Bronzeville was a thriving African-American community in Milwaukee which peaked in culture in the 1940s and 50s. It was essentially localized in the area between North and State with 12th and 3rd Street as its borders.

African-Americans had moved to that particular spot after tensions had been arising in their existing neighborhoods of Milwaukee's sixth, second, and tenth wards.

What Bronzeville evolved into, before its unfair and unfortunate demise, was a community full of familial values, gainful employment, commerce, and a swinging jazz scene complete with tour stops and appearances by Louis Armstrong, Billie Holiday and Nat King Cole--to name a few.

This was all brought to an abrupt halt by two pieces of government legislation that literally tore the community apart. They were the Housing Act of 1949 and the 1956 Federal-Aid Highway Act.

--posted by Lawrence