[upbeat piano music]
- In politics, she paved a path.
- Frances Huntley-Cooper: My background in social work helped a lot.
- Angela: A very lonely path.
- I was nervous.
- Angela: Frances Huntley-Cooper did something
no other African American in Wisconsin had ever done.
- Frances Huntley-Cooper: I never had any aspiration to be in politics.
And, with my personality, I was just so surprised
that I was in the political world, you know.
One minute you have an opinion,
and the next minute you're elected.
- Angela: On the Fitchburg Common Council,
her personality won over politicians and voters.
- People saw something in me,
and they gave me a chance, and they believed in me,
and they supported me.
- Angela: The job of running for Fitchburg mayor
made Frances a bit uneasy.
- I'm a straight shooter so a lot of people
sometimes, don't want to hear what I have to say,
and not everyone rolls that way.
- Angela: By the time election day rolled around...
- Frances Huntley-Cooper: I said, "Okay, just be calm.
You've done the best you can."
I think I went shopping that afternoon
'cause I said, you know, "What else am I gonna do?"
- Angela: That night, the impossible became possible.
- Frances Huntley-Cooper: Then, we found out we were winning.
- Angela: Frances was on the verge
of making Wisconsin history.
- Frances Huntley-Cooper: There's a picture with me yelling, screaming,
my mouth wide open, you know, just so excited.
I didn't see myself as just representing African Americans.
I saw myself as representing
the entire City of Fitchburg, the entire population.
I didn't want the campaign to focus on being the first.
I wanted the campaign to focus on the issues.
- Angela: In 1991,
Frances became the first African American mayor
in the entire state.
- Frances Huntley-Cooper has been elected
to the office of mayor for the city of Fitchburg
in an election held on April the second.
- Angela: Then, Frances waited.
And for more than 30 years,
she waited for another African American to join her club.
- Really saddens me because that was in 1991.
That hurts.
I am surprised.
Maybe there's an opportunity for someone else to step in,
join my club of one, now be two.
That would be nice.
But you can't believe
in Wisconsin, that has not happened yet.
[crowd cheering]
- Angela: And then, it did happen.
- Well, Milwaukee!
[crowd cheering]
- Angela: In April 2022,
Cavalier Johnson is elected Milwaukee's first
and Wisconsin's second Black mayor.
- Frances Huntley-Cooper: Wow, history!
History in the making the second time, I believe.
It's so nice to have a mayor joining my club.
- Tonight, this city,
for the first time in our 176-year history,
has elected its first Black mayor.
We did it! [crowd cheering]
- You know, I'm wishing him the best.
I'm pleased to have him join my club after 31 years.
- Angela: Years of hard work and bravado
earned Frances connections in high places
across Wisconsin and the Nation.
- Maya Angelou came to speak exactly 20 years ago
when I was president of TEMPO Madison.
I have a picture of me and Bill Clinton.
This was before he became the president.
2013 holiday card from the Obamas.
Barack has signed it.
What a nice card!
- Angela: Today, Frances still serves the community,
on the Madison College board and with the NAACP.
She also volunteers at the Governor's Mansion
on the Wisconsin Executive Residence Foundation.
- Frances Huntley-Cooper: Never heard of the organization.
I don't know who I thought took care of the residence. [laughs]
You know, took care of all the ins and outs.
People want to feel like they're part of the system,
not being excluded.
So, I'm just real excited.
- Angela: Frances has built a legacy in Wisconsin.
- Frances Huntley-Cooper: I rarely talk about my history,
but I'm learning that I need to do better.
This was my official one.
I hope people will say,
"Boy, that little lady came from nowhere."
Grew up in North Carolina
and came to Wisconsin.
People believed in me.
They gave me a chance.
And I tried to work hard and not embarrass myself,
more or less anyone else.
I wanted to leave the doors open,
and I wanted to leave a positive image and impression
on African Americans serving.