Reading Dr. King and reviewing his speeches will give anyone a rounded picture of him that can allow us to truly cast our comments about him in the light of truth and of what he would likely approve.
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
Prison medical care is not humane, especially for African AmericansÂ
I have been in TCU for almost two months now and noticed that they try to move African Americans out quickly no matter their medical condition.
Posted inOpinion
Many states have outlawed hair discrimination—Minnesota should be next
We applaud the Minnesota House of Representatives for discussing and voting on the CROWN Act this week and are looking forward to the Senate doing the same in the coming weeks. Â
Posted inOpinion
Work release should be expanded
We should follow the law and support people in prison, like me, following their dreams.
Posted inOpinion
WORD ON THE STREET: What lifts your spirits in the winter?
The MSR took to the streets to ask community members how they keep their spirits bright in the colder, darker months of winter.
Posted inOpinion
The prison treatment trap for release violators
The sad fact is we have one of the lowest rates of recommitting a crime in Minnesota, roughly 3%, yet we get supervised like we’re worse than murderers, who also have a really low recidivism rate.
Posted inOpinion
Shakopee prison conditions constitute cruel and unusual punishment
‘These continual indifferent attitudes and cold conditions violate inmates’ civil rights and endanger their health.’
Posted inOpinion
No teaching license for Castile’s killer—an open letter from Black parents, educatorsÂ
We stand in solidarity with the Minnesota Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board in their decision to deny Yanez’s application to teach on moral grounds.
Posted inOpinion
Using ‘race’ to challenge Native sovereignty
The purpose of Indian Child Welfare Act is to extend protections to children based on tribal citizenship, not racial status.
Posted inOpinion
Medical care for MN prisoners is horrible
When a prisoner has medical or mental issues or disabilities the systematic neglect quickly becomes abusive.
Posted inFeatured, National, Opinion
Proposed rail merger would ramp up environmental injustice
This merger has massive implications to communities near the rail routes impacted by the merger—especially communities of color.
Posted inOpinion
Looking for victory beyond the election
The Democratic Party, much to its own chagrin, is actually being forced to stand for something…beyond compromise.
Posted inFeatured, Opinion
WORD ON THE STREET | Are you voting in the midterm elections?
For this Word on the Street, we asked community members about the importance of voting ahead of the midterm elections.
Posted inOpinion
This November, unite to defend the Black vote
This is the first nationwide election since the Far Right’s massive voter suppression campaign started in 2020, and we have one way to fight it: massive voter mobilization.
Posted inOpinion
The racism that murdered Emmett Till lives on
Justice has to be openly taught as a pillar of the African American legacy.
Posted inOpinion
Open Letter to President Joe Biden
For many years incarcerated people, their family members, activists and organizers have called on people with power to use some of their authority to end the War on Drugs.
Posted inOpinion
​No room for Black folk, not even in fantasyland
This nonsensical manifestation of bigotry is even more pronounced in the backlash over the upcoming release of Disney Studios​’​ ‘The Little Mermaid.’
Posted inOpinion
The cruelty of exploiting vulnerable people for political gain
DeSantis’s scheme to deceive, , and harm vulnerable people seeking asylum is evidence that the cruelty wielded by Trump and embraced by so many of his followers will continues to poison our politics.
Posted inOpinion
The Little Rock Nine anniversary: ‘silence is not an option’
Our nation continues to owe a debt of gratitude to the Little Rock Nine and to all those who were just children and teenagers when they became frontline soldiers in the war to end Jim Crow in American life.
Posted inOpinion
Recidivism rate shows MN prisons are failing to rehabilitate
If the true goal of the D.O.C. is to rehabilitate, then why has it failed?