Encouraging youth is now her passion By Lisa Bryant Contributing Writer Sitting down to talk to Dorothy Richburg is like being with a friend. She’s so warm and kind, it’s easy to forget she’s one of the most influential women in the Twin Cities. Richburg is founder and president of KCS, a Maplewood-based information technology […]
MSR News Online
Reach the MSR staff at msrnewsonline@spokesman-recorder.com.
Posted inNews
When times get tough, you drastically adjust
There’s a great deal to be said for calling your own shots. It’s a very attractive aspect of professionally freelancing, not having to punch in and out at the time clock. However, as Jackson Browne sang, “It ain’t bad work if you can get it. But, you gotta make it stick.” Michael B. Johnson, self-styled […]
Posted inOpinion
Segregation again: Black educators are being purged
Richard Green was the first Black superintendent of the Minneapolis Public Schools who later became chancellor of the New York City Schools. He was an educator’s educator. He earned respect and affection of all involved with education, educators, students and parents. He was honored when Central High School was renamed Richard Green Central Park School, […]
Posted inOpinion
Drone attacks outside of war zones are wrong and evil
“We always knew that drone strikes were wrong, that they encroached on Pakistan’s sovereign territory. We knew that innocent civilians had been killed. However, we did not realize how callous and cruel it could be. The community is now plagued with fear. The tribal elders are afraid to gather together in jirgas, as had been […]
Posted inOpinion
Cash flood drowning out voice of the people
Join the movement to get money out of politics By Rep. Keith Ellison Guest Commentator In a recall election a couple of weeks ago, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker kept his job, but with a high price tag. In a state of only six million people, $60 million was poured into the race, $50 million of […]
Posted inOpinion
Hate-filled ‘Patriot’ groups still on the rise
By Marian Wright Edelman Guest Commentator The growth in hate groups and the use of their divisive and negative language in the mainstream political and media arena is cause for national alarm. Already this year several horrendous hate crimes, possible hate crimes, and crimes committed by people with ties to hate groups have received national […]
Posted inArts + Culture
Jermaine Jackson bio portrays brother Michael as a flawless martyr
You Are Not Alone Michael: Through a Brother’s Eyes (Touchstone/Simon & Schuster), Jermaine Jackson’s biography of his younger brother Michael Jackson, could have more to recommend it as informed reading about the immortal international star. In some respects, it isn’t a book one can take seriously. It is, however, tailor made for fans who take […]
Posted inArts + Culture
Les Nubians bring more of their joyous revolution to Mpls
A CD review By Stephani Maari Booker Associate Editor I’ve been a fan of Hélène and Célia Faussart, two French sisters of Cameroonian descent known as Les Nubians, since their first U.S. hit “Makeda” in 1998, a paean to the Queen of Sheba and all women of African descent. The album the song was from, […]
Posted inHealth + Wellness
Societal stressors make Black women, girls prone to depression
Depression is long a malady assailing females in general. There are reasons to be concerned about its specific occurrence in African American women and girls.
Posted inSports
Trailblazer Chavers an early beneficiary of Title IX
Editor’s note — June marks the 40th anniversary of President Richard Nixon signing Title IX into law on June 23, 1972. Ever since, the law has been lauded for increasing the numbers of girls and women participating in sports at the secondary and collegiate levels. “View” will look at the law in an occasional series, […]
Posted inSports
Heat again lead NBA Finals 2-1
MIAMI — Not many teams win NBA Finals games shooting 37 percent. However, the Miami Heat have rallied; after droppinggame one of the Finals 105-94, the Heat have taken a two-games-to-one lead by calming the Oklahoma City Thunder in the pivotal game three 91-85. History says 85 percent of the teams that win game three […]
Posted inSports
Clinic helps hoops officials polish their craft
By Charles Hallman Staff Writer Last weekend at Tubby Smith’s team camp at Minnesota’s Williams Arena, we got five perspectives on what makes a good basketball official from a former championship head coach, a longtime assistant coach who played as a professional for over a decade, a current college player, present officials, and a supervisor […]
Posted inSports
Outstanding play in 2012 Inner City All-Star Classic
The 19th Annual Inner City All Star Classic had its highlights on Father’s Day at Washington Technology Magnet in St. Paul. The game featured some ofthe metro area’s top graduating seniors of color, who were invited to participate based on their outstanding play during the basketball season last winter. In the girls’ game KIONDA NICKS […]
Posted inNews
‘For our people, by our people’ — Turning Point launches a unique, culturally specific approach to providing service
In recognition of the June 13 open house for Turning Point, Inc.’s new Culturally Specific Service Center, the MSR is republishing online our September 8, 2011 story “For our people, by our people” to remind readers what the new center is all about and how its culturally sensitive programs can “address disparities and the issues surrounding chemical […]
Posted inNews
Swimmers save lives, including their own—Your fear of the water could endanger your child
In view of recent child drownings in the news, the MSR is republishing online our April 28, 2011 story “Swimmers save lives — including their own” to remind parents of the great importance of swimming instruction for all young people.
Posted inNews
Striving for diversity in communications industry — Diversity: an overused word, or still useful?
By Charles Hallman Staff Writer Diversity is an overused word, said Greater Twin Cities Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) President and CEO Gloria Lewis at the National Association for Multi-Ethnicity in Communications (NAMIC) Minnesota Spring LeadershipForum. She was the keynote speaker at the June 4 event in St. Paul. “Let’s [instead] say ‘everybody,’” Lewis suggested […]
Posted inNews
Striving for diversity in communications industry — Local NAMIC advances national agenda
By Charles Hallman Staff Writer The National Association for Multi-Ethnicity in Communications (NAMIC) was founded in 1980. As its mission, NAMIC “educates, advocates and empowers” for diversity in the communications industry. The group also helps develop the skills of Blacks and other persons of color in such areas as mentoring and leadership, as well as […]
Posted inNews
Change the world — help a child learn to read
Reading Corps offers a chance to really serve the community By Jamal Denman Contributing Writer When it comes to ranking the importance of the vast range of human skill sets, it would be difficult to place many above the ability to read. Learning opportunities are infinitely increased for those who have strong reading and comprehension […]
Posted inNews
KMOJ/MSR announce ‘positive’ partnership
By Charles Hallman Staff Writer Two local “heritage institutions” are now partners to “promote the positives” of the Black community. A new partnership between “the two giant media in the Black community” — the MSR and KMOJ-FM Radio — was announced last week by MSR President-Publisher/CEO Tracey Williams-Dillard and KMOJ General Manager Kelvin Quarles. “The […]
Posted inHealth + Wellness
Community empowerment through Black men healing
By Brandon Jones Contributing Writer It is time for healing in Black community. The Black community is in pain, emotionally, spiritually, and psychologically. From the Trayvon Martin case, to the continuous attacks on President Obama, to the current debate of the Black church and homosexuality, the Black community is at a tipping point. It is […]