By Stacy M. Brown Contributing Writer It’s a trend that many are hoping won’t just turn into a passing fad. Late last month, Essence magazine noted that after years of slow-burning idealism, #BuyBlack has seen a community-wide takeoff. And, as the holiday season moves into full swing, the #BuyBlack campaign has led many to imagine […]
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Posted inGophers/College, Sports
Black head coach grateful for his big break
The percentage of Black head college basketball coaches, whether women or men, has never equaled or remotely come close to the percentages of Black players. For instance, Black females comprise 47 percent of women basketball players, but under eight percent of women’s basketball head coaches are Black. Only four percent are Black males. Bernard Scott […]
Posted inSports
The Adventures of Flashman: Memoirs of a Photojournalist 1977-2016
Remembering Dennis Green “The Adventures of Flashman” is a photographic exhibition with written commentary selected from the accumulated works of one of St. Paul Rondo’s adopted sons, Gayle “Flashman” Anderson. Spanning the years 1977 to the present with an emphasis on life at the close of the last century, it chronicles events, people and life […]
Posted inHealth + Wellness
Dealing with holiday stress
By Lynn Strauss, Ph.D., LP Guest Columnist Based on what we see in the media (television, movies, phones), it would seem that the holiday season is a time of year full of cheer, fulfillment and happiness. In actuality, the holidays are a time of year that at least 80 percent of people find to be […]
Posted inHealth + Wellness
How close are we to finding the ‘Fountain of Youth’?
Conclusion of a two-part column Dear Dr. Crutchfield: According to your article “Good news: We are winning the war on cancer” (MSR April 7, 2016), we have made significant advances in the treatment of many forms of cancer. What’s going on with respect to increasing the length of life? Last week’s column reviewed two of four areas […]
Posted inLocal & State, News
V.J. Smith/MAD DADS honored
On December 3, VJ Smith, national president of M.A.D.D.A.D.S. Incorporated, received the Peace Ambassador Medal of Honor Award from the Little Angels during their national tour at the Manhattan Center in New York City, New York. The event was sponsored by the Washington Times Foundation, the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, and the […]
Posted inNational, News
Obamacare predicted safe for 2017, but future uncertain
The Affordable Care Act could be vulnerable under new administration By Charles Hallman Staff Writer Over a third of MinnesotaCare recipients need to confirm or update their eligibility information before the end of the year, advises the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS). An estimated 36,000 recipients of the state’s basic healthcare plan are affected, and many […]
Posted inGophers/College, Sports
A rarity: Two sets of Black twin sisters compete at the Barn
There are approximately 100 African American and other student-athletes of color this school year at the University of Minnesota. In an occasional series throughout the 2016-17 school and sports year, the MSR will highlight many of these players. This week: freshmen basketball players Kehinde and Taiye Bello Conclusion of a two-part column There are 11 […]
Posted inSports, Vikings/NFL
Vikings stay alive with 25-16 win
It ain’t over until the fat lady sings, and so goes the Vikings’ season. With three weeks remaining in the regular season, the Vikings are still in the playoff chase. After losing six of seven games, the Vikings got Head Coach Mike Zimmer back on the sidelines. Zimmer missed the Dallas game and returned Sunday. He […]
Posted inOpinion
Minneapolis police may have forgotten Peavey Park
Columbus Avenue, near Franklin Avenue, is sunny and quiet, a nice little block. Peavey Park is down at the end, stretching from Chicago to Park Aves., an appealing, green expanse with trees, squirrels, birds — as pretty a picture as there is. The place looks like some kind of scene from a postcard or painting. […]
Posted inOpinion
Now is the time to stand for civil rights
By Samantha Pree-Stinson Guest Commentator As a U.S. soldier, I fought to protect the liberties and safeties of our country. It was beyond humiliating and repulsive to be a victim of hate speech and a hate crime last Friday. I was waiting for the bus on my way to work when a truck with […]
Posted inLocal & State, News
‘Historically Black’ captures untold stories of the past
By Charles Hallman Staff Writer A series of podcasts featuring artifacts, heirlooms, and other pertinent items from Black families is now on demand. The Historically Black series, originally launched in September, is a joint project by the Washington Post and American Public Media (APM) Reports. It was part of the Post’s coverage of the new […]
Posted inBulletin
All MPS/MN seniors can utilize the Common Black College Application (CBCA)
Minneapolis Public Schools is proud to provide the 2016-17 Common Black College Application to all MPS/MN HS Seniors for Free. Attached is the flyer and promo code for distribution. This is a new partnership with the EDU INC and supports our current MPS HBCU initiatives (September Parent Scholarship Night, Empower Me Tour Programming, and 2017 […]
Posted inOpinion
White man shoots and kills teen
Fear of a Black man justifies murder I am not promoting violence. However, I am, without excuse, promoting the Constitution of the United States and the Second Amendment. Too many Black people, due to the psychological bonds of slavery, feel that gun ownership is crazy and that any Black man who owns a gun is […]
Posted inOpinion
North High School: a job well done
North wins Class 1A football championship Congratulations to North High School for winning the state Class 1A championship in football. They have not only done North Minneapolis proud, but also the entire city of Minneapolis, as this is the first championship for the city since 1977. North is now the only high school that has […]
Posted inSports, Vikings/NFL
Worshiping at the Church of Football
The cost to attend a Minnesota Vikings game is, in a word, costly. One ticket is equivalent to a couple of car notes or cable bills, or for some of us at least a month’s worth of groceries. Our front-page story this week on the affordability of attending Vikings games (part of our “People’s Stadium” […]
Posted inArts + Culture
MSR Top Five | Ol Skool Ugly Sweater Jam, ‘Black Nativity’ & more!
A snapshot of events around town Black Nativity Come enjoy this Langston Hughes classic, now in its 29th year at Penumbra. Dec. 14-23 | 7:30 pm Penumbra Theatre 141 E. 4th St., St. Paul More info: https://penumbratheatre.org Sonny Knight & the Lakers Twin Cities funk & soul powerhouse Dec. 16-17 | 7 & 9 pm […]
Posted inOpinion
Gentrification: urban renewal detrimental to urban residents
Gentrification and consumerism have destroyed the character of my favorite American haunts, like North Beach, Berkeley, Venice and Aspen. — Tom Hayden I prefer to use the word “displacement” because it drives home the end result of gentrification: someone loses their home and their community. — James Tracy The first quote above by the late […]
Posted inGo Green
Save energy and money
’tis the season to brighten your holidays with LED lights Are you still stringing the same old incandescent decorative lights for the holidays? The Minnesota Commerce Department advises that you can save money this year and for many holiday seasons to come by replacing outdated, energy-hogging lights with high-efficiency, long-lasting light-emitting diode (LED) bulbs. When […]
Posted inGo Green
Ideas for greener holidays
From Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day, residential waste increases by more than 25 percent. But the holidays don’t have to be a time to waste; they can be a time to give back to our environment and community instead. Reducing waste around the holiday season can be fun and easy. The gifts we give, how […]