Sixty-three years after Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. declared his dream on the National Mall, thousands returned to defend ground already won. Dr. Sharon M. Holder breaks down why democracy requires constant vigilance and why “the fierce urgency of now” is a mandate for our generation.
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
Who gets to explain racism to Black people?
Target’s recent removal of an offensive Halloween costume raised a urgent question: How did it reach store shelves in the first place? Civil rights attorney Nekima Levy Armstrong explains why intent doesn’t excuse corporate missteps, how rolling back DEI creates blind spots, and why Black communities refuse to let outside voices explain away racial harm.
Posted inOpinion
Making November 3rd the true No Kings Day
Millions marched against executive overreach, but street protests alone won’t change policy. National columnist Dr. John E. Warren breaks down why ballot box action on Nov. 3 is the ultimate key to true accountability.
Posted inOpinion
OpEd: The price on your screen is fiction
From your grocery app to ride-share fares, companies are using your personal data to change prices on the fly. The FTC is proposing new disclosure rules, but consumer champion Christopher Elliott warns that knowing you’re being squeezed isn’t the same as stopping it.
Posted inOpinion
OpEd: College football kicks off over Labor Day weekend, but players are still not employees
The NCAA is lobbying Congress for the Protect College Sports Act, seeking unprecedented antitrust immunity. In this op-ed, Michele Roberts and Ellen J. Staurowsky break down why this bill undermines athlete labor rights and keeps student-athletes from being recognized as real employees.
Posted inOpinion
OpEd: Stephen A. Smith’s problem isn’t his opinions. It’s accountability
When the National Association of Black Journalists handed ESPN’s flagship commentator a “Thumbs Down” award over recurring commentary targeting prominent Black women, Stephen A. Smith promised revenge, exposing a glaring refusal to answer to his own community.
Posted inOpinion
Gun violence is changing our communities. We have to change the conversation
Shot in the chest, entrepreneur Shakur Smith moves past the statistics to address the root causes of gun violence in Minnesota, demanding investment, mentorship, and real seats at the table for local youth.
Posted inOpinion
When a Black child dies without answers, grief has nowhere to go
Rev. Sheila Johnson explores the psychological toll and collective trauma Black communities face when tragedies like the death of 18-year-old Nolan Wells remain shrouded in mystery.
Posted inOpinion
The FDA is moving faster on psychedelics, now Washington must do more
With an American dying by suicide every 11 minutes, traditional antidepressants are falling short. Former FDA Associate Commissioner Peter J. Pitts examines how expedited psychedelic research could offer real hope for treatment-resistant mental illness, if Washington moves fast enough.
Posted inOpinion
Op-ed: Why we must vote
Tired of hearing about upcoming elections? Dr. John E. Warren explains why your ballot is the primary tool to demand relief and defend your community.
Posted inOpinion
Who is pro-democracy content actually reaching?
A new report reveals why pro-democracy messaging keeps missing persuadable audiences: it’s not the message, it’s the distribution. Nicole Lazarre breaks down the media investment gap between conservative and liberal donors.
Posted inOpinion
There’s a storm coming
Civil rights veteran Rev. Peter Johnson urges Black communities to recognize the warning signs of voter suppression, drawing parallels between past civil rights struggles and modern efforts to weaken election oversight.
Posted inOpinion
Mental health in a time of rising costs: The myth of the Golden Age
When groceries and rent consume every paycheck, anxiety becomes a math problem. Dr. Sharon M. Holder challenges the narrative of economic prosperity and calls for collective mental health action.
Posted inOpinion
Opinion: The hidden cost of convenience
A $4 fee on a $60 ATM withdrawal is 6.67% just to touch your own money. Al Riddick on the small convenience charges quietly working against your wealth.
Posted inOpinion
While Trump says the economy is booming, the reality points to a Black recession
Black unemployment hit 6.6% in June while the national rate was 4.2%. Antjuan Seawright argues the recession Black America keeps hearing about is already here.
Posted inOpinion
The AI industry is overlooking its greatest untapped workforce
With unemployment for autistic adults reaching up to 85 percent, civil rights attorney Areva Martin calls on the tech industry to move past deficits and invest in neurodivergent talent.
Posted inOpinion
Op-Ed: ‘The Trusted Messenger’ and the Black vote
The Black Press carries the message on voter turnout, but the ad dollars rarely follow, this op-ed argues.
Posted inOpinion
A prosecutor warned another person would die; Minnesota deserves answers
A prosecutor warned someone would die in Operation Metro Surge. This op-ed asks who knew and why no one acted.
Posted inHealth + Wellness, Opinion
A letter to Black men with anxiety: You are seen
A Black man opens up about anxiety and why silence about mental health costs more than speaking up.
Posted inOpinion
The basis of freedom: Reclaiming land as an act of liberation
Rev. Heber Brown III draws on ancestral wisdom, personal history in rural Virginia, and modern UN resolutions to show why Black land ownership is central to reparations, self-sufficiency, and dismantling food apartheid.