE, KIND OF LIKE THE RICH HISTORY OF BLACK AMERICANS WITHIN THE US. WE HAVE SO MANY EVENTS GOING ON. WE HAVE OUR CALENDARS HERE, WHICH YOU CAN FIND ON CAMPUS IN A VARIETY OF PLACES THAT LIST ALL OF THE EVENTS THAT ARE HAPPENING. UM, WE HAVE SOME REALLY COOL FILMS HAPPENING AS WELL TOO. UM, WE HAVE OUR SISTERS LIKE ME EVENT. OUR KICKOFF IS GOING TO BE NEXT WEEK, TUESDAY. THE SIXTH, FROM 11 TO 2 P.M. IN THE UNION CONCOURSE. SO A LOT OF REALLY COOL EVENTS HAPPENING, SO MUCH GOING ON THAT YOU NEED A WHOLE CALENDAR AND PARKER, YOU WERE SORT OF BEHIND THE BRAINS OF DESIGNING IT, RIGHT? YEAH, YEAH, I JUST WANTED TO GO INTO IT WITH A, JUST AN IDEA OF WHAT BLACK ART JUST MEANT FOR ME AS A PERSON. I LOVE JUST DRAWING AND MAKING STUFF. AS A YOUNG KID, AND I USED TO SEE IT ALL THE TIME AND JUST MEDIA AS ITSELF AND SEEING IT IN BLACK MEDIA. I JUST WANTED TO, UM, I GUESS JUST SHOW AS MUCH OF IT AS I COULD AND REALLY SHOW OTHERS HOW MUCH IT MEANS TO THE COMMUNITY AND HOW MUCH IT MEANS FOR EVERYONE IN MILWAUKEE TO JUST KEEP MAKING THINGS AND CREATING THINGS AND GROWING AS JUST AS PEOPLE. YEAH, AND SO COOL TO HAVE A PHYSICAL COPY OF YOUR WORK NOW THAT YOU CAN SHOW OFF, IS THERE A SPECIFIC THEME FOR BLACK HISTORY MONTH AT UW MILWAUKEE THIS YEAR? YES, IT’S, UM, INSPIRING COMMUNITY IN THE ARTS. AND SO, UM, IT’S JUST A BEAUTIFUL TIME FOR THE MILWAUKEE COMMUNITY. AND TO HIGHLIGHT, UM, AND TO SHOWCASE ALL WHAT WE HAVE TO OFFER AT UW, UM, FOR BLACK HISTORY MONTH. AND SO EVERY DAY IS BLACK HISTORY TO US. AND SO WE JUST WANT TO INVITE THE COMMUNITY TO COME OUT AND SHARE WITH US. YEAH, DEFINITELY A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW NEW PEOPLE, NEW THINGS TOO, THAT MAYBE THEY DIDN’T EVEN KNOW WERE HAPPENING ON CAMPUS. IS THERE ANYTHING SPECIFICALLY THAT. IS YOUR FAVORITE THAT’S HAPPENING THIS MONTH? I KNOW IT MIGHT BE HARD TO CHOOSE FOR ANYBODY. OH WELL, I ENJOY THE, UM, ALUMNI SOCIAL MIXER BECAUSE IT’S A TIME FOR OUR AFRICAN AMERICAN ALUMNI TO RECONNECT WITH, UM, BUT ESPECIALLY FOR OUR AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDENTS, BECAUSE IT’S IMPORTANT TO CREATE THOSE RELATIONSHIPS. SO THAT THEY CAN HAVE THAT CONNECTION AND FURTHER THEIR CAREER. NETWORKING IS SO VALUABLE ON THE COLLEGE LEVEL AND BEYOND, AND THE PUBLIC CAN COME TO SOME OF THESE EVENTS, RIGHT? IT’S NOT JUST FOR STUDENTS OR FACULTY. YEAH, NO. A LOT OF THE EVENTS THAT WE HAVE ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. SOME EVENTS ARE FREE, BUT SOME EVENTS MIGHT BE MIGHT HAVE COSTS. UM, IT JUST DEPENDS ON WHAT THE EVENT IS. THAT’S AWESOME. I GUESS JUST TO CLOSE THINGS OUT, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO CHECK OUT ONE OR SEVERAL EVENTS HAPPENING THIS MONTH? MHM. UH, I’D JUST SAY JUST, YOU KNOW, COME WITH AN OPEN MIND, BE READY TO ENGAGE WITH EVERYBODY. UM, IT’S A, IT’S AN ENVIRONMENTALLY LIKE JUST ENGAGING AND LIKE OVERWHELMINGLY, UM, JUST FUN EXPERIENCE. AND I THINK YOU’D REALLY ENJOY IT JUST BEING OPEN, COMING OUT AND JUST HANGING OUT. YEAH. OPEN AND ACCEPTING IT SOUNDS LIKE FOR SURE. AND CHECK OUT THE CALENDAR WILL BE CLOSING OUT THE CELEBRATION WITH COFFEE. SO JUST CHECK OUT THE WEBSITE, FACEBOOK. WE’RE ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND WE JUST HAVE A FLOURISH OF OF DIFFERENT EVENTS THAT WE’LL BE DOING THIS MONTH. AND SO WE’RE LOOKING FORWARD TO IT. CAN PEOPLE GET THEIR HANDS ON A PHYSICAL COPY OF THAT CALENDAR SOMEWHERE AS WELL? YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. SO THE UNION INFORMATION DESK AND THEN THE UNION CONCOURSE HAS COPIES OF THIS AS WELL. THEY’RE KIND OF LIKE POSTED IN A LOT OF DIFFERENT PLACES ON CAMPUS. SO YEAH, YOU CAN DEFINITELY FIND, UM, HARD COPIES AS WELL AS DIGITAL COPIES AS WELL ON THESE SOCIAL CULTURAL PROGRAMING WEBSITE. ON ON UM’S LARGER SITE. AND WE ALSO HAVE THEM IN OUR OFFICE AS WELL. PERFECT. IT SOUNDS LIKE NOT REALLY AN EXCUSE NOT TO GO TO AT LEAST ONE WHEN YOU HAVE A FULL CALENDAR WITH TONS OF TIMES SOMETHING’S GOING ON EVERY DAY. THAT’S SO EXCITING! THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR JOINING US AGAIN. THOSE DETAILS ARE. UW MILWAUKEE HOSTING SEVERAL EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY LIKE BLACK HISTORY TRIVIA AND OPENING AND CLOSING CEREMONY, AND SO MUC

2024 Black History Month: ‘African Americans and the Arts’ in Wisconsin’s Black community

February is Black History Month and WISN 12 News is celebrating

Updated: 5:00 PM CST Mar 2, 2024

Black History Month, observed each February, commemorates African American contributions to American history. It started as “Negro History Week” by Carter G. Woodson in 1915, 50 years after slavery ended. It expanded to a month-long celebration in 1976 and has been recognized by every U.S. president since then.WISN 12 is celebrating black history throughout the month of February with important stories recognizing key players, critical moments, and the impact on our community. Feb. 26: History on the ice: Sisters are first Black siblings on UW hockey teamFeb. 27: Milwaukee Bucks honor Historically Black Colleges and UniversitiesFeb. 25: Black Business Spotlight: Spinn MKE First Black-owned aesthetics school in MilwaukeeFeb. 23: Vietnam veterans honored during Black Excellence AwardsFeb. 21: Black Business Spotlight: Lush Popcorn in MKE’s Riverwest neighborhoodFeb. 18: Milwaukee celebrates trailblazer Vel R. Phillips’ 100th birthdayFeb. 15: History at Alverno College: First Black woman presidentMilwaukee production company awards scholarships for Black History MonthFeb. 14: Preserving Negro League historyFeb. 13: UW-Milwaukee Black military exhibitFeb. 12: Milwaukee woman making history on field and iceFeb. 10: City honors Bishop Sedgwick DanielsFeb. 9: Celebrating Black History Month at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. SchoolFeb. 8: Milwaukee gymnast making history at Fisk UniversityBlack History Month: Milwaukee County’s first Black bus driverFeb. 7: Black-owned 414loral connects Milwaukee and flowersUWM grad’s local media company branching out nationallyFeb. 6: Marquette art exhibit showcases Milwaukee’s Black experience Milwaukee native bringing luxury streetwear to Shorewood Feb. 5: Black-owned dance company celebrates 20 years in MilwaukeeClick here for tickets for the show Black stories are being put on full display at Oriental Theater throughout Black History MonthClick here for Milwaukee Film Black History Month eventsFeb. 3: Black History Month celebrated with art and danceClick here for ‘We Are the Drum’ ticketsFeb. 1: ‘Culture x Design’ hosting events throughout Black History MonthMilwaukee organization aimed to make wine more accessibleMilwaukee mayor hosts Black History Month Recognition CeremonyBlack-owned bank celebrating 100 years in MilwaukeeJan. 31: St. Joan Antida High School hosts Black History Month kickoff celebration

Black History Month, observed each February, commemorates African American contributions to American history.

It started as “Negro History Week” by Carter G. Woodson in 1915, 50 years after slavery ended. It expanded to a month-long celebration in 1976 and has been recognized by every U.S. president since then.

WISN 12 is celebrating black history throughout the month of February with important stories recognizing key players, critical moments, and the impact on our community.

Feb. 26: History on the ice: Sisters are first Black siblings on UW hockey team

Feb. 27: Milwaukee Bucks honor Historically Black Colleges and Universities

Feb. 25: Black Business Spotlight: Spinn MKE

First Black-owned aesthetics school in Milwaukee

Feb. 23: Vietnam veterans honored during Black Excellence Awards

Feb. 21: Black Business Spotlight: Lush Popcorn in MKE’s Riverwest neighborhood

Feb. 18: Milwaukee celebrates trailblazer Vel R. Phillips’ 100th birthday

Feb. 15: History at Alverno College: First Black woman president

Milwaukee production company awards scholarships for Black History Month

Feb. 14: Preserving Negro League history

Feb. 13: UW-Milwaukee Black military exhibit

Feb. 12: Milwaukee woman making history on field and ice

Feb. 10: City honors Bishop Sedgwick Daniels

Feb. 9: Celebrating Black History Month at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. School

Feb. 8: Milwaukee gymnast making history at Fisk University

Black History Month: Milwaukee County’s first Black bus driver

Feb. 7: Black-owned 414loral connects Milwaukee and flowers

UWM grad’s local media company branching out nationally

Feb. 6: Marquette art exhibit showcases Milwaukee’s Black experience

Milwaukee native bringing luxury streetwear to Shorewood

Feb. 5: Black-owned dance company celebrates 20 years in Milwaukee
Click here for tickets for the show

Black stories are being put on full display at Oriental Theater throughout Black History Month
Click here for Milwaukee Film Black History Month events

Feb. 3: Black History Month celebrated with art and dance
Click here for ‘We Are the Drum’ tickets

Feb. 1: ‘Culture x Design’ hosting events throughout Black History Month

Milwaukee organization aimed to make wine more accessible

Milwaukee mayor hosts Black History Month Recognition Ceremony

Black-owned bank celebrating 100 years in Milwaukee

Jan. 31: St. Joan Antida High School hosts Black History Month kickoff celebration