Tish Jones discovered the power of hip-hop storytelling as a child and has spent decades using poetry and spoken word to educate and uplift young people. As founder of TruArtSpeaks in St. Paul, she blends art, culture, and social justice.
Black culture
Posted inMusic
Kanye West Seeks Forgiveness from the Black Community in Wall Street Journal Apology
Ye issued a public apology to the Black community in a Wall Street Journal ad, addressing mental health, accountability, and actions that caused harm.
Posted inArts + Culture
Nominees Announced for the 57th NAACP Image Awards as Black Excellence Takes Center Stage
Nominees for the 57th NAACP Image Awards have been announced, with public voting now open ahead of the February 28 live broadcast celebrating Black excellence.
Posted inMovies
How Many of These Black Movies Have You Seen?
From classics to modern hits, this ultimate Black movie list highlights 30 must-watch films that center Black stories, culture, and legacy.
Posted inNational
The Best Things to Happen to Black People in 2025
The best things to happen to Black people in 2025 showcase excellence, progress, and joy across culture, sports, education, and community.
Posted inNational
Black America’s Cultural Giants Lost in 2025
The losses came steadily in 2025 as Black America mourned artists, activists, athletes, and cultural leaders whose work shaped history and community across generations.
Posted inTelevision
‘Sean Combs: The Reckoning’ ignites national debate over hip hop legacy, culture
Netflix’s Sean Combs: The Reckoning has reignited national debate about celebrity power, accountability, and hip hop’s cultural legacy, drawing both intense praise and sharp backlash.
Posted inLocal & State
Jellybean Johnson: A legacy of joy and genius
Jellybean Johnson was thunder on stage and gentle at home, a drummer, guitarist and producer whose joy lit up Minneapolis for decades. Loved ones and musical peers recall his role in shaping the Minneapolis Sound, mentoring “nephews” in the scene and building the Minneapolis Sound Museum to keep the culture alive for the next generation.
Posted inDigital Editions
August 28 – September 3, 2025 -Edition 4 – Volume 92
Read the MSR Digital Edition for Aug. 28 – Sept. 3, 2025 (Vol. 92, No. 4), featuring top stories in community, culture, sports, and local news.
Posted inLynx/WNBA
Black Expo shares city with WNBA All-Stars
The Indiana Black Expo’s Summer Celebration and WNBA All-Star Weekend overlapped in Indianapolis, sparking conversation around timing, impact, and community engagement. Players and vendors shared their thoughts.
Posted inOpinion
I loved Essence Fest, but it doesn’t love us back
Once a beloved sisterhood experience, Essence Fest now feels like a corporate hustle. Sheletta Brundidge says the festival’s soul is gone — and so are the women who made it magical.
Posted inLocal & State
First ‘Madam Juneteenth’ crowned at 2025 Minnesota Pageant
The Miss Juneteenth Minnesota State Pageant crowned six new queens this year, including the first-ever Madam Juneteenth. Sannia Elzia now plans to use her platform to uplift the voices of Black women survivors.
Posted inEvents
The People Have Spoken: Rise & Remember Festival Marks 5 Years Since George Floyd’s Murder
The 5th annual Rise & Remember Festival returns to George Floyd Square May 23–25, 2025, marking five years since Floyd’s murder. With concerts, a Night of Honor, healing spaces, and a candlelight vigil, the event calls the community together in remembrance and action. This year’s theme: The People Have Spoken.
Posted inFashion
Black Fashion Week MN: Spring Model Call at W Minneapolis
The Black Fashion Week Minnesota is hosting a spring model call on March 1 at W Minneapolis, seeking models from all backgrounds to participate in the event.
Posted inBlack History
Expressions of Blackness: A Celebration of Culture, Community, and Creativity
The cities of Hopkins and Minnetonka will celebrate Black excellence on February 20 with an evening of art, music, entrepreneurship, and resilience at the Hopkins Center for the Arts.
Posted inBlack History
How Are You Feeling Mentally? A Barbershop Conversation for Black Men
The “How Are You Feeling Mentally? A Black Men’s Panel” event on February 23, 2025, at 825 Arts in Saint Paul, MN, will feature open dialogue on mental health and well-being in Black men’s lives, including topics such as fronting and emotional vulnerability, intimacy and connection, and breaking stigmas.
Posted inEducation
Teaching the teachers
Timothy Berry, a lifelong Minnesotan, is helping prepare future school principals and district superintendents, while also celebrating Black culture through his talents in music and the arts, and using both roles to remember and build on those who came before us in the effort to move ourselves forward.
Posted inArts + Culture
The Black barbershop as cultural hub
Local author Keenan Jones has released his debut children’s book, “Saturday Morning at the ‘Shop”, which celebrates the importance of Black culture and the role of barbershops as community hubs.
Posted inDr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Love First: The power of community engagement
Love First, a Rondo-based organization founded by Chauntyll Allen and led by Satara Armstrong, is transforming the lives of Black youth by providing resources and fostering a supportive community, with a special MLK Solidarity Community Dinner on January 26 at Indigenous Roots in East St. Paul.
Posted inNews
A New Era of Excellence Begins: Celebrating the 2025 Miss Black MN USA Royal Court
The 2025 Miss Black Minnesota USA Royal Court, Destiny Robinson, Anaiya Wilson, and Triasia Yon-Robinson, are inspiring change and empowerment in the Minnesota community and beyond with their excellence, resilience, and strength.