Summary Information
Black and White Men Together-Milwaukee Records
1981-1991
- Black and White Men Together-Milwaukee
Milwaukee Mss 208
0.6 c.f. (2 archives boxes)
UW-Milwaukee Libraries, Archives / Milwaukee Area Research Ctr. (Map)
Records documenting the functions and activities of the Milwaukee chapter of
Black and White Men Together (BWMT). BWMT-Milwaukee provided a safe environment for
gay males, interracial couples, and individuals interested in interracial dating. It
also raised awareness about and combated racism within Milwaukee's gay community and
homophobia within its black community. The collection includes brochures and fliers,
newsletters, correspondence between the Milwaukee chapter and the national
association, agendas and minutes from membership and steering committee meetings,
and information about the 1987 national convention held in Milwaukee. The collection
also contains some general information about the national association
(NABWMT).
English
http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-whs-mil00208 ↑ Bookmark this ↑
Biography/History
The Milwaukee chapter of Black and White Men Together formed in November 1980,
several months after the formation of the original chapter in San Francisco. In the
first issue of its newsletter, BWMT-Milwaukee declared itself to be “an
interracial support group providing social and consciousness-raising opportunities
for certain adult gay men and their friends, through social activities, rap groups
and political/community action programs.” At its peak size in 1986-1987,
BWMT-Milwaukee had sixty-five members, with an additional twenty-five to thirty
individuals regularly attending social events such as house parties and picnics.
Although the social aspect of BWMT-Milwaukee was always predominant, the group did
seek to educate the larger community about racism and homophobia. Chapter members
supported passage of Assembly Bill 70, which prohibited discrimination in
employment, housing, and public accommodations in Wisconsin on the basis of sexual
orientation, and challenged the discriminatory entry policies of some gay bars in
the metropolitan Milwaukee area.
The group held anniversary celebrations and hosted several regional meetings of other
BWMT chapters. Keynote speakers for anniversary and regional meetings were usually
state politicians and allies of the LGBT community (e.g., State Representative
Marcia Coggs, State Senator Gary George, Judge Stanley Miller, State Representative
Tim Carpenter, etc.). In 1987, the Milwaukee chapter hosted the national convention
of the National Association of Black and White Men Together. To combat declining
membership in the late 1980s and early 1990s, BWMT-Milwaukee changed its name to Men
of All Colors Together in 1993, and to People of All Colors in 1995. By fall of
1997, the group was inactive.
Scope and Content Note
The richest sources of information in the collection are the newsletters (1981-1989)
and minutes of the membership and steering committees (1981-1987 and 1984-1988,
respectively). These records provide the most comprehensive view of BWMT-Milwaukee's
regular activities and special programs. Also included in the collection are
brochures and fliers, correspondence between the Milwaukee chapter and the national
organization, and information about the 1987 national convention held in Milwaukee.
The collection also contains some general information about the national association
(NABWMT) and samples of newsletters from other chapters.
Administrative/Restriction Information
Presented by the National Association of Black and White Men Together, Milwaukee,
Wisconsin, May 1986; additional donations made by individual members in
1989-1991. Accession Number: M88-106, M89-279, M89-281, M90-142,
M91-271
Processed by Michael Doylen, Milwaukee Area Research Center, May 2004. Several
additional items were added by Bob Jaeger (supervised by Christel Maass) at the
Milwaukee ARC in July 2009.
Contents List
|
Milwaukee Mss 208
Box
1
Folder
1
|
1st Aldermanic District Questionnaire,
1987
|
|
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Anniversaries
|
|
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Box
1
Folder
2
|
1981
|
|
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Box
1
Folder
3
|
1982
|
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Box
1
Folder
4
|
1984
|
|
|
Box
1
Folder
5
|
1985
|
|
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Box
1
Folder
6
|
1989
|
|
|
Box
1
Folder
7
|
Archives, 1985-1986, undated
|
|
|
Box
1
Folder
8
|
Brochures and Fliers, 1981, undated
|
|
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Box
1
Folder
9
|
Constitution, 1985
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|
|
Convention Planning
|
|
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Box
1
Folder
10
|
Committee Agendas and Minutes,
1987
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|
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Box
1
Folder
11
|
Correspondence, 1986-1987
|
|
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Box
1
Folder
12
|
Fundraising, 1986
|
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Box
1
Folder
13
|
Miscellaneous, 1987
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Box
1
Folder
14
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Press Releases, 1987
|
|
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Box
1
Folder
15
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Proclamations, 1987
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|
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Box
1
Folder
16
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Program Drafts, 1987
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Correspondence
|
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Box
1
Folder
17
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Incoming, 1984-1988
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Box
1
Folder
18
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Incoming, NABWMT, 1983-1989
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Box
1
Folder
19
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Outgoing, 1982-1988
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Box
1
Folder
20
|
Logos, undated
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|
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Box
1
Folder
21
|
Membership Application (Blank),
undated
|
|
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Box
1
Folder
22
|
Membership Meetings, Agendas and Minutes, 1981-1987,
undated
|
|
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Box
1
Folder
23
|
Midwest Regional Conference (Milwaukee),
1983
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Box
1
Folder
24-33
|
Newsletters, 1981-1991
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|
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Newsletters (Other Chapters)
|
|
|
Box
2
Folder
1
|
Atlanta-Memphis
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Box
2
Folder
2
|
New York-Youngstown
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Box
2
Folder
3
|
Photographs, undated
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Box
2
Folder
4
|
Smith, Mike, Writings and Speeches,
1987
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Box
2
Folder
5
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Song Sheets, 1985, undated
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Box
2
Folder
6
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Statement of Purpose, undated
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Box
2
Folder
7
|
Stationery (Blank), undated
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|
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Box
2
Folder
8
|
Steering Committee, Agendas and Minutes,
1984-1988
|
|
|
Box
2
Folder
9
|
Suggested Reading List for BWMT and Friends,
undated
|
|
|
NABWMT
|
|
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Box
2
Folder
10
|
Board Memos, 1985
|
|
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Box
2
Folder
11
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By-Laws, 1983, 1988
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Conventions
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Box
2
Folder
12
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Columbus, 1983
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Box
2
Folder
13
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Atlanta, 1984
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Box
2
Folder
14
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New York, 1986
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Box
2
Folder
15
|
General Information, 1986
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|
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Box
2
Folder
16
|
Newsletters, 1984-1988
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