The Wisconsin Legislative Black Caucus introduced a bill to establish Vel Phillips’ birthday, February 18th, as a special observance day for Vel Phillips in Wisconsin schools. If passed, Phillips would be the first Black woman to be honored with an observance day in Wisconsin.
“The Honorable Vel Phillips wasn’t just a leader; she was a force of nature. She refused to accept the limits placed on her as an African American woman and as a woman in general,” said Senator LaTonya Johnson (D-Milwaukee).
This will ensure that her legacy is remembered and taught in schools, inspiring future generations to continue the fight for justice and equality.
“If she were here today, she would dissuade us from using all of her ‘firsts’ to describe her legacy: the first Black woman to graduate from the University of Wisconsin Law School; the first Black woman elected to the Milwaukee Common Council; the first Black woman to serve as a jurist in Wisconsin…the list goes on,” said State Rep. Supreme Moore Omokunde, who authored the bill. “But she is all of these ‘firsts’ and so much more.”
Vel Phillips’ Legacy
Vel Phillips was not only a pioneer in Wisconsin politics but also a relentless advocate for civil rights. Her leadership and activism reshaped Milwaukee for generations to come.
Velvalea Hortense Rodgers “Vel” Phillips was the first African American woman to break down barriers in Wisconsin Politics, but she ensured she wouldn’t be the last.
Vel Phillips was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on February 18, 1924, to Thelma and Russel Rodgers. Throughout her early life, Vel had a spark within her to break the status quo, and her perseverance earned her a scholarship to Howard University in Washington, D.C.
Her perseverance didn’t end there; Vel and her husband Dale were accepted to UW-Madison Law School, where they became the first African American couple to graduate from UW-Madison Law.
Once the couple graduated, they opened their own firm, and Vel continued her activism in her community by joining the League of Women to register her neighbors to vote.
Her political career began in 1953 when she ran for a seat on the MPS school board. Although she lost the runoff, she was the first Black candidate to advance past the primary election. During this time, both Vel and her husband became active in the NAACP to advocate for minority voices.
In 1956, Vel ran for the Milwaukee Common Council and won, becoming the first African American woman member. The title Alderwoman hadn’t been created yet, so her
colleagues called her “Madam Alderman.”
During her time at the Common Council, Vel demonstrated that she was not a force to be reckoned with. In 1962, she proposed an ordinance outlawing housing discrimination, and
in 1968, the Common Council approved the law.
While her time at the Common Council was trailblazing, she resigned upon being appointed as the first female judge in Milwaukee and the first African American judge in Wisconsin.
Although she lost reelection, that did not diminish her spark; she then served as a lecturer at UWM and a visiting professor at Carroll College and UW Madison Law School.
Vels career didn’t end here. In 1978, she made history as the first woman and non-white elected Secretary of State in Wisconsin. Vel was the highest-ranking woman to win state
office in Wisconsin during the 20th century.
After leaving office, Vel continued her advocacy by serving on the boards of the Americas Black Holocaust Museum and the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music. She also ran the congressional campaign for Wisconsin Representative Gwen Moore—who was the first African American member of the United States House of Representatives.
Vel additionally served on the board of the Vel Phillips Foundation, whose mission is “to help establish equality and opportunity for minorities through social justice, education,
equal housing opportunities, and jobs.”
Vel Phillips passed away at 95 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on April 17, 2018, but her strength and perseverance continue to inspire countless leaders, activists, and policies. In recognition of her enduring impact, Wisconsin lawmakers have introduced a bill to
establish an observance day in schools to honor her legacy.
If you support his legislation, call your Wisconsin Representative & Senator to urge them to sign on the bill; https://maps.legis.wisconsin.gov/
Information on the bill: https://legis.wisconsin.gov/assembly/17/mooreomokunde/media/bc4pwynt/vel-phillips-observance-day-pr-1.pdf