After years of arguments, Assembly passes resolution to honor Black History Month
The Assembly voted unanimously by voice vote to honor the month, after passionate speeches by members of the Legislature's Black Caucus about how Black history is American history.
Rep. Supreme Moore Omokunde, D-Milwaukee, thanked members for bringing the resolution to the floor.
"I am so glad that we are finally able to bring this bipartisan effort to the floor of the Assembly, without all of the challenges that we've had before," he said.
He said the resolution highlights how Wisconsinites should be open to learning about each other, doing the work of learning the history of those who came before them.
More: How advocates are stepping up for Black History month as federal agencies scale back
"We are often addressed with phrases like, 'Why does everything have to be about race? Aren't we all the same, all of us?' And my answer to that is no, not all the time," he said. "We're not always the same. We aren't and it would be dismissive to make this statement and not desire to learn more about other cultures, not desire to learn more about other traditions that people have."
This year's resolution highlights prominent Black Wisconsinites, including:
Elisterine Clayton, a 100-year-old Milwaukee resident who helped to build the Halyard Park community; Paul Higginbotham, the first African-American judge to serve on the Wisconsin Court of Appeals; Marcia Anderson, who was the first African-American woman to become a major general in the U.S. Army Reserve; Dr. William Rogers, who was integral to the founding of the Black Radio Network; Anthony McGahee, a celebrated gospel musician, choir director and pillar of Milwaukee's artistic and musical community; and Shakita LaGrant-McClain, executive director of the Milwaukee County Department of Health and Human Services.
The resolution was also amended Wednesday morning to include several Black lawmakers as well.
Rep. Sequanna Taylor, D-Milwaukee, gave her first speech on the floor of the Assembly after being elected last year, reminding lawmakers and residents alike that Black history is American history.
"It is woven into every fabric of this nation, building and shaping this nation, the economy of this nation and the progress of this nation," she said. "From the resilience of those who fought against oppression to the brilliance of those who have shaped our industries, science and arts, Black Americans have been at the heart of every chapter of this nation's story."
The effort to recognize Black History Month has come with disagreement for years, with the proposed resolution failing to even make it to the floor for a vote in some years.
In 2018, lawmakers passed two resolutions when they couldn't agree on who to honor. In 2019, Republican lawmakers blocked Black legislators from recognizing National Football League quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who drew attention for kneeling during the National Anthem to protest racial injustice.
In 2020, controversy swirled when Republican Rep. Scott Allen of Waukesha, who is white, circulated a resolution to honor mostly white people who worked as abolitionists.
In 2021, the disagreements swelled to the point that no resolution was taken up.
In 2022, a resolution that would have recognized a number of people, including Kaepernick, preacher Nat Turner, actor Chadwick Boseman, Milwaukee Bucks player Giannis Antetokounmpo and Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley was rejected by Republicans, and instead a measure was adopted by the Senate honoring the month but excluding the names of any historic figures.
Similar resolutions in 2023 and 2024 were also not passed.
Rep. Kalan Haywood, D-Milwaukee, thanked his colleagues in the Assembly for bringing the measure to the floor, and said the resolution celebrates not only the past, but builds for a future.
"When we recognize Black success and share the stories of black achievements," he said. "We help complete the rich tapestry that makes our state truly great."
Laura Schulte can be reached at leschulte@jrn.com and on X @SchulteLaura.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Assembly votes unanimously to honor Black History Month in Wisconsin
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In March, a U.S. House committee sought information from Purdue about its Chinese students and their research. Purdue complied. She said she has not heard anything from Purdue, so she's been relying on other avenues. She's found resources shared on RedNote, a Chinese social media app similar to TikTok, and guidance from her campus's culture center. "Everything is uncertain," she said. "We don't know anything if there's a lack of transparency." Earlier this year, U.S. Rep. John Moolenaar, a Republican from Michigan, wrote that 'America's student visa system has become a Trojan horse for Beijing" in a letter to Purdue seeking Chinese student information. He joins Rubio and a swath of Republicans who say new immigration policies cracking down on Chinese student visas protect national security by limiting the influence of the Chinese Communist Party in the U.S. However, advocates and students say that fear is based on a misunderstanding about the students who seek to study at American universities. Many people, like herself, came here for a better life, the IU student said, and because they disagree with the Chinese government and the "toxic" work-life balance there. "I don't like Chinese government," she said. "Most of the international students coming here in the U.S. and studying abroad, most of them don't like China either." Chinese students are "pretty innocent," she said, and they are living in an atmosphere similar to the microaggressions when Trump made unsubstantiated claims that China created the COVID-19 virus. The environment could get worse still, she said, and they have a limited ability to speak out. "I know we don't have that right to protect ourselves because in the U.S., we are not allowed to," she said. "We just panic about the situation here (with) Trump." This package of policies will make students question whether they should return and could delay the ones who do, Feldblum said. It's clear to her what these policies will culminate in: "There's no doubt that we'll see a decline in new student enrollments." Though many students are determined to finish their programs despite recent hurdles, they are giving extra thought to whether or not they will stay in the country after graduation. Studying in the U.S. is still a goal for many international youth, the Purdue student said, and he hasn't heard of students leaving without finishing their programs. Instead, he's seen students "mastering out," meaning they pursue a master's degree instead of their intended doctorate. Some students are prioritizing programs in Democrat-led states where they "might find a more friendly environment." "When I applied for this program, I didn't know anything about Indiana," the IU student said. "If I had a better knowledge about what's going on in the state and also what's going on in the institution, I might seek more options or I might focus on applying for an institution in a different region." The USA TODAY Network - Indiana's coverage of First Amendment issues is funded through a collaboration between the Freedom Forum and Journalism Funding Partners.
