“You be the rainbow in the storms of life. The evening beam that smiles the clouds away, and tints tomorrow with prophetic ray.” — Lord Byron Since the devastating tornado that touched down in North Minneapolis on May 26, I now know more about tornadoes than I ever felt I needed or wanted to know. […]
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Posted inOpinion
Even Miami Heat-hating is political
More than folks realize was riding on the NBA championship series. In class society, everything, and I mean everything, counts. LeBron James, Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosch tried to break precedent, and the ruling class was not having it. So they sicced everything on the Big Three: their PR apparatus (big business media), envious sportswriters, […]
Posted inOpinion
Blacks in basketball today
The basketball season has finally ended (with apologies to the Lynx who are just beginning), but it is hard to think of the game anywhere without the realization of how African Americans literally dominate the sport at all levels today. It has become next to impossible to conceive of a basketball game, either amateur or […]
Posted inHealth + Wellness
Luncheon celebrates partnership with Mpls. Public Schools & Head Start
(l-r) Yasmina Vinci, executive director of the National Head Start Association, with State Reps. Bobby Joe Champion and Ryan Winkler at PICA/Head Start’s luncheon, which celebrated the partnership of the Minneapolis Public Schools, The Family Partnership, and PICA that collaboratively provides services to young children. -Photo and information courtesy of PICA/Head Start
Posted inHealth + Wellness
GOP budget cuts protect wealthy few, hurt the majority
This legislative session was about choices and priorities. With Minnesota’s future at a crossroads, it was absolutely essential to make calculated, thought-out decisions about how to strengthen the working and middle classes and create jobs in a way that was not only fair, but would also protect the most vulnerable Minnesotans. New to the legislature, […]
Posted inSports
Will Timberwolves blow it again?
By being the only Twin-Cities reporter to cover the NBA Finals year in and year out, I must say you certainly gain perspective on how far the Timberwolves are from being relevant in the NBA. As if 32 wins and 130 losses is not enough proof over the last two years, it really takes covering […]
Posted inSports
Hornbuckle racks up steals thanks to ‘go-go gadgets’
Alexis Hornbuckle recalls the somewhat difficult fitting-in process when she was acquired in a midseason trade last summer, a time when roles had already been defined back in training camp and redefined as the season progressed. Topping that was the fact that she joined a Minnesota Lynx team midway through a year marred with injuries […]
Posted inSports
Ojulu and Travis this year’s Inner City All-Star Classic MVPs
APIEW OJULU (Lakeville North) and ROSS TRAVIS (Chaska) were the MVPs of the 18th Annual Inner City All-Star Classic held last weekend at Schoenecker Arena on the University of St. Thomas campus. In the girls’ game, Ojulu scored all of her game-high 10 points in the second half to lead Team Truth to a 37-36 […]
Posted inNews
Closing of St. Philip church splits members by race
By Charles Hallman Staff Writer As Father Jules Omalanga proceeded down the aisle at the close of the May 29 final mass at St. Philip Catholic Church, children stuck to his garments like Velcro. The emotions of children and adults alike ran high and deep inside the packed sanctuary over the final decree by Archbishop […]
Posted inNews
Florida park displays local sculptor’s inspiring ‘masterpiece’
By Dwight Hobbes Contributing Writer It doesn’t require an aficionado to appreciate the breathtaking art of sculptor Frank J. Brown. He wouldn’t have it any other way: “My work is made for the community to enjoy.” He was talking, in a telephone interview, about his richest achievement to date, the arresting vision “A Community Within […]
Posted inArts + Culture, News
This week’s spotlights June 16-22
Epic Event Center 110 N. 5th St., Mpls., 612-332-3742 or www.epicmpls.com Sun., Jun. 19, 10 pm: Musiq Soulchild Tickets are $25 in advance. Standing VIP is $40 and seated VIP is $60 in advance. This is an ages-21+ event. Thurs., Jun. 30, 10 pm: Young Jeezy Tickets are $30 in advance; VIP is $50 in […]
Posted inArts + Culture, News
Book part of movement to stop sexual harassment, violence in schools
By Charles Hallman Staff Writer Sexual harassment unfortunately has become common at every state of education and considered a rite of passage for young people. Students are targeted due to their race, national origin, religion, disability, gender or sexual orientation in schools from coast to coast, says Girls for Gender Equity (GGE), a New York-based […]
Posted inOpinion
The politics of a tornado
“But suppose God is Black? What if we go to Heaven and we, all our lives, have treated the Negro as an inferior, and God is there, and we look up and He is not White? What then is our response?” — John F. Kennedy, Jr. I pose this to our esteemed elected officials for […]
Posted inOpinion
‘Trial of the century’ appeals stir muddy waters
At 8:30 am December 9, 1992, a long nightmare of terror began for Wylanda Williams as she answered a knock at her door in the Chicago suburb of Oak Park, Illinois. It was police, an Oak Park police officer and two Minneapolis police detectives, all part of the investigation into the murder of slain White […]
Posted inOpinion
Are there different guidelines for the White candidates?
I always listen to conservative talk radio. Just in case slavery comes back…because Newt Gingrich or Sean Hannity will be the first to report it. That’ll give me a head start to make my way to the Canadian border. I digress…. Political pundits are commending Sara Palin for being innovative, touting how much of a […]
Posted inOpinion
Lemon tells the truth about Black homophobia
By Rev. Irene Monroe CNN’s Don Lemon has penned a memoir titled Transparent that will come out in September. In writing his book, Lemon said, ”The decision to come out happened organically.” One of the motivating reasons for Lemon, 45, now revealing his sexual orientation is because of the suicide of Rutgers University student Tyler […]
Posted inHealth + Wellness
Focusing on Black men healing to empower community
Commentary By Samuel Simmons, Jr. and Minister James Muhammad Contributing Writers Whether right or wrong, when discussing the ills and disparities within the African American community, many things are talked about, such as violence, drugs, poverty, and emotional, physical and spiritual health. However, there are two that come to the forefront, especially in the urban […]
Posted inSports
NBA Finals: Dallas does Miami!
MIAMI — Take that, Dallas Cowboys! While the NFL lockout continues, the Dallas Mavericks have made their move, finally putting themselves into the Texas state of NBA champions: San Antonio, Houston, and now Dallas, all NBA World Champions from the great state of Texas. TNT’ s Charles Barkley was talking up Dallas all year, […]
Posted inSports
Blacks remain barely visible
America’s sports pages and sports radio are still virtually all-White, according to the third biannual Associated Press Sports Editors (APSE) Racial and Gender Report Card. The APSE is the largest group representing the sports sections of newspapers and online media sources in the United States and Canada. The April report, which encompassed nearly 3,000 people, […]
Posted inSports
Clark dominates again
St. Paul Humboldt senior CALVIN CLARK won the 100 (11.19), 200 (22.28) and 400 meters (49.66) last weekend, repeating the dominance he displayed a year earlier at the Class A Boys’ and Girls’ Track and Field Championships at Hamline University. Clark’s performance had such an impact that his 36 points were good enough for a […]