Music @ the Speed of Life is an improvement on 2008’s E-Life, a static, paint-by-number disappointment from a band renowned for fresh, even innovative fare. But, not by much. With hints of Guy, Earth Wind & Fire and Kool & the Gang, Stokely Williams (frontman-vocalist-drums), O’Dell (guitar), Lawrence El (keys), Jeff Allen (sax, keys) and […]
September 2012
Posted inSports
Black lawmakers almost killed Title IX
Landmark bill caught in race vs. gender equity wrangling Long before Title IX, Black females have been participants in sport. “There [always] has been a strong African American women presence in sport,” notes Ohio State Sport Humanities Associate Professor Sarah Fields, author of “Race v. Gender: How Constructions of Title IX Have Failed Women of […]
Posted inSports
College baseball player aspires to be a major leaguer
As young African American males think about playing professional sports, primarily football and basketball, there is a sport out there that is just as lucrative as those, but not very many Black males play — it’s baseball. Adrian Turner, a transplant to Minnesota by way of Grambling State University, is striving to reach his dream […]
Posted inOpinion
Redistribution needed when the rich reap what the poor sow
“I know there are some who believe that if you simply take from some and give to others, then we’ll all be better off. It’s known as redistribution. It’s never been a characteristic of America… I believe the way to lift people and help people have higher incomes is not to take from some and […]
Posted inOpinion
Where is the equity plan for the Viking Stadium?
The Minneapolis City Council passed a binding resolution May 10, 2012, directing the Civil Rights Department to report to the June council meeting: “1) Master agreement details, including stadium equity plan; 2) Enforcement and reporting structure relating to Stadium Equity Plan” (see City Council website, www.minneapolismn.gov/www/groups/public/@clerk/documents/webcontent/wcms1p-093512.pdf. It was approved by Mayor Rybak May 25, 2012. […]
Posted inHealth + Wellness
The McKnight Foundation awards recipients for community service
By Charles Hallman Staff Writer Gada Roba of Minneapolis, Gino Nelson of Lakeville and Ibrahim Hussein of Owatonna were among six Minnesotans recently honored by The McKnight Foundation for their community service. Named for the late former chair and president, since 1985 the foundation has given out Virginia McKnight Binger Awards in Human Service to […]
Posted inHealth + Wellness
African American lupus ambassador shares her personal battle
Fifty-nine percent of Americans have limited knowledge about lupus and its destructive impact, yet one in every 200 individuals is estimated to live with lupus. Lupus is an autoimmune condition that is invisible to others but can cause extreme fatigue, painful and swollen joints, unexplained fever and skin rash. These attacks by the immune system […]
Posted inNews
Local food broker brings global food to Twin Cities
African, African American and Caribbean foods now available at Cub By James L. Stroud, Jr. Contributing Writer According to an agreement between Cub Foods and Minnesota-based Global African Foods, Inc. (GAF), food items familiar to people from the continent of Africa, the Caribbean islands and African Americans will be distributed by GAF to 30 different […]
Posted inNews
Conference brings Black environmental thought to Twin Cities
Everyday Black folks missing from the eco-dialogue By Charles Hallman Staff Writer Tuskegee University hosted the first-ever Black Environmental Thought (BET) conference in 2007. The University of Minnesota’s Hubert H. Humphrey Center hosted last weekend the second such event on September 21-23. The U-M’s African American and African Studies (AAAS) department, the Institute for Advanced […]
Posted inNews
Five million people of color made voting history in 2008
Will voting trend continue in 2012? By Charles Hallman Staff Writer According to the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) approximately five million more voters, including Blacks, Latinos and Asians, went to the polls in the historic 2008 presidential election in which America’s first Black president was elected. However, with the rise in voter suppression laws […]
Posted inOpinion
Police officers need to live among the people they serve
During one of my summer breaks from college, I was sitting outside enjoying the summer breeze. In one hand I held a mayonnaise jar full of red Kool-Aid and ice. In my other hand I held a book on Egyptian culture. While reading, the sounds of a car creeping by and indistinct chatter from a […]
Posted inOpinion
Chuck Wexler in town, security plan in place
While Democratic and DFL Party heavy hitters were in Charlotte, NC for the Democratic National Convention, including Mayor R.T. Rybak, the legendary Chuck Wexler, executive director of the powerful Police Executive Research Forum (PERF) was in meetings in Minneapolis (see my September 5 column, “Status quo fixes won’t stop the frightening violence”). Mr. Wexler was here to evaluate and sign off on a new security plan to deal with Minneapolis African Americans (read […]
Posted inNews
What has President Obama done for Blacks?
Affordable Care Act, HBCU investment top some advocates’ lists By Charles Hallman Staff Writer Since Barack Obama took office four years ago as the first Black president in U.S. history, he has been criticized by many Blacks for not doing enough for the Black community. The MSRspoke with an author and political leaders who say […]
Posted inResources
Back in the Day gathering celebrates S. Mpls
On Saturday, September 1 at Phelps Park on 39th and Chicago Avenue South in Minneapolis, the Third Annual Back in the Day gathering was held to reunite people who grew up in the community with youth and elders. Approximately 400 people attended the event.
Posted inGo Green, News
The ‘Fiscal Cliff’ will hurt all of us
Economy faces devastation without action from Congress Ignorance is not bliss. However, there are too many of us who are ignoring the discussion about a legislative maneuver known as “Sequestration.” This is also known by a more descriptive term — the “Fiscal Cliff” (Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke coined this phrase). Unless this is updated, […]
Posted inNews
Marriage amendment divides Black Christians
Local Black clergy on opposite sides express their views By Charles Hallman Staff Writer The issue of same-sex marriage has been a controversial one for Black people, especially after President Barack Obama expressed his opinion on it last spring. The MSRspoke with two local Black ministers, one feels that the amendment represents “the Bible’s way,” […]
Posted inNews
From Selma, Alabama to Minneapolis
MPS superintendent reflects on voting rights, proposed voter ID amendment By Alleen Brown Contributing Writer At a recent anti-voter ID amendment rally, Minneapolis Public Schools Supt. Bernadeia Johnson spoke to the crowd about her family’s fight for voter rights in Selma, Alabama, in the 1960s. Although she can’t speak for the district, Johnson is decidedly anti-amendment, […]
Posted inOpinion
Lysistrata move: Sex strikes could stop violence against women
Take a page from the ancient Greek play Lysistrata, in which women figured out how to stop their men from waging war. Women across America start withholding sex and see how fast men in Congress get busy making domestic abuse and rape their number-one priority. To read more about this story, pick up a copy […]