“Giving a voice to the voiceless” was a resonating mantra repeated during the speech given on February 28 by Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder (MSR) publisher Tracey Williams-Dillard, before 78 men of color at Stillwater Prison.
The event occurred in a prison gymnasium thoughtfully turned into a Black History Month symposium. It also featured music, African dance, and drumming by “The Voice of Culture,” a local anti-capitalist Black space for cultural arts and liberation.
As the crowd cheerfully settled in, one of the young vocalists approached the podium. Her tone, pitch, and intensity momentarily seized the room as she tested the microphone with a brief, soul-stirring rendition of the first few lines of the inspirational pop song “Hero.”
The event opened with Robert Kendell-Bey, a vibrant crowd-rousing representative from the primarily Black men’s group, providing intrigue and building curious momentum to the entertainment line-up for the morning. He introduced the first speaker of the day, Williams-Dillard.
Her attention-grabbing antidotes and gracious stage presence immediately engaged and comprehensively educated the crowd. She seamlessly wove her family’s third-generation newspaper’s history, trials, and victories while paying homage and honor to her family’s business.
The family lineage started with late grandfather and founder Cecil E. Newman, grandmother Launa Q. Newman, mother Norma Jean Williams, uncle Wallace “Jack” Jackman, and Williams-Dillard’s current leadership role continuing a 90-year legacy. She announced, “MSR is one of our country’s oldest Black newspapers, and we proudly recognize this historic occasion on a grand scale with the much anticipated 90 Years of Impact Celebration, happening on Saturday, August 17, 2024.”
She opened her speech by sharing her grandfather’s initial exposure to racism and unfair business practices, which only propelled his determination and vision. Upon his arrival in Minnesota from Missouri, he faced adversity, receiving a “salt-laced” hamburger as his introductory meal.
His dream to create a reliable news source for the community and by the community included building a business from the ground up in the city’s heart, which has become a historic landmark. The positive connections he made and the impactful relationships he developed supported his dream as the MSR newspaper came to fruition in 1934. MSR’s popularity and reputable business practices helped it become an institution.
Newman developed close business relationships and friendships with influential decision-makers and civil rights leaders like Martin Luther King, Jr. and Senator Hubert H. Humphrey, with whom he shared a vision of hope that lasted decades. Williams-Dillard spoke of Newman’s and Humphrey’s reciprocal passion for humanity and how it grew over time, even up to the point when Humphrey ran for the U.S. presidency.
Launa Q. Newman inherited the newspaper after surviving the loss of her late husband in 1976. She also faced adversity and was deeply hurt when she learned of a male-owned competitor who acquired office space in the same building. As he prematurely awaited the presumed demise of her newly acquired “man-less” business, Mrs. Newman proved him and others like him wrong.
She became an unstoppable force as the MSR was now led by a Black woman. The family business baton was later transferred to her daughter, Norma Jean Williams, and son, Wallace “Jack” Jackman. Her eclectic studio interview style attracted artists like Jimmy Jam, Terry Lewis, Miles Davis and others. Her natural sense of humor provided a platform for a comedy show, and yes, the paper continued to grow and thrive.
In 2006, Williams-Dillard became the community newspaper’s president and chief executive officer and steadfastly acquired the role of MSR owner, publisher, and CEO. Williams-Dillard’s public speaking ease and passion for family storytelling illustrate her ability to provide relevant content and capture the attention of her audience as she inspires others to overcome challenges, tests, and trials.
“I do not write speeches in advance. I write by looking into the eyes of my audience, and when I see their attention, I know I am on the right track.” As the crowd approached a comforting lull, Williams-Dillard turned the focus back to her audience by referencing Kevin Reese, a former inmate who wrote to the MSR. His letter read that the “MSR saved his life, and the publisher encouraged him to submit a letter to the editor, which was published in the paper.”
In 2021, the MSR received a $5000 business makeover contribution from the Small Business Revolution. She, in turn, offered a similar gift to the Stillwater prison newspaper to amplify the voice of the voiceless.
In concluding her speech, Williams-Dillard reminded the audience, “MSR cares.” She validated that by extending an invitation to “use your words and tell your story.” She assured the audience, “I am not the judge, the jury, or the warden, but if you have a story you want to share, I promise you, I will run it. If you feel we should look into a story, we will.”
The event was hosted by state prison officials, including Captain Bola Olarinde, William Bolin, Stillwater Prison Warden, Charles “Chuck” Berry, Salvation Army chaplain, and four staff members.
Kimerlie Geraci welcomes reader comments to kgeraci@spokesman-recorder.com.
Support Black local news
Help amplify Black voices by donating to the MSR. Your contribution enables critical coverage of issues affecting the community and empowers authentic storytelling.