Experiencing Interruptions?

Leaders of Madison's Black Renaissance

There is something extraordinary happening in Madison, Wisconsin. Despite Blacks making up only 7% of Madison’s population, there are more Black elected officials on the city council and school board than ever in the city’s history. Two Blacks from Madison were elected to the WI state legislature in the last election. Madison’s school superintendent is Black, as is its Police Chief, District attorney and County Sheriff. Blacks are leading multiple large non-profit agencies and spearheading multi-million dollar building projects all over the city. Blacks are leading in so many important areas and are launching so many key initiatives that many people are calling this period in Madison’s history a “Black renaissance.”
This film introduces viewers to nearly 40 of Madison’s most prolific leaders in ten different genres as they define what is happening in Madison and what it means to the city’s future.

  • Charles Andrew Taylor
    Writer
    ROARrrr animation short
  • Charles Andrew Taylor
    Producer
    Journey of Hope series
  • Jeremy Patrick Nichols
    Director
  • Charles Andrew Taylor
    Director
  • Project Type:
    Documentary
  • Runtime:
    1 hour 44 minutes 54 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    February 11, 2022
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    digital
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Digital Cinema Package:
    Unavailable
Director Biography - Jeremy Patrick Nichols, Charles Andrew Taylor

Dr. Taylor is a retired professor and author of six non-fiction books, two WI biographies, a novel, a Children's musical play and writer/producer of the award-winning documentary: DECADE OF DISCONTENT. Charles also produced the Journey of Hope Film series on Rev Carmen Porco's housing ministry in WI that lifted people out of poverty.

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Director Statement

This film is important given the status of race relations in this country. Madison, WI is modeling what happens when a city makes use of all of its talent. The progress that Blacks are making in Madison offers a lesson to other cities around the country or anyone with an open mind and willingness to imagine what our country could become if Blacks were fully integrated into the economic and political mainstream in all of our cities. There are still real challenges in Madison, just like in other cities-perhaps the difference is that Blacks for now, are at the table.