Mike Holt - Signifyin'

We praised him, sang songs about him, and of course tasked local youth with penning speeches on his ‘achievements.’

The subject of those accolades is, of course, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., whose holiday—albeit diluted—was celebrated last Monday (his actual birthday was January 15). 

President ‘Donald Trumperster’ took teeth out of the holiday by amending the paid federal day off provision, supposedly to save money, even though he has wasted literally billions on ICE patrols, enhanced military budgets and tariff collections. 

Most insultingly, the racist roaches cut Obamacare, forcing millions into poverty, a key issue raised by King prior to his assassination. 

This year’s celebrations brought to the fore images of a great man who not only questioned the racist status quo, but also the moral consciousness of a nation (criticizing the Viet Nam War). 

But how much progress has truly been made, aside from the erosion of legal barriers? Have the economic, educational and societal barriers been eliminated? 

Have those ‘Band-Aids’ been enough to stop the bleeding, or merely slow it down? 

Dr. King opened the plantation doors, but far too many of us have been locked into sharecropping roles. 

Have we, or they, been responsible for the creation of the ‘Culture of Poverty’? 

It depends on who you ask, and what metrics are used. 

Few can say that educationally, we have achieved a state of nirvana. In fact, in some cases, here in Wisconsin—Milwaukee—we have regressed. 

Supposedly, desegregation (versus integration) was to be a cure-all. 

Black folks were allowed to move into exclusively White schools. But the racial achievement gap remained horribly wide. 

Despite the 1976 desegregation order of Judge John Reynolds, Whiteness has not rubbed off on Black students as some had assumed. 

Indeed, the only benefit of racial harmony is the majority of rap albums are now purchased by Whites, and many of them now have ‘rhythm.’ 

As a result, WalletHub research shows Milwaukee hosts the fourth-worst poverty gaps in the country. 

Moreover, another recent study found that only 7% of managerial positions and 4-5% of senior managerial positions belong to Black Americans, even though that demographic makes up 14% of U.S. employees. 

Milwaukee hosts a Black unemployment rate that is three times higher than that of Whites. 

A University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee study by Marc Levine a decade ago revealed Cream City unemployment for Black males 18-65 was among the highest in the country, over 30%. 

Thus, it shouldn’t be surprising that Wisconsin (MKE) has the fourth widest poverty gap in the country. 

Over 20,000 Milwaukee families exist on less than $10,000 annually, not enough to keep a steady flow of tainted hamburger meat in the refrigerator. 

Adam McCann of WalletHub, noted: 

“What’s even more striking than the inequality in employment is the disparity in wealth between White and Black Americans. 

For example, for every $100 in wealth that White households have, Black households have only $15.” 

Wisconsin ranked 49th out of 50 states in terms of economic racial equality. 

The state also ranked 49th for housing segregation. 

On the flip side, Dr. King would be ecstatic had he lived to see the election of an African American president and a vice president. 

He probably turned over in his grave, however, when ‘Donald Trumpster’ was twice elected and undertook an agenda to dismantle the gains of those two history-makers. 

In fact, the election of a racist demigod under the flag of ‘White Supremacy’ is an affront to everything King stood for. 

Politically, we have made tremendous gains nationally and locally. There are currently 60 congresspersons in office, with several more expected after the fall elections. 

Locally, we control the city council and the county board of supervisors. We have a Black mayor and county executive, as well as a sheriff and chief of police. 

But those political achievements have not resulted in the educational, economic, or cultural improvements King sought, unless the political response has been the chorus of political rhetoric (and blame game) or their giving themselves raises and life preservers as their constituents drown. 

As an advocate of ‘integration,’ I’m sure Martin would be happy to see interracial couples dominating television commercials. If my estimate is correct, 90% of all commercials now feature a Black and White couple with ‘good’ (anti-black paradigm) hair. 

Apparently, their number is growing, allowing us to assume they are the solution to racial discord. 

And assuming their offspring will marry an Asian or Indian (aka Kamala Harris), we will someday realize a country in which the inhabitants are light-skinned, with slanted eyes, nappy hair and rhythm. 

A generation after his assassination, the children of King’s army of moral crusaders can now march unabated in areas of the south where racist cops once followed the tenets of White Supremacy. 

Today, in Atlanta, Memphis and other major southern cities, Black boys in blue (no pun intended) have replaced the KKK ham hocks. In far too many cases, however, some of the Black officers are more loyal to the Blue Fraternity than the Black agenda. 

I don’t know if America’s moral leader would have been able to look into America’s mirror and assess we are closer to that color blind society he envisioned 50 years ago, as Sunday at 10-11 a.m. continues to be the most segregated hour in America. 

On the positive side, a Pew Research study reveals that the number of churches considered ‘integrated’ (meaning one or more Black or White congregants) has tripled to 16%. Wow, another 150 years and 50% would be within reach. 

(On the sad side, the percentage of people calling themselves nonreligious has grown to 26%.) 

Obviously, there has been racial progress in the last 60 years. And then came Trump, whose agenda is to turn the clock back to the era of black and white television. 

Those of us who fought to tear down the walls of apartheid since the King era live much better lives as a result of the Drum Major for Peace’s leadership and his acceptance by scared Whites who ‘approved’ his strategy over that of the militant alternative. 

But the fight is far from over. Clouds obscure our vision from the mountain top, but we’re sure something colorblind is down in the valley. 

Hotep. 

I learned the hard way to be leery of liberal missionaries. 

I take liberals with a grain of salt. 

And missionaries….Whew, I suspect, and keep at arm’s length, as they are generally closet connivers, thinking they know what’s best for Black folks, believing we are culturally immature and incapable of thinking for ourselves. 

Through a half-century of observations, it is obvious they believe we must be guided and controlled, used as political pawns. 

Seventy-five percent are ‘step off the edge of the earth Democrats.’ The remaining are Bernie Sanders supporters. 

Against that backdrop, I was taken aback to learn of the sale of the Courier Communications media ‘empire’ to the Missionary vehicle Civic Media, a couple of weeks ago. Courier communications include the Milwaukee Courier newspaper and radio station WNOV. 

WNOV was’ the only Black owned radio station in the state. The Courier was the state’s oldest Black owned newspaper. 

Civic Media brands itself as a ‘public benefit corporation,’ whatever that means. 

It owns a barnyard of radio stations around the state. 

In a press release, Civic Media describes itself as ‘rooted in radio, operating a growing network of broadcast, digital, streaming and community platforms that connect people on the issues, events and voices ‘shaping (or reshaping) their daily lives. 

‘It believes informed communities are essential to a healthy democracy and is committed to providing accessible, ‘accurate’ information that encourages civic understanding and engagement.’ 

In other words, Civic Media’s agenda is to influence the public (us) from its perspective—which you can interpret as being from a left-leaning perspective —now in Black face. 

Which is not to mean white ownership translates to a turn-of-the-century platform. 

But even recent history provides examples of a hidden agenda. 

When the missionaries engaged and took over the George Floyd protests, for example, they turned the demonstrations into a political campaign for Joe Biden; the essence of the movement was smothered in quicksand. 

If you’re old enough, you might remember the (daily) Journal tried to run an inner city version of its newspaper.

It died a painful death. And let’s not forsake the penultimate missionary newspaper, the Shepherd Express, which has for decades led and continues to dictate the Black agenda and African American leadership. 

Prior to joining the Truth, Sherwin Hughes — my favorite local talk show host—dipped his big toe into an upstart missionary radio station. He and Earl Ingram were the Black faces. Sherwin refused to be a black pawn and soon quit. 

On the positive side, the discontinuation of the Courier as a Black-owned newspaper means the Milwaukee Community Journal will become not only the most influential Black-owned press, but, as of January 1, the most tenured Black newspaper, entering our 50th year in 2026. 

I can only speculate on the platform of the new ‘NOV. ‘ I expect the future philosophy of the station and newspaper. 

For the record, while I occasionally listen to Michelle Bryant, firebrand and former chief of staff of state senator now Milwaukee County Judge Lena Taylor, my radio dial is set to 101.7 the Truth. Sherwin Hughes is my favorite local talk show host, but his show conflicts with Michelle’s. 

Indeed, the Truth lineup keeps me engaged with the station all day. 

From (the now defunct) ‘Jammin with Juice,’ Sherwin, and Kyle ‘left hook’ Wallace, activist and trump supporter Tory Lowe, and finally Dr. Ken Harris, moderate intellectual, the day is as refreshing as a Thanksgiving meal in July. 

Despite his employment and training within Democratic circles, Sherwin is a pragmatic visionary who is the most astute and politically savvy journalist in southeastern Wisconsin. 

I can only speculate on the platform of the new ‘NOV. ‘ I expect the future philosophy of the station and newspaper to make a sharp left turn on I-94. 

White ownership does not mean it cannot relate. If that were the case, we would starve. 

Black students in government schools would be shortchanged (maybe that’s a bad example). 

Conversely, I can’t have my hair cut by a white barber, and I use a Black doctor and dentist, and I prefer my chef to be brought up in a soulful house. 

Dr.Robert Baker, a professor at UWM, who describes himself as a ’technologist and cultural guru, has been announced as the new general manager of WNOV. His resume suggests he will be in tune with Africentric concerns. 

But the new face of the station will be Earl Ingram, who was rejected as a host for NOV several years ago due to philosophical differences. 

I’ve known Earl for years. He has earned his stripes throughcommunity activism, though his blind allegiance to Democratic politics as the cure-all for Black concerns has been at odds with my Black nationalist philosophy. He is a perfect match for the station. 

My concern for the future’s philosophical direction of NOV was addressed by Byrant, whosaid in a news article that the trustand independence of the station may be undermined by white (liberal) ownership. 

“I understand the significance of having Black voices that arenot controlled,” she said, “and not scripted, a reference to biased interviews and commentaries intended to sway a political agenda.

“Not bought and paid for… notunder pressure to conform ormake other people (whites) comfortable. We have to get value forour own entities. We have got to stop relying on White folks to come and see what Black folksbuilt.” 

I took her comments to mean she is not long for a stationgrounded in ‘missionary politics.’ Expect more national and international guests, chosen by management. 

Sometimes you have to read between the lines. I anticipate aninfusion of cash to offset philosophical concerns. 

I guess I’m guardedly optimistic. As of yesterday, Michellestarted the day at NOV. When Iopened her YouTube page, shewas interviewing white guests talking about Venezuela instead ofshootings on Vliet Street. 

Hotep 

Ran into an old karate student of mine, who informed me of a fellow student who is now another statistic of the criminal ‘Just-us’ system .

It’s not that the incarcerated young brother was mean-spirited, uncivil, or hung out with the wrong crowd. 

He was, however, psychologically corrupted, another statistical result of a dysfunctional family, complete with a ‘Walking Dead Dad.’ 

The former student was the type of victim, the late Patrick Moynihan—who was a U.S. Senator and author of the controversial ‘Moynihan Report’ about the plight of Black Americans—who predicted eons ago the current ‘family structure’ that casts what seems to be an ever-widening shadow over our ‘village’: three or more siblings by different fathers, raised by a challenged mother, trapped in the ‘Culture of Poverty,’ without the support of her ‘Sperm Donor.’ 

Ministers won’t talk about it; police only respond to its ramifications; and the government (public) schools can’t overcome it. Surely God (Nyame) didn’t plan on Sperm Donor-hood being the new Black family norm (unless the biblical phrase: ‘be fruitful and multiply’ didn’t include the nuclear family paradigm). 

Forty-one percent of Black women are single parents. Subtract the divorced couples, and the majority of Black baby daddies (aka ‘Sperm Donors’) are ‘AWOL’ or ‘MIA.’ 

Over 70% of Black Milwaukee households are run by a single parent, a majority of whom are poor. 

That compares to 14% of Whites, and only eight percent of Asian Americans, who observe nuclear family paradigms. 

Not surprisingly, Asian children excel in school and have the highest rates of college acceptance, graduation, and six-figure incomes. 

The poverty index follows along the same ratios, as does absentee dads. 

Obviously not all of them. My wife was a single parent. She acquired a bachelor’s degree. My bonus daughter has a master’s, and my bonus son is a lawyer. 

I was a single parent, and my son followed suit. My son was working on his master’s in educational administration when he died in a car accident. 

One of his sons graduated from the Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE) at 19. His sibling has a business in Atlanta. 

Which takes me back to my original premise and the impact of AWOL fathers. 

The mother of the now-incarcerated young man asked the sensei (instructors) if any of us would accompany her youngest son (about 10 or 11) to a father/son program. 

His brother, one year older, was going to the event with his father. 

And therein lay the emotional turmoil that eventually manifested in his criminal behavior (I didn’t ask the adult student what the boy in question was incarcerated for, a factor I now regret). 

Each of the five instructors (myself included) offered to accompany the preteen. A minute or two later, the two young boys came into the office. 

The mother proudly announced what had transpired and asked the younger student which ‘surrogate’ father he felt most comfortable with. 

His response caught all of us off guard. If you have ever seen an uncontrollable outburst by a karate student, well, he broke the glass counter and was about to knock over the filing cabinet before we subdued him. 

He was cussing throughout the episode, using a couple of words the late counter-culture comedian George Carlin wouldn’t sanction. 

The root of the problem, we were later told, was jealousy; his brother had an active father, while he did not. 

A couple of us (Black belts) conceived a plan to take the Sperm Donor to a nearby park to convincehim to ‘do the right thing,’ either financially or time-wise…hopefully both. 

Equally important, the counterbalance to financial support is parenting; spending quality time with an impressionable young brother. Show him the way (which might include the truth about his conduct and lack of resources). 

We don’t talk above a whisper about unwed births or single parenting. And it’s idiotic that in 2025, a majority of Black teens, according to ‘Mom Junction’ (MJ), an advocacy program, said most got pregnant by accident, and less than a quarter had what they called ‘constructive communications with their parent(s) about sex.’ 

MJ also revealed in a recent report that teenpregnancy (poor girls) costs taxpayers $7M a year, and the offspring of Sperm Donors a life of grief,disappointment, and mental illness. Moreover,most of the progeny suffer from medical problems, from asthma to lead poisoning. 

Teen pregnancy is the number one reason forhigh school dropouts. 

Fifty percent of girls said their first sexual experience was unwanted. Eighty-two percent ofteen mothers said their pregnancies were unplanned. 

The good old ‘US of A’ has the highest teenpregnancy rate in the ‘uncivilized’ world. 

Pregnancies of teens under the age of 20 have adisproportionate percentage of medical complications. 

And, various studies show the offspring of achild raised in a ‘poor’ single-parent household are three times more likely to commit a crime, (according to a Holt ‘guess-ta-ment’) fire guns inanger, commit most of the murders and shootings, with 90% getting their girlfriends pregnant to fulfill their manhood appetite. 

Less than half pay child support, and most haveas a condition of their visit the seduction (again!)of the child’s mother. 

Reading all of that should have given you aheadache by now…too many stats and warnings ofdoom and gloom. 

Think about the scenario of the preteen withouta father in his life. Multiply, and take heed. 

Hotep.

 I couldn’t imagine anyone filling the shoes of Rev. John W. McVicker, the founder of Christ the King Baptist Church (CTK). 

‘Rev. Mac’ casted a large shadow, not only from the pulpit but also as a community activist. 

Equally significant, the now-retired cleric built CTK from a rented space and a handful of congregants to the largest Baptist church in Milwaukee. 

But any of my doubts about his successor, Rev. Treyvon Sinclair, have been erased in a Godly heartbeat. 

The young minister received a unanimous confirmation from the CTK membership, an unheard-of endorsement of not only his teaching ministry, but his vision for the Northside church and the community it serves. 

To hear him preach is a blessing in itself, and his Bible school lessons are both insightful and refreshing (I attend weekly sessions and alternate between church services at CTK and House of Grace Ministries, pastored by my sister, Rev. Deborah Thomas). 

Any concerns about his shoe size were dispelled during our 90-minute interview last week. 

Rev. Sinclair was uniquely open on every question, from abortion to White Supremacy under the umbrella of evangelical nationalism. 

I mentioned a story I was writing many years ago in which I asked a dozen Black clerics about their position- theology—on abortion. Only two responded, and one asked that I not mention his name or his church. 

Yet the new shepherd of CTK didn’t hesitate to quip that he was opposed to abortion, but didn’t see his position as a church leader in mandating biblical philosophy to those of an alternate philosophy or theology. 

And he spared no remorse in condemning the so-called Evangelical Right, asserting, “We don’t worship the same God.” 

The same can be said of those who profess to be ‘Pro-life.’ 

“They are generally only half pro-life…they supposedly care about the unborn, but not for the welfare of the born,” he lamented. 

The young cleric is concerned about the direction of the country and the evangelical Christian right’s influence on the president. 

In fact, he has nothing but contempt for those who profess to be messengers of God, but instead display through word and deed, an anti-Jesus paradigm. “Do they follow His example, His words?” he asked hyphothetically. 

He paused for a few seconds to choose his following words…carefully. 

“You have to question whether you’re the voice if you’re uncivil to the least of us…ignore the poor and disenfranchised. 

“We are the hands of Jesus, that’s our role, to love thy neighbor and provide for the poor.” 

Two hundred years ago, this same Christian nationalism profited from slavery and followed a racist philosophy that condoned slavery. 

“It’s about the truth, following the truth of what Jesus said. If that’s not your theology…” 

CTK initiated a food drive last Sunday, filling coffers to provide to the Hunger Task Force. 

Under his leadership, Rev. Sinclair is providing for a new youth program to complement his elderly project. 

Sinclair can be considered an old-school pastor with new-generation influences. He is the grandson of the noted Minister Bobbie Sinclair. 

His hair is twisted, but it covers a theologically superior mind, gathered not just from his life in the church, but two seminary degrees, the latter from Duke. 

His favorite scripture is 2nd Timothy 4:17, in which Paul writes to Timothy from his prison cell, where he awaits execution. 

Although a lesser man would be overcome with dread, Paul found comfort in friends who supported him and in the belief that God would never desert him. 

“… But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion’s mouth.” 

An appropriate scripture for a young (capital Y) cleric who accepted the leadership mantle of the largest Baptist church in the city. It speaks volumes about a ‘brother’ (an appropriate adjective), who is not only solidifying his church mission, but spreading the word, in and outside the church. 

While serving other churches after his graduation and apprenticeship, Rev. McVicker called and asked him to lunch. 

That was three years ago. The rest is history. 

McVicker was not only a great theologian but also an equally adept administrator. 

CTK is on solid financial footing, and last weekend burned its second mortgage ($1 million) tied to its Quality of Life Center. 

The congregation is diverse and generational. Rev. Mac said during his sermon on Sunday that burning the mortgage simply means more resources can now be directed to helping the community. Rev. Sinclair has been tasked to spearhead that mission. 

I asked Rev. Mac whether he personally chose Rev. Sinclair, or whether he handpicked him. 

“Naw, God did,” he said. 

And that was an excellent choice. 

Hotep

Since God, Jehovah, Nyame, Elohim is in charge and orchestrates pawns and other pieces of mankind, (queens and rooks), is it conceivable He has facilitated the government shutdown and its related evils—aka Trump—to allow an opportunity for humanity’s penultimate test. 

Maybe this is the supreme opportunity for us to treat each other—particularly the poor—as Jesus, Immanuel, Messiah, Yeshua mandated—to display love for brothers and sisters. 

Think about it: God allowed the ignorant and gullible to put a convicted felon in the White House. 

In less than a year, Donald Trumper gutted education programs, social services (especially SNAP) imposed ridiculous tariffs which increased prices on everything from tires to tea, and put holes in the poverty safety net, forcing one in eight Americans to face existence in the second ‘Great Depression,’ with a capital ‘d’ as in people of darker hue and political ‘d’ as in Democrats. 

I won’t delve into this calculated tragedy, other than to point to a far-right-orchestrated agenda. 

But images come to mind of the epic scene of Rome burning as the Emperor, Nero, played his fiddle as the city turned to ash. 

As the state, county, and city attempt to use financial band-aids to stop the bleeding, the reality is still the same. 

Governor Tony Evers supplemented funds for the November SNAP benefits, only to be told by the Emperor that he must return the money. 

I hope he doesn’t plan to do the same thing with the county, which has moved $150K from its contingency funds. 

Meanwhile, the Democrats stood in self-imposed exile to force Congress to extend the Affordable Care Act. 

But that wall of resistance was pierced when eight of their number switched their votes under the asinine strategy that the racist roaches will come to the table…eventually to address the problem. 

Which brings me to my original premise: are we our brother’s keeper? 

And if we are, will we fill the void, embrace those in need? 

I grew up in an era where few of our neighbors were on welfare, despite poverty. 

The church and neighbors filled the void. 

I knew every family on my block. I also witnessed sharing and caring. I lived around the corner from St. Matthews CME Church, which also served as an outlet to assist the needy, even if they were not remembered. It was the mission of the church, something rare these days. 

During the so-called riots, my press pass (from the Milwaukee Sentinel) allowed me to circumvent the National Guard containment (the central city became a reservation of sorts) and, with a borrowed station wagon, went shopping on the near southside. 

Most people on the block contributed what they could (some only contributed prayers), and I loaded up on food, which was shared based on need. 

It was a truly authentic example of our African-centric culture. 

Oh, the good old days! Our community was, in fact, a ‘community.’ 

Storyteller supreme Teju Olagboni said the rural South was the closest we came to keeping that cultural model alive. 

Of course, Black Milwaukee was one-third its current size. And nearly half were migrants from that existence in the South before the 1950s. 

The first two migrations brought returns from Georgia and Alabama. 

They were motivated by the employment opportunities and the prospect of better education. 

Escaping educational apartheid and limited (mostly share-cropping) jobs, they brought with them strong work ethics and Christian (and Muslim) foundations. Marriage, as it is in Africa, was considered a cultural foundation. 

That seemingly changed with the third migration, which sought the ‘riches’ of welfare benefits (most from Mississippi). With them came a different culture, later known as the ‘Culture of Poverty.’ 

Those of us who cared, who sought a collective Africentric paradigm, were quickly outnumbered. 

The church was no longer the epicenter of our lives, nor were its tenets our guiding principles or the foundation of our strong work ethic. 

But God provided the opportunity to re-engage, to no longer ask what Jesus would do, but instead fulfill the prophecy.And supplement our prayers with action. 

A brother I ran into at the grocery store (yeah, I can still afford the $20 hamburger meat and $60 cans of coffee). But, I think it will soon drop to two meals a day, and walk (limp with a cane) to reach point ‘b’ from ‘a.’ We can tell the poor to await government cheese or to pray. But prayer without action is fruitless, or, in other words, it is empty. 

Now that I think about it, that’s how we got in this mess in the first place. Hotep

That’s what I meant to say in my foreword to Bill Tennessen’s recently published book of photography, ‘Dynamic Range.’ 

The book is an expose of Milwaukee’s Black life over the last three decades. 

Bill has served as a photographer for the Community Journal for nearly three decades. His book provides a unique exposé of our journey from migration to civil rights mitigation. 

While Bill became an icon of local sports photography — particularly of the Milwaukee Bucks — he also captured a variety of local Black history, from visits by the late President Jimmy Carter to Juneteenth. 

As I’ve repeatedly lamented, anyone can be a picture taker. Reach into your purse or pants, pull out your cell phone, and “snap, crackle, pop.” You’ve captured a memorable moment. But you wouldn’t want your sister shooting your wedding. That’s because you want a memorable product. You want a pro — someone with an ‘eye.’ And the right equipment. 

A ghetto uncle with a 1990 model Kodak won’t get it. 

What made Bill unique among the few was his photographic eye. He caught the moment, the second. Michael Jordan in mid-flight, the glance, the glare. 

It is a unique skill, one that separates the ‘picture taker’ from a seasoned photographer. 

And it is a willingness to dedicate time and talent. That was (is) Bill Tennessen. 

Capturing images, faces, and expressions was Bill Tennessen’s skill set. He is a griot of sorts, recording Black history. His book could, and should, be used in government (public) schools to fill in our historical journey, from Mayor Henry Maier to Cavalier Johnson, from civil to silver rights; a handful of Black achievers to political control. 

As I noted in my foreword, 

‘Bill’s unique—albeit memorable—photography helped place the Community Journal in the upper sphere of newspapers. Locally, his photographs sparked interest and grew our readership. Folks sought out the MCJ to view his interpretive sports photos. His candid communal shots brought both tears and praise. 

As a photojournalist myself, I can attest to the quality of his work. His work was not only distinctive but intuitive. 

A good photograph tells a story. As the Chinese hypothesize, a picture is worth a thousand words. 

Bill’s photos also spoke to a moment in history, one that fellow photographer Pat A. Robinson referred to as Bill’s “documentation of our lives.” 

Unnoticeably, Bill captured the essence of Black life. 

I once described him as a Gordon Parks clone, an invisible historian who shared his photographic eye with our readership. 

I attended military photography school. I learned about lighting, composure, and lens. But I won the NNPA Best News Photo award decades ago because I developed that ‘eye.’ That exceptional quality was acquired from lessons taught by local greats such as Ken Lumpkin, Harry Kemp, and Bill Tennessen. 

They taught me to look…to compose a story, to capture an image, to record history. 

Out of the blue, and without a job notice, Bill showed up at the Community Journal offices one day offering his services. Surprisingly, he didn’t seek compensation; he required only a press pass and an opportunity. 

I was initially hesitant, given that Bill didn’t present the latest or most expensive equipment. Long before the digital era, he nonetheless provided a portfolio that suggested a unique skill set, which impressed me enough to take him on as a freelancer. 

We rarely assigned Bill to cover an event, but that didn’t stop him from appearing at social and cultural events. His photos of former President Jimmy Carter, for example, who was doing work for Habitat For Humanity, were a pleasant surprise. And even though I also covered an event, his shots were superior and thus used. Such was the case with consecutive photos of Milwaukee’s Juneteenth celebration. One time, he climbed a fire department ladder to photograph the depth of the massive crowd. 

Bill even showed up as a guest, but instead shot pictures of my wedding. His black and white wide-screen photo graces my parents’ wall to this day. 

Bill worked his way into our Milwaukee Community Journal family. He was once a foster child and then an adopted son, and finally a full-fledged blood brother of the MCJ family, which he was introduced as at our annual celebration. 

I’ve gotta lot of love for Bill. I appreciate his talent, but more importantly, love his gentle spirit and quiet humor. He is a brother by another mother. His photography has stood the test of time. In fact, it’s timeless.’ 

If you’re interested in our past and our future, pick up a copy of ‘Dynamic Range,’ Bill Tennessen’s Photographic Journal, Through late 20th Century Milwaukee.’ It is not only a picture of Black Milwaukee’s past, but a portrait of a man in love with his subjects. —Hotep