“Black Life on the Upper Mississippi River” is a deeply personal documentary rooted in the lived experience of being Black in Dubuque, Iowa—a place where our stories have too often been overlooked or erased. My name is Dale L. Campbell Jr and for almost 40 years, I’ve lived, worked, raised a family, and endured in this Midwestern city. This film is my testimony—but it’s also a reflection of our resilience, our legacy, and our ongoing journey.

Through personal narrative and powerful historical truth, both locally and nationally this documentary honors the voices of those who came before us, those still here, and those rising. It’s about being Black in a place that wasn’t built for us—but where we’ve built anyway. This is our history, our presence, and our future—told by us, for us.