By Robin James Contributing Writer Do you have a fixation on shoes? If finding the perfect pair of shoes and that absolutely-must-have-it feeling is something you can attest to, then you may have a shoe-buying fetish and this story is for you. Enter Shakir Taliaferro, owner of I Dream of Heels, a new, up-and-coming shoe […]
August 2012
Posted inArts + Culture
Film on 1963 Birmingham Children’s Crusade gets free screening
By Maya Beecham Contributing Writer On any given weekday morning in 1963, average schoolchildren stood upright in classrooms, hand over heart, reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. It was a customary act. Ironically, the lives of average Black children and their families during that time were at odds with the pledge’s line, “one nation, under God, […]
Posted inNews
Black and Latino seniors most at risk of home foreclosure
By Charles Hallman Staff Writer Over three million Americans age 50 and over are at risk of losing their homes, according to a recent AARP report. Since 2007, the rate of this population in serious mortgage delinquency because they are more than 90 days behind in their payments has outpaced younger homeowners. Foreclosure rates across […]
Posted inNews
Hip hop classes nurture creative expression
By Dwight Hobbes Contributing Writer Arriving at renowned Watershed High School in South Minneapolis and walking to the “Hip Hop, History and the Arts” classroom to speak with curriculum founder-instructor Chadwick “Niles” Phillips is, to say the least, an interesting experience. The students have wrapped up rehearsal for the day, and he’s prepping them for […]
Posted inNews
Ensuring racial equity in new health care
By Charles Hallman Staff Writer Two-thirds of Americans who will be newly eligible for health coverage in 2014 are people of color. Who will ensure that these diverse communities will be fully enrolled in new Affordable Care Act provisions and that its implementation will be sensitive to cultural differences? To that end, members of the […]
Posted inArts + Culture
Etiquette as a way of life
Expert on civility teaches jail inmates As the CEO of your own small business, you need all the help you can get. One locally based African American woman is taking charge by arming herself with top credentials and, through her work, looking to educate both youths and adults on the beauty of business etiquette. Juliet […]
Posted inNews
Union election a historic first
Lee Saunders’ recent election as president and CEO of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) is historic in that he thus becomes the first African American ever to lead one of the largest labor unions in the United States. Saunders is pictured below second from the left with Hilary O. Shelton […]
Posted inOpinion
Mark Richie’s own staff proves him wrong on voter fraud
Secretary of State Mark Ritchie (hereinafter “Mark the Shark”) is an outspoken opponent of both the Marriage and Voter ID Constitutional Amendments. For now, let me stick with the Voter ID issue. During my own testimony in favor of Voter ID, being followed by Mark the Shark, his argument (along with other Democrats) is that […]
Posted inOpinion
Black youth need good educations and jobs, not handholding
Barricades, or containment roundups? That seems to be the false choice offered by the City in dealing with the Black community to provide safe streets for Whites. This columnist, however, stands for safe streets for all, Black and White. As we have written in past columns, the biggest barricade holding back Blacks and keeping them […]
Posted inOpinion
Letter To The Editor: Mpls citizen review of police in jeopardy
With the proposed City action changing the Minneapolis Civilian Police Review Authority (CRA) ordinance, the City has decided its citizens will not review police misconduct in a meaningful way in Minneapolis. As a citizen of Minneapolis, current board member of the Neighborhood and Community Engagement Commission (NCEC), former chair and member of the Minneapolis Commission on […]
Posted inOpinion
Letter To The Editor: MSR tells the stories that have to be told
I wanted to send the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder a heartfelt thank you and tell you how proud I am that the MSR continues to carry on its founder Cecil Newman’s legacy. I recently watched the highlights of his life on Grace Media, and I cannot wait to see the documentary on the 25th of July. How he […]
Posted inHealth + Wellness
Breast cancer and Black women
Survivors highlight the importance early detection, network of support By Charles Hallman Staff Writer According to the 2011-12 American Cancer Society (ACS) facts and figures, Black women in Minnesota are seven percent less likely than White women to get cancer but 21 percent more likely overall to die from it. Nationwide, the ACS reports that […]
Posted inHealth + Wellness
African American children at higher risk in motor vehicle crashes
Responding to the disproportionate risks that African American children face in motor vehicle-related crashes, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center and Toyota are doubling the reach of their groundbreaking safety education program Buckle Up for Life. Buckle Up for Life is the only national program of its kind. Research analyzed by Cincinnati Children’s — a national […]
Posted inHealth + Wellness
Freedom School keeps kids learning throughout summer in St. Paul’s Promise Neighborhood
By Sheila Regan TC Daily Planet “When I say Freedom, you say School!” ”Freedom!” “School!” “Freedom!” “School!” The 118 kids gathered in the atrium at the Saint Paul Neighborhood Freedom School enthusiastically call back to Emmanuel Donaby, who, microphone in hand, leads a good half hour of cheering, chanting, singing and dancing. There’s no end […]
Posted inArts + Culture
Black female bandleaders/vocalists heading the music parade
If you haven’t noticed, African American female bandleaders are enjoying tremendous success these days and getting plenty of attention via print, digital and social media, among other avenues. And the Twin Cities is in line to experience an abundance of talent in the weeks and months ahead. Eight-time Grammy Award-winning R&B singer Anita Baker is […]
Posted inArts + Culture
KMOJ-FM station manager receives national recognition
By Charles Hallman Staff Writer KMOJ-FM Radio General Manager Kelvin Quarles will be honored this fall by American Urban Radio Networks (AURN) at their 10thAnnual Urban Knight Awards in Dallas, Texas. The awards event, scheduled for September 19 during the NAB/RAB Radio Show annually hosted by AURN, is designed to honor selected individuals who have […]
Posted inSports
International teams converge here for RBI World Series
Media coverage of play leaves much to be desired The ever-present debate on why today’s Black youth aren’t playing baseball was put on hold, at least for a few days, at the 2012 Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities (RBI) World Series, hosted by the Minnesota Twins last week. “We’re one of the top teams in […]
Posted inSports
Hall of Fame Game kicks off NFL preseason
Saints win, but ‘bounty-gate’ suspensions hurt CANTON, OHIO — The sports world is flying with the spectacular Summer Olympics of London, NFL training camps underway, preseason games starting up and MLB getting to the dog days of summer. I’ve been covering the NFL 34 years now, and for the first time I paid a visit […]
Posted inSports
Olympic competition should energize Lynx stars
As the Minnesota Lynx and the rest of the WNBA continue their Olympic break — the regu lar season will resume August 17 — it appears as though the Target Center in downtown Minneapolis is vacant. The Lynx have three players on the Women’s USA team: Seimone Augustus, Maya Moore and Lindsey Whalen. In their […]
Posted inSports
More top preps’ updates
BREIANNA CARTER, a 5-9 forward who helped Minneapolis Washburn reach the Class 2A Section 4 championship, will attend Wilberforce University this fall and will be a member of the women’s basketball team at the Historically Black institution. Carter, who excelled defensively and offensively for the Millers last season, is expected to make an immediate impact […]