MSR News Online
Reach the MSR staff at msrnewsonline@spokesman-recorder.com.
The rulers’ goal is to put ya’ll back in chains
“He’s going to let the big banks write their own rules, unchain Wall Street. They are going to put ya’ll back in chains,” said Joe Biden in remarks that have stirred controversy. The Obama administration has stuck by and backed Biden’s comment because it wants to believe that Black folks are simple enough to believe […]
Please publish accurate information on SCSU Black graduation rates
As St. Cloud State approaches the 2012-2013 school year, projections are that the university will continue its trend of welcoming growing numbers of students of color, including Black or African American students. In the last decade, enrollment of Black or African American students has increased at St. Cloud State from 173 total students in 2000 to […]
Why are so many Black men dying?
By Terry Yzaguirre Guest Commentator As I arrived at the homicide scene on 21st and Penn Avenue North in Minneapolis on August 18at about 9 am, the crime lab was still working on the bullet holes on the exterior of the home after a shooting occurred around 3 am leaving one man dead and another […]
WNBA partnership offers internships, mentoring for Black youth
But will the Lynx join this national diversity effort? The WNBA recently has joined forces with 100 Black Men of America to create more mentoring opportunities for Blacks. 100 Black Men was founded in New York City in 1963 and then became a national organization with nine chapters in 1986. Today there are 116 chapters […]
Jackie Robinson’s fight against racism: the untold story
By Charles Hallman Staff Writer Jackie Robinson’s legacy and life story has been told and retold over the years, but mostly it has been focused on his historical breaking of baseball’s color line after World War II. “The thing that people don’t know about him [is] that my father was on fire for social justice […]
Larry Fitzgerald, Jr. reaps rewards for giving back
SCOTTSDALE, AZ — Monday, August 27, I’m on the road again doing what I do. This time, I’m not covering a game or sporting event. As many of you know, my oldest son Larry, Jr., NFL star with the Arizona Cardinals, has done many good things on and off the field. Two weeks ago, he […]
Ronnie Laws and Tom Browne: Jazz-funk giants joined forces at Dakota
By Charles Hallman Staff Writer “Always There” (1975) and “Funkin’ for Jamaica” (1979) are legendary songs for Ronnie Laws and Tom Browne, respectively. A member of a musical family — brother Hubert Laws on flute and sisters Eloise Laws and Debra Laws as vocalists —Ronnie taught himself the alto sax at age 11, and he […]
Youth Development League motivates youth to excellence
Some people gain inspiration from their childhood difficulties and overcome their environments, subsequently reaching back to help others with similar backgrounds. Such is the case with Joyce Lester, the executive director of the Youth Development League (YDL), a nonprofit program of the Metro Education and Outreach Services (MEOS) agency, which seeks to cultivate youth by […]
Early diagnosis critical for treating multiple sclerosis
The disease can be especially aggressive in Blacks By Charles Hallman Staff Writer A person living in the U.S. is diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) every hour, according to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, affecting more than 400,000 people — over 2.1 million people worldwide. Medical studies have shown that MS is two to three times […]
Sabathani awarded grant to reduce health disparities
The Minnesota Department of Health recently awarded Sabathani Community Center an Eliminating Health Disparities Initiative (EHDI) grant in the amount of $176,872 for fiscal year 2012-2013. Sabathani will work with community partners to address health disparities in the African American and Latino communities in the areas of diabetes, teen pregnancy, and unintentional injury and violence. […]
Vikings working to be relevant again
I caution you by saying it’s early and it’s only the pre-season, but the Vikings are working hard in 2012 to make their fans proud of the Purple & Gold. Over the last two years, the organization’s focus has been on securing a new permanent home for future Vikings home games. Even with the team […]
Women’s hoops earned worldwide respect at Olympic games
Coaches don’t get medals. If they did, Jennifer Gillom would have earned her eighth overall. She has six gold medals and a silver as a member of USA Basketball, including a gold as a member of the 1988 U.S. Olympic squad. “I hope that we get a ring… Hopefully it will look good on the […]
Ben Williams: Rising star bassist mixes classic and new sounds
Bandleader and bassist, Ben Williams is on his way to the Dakota on Sept 4 and 5 with the Pat Metheny Unity Band. He’s also well on his way to carving out a beautiful career. He won the 2009 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition for double bass and is currently a Concord Records recording artist. […]
For Twins’ only Black pitcher, wild can be good
After the Minnesota Twins traded left-hander Francisco Liriano to Chicago last month, right-hander Samuel Deduno becomes the club’s only Black pitcher. Deduno is one of 21 Dominican-born players and the ninth Dominican pitcher to play for the Twins since 1961. He and fellow Dominican natives Alexi Casilla and Pedro Florimon joins Denard Span and Ben […]
The commissioner of education did the right thing
We and our beloved city are faced with a challenging question: Are we committed to the principles and values of decency, trust, honesty, integrity, and transparency of action, or do we, for the sake of a dollar and a color code, embrace and poison ourselves, with that which is evil, dark and decadent that can […]
Prison life: consequences of the street life
“You have 60 seconds left on this phone call,” blurts the automated voice. It’s an irritating reminder of where I live. When I talk to my daughter on the telephone, my confinement in prison fades into a vague reality. The 60-second warning yanks my consciousness out of the mirage my surroundings have morphed into. I’m […]
Black America’s worst campaign — ever!
By Demetairs Bell Guest Commentator In 2004, a group of young Black men in Baltimore, Maryland championed a cause that would grant certain individuals the freedom to indulge in criminal activity with the expectation of silence from the Black community. This campaign gained national attention when the DVD “Stop Snitchin’” found its way into the […]
Like father, not like son: George Wilcken Romney vs. W. Mitt Romney
As I watch all of the millions of dollars pour into the negative campaign ads on television on both side of the aisle, I wonder what would happen if both candidates just had a meeting with each other and said, ”Let’s just stop all of this negativity and pool these dollars and put our constituents […]