Tracey Williams-Dillard, publisher and CEO of the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder, was honored with a Congressional Record Award by U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar for more than 50 years of service in journalism and her commitment to amplifying Black voices in Minnesota.
Black history
Posted inEvents
MSR joins Doors Open Minneapolis 2025
The Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder is one of 75 featured sites for Doors Open Minneapolis 2025, offering visitors a chance to explore its historic headquarters and learn about its legacy of truth-telling and community power.
Posted inOpinion
Why we’re still not equal
Black Americans have endured centuries of systemic injustice, including slavery, Jim Crow, redlining, and mass incarceration, yet Trump’s administration is now targeting progress toward justice, including diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, and even erasing Black military legends from official tributes.
Posted inBlack History
Local professor and author resists book censors
Professor Duchess Harris has launched “Freedom’s Promise School,” an educational initiative that provides uncensored and inclusive content, in response to the banning of her books and the growing trend of restricting access to literature that tackles sensitive topics like race and gender.
Posted inBlack History
Harriet Tubman — nurse, spy, scout
Harriet Tubman, a 5′ foot-tall former slave, fought for justice and America’s promise of freedom, becoming a Civil War spy and one of the most honored members of the US Army Military Intelligence Corps Hall of Fame.
Posted inAnother View
UCLA’s first Black coach underappreciated
UCLA’s forgotten legacy: Kenny Washington, the first Black head coach in school’s women’s basketball history
Posted inBlack History
Pioneers in Chemistry: The Legacy of Mary Elliott Hill and St. Elmo Brady
Mary Elliott Hill and St. Elmo Brady were pioneers in chemistry who broke barriers and made significant contributions to their field, becoming the first Black women and PhD chemists in the United States.
Posted inOpinion
The Plot to Assassinate Black America
Donald Trump has launched a political assault on Black Americans, targeting their civil rights, education, and culture, and empowering white supremacists and racists in his administration.
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 inEvents
Minnesota African American Heritage Museum and Gallery Presents “The Black Vote”
The Black Vote, a multimedia exhibition curated by historian Mica L. Anders, opens in February at the Minnesota African American Heritage Museum and Gallery, commemorating the 60th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
Posted inPolitics
Biden Grants 11th-Hour Pardon to Marcus Garvey
Former Attorney General Eric Holder and civil rights leaders have long declared that Marcus Garvey’s 1923 conviction on mail fraud charges was unjust, leading to his posthumous pardon by President Biden in his final days in office.
Posted inOpinion
White American men are not oppressed
Rep. Jasmine Crockett delivered a fiery speech on the House floor criticizing Republicans for their ignorance of Black history and their attempts to dismantle workplace diversity, equity and inclusion programs.
Posted inNews
The audacity of Kamala Harris’ laughter—and the racist roots of Trump’s derision
Donald Trump and other Republicans have criticized Kamala Harris’ laughter, which has been described as ‘contemptuous’ and ‘inappropriate,’ drawing on historical racial context.
Posted inNews
Why are reparations for Black Americans so hard?
Despite the growing movement for reparations for Black Americans, critics argue that the lack of cash payments is a major obstacle.
Posted inNews
Willie Mays’ journey: From segregated South to presidential honors
Willie Mays, the greatest baseball player of the last 80 years, was a symbol of America’s racial history and a reminder of what the country can produce.
Posted inNews
The MSR’s legacy of ink: 90 years in pursuit of truth and justiceÂ
The Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder, founded in 1934 by Cecil E. Newman, has been a beacon of hope and truth for the Black community in Minnesota.
Posted inWomen’s History Month
Timeless photo evokes Black solidarity: Somali women protest for Angela Davis’ release
A decades-old photo of Somali women protesting for the release of Angela Davis in the U.S. has long served as a symbol of solidarity for a generation of young Somalis.
Posted inNews
Author examines roots of American racism
In his book ‘Teaching White Supremacy,’ author Donald Yacavone, lays out a stark roadmap into the complex societal ill of racism.
Posted inLocal & State
Sabathani to unveil memorable walk through history Feb. 22Â
Sabathani Community Center is hosting a community celebration honoring its legacy and those who helped to build it.
Posted inBulletin
Black History Month events in the Twin Cities: Feb. 1-8
Each week the MSR will highlight free or low-cost Black History Month events in the community.