Los Angeles — I don’t know about you, but for me the melodrama is over. The last three months of constant trade-to-New-York speculation and rumors involving Denver All-Star forward Carmelo Anthony, the sixth-leading scorer in the NBA, was getting on my last nerve while I was covering the 60th NBA All-Star weekend. Clearly Anthony wanted […]
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Posted inSports
You can be more than you are: How to be a good student-athlete
Having the opportunity to work with aspiring athletes, it is my feeling that proper academics, physical training and spiritual experiences must go hand in hand for a student-athlete to gain the maximum benefit from such a well-rounded and versatile learning experience. Black athletes would be much better physical performers if they had more self-confidence. The […]
Posted inNews
Proposed state bill draws Black ire
By Charles Hallman Staff Writer St. Paul City Council Member Melvin Carter (l) and Rep. Rena Moran both oppose the bill. Current state law that says children have to be at least age 14 before being charged as adults. However, a new bill is being considered that, if passed, would allow a judge to certify […]
Posted inArts + Culture, News
Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom: ‘Wilson delivers a jaw-dropping kick in the gut’
Theater Review By Dwight Hobbes Contributing Writer Photo courtesy of the Gutherie Theater Last time Penumbra Theatre Company did August Wilson’s hallmark drama Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, all, to say the least, did not go well. In fact, it was a train wreck. Company member Terry Bellamy, playing the lead, “Levee,” tossed in a line […]
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Diversity woven into national LGBT conference
News Analysis By Stephani Maari Booker Community Editor A workshop entitled “The Pink Elephant in the Room: White Privilege and Racism Within the Queer Community” packed a room with over 60 people. Local activist Farheen Hakeem led a “Fighting Islamophobia and Homophobia” workshop. Roxanne Anderson, local LGBT activist and conference organizer -Photos by Misha Oneby […]
Posted inHealth + Wellness
Half the Sky: Book an account of justice for women and girls
Man’s boundless inhumanity to woman is by no means news. All the more reason to read Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide (Vintage Books/Random House, $15.99). This exhaustive account details, as one would expect, hellish sexual slavery and gender-based violence including honor killings and mass rape. There is, however, something surprisingly […]
Posted inArts + Culture
Felix Hampton Brown: artist and ‘edgertainer’
By Donavee Chappell Contributing Writer F.H. Brown, among other things, is a spoken-word artist, hat designer and painter. Photos courtesy of F.H. Brown Felix Hampton (F.H.) Brown is a self-named “edgertainer”: educator and entertainer with a satirical, political edge. He is also a painter and fashion designer. This man wears many hats — in fact, […]
Posted inArts + Culture
This Week’s Spotlights
Science Museum of Minnesota 120 W. Kellogg Blvd., St. Paul, 651-221-9444 or www.smm.org Feb. 18 — Sept. 5: Tutankhamen: The Golden King and the Great Pharaohs More than 100 artifacts from the tomb of the famed pharaoh and other notable ancient sites are featured in this exhibit. Tickets are $16-$30 (includes admission to the museum’s […]
Posted inOpinion
The One-Drop Rule is still ruling us
H.I.T. Hodges Investigation team I would like to thank everyone for your responses to my columns. I really value your feedback. This month we will return to one of my favorite types of column, my famed community survey. This time we hit the streets of the Twin Cities area asking people the following question: Why […]
Posted inOpinion
In Mpls, Black History Month has become Black Mystery Month
Through My Eyes Rod Edwards Censorship, whether by “our” side or “their” side, is still an infringement on freedom of speech, whether in Minneapolis or in Cairo. This occasional “State of the Community” column coincides with the “State of the World.” As newspapers and TV news shows work against limits of time and space, websites […]
Posted inOpinion
Race trumps dog, dog trumps woman
Mellaneous Mel Reeves I tried and I tried unsuccessfully while watching the Super Bowl to ignore Big Ben’s off-the-field indiscretions involving women, but I couldn’t get away from the obvious double standard of society jumping all over Michael Vick, who has paid his dues, and Roethlisberger, who clearly has a dim view of women and […]
Posted inOpinion
Ellison’s energy better applied to North Minneapolis than to Egypt
Something I Said Dwight Hobbes Ever the slick opportunist in crusader’s clothing, Congressman Keith Ellison (D-MN) waited until the tide in Egypt had fully turned and then, in characteristic grandstanding fashion, hopped on the bandwagon to call for you and me to stand in solidarity with the protesters in Cairo who, as of this writing, […]
Posted inSports
NFL owners want players to buckle
Billionaire Jerry Jones, owner of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys and fabulous Texas Stadium, site of last week’s Super Bowl XLV, said recently, “Are we going to be playing in the fall?” Football that is, like games? Hall-of-Famer Ronnie Lott told me at the Super Bowl that this contract with the owners and players is the […]
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U of M alumni offer their Black History best-ever choices
Kim Prince Both University of Minnesota basketball teams last month held their respective annual alumni days. It presented the perfect opportunity to ask several former male and female Gopher players, as well as others, their thoughts on their best-evers. Melvin Newbern (1987-90): “Julius Erving. I loved the way he played the game and how he […]
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State’s prep stars excel nationwide
JORDAN TAYLER’s (Benilde-St. Margaret’s) 27-point performance in Wisconsin’s 71-67 victory over top-ranked Ohio State has propelled him into one of the elite point guards in the country. Taylor, who averages 18 points per game for the Badgers, was Minnesota’s Mr. Basketball in 2008 after helping his team capture the Class AAA state championship. TAYLER HILL […]
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Minneapolis Lakers’ first Black player recognized in Heritage Calendar Bob Williams’ five adult children accept award on his behalf
Standing in for Bob Williams were (l-r) son Randy Williams (proudly holding his father’s 1955 Lakers’ picture); son Don Alan Williams; Bob’s two oldest children, Rasheed Bilal and Debra Williams Jones, holding the award; and Bob’s youngest daughter Casandra Williams-Sims. Robert (Bob) Williams was one of 12 honorees to receive the 2011 Minnesota African American […]
Posted inNews
What’s happened to Minnesota Nice?
Opinion By Joel Franklin Guest Commentator The Minnesota Legislature is considering a bill to certify fourth graders as adults and lock them up in adult prisons. I am one of the numerous African American spectators who attended the House Public Safety and Crime Prevention Policy and Finance Committee hearing last Thursday. First, I am offended and […]
Posted inNews
Black museum back in governor’s bonding bill
Future home of the Minnesota African American Museum Two weeks ago, the proposed African American museum was “mistakenly” left out of Gov. Mark Dayton’s $1 billion state bonding proposal. This week, after “An open letter to Governor Mark Dayton” critical of the omission appeared in the MSR’s Feb. 3 issue, the museum is now included […]
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MSR staff writer receives media award for coverage of women in sports
Charles Hallman received his award surrounded by family members Charles James Hallman (l) and Rev. Marchelle Hallman. By James L. Stroud, Jr. Contributing Writer Last week, the Minnesota Coalition of Women in Athletic Leadership organized and sponsored Minnesota’s 25th Annual National Girls and Women in Sports Day Celebration in a packed State Capitol Rotunda in […]
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North Mpls gains teacher-run French immersion school
By Charles Hallman Staff Writer A new K-2 elementary school will open this fall on Minneapolis’ North Side. It’s a unique reversal in the recent trend of closing elementary and middle schools in the area. Pierre Bottineau French Immersion is the first school to open in Minnesota under a new state site-governed school law passed […]