From a young age, Asli Hassan Abade was captivated by astronomy, math and physics. Growing up in a military family in Somalia, her academic strengths and early exposure to the military sparked a dream: to fly planes. The 1960s and ‘70s in Somalia, a period of independence and decolonization across Africa, offered new opportunities for […]
News
Timely national, state, and local articles, including profile stories from an African American perspective.
Posted inLocal & State
Court upholds Home Depot ban on Black Lives Matter insignia
A federal appeals court panel ruled on Thursday that managers of a Twin Cities Home Depot store acted lawfully when they banned an employee from writing a Black Lives Matter slogan on their uniform. Caro Linda Bo, 33, started working at the retailer’s location in Northeast Minneapolis in August 2020, three months after Minneapolis police […]
Posted inPolitics
Senator Bobby Joe Champion announces he’ll seek re-election in 2026
Building on historic achievements and continuing work on housing, jobs, public safety, and education Senator Bobby Joe Champion announced today that he will seek re-election in Senate District 59, citing his desire to continue building on a strong record of improving the lives of children, families, and business owners in his district. Champion, the first […]
Posted inLocal & State
Make a Plan to Enroll: MNsure Open Enrollment for 2026 Now Underway
Open enrollment for 2026 health insurance coverage is now open, and Minnesotans who don’t get coverage through an employer are encouraged to explore their options and make a plan to stay insured. Farmers, small business owners, early retirees, and independent workers often lack access to employer-based plans or HR departments to guide them. As the […]
Posted inBusiness
Nominations Now Open for MN Rising Professionals 35 Under 35
Nominations are now open for the MN Rising Professionals 35 Under 35, a statewide recognition honoring young leaders who are shaping Minnesota’s future through vision, innovation, and impact. The annual program celebrates emerging professionals and entrepreneurs from across industries who are driving progress, fostering equity, and building stronger communities. From business and technology to education, […]
Posted inOpinion
Both Frey and Fateh support privatization of Mpls public housing
Both Mayor Jacob Frey and State Senator Omar Fateh say they disagree on housing, yet their housing platforms are the same. Both oppose preserving and expanding Section 9 public housing. Frey lobbied HUD to approve the privatization and demolition of Section 9 housing through Section 18 and RAD programs, a historic public land grab for […]
Posted inLocal & State
Families say MPD fails to protect women of color
Under gray skies on the afternoon of Oct. 30, relatives of two women, one Black, one Indigenous, gathered outside the Hennepin County Government Center accusing Minneapolis police and city officials of failing to protect women of color from domestic violence. The families came seeking justice for Mariah Samuels, a 30-year-old African American mother who was […]
Posted inLocal & State
Remembering Wallace “Jack” Jackman: A life of leadership, laughter, and legacy
Wallace “Jack” O’Neal Jackman, known affectionately as Jackie or simply Jack, passed away peacefully on October 27, 2025, leaving behind a legacy of leadership, mentorship, and unwavering dedication to community. A loving father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, Jack’s life was a master class in combining heart, hustle, and humor. Born in Des Moines, Iowa, Jack moved […]
Posted inLocal & State
MPD domestic violence unit understaffed
With no High Risk Team, more deaths likely Hennepin County District 2 Commissioner Irene Fernando said the city failed to assign an investigator to the domestic violence case of Mariah Samuels before her death, despite internal claims that one had been appointed. “The letter says that an investigator was assigned,” Fernando said at a press […]
Posted inEducation
Deaf and hard-of-hearing Black men face steep graduation challenges
(WASHINGTON, D.C.) — When Antonio “Toni” Heckstall arrived at Gallaudet University as a freshman in 2016, he quickly realized the transition would be challenging. The word “turbulent” best described his experience as he adjusted to the dynamics of a predominantly Deaf university. As a hard-of-hearing student with partial hearing loss, he was transitioning from mainstream […]
Posted inLocal & State
Trapped abroad
Families speak out on two Black Americans jailed in China (WASHINGTON, D.C./Shreveport, La.) — For more than a decade, Nelson Wells Jr. and Dawn Mitchell Hunt have been imprisoned in China under circumstances their families say are unjust. The two African Americans, held in separate facilities, remain largely unreachable, and their loved ones say they […]
Posted inSister Spokesman
Sister Spokesman honors the “Best of Black Businesses” across Minnesota
Sister Spokesman celebrated Black excellence on Nov. 1 with the 2025 Best of Black Businesses Awards. Honorees in five categories were recognized for their creativity, community impact, and leadership. From food and beauty to wellness and professional services, winners and nominees shared stories of purpose and progress that highlight the strength of Minnesota’s Black business community.
Posted inLocal & State
Five new public housing homes will replace two old
MPHA has broken ground on new accessible, all-electric affordable housing in Windom and Regina, adding family units to meet growing demand in Minneapolis.
Posted inPolitics
Court orders Trump Administration to restore SNAP Benefits, but USDA halves November aid
A federal court has ordered the USDA to restore nutrition support for more than 42 million Americans after Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison led a lawsuit over suspended SNAP benefits. The ruling protects thousands of Minnesota families during the ongoing government shutdown, but partial payments raise new concerns.
Posted inLocal & State
Hope Breakfast Bar Offers Free Pancakes to Families Impacted by Federal Shutdown
As the federal government shutdown continues to delay November food benefits for thousands of Minnesota families, Hope Breakfast Bar in St. Paul is opening its doors to provide free meals for anyone in need. Beginning Monday November 3, families can visit the restaurant at 1 Leech Street from 7 to 9 a.m., Monday through Friday, […]
Posted inFinances FYI
Estate Planning Basics: Protecting Your Legacy
Estate planning enables members of the Black community who have experienced systemic barriers to generational wealth to protect their legacy and help secure their family’s future. JPMorgan Chase’s seasoned team of wealth managers helps clients understand estate planning basics. They also help clients manage their financial assets to maximize returns, pass them on to future […]
Posted inLocal & State
Cuts threaten federal support for children with disabilities
The U.S. Department of Education is exploring relocating its special education programs, weeks after the Trump administration laid off nearly all staff in the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP), according to a department spokesperson. In a brief statement sent to the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder’s media partner Word in Black, Madi Biedermann, deputy assistant secretary for […]
Posted inLocal & State
St. Paul development corp celebrates its past, reimagines its future
Stage lights glowed warmly over the 825 Arts theater as longtime residents, former staff, and supporters gathered to mark a milestone few community organizations achieve: 45 years of the Aurora St. Anthony Neighborhood Development Corporation (ASANDC). The evening was both a reunion and a call to action, a celebration of endurance amid decades of change […]
Posted inThe Prep Scene
Players contribute to good season for the WNBA Lynx
Fab Four Photos This week’s Fab Four photos feature the WNBA Minnesota Lynx, who finished with a 34-10 record and a top seed in the playoffs before losing to the Phoenix Mercury. The players include Napheesa Collier, who had a season worthy of MVP consideration; Kayla McBride, who hit clutch shot after clutch shot; Courtney […]
Posted inLocal & State
State’s closure of housing program creates a ‘storm of instability’
Minnesota’s Housing Stabilization Services (HHS), a program helping thousands of residents with disabilities and housing instability, is set to end Nov. 1 following a state fraud investigation. The decision has left advocates, service providers, and residents concerned about widespread housing insecurity and what comes next. “This is going to cause more homelessness. We’re going backwards […]