Milwaukee 53204: Film Analysis

As Marquette University’s Mission Week focusing on “Racial Justice: Black, White, and the Call of the Church” comes to a close, I find myself reflecting on the meaning of racial justice, as well as how to properly engage in this difficult topic in the city of Milwaukee. I had the opportunity to expand my knowledge while viewing the film Milwaukee 53206, which focuses on one of our community’s poorest zip codes as well as the nation’s most incarcerated zip code. The social ills of this area are not just a result of one issue, but multiple issues within the community including the average yearly income, socioeconomic status, quality of life and family relationships, and other social determinants.
While the social determinants of health and health disparities of 53206 may differ from many of those in the Marquette community, I came to realize that many of the people in the film were not much different than me. For example, on the surface, Beverly’s daily life differs vastly from my own. As a single mother, she is
A comment at the beginning of the film made me feel somewhat uneasy: “Want to be a doctor or lawyer? That’s for white people”. This quote depicts the preconception or expectation for the community’s younger generation to end up on the streets instead of continuing their education and getting a job. Because of this, I believe Dennis’s purpose from Fatherhood Initiative to emphasize family life and how the absence of a fatherly figure can affect one’s childhood is very influential and valuable. I remember Dennis asking the prisoners, “How many of you have had your father tell you they love you?” This stood out to me because my father is a huge influence and I cannot imagine my life without him, and I think it is important to accentuate the significance of having positive role models and caring relationships as a