Vel Phillips & James Groppi: The Fight for Fair Housing – Wisconsin Biographies – PBS Wisconsin Education

How do you make history?

When confronted with the problem of housing discrimination in Milwaukee, Vel Phillips and Father James Groppi did not shy away. They showed up and they listened, and then carried forward the fight for justice, marching through the streets of the city, and proposing legislation to the Common Council. After years of struggle, they were ultimately successful in achieving official recognition of the importance of fair housing in their city, and brought people together in the process.

Meet Vel Phillips and James Groppi

View Transcript: English Spanish

Questions to Consider

Why did Vel Phillips, Father Groppi and members of their communities come together to advocate for change in their city? What was happening in Milwaukee that was unfair? What was the cause?

How did Vel and Father Groppi try to make change happen? Are these approaches used to make change today? About what?

While their efforts were successful in getting an act passed, what happened after? How are the changes they wanted to make back in the 1960s and 1970s important to us today?

Peek Into the Past

A black and white photograph of Vel Phillips. In the photo, Vel is looking to the right of the viewer and holds a piece of paper with the words “Mrs. Vel Phillips” on it.

Vel Rodgers Phillips

Vel Rodgers Phillips in 1953.

Wisconsin Historical Society. WHi-51783.

A color illustration of North Division High School. The illustration is from street level, and shows a large red brick building with light gray accents, against a light blue sky with some clouds.

North Division High

Vel earned a college scholarship when she won a public speaking contest during high school.

University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Libraries. 2006.

A black and white photograph of Vel seated at a table with many other people. Vel is turned towards the viewer's right, but looks to the viewer's left.

Vel and the NAACP

Vel teamed with political activists such as the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) members.

Wisconsin Historical Society. WHi-101431.

A black and white image of a woman and child standing outside wtih signs that say “Stop School Segregation.”

Protesting

A woman and child protesting school segregation in 1964.

Wisconsin Historical Society. WHi-4993.

A black and white image of a desk and chair outside of a classroom space with many desks inside it.

Segregated Classroom

A classroom with a separate seating area for African American students.

National Archives, Digital Identifier 4662498.

A black and white photograph taken from in the crowd looking out over a sea of people, with the Washington Monument straight ahead in the distance.

March on Washington

The March on Washington in 1963 was one of the largest political rallies in United States history.

LOC, NYWT&S Collection, LC-DIG-ppmsca-03130.

A black and white portrait of Vel wearing judge's robes with a flag visible in the left side of the image.

Judge Vel Phillips

In 1971 Vel Phillips became the first African American judge in Wisconsin and the first woman judge in Milwaukee.

Wisconsin Historical Society. WHi-28115.

A color photograph showing Vel with the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and other officials, standing in front of a building.

Secretary of State

Secretary of State Vel Phillips with Wisconsin Governor Lee Sherman Dreyfus (far left) and other government officials.

Wisconsin Historical Society. WHi-55020.

A color photograph showing Vel wearing a cap and gown and holding a diploma being handed to her.

Honorary Degree

Vel Phillips earned an honorary degree from Marquette University on May 20, 2007.

Marquette University.

A color photograph of Vel outside holding a microphone and stand and speaking into it.

Vel Keeps Fighting

Vel Phillips kept working to support social justice, education rights, and equal housing for her entire life.

Voces de la Frontera. Flickr. 2007.

A black and white portrait of Father James Groppi. He holds his chin in his hand and looks at the viewer.

Father James Groppi

Father James Groppi, a Civil Rights activist and NAACP Youth Council advisor.

Wisconsin Historical Society. WHi-92286.

A black and white image of Father Groppi standing with a group of men.

March on Wisconsin

Father Groppi marching with a group of African Americans on Wisconsin Avenue in Milwaukee in 1968.

Wisconsin Historical Society. WHi-1912.

A black and white image of a sign that reads “We want white tenants in our white community.”

Segregation Sign

A sign that supports housing segregation.

Library of Congress. Digital ID: fsa 8d13572.

A black and white image of a boy at a drinking fountain outside. On the tree next to the drinking fountain is a sign reading “Coloured.”

Segregated Fountain

Segregated drinking fountain in North Carolina (1938).

Library of Congress. Digital ID: fsa 8a03228.

A black and white image of Father Groppi holding hands and singing with a group of people.

Activists Singing

Father Groppi singing with youth civil rights activists (1968).

Wisconsin Historical Society. WHi-5295.

Read On

Illustrated portrait of Vel Phillips and James Groppi

Vel Phillips: The Fight for Fair Housing

Get the full story with this biography book. Audio files are available on each page if you’d like to listen along!

Project Credits

Producer
Dan Kaplan
Becky Marburger
Kurt Griesemer

Associate Producer
Joe Young

Illustration
The Brave Union

Animation
The Brave Union

Animation Voice Over
Dawson McKay

Audiobook Narration
Kiara Bonilla

Audiobook Editing
Kerman Eckes

Captioning
Catie Pfeifer
Vicki Way Kipp

Educator Support Materials
Mia Forslund

Web
John Vieth
Erika Kachama-Nkoy
Tim Schneider

Design
Charles Barrows

Translation Services
University of Wisconsin-Madison Cultural Linguistic Services

Executive Producer
Peggy Garties

Special Thanks
Marta Bechtol

Story Advisors

Brenda Autz
Park Elementary School
Middleton, WI
(2013)

Charlene Dupler
Lakeview Elementary School
Wind Lake, WI
(2013)

Kristen McDaniel
Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction
Madison, WI
(2013)

David J. O’Connor
Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction
Madison, WI
(2013)

Amanda Price
Marshall Elementary School
Marshall, WI
(2013)

Tanya Schmidt
Oshkosh Area School District
Oshkosh, WI
(2021)

Corey Thompson
Cardinal Stritch University
(2013)

Stephanie Unertl
Lake Mills Area School District
Lake Mills, WI
(2013)