Women’s History Month highlights the enduring impact of women of color leadership across history, from Harriet Tubman and Shirley Chisholm to leaders shaping the present.
Opinion
The Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder (MSR) welcomes thoughtful commentary and feedback from the community. All articles in this section are edited for clarity and space; the views expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the positions of the MSR. MSR does not provide payment for commentary. To submit an opinion piece, please send inquiries and submissions to submissions@spokesman-recorder.com.
Posted inOpinion
Tariff whiplash and a rising Black recession
A new report from the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies warns of a growing Black recession as tariffs, unemployment and economic uncertainty strain Black households and small businesses.
Posted inOpinion
Meta Deleted Me. I Still Don’t Know Why. And neither will you.
A commentator describes losing his Instagram and Threads accounts after a Meta account disabled notice erased years of content without explanation.
Posted inOpinion
Rereading Jackson’s ‘Resurrection City’ evokes nostalgia and anger
Resurrection City and the Poor People’s Campaign are revisited in a reprint of Jesse Jackson’s 1968 Ebony essay on poverty, class and economic justice.
Posted inOpinion
Economic empowerment has always been a part of Black history
Skilled trades careers provide economic opportunity, job security and middle-class wages as workforce demand grows across essential industries.
Posted inOpinion
How federal shows of force threaten elections
Voter intimidation concerns are rising as ICE crackdowns and federal actions spark fears of election interference and depressed turnout in future elections.
Posted inOpinion
We must prepare for the long struggle ahead against ICE
This anti ICE imperialism analysis situates immigration enforcement within broader global economic and political systems, examining borders and inequality.
Posted inOpinion
Olympic skater’s backflip shows who’s allowed to push boundaries
Surya Bonaly backflip legacy resurfaces after Ilia Malinin’s Olympic performance, renewing debate about race, recognition and rule changes in figure skating.
Posted inOpinion
Stop co-opting #SayHerName. It was made for Black women
The #SayHerName movement was created to spotlight police violence against Black women and girls. This commentary explains why its original purpose must be preserved.
Posted inOpinion
How Bad Bunny became famous by gentrifying Black music
The Bad Bunny Super Bowl halftime show has sparked debate over reggaeton’s Black roots and how global commercialization reshapes cultural ownership.
Posted inOpinion
Erasing exhibits will never erase Black history
Erasing Black history from public exhibits has raised concerns about censorship, truth, and collective memory.
Posted inOpinion
Oppressive policing, like slave patrols, protect a system that must fall
The origins of policing in the United States trace back to slave patrols, revealing a system designed to enforce racial and economic control.
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Local governments must resist lawless federal overreach
Unchecked federal power and violent enforcement tactics are testing constitutional limits and forcing state and local governments to push back.
Posted inOpinion
Nicki Minaj’s MAGA support is no surprise
Nicki Minaj’s recent political appearances shocked many fans, but her views did not emerge suddenly. The signs have been there for years.
Posted inOpinion
History Will Remember Who Spoke and Who Hid
The arrest of Black journalists during live protest coverage signals a dangerous escalation against press freedom, raising urgent questions about the future of the First Amendment in America.
Posted inOpinion
What needs fixing in Minnesota’s prison system
Minnesota Department of Corrections problems at Rush City Correctional Facility raise serious concerns about staff misconduct, prison wages, communication access and humane treatment inside Minnesota prisons.
Posted inOpinion
NNPA Stands With Georgia Fort, Don Lemon, And All Arrested, And Demands All Charges Be Dropped
The arrests of Don Lemon and Georgia Fort echo a long history of targeting the Black Press in attempts to silence witnesses and suppress truth.
Posted inOpinion
The Game Plan: Education for Us, by Us
Black education under attack has been a constant in American history, yet Black communities have repeatedly created their own schools and pathways to learning.
Posted inOpinion
Public Utilities Commission (PUC) vote shameful
The Zero Burn Coalition condemned a PUC vote allowing trash incineration to be classified as carbon-free under Minnesota law.
Posted inOpinion
Our communities deserve safety, not fear
Sen. Bobby Joe Champion says escalating ICE activity in Minnesota is spreading fear and violating constitutional rights, calling for a calm, lawful response to protect communities.