ABSTRACT
The use of the ethnographic present is demonstrated in this chapter's report of that context as it was being formed during the period of this study. It conveys the attitudinal, political and community context of bilingual programs in Milwaukee in 1981, after the first decade of competitive federal funding for such programs. In order to identify important aspects of ethnic relationships in Milwaukee and to highlight the way in which they may help explain social relationships, attitudes, and the implementation of bilingual education, selected aspects will be outlined; then more specific information from the Milwaukee research will be presented and discussed. The differences between Blacks and Hispanics over the issue of bilingual education were defined during a conference of Milwaukee's Black and Hispanic leaders in , hailed in the September issue of Nuestro magazine as an indication that these groups were becoming more open to exploring common issues.
