Conclusion

Love and Hope in the Community

Despite the looming threat to life and health, in the age of COVID-19, the African American community in Milwaukee County remains resilient. This should not be surprising given the long historical adversities African Americans have faced collectively (slavery, reconstruction, Jim Crow, Lynching, Civil Rights, etc.). COVID-19 created a series of uncertainties within the community. The virus has impacted health, education, employment, social and financial institutions that have severely caused turmoil in the African American community. While there is no secure solution to the damage that COVID-19 has caused, this has not stopped people in the community from seeking to prosper. This exhibit was designed to show the resiliency that exists in the African American community. This resiliency runs parallel to the impact of COVID-19. If history has taught any lessons, one might be that the African American community has always found ways to prosper in spite of adversity. Based on the items in this exhibit, that notion may be an accurate assessment. African Americans are actively seeking ways to combat the conditions of COVID-19 while still maintaining a sense of community and hope.