A couple of weeks ago I went to watch the University of Minnesota volleyball team in action against Ohio State. It had been a while since I’ve been to a game, but MSR columnist Charles Hallman — after watching the Gophers football team defeat Colorado State — convinced me to check out the number-two-ranked Gophers […]
Post
Posted inGo Green
Why switching to LED bulbs makes a difference
It may seem like a small detail, but the way you light your home can have a big impact on the environment and your energy bills. Indeed, widespread use of light-emitting diode (LED) lighting has the greatest potential impact on energy savings in the United States, according to government findings. Add it up Using at […]
Posted inGo Green
The time is now to support ReUSE Minnesota
Reduce, reuse, recycle: you know, that phrase that’s been ingrained into your mind since elementary school. Even if we wanted to, we couldn’t forget the holy trifecta of the 3 R’s. What if I told you that one of these options is a little overrated? It’s not reducing, because most of us can make do […]
Posted inOpinion
Young Blacks could lead the way to ‘the new swag’
A biweekly column in which various contributors from both sides of prison walls explore common ground for effecting change. Being born Black and American is a metaphysical dilemma I haven’t conquered yet; nor do I have a desire to do so. What I do dream of conquering is the negative stereotypes that accompany being born […]
Posted inOpinion
Cost-burdened families stuck on a treadmill to nowhere
In his famous 1960 essay “Fifth Avenue, Uptown,” legendary author, activist and expatriate James Baldwin wrote that “Anyone who has ever struggled with poverty knows how extremely expensive it is to be poor; and if one is a member of a captive population, economically speaking, one’s feet have simply been placed on the treadmill forever.” […]
Posted inBulletin
MSR Top Five | TCMA Fall Media Forum, Avant, Pumpkin Nights & more!
A snapshot of events around town Avant live at the 2nd Annual Black Out Recording artist Avant will host and perform his smash hits live at the 2nd Annual Black Out Grown & Sexy! This is a 21+ event. Oct. 14 | 10:30 pm The Venue 315 First Ave., N., Mpls. More info: 612-636-9126 Pumpkin Nights […]
Posted inBulletin
MSR Top Five | Sheila E. in concert, Battle of the Foods Trucks & more!
A snapshot of events around town McCoy Tyner Quartet W/Gary Bartz A legendary figures in modern jazz, McCoy Tyner’s blues-based piano style has become one of the most identifiable sounds in improvised music Oct. 21 | 7 & 9 pm Dakota Jazz Club 1010 Nicollet Ave., Mpls. More info: www.dakotacooks.com 2016 African Community Appreciation & […]
Posted inOpinion
Clinton and Trump must address nation’s poor and hungry
There is no question that Hillary Clinton “won” the presidential debates of this election cycle. She was knowledgeable, composed, unflappable, and occasionally even funny. Her opponent, who had the temerity to criticize her “stamina,” seemed to lack stamina of his own. By the time the 90-minute debate was over, the rude, sniffling, frequent water-sipping Mr. […]
Posted inOpinion
Incompetent leadership is causing loss of Black lives
It’s funny how so many people in public positions of power are plainly and simply incompetent when it comes to ideas. We are at a crossroad in America’s history. There is friction between the police, the Black community and the commissioners whose job it is to oversee the police. If a mad dog goes on […]
Posted inOpinion
Why the violence in the face of prosperity?
There is a serious question tonight in the Twin Cities: Why, with all the supposed prosperity we are told in print and broadcast media, not to mention in election campaign statements, is there violence protesting a lack of prosperity? We’ve all seen the sudden emergence of periodicals and news stories about prosperity in the Black […]
Posted inNews
Political athletes can ‘puncture privilege’
They bring controversial issues to different audiences U.S. pro athletes — both female and male — either individually or as an entire team, have recently been outspoken on the mistreatment of Black citizens in this country. The fatal shootings by police officers of Philando Castile and Alton Sterling, which were followed by protests, and the […]
Posted inNews
Twin Cities Nappy Hour: a showcase for natural hair and Black entrepreneurship
(Above, see a few video highlights of the event by Phil McGraw). Twin Cities Nappy Hour was back in full force Sunday, October 9, as attendees packed into A Mili Artist Lofts in Minneapolis for an afternoon of networking, entertainment, and insightful discussion. A previous Nappy Hour in August drew a full crowd, creating the […]
Posted inLocal & State, News
Vikings stadium payoff: Collaborators tout equity success in stadium construction
Collaborators tout equity success in stadium construction Fourth in multi-part occasional series Half the cost of the newly opened Vikings Stadium, known as the “People’s Stadium” before its corporate branding, has come from the people’s money — taxes and related public subsidies totaling more than half a billion dollars. Now is the time to assess […]
Posted inSports
Vikings fly high into the bye 5-0!
Could 2016 be the year of the Vikings? U.S. Bank Stadium seems to have cast an iron will with focus and determination on this team. This in a season in which no fewer than five starters have been lost to injury; quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (season), Adrian Peterson (eight weeks), left tackle Matt Kalil (season), defensive […]
Posted inSports
Lynx players encourage and coach kids in North Mpls
The Minnesota Lynx starters — Seimone Augustus, Maya Moore, Rebekkah Brunson, Sylvia Fowles and Lindsay Whalen — hosted nearly 50 local boys and girls from a North Minneapolis elementary school, and taught them game fundamentals and values on the day after their Game 1 buzzer-beater defeat. WNBA President Lisa Borders sat in her workout gear […]
Posted inNews
Artists, community members collaborate on mural
It is often said that the activity of creating art or music brings people together like few other human activities. For 15 years the mural project, sponsored by Hope Community, has been doing just that by creating murals across South Minneapolis. This includes the history-themed mural on the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder building that is almost completed. This […]
Posted inLynx/WNBA
WNBA Finals | Lynx take Game 2 with commanding win
At least one person among the reported sellout crowd of 12,832 knew the host Minnesota Lynx would win Tuesday night by at least double figures. “I had predicted [earlier that day] that we would win by 12,” noted Tonyus Chavers to the MSR after the Lynx’s 79-60 victory over Los Angeles to even the series […]
Posted inNews
State says it has jobs, needs Black applicants
Representatives from branches of Minnesota State government were invited to the Wilder Foundation in St. Paul to participate as panelists in an employment and business opportunity forum sponsored by the African American Leadership Forum (AALF) on September 10. The panelists were introduced by Jeffery Hassan, executive director for the AALF. Close to 100 people, mostly […]
Posted inLynx/WNBA
WNBA Finals Preview | Lynx vs Sparks — match up of league’s best
League officials realigned the post-season over the off-season so that the two best teams, regardless of conference, play for the WNBA championship. As a result, top-seeded Minnesota and second-seeded Los Angeles are meeting Sunday in Minneapolis for the best-of-five league championship, the first time in WNBA history that a Western Conference club is assured to […]
Posted inVikings/NFL
Vikings stadium: Boosters see clear benefits where skeptics see more empty promises
Fourth of a multi-series Half the cost of the newly opened Vikings Stadium, known as the “People’s Stadium” before its corporate branding, has come from the people’s money — taxes and related public subsidies totaling more than half a billion dollars. Now is the time to assess just what the people, especially Black people, have received for […]