An opinion essay argues the One Big Beautiful Bill Act concentrates wealth, expands the racial wealth gap, and naturalizes inequality by blaming individuals rather than policy choices.
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
An attack on Black people is an attack on democracy
This op-ed argues that Black Americans and democracy are bound together. Black struggle built and defended U.S. democracy, yet benefits often bypass Black communities. The question now is where the fight should go next.
Posted inOpinion
Katrina’s aftermath shows effects of ‘disaster capitalism’
An op-ed uses the Hurricane Katrina 20th anniversary New Orleans to trace how disaster capitalism and imperial domination drive displacement, deny a right of return, and put profits over people.
Posted inOpinion
Our cities need investment, not invasion
Trump plans to send troops to Chicago, repeating failed tactics of the past. Without tackling poverty, housing, and jobs, military presence won’t solve crime.
Posted inOpinion
The children are not well — and they are under attack
Trump’s policies are hurting children across America by cutting food, education, and after-school programs. Advocates call for urgent action to protect kids’ futures.
Posted inOpinion
Labor Day 2025 finds Black worklife precarious
This Labor Day, a commentary assesses the State of Black work life in America, citing hostile policies, union rollbacks, and a widening employment gap that leave Black workers navigating bias while pushing for rights and stability.
Posted inOpinion
Why America is currently in a constitutional crisis
America’s constitutional crisis is not looming — it is here. Voting rights, due process, and the rule of law are under siege.
Posted inOpinion
Defending the ‘Blacksonian’ is defending America’s truth
Frances “Toni” Draper warns against sanitizing the role of slavery and racism in America. Defending NMAAHC is defending the truth itself.
Posted inOpinion
Stillwater prison’s ‘honors unit’ looks promising only on paper
The Minnesota DOC’s new “Honor Unit” at Stillwater offers perks, but incarcerated voices say it ignores unsafe conditions, relies on inequitable scoring, and props up a failing prison.
Posted inOpinion
Gerrymandering is the new redlining
Gerrymandering silences Black voices, denies resources, and destroys lives. The fight is not just about elections, but about health, housing, and survival.
Posted inOpinion
‘Drill team saved me from the streets’
From North Minneapolis’ “Queen of Drill Team” to community advocate, her story shows how passion can transform lives — and why youth need safe, purposeful programs.
Posted inOpinion
AI furthers environmental racism in Black America
Elon Musk’s xAI supercomputer borders Boxtown, Memphis, raising alarm over pollution and environmental racism in this historic Black community.
Posted inOpinion
Black nations can’t afford to coddle America’s ignorance
At the July 9 White House Africa summit, Trump’s remarks — including “beautiful English” to Liberia’s president — were condemned as disrespectful. Critics urge African leaders to demand dignity and sovereignty.
Posted inOpinion
Voting Rights at 60 still under attack
Sixty years after the Voting Rights Act, voter suppression persists. From felony disenfranchisement to restrictive laws, the fight for democracy continues.
Posted inOpinion
The Endangerment Finding stands between us and disaster
Mustafa Ali warns that dismantling the Endangerment Finding would strip protections against climate pollution, with devastating impacts for vulnerable communities.
Posted inOpinion
Prison must be a place of last resort
Zhi Kai H. Vanderford, incarcerated for nearly 40 years, says prison is no longer about rehabilitation — it’s a failed system that devastates families and communities.
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State-run prison labor monopoly lacks accountability
An MCF-Rush City inmate exposes how state-run MINNCOR Industries profits off inflated prices, canceled fundraisers, and unpaid labor—leaving incarcerated Minnesotans struggling to afford basic needs.
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Rush City is Minnesota’s newest failing prison
An MCF-Rush City inmate says Minnesota’s newest level 4 prison is overcrowded, understaffed, and unsafe. He calls for legislative oversight.
Posted inOpinion
The MLK files endgame: Erase the man, then erase the holiday
The release of over 230,000 FBI files on Dr. King isn’t about truth — it’s about erasure. These coordinated attacks are designed to unravel civil rights progress and silence Black history. We must resist.
Posted inOpinion
When a piece of paper becomes a barrier to freedom
For over a year, Minnesota inmates have been unable to buy typing paper — essential for legal filings, education, and religious coursework. Andrew Krosch exposes how a simple failure to bag paper reflects a much larger systemic problem.