Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Final Project Artist Statement
The final project for this course led me to individually research some of Milwaukee’s history. I gained knowledge regarding the numerous population groups that immigrated to Milwaukee. I became particularly familiar with the Germans, Poles, and Hispanics that call Milwaukee “home.” In addition, my research provided me with detailed information about the causes of these immigrations, as well as information about the community. In regards to Milwaukee’s South Side, an area that is inhabited by primarily Poles, Hispanics, and Asians, it is important to note that despite civil rights actions, the area is extremely segregated. It is extremely easy for one to distinguish the Hispanic and Polish neighborhoods, shops, and establishments. Despite historical struggles for equality, it is important to note that in South Milwaukee, there currently are no Hispanic persons holding community chair positions, as noted by the roster of the Alderman in the district. Further research demonstrated that there never has been a Hispanic mayor, police chief, or fire chief. My direct experience with Hispanic students in the area solidified this concept, as the students informed me of the ideas and attitudes that exist within their community. Most of the students seemed to hold an “us” vs. “them” type of attitude regarding their experiences within the South Side. Statistics have shown us that the Hispanic population of South Milwaukee is less privileged than their non-Hispanic counterparts in terms of education level, politics, socioeconomic status, job opportunities, and other measures that reflect their identity. It was difficult to interrogate the students about this touchy subject matter, however, I was able to derive beneficial information by using the proper wording. Overall, I learned a lot more about Milwaukee through my research, compilation of this final project, and service-learning experiences this semester. It is quite disturbing for me to open my eyes to the segregation and prejudicial attitudes that still exist in the world, especially within the very city I live and study in. I hope that as time continues to go on, these negative attitudes will change, and the people of Milwaukee (and the world) will one day be able to truly assimilate. Some would argue we have, others might note that we have progressed, while in reality, there is still a long way to go.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
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