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by Joanne_Williams from FOX 6 Milwaukee

Last Post 36 days Ago


Black History Month 2008
Feb 7, 2008 | 5:13 PM
Category: News
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February is Black History Month and one of our viewers took exception to the project that FOX6 is doing this year.

He went so far as to write an email to my boss.

He felt we were "going Hollywood" instead of highlighting the complicated and important history of African Americans in our country.

So, I wrote him back and wanted to share the response with you bloggers. 

 

Dear Miles,

Thanks for watching FOX6 News. It's good to know we have viewers who take the time to respond to our stories, even though they rarely respond when they like the stories, only when they are unhappy. But, it gives us an opportunity to communicate with them.

In think what you have seen are the promotional spots letting viewers know that we are doing something different this year for Black Hisotry Month. Yes, they feature "big name" stars, but their connection is that they all attended Historically Black College and Univerisities supported by the United Negro College Fund.

In the past, FOX6 has produced stories for Black History Month dealing with African American Milwaukeans for whom buildings in the city were named. The men and women who made such valuable contributions to our city that their names are immortalized on structures that we see every day.

We have done series of reports about men, women even chikldren who have made or may someday make history in Milwaukee. Introducing viewers to people they may never have a chance to meet.

This year, the United Negro College Fund was looking for a way to let families, students and donors know that its office was up and running again after a long absence in Milwaukee. This request came just before the end of January and FOX6 decided to do something different and make UNCF our focus for February.

FOX6 News saw this as an opportunity to focus on this organization and talk about the importance of education in the lives of Milwaukeans of color. A chance to briefly look back at history, but also look at people who are shaping our future because of the opportunities UNCF has afforded them.

So far, only one story has been on the air. It briefly summarized the history of UNCF nationally and in Milwaukee. Upcoming stories will introduce you to some highly successful Milwaukeans who attended Historically Black College and Universities; plans for several new high schools in Milwaukee that will be associated with the HBCUs; and profiles of high school students who are heading to college with the help of UNCF.

This different approach is giving us the chance to give a lot more airtime to people you will be interested in meeting and talking about the importance of education which was and is the cornerstone of success for African Americans.

I also believe "Black History" should be recognized and woven into more that just one month each year, this is why I have done so many stories highlighting achievements and successes of American American Wisconsinites, all year round.

We hope you keep watching FOX6 News and thank you for your comments.

 

 

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Member Comments Total Comments: 23
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desertwindrider read my blog view my photos
Feb 7, 2008 | 10:47 PM

Sometimes I really have to take some offense to the attention that the black community gets in Milwaukee. Blacks in Milwaukee seem to have the idea that they are due a living without having to work. The blacks in our history who worked so very hard to excel and work FOR their people are probably rolling in their graves. I agree that the positives in the black culture and the accomplishments of black people should be celebrated and held as blueprints for today's blacks, especially for the young people. There are so many negatives in the current black culture that are glaringly obvious; educating non-blacks about the successes within black history and highlighting the people who are working so hard for the black commuinity today is a very good thing. I am certainly not going to fault Fox 6 for recognizing Black History month. I feel that Fox 6 is doing an excellent job here.

I would like to add, however, Native Americans, the first to have settled this area, and this country, get no coverage.
I find this deplorable and offensive.
ifilus read my blog view my photos
Feb 8, 2008 | 1:21 AM

Note to Joanne_Williams from FOX 6 Milwaukee:

Proof read/spell check!
MilwMomof3 read my blog
Feb 8, 2008 | 8:24 AM

I think I have to take offfense at:

"Blacks in Milwaukee seem to have the idea that they are due a living without having to work."

It's hard to believe you know ALL the blacks in Milwaukee and what their ideas are, especially since I know, as a fact, that you don't know me.

I think such generalizations are deplorable!!
dbinracine read my blog view my photos
Feb 8, 2008 | 9:04 AM

For Desert and Milwmom, yes generalizations are deplorable and unfair. So is having a "black history month" and having the news media showering so much attention on it... like Desert I cant stand the fact that Native American month is November... HELLO get a clue, please, do you really think that Native americans see thanksgiving as a day to give thanks? it was the begining of the end for our land, families, and tribes. So far I have heard 3 news stories (not on FOX 6) about the fact that the US still owes reperations to African American citizens... dang how come the Natives whom were killed, displaced and are still shunned by the persons in Washington DC, I can not "claim" my heritage cause my family name was removed by persons unknown.

Why not some truth in all of the history of this country, good and bad, I understand that there are national recognition for different peoples, but the only one that gets this much attention from the news is "black history month" unless of course you get cable. Local channels pay little to no attention to Natives of this State let alone nationally, hint we dont all wear our hair long in braids, or wear feathers in our hair.
MilwMomof3 read my blog
Feb 8, 2008 | 9:45 AM

Sure Black History Month is recognized, but let's not forget that it's recognized during the shortest month of the year and, in my opinion, doesn't get nearly as much exposure as it deserves. I'm sure any Native American who celebrates his or her heritage in November will take it upon themselves to acknowledge or not acknowledge Thanksgiving when it rolls around. i.e. - The ever-so-commercial "holiday", Valentine's Day, falls in February. For personal reasons, I choose not to acknowledge it and don't.

By the way, my earlier comment was directed at the fact that such an unfair generalization was included in her previous post.

I don't sit around expecting handouts from anybody for anything. I work for everything I have or want and I teach the generation under me to do the same. I simply took offense to the comment about "Blacks in Milwaukee..." whether it had been made by Desert or anybody else who doesn't know me, my family, my friends and the countless other productive Blacks in Milwaukee and elsewhere.
Katbird read my blog view my photos
Feb 8, 2008 | 10:01 AM

Our arguements and problems will never be solved until we realize that there is only one race, the human race. Seperation is caused by always bringing up color or religion. I believe we are all one rainbow and in the past many, many terrible things happened out of this ignorance. We are a much more evolved people now. The seperation needs to stop. We have to work together as the human race in order to find peace.
The Natives to this land were here from the beginning of their history. Just as many other different cultures survived in the past and were destroyed by ignorant people who thought their views, especially religious beliefs, made them superior.
We must now start being the human race and stop the seperation.
Katbird read my blog view my photos
Feb 8, 2008 | 10:06 AM

I learned from a Ho-chunk friend in the Dells that the proper term is Klans, not tribes. The term tribe was made by the white settlers because they viewed them as savages.
How very sad when the nature of the Klans was to live in peace and harmony with nature and to share all that nature provided for the betterment of all of the Klans.
If we could only live by the original beliefs of the natives to this land we would have no war, poverty nor hardship. We would take care of each other with pride and dignity.
dbinracine read my blog view my photos
Feb 8, 2008 | 10:15 AM

I am not saying YOU are looking for a hand out, I was just trying to state that in all the coverage for different ethnic populations black history gets the most attention.
stephen1276 read my blog view my photos
Feb 8, 2008 | 11:14 AM

Hold up, folks. Let me jump in this right now. First off, let me say that this whole thing about all blacks getting handouts is crazy. I kept thinking which blacks are you talking about? The ones that are out there doing the work and helping out the family, or the ones are sitting at the house playing PS3? When I think about my family and those that came before me, that put the food on the table, I have to come to realization that I respect that. My parents, grandparents were a great influence on me working hard in life, and I hope to pass that to the next generation that is coming up. As for community, I had church members that claimed a number of firsts in Milwaukee that were successful. I knew the black Family Court Commissioner who was the late Judge Andrew Reneau. I also knew the first black Architect in the State, who was the late Alonzo Robinson.

Let me go forward by saying that I am proud of the achievements, contributions, inventors and determinations that my people - blacks have gone through.
stephen1276 read my blog view my photos
Feb 8, 2008 | 11:35 AM

To further add, we are still making history. I may not be happy of what blacks are labeled today. Everywhere I go I hear the N-word. I also see the pants sagging, and black on black crime, I kept asking, "What is wrong with our people?" There was a time that Black people stood up for the positives. We have to continue that. If we don't continue that, then it's going to get a whole lot worse. Some may have forget that we came from Kings and Queens, not thugs and pimps. To add, that like saying all blacks kids are bad. But when my sister and I were growing, we weren't like that.

About having Black History Month every year, I'm going to say this: I'm Blessed! I'm blessed because of the achivements that blacks went through. I'm also blessed that the same influnce is being talked about today. But however, some on the outside keep denouncing it that it's unfair, we don't need it, and whatever. I don't hear nothing negative about Hispanic Heritage Month, nor Women's History Month. Why is it always Black History Month? I don't understand it. That has to be put to sleep. I'm sorry. There is a primary reason why there is a Black History Month and his name was Dr. Carter G. Woodson. Read about him and you'll see why. One thing I can agree is that Black History Month is just one month to celebrate, but learning Black History is an infinity to learn from.
F0x6Fan read my blog view my photos
Feb 8, 2008 | 11:55 AM

LOL--ifilus you are so goofy, but i have to admit, that was funny what you said.

Feb, still the shortest month of the year...
Katbird read my blog view my photos
Feb 8, 2008 | 2:27 PM

Right on, Stephen!
Ignorance doesn't know a color!!!
Fools come in all colors, shapes and sizes.
volkd read my blog view my photos
Feb 8, 2008 | 4:58 PM

Let's see, my heritage is Irish, German, & Norwegian. Between all three I guess I get one day, St. Patricks's Day. hmmmmm
Katbird read my blog view my photos
Feb 8, 2008 | 6:13 PM

That is true Volkd. I am Irish/English and my forefathers/mothers all came here back in the late 1890's. When they came here they had freedom to start shops, get normal jobs and make a living. I have postcards from my Great, Great Grandfather talking of how they were "going to kick the Kieser's ass". My family had a chance to become something.
The blacks who were brought here by the slave traders didn't have a choice. They did menial labor with no pay, but they were given one room shacks to live in and raise a family. If they were lucky they could be cooks, maids or butlers in the master's house and then they received better clothing and were even raped by the master. Now I know there were tribes in Africa who sold their strongest men and women into slavery for weapons, jewels and cloth, but the majority were hunted down and taken.
After decades of struggling they were finally freed thanks to Abraham Lincoln, but were they free? They lacked education and training. Many started sending their children to schools then to better themselves and , yet, they still endured torture, threats and mistrust. Sadly, they still do from ignorant people who STILL can not accept them based only on color. When will the ignorance end?
THAT is why there is a month to celebrate who they are and how far they have come.
aaro-nf read my blog view my photos
Feb 8, 2008 | 7:38 PM

great job on the posting of this blog, joanne_williams. great job and keep up the great work.
packer_girl_57 read my blog view my photos
Feb 9, 2008 | 10:43 AM

I am American Indian. Alot was done to our people as well yet we don't get a whole month devoted to us. What ever happened to forgiveness and let it go. I feel like the black community takes every opportunity to remind us how you were treated badly by those who are already dead and the ACLU screaming about what the "white" community has done now. I think each race should have a day then everyone would be celebrated.
teachermom322 read my blog
Feb 9, 2008 | 11:45 AM

The only handout that I look for from anyone is my paycheck on payday. And I earned that!
MilwMomof3 read my blog
Feb 9, 2008 | 1:11 PM

Black History month is not about sitting around complaining about what happened in the past, although that should not be forgotten. It's about taking a little more time out to celebrate who we are as a People, our culture, customs, PRIDE.

If you don't agree with it, simply don't celebrate it. That's all.
desertwindrider read my blog view my photos
Feb 10, 2008 | 2:11 AM

Hang in there, Natives. All those treaties? They are all still good. We just have to sort out the mess and we will have our country back. Then it won't matter who came from where because it's ours.
PKAguy read my blog
Feb 10, 2008 | 7:59 PM

Things like black history month and Martin Luther King day would be obsolete, if black history were a normal part of EVERY schools curriculum.

There would be no need for forcing people to learn about black history every February and only February. Kids learn about Native Americans every year. I am a product of Wisconsin's public education system and I remember learning about a great deal about Native American tribes.

Yeah it's very messed up what happened to them, but atleast they still have their culture intact. African Americans were stripped of their culture and have no identity as a people. I'd very much trade having a culture and an extended history for the deal African Americans got. don't forget many black died too, especially after slavery!
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Joanne_Williams

FOX 6 Anchor/Education Reporter

Member Since: 8/24/2006


 

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