Beyond Sherman Park

MPS teacher Lakeshia Myers has observed police harassment of African-American residents and is sometimes asked by her students for help interpreting and responding to that behavior. She advises them to do the best they can to make it home alive and to always be respectful to officers.

But, she said, she is “heartbroken” that she has to have those conversations.

Myers, who is black, was one of 270 people who came to “Beyond Sherman Park,” a recent community gathering organized by Milwaukee PBS and WUWM Milwaukee Public Radio. The event addressed the state of the central city a year after violent protests broke out in response to the shooting of Sherman Park resident Sylville Smith by a police officer on Aug. 13.

In a video interview, Milwaukee Police Chief Ed Flynn cited a study of 1960s era riots saying, “the flashpoint was always, inevitably, a police action but… it wasn’t the fundamental cause of the conflagration. Flynn added, “social challenges, failure, government ineptitude, economic dislocation etc. … created communities that felt disconnected from the mainstream, that felt unrepresented, that felt left behind by the American dream that everybody shared.”

In Sherman Park, police involvement was absolutely the cause of the violence, said Camille Parham, a senior process analyst for a financial institution who lives nearby. “The people feel oppressed. They feel threatened. They’re constantly being harassed so there’s a build-up of frustration with our youth, with our … people.”

Myers said, “It is reminiscent of the apartheid era in South Africa … when folks are being stopped and asked for ID and where they’re going and where they’re supposed to be, as if they are being restricted and watched and should not be in certain communities.”

Audience member Peavy Holmes noted that Milwaukee’s high rates of segregation and African-American male unemployment, as well its failing school system, were contributing factors to the unrest. Holmes is assistant director for life underwriting at Northwestern Mutual.

“When my brother and I were growing up we used to run up to police officers because they gave out baseball cards. When a cop pulled up in the neighborhood, we’d run up to their cars,” said Holmes, who is black.

Even though he has close friends and relatives who are police officers and knows “not all cops are bad,” he does not feel the same way about police as he did then. Alluding to police shootings, Holmes added, “I still don’t feel comfortable getting pulled over … even as a successful person.”

The police could use more sensitivity or soft skills training, Holmes noted, adding that he and his brother, who lives near Sherman Park, agreed it would nice if the police could rebuild relationships like they had when they were boys.

Attendees had differing opinions about whether more teens and young adults are engaging in the community since the events of last summer.

Myers said that if the community wants to hear more from young people it needs to go where they are, as Program the Parks founder Vaun Mayes has done in Sherman Park.

Although she sees her students and other young people participating in conversations about the community, Myers said they often are excluded. “Some of those involved in the uprising are probably not engaged,” she said, adding, “A lot of times these conversations are geared toward adults.”

Parham noted that the unrest last year was a wake-up call “to engage more with our young people, to show them that (violence) is not the appropriate outlet when there’s some type of police brutality.”

She added, “The young people expressed that they want to be heard. A lot of the teenagers expressed their frustration to us. And that’s something that’s not to be ignored.”

Holmes, who grew up on the Northwest Side and now lives in Hales Corners, said his brother and younger cousins, who live in the Sherman Park area are constantly discussing ideas for solutions to community problems.

Panelist Reggie Jackson, head griot at America’s Black Holocaust Museum, postulated, “No downtrodden community in history has healed itself alone,” igniting a discussion about what kind of help is needed from the city, county, state and residents of other parts of the city and suburbs. Jackson was on the panel along with James Causey, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel columnist; and Laura Marshall, a Sherman Park resident. WUWM’s LaToya Dennis moderated.

“What we need is action and not just lip service,” Myers said. She noted that after an incident such as the Sherman Park uprising, the community sees an outpouring of questions about why it happened. She noted that the community knows that housing and poor schools are issues and they have said that repeatedly. “But we don’t actually do anything to fix them,” she added.

Myers was disappointed that Sherman Park’s elected leaders said little during the discussion. “People want to see action …. I would have liked to hear more from the representatives … about plans that they may have in place or programming that they may be aware of to help the constituency they serve.” She gave kudos to Sen. Lena Taylor, who does not represent Sherman Park but who discussed community issues in a video interview.

According to Holmes, it is essential that Milwaukee’s education system and the job prospects for African-Americans be improved. We have to have jobs that are attainable with a high school education, Holmes said. “If you’re left with the option of no work … then your alternative is to do something illegal to make money for your family,” he added.

Parham would like to see residents of other communities come into the central city. “(Do) not be afraid to go into the urban areas and share your knowledge. Don’t stereotype. Don’t judge the kids; just take a step. I challenge those who live perhaps downtown, or who may live in West Milwaukee, to branch out and invest in the Sherman Parks around the city or other communities outside of their (own).”

Myers, Parham and Holmes, all in their 30s, suggested solutions.

“We have to strap up our boots and do more to engage one another and that starts at the basic human level of knowing who your neighbors are, making sure that you know … who the people are in the next five houses down, that they know my children, that they are able to tell me what’s going on when I’m not present,” Myers said.

Parham would like to see more parental and community involvement to make the neighborhoods better, she said.

“Part of it is we have to help ourselves. African-Americans have to reach into our own pockets and help ourselves first,” said Holmes.

Added Myers, “I think that this is an opportunity for us to move forward and to show what we can become. I think that we are a world-class city and we have to work together to show that to the rest of the world.”

The discussion, which was held at the Parklawn Assembly of God Church, 3725 N. Sherman Blvd., was hosted by Portia Young of Milwaukee PBS’ 10thirtysix. It will be broadcast on Aug. 10 at 8 p.m. on Milwaukee PBS and WUWM 89.7 FM.

This story was originally published by Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service, where you can find other stories reporting on eighteen city neighborhoods in Milwaukee.