Photos conjure up 30 years of memories

by Mikel Kwaku Osei Holt
Even though I helped select the photographs that made up the historical exhibit that graced the foray of the Italian Community Center during this newspaper’s 30th anniversary Sunday afternoon, I nevertheless found myself transfixed by the images that highlighted our publication over the past three decades.

The exhibit was divided into nine categories including politics, civil rights, religious, sports and staff.

I shot many of the photographs, and scanned hundreds of others during a thousand production nights at the newspaper.

Many of the images captured events that shaped our community over the three decades. Some spoke of tragedies long since forgotten. Others accentuated positive occurrences, achievements of individuals, national dignitaries and entertainers.

Because of the nature of our publication, one of the exhibits featured protests and demonstrations from a variety of causes ranging from school desegregation to rallies against racist groups like the KKK and American Nazi Party.

The staff exhibit prompted a smile and a tear as I reminisced about friends and mentors like Walter Jones and Cal Patterson. And of course my late son, Malik, whose first check from the "Community Journal" remains in an album at my home.

The political exhibit recalled the dozens of Black pioneers who helped shape Milwaukee’s Black political landscape, including Terry Pitts, Marcia Coggs and Ben Johnson, the first Black "acting mayor."

Collectively, the photographs represented my life’s work, and the efforts of staff members, many of whom have made the transition to God’s embrace. As a newspaper, we’ve chronicled our history, investigated issues of concern to our community and offered leadership through our editorials. We’ve criticized where necessary, applauded when earned and frequently attacked those who attempted to derail our freedom train, or otherwise undermined the community good.

The exhibit brought back to life the good and the bad, the ugly and the beautiful. They spoke of progress and regression, of joys and pain, of setbacks and accomplishments.

Obviously, space didn’t allow us to put on display our complete photo library, for that includes literally thousands of photographs representing the gambit of Black life in a city forever undergoing transition.

In three decades I’ve photographed and chronicled through stories, columns and even my book, "Not Yet Free at Last," a history of a community that has in many respects shaped and influenced Black life nationally.

For in truth we’ve been on a national stage throughout my journalistic career as home to such sordid events as the Jeffrey Dahmer serial murders, the dichotomous school desegregation process and the revolutionary school choice program, which altered the national debate on education and Black empowerment.

Milwaukee has been home to social change advocates like Malcolm X and Oprah Winfrey. Home to world-class entertainers like Al Jarreau and Speech of Arrested Development. To international politicians like Golda Maier. And to sports legends like Hammerin’ Hank and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

Of course, I haven’t interviewed all of them, but I have felt their presence and addressed their influence. I have talked with, interviewed and debated some of the most renowned and influential power brokers over the years, ranging from rap stars to presidents. And I have, as my African name--Oshi--implies, created heroes and leaders. I’ve also torn down a few over the years, polished the images of others and dulled the shine of some that have abused their power or influence.

Scanning the photographic exhibit, I couldn’t help but question the influence this paper has made in its 30-year journalistic sojourn.

There are obviously those who would say that in many respects our community is no better off today than it was when we started in an apartment building on North Port Washington Road.

Indeed, they have a valid point.

The Black unemployment rate for Black men 18-40 has increased since we started. The poverty rate has remarkably stayed the same at 40%, and the gap between Black and White student achievement is still a leader among the top 40 cities.

Ironically, Milwaukee is still one of the nation’s most segregated cities, our status as home to the highest Black teen pregnancy rate remains firmly in place, and the number of households headed by single Black women has doubled since this paper started.

Conversely, even cynics have to acknowledge that the number of Black elected officials has doubled since 1976, the percentage of Black home buyers has grown by 40%, as has the number of Black businesses and Black professionals.

There was a tinge of frustration as I scanned the photographs and noted that many of the issues and concerns that we highlighted three decades ago in photographs and print ironically grace our pages today.

Our first newspaper examined the issue of segregated schools. Several recent editions of the paper highlighted concerns about a new neighborhood school policy that some charge is a reinvestment in segregation.

Police brutality continues to make headlines, along with homelessness, a biased criminal justice system and the lack of a safety net for the poor.

Thirty years ago we editorialized our fears that the Black nuclear family was going the route of bell bottoms and platform shoes. Two weeks ago, I wrote a column expressing identical concerns.

And, of course, the clarion call for Black unity, Black empowerment and Black respect for each other has been consistent year after year, after year after year.

Obviously, there is frustration that comes from a feeling that sometimes we’re spitting into a strong wind, that people don’t heed our common sense solutions; that we too often exhibit the fundamental trait of insanity--doing the same dumb things over and over and expecting a different result.

But there has also been the consistent successes that keep us charged up and motivated: The children we inspire who return to take the baton of leadership; the community activists we motivate to become influence brokers in the corporate or political arenas; the families we help and even the laws we have inspired.

The Black Press has historically served at the vanguard of the civil rights movement, and it is from that perch that we "plead our own cause," fighting for the rights of the downtrodden, the have-nots of society.

The photographs attest to our commitment to that motto of the Black Press, and our commitment to the movement. Sometimes it seems as if our collective journey for equality and justice moves at a snail’s pace. But there is no doubt that we fuel the Freedom Train.

"It has been a rewarding journey," I thought to myself as I eased away from the exhibit to participate in the 30th anniversary celebration.

A picture, they say, is worth a thousand words. "The Community Journal" photographic exhibit, which will soon grace the lobby of the office, speaks volumes about where we came from, where we are, and where we are headed.
Hotep.