The mission of Minneapolis Community and Technical College (MCTC) has remained constant, to be an institution that transforms the community by educating students who are globally aware, engaged citizens who are skilled at their work and lifelong learners. As a member of the MCTC Foundation Board and supporter of the college starting with President Earl W. […]
MSR News Online
Reach the MSR staff at msrnewsonline@spokesman-recorder.com.
Posted inSports
Title IX: It’s about a lot more than sports
Whenever Title IX is discussed, at least two opposing camps face off: Either “It killed men’s college sports” or “It just isn’t needed anymore” takes center stage. Although the 40-year federal law is mainly seen as an athletic law, it’s more than just sports according to U.S. Education Department Assistant Secretary Russlynn Ali.“In the 36 […]
Posted inSports
Penn State comes tumbling down!
The decision to penalize Penn State University (PSU) has confused many, because over time the NCAA has always used violations or infractions by those connected to the programs of NCAA schools or lack of institutional control as the foundation for penalizing NCAA member schools. The violations were always related to athletes and/or extra benefits. That […]
Posted inSports
Gopher women set relay record
Last month I was covering the Youth Day Out event at the University of Minnesota when former Apple Valley track star KYLIE PETERSON let me in on an amazing accomplishment by the women’s 4×100 meter relay team. “We set a school record,” the senior-to-be calmly said. “We also qualified for the NCAA Championships.” Indeed they […]
Posted inSports
Lynx star Wiggins appreciates her Delta ‘family’
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. was founded in 1913 at Howard University, located in Washington, D.C., by 22 young women. Our motto is a sisterhood called to serve — yes, I said ourmotto. I am a member of this prestigious sorority, along with Minnesota Lynx player Candice Wiggins. I had a chance to speak to […]
Posted inNews
La Toya Jackson uses Michael’s name to sell her own sad memoir
Starting Over (Gallery Books/Ja Tail Publishing, $26), a slick case of bait-and-switch marketing, is billed as a biography of Michael Jackson by La Toya Jackson with Jeffré Phillips. In truth, it’s an autobiographical account of the abuse La Toya Jackson suffered at the hands of her ex-husband and manager Jack Gordon with hero-worshipping of Michael […]
Posted inNews
Hip hop pioneer Kurtis Blow brought old school groove to Twin Cities
By Sharon Brooks Contributing Writer “Back in the day” is a phrase that most people use sometimes, but rarely is it possible to actually re-live the moment of being “back in the day.” Rapper Kurtis Blow provided people with that feeling at a concert in Brooklyn Center held Friday, June 30. From the moment Blow […]
Posted inNews
Buy Black Day Twin Cities August 18
Black Twin Cities has designated August 18 as Buy Black Day Twin Cities 2012, a day dedicated to increasing economic development in Minnesota’s African American communities. It is a day complete with a call to action: the owner of Black Twin Cities is challenging the company’s 3,000+ fans, followers and subscribers to “purchase only from […]
Posted inNews
N. Mpls activist learns lessons in peace from Kenyan youth
By Annette Smith Contributing Writer Kenya experienced high levels of violence (death, displacement, injury, destruction and theft of property) during their presidential elections in 2008. I am a member of the Minneapolis Friends Meeting who was chosen to attend a worldwide conference of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) in Kenya. During this conference, I […]
Posted inOpinion
Money, power, respect: Part 3 — Respect
Conclusion of a three-part column It’s another sunny day in the ’hood, and the same old tired events are unfolding. A young brother is swindled, mean-mugged, and called a punk. Feeling disrespected, the young brother chooses his response. Acting on impulse, blinded by juvenile pride and infantile rage, he curls his finger tightly around the […]
Posted inOpinion
‘Justice for all’ means justice for everyone — no exceptions
The American promise of “justice for all” does not exclude any individuals or groups from its embrace. The cases of Courtney Clark and Rita Roberts are important for that reason. Injustice for them means injustice also for their friends and loved ones. Even the criminal justice and court systems suffer when this vital principle is […]
Posted inOpinion
Penn State scandal richly deserves NCAA sanctions
“They chose to protect themselves, Penn State’s brand and image, and their football program instead of children,” said Andrew Stubin and Justine Andronici, lawyers for some of the victims of convicted pedophile Jerry Sandusky. And, according to former FBI director Louis Freeh in his report on the Penn State scandal, former Penn State president Graham […]
Posted inOpinion
MCTC’s anti-racist faculty put St. Cloud State accommodationists to shame
By Myrle Cooper Guest Commentator Finally, there’s a group at Minneapolis Community and Technical College (MCTC) of anti-racist, daring and determined faculty members called the Racial Equity Committee with Kathleen DeVore, Shannon Gibney and (now resigned) SooJin Pate (“Students of color now the majority at MCTC,” MSR, 7/5/12). MCTC’s committee inspires interesting comparisons with St. […]
Posted inArts + Culture
New hope in New Orleans, new albums, new books, and all that jazz
A quick scan of jazz news confirms pop-oriented jazz is still the name of the game, and new albums and books attempt to keep up with the trends in the jazz world. Here’s an update and sampling of what’s happening. News from Marsalis Music: Ellis Marsalis Center for Music The Ellis Marsalis Music Center was conceived […]
Posted inArts + Culture
Cecil E. Newman documentary honors MSR founder’s birthday
Beginning Wednesday, July 25, A Black History Chronicle Exclusive — Cecil E. Newman: The Friendship, the Life and the Legacy, a documentary produced by ShenaBarber.com Productions, will air on a number of websites and local cable channels. This documentary is a tribute to and celebration of the birthday of Cecil E. Newman (July 25, 1903), […]
Posted inHealth + Wellness
Black fraternity conventioneers reach out to North Mpls
By Charles Hallman Staff Writer Leadership and community service were among the themes of the Omega Psi Phi Grand Conclave July 5-12 in downtown Minneapolis. It was the first time the legacy Black fraternal organization, founded in 1911 at Howard University in Washington, D.C., held their annual national gathering, which is composed of over 700 […]
Posted inNews
Constitutional challenge repelled, healthcare reform continues
Proponents grapple with ‘mountains of misinformation’ By Charles Hallman Staff Writer The U.S. Health and Human Services Department (HHS) earlier this year released new data indicating that nearly four million Blacks will gain health insurance coverage by 2016 because of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which last month the U.S. Supreme Court ruled constitutional. The […]
Posted inNews
Documentary sparks dialog on our future and our youth
By Jamal Denman Contributing Writer On Thursday, June 28, the Minnesota Humanities Center in St. Paul held the second in its “Lunch and Learn” series, an event that provides — along with a delicious lunch — opportunity for people to hear and engage with the stories of community leaders. Each Lunch and Learn is connected […]
Posted inNews
Tornado relief strengthened Mpls Foundation’s commitment to North Side
New v.p. of philanthropy targets race disparities By Charles Hallman Staff Writer The Minneapolis Foundation raised nearly two million dollars in 2011 to support the North Minneapolis tornado recovery effort. But the nonprofit charitable organization that was founded in 1915 does much more than respond to disasters; it annually awards an average of $4 million […]
Posted inNews
Father-son chess teachers ‘sound like buddies’
News Analysis By Dwight Hobbes Contributing Writer Donald “DJ” Hooker, Jr. is a refreshing change of pace from the all-too-pervasive images of young Black males constantly recurring in the mainstream media. You know: the very picture of rabid recklessness with little sense of community and less regard for human life. The lost-cause character Larenz Tate […]