She worked as a mortgage company manager and supervisor, as the director of the Milwaukee Coalition Against Drug and Alcohol Abuse and as the executive director of the Midtown Neighborhood Association, before being elected to the Wisconsin Assembly's 11th district in 1992.
[1] Morris-Tatum was re-elected for four terms, but in 2004 chose to run for the 4th Wisconsin State Senate District seat (being vacated by Gwen Moore), running unsuccessfully against State Representative Lena Taylor (the winner) and Milwaukee County Supervisor James G. White in the Democratic primary.
In 2001, local journalist Bruce Murphy accused Morris-Tatum of overcharging for mileage to and from Madison, the State Capital; but no charges were filed.
She received a Doctorate of Humanities from Trinity Hall College and Seminary (in Chicago) in 1996 during her time as a legislator.
Since leaving the legislature, she has become Milwaukee Director of the Safe Families for Children program.