Final Project: Artist's Statement

Working at Escuela-Vieau school has provided a wonderful opportunity to gain a great deal of insight into the Walker’s Point neighborhood on Milwaukee’s south side. More importantly, becoming active in this area of Milwaukee has provided answers to questions that would have otherwise remained completely unknown and thus giving rise to assumptions or giving in to stereotypes. It was made clear from the beginning that many of the families at the school were not of ‘legal’ immigration status, so precautions were necessary in order to protect their privacy. With the advent of the recent ‘show me your papers’ fiasco in Arizona, it’s clear now more than ever that regardless of immigration status, an education is still an essential requirement in the upbringing of individuals who will become successful, responsible adults.

Perhaps more importantly, are the facts that all of our ancestors immigrated here, albeit at different points in time, yet we’re considered to be here legally. With declining fertility rates and a large population of baby-boomers approaching retirement age, it becomes increasingly imperative that we have enough working citizens in the United States to provide a tax base. Additionally, immigrants from Mexico are making the decision to move back; why would anybody want to be in a place where they feel unwelcome, can’t find a job as unemployment rates are ~10%, and be away from their family? While the notions of race persist, they are largely outdated as a former explanation skin color and morphological differences in parallel evolution (by G. L. Comte de Buffon), yet we know that modern humans originated in Africa and migrated from there. We also know that differences in skin color exist because people living above the Tropic of Cancer receive much less U.V. radiation due to less solar exposure and because we cover ourselves in the winter. Lighter skin tones mean more vitamin-D production.

This project was prepared to illustrate that although the notion of ‘race’ exists, it is based solely on skin color and is biologically unfounded. Racism has existed since the beginning of what we call history, and different cultures have been entrenched by this concept of ‘race.’ Unfortunately, this precedent continues to affect the neighborhood in which Escuela-Vieau is situated to this day. Many Milwaukeeans have continued to accept the stereotype of the area as being violent and ridden with crime. My personal experiences over the previous 10 weeks have served to dispel that notion, and my documentation of personal interaction with local inhabitants serves as proof.

I chose to incorporate images in this presentation that reflected on our activities and accomplishments working together to convey the acceptance I received from those that had every right to perceive me as an outsider. Although there were some technical difficulties, namely the loaned audio recording device from the library, crisis was averted with audio-editing software. This has been a terrific learning and sharing experience, and I plan to continue with my service learning at Vieau school.