Milwaukee's Bronzeville Week kicks off Saturday to celebrate Black history

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MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Bronzeville Week is back for its 10th anniversary.

The week celebrates the city's rich African American legacy of culture, history, art and entertainment.

"We can't keep fighting about what we don't want in a neighborhood. Maybe we should start showcasing and highlighting what we do," said district six Alderwoman Milele Coggs during a Wednesday, Aug. 4, news conference on the event.

She said community and collaboration toward a common, positive goal helped birth Bronzeville Week back in 2011.

It came in the aftermath of a community victory.

Bronzeville residents fought to get a Pete's Fruit Market on the corner of Dr. Martin Luther King & Vel R. Phillips, instead of a big-box retail store.

"It's something that communities struggle with across the country," said Coggs. "Pete's stands on this corner, the gateway to Bronzeville, as a symbol of the power of the people and the power of collaboration."

This year's Bronzeville Week kicks off Saturday, Aug. 7, with the HaRUNbee 5K Walk/Run.

From in-person to virtual, there are also so many other events to partake in this year.

More events include discussions about the history of Bronzeville, brunch and art demonstrations.

"The importance of this event is it is such a positive event. It's a visionary event. It's an event that says what we are but it also says what we want to be," said Mayor Tom Barrett.

"People are the driving force behind what we do and people are what will make Bronzeville special," said Lafayette Crump, commissioner of the department of city development.

Bronzeville Week runs from Aug. 7-14.

COVID-19 safety measures will be in place.

For more information, visit the event Facebook Page or the city's Bronzeville Week website.

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