Exploration of the Disposession of the Lands We Share in Milwaukee

The research explores land justice and dispossession in rural and urban areas in Wisconsin and New York as part of the “Whose Land? Project.” Our team is primarily focused on the city of Milwaukee and how the land has changed over time. Over the past 9 months, we have analyzed maps, titles, historical artifacts, photos, primary and secondary sources, and genealogical records that have equipped us to assemble a framework of what Milwaukee looked like through multiple generations. We focused on the displacement of BIPOC communities throughout the city finding evidence of redlining, gentrification, and other organized efforts of redevelopment. The research will be used in the preparation of community archiving days, building interactive educational tools, and a podcast that will report on the land dispossession histories between Wisconsin and New York. We have been building partnerships with local Milwaukee organizations and schools to assist us in our plan to host archiving days to gather a wide variety of personal, oral histories from the community and emphasize the lost voices in history. We want to connect with those who have witnessed their neighborhoods change over the years or those who have been forced to move because of systemic issues beyond their control. The results of our research have indicated the continuous land dispossession history in Milwaukee. This is an ongoing project that will be moving forward in its next phase of capturing oral histories from individuals that will be emphasized in our upcoming archival days and podcast that will report on our findings in an engaging manner