Housing Along Racial Lines

During the great depression many citizens of Milwaukee suffered and could not find adequate housing. African Americans in Milwaukee could be considered the worst in this regard. They were often forced either by lack of housing elsewhere or explicit racist policies to reside in slums of the 6th district, known as the poorest and roughest section of the city. Not only were these slums small and cramped, but they were also extremely unhealthy. Even during the war when the United States economy was its height and industrially flourishing the conditions for many African Americans was still poor. Dr. E. R. Krumbiegel, Milwaukee’s health commissioner described the conditions of these housing in 1944 as 45% “good”, 25% “fair”, 17% “poor” and 13% “dilapidated.” Overall, 65% of housing was considered substandard for the time. The definition of substandard was universal but often the housing was missing electricity, running water or even toilets in some cases.

Source: A City at War, Milwaukee Labor During World War II, Richard L. Pifer