Local Stories Spotlighted for Black History Month

Milwaukee media highlights community figures and history

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

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A local news program in Milwaukee, Wisconsin is using Black History Month as an opportunity to showcase several stories about influential Black community members and their contributions. Guests on the show include a hotel catering manager, a documentary filmmaker, a children's book illustrator, and producers of a new PBS documentary about Wisconsin's Underground Railroad.

Why it matters

Highlighting local Black history and contemporary figures helps raise awareness of the diverse experiences and accomplishments within the Milwaukee community. These stories provide important context and representation during the annual observance of Black History Month.

The details

The news program "What's On Tap" featured several segments focused on Black history and culture in Milwaukee. Guests included Greta Black, the Catering Sales Manager at Saint Kate - The Arts Hotel, who discussed wedding and event planning. Filmmaker Michael Jahr talked about his documentary "Liberty at Stake: The Joshua Glover Story". Artist Aaron Boyd shared his work illustrating the children's book "Valiant Vel" about civil rights leader Vel R. Phillips. Milwaukee PBS Producer Brian Ewig and UW-Milwaukee Professor Rob 'Biko' Baker also joined to discuss the new PBS documentary "Wisconsin's Underground Railroad".

  • The episode aired on February 18, 2026.

The players

Greta Black

Catering Sales Manager at Saint Kate - The Arts Hotel in Milwaukee.

Michael Jahr

Filmmaker who created the documentary "Liberty at Stake: The Joshua Glover Story".

Aaron Boyd

Artist who illustrated the children's book "Valiant Vel" about civil rights leader Vel R. Phillips.

Brian Ewig

Producer at Milwaukee PBS.

Rob 'Biko' Baker

Director of Undergraduate Studies, African and African Diaspora Studies at UW-Milwaukee.

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The takeaway

This news program is using Black History Month as an opportunity to showcase important stories and figures from Milwaukee's Black community, providing valuable representation and context about the city's history and culture.