Meet the Influencers

—aka the Parents—

Amani: Amani Latimer Burris

Advocate. Listen. Build.

Amani comes from a family of folks who have a generational history of fighting for basic rights and freedom for all. Her parents—the influencers— are no exception to this.

In fact, her parents, were raised by the very folks who survived the #1921TulsaRaceMassacre (in the now celebrated #Greenwood) as both Latimer and Anana, who first met in elementary school, were raised on #BlackWallStreet — faithful to community— by the very relatives, in-kinds and beloveds who not only survived the 1921 Tulsa Massacre but would go on to rebuild it, be about business, all while raising their families, mentoring the next generation and quietly changing America.

Amani’s Dad: Professor James Latimer

Latimer is an acclaimed Percussionist and Conductor who played with the Boston Symphony, Boston Pops, and dozens of other symphonies including Madison’s own, Madison Symphony;
Latimer, who has played with the likes of Duke Ellington and Richard Davis has played for all of the Governors of the State of Wisconsin over the past 50 years; He first played at the White House for President Truman when he was 16.
Latimer still conducts the VFW and Capitol City Band and leads the Madison Marimba Quartet all which have served the Madison and statewide community for decades including playing over 900 free community concerts over the past five decades;
Before Latimer and Anana were recruited to come to Madison, Latimer taught at the historical Florida A&M;
Latimer is a son and descendant to the formidable Latimer Brothers who built (and then rebuilt) Greenwood (aka Black Wall Street) after it was torched and laid to ruin during the 1921 Tulsa Massacre --In Greenwood’s heyday, the Latimer Brothers & Sons would be in business as architects and builders, farmers and lawyers, own a meat distribution company, several restaurants, a grocery store and a school of music; all in and around Greenwood. All in service to community.

The Essence of Milele Painting by Jerry Jordon — The Essence of Milele (Amani’s mom) Painting by Jerry Jordon

Amani’s Mom: Milele Chikasa Anana

Anana was the first Black woman, in the State of Wisconsin, elected to any school board —Madison’s own Milele Chikasa Anana Elementary School is named after her, in honor of Anana’s life-long work;
Anana was a Civil Rights Activist who Marched On Washington, worked on bussing and desegregation (during the tumultuous Roxbury Riots) — Latimer and Anana were confidential hosts to Dr. Martin Luther King’s sister who lived with the Latimers during the desegregation period in Boston;
Anana created inclusive change in her community and for women when change was improbable. Her work helped the City of Madison usher in one of the first women fire chiefs in the Nation, and opened opportunities for them to be in construction, policing, and more;
Anana founded UMOJA Magazine —Wisconsin's longest running Black Magazine;
The Madison Black Chamber of Commerce was founded by Anana —within this, and through Anana’s efforts, Madison also became one of the first cities in the Nation to host and support a Black Restaurant Week;
Anana is cousin to Opal Lee, the Grandmother of Juneteenth, who was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for her work — Anana and Lee’s cousin would not only survive 1921 (and raise Anana) but would go on to start a credit union, to serve teachers, who could not get home loans.

Their want, their vision for community and the realization of what was possible -in community- is shaped by their grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, in-kinds and in-laws, mentors, who helped Greenwood rise from the ashes of destruction and quietly change American history.