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[foolstop]

First post in this direction.

I'm really thinking about accepting a job in Milwaukee. I'm kind of freaked out, though.  People keep telling me, reminding me, and otherwise informing me of the "racial tension" there.  What are they on about? I mean, folks aint fightin' in the streets are they?  Folks aint openly racist, are the?  I'm not from the Midwest, but I've been here for 7-8 years, and this is brand new information for me.  What do I need to know to consider moving to Milwaukee?

Cheers,

Fool s.

[anthroid]

It is an aging midwestern city that is residentially and socially segregated.  The poor, African-American population lives on the north side, and everyone else lives everywhere else.  People actually are fighting in the streets, with small children and adults being beaten to death by groups of idiots.  The extreme poverty and lack of hope there makes it a rather difficult place to live at times.  There are extremist "white power" groups in the area and racial tensions can be very high at times.

On the one hand.  On the other hand, there are groups actively working with the state legislature and a (finally) Democratic governor to relieve some of the problems.  Tommy Thompson, IMHO, ran Wisconsin, particularly poor Wisconsinites, into the ground.  Social justice groups now are empowered to bring back Wisconsin's legendary progressiveness, and I think Milwaukee will turn around, particularly if the Republicans at the federal level are unseated more thoroughly in the next election.

Milwaukee can be a very, very pleasant place to live, if you're not poor and black.  Lake Michigan in particular is groovy.

I grew up in Chicago and have lived in eastern Wisconsin as a professor.

[tenured_feminist]

I have a friend who moved up to the Milwaukee area from Little Rock about five years ago.  A year and a half later, she moved back to Little Rock.  She said that Milwaukee was way more racist than Little Rock.  It's only one data point, but still . . . .

[smart_e_pantz]

I'm too lazy to find the link, but this year there was also a heinous case of police brutality by off-duty police officers.  They beat a guy to death because one of them THOUGHT he insulted them.  The jury didn't convict.  Things got ugly.

Like many other major cities with a largely white police force and a significant minority population, driving, walking, and breathing while black can be hazardous to your health.

[foolstop]

I think I heard about that case, now you mention it.   

These revelations are startling.  I cant believe I can live so close (well, Minnesota) and be so oblivious.  I'm going to get a closer look though, 'cause I just accepted my first job.  Maybe I'll revisit this post in 6 months.  Thanks, everyone, for confirming what I had heard over the last couple of days - savory and otherwise.

[spork]

The beer is good.

[anthroid]

The beer is good.

Yah.  Sometimes it flows ouda da bubbler.

[dark_globe]

The beer is good.

And, really, what more do you really need?

[patagonia]

First post in this direction.

I'm really thinking about accepting a job in Milwaukee. I'm kind of freaked out, though.  People keep telling me, reminding me, and otherwise informing me of the "racial tension" there.  What are they on about? I mean, folks aint fightin' in the streets are they?  Folks aint openly racist, are the?  I'm not from the Midwest, but I've been here for 7-8 years, and this is brand new information for me.  What do I need to know to consider moving to Milwaukee?

Cheers,

Fool s.

Fool S., I don't know where you are in MN, but Milwaukee, WI is an entirely different world. Despite being within a day's drive, I found it to be nothing like the Twin Cities. You can also see the differences in the public city school systems. St. Paul has a relatively decent public school system whereas, Milwaukee's is, IMO, ailing (to put it kindly). I wasn't comfortable with the segregation in Milwaukee. In contrast, I felt right at home in St. Paul. Have you accepted the position? Do you have other options?

[foolstop]

It's a done deal; Milwaukee here I come, with my cat Lublu and my English Cocker, Jack.  We're a multi-ethnic bunch. 

I fully expect it to be different from the Twin Cities - I've lived in them for 7 years and its been mostly fun. It would have been a lot different with some disposable income, right enough.  I can't really say that I have a problem with their cleanliness and frigidity, but I do look forward to something a bit more authentic (as I think I have said, I aint from around here).  I tend to gravitate towards the bars I can afford to drink in. Which brings me to that other, equally unignorable point:

The beer. Well, it has an almost mythical resonance; for most people from Milwaukee I have met, its almost a synonym for where they live.  I doubt I'll have a problem with that either.  No, "problem" is not the word...

[chicanothoreau]

Let us also not forget the true nightmare here:

You will be at the mercy of Brewers baseball, my friend. Good luck. Godspeed.

[iomhaigh]

Ah, but the Brewers are doing really well this year!  There might be hope for your fall. 

[anon67]

I was born and raised in Milwaukee.  My undergrad school is UW-Milwaukee.  I visit often, but to live there is another story.  I have thought about it but the chances of my getting a TT position at UWM are virtually nonexistent--they don't hire their own--even if you are a former student of the campus daycare!

Lately there has been a series of articles in the Journal Sentinal about school violence.  The same is true for the whole shopping mall ban of teen as well. None of these things are new to the city; the dofference is that we hear about things now.  Police brutality? yes.  Inner city crime? yes.   I grew up in the inner city on Milwaukee's north side.  Most of my family still lives in that area. Frankly though, I have lived in so many places that when it comes down to it, your economic and social standing makes it so that you can either engage or avoid these ills.  There are so many nice neighborhoods in which to live in the city.

Downside-- One can live on one street and pay a meager sum for a home.  The house across the alley which faces the next street will cost you double.  One such area is the split between Milwaukee and Wawautosa.  60th street is the Milwaukee cutoff where a bungalow costs about $85,000.  61st street is Tosa and the identical bungalow is about $175,000. 

Despite all of the ills, keep in mind that its what you make it and just like anywhere else, you can pick and choose what you will be exposed to by virtue of class.  Sounds depressing...

[dr_stones]

The airport has a killer used book store, a branch of Rennaissance Books.

That is almost reason enough when compared to the McBookStores one usually encounters in the airports of America . . .

[nonny]

It's really not that bad, certainly nothing to get freaked out over.