The public must be more vocal in getting President Barack Obama’s tuition-free community college plan to become a reality, says Minneapolis Community and Technical College (MCTC) Interim President Avelino Mills-Novoa.
Charles Hallman
Charles Hallman is a contributing reporter and award-winning sports columnist at the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder.
Posted inEducation, Local & State, News
B.L.A.C.K. aims to empower through language and teamwork
One of the goals in the ten months since Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS) opened its new Black Male Student Achievement office was to “change the dynamics,” especially how Black male students are seen by others and by themselves, said its director.
Posted inLocal & State, News
Justice Wilhelmina Wright talks equality and accountability
The public should hold all judges accountable, said Minnesota State Supreme Court Justice Wilhelmina Wright.
Posted inOpinion
Using social media doesn’t make you a journalist
The problem with social media is that too often it launches rumors and half-truths disguised as news, as well as providing a platform for self-appointed “citizen journalists” who would rather whip up a firestorm than tell the truth.
Posted inNational, News
Federal Reserve’s ‘ideal’ unemployment rates overlook Blacks
A new economic report points out that even if the U.S. economy is now recovering, it has not reached the Black community, especially locally.
Posted inSports
Division III men’s hockey tourney featured Black players — in the stands
The long and winding road took us through five states, two cities and nearly a dozen games, but it took last weekend until the Only One finally ran into what he seemingly thought would be an elusive goal to reach — Black hockey players all at U-M’s Ridder Arena.
Posted inSports
Best values for sports fans
Do fans get their full value when they attend live sporting events? Do they go home happy afterwards or suffer buyers’ remorse?
Posted inLocal & State, News
HN county attorney challenges staff to reduce Black youth incarceration
Taxpayers nationwide pay an estimated $8 to $21 billion each year to keep juveniles in jail according to a December 2014 Justice Policy Institute report, …
Posted inArts + Culture, Music
Dessa: Acclaimed local musician speaks on hip hop, sexism and ‘moral responsibility’
Minneapolis-based rapper, singer and essayist Dessa recently had an album that charted in the Billboard Top 100. Photo by Charles Hallman Dessa’s remixed Parts of Speech debuted in May, nearly a year after its original release, in Billboard’s Top 100. The Minneapolis rapper, singer and essayist, and Doomtree collective member easily displayed “her writerly sensibility, […]
Posted inLocal & State, News
Families urged to learn more about PSEO
Project offers ‘an amazing chance’ for high school students of color’
Post-Secondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) classes allow Minnesota high school juniors and seniors to earn college credits that can be applied at most local colleges and universities around the state. These classes are offered on college campuses and are available “to all pupils in grades 8, 9, 10 and 11,” says the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) website, which also points out that most classes are only open to high school juniors and seniors.
Posted inSports
Blacks most visible behind the scenes at Citrus Bowl
ORLANDO — Take away the players’ parents, event workers, and even the players themselves, and there weren’t a lot of Black folk seen at this year’s Citrus Bowl. There was an obvious “color” contrast among the reported 48,624 spectators at last week’s Minnesota-Missouri football game at the Citrus Bowl Stadium in Orlando. The MSR, during […]
Posted inArts + Culture, Music, Theater
Motown: The Musical actress-singer delights in her multiple legendary roles
Motown: The Musical, the hit Broadway musical now touring the country, arrives next week for a 13-day run at the Orpheum Theatre in downtown Minneapolis. Grammy-nominated artist Ashley Támar Davis plays several roles, including Gladys Knight and Motown founder Berry Gordy’s sister Esther. She talked about her parts in a MSR phone interview. “The reason […]
Posted inGophers/College, Sports
Early Black Gopher athlete earned place of honor
If statues of an old sportswriter, a fictional television character, and comic strip figures can be put up all around town and at various sports venues, surely one honoring the U of M’s first Black athlete could be erected and installed outside the Gophers football stadium as well.
Posted inNews
Mayors pledge racial equity
The Twin Cities could be the nation’s best example for racial equity — so pledge the mayors of the state’s two largest municipalities.
Posted inSports
Black support essential to Detroit sports
“Few cities have as rich a cultural and sporting history as Detroit,” said the introduction to Grantland’s “Detroit Week” 14-article series published last month.
Posted inOpinion
Energy companies pass cost increases, not profits, on to the customer
For those of us living in the real world, when the price of something goes up, we have to factor it into our budget.
Posted inGophers/College, Sports
A sports reporter’s spring notebook cleaning
Marlene Stollings’ second hire on her Gopher women’s basketball coaching staff is Nikita (Niki) Dawkins.
Posted inGophers/College, Lynx/WNBA, Sports, Timberwolves/NBA, Twins/MLB, Vikings/NFL
It’s hard being a Black coach — and harder yet as a Black female coach
The firing drum that has slowly banged for Mike Woodson since mid-winter reached its crescendo Monday when he was fired as New York Knicks head coach.
Posted inSports
Big Ten hockey tournament a success
The first season of Big Ten men’s hockey is now history. It finished with Minnesota as regular season champs, Wisconsin as tournament champion, and three teams ranked among the nation’s top 12: No. 1 Minnesota, No. 6 Wisconsin and No. 12 Michigan. The six-team league — Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State were members […]
Posted inSports
Gophers focus on Hockey Frozen Four
It was like Bachmann-Turner Overdrive last week for the Minnesota women’s hockey team, and this week it’s the Isley Brothers.