On Saturday, June 18, the Twin Cities Juneteenth Incorporated will present its 30th anniversary celebration at Mississippi Regional Park. The Juneteenth celebration, known also as Freedom Day, began in Galveston, Texas June 19, 1865 when Union troops led by General Gordon Granger arrived to enforce the Emancipation Proclamation issued three years earlier on September 22, […]
Local & State
A space for original local news with an emphasis on stories pertaining to African Americans
Posted inNews
State’s equity bill praised at session recap
Investment in eliminating disparities called a historic first On Thursday, June 9, the Council for Minnesotans of African Heritage co-hosted a 2016 Legislative Session Recap in partnership with the Council on Asian Pacific Minnesotans and the Council on Latino Affairs. The event took place from 5-7:30 pm at the Wellstone Center’s Neighborhood House, 179 Robie […]
Posted inBulletin
University of Minnesota to award honorary degree to Prince
On June 10 the University of Minnesota Board of Regents voted to honor the late Minneapolis-born musical icon Prince with an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from the College of Liberal Arts. The U of M was reportedly in the process of honoring Prince prior to his passing April 16, 2016. Members of his family will be presented with the honor at a […]
Posted inNews
St. Paul police chief choice now ‘in the mayor’s hands’
Five candidates answered questions at two public forums St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman hopes to recommend a new city police chief for city council approval by mid-June. He is finishing up individual interviews with the five finalists. The St. Paul city charter mandates that at least five finalists must be recommended to the mayor from […]
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Blacks scarce at DFL state convention
At least one first-timer found inspiration A political party convention is typically loud rah-rah speeches, constantly bashing the loyal opposition at every opportunity amidst waving campaign signs. The 2016 Minnesota DFL State Convention last weekend at downtown Minneapolis’ Orchestra Hall, for the most part, wasn’t any different from past gatherings. It was Amber Jones’ first […]
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Northsiders resist surge in gun violence
After several shootings in North Minneapolis during the month of April of this year, crime statistics show that violent crime has increased by 11 percent over last year at this time. If you think the residents of North Minneapolis are accepting this violence, then guess again. Saturday, June 4, from 10 am to 4 pm […]
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Healing conference encompasses whole families
A groundbreaking collaboration is behind the upcoming “Community Healing: Standing up for the Children” conference June 23 and 24. Two other initiatives, the Community Empowerment through Black Men Healing Conference and the African American Babies Coalition Conference, will collaborate to focus on family wellbeing with children’s health and safety as a priority. For more than […]
Posted inNews
Richard Green remembered on field day/birthday
With the school year winding down, holding outdoor field days aren’t unusual. It gives students a chance to be physical in a not-so-seriously competitive fashion. Last week’s annual field day at South Minneapolis’ Richard Green Central Elementary, however, had a definite twist this year. May 27 would have been Richard Green’s 80th birthday, and physical […]
Posted inLocal & State
MPS goes to Alaska for a superintendent
Student impressions may have tipped the scale The Minneapolis Public Schools Board last week voted to hire Ed Graff as the new superintendent. He and Minnesota Education Commissioner Brenda Cassellius were both finalists for the job to succeed Bernadeia Johnson as the district’s top leader. If MPS is indeed willing to finally serve all its […]
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PHOTOS | MSR’s annual ‘Family Affair’ dinner honored graduates and families
On May 26, the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder hosted the 21st annual Graduation Celebration at the Metropolitan Ballroom in Golden Valley, Minnesota. Known for its unifying theme “It’s A Family Affair,” each year the Graduation Celebration brings together proud parents, mentors, teachers, community members and African and African American graduating high school seniors for a free dinner, entertainment, […]
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Traveling exhibit tells the story of WGPR-TV
Detroit boasts of having aired first Black TV channel Before there was Black Entertainment Television (BET) and other Black-themed channels, there was Detroit’s WGPR-TV. “This is where it began,” declared Tracy Irwin, director of exhibitions and collections at the Detroit Historical Society, which hosted “America’s Broadcasting Pioneer: WGPR-TV 62” from January 23-April 3, 2016. Artifacts, […]
Posted inNews
PHOTOS | 21st Annual Graduation Celebration: “It’s A Family Affair”
In keeping with the event’s theme, “It’s A Family Affair,” on Thursday, May 26, hundreds of students, proud parents, caregivers, mentors, teachers and community members gathered at the Metropolitan Ballroom in Minneapolis for the Spokesman-Recorder’s 21st Annual Graduation Celebration. The annual event celebrates graduating high school students with entertainment, a formal dinner, motivational speeches and the Cecil […]
Posted inNews
Allies of color fight for ethnic studies
MPS gets on board…for now Recent studies suggest that ethnic studies classes in schools can help create “more equitable schooling environments” for all students. During the 2015-16 school year, such classes were offered to Minneapolis Public School students for the first time. Jonathan Hamilton, research director for the Minnesota Minority Education Partnership, has written in “The […]
Posted inArts + Culture
Little Free Library Festival extolled literacy
On Saturday, May 21, the first Little Free Library Festival took place in Minnehaha Park. The event was hosted by the Little Free Library, and organizers hope the event will be the start of many more annual events. Community connectors and conversation starters would be a good way to describe the Little Free Library stations located in many […]
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MN Teacher of the Year: ‘Belief is so important’
On May 15, 2016, the Minnesota Teacher of the Year program announced that Abdul Wright, a language arts teacher at Best Academy in North Minneapolis, was selected as Minnesota Teacher of the Year. Wright is the 52nd recipient of this prestigious award and makes history as the first African American male, as well as the […]
Posted inNews
MN House Republicans: Black lives don’t matter
With the Minnesota State Legislature’s 2016 session slated to end next week, the issue of addressing economic inequality among its state citizenry of color may once again be ignored.
Posted inNews
Escaping the athletic fortress
Natasha Moore plans to graduate from the University of Minnesota this December with her African American Studies degree. She is considering attending graduate school, possibly somewhere down South, her years at the U of M not what she’d hoped for when she was recruited.
Posted inNews
First Fridays honors women in May
May is the month for celebrating mothers on Mother’s Day. This month on May 6, in recognition of potential motherhood, at least, three women were honored at this month’s “Celebrate the Sisters First Fridays” event hosted by local promoter and community supporter Andre “Debonaire” McNeal, along with DJ Fundraiser and DJ Chuck Chizzle.
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Twin Cities UNCF exceeds fundraising goal
On Saturday, May 14, the Minneapolis United Negro College Fund (UNCF) hosted the fourth annual Twin Cities Masked Ball at the Mall of America’s Radisson Blu Hotel ballroom. The UNCF black-tie dinner affair was sold out by May 2 at $150 per ticket.
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Collaborative effort underway to tell Black Minnesotans’ stories
There are stories of and by Minnesotans of African heritage (Black, African American, African immigrant) that need to be published and distributed. This is the mission of the Minnesota Regenerative Publishing Project.