Bronzeville produced some of Milwaukee’s most influential figures — people whose impact stretched far beyond the neighborhood’s borders. Here are five legends who called Bronzeville home.
1. Vel Phillips — Trailblazing Politician
Vel Phillips was the first Black woman elected to the Milwaukee Common Council in 1956, and later became the first Black person elected to statewide office in Wisconsin as Secretary of State in 1978. She was a fierce civil rights advocate who marched alongside Father James Groppi in the open housing marches of 1967-68. Bronzeville shaped her sense of justice and community.
2. Clyde Stubblefield — The Funky Drummer
Born in Georgia but raised in Milwaukee, Clyde Stubblefield learned his craft in Bronzeville’s clubs before becoming James Brown’s drummer. His drum break on “Funky Drummer” became one of the most sampled recordings in hip-hop history. He returned to Milwaukee later in life and remained a beloved figure until his passing in 2017.
3. Father James Groppi — The Civil Rights Priest
Though not born in Bronzeville, Father James Groppi became its most passionate advocate. The Catholic priest led 200 consecutive nights of open housing marches through Milwaukee’s streets in 1967-68, demanding fair housing for Black residents. He was beloved in Bronzeville and feared by those who opposed equality.
4. Manty Ellis — Milwaukee’s Jazz Ambassador
Guitarist Manty Ellis was a fixture in Milwaukee’s jazz scene for decades, performing in Bronzeville’s clubs and later becoming a beloved teacher who mentored generations of Milwaukee musicians. His legacy lives on through the countless artists he inspired.
5. James Cameron — Lynching Survivor and Activist
James Cameron survived a near-lynching in Marion, Indiana in 1930 and later moved to Milwaukee, where he founded America’s Black Holocaust Museum in 1988. Located near the old Bronzeville district, the museum stands as a testament to the resilience of Black Americans and the importance of confronting history honestly.
