Madison’s current Common Council is the most diverse in the city’s history—something that never happened under Paul Soglin’s leadership. Our council includes Black, Latino, Asian, and LGBTQ+ leaders who bring real lived experiences and perspectives that help us make better decisions for the whole city. This diversity isn’t just for show — it’s critical to making sure Madison works for everyone, not just the privileged few.
But instead of recognizing that, in a Facebook post on what he calls “plantation politics,” Soglin has chosen to attack Black leaders in a way that mirrors the same racist power structures he claims to call out. His recent Facebook posts accusing Madison of engaging in “plantation politics” suggest that Black-elected officials who don’t agree with him are puppets, while those who do are the only ones worth valuing. This is exactly what bell hooks talks about in Eating the Other— white folks trying to define which Black people are “acceptable” based on how well we serve their interests.
And let’s talk about the audacity of him making these attacks during Black History Month— a time when we should be celebrating Black leadership, not tearing it down. He’s doing this at a time when Trump is back in power — when we already feel threatened, when we’re watching policies unfold that put our lives, families, and livelihoods at risk. The fact that Soglin’s behavior mirrors what we’ve seen from Trump — gaslighting, attacking Black leadership, and using fear tactics — isn’t lost on me. At a time like this, I would hope a former mayor would be focused on partnering with Black leaders, not attacking us.
As Alder of District 17, I represent one of the fastest-growing yet historically overlooked areas of Madison. We have no library, no senior center, no community center — basic resources that are plentiful in other parts of the city. Meanwhile, our population is growing fast, and too many of our families are rent-burdened. According to the Northeast Area Plan, nearly half of renter households in my district spend more than 30% of their income on housing, and many are paying over 50%. That means families in District 17 are severely cost-burdened while still not having access to the community investments we deserve.
But let me be clear — our district is strong, not because of leadership from men like Soglin, but because of the resilience of our residents. That’s why I want to thank the people of District 17 who have been advocating for a library in our area for over 10 years. Thanks to their voices, along with the support of Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway and my colleagues on the Common Council, we’re finally moving forward with the Imagination Center at Reindahl Park — a major investment that will serve so many families in our area.
And let’s talk about Soglin’s hypocrisy. Now he suddenly cares about Black folks being excluded, but when he was mayor, he did not want to make homelessness a protected class. And let’s be real — homelessness in Madison disproportionately affects Black people. Right now, the temporary men’s shelter is in my district, and Black men are overrepresented in the shelter. Black people overall are disproportionately homeless in Madison. And now, he wants to weaponize racism to attack those of us doing the work to improve our city? The hypocrisy is wild.
This is exactly why I appreciate Sesali Bowen’s words in Bad Fat Black Girl: Notes from a Trap Feminist:
“Black girls are out here innovating, problem-solving, and creating our own paths, even when the world tells us we can’t.”
Madison’s Black leaders — elected, community organizers, and everyday residents — are not waiting for permission to make change. We’re doing the work, despite the noise, despite the attacks, and despite people trying to undermine us.
And while Soglin and others want to tear us down, we’re too busy building. Like Kendrick Lamar said in Not Like Us:
“They not like us, they not like us, they not like us
They not like us, they not like us, they not like us
Once upon a time, all of us was in chains
Homie still doubled down callin’ us some slaves”
We’re the ones pushing for affordable housing, fighting for community resources, and making sure every part of Madison gets the investment it deserves.
I also want to take a moment to thank Black leaders all across this city — whether we always agree or not — for doing the work to uplift, celebrate, and fight for Blackness in Madison. And I can’t forget to shout out our City staff — the folks who do the heavy lifting every single day to keep this city running. Y’all’s brilliance and dedication don’t go unnoticed, and I’m grateful for you.
Madison doesn’t need these kinds of outdated, divisive politics. What we need — and what we’re building — is a city that listens to and invests in Black communities, not just when it’s politically convenient, but because it’s the right thing to do. Lastly, here are 10 things you can do to actually help — instead of wasting time on fake outrage and performative activism:
- Volunteer with organizations actually doing the work. Places like The Beacon, Porchlight, Just Dane, and Briarpatch Youth Services support people experiencing homelessness. If you’re mad about the state of our city, show up and help instead of just talking about it.
- Read bell hooks and actually engage with what she’s saying. Start with Salvation: Black People and Love or Ain’t I a Woman? and reflect on what it really means to restore and uplift Black communities—not just when it’s trending, but as a daily commitment.
- Pick up Paulo Freire’s Pedagogy of the Oppressed. If you want to understand how systems keep people marginalized and why education is a tool for liberation, this is a must-read. (And yes, this applies to Madison too.)
- Show up at Common Council meetings. If you care about affordable housing, public safety, or transit, don’t just vent online—come to a meeting and share your perspective. (We meet every other Tuesday. Pull up!)
- Put your money where your mouth is—support Black businesses and organizations. Whether it’s shopping at Black-owned businesses, or funding grassroots work, real equity means real investment.
- Get out in the community and take action. Join a neighborhood clean-up, plant a community garden, and support mutual aid efforts—there are plenty of ways to make a direct impact. Be about it, just don’t talk about it!
- Learn Madison’s history and why we’re still fighting the same fights. Read the Race to Equity report and the Northeast Area Plan to understand how racial and economic disparities were created—and what we need to do to fix them.
- Hold your elected officials accountable. Push for policies that actually help communities of color, and don’t let politicians slide just because they say the right things.
- Support youth programs that empower Black and brown kids. Young people need support from adults who actually care.
- Speak up when folks spread misinformation. When you hear people lying about homelessness, Black leadership, or racial justice, correct them. Don’t let ignorance go unchecked.
Signed, Sabrina Madison, formerly homeless Black mother, and Earline’s first grandbaby.
“Racism is a philosophy based on a contempt for life. It is the arrogant assertion that one race is the center of value and object of devotion, before which other races must kneel in submission. It is the absurd dogma that one race is responsible for all the progress of history and alone can assure the progress of the future. Racism is total estrangement. It separates not only bodies, but minds and spirits. Inevitably it descends to inflicting spiritual or physical homicide upon the out-group.”
― Martin Luther King Jr., Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community?
