Dick Gregory in Milwaukee During the Historic 1967-68 Open Housing Campign

In 1967-68, civil rights activists in Milwaukee, along with supporters from across the country, waged a historic campaign for open housing, which ultimately played an instrumental role in spurring passage of the 1968 Fair Housing Act. Comedian and activist Dick Gregory was one of the prominent figures who came to Milwaukee to support Fr. Groppi, the NAACP Youth Council and Commandos. This video was compiled/edited by Jasmine Alinder and Cris Siqueira using archival footage found at the UW-Milwaukee Urban Archive for the 40th anniversary celebration/conference of the historic open housing campaign in Milwaukee. For more information on the civil rights era in Milwaukee, see, Patrick D. Jones The Selma of the North: Civil Rights Insurgency in Milwaukee (Harvard University Press, 2009)

[@bigd53224]

Thanks for posting this video. I was born in 1978 who thanks to Father Groppi, my parents both got great jobs and saved money to buy a house off of 91st and Good Hope in Milwaukee. And from what I was told that not to many blacks even in the late 70's went north past Silver Spring Rd. (now it's Drive) Thank You Father and God Bless You! Alvin Reasby Jr. of Milwaukee.

[@jeromeb4396]

Still going. Awesome video man. Thank you.

[@democracy8888]

@MrTommylk23 Thanks for commenting. In fact, I wrote a whole book about the civil rights movement in Milwaukee, including quite a bit about your uncle! The title of the book is The Selma of the North: Civil Rights Insurgency in Milwaukee (Harvard University Press, 2009). It is now available in paperback. I'd love to hear what you think about the book. And, please help spread the word!
best,
Patrick Jones

[@draeking258]

23 secs into the video"' To the right of Father Groppi was my Father who was one of the Original Commandoes; its funny I had to find out about all of this when my father was on his deaf bed ; and these men were coming in to see him leaving out the room hurt that friend was sick; he never told me about how it was back then ; but I now why now; but its a shame its still the same as today; and even worse...