Author: Lee Matz

Cavalier Johnson: A photographic retrospective from before becoming Milwaukee’s first elected Black Mayor

Cavalier Johnson: A photographic retrospective from before becoming Milwaukee’s first elected Black Mayor

Posted by | Apr 6, 2022

It would be overly dramatic and an inaccurate stretch to say that I always knew Cavalier Johnson would become Mayor of Milwaukee. But from the beginning I had the feeling that he was going somewhere special in his political career. In my early career as a photojournalist in Milwaukee, I really enjoyed not knowing who people were. It allowed me to focus on anyone, regardless of social rank or station, to capture their humanity in images. In the years since, I have obviously learned more about who is who in the city, which is an unfortunate necessity for prioritizing...

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The guilt of safety: Ukrainian woman finds temporary peace away from war with her Milwaukee family

The guilt of safety: Ukrainian woman finds temporary peace away from war with her Milwaukee family

Posted by | Mar 18, 2022

In the early days of Putin’s brutal invasion of Ukraine, I spoke with many members of Milwaukee’s Ukrainian American community. I learned about their personal connections to the war, so that their voices could be shared with the public. During one of the conversations, a relative living in Ukraine joined the discussion via video chat. That was my introduction to Anastasiya and her courage. Unable to fight against a smaller and less formidable military, Putin’s forces have indiscriminately targeted the civilian population of Ukraine. Russian artillery has rained down on apartment buildings. The broken bodies of families with their...

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Joe F. Campbell: Remembering how the Big Boy burger gave him hope in Vietnam as Veterans mourn his loss

Joe F. Campbell: Remembering how the Big Boy burger gave him hope in Vietnam as Veterans mourn his loss

Posted by | Mar 4, 2022

I have actively shared stories about the Veteran community in Milwaukee for years, and used photojournalism to document their commemorative events. At times I was fortunate to highlight some of those former soldiers who once served in the protection of our nation. I lost my own father, a Vietnam veteran, in 2010. He was my Rosetta Stone for understanding others of his generation, and all the complicated issues that influenced their environment. It has been an honor to get know this group of local Veterans over the years, and be accepted into their circle. I have watched many finally...

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What we are taught to be ashamed of: A tale of two grandmothers and our ethnic identity in America

What we are taught to be ashamed of: A tale of two grandmothers and our ethnic identity in America

Posted by | Mar 1, 2022

Putin’s invasion of Ukraine has forced Americans across the political spectrum to consider many issues. While taking place thousands of miles away, there is still a very real impact close to home. For me, it included considering how I was denied my Russian-Ukrainian heritage by a generation of hypocrisy and bias. For a time in my early childhood I lived with my mother’s parents in Milwaukee, while my father was in the military and deployed overseas for war. I remember the stories I was told about my grandmother’s family, how we could trace her ancestors back to the time...

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A historic reemergence: America’s Black Holocaust Museum welcomes visitors for first time since 2008

A historic reemergence: America’s Black Holocaust Museum welcomes visitors for first time since 2008

Posted by | Feb 28, 2022

“History tells me that a people without a story are a people with no name. Without a name, one is not respected or understood. Without a name or a story, the depth-regions of the heart will never be plumbed. You remain a stranger to yourself and others. Stories give shape to our personal journey. Stories give a context to our collective pilgrimage.” – Dr. James Cameron After the COVID-19 pandemic delayed plans by almost two years, America’s Black Holocaust Museum (ABHM) finally re-opened its doors to the public on February 25, what would have been the 108th birthday of...

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Knezelism