"♪ ♪" "VelPhillips:" "Dream Big Dreams is funded in part by the" "Greater Milwaukee Foundation," "Harvey E. and" "Harriet V. Vick Fund," "Helen Bader Foundation," "Evjue Foundation, the charitable arm of the Capitol Times," "Wisconsin Humanities Council with funds from the National Endowment for the Humanities," "Brewers Community Foundation," "Milwaukee Chapter," "The Links Incorporated, and Friends of" "Wisconsin Public Television." "[dramatic music] [conversations]" "Onanovercastday  in August 1967" "200 men, women, and children marched across the 16th Street Viaduct in Milwaukee." "[shouting]" "On the other side of the bridge, thousands of white residents were waiting." "♪ ♪" "They shouted racist taunts, hurled firecrackers, rocks, and bodily fluids." "Although they were battered and scared, the activists marched again the next night and the next" "The marchers demanded what they believed was a basic right, the freedom to live in any neighborhood regardless of the color of your skin." "They called it Open Housing." "The public struggle for" "Open Housing in Milwaukee had started five years earlier, when one woman decided it was time for a change." "Youareawaregentlemen that the eyes of nation, indeed, the eyes of the world, are upon Milwaukee." "HernamewasVel Phillips." "Itwaslike, this is my work." "Shedidthingsthatwere  unheard of for her times." "VelPhillipswasthe first" "African American woman to graduate from the University of Wisconsin" "Law School." "The first African American and first female alderman in Milwaukee." "The first African American judge in Wisconsin." "The first African American and first female to be elected to statewide executive office in Wisconsin or anywhere in the United States." "Thisishuge." "It's just remarkable." "She surprised a lot of people." "Butforatime,Phillips nearly lost everything that she had worked a lifetime to achieve." "Bigmistake." "It was not a wise thing to do." "VelPhillipscombined a fierce commitment to her principles with an aristocratic grace." "And in the end, she forced her city and her country to come closer to the ideals that motivated her life." "Whenwemeasureitallup at the end of the day," "Vel Phillips is a great hero." "Mymotherwouldalways tell us, if you really want it, don't dream small dreams, dream big dreams." "♪ ♪" "Mynameis VelPhillips." "And V-E-L is short for Velvalea." "I was named after my aunt in Milwaukee, Wisconsin many years ago." "VelvaleaHartenceRodgers was born on February 18th, 1924 into Milwaukee's small but growing African American community." "She was the middle of three sisters and the daughter of Thelma and Russell Rodgers." "Myfatherwasverygifted." "He also was a splendid cook and we had a restaurant for years." "They'refiercelyproud of who they are as African Americans and knowledgeable of" "African American history in a time where those things are not taught." "Myfatherwasaquiet, strong person." "He had to be strong to put up with my mother who was strong." "Vel'smother,Thelma,had  three rules for her daughters." "Shewantedus to be ladies." "We couldn't smoke, we couldn't drink, we couldn't talk loud." "But she wanted us to be smart." "Asa highschoolstudent," "Vel entered a national speaking contest and won." "Her performance got her a scholarship to the university of her choice." "She chose Howard University, the historically black college in Washington, D.C." "Wehadalwayslived in neighborhoods where there weren't many blacks and I was kind of proud of my heritage and I figured that they would all be blacks and all these wonderful, outstanding people." "Well, I was just enamored with everything about college." "I felt like I owned the world." "Butin1943,WashingtonD.C." "was still racially segregated." "Afriendof minesaid, let's go to the Cherry Blossoms." "So we went on this Sunday and it's just, oh, if you never been there, there's nothing to compare." "And you just feel ethereal, just magical, and close to God." "And so we said, "Well, lets go to church."" "Thetwoof us wentinto this church and I'll never forget the minister stopped mid-sentence and asked the ushers to usher us out of the church." "Andthenthey're escorted out, which is crushing to her." "That'sa whitechurch." "Here in the nation's capital?" "The betrayal of those core" "American values that every kid gets instilled in them growing up in America, black or white." "Ijustthought, this is not as it should be." "And that just sort of lit a fire, you know?" "AftergraduatingfromHoward," "Vel returned home to Milwaukee and began volunteering at the local branch of the National Association for the Advancement of" "Colored People, the NAACP." "One night at a party, she met a World War II veteran named Dale Phillips." "Iwasveryattractedtohim, because he seemed to be a little streetwise, and I didn't know much." "Mydaddywasarunaroundguy." "He had a lot of buddies and they loved to party." "Andhecameuptome and said, "Gee, what's your name?"" "I told him right away." "And so he brought out a big thing of liquor." "Velrememberedhermother's three rules." "AndI thoughtrightthen, uh oh!" "What should I do?" "I don't want to be naive and stuff." "I just said no thank you." "Then he took out his cigarettes." "I thought, oh God!" "I had to refuse again." "He'll never see me." "When I refused the liquor and the cigarettes," "I guess he decided," ""This is it, this is the woman who I'm going to marry."" "Ithinkwhenhesawmymom  he saw "the one."" "So he reigned in all of his rascalness." "WhenI camehomeafterjust  seeing him for the first time and said, "I met a young man, Mom, at the party, and I was just drawn to him." "If I got to know him, and he asked me to marry him," "I'd marry him."" "She sat right up, she was fanning, "What do you mean?" "You just saw him one time!" "Oh, Lord Jesus help me."" "Theyhadaverybrief courtship." "I think after three or four dates that he popped the question." "OnSeptember12 ,1948," "Dale and Vel were married at St. Mark's AME church in Milwaukee." "Soon, the newlyweds moved to Madison to attend the University of Wisconsin" "Law School." "TheNAACP'sbeliefin that period, late forties, early fifties is that the legal route is the way to go." "We need more lawyers." "Iwasveryexcited." "It was just a wonderful place to be." "Theywereassignedto a University housing facility recently created for returning" "G.I.s and their families, a group of pre-fabricated trailers called Badger Village." "Iwasso lookingforwardto going to Badger Village." "It would be the first time we would be by ourselves." "Wewentouttolook atwhat it would be like, but people saw us." "Oneoftheirfriendswho's white is at a party and what he hears at the party is, "Did you hear?" "The niggers are moving in"" "So they put together a petition." "Andtheypassedoff  this petition saying, we don't want any blacks in Badger Village." "And you have no idea how that affected me." "That was quite a shattering experience and it spoiled it for me." "BadgerVillageresidents shared a central communal bathroom." "SoI saidto my husband," ""When you go to the bathroom, do you go to the same toilet?" "Because I found them talking once, and one said to the other," ""She always uses that toilet, so don't go in there."" "So I said, "Don't use the same one, just change it all around." "You know, don't go to the same one all the time."" "That's when my husband said," ""We gotta get out of here."" "Myfatherwasaveteran from World War II." "It was a segregated military at the time." "He was a bit more street smart." "He'sworriedabout the threat." "In many places petition goes to violence very quickly." "So whites will try to intimidate you or have a petition and that escalates to something on your lawn, which escalates ultimately to the potential of violence." "Dalefounduniversityhousing closer to campus, also in prefabricated trailers, but more welcoming to African Americans." "And together, Dale and" "Vel Philips became the first" "African American couple to graduate from the University of Wisconsin" "Law School." "Iwasthefirstblackwoman  to graduate from the law school." "I just thought that was the biggest thing that could happen to me." "Aftergraduation,they returned to Milwaukee where they opened up their law office," "Phillips and Phillips, and were ready to start a family." "We'dbeentryingand trying and trying." "Theyhadhadalotof difficulty." "They wanted a family, and they'd almost given up." "Lifefortheyoungcouple was busy." "In addition to practicing law," "Vel Phillips volunteered in her community." "She joined the League of Women" "Voters to register her neighbors to vote, and also went door-to-door in the nearby neighborhood of Bronzeville." "Ihadneverseen that kind of poverty." "They would have the oven on and the door open." "That was the heat." "The rest of the house would be cold." "And then children would be running around." "I thought that was dangerous, really." "Whatshesaw,whenyouget behind the doors, the broken down plumbing, the walls coming down, the ceilings coming down, the conditions." "Whitesupremacydictates that white people are better and you see that in material circumstances." "This is why physical space is really important, whether it's marking separate schools or train cars and things." "They're not just separate, but they're inferior." "Thehousesmighthavebeen  in disrepair, but the people weren't in disrepair." "They were good people." "And they might have been poor, but they were human beings." "Thesepeopleareworking, these people are paying taxes." "It's good old taxation without representation." "Thelatestcensushad  revealed a surge in Milwaukee's" "African American population." "With it, a new ward was created and the possibility of an African American alderman on the all white, all male Common Council." "TheCommonCouncilin" "Milwaukee is a very powerful city council." "Evenwhenyouare not able to carry the day on a legislative measure, you have a vocal platform, you're quoted in the paper, so you can put black experience, black interest out there." "You can be on record too." "That was just not possible before." "1956wouldbe thefirst election to include the new ward." "DoyleGeter,whoworkedfor the Journal," "I called him and I said," ""Doyle, how many women had been on the council?"" "He said, "Oh, you're thinking about running?"" "I said, "Yes."" "He said, "Oh, Vel," "I wouldn't do it." "You just wouldn't fit, you're just too dainty." "A lot of men, they smoke and drink."" "I said, "Well, I don't have to drink to be a good city council person."" "Thenew2ndWardincluded both black and white neighborhoods." "Realistically,I thinkeven if you got every" "African American adult over 21, was the age then, to vote, it wouldn't have been enough." "You're going to need some white votes." "Phillipsdecidedthatifshe wanted to get elected, she would have to hide that she was black, and that she was a woman." "Campaign literature listed her as "Vel" instead of her given name, Velvalea." "And in the white areas of the 2nd Ward, Phillips made sure that the campaign literature included no photos of her." "Imean,Isee itasjust a savvy, political and strategic decision to win." "Tohelpgether nameout,  she turned to Milwaukee's white liberals." "Veldidn'thavethat artificial barrier in her head between blacks and whites." "She was just able to get along with everybody." "That was such an admirable characteristic of hers." "Herdistrictwashalfwhite and half black." "I was given the white district and her little card had her name and her background." "But in the black district, the cards had her picture." "And so I was passing out cards in the white area and some guy said, "How come you don't have her picture on this card?"" "I said, "Well, we have many different kinds of literature."" "[laughter]" "Onemorningduring the campaign, Vel got a phone call from her doctor." "Thedoctorcalledmeand said I had to come back." "I said, "Oh, I'm too busy." "Why don't we wait until after the election?"" "The doctor said that, "It's very important that you come in."" "I told that to my mother and she started crying." ""It's the big C."" "So when I went in to the doctor" "I was then convinced it was cancer, so I stood up." "He said, "Sit down," "Mrs. Phillips."" "I said, "No." "When I'm getting bad news," "I like to stand up."" "He said, "Do you know how to knit?"" "I said, "What does that have to do with anything?"" "He said, "Because you're pregnant."" ""You've got to be kidding!"" "Stunned,Phillipswalkedback into the waiting room to Dale." "Isaid," ""Honey, I'm pregnant."" "He says, "Hug me." "Oh, my God, baby, what wonderful news!"" "But I was almost in tears, because I said," ""Now I'll never win."" "I was so thrilled that" "I was pregnant, but I was afraid that it would cost me the election." "And that really frightened me." "You'retalking, the mid- 1950s maybe finally convince them to vote for you as a woman and as an African American, but you as a mother?" "Phillipsdecidedto conceal her pregnancy until after the election." "RightawayIstartedwearing stuff that would hide it." "You know the artists wear those kind of coats?" "I bought some of those and nobody knew I was pregnant." "And I would come home and I would just be worn out." "My husband would rub my feet." ""Oh, honey, you're doing a wonderful job."" "Stillcampaigning on Election Day, the Phillips' offered to drive fellow residents to the polls." "Vel asked one white couple whom they were planning to vote for." "Thewomansaid," ""We're voting for Vel Phillips."" "And the man said, "Yes, we think he's very qualified." "We think he's a very good candidate."" "I stopped like that, and my husband said, "Oh, good." "We think he's great." "You're voting for the right person."" "[laughter]" "OnApril3rd,1956," "Vel Phillips was elected as" "Milwaukee's first female and first African American alderman." "Milwaukeewasincorporated in 1846 and this was 1956." "So it took 110 years." "And when I won, the reporter talked to me." "She said, "How does it feel to be the first woman on the city council?"" "I said, "Being on the council is a wonderful thing, but I have something even more important and more meaningful for me, because I'm with child." "They won't get just a woman, they'll get a woman and a half."" "What do we call her?" "They had a big story about that in the paper." "I said, "Oh, my God."" "And they decided that" "I should be addressed as" ""Madame Alderman."" "They hardly ever did it, number one, and I was glad." "I just wanted be an alderman." "Phillipswentto work at City Hall, but her excitement over her historic win was quickly tempered." "Shewastreatedlikeadog  by her co-aldermen." "Phillipswasurgedby fellow Council members to join the Aldermen's Wives Club." "Iwentto theAlderman's" "Wives, the first meeting." "They just talked about baby formula and stuff like that." "It was just unbelievable." "Milwaukeealdermenwere required to share offices." "Council chairmen" "Martin Schreiber called Phillips in to talk." "AndthenIcaughtit right away." "I said, "And no one wants to be with me."" "Well, you can tell I wasn't that ugly." "He said, "They're afraid to be with you because you are a woman and you're black."" "I said, "I want my own office." "Just put me by myself." "If they don't want to be with me, I sure as hell don't want to be with them."" "But I talked real big about it but it hurt me really deep down." "I just thought, why did I even try this?" "There were many nights when" "I would let my husband know that I cried myself to sleep." "Whenshe'streatedthisway right in front of the whole city, you bet she wasn't involved in the back room discussions." "The business is done in the back rooms, and she was not." "Dalewasworried about his wife, and her career." "Wemusthavesomepolicy about what happens here in the Common Council chambers." "I think that students coming down" "I was gonna be on television, and I was excited because" "I had never been on the television before." "So soon as I got home I called my husband, "Did you watch it?"" "First thing he said," ""It was not a pretty picture." "You interrupted Schreiber three times, you interrupted Mortier." "They just didn't know how to handle it, at all." "And you took full advantage."" "[laughter]" "But let me tell you, it never happened again." "I changed." "Talk less and do more." "Dalewasalwaysthere to call it as it was." "Just an understanding of how things worked, a knowledge of the political animal." "Abrilliantstrategist." "Brilliant in knowing when to push just this much and not that much more." "Velisenergeticand  sometimes going in several directions at once, so to have that counterbalance, that council that encourages reflection or to take a moment to pause." "There's no doubt that he was central to her political career and to her rise and her achievement, her success." "Soshe'sfiguringout , she's spending her time as a good lawyer, reading the rules, how things are done." "IthinkIwas aquietforce ." "Nationalpoliticalleaders began to notice" "Phillips' talents." "In 1958, she was elected to the" "Democratic National Committee." "No black woman had ever served on the committee before." "Thisistheexecutive committee that runs the party nationally, and she's the first" "African American woman." "It's just remarkable." "By1960,theDemocratic party is inching its way towards Civil Rights." "Thebattleforcivilrights was becoming a national focus." "Earlier that year, college students had staged 'sit-ins' to desegregate lunch counters." "Americans watched as the activists were beaten and arrested." "Televisionsarein almost every American home." "We start to see people sitting at a lunch counter and just asking to be served." "We weren't supposed to be like that." "By1960themovementisin  full swing, and it's becoming an increasing problem for those in power and for the nation." "[crowd roars]" "The1960presidential election was underway." "Phillips went to Los Angeles for the Democratic" "National Convention, where the party was to nominate" "Massachusetts senator," "John F. Kennedy as its candidate." "Kennedyhimselfsaid," ""We've got to get a black face out there."" "She was the face of" ""We are going for the African American vote."" "Northernliberalsat  the Democratic National" "Convention demanded a strong civil rights plank." "Kennedy'sinapolitical party that is dominated by Southern, white Democrats who are segregationists, and this is the split in the party." "thatwhatyou'redoingis, in our judgement, making it practically impossible to carry ten states of the Southland in the election of November." "SenatorSpessardHolland, a segregationist from Florida, warned that taking the party too far towards civil rights would doom the Democrats' chance at winning the White House." "AndDemocrats,whether you're segregation or not, you want your party to win the presidency 'cause it's power." "Phillipsshotbackat the Senator and declared," ""Winning isn't nearly so important as doing the right thing."" "Shesurprisedalot ofpeople that made some people step back and go, whoa!" "That tiny little woman just said that?" "She just did that?" "Yes, she did." "Yes, you betcha." "Twodayslater the Democratic Party adopted a platform fully committed to civil rights." "Ijustfeltthatthis  was what was due us and God had seen to it that I was there to do my part." "Asknotwhatyourcountrycan do for you, ask what you can do for your country." "[cheers and applause]" "Ithinkthereissomething in my mom that was perfect for her time." "Isn't it what they say is true, that it's the times that make that person?" "Just the right personality for the moment." "WhenVelPhillipsreturned to Milwaukee, she focused her energy on her city's own civil right issues." "Itwasreallybad  in Milwaukee." "Milwaukee was considered one of the more segregated cities in the whole United States." "Wehadproblems that we had to solve and we had to do it right and we had to do it the right way." "Housingsegregationkept" "Milwaukee's growing" "African American community confined inside the center city known as the Inner Core." "African American residents were barred from buying homes in the city's more prosperous neighborhoods and suburbs." "Wetriedto move." "You know, I had been told flat out, several times," ""Oh, you can't buy a house in that area because you're a Negro."" "Youcanconcededesegregation in these public spheres, work, school." "But your home and the neighborhood around that, that's where a lot of white folks draw the line." "Irememberwhenthe first black family moved into Wauwatosa." "There was a cross burned on the lawn." "Segregationissuch an insidious affair." "These are the things that strike you every day, right?" "It's the things that assault your senses." "Asanalderman,Phillips was in a position to devise an Open Housing ordinance to combat Milwaukee's segregation policies." "But she knew that the chance of it passing would be remote." "Sherepresentswomen,she  represents African Americans." "The community doesn't have the wealth, the power, the access, the media, to have voice, to push back, to get a fair hearing." "She's the only person in that formal position." "What'stherightthingtodo ?" "That was really her focus." "Icanseehow segregated we were." "It just wasn't the way it should be." "In1962,Phillipssubmitted to the Milwaukee Common Council a landmark ordinance." ""It is to be the policy of the City of Milwaukee to assure equal opportunity to all persons to live in decent housing facilities regardless of race, color, or national origin."" "Sheintroduced the Fair Housing law and got one vote, hers." "Overfiveyears,Phillips introduced her Open Housing ordinance with the same result." "Thecommitteehaschosen, as it has done previously to reject the ordinance unanimously." "With that" "Iwantedto cry,really, but I thought that would not work." "I was the alderman." "Atthesametime, her constituents fought other battles, against job discrimination, segregated schools, and whites-only clubs." "But housing discrimination was at the top of their list." "Five years of trying to pass" "Open Housing bills in the Common Council had failed, and in 1967, Vel Phillips' constituents looked for another strategy." "[shouts and cheers]" "Andsowe said,let 'sgo to the belly of the beast." "That's when the issue really blew up." "[dramatic music]" "InAugust1967, 200 activists marched across the" "16th Street Viaduct in Milwaukee demanding the right to live in any neighborhood in the city." "Among them the NAACP Youth Council," "Father James Groppi, a Catholic priest, and the Commandos, a self-defense group from the Inner Core." "Youmarchacrossthatbridge and on the opposite side there is a mass of white people, angry white people, letting you know that you're in the wrong part of town at the wrong time of day." "Residentshurledbricks, bodily fluids, and racial slurs." "Thesizeof thecrowds is mind blowing." "And it's just so vicious and violent and ugly." "It's hard to minimize it." "Policebeganthrowing tear gas and creating dense plumes of smoke." "It was just mayhem and pandemonium." "At that point," "I thought to myself, this is absolutely nuts." "[sirens]" "VelPhillipswasnot among the marchers." "She watched the confrontation from home on the nightly news." "Itwasstunning." "It was horrible." "Thenextday," "Milwaukee mayor, Henry Maier tried to restore order." "AndI urgethosewho livein the area of march to please stay off the streets." "Icamehomefromcity hall  and I just sat down and" "I just had a good cry." "Velneededthemarchers." "She needed coverage to put pressure on the Common Council to pass an ordinance." "Withthebanonmarches in place, Phillips was back to where she began in 1962." "Wewereso disillusioned." "ShejoinedFatherGroppi and other Open Housing activists for a rally at St. Boniface Parish." "Thiswasalargechurch, it probably sat 1,000 people." "And it was packed, standing room only." "Speakingtothecrowd," "Father Groppi asked if they were ready to march." "The crowd shouted its approval." "[whistles, cheers and applause]" "But Phillips hesitated." "She was a lawyer and an officer of the court." "If she marched in the face of the ban, she would be in full defiance of the law." "Now,thelinehas beendrawn." "You either have to be this side and support them, or you're not." "And it's very, very violent out there in the streets." "And being in her position of power, she's this official member of the Common Council, she's a part of the middle class black leadership, it would have been easy for her to not go down into the street." "It would have been defended and justified by a whole lot of powerful people." "ButI wasfedup at that time." "Despitethefear and despite the counsel from some very close to her, she makes a different choice." "Which shows that she has gone to a very different place than many other black middle class leaders have." "Becauseitwasfor my fair housing," "I felt nothing was going to stop us." "VelPhillips,FatherGroppi, and the rest of the crowd defied the mayor's edict and took to the street." "Thedecisionwasmade to march." "St. Boniface was on 11th and Clark." "We got as far as 9th and" "North Avenue, so that's about six blocks." "And the police closed in and started to arrest people." "Vel Phillips was one of the first arrested." "Andtheytreatedyou  like you weren't a real person." "Feeling all over you when they patted you down." "It was just demoralizing." "Phillipswasreleased the next morning, but her mother, Thelma, was not happy with her daughter's jail time." "Oh,God!" "She was embarrassed." ""What will I tell my friends?"" "I said, "Mom, just tell your friends that your daughter is doing what she thinks is best in her capacity as a member of the Milwaukee Common Council."" "Shemarchedagainthatnight." "Ithinkthat'swhenshegot a reputation for being very brave, and tough." "Thewhitecommunitybecame increasingly violent." "Forthemostpart, there was a backlash." ""How dare they do this to our city."" "Everyoneinofficialpower starts to say," ""This is not acceptable." "We can't have this."" "They're forced into that position because these images are going, not just in Milwaukee but they're going across the country." "It's an embarrassment to the city." "TheOpenHousingactivists kept up the pressure." "Theideaamongalotof young people, myself included, was we're going to make the world better." "[laughter]" "Itwasaclose-knitfeeling." "We all looked after each other." "Ifyoulookatthepictures of the time and the look on her face, you can see a sense of belonging." "Shehadfoughtthislonely crusade for a long time and there was something that was welcome to her." "There's a sense of connectivity, a sense of being a part of the struggle." "Iwastryingtofigureout how I really felt." "It was like, this is my work." "InSeptember,aftertwo weeks of daily marches, the Common Council again voted 18-1 against the Open Housing ordinance." "Phillips had run out of patience." "Butit'squiteapparent to me that the members of this honorable body, to put it in the terms of my Commando friends, these cats are just too dumb, just to dumb to know when they have something going for them." "It's bad enough to have to deal with a bigot, but when you got a dumb bigot-- [cheers]" "WhileVelPhillipsremained on the front lines of the housing protests, her husband Dale kept the home running, cooking, cleaning, and raising their two boys." "Myfather,in someways, was an early Mr. Mom." "Healwaysdidfloors, whatever cooking, whatever was necessary." "He wasn't hung up on "roles."" "He was just a solid Midwest guy." "Hewasverysecure." "He was a good lawyer." "He didn't feel that he was competing." "He knew that I loved what I was doing and he wanted me to be happy." "They're,I think,truly a team in a real sense." "A lot of these teams, the man is the person of power and it's the supportive woman, you know, Coretta King or Malcolm X's wife." "And here we have the woman being the one who's out front and achieving the power and the position and things with a very supportive husband." "Thegrowingmediaexposure brought unwanted attention to Vel's home." "There were phone calls." "Thisman,he wouldcall and say, "I'm watching you." "I think black people like yourself should go back to Africa were you came from."" "It was scary, you know, and I wondered if we should get some guards or something." "Shereceived hate-filled letters." "Thislettersaid,"P.S." "If you see a brown streaks that's because I used this for toilet paper before" "I sent it to you."" "I had it in my hand, and I just dropped it like that." "Thena shotwasfired into her kitchen." "Thebulletlandedright in the middle of the oven door." "Whena bulletcomesthrough a window in your home, she could have said, I'm done." "Who's gonna blame her?" "That's threatening on a whole different level." "You could become a crusading leader and be willing to die for the cause and nothing will deter you." "But if we say we're gonna go kill your kids, that's an act of terror that happened there." "Thingswerereallydangerous." "That's when I sent the children to my mother." "She was living in California at the time." "They'd say, Michael especially," ""Momma, why don't you come to California?"" "Just's such a sad time." "TheOpenHousingmarches went on for 200 days, continuing into early 1968." "Therewasacorepeoplewho were there night after night." "Tocomeeveryday like clockwork, like it was a job for over 200 days." "This little white man, he said, "I'm very confused." "What is it that you people want?"" "I said, "Just say America is a big pie." "We want a piece of the pie." "We want a piece of America."" "He look stunned, and he said," ""That's all?"" "I said, "Well, that's a great deal if you don't have it."" "OnApril4th,1968,the" "Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr." "was assassinated." "Soon after," "President Lyndon Johnson and Congress passed the Civil Rights Act of 1968." "It included legislation that for the first time specifically outlawed housing segregation." "Milwaukeeiscritically important to the passage of that national civil rights act of 1968, the Fair Housing Act." "Walter Mondale cites from the Senate floor, Milwaukee as an important case of how important the issue is and the need for change." "Inresponseto the new Federal law," "Milwaukee's Common Council approved a citywide" "Open Housing ordinance." "Six years after she first introduced the ordinance," "Alderman Phillips had finally won." "Ofcourse,it wasjust mind boggling and wonderful to know that we really had it." "Theseareheroes." "Milwaukee heroes," "Wisconsin heroes, and American heroes, that deserve their place in the national narrative." "If we care about justice and equality, all of us should embrace Vel, Father Groppi, the youth council, the commandos, and everyone who came out to support that." "Mymotherwouldalways tell us, "If you really want it, don't dream small dreams, dream big dreams."" "In1971,VelPhillips got a call from" "Governor Patrick Lucey." "WhenI gotelectedgovernor," "I wanted to build as much support as I could in the black community." "And when I would go to a black church and have Vel Phillips with me, it really set the stage very nicely for my having a favorable reception." "GovernorLuceyaskedPhillips if she would accept an appointment as a children's court judge." "Oh,yeah." "I was surprised." "He called and he said," ""There's going to be an opening and I want you to be the first black."" "Inlargerblackcommunities we had it was important to have a sitting judge who was black and the fact that she was a woman was an additional advantage." "IjustthoughtthatIwould  have a chance to help shape someone's life, to really make a difference." "Phillipsleftherseat on the Milwaukee Common Council after 15 years of service and became the first" "African American judge in Wisconsin history." "Ishallremember, for a very long time, this morning." "Because I am sure that there will be many times when remembering your good faith, your confidence in my ability, and your sincere wishes for my success, will be like water to a thirsty traveler." "[cheers and applause]" "I loved being in children's court." "I loved it." "Asa children'scourtjudge," "Phillips focused her attention on the issues facing" "African American families." "Adisproportionatenumber of African American kids coming before her because they're disproportionately poor." "She knew the family was important." "Onthebench,Phillipssaw families torn apart by crisis." "In 1974, her family faced a crisis of its own, when her eldest son," "Dale Jr. was diagnosed with schizophrenia." "Yousayto yourself, did I do something wrong?" "Thetruthof mentalillness in a family situation, it's a shattering." "He was a paranoid schizophrenic." "He didn't trust." "That mistrust, it hit my father like a hammer blow." "Myhusbanddidn'treally understand." "He thought that if we found out that Dale was having some mental problems, we'd call the doctor, and we'd get his medication and everything, and then he's okay." "And it wasn't quite like that, you know, and that was hard." "I cry when I think about it, because we didn't know how to deal with it." "Oh, it was a difficult time." "It was a difficult time." "Ithinkit separated my parents a certain degree." "I know that my father probably dove into work more." "My mom was, she's never carried a lot of weight, but I think during this period, she was even thinner." "It was a very trying time." "It wouldn't surprise me if my mother looked to a job in Madison as sort of break from some of that." "Thisis" "Vel Phillips, a remarkable woman and dedicated, experienced public servant for 30 years." "♪ ♪" "♪ ♪" "In1978,Phillipsdecided to run for Wisconsin secretary of state." "Ithinkcampaigningishard ." "Really hard." "OnSeptember12th,she beat eight other primary candidates, winning by almost double the votes of the nearest contender and gaining the Democratic nomination." "Ithinkit 'sendurance and able to stay positive." "Inthegeneralelection, in an increasingly conservative political environment," "Phillips was forced to outspend her opponents." "Myhusbandsaid,"Yourdaddy is here to help you." "What do you want your daddy to do?"" "I said, "Money."" "I would appreciate your vote on Tuesday, November 7th." "Announcer:" "VoteVelPhillips for secretary of state." "OnNovember7th,1978," "Vel Phillips was elected" "Wisconsin's Secretary of State, becoming the first" "African American to be elected to statewide office in Wisconsin and the first African American woman to be elected to any statewide executive office in American history." "Shewasin succession to fill in as governor." "When she talks, it's just hilarious, she giggles, about the time when the governor and the lieutenant governor left the state, and she realized suddenly, "I'm acting governor."" "Somebody tipped off the media to do a story on it." "And as she says, the men came rushing back." "The governor and lieutenant governor said," ""We can't let that happen."" "WhenEbonymagazineaskedher about a possible run for governor Phillips responded," ""No politician worth their salt would close the door on that."" "As Secretary of State," "Phillips continued her work for civil rights and women's equality." "Whenpeoplewouldsay ," ""What's hardest, being the first woman or the first black?"" "When I really think about it, very often there are times when they do forget that" "I'm a black person, but they never forget that I'm a woman." "Communitygroupsacross" "Wisconsin invited her to speak at their events." "Sometimes she would be paid to appear." "BeforeI became secretary of state I would say, how about $50 or $25." "It would always be some very minor thing, then I could give it a black church." "It was a pittance and I thought" "I was in the position where I could demand more." "AsSecretaryof State," "Phillips often requested speaking fees higher than the state ethics board advised." "In 1981, she was accused of numerous ethics violations, and ultimately was required to pay back more than $8,000." "Thequestionof accepting honoraria." "You can legally do it during your term and deposit the money as campaign money." "But taking it as personal money, that's something else." "You're using a public office for personal gain." "That's really the distinction." "That got Vel into trouble." "Bigmistake." "It was not a wise thing to do." "And of course, the papers blew it up." "Well,she'stryingtorewrite state laws for her benefit." "It's pretty clear, but state laws are state laws." "They apply equally whether you're male, female, black, white, Asian." "We all have to abide by the same laws." "Butofcourse,therewere  people who didn't like me for whatever I did." "Thistime,Dalecouldnot help her." "Hethoughtif anything that caused a furor that I should not do it, it's not worth it." "I never liked to lose, but I understood." "Sheacceptedtheresults with real sadness." "She just sort of pulled into herself." "Herpoliticalcareer in ruins, Phillips returned to Milwaukee." "In' 82,mydadstill at the firm, but the family had really-- had sort of scattered." "Veldecidedto focusmore attention on her family." "Wemadealittlepact  that one Sunday a month" "I wouldn't speak." "I wouldn't be at this church or this or that." "And we would just relax, and have breakfast in bed and just cool it." "And those were wonderful Sundays." "Therewassomerecovery happening at the time." "My brother, he had a doctor and he was on medication." "I'd just left the house, moved out west, joined the military." "Left my dad so he could spend some time, play some golf, enjoy his wife who was no longer working." "It's sort of an awakening." "They were able to enjoy themselves." "When my first son was born in '84, my father and my mom came out to visit." "And it was the happiest that" "I had seen my father maybe in ten years, you know?" "He was just overjoyed, he couldn't get enough." "It was good to see him that way." "In1988,aseatopenedup in the U.S. House of" "Representatives." "Vel and Dale began to explore the possibility of Vel running for Congress." "Iwasgonnarun for  the Congress." "I had a meeting at my house which several people were there." "My husband said, "Honey, you'd be perfect for it."" "And I think I would've won, but then right before I got into it," "Dale died and I just" "OnApril14th1988," "Dale suffered a sudden heart attack." "Ijustfellapart." "It was such a low time in my life because we were very close." "Unabletospeakat her husband's funeral," "Vel expressed her grief in writing." ""Dale, you have been so many things to me." "My love, my severest critic, my biggest fan." "How can I go on without you?"" "Phillips abandoned her" "Congressional run, never to serve in an elected office again." "Itwasjustlikeahalfofme just gone and I just couldn't hang with that." "I didn't have the same zest without him." "She'sjustneverthe same." "She shut down for a year." "Idorecallwhenhe passed away that she kind of went into a shell." "Because they were such partners, you know, really." "She had lost part of herself when Dale passed." "She'sbeenadifferent person since then." "It's been two different lives," "I think, for her." "Her life with my father and her life after my dad." "VelPhillipsgradually returned to her work." "She joined the Community" "Brainstorming Conference, a group of Milwaukee activists that addressed issues including high school dropout rates and police brutality." "Actually," "I think that people who were baptized in the protest movement of the 1960s, that's still a motivator for them." "Shecreated the Vel Phillips Foundation, to give high school students a chance to improve their lives through higher education." "In 2004, Phillips returned to the political arena, serving as the honorary chair for the congressional campaign of Gwen Moore, the first African American to serve Wisconsin in the" "U.S. House of Representatives." "Youmakesure that your gains, that you have fought so hard for and that others have fought for with you, are not lost." "That somebody will still have that voice." "Vel'salwaysbeenafighter, today in her own way" "Vel is still fighting to bring about equity and justice." "Herworkin thecommunity was sometimes on a personal, one-on-one level, including her advocacy for an elderly autistic man named Glen Schneider." "Hegoesto ablackchurch, that's how I met him." "Thepastorat St.Mark asked my mom to help him out." "She has always, always fought for the underprivileged, for those who couldn't fight for themselves." "She has always been their voice." "There is definitely a connection in her for Glen." "Soifyouwouldjoin me in welcoming Ms. Vel Phillips." "[applause]" "Shecontinuesto be amazingly active in the community, and I think that longevity says a lot." "BeinginWisconsin," "I'm reminded of my race every day." "Sometimes it's discouraging, but a lot of times I think of Vel and the obstacles that she had to overcome." "That's motivation for me." "[laughter]" "Itellyouone thing, she's a lovely woman." "She's somebody that, I think, is respected by not only people here in Milwaukee, but she is respected by people all over the world." "Whenwemeasureitallup at the end of the day," "Vel Phillips is a great hero." "Shehasthephoenix." "She just keeps on, and it's a beautiful model for life, I believe." "Godhasbeenverygood tome ." "But hey, I couldn't have done it without a lot of good people." "I don't think whatever I did was such a great deal, but it was breaking ground in many areas." "I just felt that there must be a reason why I should be in this place at this time." "It's been a pretty good ride." "♪ ♪" "Topurchaseacopyof" "Vel Phillips:" "Dream Big Dreams call 800-422-9707." "♪ ♪" "VelPhillips:" "Dream Big Dreams is funded in part by the" "Greater Milwaukee Foundation," "Harvey E. and" "Harriet V. Vick Fund," "Helen Bader Foundation," "Evjue Foundation, the charitable arm of the Capitol Times," "Wisconsin Humanities Council with funds from the National Endowment for the Humanities," "Brewers Community Foundation," "Milwaukee Chapter," "The Links Incorporated, and Friends of" "Wisconsin Public Television."