OPINION – There is a debate rising in our society, relating to the teaching of American history in our schools. A movement is afoot in school districts, state legislatures, and more to curtail or outright ban the teaching of episodes of U.S. History in which racism caused suffering, displacement, or death to groups of people. […]
Tag: racism
Posted inChats with Chet
Chats with Chet: Ep. 2 White privilege: what Chet wants you to know
This episode of Chats with Chet tackles “that white privilege thing,” as he calls it. When you grow up in a country that was not designed for your race, life is very different than what the rest of the country’s citizens experience. Listen in today to learn how a life of exclusion and discrimination led […]
Posted inChats with Chet, Community
Chats with Chet, Ep. 1: There’s no dust on my knees
Welcome to Chats with Chet. The grandson of a sharecropper, Chester Todd, 80, moved to Racine, Wisconsin in 1951 at the age of 9 years old from Mayfield, Kentucky. Racism was blatant back then. But the emotional trauma of being treated as “other” never left him. In fact, those lessons of survival — the dos […]
Posted inKenosha Lens, Uptown Observer
KCDHS updates committee members on efforts to combat systemic racism in Kenosha County
Protestors, activists and those generally impassioned by the death of George Floyd earlier in the year and the shooting of Jacob Blake locally in August have been a common feature of County Board meetings in 2020, highlighting the need to address systemic racism in Kenosha County. File photo by Daniel Thompson/The Uptown Observer. KENOSHA COUNTY […]
Posted inKenosha Lens, Uptown Observer
Observer Conversations: Organizers of new panel series explain importance of hard discussions
The first “Building Hope” panel discussion will focus on activism. This photo was taken by The Uptown Observer Founder and Editor-in-Chief Daniel Thompson at the Christopher Columbus statue in the city during a protest over the summer. KENOSHA ⸺ The Kenosha County Dems and Lifecourse Initiative for Healthy Families are partnering for a panel series, […]
Posted inLocal news, Police and fire
Race in Racine: Singled out with guns drawn
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5l91oSQ2LS8 Racine was named the second-worst place for black people to live, but some in Racine don’t believe racism exists here. That’s why we started the Race in Racine podcast. Racism — whether overt or covert — is such a complex problem that people have become blind to it. So in this very first episode […]
Posted inBreaking, Government, Local news, Police and fire
Hate groups make a comeback in Wisconsin
By Shereen Siewert WISCONSIN – As racially-charged protests and speeches continue to sweep across Wisconsin and the country, there is increasing evidence that hate groups are on the rise. Government and advocacy organizations say hate groups are nothing new, but white nationalism has seen particular resonance in recent weeks and months. Earlier this month in […]
Posted inCommunity, Government
Race inequality and how the City must respond
A Nov. 16 article in USA Today, that listed the 15 worst cities for black Americans included Racine. Landing at no. 3 on the list, just behind the metro Milwaukee area and Waterloo-Cedar Falls, Iowa, metropolitan area, the list was created by examining a set of eight data points. “Racine, Wisconsin, is one of several Rust […]
Posted inBreaking, Government
Tackling racism in Racine with dialogue, education
Racism in Racine is real. And while the topic is uncomfortable for many, residents from the greater Racine area were ready to have the conversation. About 200 people took on the task of talking about the difficult issue of race and inequality in Racine, which included challenging their own personal bias and learning about systemic […]
Posted inCommunity, Opinion
Opinion: Nothing from Nothing Leaves…..
It is disappointing to witness our local and state elected officials turn a blind eye to the plight of Black people in Racine. Also, it appears that the local and national party of Black salvation, the Democrats, has chosen not to address the racist status now nationally recognized as being Racine’s most prominent and distinguishing […]
Posted inCommunity, Opinion
Opinion: Show Time in Suburbia!
The insidious and infectious nature of racism showed its despicable head at a recent basketball game between Racine Horlick and Franklin high schools. It seems that some of the kids of the white supremacist persuasion took it upon themselves to hurl racist insults at the black players from Racine. It has been my experience that […]
Posted inCommunity, Opinion
Opinion: Racine needs to empower miniorities
Tell me Why you love Racine is often heard by many in this community. And many people talk about the lake, access to some entertainment, good schools etc. Honestly, this question is not for ethnic minorities and others who daily must jump through barriers for the smallest of things. Those in the black and Hispanic […]
Posted inBlack Men Speak, Culture
Black Men Speak: Conversations about race in Racine
Let the conversation begin: We interviewed nine black males about what it is like to live in Racine, a city named the fourth worst place for black people to live. We anticipate that this project will continue over the course of several months as we gather more voices to be part of this ongoing series […]
Posted inCommunity
Racine County Eye kicks off Black Men Speak series Feb. 19
Racine was recently named by USA Today as the fourth worst place for black people to live in the United States and the recent officer-involved shooting of Donte Shannon has made it clear that a dialogue is needed in our community that centers around what it is like to be black in Racine. The black unemployment […]
Posted inBlack Men Speak, Culture
Carl Fields
“Racism was powerful for me because I didn’t know what it was…” Carl Fields, 38, moved to Racine from Chicago when he was eight years old. He went from being in an all-black school to a mostly white school. This presented its share of trouble because he always felt like was treated as “an other.” […]