Bowden Exhibition

The reason for my Bowden Exhibition:

Last year, I was thinking of ideas to apply for the Bowden Fellowship. I wanted to do something with my roots as an African American women and with history that I know. Combining those two ideologies made me think of the Great Migration and the Effects on the City of Milwaukee. Once I applied Mrs. Jolivert gave me the “Warmth of Other Suns” by Isabel Wilkerson. This book details the journeys of African Americans during the Great Migration. The accounts of individuals in the book inspired me to learn more about the Great Migration. I felt a connection because my grandparents migrated to the North during this time. I was also motivated by the fact that African American stories are under-told compared to other American stories, such as World War I or The Great Depression. After reading this was on overdrive with excitement for my fellowship proposal. Once I received the fellowship I started planning with Dr. Helmers and Ms. Hill. I focused my research on my grandparents’ hometown of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. After reading the book, scholarly articles, and listening to first-hand accounts from individuals, I traveled to the city to interview community activists, participants in the migration, and business owners.

What did I find in conclusion?

All of the interviewees believed they had more job opportunities in the North than in the South. The importance of education was a major theme as they felt there was limited access to educational opportunities in the South. Although opportunities were greater in the North, there were still racial inequities. Buying a home, getting a bank loan, or simply traveling in white neighborhoods was still a big problem for African Americans. As a result of this I think the African American community can grow with more education. I am even more convinced of the importance of education and hard work not only to build my career but to change the trajectory of my community.

How will I show my work?

I will present my work in a documentary in the coming months.