More than 1.3 percent of births (904 babies) in Minnesota in 2012 occurred outside of a hospital — mainly in homes and freestanding birth centers — up from 0.5 percent of births (366 babies) in 2004. “As the numbers of freestanding birth centers and midwives providing planned home births continue to rise, women and families […]
November 2014
Posted inLocal & State, News
Gary Cunningham named Metro State Alumnus of the Year
In recognition of his strong commitment to serving the Twin Cities community both as a professional and as a volunteer, Metropolitan State University recognized Gary Cunningham as its 2014 Alumnus of the Year at the 2014 Celebrating Service to the Community Scholarship Luncheon on October 16 at Travelers in Saint Paul. Cunningham has built a […]
Posted inOpinion
Election 2014 — Republicans take control of Congress: How?
With Republicans taking control of Congress, questions raised in Black America include: Is Barack Obama unpopular because of what he and his administration have done, because of the color of his skin, or both? Democrats say voters voted against their own self-interest while Republicans saw it as the opposite. Each party accused the other of […]
Posted inLocal & State
Sculptor refuses to be pushed around by racism
Local artist’s work displayed ‘from here to Ireland’ By Isaac Peterson Contributing Writer St. Paul sculptor Frank Brown describes himself as a “gofer,” someone who “goes for it, who doesn’t sit around waiting for someone to come looking for them. I take the initiative to go out and initiate the conversation that hopefully will […]
Posted inEducation
Graduation Celebration 2015
Spokesman-Recorder Nonprofit 501c3 will host its 20th Annual High School Graduation Celebration at the Hilton Hotel located in Downtown Minneapolis in May of 21st 2015. The theme for this event, “Education and Graduation: It’s a Family Affair,” honors the Twin Cities’ African and African American high school graduates. The Spokesman-Recorder Nonprofit 501c3 has hosted this […]
Posted inArts + Culture, Movies
Beyond the Lights
Movie Review By Raymond Jackson Contributing Writer It has been a while since I’ve seen and heard a Hollywood production with excellent and spectacular appeal. Beyond the Lights is bound to appeal to the young and the old, Black and White. It’s very versatile in its delivery. It is written and directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood, […]
Posted inArts + Culture
Kiana Marie: Hometown songstress has big-time talent
Brilliantly gifted vocalist Kiana Marie (www.kianamarie.biz) is fast-tracked for success and comes by it honestly. You could say she was born and bred to the craft, as her family has been part of Twin Cities music for generations. Sitting at a South Minneapolis coffee shop, she acknowledges, “The support and teachings that have come from […]
Posted inSports
Some things — like White-dominated college sports staff — never seem to change
It’s the same old story when it comes to college sports administration — it’s still a White man’s world. The University of Minnesota’s key leadership positions, along with those of the other 100-plus Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) schools, have “remained overwhelmingly White and male,” says the latest report by The Institute for Diversity and Ethics […]
Posted inOpinion
2014 Elections: Black firsts, a threat to Black and White Democrats
The November 2014 midterm elections were an historic victory for Black people in the Republican Party. However, as of the time of my column, the NAACP, the so-called pro-Black historians and the White media have been AWOL in the celebration of Black firsts unless they fit into the liberal definition of Black success. Blacks must […]
Posted inLocal & State
How parents can help close the achievement gap
Educator encourages close collaboration between home and school By Dr. Levette Evans Thomas, Ed.D Contributing Writer I believe as an educator I can effectively contribute to closing the achievement gap. It is important for parents to believe they can be passionate about helping their children achieve academic and social success to close the achievement gap […]
Posted inArts + Culture, Music
Monk Trumpet Competition brings out the stars
Marquis Hill beat 13 trumpeters to win the 2014 Thelonious Monk International Trumpet Competition last Sunday, November 9, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
Posted inHealth + Wellness
No bones about it — vitamin D is good for your health!
Vitamin D has been well known for its ability to help build strong bones. Vitamin D assists the body in using the calcium we eat for good bone production. A severe lack of vitamin D has been associated with the disease “rickets” when bones don’t form properly and are very weak and soft. We have come […]
Posted inHealth + Wellness
Turning Point announces ‘big-time’ partnership with North Memorial
By Charles Hallman Staff Writer Chemical healthcare needs in the Black community historically have been emphasized less than they should be. Turning Point since 1976 has provided both culturally specific inpatient and outpatient chemical dependency treatment services and other related programming. It served nearly 500 clients in 2013; 42 percent of the provided services were […]
Posted inSports
North High coach shows true commitment
By Kenneth Foxworth Contributing Writer The recent events happening in Ferguson, Missouri are a reminder of why we see policeman in a negative way. But here locally we are able see and know standout policemen like Charles Adams III, who is changing the mindsets of young African American males by being a role model, father […]
Posted inLocal & State
MPS curtails suspensions
‘Reverse racism’ used to combat discipline bias By Charles Hallman Staff Writer Since this story was published, Minneapolis Public Schools has emailed the following statement: In regards to the article posted on Dr. Johnson’s recent announcement to reduce the disproportionality of nonviolent suspensions between black and brown students and their white peers, Dr. Johnson has not […]
Posted inLocal & State
Critics say ‘Pointergate’ story perpetuates racial stereotypes
Mayor says she doesn’t plan to stop pointing By Charles Hallman Staff Writer The fallout continues from a local television station’s airing a controversial story two weeks ago. The Hubbard Broadcasting-owned ABC affiliate, KSTP 5, aired a November 9 news story that claimed Minneapolis Mayor Betsy Hodges and a Neighborhoods Organizing for Change (NOC) […]
Posted inArts + Culture
Keith a singing movie star?
He’d caught a catnap on the flight from the Twin Cities. Middle of the afternoon, filming in Chicago at Rosa’s Lounge, Keith sat at the bar wondering just how much longer it’d take. He’d never quite got used to the hurry-up-and-wait of making a movie. Even the tech crew, who were all accustomed to this […]
Posted inSports
Are Cardinals NFL’s best team?
GLENDALE. AZ — Super Bowl XLIX is set for University of Phoenix Stadium Sunday, February 1, 2015, and right now, after 10 weeks, the Arizona Cardinals are on target to do what no team has ever done: to host and play the Super Bowl in their home stadium. Arizona is 9-1, the best record in the NFL […]
Posted inHealth + Wellness
The Good Wife Works: On memories and fear of loss
Wilt Chamberlain said it: “Important to you, irrelevant to others.” Experts agree, and advise you to get rid of your junk so as not to burden your family with your stuff. Americans are, after all, five percent of the world’s population consuming 30 percent of its resources, always replacing, upgrading, then throwing away the outmoded. Don’t […]