Dancer’s Studio 1508 University Ave. W., St. Paul Sat., Mar. 26, 7 pm (VIP reception at 6 pm): “Living as Light” Fundraising Gala Benefiting One Way Up Prison Ministry With performances by Shelia Raye Charles, Cherelle, Kevin L., Jubilee, St. Paul Saintz and the Bluprint Silent auction at VIP reception Tickets are $65 in advance […]
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Posted inArts + Culture, News
Documentary details plight of Colombians of African descent
By Charles Hallman Staff Writer Uprooted shows single mother Noris in the shanties of her refugee camp in Colombia. -Photo courtesy of Juan Mejia Botero A film about the terrible plight of Afro-Colombians caught in the middle of the Colombian civil war recently was aired as part of the third season of PBS’ AfroPoP: The […]
Posted inHealth + Wellness
Job Corps alumnus now works for civil rights
“Job Corps saved my life — I was a knucklehead.” So says Johnnie Burns, assistant director in the Minneapolis Department of Civil Rights. He’s in charge of the Contract Compliance Unit, supervising six people whose work ensures that, in employment contracting, there is city ordinance compliance with affirmative action, civil rights and non-discrimination policies. “The […]
Posted inHealth + Wellness
Positive steps taken toward a new North High
Dear MPS Partners and Friends, I am incredibly proud and deeply enthused by the partnership that has been cultivated between the community and the district in our first steps to realizing a new North High School. I continue to hear from those in the community that we all have engaged in a transparent process that […]
Posted inSports
Cast your vote for the 2011 NBA MVP
It’s always been about team and winning as far as I’m concerned, and basketball, remember, can play only five guys at one time. But a dominant team leader can take you a long way. The last two years, the NBA’s MVP has been LeBron James. He was the man in Cleveland, as you know; however, […]
Posted inSports
Student-athletes’ grad rates is the perennial untold story
Perhaps the best storyline not being discussed or written about during this year’s NCAA men’s and women’s basketball tournament is this: Do these players graduate? This is “the elephant in the living room” or TEIR question that hoops fans and pundits annually ignore or simply won’t ask. The mainstream print media has been “shockingly quiet” […]
Posted inSports
Stars shine at Girl’s State Basketball Tournament
Brianna Williams Nia Coffey The girls’ basketball state tournament was certainly one to remember. BRIANNA WILLIAMS, NIA COFFEY, SYDNEY COFFEY, EBONY LIVINGSTON, MIKAALA SHACKLEFORD, TT STARKS, JULIA WEIMER and GRACIA HUTSON led Hopkins past Eden Prairie, led by AUBREY DAVIS, JACKIE JOHNSON, SHAYNE MULLANEY and MORGAN VAN RIPER-ROSE, 67-45 for the Class 4A crown. DeLaSalle […]
Posted inSports
Girls’ State Basketball Tournament one of the best ever
LISA LISSIMORE, former St. Paul Central, Grand View (IA) and Gopher hoopster, did a magnificent job directing the Minnesota Girls’ Basketball Tournament last weekend. Among her able assistants were LINDA ROBERTS, FELICIA FULLER and SHLYNN HAYES. JIM ROBINSON, supervisor of officials, had former University of Minnesota women’s basketball standout CRYSTAL FLINT as the referee in […]
Posted inNews
Green jobs? Say what?
News Analysis By Donavee Chappell Contributing Writer We have been bombarded with the word “green” for a number of years and told this is where things are going. We have been urged to become aware of the concept and get involved in the “green economy.” Okay then, what is “green,” and what does that have […]
Posted inNews
Women hardhats: Construction’s not just for guys anymore
By Charles Hallman Staff Writer (l-r) Tesa Johnson, Michelle Miller and Tanessa Greene -Photo by Charles Hallman Michelle Miller once drove large vehicles in Iraq for two years. Now the Minneapolis resident looks forward to handling similar large construction equipment here in the Twin Cities soon. Miller is one of 11 females in a 70-student […]
Posted inNews
Director confident CBM is taking care of business
Conclusion of a two-part story By Charles Hallman Staff Writer CBM Executive Director Lester Collins – MSR file photo The Council on Black Minnesotans (CBM), like most state-funded agencies, is subject to regular auditing by the Minnesota Office of the Legislative Auditor (OLA). According to the OLA, the council has been audited four times since […]
Posted inNews
Pondering the pharaohs of ancient Egypt
By James L. Stroud, Jr. Contributing Writer A child views the simulated remains of King Tut through a glass case at the Science Museum. -Photos by James L. Stroud, Jr. On February 18, the Science Museum of Minnesota opened the exhibit “Tutankhamen: The Golden King and the Great Pharaohs,” which runs until September 5. Over […]
Posted inNews
Community mourns passing of Southside’s ‘Mom’
Clarissa Mae Rogers Walker’s home-going celebration was held Monday at Sabathani Community Center. She died March 7 at age 80. As expected, many paid their last respects to a woman who spent over five decades serving her community. “She wasn’t a wealthy person, but she created a lot of wonderful memories for a lot of […]
Posted inOpinion
Addressing the literacy gap in the Black community
”In the end, there is no program or policy that can substitute for a mother or father who will attend those parent/teacher conferences, or help with homework after dinner, or turn off the TV, put away the video games, and read to their child.” — President Barack Obama, address to Joint Session of Congress, February […]
Posted inOpinion
This column continues my five-year investigative reporting of a city government that stands for itself, not its citizens. This government, the City of Minneapolis, continually makes reports with false and erroneous information about its compliance to the general pubic, to the State of Minnesota, and to the federal government, and treats whistleblowers with intimidation and […]
Posted inOpinion
Propaganda war divides those of us who work for a living
Whether we are aware of it or not, most of us hold values and ideas that are in direct contradiction of where we stand in society, and some of us oppose ourselves. This irrationality is a direct result of the propaganda war that has been launched against the U.S. working class. In losing this war […]
Posted inOpinion
Is the Supreme Court turning right?
The U.S. Supreme Court has been a longstanding supporter of the basic tenets of the Civil Rights Movement. During the more than century-long civil rights struggle, the nation’s highest court has rendered favorable decisions on many issues. Many of the congressional edicts would never have survived had it not been for the Court’s confirmation. But […]
Posted inOpinion
Did the NAACP snub the Black Press?
A March 4 editorial in the Philadelphia Tribune Does the NAACP, the nation’s oldest and largest civil rights organization, truly believe in economic inclusion? Is the NAACP deliberately snubbing the Black Press when it comes to delivering its advertising messages? Considering recent action taken by the NAACP, or others working on its behalf or using […]
Posted inArts + Culture, News
This week’s spotlights-Mar 17-23
Dakota Jazz Club & Restaurant 1010 Nicollet Mall, Mpls., 612-332-1010 or www.dakotacooks.com Fri., Mar. 18, 8 pm: Ginger & Bobby Commodore Birthday Party Cover is $10. Sun., Mar. 20, 7 pm & 9 pm: Rachelle Ferrell Tickets are $45 for the 7 pm show and $35 for the 9 pm show. Metropolitan State University Founders […]
Posted inArts + Culture, News
Trans-Atlantic slave trade film kicks off Black docs TV series
By Charles Hallman Staff Writer S. Pearl Sharp’s The Healing Passage: Voices from the Water explores the residual impact of the Trans-Atlantic slave trade. Sharp (r) is shown directing the film at Goreé Island, Senegal. -Photo courtesy of A Sharp Show A new initiative to showcase Black documentaries has been launched. In collaboration with The […]