Kam Rabon, “Living For The City: Black Middle Class Milwaukeeans”
Mentor: Ermitte Saint Jacques, African and African Diaspora Studies
Poster #153

Living For The City does research on Black Middle Class Milwaukeeans to showcase that they exist within this city. This information can be used to inform others on the demographics of Milwaukee, the effects of racism in Milwaukee, the Black Middle-Class experience, and the values and business in Milwaukee that are crucial in aiding the Black Middle-Class experience. In gathering this information, we talked with over 60 Black Middle-Class participants to hear about their experiences. The Middle Class range of our participants ranged from lower Middle Class to upper Middle Class and has a diverse range of ages of participants. Despite not all the participants living in Milwaukee, they all either had a connection with Milwaukee, lived here for a period of time, or were born and raised here. In talking with some participants, they did have other places to compare their Middle Class experience to that were mainly in the South and South West. With the information we receive from the participants and questionnaire, we can gather information. The video recording taken during the interview is processed in a tool called Otter, which generates a rough draft transcription with time stamps. After the transcription is edited, it is then uploaded into coding software called NVIVO 12. In using this software, the answers to the questionnaire are coded and documented, which gives us percentage numbers on how the participants answered the questions. In our research on the Black Middle Class, our hope is to create a traveling exhibit with Wisconsin Humanities. In doing this, our research can be displayed for all to access and use.