15 April 2004

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15 April 2004 Geography of Wisconsin
Recent Migrations Continuing themes and new trends
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Guiding questions
In what ways are twentieth- and twenty-first
century migrations in Wisconsin similar to those
of Europeans in the nineteenth century? What
themes and experiences can we identify in
twentieth-century human migrations within or to
Wisconsin? What barriers have twentieth-century
immigrants and host communities faced in
Wisconsin? What institutions and strategies have
helped them to cope with barriers?
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Geographic themes and approaches to migration
Quantitative and qualitative accounts Push and
pull factors Representations and perceptions of
immigrants Institutions cultural survival,
politics, and support Chain migration Transnationa
lism Human experiences and identity
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Selected twentieth-century migrations in
Wisconsin groups and themes
African-Americans from Southern US segregation
and protest Native Americans from reservations
to cities rural-urban migration Hispanics
(Latinos) from US and Mexico labor and
migration Hmong refugee resettlement
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African-Americans from the US South to Wisconsin
history
1700s-1910s Small numbers in Wisconsin
established towns Examples Late 1700s two
black fur traders established town of
Marinette 1800s Free blacks established Chilton
in Calumet County farming community of Cheyenne
Valley in Forest, Vernon County
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African-Americans from the US South to Wisconsin
Great Migrations
1914-1919 (WWI) Push of poverty and
agricultural mechanization in the rural South and
pull of war industry contracts in Northern
cities Manufacturers posted billboards and
advertisements in the South, offered bonuses to
residents who recruited more families and
friends 1940-1945 Another wave of migrations
for war industry jobs From Tennessee, Alabama,
and Mississippi through Chicago to Milwaukee and
Beloit
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African-Americans in Wisconsin segregation
Segregation in Milwaukee solidified after World
War II with suburbanization of white population
North Side In Madison, 50s-60s more dispersed,
but mostly South Madison, Greenbush, Williamson
St. Some contributing factors Discrimination in
loans and real estate practice (These stem from
prejudice and lack of legal protection) Income
inequality Urban renewal (Greenbush, 1964)
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African-Americans from the US South to Wisconsin
Institutions
Madison examples from 1900-1965 Churches NAACP
argued for open occupancy law in late
1950s Urban League
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African-Americans in Wisconsin segregation
Evidence of continuing segregation testing,
which also provides the basis for civil rights
lawsuits Metro Milwaukee Fair Housing Council and
Fair Housing Center of Greater Madison Also,
inclusionary zoning passed Jan 2004 in Madison
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African-Americans in Wisconsin resistance to
segregation
Civil rights activism in 60s and 70s Fair
housing for example, Madison ordinances in 1963
and 2004 School desegregation
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African-Americans in Wisconsin today
Total African-American population is 244,305 (5
of Wisconsin compared to 12 of US) 80 in
Milwaukee County, 7 in Racine County, 4 in Dane
County Milwaukee in top three most segregated
cities in the US Tradition of activism continues
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Native Americans and rural-urban migration in
Wisconsin
1914-1919 (WWI) American Indian men enter armed
services, other men and women go to cities (esp
Milwaukee) for war industry jobs exposure to
outside conditions 1928 Meriam report calls for
change in Indian policies 1929 First Milwaukee
Indian organization forms 1934 FDRs new BIA
head and Indian Reorganization Act end allotment
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Changes with the 1934 Indian Reorganization Act
Assimilation aims softened but not reversed Land
restored to reservations Two Ojibwe bands and
Potawatomi gained reservation status (Ho-Chunk
did not accept) Tribal governments restored,
according to US government terms Boarding schools
no longer mandatory Funding for community
programs and jobs
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Native Americans and rural-urban migration in
Wisconsin
1941-1945 (WWII) Further migration to cities
especially among Ojibwe, Potawatomi, and Oneida,
and especially among women, who took positions
vacated by white women in war industries Post-WWII
Relocation-Vocational Training Act
(termination and relocation) Congress
attempted to end American Indian programs
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Termination and relocation
Largest thrust of Native American urbanization in
Wisconsin Ojibwe, Oneida, and Potawatomi to
Milwaukee, Chicago, and Twin Cities An effort by
federal government to empty reservations and
relieve itself of responsibilities to
them Urbanization supposed to mainstream American
Indians BIA offered relocation and housing
assistance, job training, and social services as
incentive to move to cities A one-way bus ticket
to Milwaukee
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Termination and relocation challenges
Cultural isolation and loss of identity in
cities A different kind of land
alienation Substandard housing Lack of job
skills
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Termination and relocation new ties and
institutions in cities
Renewal of tribal networks Pan-Indianism Social
and community institutions eg, Indian Community
School of Milwaukee Red Power movement eg, AIM
founded in Minneapolis by Ojibwe brothers Vernon
and Clyde Bellecourt Weekly migration between
city and reservation
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Native Americans in Wisconsin cities today
Total Native American population is 39,367
(0.8) 50 of total population is urban or
suburban 18 of total in Milwaukee metro
area Overall, most diverse American Indian
population east of Mississippi River Continuing
social, cultural, political, and economic ties
between urban people and rural reservations
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Hispanics (Latinos) in Wisconsin labor history
Small population before 1900 1900s Mexican
seasonal workers from Texas and Mexico on farms
throughout the state 1920s Restrictions on
European immigration open urban jobs in
tanneries, meat-packing plants, and other
industries Active recruitment by factory agents
eg Pfisters tannery in Milwaukee
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Hispanics (Latinos) in Wisconsin labor history
Role of institutions Churches, YMCA
missions Later, labor activism microcosm of
national movements
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Hispanics (Latinos) in Wisconsin labor history
1942-1964 Contract workers (braceros) in
temporary, low-wage jobs 18,000 by
1961 Seasonal fruit and vegetable growers feared
labor shortages during wartime US signed
contracts with Mexico Some migrant workers find
permanent jobs, recruit family members Poverty
conditions in Mexico and Southern US provide
push job opportunities provide pull
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Hispanics (Latinos) in Wisconsin labor history
Lack of enforcement of state labor
protections Labor movement led by Jesus
Salas Obreros Unidos (United Workers) in the
1960s and 70s wages, insurance, toilet
facilities as major issues Wages averaged
0.85/hour, compared to 2.29 for manufacturing
workers 1966 march from Wautoma to Madison 24
farmworkers Other issues housing, education,
chemical exposure
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Hispanics (Latinos) in Wisconsin labor history
Examples of labor conflicts in 60s 1966 James
Burns Sons potato company in Almond locks out
workers for engaging in organizing activities ?
found guilty by Wisconsin Employment Relations
Commission 1967 400 workers at Libby in
Neshkoro strike, form a union
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Hispanics (Latinos) in Wisconsin labor history
Mechanization of harvesting led to decreases in
seasonal work in late 60s and 70s down to 3,500
in 1978 Increasing focus in cities, around
processing factories in rural towns
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Hispanics (Latinos) in Wisconsin today
Total population 87,609 (1.8) Mexican (65) and
Puerto Rican (20) are largest groups also,
Cuban and Central American 82 born in the
US Half live in Milwaukee most Mexicans and
Puerto Ricans in Milwaukee live on the South
Side Only 1/3 of Mexican Americans are migrant
laborers Many more in meat processing in
(traditionally white) N WI communities
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Hmong in Wisconsin history
Originally from China, displaced to SE Asia in
1800s Extremely rural group emphasis on family
and clan ties 1950s 1975 French and US (CIA)
recruit scouts and guerillas against Communists
during Indochina wars 1975 Left behind upon US
withdrawal from Vietnam 1.2 million Hmong fled
to Thai refugee camps Political (and some
economic) push factors
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Hmong in Wisconsin history
Late 70s-early 80s Church groups and private
charities sponsor refugee resettlement 1980 US
Refugee Act funds more resettlement Small-town
churches in WI and elsewhere sponsored refugees
those outside WI moved here because of
information about good schools and social
services WI towns and cities with high Hmong
populations Milwaukee, LaCrosse, Wausau, Green
Bay, Eau Claire
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Hmong in Wisconsin barriers and challenges to
economic prosperity
Agricultural traditions and history Physical and
emotional scars of war Tradition of large
families Inability to speak, read, or write
English (Hmong not a written language)
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Hmong in Wisconsin barriers and challenges in
community relations
Lack of public information and discussion prior
to and since arrival of Hmong Lack of awareness
of war experience and refugee status Church
sponsorships elapse History of homogeneity in
towns Concerns about welfare use and rising taxes
to fund services Crime and perception thereof
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Hmong in Wisconsin barriers and challenges to
cultural survival
Generation gap, including loss of language and
customs among second generation Changing
identities Agricultural traditions lost through
war and in-town settlement
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Hmong in Wisconsin institutions
Hmong Chamber of Commerce Local media
newspaper, radio, and TV in Hmong Farming
scholarships
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Hmong in Wisconsin today
Total population is 16,980 (less than 1 of
Wisconsins total, but 18 of all US Hmong) One
of the fastest-growing groups in Wisconsin A new
group of Hmong in Vietnam is set to depart for
US likely to settle in same areas as current
communities Responses to Atlantic Monthly
article How does Beck portray Hmong in Wausau?
How does he portray Wausau itself?