Minneapolis honors activist Spike Moss with street renaming

On the morning of Tuesday, July 16, more than 400 people gathered under a tented stage in a North Minneapolis parking lot of the Urban Research and Engagement Center (UROC) for a celebration and street renaming ceremony to honor community activist and freedom fighter Harry “Spike” Moss.

The street renaming covers a stretch of Plymouth Ave. N. from Newton Ave. N. to Lyndale Ave. N., which is now known as “Spike Moss Way.”  Although the tent provided good cover for any chance of precipitation, the celebration was gifted with a beautiful sunny day. In anticipation of the new street name unveiling, the atmosphere amongst the crowd was upbeat, like a combination family reunion meets an awards show.

Moss, 79, has been on the frontline fighting on behalf of Black people in North Minneapolis since the 1966 riots on Plymouth Avenue. In charge of both The Way Opportunities Unlimited, Inc., a non-profit community center that operated from 1966 to 1984, and was inspired by the National Black Power Movement and The City, Inc. founded in 1967. The City Inc. was an alternative school for at-risk youth grades 9 through 12.

Many young people came through The Way and credit Moss for their success because of his love, support, and guidance. In attendance was André Cymone, Stokely, formerly of Mint Condition, and Terry Lewis from Flyte Tyme Productions and the musical group The Time.

The MSR asked Terry Lewis what this day meant to him.  “This is one of the greatest days that I have ever seen in this community. I stopped what I was doing and changed my schedule to be here because I wouldn’t have missed this for the world,” said Lewis.

When asked to describe how the day felt to him, Moss replied, “It’s like I got paid for all of those lies that were told about me being a troublemaker and other negative things. I was vilified, but that didn’t stop us. No, we didn’t stop.”  

Over the 58 years of frontline activism, Moss negotiated a truce between gang members in the 1990s and fought for more than just the North Minneapolis Community. Moss also fought for the hiring of more Black police officers, firefighters, bus drivers, and other Metro Transit jobs in Minneapolis and St Paul and the surrounding areas, with positive results and consistent praise from those who were hired and some still working. 

People like Minneapolis Fire Chief Bryan Tyner, who has served as a firefighter for 25 years and is the second Black fire chief in Minneapolis, stood with a group of Minneapolis Black firefighters in honor of Moss and said to those in the crowd, “New York has Spiderman, and Gotham City has Batman, but here in Minneapolis, we have Spike Moss.”  

Tyner remembered going to The Way as a young man and looked up to Moss then and still does. Walter “Q-Bear” Banks, a longtime radio personality for 89 FM KMOJ radio in Minneapolis and a lifelong Northside resident, told MSR, “Spike Moss has always been the same from day one. He always wants his people to do better.”

Debbie Montgomery, in 2014, had a street in St. Paul named after her as well. Montgomery became the first Black policewoman in St. Paul in 1975 and 2004 and the first Black woman elected to the St. Paul City Council. The MSR asked Montgomery what it means for Spike Moss to be honored today. “You know what, it’s a great honor for a guy who’s been in the struggle continually for our people.

“And the fact that he’s getting recognized while he’s still alive is well-deserved, and the struggle continues, that’s it,” Montgomery continued. “We need to continue to take care of our young people like Spike says. They don’t know our history like they should. They’re not focused on what the issues are, and we must engage them, let them know that we’re here to support them, says Montgomery.”

People gathered from different parts of Minnesota and from different parts of the country to witness this unique historic event. The uniqueness is wrapped around the fact that this is the first time in the city of Minneapolis’ history of naming streets that the person is alive to witness the unveiling. Thanks to a bill introduced by 5^th Ward City Councilmember Jeremiah Ellison (the son of Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison), the exception was supported by the council and Mayor Jacob Frey, with additional support from State Senator Bobby Joe Champion, who grew up in North Minneapolis and is a Spike Moss protege.  “This is a great day for someone who has given so much to our community,” said Champion.  

Minnesota Attorney General Ellison spoke to the crowd about being a protégé of Moss after meeting him as a young law student at the age of 22. Attorney General Ellison said, “So I’m telling you that Spike Moss was that leader, the valiant, brave brother that inspired me and a whole generation. Spike has always been ready to call everybody to account: the government, our own community, everybody. He’s calling us all to be better all the time, and that means you have integrity, Spike Moss.”

The irony of the renaming ceremony street corner is that just next door to the UROC parking lot is the current location for the Minneapolis 4^th Precinct, which used to be The Way Opportunities Unlimited, Inc. years ago, and just blocks away from Newton and Spike Moss Way on Humboldt is the former location for The City Inc.  

Before the unveiling of the street sign, the president of the Benjamin Banneker Watches and Clocks presented Moss with a wooden clock as a gift of gratitude for helping him get his clock business off the ground.

Moss came to the stage and told the crowd, “I have been totally overwhelmed. I can’t believe I did all that work,” said Moss. “I have so many to thank but not enough time. But I need to publicly say thank you to everybody that stood up with me, everybody that marched with me and everybody that fought side by side with me. Richard Harris and Moss are cousins who spent summers together in Missouri when they were youngsters.”

Moss wanted to thank Richard for his guidance. “No matter what I did, he told me what was right and what was wrong. Richard never let me make any mistakes,” said Moss. Moss also thanked boxing coach Ray Wells for teaching him to live his life without smoking, drinking, and drugs.

“To my people, everything I did for you was love. I love my people. I often say in my speeches that I love my people. I love you when you’re up, I love you when you’re down. I might not love all that you do, but you can damn sure bet I love my people,” continued Moss.

The triumphant song “Ain’t No Stopping Us Now” played as Moss left the stage to join the people gathered across the street in front of the Newton and Plymouth Street sign for the unveiling ceremony.

See more photo highlights below. All photos by James L. Stoud, Jr.