Tom Jenz - Profile and Journalist Details

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Biography

PHOTOJOURNALIST & WRITER On a summer day in 2014, I started photographing Milwaukee’s segregated inner city after I stopped on a busy street, got out of my car, and started walking, talking to any Black resident who would tolerate me. Since then, I’ve captured myriad street portraits of Black people I’ve come across or gotten to know - residents, street leaders, religious leaders, artists, cops, businessmen, the police chief, the county sheriff, and even the current Mayor. I am also a journalist and have written hundreds of their stories, mostly for the Shepherd Express newspaper and magazine. These include feature and investigative articles and also shorter profiles under my column, Central City Stories MY STYLE Walking the inner city communities, I look for photo ops that will reflect what is happening in that neighborhood. I might engage citizens by taking an interest in their backgrounds, then later getting permission for a portrait that I set up as if I was a film director. Prior to my taking a picture, I have a good idea on what the shot will be ahead of time because when a subject is ready or a scene develops, I have to move quickly. It’s like being a film director, which is also part of my creative background. Central city citizens are almost always suspicious and can even be unpleasant. There is little eye contact among Black pedestrians. Yet, I always try to get eye contact with anyone passing me just to see if there is an opening for conversation. Many times, this approach does not work. I call it the culture of mistrust, suspicion of the white man, and even of each other. The ambience can be like a gray cloud crowding out the sunlight. Tom Jenz

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Freelance