Many young people are led to believe that a successful career in sports will subsequently lead to freedom. Much of that notion emanates from the fact that the high salaries from playing professional sports are a sure path to freedom. Nothing could be further from the truth. Few people, regardless of race, creed or color, […]
MSR News Online
Reach the MSR staff at msrnewsonline@spokesman-recorder.com.
Posted inArts + Culture, News
Patti Austin leaves Dakota fans loving her music — and laughing
Soul veteran channels Ella Fitzgerald and Bette Midler By James L. Stroud, Jr. Contributing Writer Anyone who follows music knows that there is a big difference between a career singer with signature-hit songs and a singer classified as a one-hit wonder. Patti Austin’s performance at the Dakota Jazz Club on Tuesday, March 8, thoroughly entertained […]
Posted inNews
Agency serving troubled youth has troubles of its own
By Charles Hallman Staff Writer Freeport West is a 41-year-old nonprofit human services agecy that provides programs and services to at-risk youth and young families, with offices in Minneapolis and St. Paul. After several years of turmoil and the recent firings of its executive director and other staff, the agency may be currently facing its […]
Posted inNews
Wrecking ball to claim more Mpls affordable housing
By Dwight Hobbes Contributing Writer The apartment building at 1205 S. 7th St. in Minneapolis used to be basically a one-building ghetto. It was a stereotypical, dilapidated eyesore, complete with a scarred, refuse-strewn lawn, filled with drunks and junkies on welfare plus an honest working tenant or two. Butch (not his real name), who has […]
Posted inNews
No quitter, Jessica Wright struggles to get a fresh start
By Dwight Hobbes Contributing Writer As if Jessica Wright doesn’t have enough on her hands dealing with today’s economy, in her case there are, to say the least, complications out of the ordinary. On the drawing board, commit a crime and you’re punished, serve time, and you have paid your proverbial debt to society. In […]
Posted inNews
KMOJ transmitter bound for Nigeria
By Charles Hallman Staff Writer Benny King and Kelvin Quarles have known each other for years, dating back to the 1990s. The two met years ago when Quarles, now KMOJ’s station manager, was a radio executive in Atlanta and King was just starting out in radio. “I follow his footsteps,” admits King, who visited Quarles […]
Posted inOpinion
The history of special education legislation
PASTOR’S CORNER By Mary Flowers Spratt Is special education failing your child? What are you doing about it? These are questions that were asked by N.A.P.S.E.A. (National Association for Professional Special Education Advocates). This article is the first in a series I will call ”A Voice for Children with Anxiety Disorders.” Special education is difficult […]
Posted inOpinion
Minnesota Not-So-Nice reveals Black unemployment stats
“Our Black-White jobless gap worst in the nation,” a recent Star Tribune headline read. “Worst in the Nation” stood out like a neon sign. The article pointed out that in 2009 over 20 percent of all Black folks in Minnesota were unemployed, while only 6.6 percent of Whites were unemployed. The article seemed to imply […]
Posted inOpinion
Does citizenship matter when it comes to killing?
I find it interesting that, in all the protests throughout the Middle East, the Iraq protests are the only ones protesting for “improved government services.” Everyone else in the Middle East is protesting to overthrow their government, except in Iraq. Supposedly they are happy with their new government, and they are taking to the streets […]
Posted inOpinion
Desegregation led to growth of hoops tourneys
Did you ever stop to take note of the many basketball tournaments that take place this time of year? They are beginning to spread like wild fire. From the NBA to the Pony League, they seem to be spreading all over the place. In a sense, it seems that these events, and the wild celebrations […]
Posted inHealth + Wellness
The beginnings of Black studies at U of Minnesota
By Odera Odenyo Contributing Writer “I reject the view which regards African history as the story of European adventures.” With these words by University of Minnesota student Daniel Ajah Okoronkwo, the Center for Advanced AfricanUnderstanding (CAAU) was born in Minneapolis in June 1968. It was the height of the Civil Rights Movement in America. Martin […]
Posted inArts + Culture
This Week’s Spotlights March 31- April 6
Sheraton Bloomington 7800 Normandale Blvd., Bloomington, 952-835-7800 April 13-16: 12th Annual White Privilege Conference Theme is “This Land Is Whose Land?” Defining Citizenship, Understanding Access, Taking Action WPC is a conference designed to examine issues of White privilege and other forms of privilege including those based on race, gender, sexuality, class, disability, etc. WPC is […]
Posted inArts + Culture, News
Teaching kids through low-budget travel
By Sheletta Brundidge Contributing Writer Spring break is almost here, and if your children are anything like my son Andrew, they’re already asking, “Mom, where are we going on vacation?” My baby is accustomed to traveling. That boy has logged more frequent flier miles in his first three years of life than the Minnesota Timberwolves. […]
Posted inSports
VCU vs. Butler & Kentucky vs. Connecticut in Final Four!
The NCAA tournament does not always deliver the best team to their marquee event, the NCAA Final Four. In 2011 the Final Four will have zero number-one seeds in Houston to prove it. Is that a major problem? With number-one Ohio State 38-3, Kansas 35-3 and San Diego State 34-3 at home? Legendary former Georgetown […]
Posted inSports
Scant coverage of NCAA women’s games ‘all about the dollars’
Onika Nicole Craven -Photo by Charles Hallman Crystal Flint – MSR file photo My March Madness reached an all-time vertical high this year. Every NCAA men’s tournament game was broadcast live on one of four networks — 26 games on CBS, 16 on TNT, 13 on truTV and 12 on TNT — while the women’s […]
Posted inSports
It’s a three-peat for Hopkins boys’ basketball team
Marving Singleton Siyani Chambers Zach Lofton Joe Coleman – Photos by Mitchell Palmer McDonald Hopkins, led by MARVING SINGLETON, JOE COLEMAN, SIYANI CHAMBERS, and ZACH STAHL, led the Royals to their third consecutive Class 4A title in the boys’ state basketball tournament last weekend. And an interesting tournament it was. Defending 3A champ and top […]
Posted inSports
Winfield has a new challenge; Gopher football has three Black coaches
Jeff Phelps Brian Anderson Melvin Rice Photos courtesy of the U of Minnesota Melvin Rice photo by Scott Walstrom, NIU Media Service DAVID M. WINFIELD, the executive vice president/senior advisor of the San Diego Padres, is expanding his duties at the ESPN program Baseball Tonight. He will be seen mostly on Sundays and Mondays. The […]
Posted inResources
NorthPoint food drive
NorthPoint food drive NorthPoint Health & Wellness Center’s Community Food Shelf is working to raise a combined $55,000 in food and cash donations during March • Last year, more than 30,000 North Minneapolis residents were served at the food shelf and that number is expected to grow in 2011 • Two-thirds of NorthPoint Food Shelf […]
Posted inNews
Study finds City of Minneapolis deficient in minority contracting
By Charles Hallman Staff Writer Business owners Mariaha and Korey Dean helped prioritize the needs and concerns of small businesses. -Photo by Charles Hallman A City of Minneapolis disparity study released last November found that the City of Minneapolis should do more to create equal opportunity for businesses owned by people of color and women […]
Posted inNews
Midwest Minority Supplier Diversity Council welcomes new president
By James L. Stroud, Jr. Contributing Writer On Wednesday, March 16, a welcoming reception was held for Duane Ramseur, the new president of the Midwest Minority Supplier Development Council (MMSDC). The organization helps connect minority-owned businesses and corporations throughout the Twin Cities community, the State of Minnesota, Nebraska, and North and South Dakota. It promotes […]