Yusef Mgeni obituary honors the Black Minnesota historian, community organizer and St. Paul NAACP leader whose generational legacy will echo for decades to come.
MSR News
Posted inOdds and Ends
Illinois Head Softball Coach Tyra Perry on 700 Career Wins, Big Ten Diversity and Building a Family
Tyra Perry Illinois softball coach reflects on 700 career wins, Big Ten diversity and the people who make coaching worth every moment in an MSR interview.
Posted inOn the Radar
Drummer, Educator, and Griot Kevin Washington Is Keeping Black Music Alive in Minnesota
Kevin Washington modern griot and Walker West Music Academy educator joins MSR On the Radar to discuss Black music, teaching and his renewed mission as a drummer and bandleader.
Posted inSister Spokesman Highlights
Sister Spokesman plants seeds of community at spring gathering
Sister Spokesman spring event Earth Bounces Back sold out on April 4 at Bachman’s Floral in Minneapolis with music from Jamela Pettiford and a hands-on planting session.
Posted inOdds and Ends
‘Court Queens’ Gives women’s basketball its due
Court Queens by Jordan Robinson and Emma Baccellieri celebrates more than 130 years of women’s basketball history with Black women prominently featured throughout.
Posted inLocal & State
Emergency housing fills as more seek shelter
As winter tightens its grip, Minnesota shelters are facing record demand with little room to expand. Providers like People Serving People and Catholic Charities say families are staying longer, funding is shrinking, and many are left without safe options. Advocates warn that without long-term investment in housing and support services, shelters alone cannot stop the crisis from worsening.
Posted inNational
Tulsa Race Massacre survivor Viola Ford Fletcher can finally rest
Viola Ford Fletcher, the oldest known survivor of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, has died at 111. As a child she watched Black Wall Street burn, survived the terror that destroyed her community, and spent the next century demanding that the nation confront the truth. Her testimony before Congress helped push the Justice Department to publicly acknowledge the massacre as a coordinated attack that killed hundreds of Black residents. Fletcher’s legacy lives on in her courage, her memoir, and her unwavering call for justice.
Posted inLocal & State
Residents unite to resist ICE raids
Minneapolis residents are organizing community patrols to push back against ICE presence following increased immigration enforcement across the city.
Posted inArts + Culture
‘Nothing to prove, only to share’
Toni Pierce Sands, co founder of TU Dance and one of Minnesota’s most influential dance leaders, has died at 63. Dancers remember her not only for her artistry and Ailey lineage, but for her gift of making people feel seen. Former students describe how she unlocked their confidence and taught them that dance is about truth rather than perfection. Her legacy continues in the community she built and the philosophy she carried: nothing to prove, only to share.
Posted inMSR In the News
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder welcomes Scott Selmer as assigning editor
The Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder is proud to welcome Scott Selmer as its new assigning editor. With robust experience in law, journalism, and community advocacy, Selmer brings a deep commitment to truth-telling and a lifelong belief in the power of Black media to uplift voices too often left unheard. Born and raised in Beloit, Wisconsin, a small, […]
Posted inHealth + Wellness
North Minneapolis clinic awarded state grant to expand dementia awareness
The African American Child Wellness Institute has received a two year, $149,000 grant to expand dementia education and early detection for African and African American families in the Twin Cities.
Posted inLet them Rise
The state of Black boys in education
Black boys carry more than backpacks into classrooms. Through lived experience and data, educator Richard D. Terrell examines the inequities, brilliance, and potential of Black boys in America’s education system — and outlines a path forward.
Posted inArts + Culture
Bloomington gallery specializes in Shona sculpture
Rex Mhiripiri’s Bloomington gallery showcases hundreds of hand-carved Zimbabwean Shona sculptures, creating a thriving cultural and artistic bridge between Africa and the Midwest.
Sponsored
Is your business ready for unexpected challenges?
In times of crisis or change, flexibility and preparation are key. JPMorganChase’s Kaltrina Rezniqi shares practical steps to help businesses build resilience and maintain stability amid disruption.
Posted inPolitics
House candidate wants to care for the village that cared for her
Registered nurse, educator, and entrepreneur Lyna Nyamwaya of New Hope has announced her run for Minnesota House District 43A, pledging to focus on health care, education, equity, and local business growth.
Posted inBlack Business Spotlight
ProVisionAry Childcare
ProVisionAry Childcare in North Minneapolis brings cultural pride and community care together. Founder Danielle Tucker’s Afro-centric, home-based program focuses on faith, inclusion, and affirming every child’s identity.
Posted inEvents
6th Annual Black Entrepreneur State Fair returns to uplift community and celebrate Black excellence
The Black Entrepreneur State Fair, founded in the wake of the George Floyd uprising, returns to Lake Street Aug. 10–16 for a week of culture, commerce, and connection.
Posted inMovies
The Naked Gun
Liam Neeson channels Leslie Nielsen in the reboot of The Naked Gun. The film starts strong with smart sight gags and committed performances—but sputters out with inconsistent humor and a thin plot.
Posted inThe Prep Scene
Lynx split two-game homestand
The Minnesota Lynx split a two-game homestand, falling to the Atlanta Dream before taking down the defending champion New York Liberty. Napheesa Collier led both games with 30+ point performances.
Posted inPhoto Galleries
Minneapolis Black Business Week 2025 Opens at Historic 38th & Chicago
Minneapolis Black Business Week launched with a celebration of Black ownership, legacy, and community at 38th and Chicago. Photo gallery captures the day’s highlights.