Wisconsin lawmaker proposes resolution honoring white people, among others, during Black History Month

Molly Beck , Patrick Marley | Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

MADISON - A white lawmaker is proposing a resolution to recognize Black History Month in Wisconsin without the input of black lawmakers, leading one to compare him to a slave owner.

"If this was intended to be without controversy you failed," Democratic Sen. Lena Taylor, who also is running for mayor of Milwaukee, wrote in an email to GOP Rep. Scott Allen of Waukesha.

"Thank you Massa Allen for pickin’ whose we should honuh suh. We sho ain’t capable of thinkin’ fo ourselves, suh," she wrote.

Allen's resolution honors 10 Wisconsinites — most of whom are not black — and members of the Stockbridge-Munsee band of Mohican Indians. The honorees were either black slaves or were integral in helping slaves escape to Canada through the Underground Railroad network between 1842 and 1861.

"As we approach February, which has historically been recognized nation-wide as Black History Month, we should all recognize the importance of highlighting the history of black Americans in a way that raises the prominence of that part of our mutual history so that it is the center of our attention," Allen wrote in a memo to colleagues.

In an interview, Taylor called Allen hypocritical and disingenuous for offering a resolution that honored many white people without talking to black lawmakers, particularly because he has not signed onto legislation by black lawmakers aimed at ending racial disparities.

“Who is he to determine how we recognize black history who as someone every day — every day — does not sign onto a piece of legislation to do the things that he’s proclaiming he wants to do in the resolution?” Taylor said.

“The first few people he recognizes are white guys," she said.

Allen said he didn’t see a need to talk to black lawmakers about his resolution in advance. He said issuing the resolution was a “first step” that would lead to conversations with other lawmakers about what the final resolution should look like. He said he was operating the same way lawmakers do with other resolutions.

“I don’t recall Sen. Taylor speaking to me about any of the resolutions or any of her bills ... before she’s circulated them for co-sponsorship,” Allen said.

He said he didn’t understand the opposition to his resolution.

“What is so controversial within there?” he said.

He said the white people honored in his resolution “exhibited tremendous courage to fight for just causes.”

Allen in his memo seeking support for the resolution said it "attempts to honor and recognize significant individuals in Wisconsin’s history, black and white, who had the courage to pursue just and righteous actions through the Underground Railroad."

"It recognizes the important principle of the governed acting against the strong arm of the government when the laws of said government violate the inalienable rights of the people," he said. "In 2020 let us demonstrate our unity by highlighting an aspect of American history that has made and continues to make us stronger together."

But Taylor said Allen's actions seek to define for black lawmakers what the recognition means.

"Rep. Allen should not be trying to redefine the purpose of Black History Month, redefine who should be honored, choosing and speaking for who should be honored in the state of Wisconsin and his own caucus, quite candidly, should put him in check — his own leadership," she said.

Taylor said she was being hyperbolic when she referred to him as “Massa Allen” and did so “to highlight what he sounds like.”

Allen said he thought Taylor was trying to get press attention by referring to him as “Massa Allen” but he wasn’t offended by it.

“I think she’s intentionally using language to be provocative to get your attention,” Allen told a reporter. “Am I offended by it? No. I’m saddened perhaps by it, that we can’t have meaningful dialogue.”

The episode is the third time white lawmakers have intervened in how black lawmakers should honor their own history.

The state Assembly passed a resolution in February drafted by the Legislature's black caucus to honor prominent black Americans during the month — but only after Republicans blocked it until black Democratic lawmakers agreed to remove the name of controversial National Football League quarterback Colin Kaepernick.

In 2018, Allen pushed back against a Black History Month proposal from Taylor and Milwaukee Reps. David Crowley and Jason Fields to honor contributions from 14 prominent black state residents.

Allen said the resolution should not be limited to the proposed list of honorees

Democratic Rep. David Bowen of Milwaukee called Allen's new resolution "pre-emptive."

“As a member of the Legislative Black Caucus, I want to ensure that I acknowledge Rep. Allen’s passion for Black History, and I will propose to my caucus that he will officially be the first white man to receive all information pertaining to the Black History Month activities so that he can be educated by Black people,” Bowen said in a statement.

Contact Molly Beck at molly.beck@jrn.com. Follow her on Twitter at @MollyBeck.