Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1963-10-24

area. And the 1860 census show
Negroes are crowded into 10
city.
Thus for virtually all purposes
statistical or social, population or
political - the Wisconsin Negro
community is the Milwaukee Ne
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THE AUTHOR: For five years
Edward H. Blackwell, Dr., a ma
tive MinnesOtan was news and
editorial assistant to Cecil New
man the editor-pubIisher of the
Minneapolis Spokesman and st.
Paul Recorder newspapers.
Recently he joined the staff Of
the Milwaukee JOURNAL, one
of the nations leading dailies.
A member Of the copy desk he
was recently assigned TO do
story on 1.-THE Negro in WiscOn-
SIM"
This article is the first of the
series.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
gro community. Like other north
ern states, Wisconsin has virtually
no Negro farmers.
This urban Negro concentration
is the fastest growing ethnic group
in Milwaukee. The city health de-
partment estimates that by 1910
1t will total 125, 900 meaning that
nearly one in five Milwaulnee-ans
would be Negro. If composite is
drawn, the Milwaukee Negro could
be pictured as about 35 years old
and a native of rural Mississippi
LOUISIANA or Arkansas.
There is one chance in three that
someone in his household Is look
ing for a job compared with 1 in
10 for all families in the city,.
Income Under $4,000 -.
The probability Is two In five
that his total family income is
under $4,000 a year.
There are chances In 10 thai
his house was built before 1915
and only one chance in three that
he owns it.
Nearly two-thirfs (232, o00) Oh
the families in Greater milwaukee,
are home owners.)
The odds are less than even that
the Negro has lived in his present
home more than two years.
The chances are two out of three
that he has not completed high
school, and 81 out of 100 that he is
not a college graduate. I'm the
population as a whole, 1917 have
completed college.)
There is only about an even
chance that he belongs to a church
If he does, the odds are 8 to 10
that 1t is Protestant most like
ly Baptist.
The chances are about 1 to 4
that he Is a registered voter and,
If he is, only about 1 TO 5 that he
votes. If he does, it is almost GER
tain to be a straight Democratic
ticket.
Seeks a Better Job
Why is he here?
The Negro moving to Wisconsin
is on a quest. He seeks better
Job, a decent place to live, an
education for his children and HIM
self and - even If he doesn't use
1t - the free right to vote.
He may be only vaguely aware
of it, but Wisconsin has a long
history of protecting its citizens
against discrimination. Almost
from its beginning, the prestige OF
its government has backed the
principle that racial segregation
Is wrong. The Wisconsin constitu-
ton ratified in 184S prohibited
slavery. Suffrage was granted to
Negroes after the first statewide
election the next year.
The original public accommoda-
ton law was passed in 1895. 1t
guarantees full and equal treat
ment in all public accommodations
regardless Of race, creed or color
The law has been amended many
times and discrimination for race,
creed or color is prohibited in the
national guard, civil service,
schools, hiring Of teachers, veter-
ans housing, public housing author
fties, urban redevelopment restr1c-
tive covenants, worlmen's comp
ensation and insurance.
Violation Of the public accom-
modations law carries maximum
penalty Of a 5000 fine or six
months in jail, or both. It is en-
forceable as a criminal violation
In circuit court.
Wisconsin was one Of the hrst
states after World War II to create
auttdasmimanation agencies. The
far employment practices Division
OF the indz5traaa commission was
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