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Retired from a long career of advocating for and connecting with the people of Milwaukee, Reuben Harpole is still sometimes referred to as the unofficial mayor of Milwaukee. (Photo by Sue Vliet)
This is the first in an occasional series of stories that honor members of Milwaukee’s vibrant senior community.
He’s never been elected, but many in the community call Reuben Harpole the mayor of Milwaukee.
At least unofficially.
After all, Harpole has long been known as one of the best-connected people in the city.
“The ‘mayor of Milwaukee’ was more than a nickname,” he says. “It wasn’t by accident that I got it.
“It’s who I am. I love the people in Milwaukee. I love the potential here.”
Harpole, 86, grew up in the Lindsay Heights and Harambee neighborhoods and became an administrator in the UW-Milwaukee School of Continuing Education. He later served as an executive with the Helen Bader Foundation.
Harpole says his late wife, Mildred, nudged him into taking a bigger role in civil rights and community work in Milwaukee.
Together, the two had founding roles or involvement in many of the organizations that serve Milwaukee neighborhoods today, such as Central City Teacher Community Project, the Community Brainstorming Conference and the Children’s Performing Arts group, which eventually became the Ko-Thi Dance Company.
The man who knows everyone
“He was a walking Rolodex,” remembers Ferne Caulker, the founder of Ko-Thi dance company. “He knew everyone, and he knew how to contact them.”
Homeless advocate MacCanon Brown, a friend of Harpole’s, says he has a way of bringing people into action and consciousness.
“He often says, ‘We are who we’re waiting for,’” Brown says. “Meaning, we the people can solve our problems — and he has and continues to live by that.”
Harpole says he learned how to connect with people after taking a trip to Ghana, where he learned about African rites of passage.
One tenet is that a person’s character is governed by the day of the week in which he or she is born.
Harpole was born at Milwaukee County General Hospital (now Froedtert Hospital), on Sept. 4, 1934 — a Tuesday.
He believes this confirms he was meant to help people.
“Unless you know who you are and what your purpose and meaning in life is all about, you’ll have problems — in school, in the community,” he says. “Most people who have made something of themselves know who they are, and they can’t be maneuvered into something else.”
Harpole and his friend Anthony Mensah brought the Rites of Passage program to Milwaukee Public Schools in 1980. The project marked life stages — in this case, from boyhood to manhood.
Harpole says one of the first tasks for participants was finding out the day of the week they were born. “That goes back thousands of years in the culture of Ghana,” Harpole says. Each day of the week has a characteristic — those born on a Monday are peacemakers; Wednesday, the “sweet messenger,” Saturday, “the ancient one,” wise beyond their years, he says.
“I was born on Tuesday,” Harpole, an Army veteran, says. “Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. were also born on Tuesdays.”
He says he wished the Rite of Passage program had been expanded.
“Having these traditions in our schools would completely change the way children are educated for the better,” Harpole says.
Harpole’s daughter, Annette, who works as a real estate investment specialist, fondly remembers the occasional family vacations and trips to the park where her dad would grill.
“As a child, it was hard having such successful parents. I didn’t know how to appreciate it,” she says. “For many people, their children are their focus, and our parents were out creating change for everyone. But as an adult, I’m extremely proud to have the parents I do.”
Harpole’s son, John, relocated to Los Angeles and is a financial consultant.
These days, Harpole spends his time educating people through interviews and serving others through his continued volunteer work.
After spending two weeks in the hospital last year battling COVID- 19, he stays inside as much as possible, only going out to meet friends for lunch once a week.
“I can’t really work anymore,” Harpole says. “I’m too old for that.”
Harpole says Milwaukee’s long history with racism is his least favorite thing about the city, but he believes education is the answer to that.
“One of my favorite quotes says the purpose of education is to keep the world from cheating you,” he proclaims.
Reuben is and always will be one of my favorite reasons for returning to Milwaukee. I learned a lot about community leadership development in California but I wanted to bring those directives back to my hometown. Upon my return Reuben was the first person I sought out to determine the pulse of Borchert field in 2004. I found him just as engaging then as when I left in 1987. His counsel and commitment to my efforts has always been genuine and sincere. Much love to this Griot who means so much to the people of Milwaukee.
I’m up north, central Wi. But I want to stay informed about the city!!
Very well written article about a great man! Thanks for sharing this with the rest of us.
Congratulations on another fine piece, Princess. It’s so good to see you growing as a local journalist. It’s so important to educate Milwaukeeans about the wonderful, dedicated people like Rueben Harpole whose life’s work centered on improving the lives of others.
I look forward to reading more of your work.
Sincerely,
Jill Newton Moore
Professor Emeritus, Alverno College
Professor Reuben Harpole will forever be referred to as the Major of Milwaukee and a brilliant caring Professor. Why? A mayor’ s duty is to be the heartbeat of their community. That is the roll that Mayor Harpole/ Professor Reuben exhibited by sharing his heart, time, knowledge and hope with everyone he encountered. Mr. Reuben Harpole brighten the lives of millions of people who had dreams to make Milwaukee a better place for all people to live and rise a family. Mr. Reuben Harpole’s love for the community glowed from his heart with a wide smile followed up with resources to assist one with making their dreams to enhance the community. Among the hundred of effective programs that Mr. Reuben Harpole developed, implemented and actively engaged his gifts are the following three, Milwaukee United Schools Integrated Committee (MUSIC), Rites of Passage and Nzingha Institute. These programs enhanced the lives of African Americans in the city of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Overall, Thank you Mayor/ Professor Reuben Harpole for showing us how to love ourselves and our community! Ase’
MR. HARPOLE KEPT OUR 2 SONS INVOLVED IN THE SUMMER WITH WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITIES OF COMPUTER SCIENCE,.,…WONDERFUL ADVENTURES. GOD BLESS HE AND HIS WIFE, MILDRED FOR ALL THEY DID AND DO FOR OUR BOMMUNITIES. GLENDA M., CHELETTE-HOLLEY
As members of Asentu Rites of Passage Institute, we have appreciated Kwabena Rueben Harpole’s guidance as an Elder in the rites. We have had the honor and pleasure of traveling with him and Dr. Mensah throughout the US and to Ghana to learn more as we continue to educate communities of color about rites of passage programs. Blessings and well wishes to Kwabena Rueben. Kweku Johnnie Fields and Efua Debra Fields.
Yes, Reuben and Mildred Harpole have been a formidable team to help Milwaukeeans of all cultures appreciate one another. When I moved to Milwaukee and Mike Moynihan and i started Friends Mime/Milwaukee Public Theatre in1974, Reuben was the one who helped me brainstorm on ways to connect seniors and children for our StoryBridge Literacy project and for advice on how to connect with Milwaukee’s funders. He was a constant source of probing questions, advice, encouragement and heart through the years. Mildred served on the CAMPAC Board and was also a fountain of information and support for the Milwaukee arts community.
THANK YOU!
Another of Mr. Harpole’s important contributions to Milwaukee: the birth and re-birth of America’s Black Holocaust Museum. He brought the first financial supporter of the museum, philanthropist Danial Bader, to see it and meet Dr. James Cameron, its founder, when Cameron was creating the exhibit space completely on his own, without funding. He continued supporting Dr. Cameron and ABHM in various ways throughout the museum’s 20 year life before it was shuttered in 2008, after Cameron’s passing. He joined the small group of community activists who orchestrated the re-establishment of ABHM. He brought his “rolodex” of contacts and wise counsel to this group as a board member of the Dr. James Cameron Legacy Foundation, which has now re-established the museum. Mr. Harpole is still active in supporting ABHM to this day.
Mr. Harpole served as my mentor in my early 20s. I remember running everywhere with them and Annette. He and Queen Mildred modeled success and significance in faith, family, community, career. Your legacy lives through me. Blessings to you!🌻
Enjoyed the article as I have enjoyed conversing with Reuben during my time in MKE. A great connector and advocate. I wish him, Mildred and family the best of what life has to offer.
I too have had the pleasure of working with Mr. Harpole. He’s one of the most realist ppl in this city. Believed in my abilities before I realized I had them. Thank you and love you much..!!