By Michelle Lawrence Contributing Writer People of African heritage in Minnesota experience higher rates of chronic disease, morbidity and mortality compared to nearly every other cultural group in the state, according to fact sheets compiled by the Minnesota Department of Health. Yet, despite these dismal facts, which would discourage some and certainly overwhelm others, there […]
March 2013
Posted inHealth + Wellness
Doctor’s Advice for Your Good Health
Dr. Crutchfield, my daughter has acne. Won’t she just outgrow it, or should we treat it? Why should anyone care about treating acne? Acne is a very common skin condition that affects over 90 percent of people in their lives. At a time when adolescents are developing a strong sense of self, self-worth, value and […]
Posted inSports
Game of Change: Racial integration of basketball didn’t end discrimination
By Charles Hallman Staff Writer Last Friday marked the 50th anniversary of the Loyola (Chicago)-Mississippi State NCAA regional semi-finals game played at Jenison Field House in East Lansing, Mich. on March 15, 1963. This week, “Sports Odds and Ends” features an “Another View” column originally published in the MSR April 30, 2009 edition on the […]
Posted inHealth + Wellness
Blacks are four times more likely to develop kidney disease
Early detection essential to controlling the condition By Robin James Contributing Writer Eliminating health disparities is hard work, particularly when it comes to tackling the list of disparities directly related to the African American population. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is linked to that list of health challenges. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has designated March […]
Posted inHealth + Wellness
Why Egypt?
“For us the return to Egypt in every domain is the necessary condition to reconcile African civilization with history, to build a body of modern human sciences and to be able to renew African culture…Egypt will play the same role in the rethinking and renewing of African culture that ancient Greece and Rome play in […]
Posted inNews
Black in the USA
Sixteen year old Brooklyn youth shot and killed , protests held Kimani Gray was shot and killed last week in Brooklyn, after being hit by 7 bullets fired by two plain clothes New York City police detectives. Autopsies so far revealed that 3 bullets entered the teen from the rear. According to police the teen […]
Posted inNews
Oprah and Terrance are heating up the internet!
The web has been buzzing and howling about the back and forth between Terrence Howard and Oprah Winfrey who star in the upcoming movie The Butler. Howard had said rather coyly in an interview with Movie Fanatic about Oprah that she had some “tig ole bitties” and that she’s “such a lovely and voluptuous woman.” Oprah was a sport about it. […]
Posted inOpinion
Georgia Ellyse: Why you need to know about Mike De’cole
At a time when R&B has been said to be on the decline or even dying, Mike De’cole surfaces as a pleasant pulse and breath of fresh air. The Chicago native, recently dropped his debut single “Never (Lost Without You)” and has received great reviews from Twin Cities critics. He is constantly doing shows […]
Posted inNews
Council on Black Minnesotans has new director, new agenda, new vision to get beyond tolerance
By Vickie Evans-Nash Editor-in-Chief In October 2012, Edward McDonald was appointed director of the Council on Black Minnesotans (COBM). The process began when he was approached by friends and colleagues who thought he would serve well in the role. Raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and completing his undergrad studies at the University of Minnesota Duluth in […]
Posted inNews
Minnesota legislators work to finalize State health exchange — Democratic majority doesn’t make exchange a ‘slam dunk’
By Charles Hallman Staff Writer The Affordable Care Act (ACA) mandates that beginning in 2014, each state either must have a health exchange available that allows qualified individuals to buy coverage, or join with other states to create regional exchanges. Or can let the federal government do it. It is intended not only to offer […]
Posted inNews
MN immigrant plans U.S.’s first Somali museum
By Jamal Denman Contributing Writer On Friday, March 15 and Saturday, March 16 there will be a benefit held at Lincoln International High School in South Minneapolis to increase awareness of and support for a Somali Artifact and Culture Museum. The concept for the museum comes from the mind of Osman Ali, a local businessman […]
Posted inNews
Local makeup pro launches cosmetic line — Women of Color embellishes darker-hued skin
By Robin James Contributing Writer Popular makeup brands are catering to women of color now more than ever as companies examine and rethink the importance and power of reaching this unique audience. Celebrities like Queen Latifah (Cover Girl Queen Collection) and Salma Hayek (Nuance cosmetics line for CVS) have their own makeup lines for women […]
Posted inArts + Culture
The SF JAZZ Collective at Dakota March 19
The SF JAZZ Collective returns to the Dakota on March 19 for one of the most anticipated musical performances of the year. The world-class ensemble will feature the repertoire of Chick Corea, legendary keyboardist and new compositions. The SF JAZZ Collective, an award-winning all-star octet includes saxophonist David Sánchez and drummer Obed Calvaire, founding member […]
Posted inArts + Culture
Living the Single Life
Look here every week for MSR’s profiles of local men and women who are, at least for now, unattached and…living the single life. This Week’s Single: Mel Reeves Age: ageless (LOL) Profession: Journalist, columnist, organizer /activist City: Minneapolis Single life is… a blessing and a curse. The time to oneself is great I can get […]
Posted inArts + Culture
Keith had given up on the long-term relationship thing — ‘til Lesli came along
Fear is a funny thing. Not that he was anywhere near laughing. It was just queer. Lesli was the best woman to have happened to him — and scared him to within an inch of his life. Someone, somewhere, might’ve been his mother or an aunt, had said, “Never lose your head over some tail.” Whoever it was […]
Posted inHealth + Wellness
Hennepin County creates special team to improve community outreach
The Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office has announced a new Community Engagement Team they say will expand outreach efforts in diverse communities and directly address public safety concerns of the residents. The Community Engagement Team, according to the Sheriff’s Office, will enhance the community policing program that was launched several years ago. The team is comprised […]
Posted inOpinion
When will MN’s ‘no Black workers need apply’ policy end?
Who will monitor and enforce Black participation on the so-called ‘People’s Stadium’ project? My concern is for the ending of the discrimination patterns and practices that prevent access for Black men and women to the opportunities of Minnesota (education, jobs, housing), with discrimination led by White and Black elites (City agencies, nonprofits, foundations, churches, corporations, the […]
Posted inHealth + Wellness
Blaming victims of rape only worsens the harm done
Rape is a terrible enough crime, the brutal and vicious violation of a human being, debasing her, using her body as nothing more than a receptacle, leaving her traumatized for perhaps the rest of her life. Making things still worse is the practice of actually blaming the victim. Or rationalizing the seriousness of the crime away. For […]
Posted inHealth + Wellness
Cultivating patience
“Patience, like love, is one of the most powerful actions on earth. Much patience is required of us as we try to maneuver our lives, families and community away from a society whose predominant values seek to keep us divided and struggling.” — Mikkel Beckmen Welcome, readers, to the “Starting Anew” column. In this issue […]