Starting this blog just after we celebrate the 150th year of the Emancipation Proclamation’s inauguration seems fitting. Because much of what will be written in this blog will range from the historical context of the plight of Africans here in America to how the construct of our plight has not changed. All of […]
February 2013
Posted inNews
MPS revising Black history curriculum
Mahmoud El-Kati calls for a ‘radical’ change to educating youth By Charles Hallman Staff Writer Following two recent incidents that occurred at Minneapolis high schools — a Black doll hung by the neck from a string at Washburn High School and a cafeteria fight at South High School — Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS) Chief […]
Posted inSports
Recognition of early ‘Black Fives’ players long overdue
The NCAA this year is celebrating 75 years of March Madness. Before it became an overhyped trademark, and before it became a behemoth cash cow for everyone but the players, the annual tourney for decades was a White-only affair. The celebrating hoopla shouldn’t overlook this fact. Claude Johnson founded the Greenwich, Conn.-based Black Fives Foundation in 2001. It is […]
Posted inNews
Local youth join international poets to hone Brave New Voices
Tish Jones cultivates next generation of MN spoken word artists By Jamal Denman Contributing Writer Almost every practitioner of creative art, regardless of the discipline, will be quick to point out that they are motivated to do what they do for very personal reasons. One’s affinity for a particular art form is often connected to at […]
Posted inNews
South High food fight gives voice to Somali student’s frustrations
One student response to turmoil is to “mix it up” culturally By Mel Reeves Contributing Writer “We don’t feel safe,” said 16-year-old Kowsar Mohamed, a Somali student at South High, during a recent press conference addressing the reasons for a Feb. 14 fight in the cafeteria of the school involving Somali, other African Americans, and Native […]
Posted inNews
How is Dred Scott connected to MN history?
Many people don’t know that for a time, Dred Scott lived in Fort Snelling, where he met and married his wife, Harriet Robinson. Local community member Frank White and others are working to see this knowledge becomes more widespread with various community events that will begin this coming spring. The Dred Scott case and its […]
Posted inSports
Greatest of all time? I say Jordan, and here’s why
It rages on — the debate over who’s the best of all-time. Michael Jordan? Magic Johnson? Kobe Bryant? LeBron James? That is where the argument gets testy. Jordan just celebrated his 50th birthday. Because Jordan won six NBA titles and all those scoring titles and big shots to win big games, I throw my support behind Jordan. Kobe Bryant, […]
Posted inHealth + Wellness
Ancient African knowledge holds key to trusting ourselves and others
The Black man/woman is the temple that absorbs the planetary influences of the cosmos. The Black man/woman is not a helpless creature in this drama of life, nor is he/she held helpless by circumstances around him or her. The planets are within man/woman; they may initiate reaction and inner impulses from within, but freedom from […]
Posted inHealth + Wellness
Designing a healthy approach to life
You’ve set some new year’s goals for yourself…maybe some fitness goals, travel plans, or maybe even a new attitude about life! The new year always brings about renewed zeal for the things we’d like to do to enjoy a better quality of life But as we’ve seen, without that bangin’ inspirational song, or the help […]
Posted inHealth + Wellness
Health disparities cost African Americans $45.3 billion annually
A recent report by the National Urban League Policy Institute found that African Americans continue to pay a disproportionate price for health disparities, spending $54.9 billion of the total $82.2 billion for the U.S. in healthcare costs and lost productivity. The report, “The State of Urban Health: Eliminating Health Disparities to Save Lives and Cut […]
Posted inHealth + Wellness
Parents, step up! Take charge!
In this madness of crime and murder, are you in charge of your household? Some households have a mother and father, some just a mother or just a father… Either way, are you in charge? From the birth of your child to 18 years of age, you need to be in charge of your child […]
Posted inHealth + Wellness
Communicating your personal brand — Identifying your brand statement
As you campaign to obtain your target job or launch a business, your personal brand statement should be communicated. According to Career Distinction: Standing out by Building Your Brand by William Arruda and Kirsten Dixson, your brand statement should possess three qualities: 1) It consists of just one sentence. 2) It can be easily understood […]
Posted inHealth + Wellness
The Good Wife Works – Heroes and heroines in Black History Month
“Things that no one knows, things that leave no trace, do not exist.” (Italo Svevo, Zeno’s Conscience) Rosa Parks is a household name for her defiance of Jim Crow laws in the South. She died at age 92, 50 years after the event — when she was 42 years old — that made history. Claudette […]
Posted inSports
Black sportswriting talent finds outlet on new online site
The Shadow League.com is an online site that features Black writers who provide in-depth articles. It provides “engaging, insightful and entertaining coverage of the intersection of sports, pop culture and race” from a diverse perspective. Comparable to the Black-oriented news site The Root.com, TheShadowLeague. com, which debuted in January, is a “go-to website for […]
Posted inArts + Culture, Opinion
Keith recalls how he and Lesli met — and the foul names she’d called him
Making her way from the bed to the bathroom, Lesli called, “Honey, you there?” Keith blew cigarette smoke out. “Yeah, baby, I’m here,” he lied in what he hoped was a strong, assuring voice. Fact is, he was, as the saying goes, a million miles away, lost in more worried thought than he’d known in a […]
Posted inArts + Culture
This week’s Entertainment spotlights
Kevin Bozeman Mar. 5-9, various show times Acme Comedy Co. 708 N. 1st St., Mpls., 612-338-6393 or www.acmecomedycompany.com With a smooth and clever style, a great smile and a contagious laugh Bozeman has been entertaining in clubs and colleges across the country. In 2000 he was the winner of the Midwest region of the […]
Posted inSports
Black sportswriting talent finds outlet on new online site
The Shadow League.com is an online site that features Black writers who provide in-depth articles. It provides “engaging, insightful and entertaining coverage of the intersection of sports, pop culture and race” from a diverse perspective. Comparable to the Black-oriented news site The Root.com, TheShadowLeague. com, which debuted in January, is a “go-to website for edgy, […]
Posted inArts + Culture
José James and band awes Cedar crowd
José James didn’t just sing during his homecoming concert at the Cedar on January 29, he spoke his mind. And he delivered on the wish that most concertgoers have when they go to see a promising new artist perform. He took them on a journey. And the audience — among them, friends, family, and mentors […]
Posted inOpinion
The legacy of Marvin “Corky” Taylor — Rest in peace, Black Warrior, one of the Honest Five who refused to lie
Marvin “Corky” Taylor was recognized by NERA (National Economic Research Associates) for his contributions to the completion of NERA’s October 21, 2010 report to the City of Minneapolis on the City’s purposeful failure to meet its diversity, equity and affirmative action responsibilities. NERA’s crack global research team of Wainwright, Holt, Kim Stewart and J. Wesley […]