University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Archives Department.

Black and White Men Together--Milwaukee.

Records, 1981-1989.

Milwaukee Manuscript Collection 208

.6 cubic ft. (1 archives box and 1 small archives box)



ABSTRACT:  The collection documents the functions and activities of the Milwaukee chapter of Black and White Men Together (BWMT), which held its first membership meeting in November 1980. BWMT--Milwaukee provided a safe environment for gay male, 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).

ACCESS RESTRICTIONS: There are no access restrictions on the materials, and the collection is open to all members of the public in accordance with state law. However, the researcher assumes full responsibility for conforming with the laws of libel, privacy, and copyright which may be involved in the use of this collection (Wisconsin Statutes 19.21-19.39).

SCOPE AND CONTENT:  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 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.

COLLECTION CITATION: This collection should be cited as:

Black and White Men Together--Milwaukee. Records, 1981-1989. Milwaukee Manuscript Collection 208. Wisconsin Historical Society. Milwaukee Area Research Center. UWM Libraries. University of Wisconsin--Milwaukee.

RELATED COLLECTIONS:

Coleman, Jonathan. Papers, 1976-1997. (UWM Manuscript Collection 152)

Cream City Foundation. Records, 1982-2001. (UWM Manuscript Collection 205)

Milwaukee Gay/Lesbian Cable Network. Records, 1987-1994. (UWM Manuscript Collection 206)

ACQUISITION: The National Association of Black and White Men Together donated this collection to the Wisconsin Historical Society in May 1986 (accession M88-106). Additional donations were made by individual members in 1989-1991 (accessions M89-279, M89-281, M90-142, M91-271).

PROCESSING: Michael Doylen processed the collection at the Archives in May 2004.

MARC RECORD SEARCH TERMS: The following terms were used in the online bibliographic MARC record to this collection:

MILWAUKEE MANUSCRIPT COLLECTION 208 BOX FOLDER
1st Aldermanic District Questionnaire, 1987 1 1
Anniversary, 1981 1 2
Anniversary, 1982 1 3
Anniversary, 1984 1 4
Anniversary, 1985 1 5
Anniversary, 1989 1 6
Archives, 1985-1986, undated 1 7
Brochures and Fliers, 1981, undated 1 8
Constitution, 1985 1 9
Convention Planning, Committee Agendas and Minutes, 1987 1 10
Convention Planning, Correspondence, 1986-1987 1 11
Convention Planning, Fundraising, 1986 1 12
Convention Planning, Miscellaneous, 1987 1 13
Convention Planning, Press Releases, 1987 1 14
Convention Planning, Proclamations, 1987 1 15
Convention Planning, Program Drafts, 1987 1 16
Correspondence, Incoming, 1984-1988 1 17
Correspondence, Incoming, NABWMT, 1983-1989 1 18
Correspondence, Outgoing, 1982-1988 1 19
Logos, undated 1 20
Membership Application (Blank), undated 1 21
Membership Meetings, Agendas and Minutes, 1981-1987, undated 1 22
Midwest Regional Conference (Milwaukee), 1983 1 23
Newsletters, 1981-1989 1 24-32
Newsletters (Other Chapters), Atlanta-Memphis 2 1
Newsletters (Other Chapters), New York-Youngstown 2 2
Photographs, undated 2 3
Smith, Mike, Writings and Speeches, 1987 2 4
Song Sheets, 1985, undated 2 5
Statement of Purpose, undated 2 6
Stationary (Blank), undated 2 7
Steering Committee, Agendas and Minutes, 1984-1988 2 8
Suggested Reading List for BWMT and Friends, undated 2 9
NABWMT, Board Memos, 1985 2 10
NABWMT, By-Laws, 1983, 1988 2 11
NABWMT, Convention (Columbus), 1983 2 12
NABWMT, Convention (Atlanta), 1984 2 13
NABWMT, Convention (New York), 1986 2 14
NABWMT, General Information, 1986 2 15
NABWMT, Newsletters, 1984-1988 2 16

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URL: http://www.uwm.edu/Libraries/arch/findaids/mss208.htm
Last edited on Wednesday, June 9, 2004.
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