Science Museum of Minnesota 120 W. Kellogg Blvd., St. Paul, 651-221-9444 or www.smm.org Feb. 18 — Sept. 5: Tutankhamen: The Golden King and the Great Pharaohs More than 100 artifacts from the tomb of the famed pharaoh and other notable ancient sites are featured in this exhibit. Tickets are $16-$30 (includes admission to the museum’s […]
MSR News Online
Reach the MSR staff at msrnewsonline@spokesman-recorder.com.
Posted inOpinion
The One-Drop Rule is still ruling us
H.I.T. Hodges Investigation team I would like to thank everyone for your responses to my columns. I really value your feedback. This month we will return to one of my favorite types of column, my famed community survey. This time we hit the streets of the Twin Cities area asking people the following question: Why […]
Posted inOpinion
In Mpls, Black History Month has become Black Mystery Month
Through My Eyes Rod Edwards Censorship, whether by “our” side or “their” side, is still an infringement on freedom of speech, whether in Minneapolis or in Cairo. This occasional “State of the Community” column coincides with the “State of the World.” As newspapers and TV news shows work against limits of time and space, websites […]
Posted inOpinion
Race trumps dog, dog trumps woman
Mellaneous Mel Reeves I tried and I tried unsuccessfully while watching the Super Bowl to ignore Big Ben’s off-the-field indiscretions involving women, but I couldn’t get away from the obvious double standard of society jumping all over Michael Vick, who has paid his dues, and Roethlisberger, who clearly has a dim view of women and […]
Posted inOpinion
Ellison’s energy better applied to North Minneapolis than to Egypt
Something I Said Dwight Hobbes Ever the slick opportunist in crusader’s clothing, Congressman Keith Ellison (D-MN) waited until the tide in Egypt had fully turned and then, in characteristic grandstanding fashion, hopped on the bandwagon to call for you and me to stand in solidarity with the protesters in Cairo who, as of this writing, […]
Posted inSports
NFL owners want players to buckle
Billionaire Jerry Jones, owner of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys and fabulous Texas Stadium, site of last week’s Super Bowl XLV, said recently, “Are we going to be playing in the fall?” Football that is, like games? Hall-of-Famer Ronnie Lott told me at the Super Bowl that this contract with the owners and players is the […]
Posted inSports
U of M alumni offer their Black History best-ever choices
Kim Prince Both University of Minnesota basketball teams last month held their respective annual alumni days. It presented the perfect opportunity to ask several former male and female Gopher players, as well as others, their thoughts on their best-evers. Melvin Newbern (1987-90): “Julius Erving. I loved the way he played the game and how he […]
Posted inSports
State’s prep stars excel nationwide
JORDAN TAYLER’s (Benilde-St. Margaret’s) 27-point performance in Wisconsin’s 71-67 victory over top-ranked Ohio State has propelled him into one of the elite point guards in the country. Taylor, who averages 18 points per game for the Badgers, was Minnesota’s Mr. Basketball in 2008 after helping his team capture the Class AAA state championship. TAYLER HILL […]
Posted inSports
Minneapolis Lakers’ first Black player recognized in Heritage Calendar Bob Williams’ five adult children accept award on his behalf
Standing in for Bob Williams were (l-r) son Randy Williams (proudly holding his father’s 1955 Lakers’ picture); son Don Alan Williams; Bob’s two oldest children, Rasheed Bilal and Debra Williams Jones, holding the award; and Bob’s youngest daughter Casandra Williams-Sims. Robert (Bob) Williams was one of 12 honorees to receive the 2011 Minnesota African American […]
Posted inNews
What’s happened to Minnesota Nice?
Opinion By Joel Franklin Guest Commentator The Minnesota Legislature is considering a bill to certify fourth graders as adults and lock them up in adult prisons. I am one of the numerous African American spectators who attended the House Public Safety and Crime Prevention Policy and Finance Committee hearing last Thursday. First, I am offended and […]
Posted inNews
Black museum back in governor’s bonding bill
Future home of the Minnesota African American Museum Two weeks ago, the proposed African American museum was “mistakenly” left out of Gov. Mark Dayton’s $1 billion state bonding proposal. This week, after “An open letter to Governor Mark Dayton” critical of the omission appeared in the MSR’s Feb. 3 issue, the museum is now included […]
Posted inNews
MSR staff writer receives media award for coverage of women in sports
Charles Hallman received his award surrounded by family members Charles James Hallman (l) and Rev. Marchelle Hallman. By James L. Stroud, Jr. Contributing Writer Last week, the Minnesota Coalition of Women in Athletic Leadership organized and sponsored Minnesota’s 25th Annual National Girls and Women in Sports Day Celebration in a packed State Capitol Rotunda in […]
Posted inNews
North Mpls gains teacher-run French immersion school
By Charles Hallman Staff Writer A new K-2 elementary school will open this fall on Minneapolis’ North Side. It’s a unique reversal in the recent trend of closing elementary and middle schools in the area. Pierre Bottineau French Immersion is the first school to open in Minnesota under a new state site-governed school law passed […]
Posted inNews
MPS superintendent supports North High Coalition
Scott Redd: “We really want the community to be proud of the decisions and for us to support each other.” By Charles Hallman Staff Writer Despite an earlier call for its demise, North High School’s supporters insist it is alive and moving forward. “North is open, first and foremost,” proclaims Marcus Owens, a spokesperson for […]
Posted inNews
Exceptional Mpls 8th Ward leadership recognized
Paradise Garden cultivators (l-r) Samariah Shabazz, Kathleen Sullivan, Silvia Rojas, John Xavier and Saleemah Shabazz with Council Member Glidden, second from left Elizabeth Glidden and Sandra Smith –Photos by Kristine Heykants By Andrea Jenkins Contributing Writer The Fifth Annual Eighth Ward Community Leadership Awards were presented at the monthly event “Early Mornings with Elizabeth” January […]
Posted inOpinion
Our community can rise to the challenge
As most of us know, a proposed dog park at Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Park has been a catalyst for painful discussions of race and neighborhood history. For neighbors of the Eighth Ward, which includes areas in South Minneapolis bordering I-35W, issues of race, class, and geography often underlie public and private dialogue. The nature […]
Posted inOpinion
Governor proposes $1 billion jobs stimulus program for Whites
Last week, newly elected Democratic Governor Mark Dayton announced a $1 billion jobs stimulus program for Minnesota. It sounds great on paper, but until I see a commitment to reversing the traditional disparities in such projects, it’s just a continuation of employment apartheid in Minnesota. The record shows that no matter where stimulus proposals come […]
Posted inOpinion
Pondering a mass killer’s motive
When I first heard of the brash, senseless mass murder in Tucson, my first instinctive, impulsive thought was, “Gee, I hope that he isn’t Black.” It wasn’t until I was able to erase that irreverent thought that I was able to process any rational consideration of the matter. After satisfying myself of the apparent identity […]
Posted inOpinion
Black history is Black identity
“Who are you? You don’t know? “And where were you? “And what did you have? What was yours? “What language did you speak then? “What was your name? “Who taught you to hate the color of your skin? “Who taught you to hate the texture of your hair? “Who taught you to hate the shape […]
Posted inOpinion
The McAfee Ensemble and the Council on Black Minnesotans
Recently, Rev. McAfee and Ensemble have been bad-mouthing the Council on Black Minnesotans. Others have joined the Get-the-CBM Community Ensemble. The Ensemble must have tuned their instruments to C instead of concert B flat. They sound terrible. At times, they mention my name as having expressed concerns about the CBM in the past. Disturbing. Some […]