News Analysis By Doug Grow Contributing Writer So many battles won, so many lost, and so many — well, sometimes battles don’t end the way they begin. Nathaniel A. Khaliq, still known by most of his friends in St. Paul’s neighborhoods as Nick Davis, laughed about one of those battles that he and his dear […]
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Posted inNews
Black Chamber of Commerce holds annual meeting
By Charles Hallman Staff Writer The Minnesota Black Chamber of Commerce (MBCC) says it is ready to become “a catalyst for change” for the Black community. Over 100 Black business members and others attended the September 29 MBCC annual meeting at the University of Minnesota Urban Research and Outreach Center. The MBCC, which was founded […]
Posted inHealth + Wellness
Forums seek to engage Black voters
By Marcus Harcus Contributing Writer The first “Potential Power of the Black Electorate” town hall forum was held October 13 at Minneapolis Community & Technical College. Hosted by the Association of Black Collegiates, panelists included State Representative Jeff Hayden, candidate for State Representative Rena Moran, Impact Minnesota Director Nick Muhammad, and Troy Parker. The forum […]
Posted inHealth + Wellness
‘Color the Vote!’ campaign reaches out to communities of color
The Color the Vote campaign is sponsored by One Minnesota (OneMN.org), a collaborative network of ALANA (African, Latino, Asian and Native American) communities, leaders, and individuals who agree to “eliminate racial barriers to success in Minnesota.” The campaign slogan is “You Vote, We Win!” “The margin of victory of the last three gubernatorial elections has […]
Posted inHealth + Wellness
New travel adventure for MSR writer
Former Soviet republic a hidden treasure The 2006 “Adventures in China” column series by Jennifer Harvey (formerly Holder) was an account of the writer’s life as a foreign teacher — and an African American woman — in Hangzhou, China. Harvey has moved on to a new land, as she details in the following article. Here […]
Posted inHealth + Wellness
MPS goal: raise reading and math proficiency by 2015
By Bernadeia Johnson Contributing Writer I so enjoyed visiting classrooms on the first day of school and seeing the anticipation on children’s faces. Principals were enthusiastically greeting students and families. In the midst of all this excitement, teachers were focused on teaching on the very first day of school. That enthusiasm and focus will serve […]
Posted inSports
Magic urges athletes to become businessmen
Books, common sense, and an athlete’s drive and focus are a winning combination Black pro athletes make millions, yet none are listed on the annual Forbes list of richest Americans. Their team owners, however, are listed. Why aren’t they following Earvin “Magic” Johnson’s lead? He’s not yet on that list either, but clearly he’s the […]
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Johnson, Central and Southwest look strong
ANTHONY LEE, JOHN PLASCHKO, TRA GRIFFIN, DEVON JACKSON, ELIJAH NOEL, TOMMIE CRAWFORD and JESSE FLYNN each scored touchdowns in leading St. Paul Johnson to a 48-14 nonconference football victory over Minneapolis North. MOROCCO BALLARD and AARON DELONEY scored for North. Johnson has won four straight victories. Griffin’s 84-yard punt return proved to be the highlight […]
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NFL Black coaches maintain lead
Black coaches posted a 3-2 record last week. Tampa Bay (KAREEM MORRIS) beat Cincinnati (MARVIN LEWIS) 24-21; Chicago (LOVIE SMITH) bested Carolina 23-6; Indianapolis (JIM CALDWELL) defeated Kansas City 19-9; San Francisco (MIKE SINGLETARY) lost to Philadelphia 27-24. Indianapolis had a bye this week. This left the Black coaches with an NFL record of 15-12 […]
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New York beats both Twins and Vikings
We’ve seen this show before. Things were supposed to be so different! The Minnesota Twins were the first team to clinch a playoff spot, and after losing three straight — 6-4 and 5-2 at Target Field and 6-1 in New York Saturday — the Twins are done and the first team to exit the playoffs […]
Posted inArts + Culture
Somalia refugee rapper is wavin’ his flag
K’naan carries the banner for multiple cultures in his music Somalia: The name alone conjures up images of unbridled destruction, merciless warlords and ruthless terror. A place where nobody is safe from the atrocities of war and where eight-year olds handle AK-47s like toys. When Forbes magazine recently unveiled their “Most Dangerous Destinations,” Somalia, above […]
Posted inArts + Culture
Spalding, Moran lead jazz to a new era
Onward they go. In the pursuit of musical excellence, there are many major players within our realm. So far, jazz audiences have enjoyed courageous music from artists Esperanza Spalding and Jason Moran. Both have graced us with their presence at the Dakota recently, and we saw firsthand why they are invincible. With her wordless and […]
Posted inOpinion
The future of the Black community is in the classroom
By Sondra Samuels Guest Commentator The film Waiting for ‘Superman’ points the way If you are willing to take a sobering look at America’s broken educational system and contemplate how that translates into the greatest crisis facing the Black community today, then you must go see the controversial documentary film Waiting for Superman (WFS). Created […]
Posted inOpinion
Hospital sends severely injured Black man home to die
By Ron Edwards Guest Commentator Too many questions remain unanswered “A decent provision for the poor is the true test of civilization.” — Samuel Johnson, 18th century Part of the doctors’ Hippocratic Oath (medical ethics) from the fifth century BCE states, “I will never do harm to anyone…[working] for the good of my patients.” Why, […]
Posted inOpinion
August Wilson was not infallible as a playwright
By Dwight Hobbes Guest Commentator Pretending he was does not serve Penumbra well August Wilson without question was one of the greatest dramatists in not only the United States but also the world. His plays Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Fences, Joe Turner’s Come and Gone, Two Trains Running and King Hedley II were artistic triumphs […]
Posted inOpinion
Demand real education reform now
By Marian Wright Edelman Guest Commentator As America’s children headed back to school in September, President Obama delivered a televised back-to-school address to the nation’s students from the Julia R. Masterman School in Philadelphia, an acclaimed public magnet school for fifth through 12th graders. He spoke about the importance of hard work, a lesson his […]
Posted inOpinion
Dogs and Dr. King a poor mix
By Matthew Little Guest Commentator It may seem like a minor happening, but among a growing number of Minneapolis Southside residents and many others there is seething concern regarding a recent proposal to place an imposing dog park inside the Martin Luther King Park. As was indicated in a front-page article of this publication a […]
Posted inOpinion
Will Supreme Court serve justice in the case of Fong Lee?
By Ron Edwards Guest Commentator Nothing but confusion has emerged from lower courts Three weeks ago, supporters of those seeking justice in the Fong Lee case were shocked by the Eighth Circuit Court. It had first ruled it would review the case and then reversed itself a week later, ruling in an official communiqué that […]
Posted inOpinion
While Bishop Long gets cheered, who supports his victims?
By Sheletta Brundidge Guest Commentator I’ve been following this whole scandal with Bishop Eddie Long. I read the entire lawsuit filed against the Atlanta, Georgia minister by four young men who claim they were having sexual relations with him. The lawsuit chronicles four stories that all tell the same tale about money, celebrities and sleeping […]
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Black gangs share the vision of the KKK
By Lucky Rosenbloom Guest Commentator “Last week, a White man was fined for shooting a rabbit out of season. But of course, it’s safe to murder a Negro. A rabbit is better off than a Negro because in Alabama, Ni****s are always in season.” Vernon Johns We have Black so-called organized gang members who sell drugs to […]