Insight News ::: 02.16.15

Twin Cities Dilla Day 2015 MORE ON PAGE 10

Insight News February 16 - February 22, 2015

Vol. 42 No. 7 • The Journal For Community News, Business & The Arts • insightnews.com

Who will protect the children? The invisibility of the American Indian/Native American struggle Justspeak

By Irma McClaurin, PhD Culture and Education Editor

Every parent of color hopes that their children will grow up without exposure to the brutality of racism and other forms of social injustice. That is the promise we hold when we give birth to them and first grasp their tiny hands and look into their eyes as parents. Few parents of color, however, are so lucky and can chronicle example upon example of

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RECOGNITION, JUSTICE AND DEVELOPMENT

UN declares International Decade for People of African Descent Commentary

By Carmen Robles Associate Editor Afrodescendientes

This year’s Black History Month kicks off McFarlane Media’s embrace of the United Nation’s International Decade for People of African Descent. January 1, 2015-December 30, 2024, decade dedicated to the people of African descent globally. My Puerto Rican heritage brings me front and center in this exciting worldwide celebration. According to the 2010 Census,

75.8% of Puerto Ricans identify as white, 12.4% identify as black, 0.5% as Amerindian, 0.2% as Asian, and 11.1% as “mixed or other.” Though estimates vary, most sources estimate that about 46% of Puerto Ricans have significant African ancestry. Around the same time the University of Puerto Rico

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L-R: Dr. Marta Moreno Vega, Arturo Alfonso Schomburg, and Roberto Clemente

In new film, Yale students of color seek revolution in Cuba By Carla Murphy Reprinted from COLORLINES Students of color at elite universities are fed up with oncampus racism and lately they’re taking their defiance beyond the ivory tower. Before this month’s “I, Too, Am Harvard” went viral there was last fall’s #BBUM or “Being Black At Michigan” and now there’s, “I, too, am Oxford.” They all belong to a rich tradition of student activism around race and inequality. Yale University is entering the mix with the release of a new documentary film, “Black and Cuba.” Shot in 2002 when the United States was muscling up for war in Iraq, nine graduate students, mainly of color, left their isolationamong-privilege in New Haven for Cuba. They went looking for revolution. Did they find it? Colorlines talked with filmmaker Robin J. Hayes, now a professor at The New School in New York City and founder of civic participation nonprofit, Progressive Pupil. There’s been a lot of highly

Robin J. Hayes publicized campus activity lately. What do you think about “I, Too, Am Harvard” and “Being Black at Michigan?” They’re continuing a long struggle for unconditional acceptance and inclusion on the part of students of color in higher education. That’s part of why I framed “Black and Cuba” as a multi-generational story that

Insight 2 Health Building endurance

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asks, “How are we truly going to move forward from what social movements accomplished in the late 1960s and early ’70s?” Back then we broke the hard color line. But how we move forward from there hasn’t yet been fully resolved. I think we’re seeing a generation of students with higher expectations. Higher than the previous generation’s?

Yes. I think the expectations among students, now, are higher and, in a way, so are the institutions.’ And I’m speaking now only for a fraction of us who’ve been able to access institutions like Harvard or Yale. Those institutions, our families and communities all expect us to seize these opportunities and go for it. We’re told there’s no limit if we’re

willing to work hard and put in the effort. But what we often encounter is concrete hostility and observable marginalization, actions and statements that are degrading and dehumanizing. We’re seeing that conflict rise to the surface with acts like, “I, Too, Am Harvard.” It’s also really interesting to see that conflict in an international context with, “I, too, am Oxford.”

So you see micro-aggressions, for example, towards someone from Pakistan who’s being told, “Wow, You speak really good English.” This is the reality of what we’re faced with, after being told, “Work hard!” and “Anything is possible!” “Black and Cuba” shows what we, as students in one historical context, have done to address those contradictions. What were you looking for in Cuba? Did you find it? I’ll speak for myself. I was looking for hope that change driven by the needs of everyday people was really possible. Those are people who are working to live, people who do not have a surplus of wealth. Can their needs and desires be the engine of change? And did you find that in Cuba? I did. But not just in the “Cuba is the ideal” example. Cuba is a place with a lot of contradictions like everywhere. It’s made important gains, no doubt about that. But they also are still struggling with certain things—like, freedom of speech

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Business

Lifestyle

Community

The “Carnegie Hall or Bust” fundraiser

Healing for the Black family

J.D. Steele residency at Zachary Lane

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Page 2 • February 16 - February 22, 2015 • Insight News

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ROUND 5, WEEK 3

BUILDING ENDURANCE I2H Blog

By Carmen Robles Week three of the Insight 2 Health (I2H) Fitness Challenge 10-week body and mind renewal program, focused on establishing a solid workout schedule while building strength and endurance. The end of the third week in Round Five of the I2H fitness challenge which combines nutrition counseling, fitness classes and internal assessments, is already helping to make fast and lasting changes in the appearance and overall well-being of the participants. Leading the conversation on taking charge of our own health, Al McFarlane, Insight News, Editorin-Chief firmly believes the answer to the high obesity rate and health problems lies within the community. Top number (systolic) in mm Hg

attention to alignment and how the positions feel to your body. Nutritionist Julie McMahon owner and founder of Sound Nutrition, Inc. http://mysoundnutrition.com facilitated a circle of discussion. This week’s topic included thinking differently about the food choices we make when eating outside the home. Julie says she does not believe in dieting but rather in maintaining healthy eating choices. She encourages participants to think differently when making food choices when dining in restaurants, at dinner functions and special occasions where old habits easily pop up. She suggests taking smaller portions choosing alternatives that include vegetables. She recommends complete elimination of sugar, dairy and white flour.oiohi[ Dr. Darren D. Moore, Ph.D., LMFT, founder of “The Moore Therapy Movement! Need I Say Moore?” (moore@ drdarrendmoore.com) guided the more than 20 participants through on line presentations and assignments designed to help identify the triggers Bottom number (diastolic) in mm Hg

and have such a profound impact on my continuing on this mission. Never would have guessed how inspirational the other participants would be. Take Adero Riser Cobb, for example. I learned this is her third round and she has lost a combined total of fifty-five pounds. She glows with confidence and is excited to continue on her health journey. Mother to a college student, it was hard to tell who’s who when she shared a picture of herself and her daughter. Joel Bifulk and Emily Farlow were quick to share the correct way to do certain exercises. Emily is fluent in Spanish and was happy to help me maneuver the yoga sculpting exercises in her flawless Spanish with the same sincerity and passion as the trainers and instructors. Her step father, Joel Bifulk, did not hesitate to help me get through the difficult experience of trying to balance myself on one leg and showing me methods to aid in controlling flapping of the arms, while sharing focus and breathing

Your category*

What to do**

Below 120

and

Below 80

Normal blood pressure

Maintain or adopt a healthy lifestyle.

120-139

or

80-89

Prehypertension

Maintain or adopt a healthy lifestyle.

140-159

or

90-99

Stage 1 hypertension

Maintain or adopt a healthy lifestyle. If blood pressure goal isn’t reached in about six months, talk to your doctor about taking one or more medications.

160 or more

or

100 or more

Stage 2 hypertension

Maintain or adopt a healthy lifestyle. Talk to your doctor about taking more than one medication

Adero Riser Cobb

Joel Bifulk

Emily Farlow Developing and maintaining sustainable health and lifestyle choices that are informed by historical data and an examination of present day self-defeating unhealthy choices can empower our community to overcome today’s obesity epidemic. Partnering with I2H co-founder, champion fitness trainer Tyrone Minor, owner of The F.I.T. (Fitness, Innovation and Transformation) Lab studio located at 1565 Como Avenue in St. Paul the Insight 2 Health Fitness Challenge provides a holistic approach to maintaining permanent changes for a healthier quality of life. The F.I.T. Lab http://thefitlabinc. com/, team of experts include fitness trainers Adam Stein and Theresa Behnke who modify fitness training to challenge the participant’s level of experience and ability. Training sessions consist of one hour cardio work, with 8 to 10 strength-training exercises and up to 8 to 12 repetitions of each exercise.. Jamie Minor, Michelle Anderson and Theresa Behnke professional yoga instructors and yoga trainers lead participants through yoga stretches and relaxation techniques that surpass the grueling fitness sessions. Yoga introduces mindfulness stretching that pays

that lead to our unhealthy choices. Dr. Moore’s self-realization projects carefully and systematically aid participants in replacing old, selfdefeating tapes and give the tools to replace them with positive motivational and inspirational affirmations. Helping us make sense of the unhealthy habits that obstruct our road to good health. Being part of the Insight 2 Health Fitness Challenge gives participants access to the F.I.T Lab’s elite team of personal fitness trainers, yoga instructors, a nutritional counselor and a mental health-success coach. Participants are learning to focus on the behaviors needed to make healthy choices for improving health and living a quality life. I2H is a balancing of the mind and body it is motivational and inspirational, pushing participants to reach personal health, fitness and wellness goals they previously believed was out of reach, like me. Three weeks ago I never thought I could walk up the one hundred and sixty two stairs from my basement parking level to my home on the ninth floor. It’s something I am doing daily these days. I never would have thought that complete strangers would be so compelling

techniques. This third week of the Insight 2 Health Fitness Challenge ended with the realization I am down a notch on my belt and can climb stairs with the greatest of ease. Best of all my blood pressure has gone from 157/95 to a reading of 120/73. The blood pressure chart above was written by Mayo Clinic Staff. Blood: What your reading means, helps you figure out if your blood pressure is at a healthy level or if you’ll need to take some steps to improve your numbers. Here’s a look at the four blood pressure categories and what they might mean for you. If your readings fall into two different categories, your correct blood pressure category is the higher category. Remember high blood pressure is the silent killer. Week Three was also about the evils of refined sugar and white floor, causing me to be angry at how much sugar is in our faces and how it is in just about everything we ingest. It’s no wonder heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes are the three amigos of death in African American, culturally diverse and poor communities who are in food deserts with little or no access to a

variety of fresh foods. It is easy to see how fast foods and cheap foods make healthy choices a difficult choice. Week Four, promises to elevate the level of endurance for each of the participants a welcomed challenge for

most but a dreaded activity for others. Follow me on the I2H Blog. I welcome your thoughts, stories and most especially your support as we enter Week Four of the ten week Insight 2 Health Challenge.

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Insight News • February 16 - February 22, 2015 • Page 3

HEALTH Quick Quiz: Women’s Heart Health Mayo Clinic News Network That’s what Mayo Clinic Health System nurse practitioner Susan Pope says, as we prepare to recognize American. Heart disease is more deadly than all forms of cancer combined and according to the American, while one in 31 American women dies from breast cancer each year, heart disease claims the lives of one in three. That’s about one death each minute. So make sure you’re as committed to heart disease prevention as you should be to your yearly mammogram. That means maintaining a healthy weight, keeping your blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol at healthy levels and quitting smoking. Or better yet, don’t start. Stay

Descent From 1 at Mayagüez conducted an island-wide mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mother lineage and the Y chromosome father’s lineage study. The study revealed that 61% of Puerto Ricans have maternal Native American ancestry, 26.4% have maternal West or Central African ancestry, and 12.6% have maternal European ancestry. The Y chromosome evidence showed Puerto Ricans’ patrilineage (father’s lineage) to be approximately 75% European, 20% African, and less than 5% indigenous. The combined results reveal a mostly mestizo (Taino and European) population with important European and African elements. There are those who claim that a majority of Puerto Ricans are racially mixed, but that they do not feel the need to identify as such. They argue, furthermore,

Cuba From 1 and ongoing racial tension—just as we’ve made gains and are still struggling in U.S. I guess I found what I was looking for, in the connections we made with each other as a group, and also in our connection with the Cubans we met during the trip. It was hard to tell at the end of the film whether you or the group had indeed found revolution. I made a choice not to tie the story up extra neatly because I hope people will leave the film thinking about what they’re looking for and how they can find it. Cuba was a way for me to start that path. And I think everyone else in the group is also still figuring and working that out in different ways. It’s not something you can just decide, like Fidel and Che going off to the mountains to create revolution. It’s day-to-day decision-making and it’s important to keep looking. You shot the Cuba footage in 2002 around the same time that the U.S. invaded Iraq for the second time. How did that impact your trip? Actually, the day we were returning to the U.S. is the day Bush announced restrictions on travel to Cuba. I remember sitting in José Martí airport [and this is] after we’d been in Cuba and were really relating to Afro-Cubans telling us their own struggles to have more freedom of expression and economic opportunity and thinking, We’re on the same page. And then we sat and watched the news reporting that Cuba was part of the so-called Axis of Evil and that they were the enemy? I’m looking around the airport at families enjoying cubano sandwiches and thinking, “Are we talking about the same place?” I see people who’re trying to make way for their families, the best way they can. Does Cuba treat their “everyday people” better than the U.S. treats its own? It’s difficult to compare directly because there are so many things enjoyed by Cubans that’re the wildest dreams for us, like universal health care, universal public education, a real jobs program. These things are being threatened now by economic realities and free market reforms. For me, the fact that there’s no difference in life expectancy based on race between Afro-Cubans and other Cubans is huge. But it’s also clear that racial discrimination

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that Puerto Ricans tend to assume that they are of African, American Indian, and European ancestry and only identify themselves as mixed if having parents “appearing” to be of separate “races”. I am of Puerto Rican descent, bilingual and bicultural. I speak Spanish fluently; eat rice and beans con lechon (roasted pork), dance salsa and know more about the island than most islanders. I consider myself Puerto RicanAmerican. My siblings and cousins born and/or living on the island will beg to differ with me. To them I am a Newyorkrican, nothing more nothing less, a description that can ignite debates fueled by powerful emotions on both sides. As I await the results of my own DNA analysis through 23&Me testing, I look forward with great anticipation to learn of my true ancestry. Will I be part of the 26.4% on my maternal side confirming I am of African ancestry? Will I fit within the 20% on my paternal side? If so, will that make a possible 46.4% plays out in terms of access to jobs and employment advancement. In tourism for example, there’s a presumption that foreigners, mainly white Europeans and South Americans, prefer to interact with white Cubans when it comes to front desk or management positions. We also heard complaints that the highest echelons of government are still white. Our [dark-skinned, male] tour guide complained about racial profiling and stereotypes, too— I’m sad to report that there are common stereotypes about black people being lazy or criminal all over the world. There never was a racial utopia in Cuba but some activists do say that something about economic competition is worsening the racial divide. Consider too, Cuba is a developing country. There are things that even lower income Americans have access to that’s difficult for Cubans to get, like basic toiletries or electronics. I think it’s always difficult when comparing America to a developing country. There’s much less violence there, but I’m sure Cubans would look at Chicago’s South Side and think, You guys are living the high life. Do you see an opening for the embargo to end, now? Absolutely. It’s a policy that is completely out of steam politically. Even half of Cuban-Americans think it’s time for normalization of U.S.-Cuba relations. It’s part of our privilege that we’re not encouraged to think about how the embargo is impacting Cuba. But everyone in Cuba thinks about it every day. The question now is about when it’s going to happen and whether the autonomy of Cuba and Cubans will be respected in the process. What’s next? We’ll be bringing “Black and Cuba” to as many campuses and community organizations as we can and, we’re also fundraising to bring it Cuba. And before we go, what’s good reading for those who’re “seeking” like you were back then? What helped you? For people who don’t read for a living like me, this is a classic for a reason: “The Autobiography of Malcolm X.” Also, read “Sister Outsider” by Audre Lorde and “The Wretched of the Earth” by Frantz Fanon. Start with those three. And stick with “Wretched”; the language isn’t easy but if you’re already interested in social justice and anti-racist practice, you’ll get it.

that I hail from the heart beat of the world ... Africa? Following are a few of my own personal Black Puerto Rican champions who fuel my Puerto Rican pride. Dr. Marta Moreno Vega, an Afro Puerto Rican, founded the Caribbean Cultural Center African Diaspora Institute in New York in 1976 the CCCADI is dedicated to promoting and promulgating the cultures of people of African descents in the Americas. Dr. Vega is former director of El Museo del Barrio and the Association of Hispanic Arts. Arturo Alfonso Schomburg, also Arthur Schomburg (January 24, 1874 – June 8, 1938), was a Puerto Rican historian, writer, and activist in the United States who researched and raised awareness of the great contributions that Afro-Latin Americans and AfroAmericans have made to society. He was an important intellectual figure in the Harlem Renaissance. Over the years, he collected

SIXTH MINNESOTA CUBAN FILM FESTIVAL Thursdays, 7:00 pm Feb 19 – March 26, 2015 St. Anthony Main Theatre Minneapolis Feb 19, Black and Cuba By Robin J. Hayes (2013, 83 min, Documentary, US) Feb 26, La Película de Ana “Ana’s Film” by Daniel Díaz Torres (2012, 98 min, Comedy/drama, Cuba) Mar 5, Roble de Olor “Scent of Oak” by Rigoberto López Pego, (2003, 135 min, Drama, Cuba) Mar 12, Tierralismo Feature 1:By Alejandro Ramirez Anderson (2014, 49 min, Documentary, Cuba) Mar 12, Chernóbil en Nosotros Feature 2: “Chernobyl in Us” by Daisy Gómez (2006, 50 min, Documentary, Cuba) Mar 19, Conducta “Behavior” By Ernesto Daranas (2014, 108 min, Drama, Cuba) Mar 26, Hay un Grupo que Dice “A Group is Saying” by Lourdes Prieto (2013, 81 min, Documentary, Cuba) $8.50: General admission. Box office or at www. stanthony maintheatre.com. $6.00, box office only: Seniors, students, Film Society of Mpls/St. Paul members. Films are in Spanish with English subtitles and most are accompanied by a short feature. Discussions will take place following the films. www.minnesota cubacommittee.org MNCuba@gmail.com | 612-367-6134

physically and mentally active. The more we know about our nation’s No. 1 killer of women, the better. So, take this quick quiz on heart disease and women. True or False: Heart disease only affects older women. False. Heart disease affects women of all ages. The combination of birth control pills and smoking boosts heart disease risks by 20 percent in young women, the American Heart Association says. Yes, our risk increases as we age. Overeating and leading a sedentary lifestyle are factors that lead to blocked arteries over time. But don’t let your age lull you into a false sense of security. I take care of women of all ages in the hospital. Heart disease is an equal opportunity threat. True or False: Heart disease only affects women who don’t take care of themselves.

False. Unfortunately, all the salads and yoga in the world can’t eliminate your heart disease risk. Family history often plays a factor. You easily can be thin and have high cholesterol. Knowing your numbers can help. The American Heart Association recommends you start getting your cholesterol checked at age 20 — or earlier if your family has a history of heart disease. And be sure to have your blood pressure checked regularly. True or False: I feel fine; therefore, I am fine. False. According to the American Heart Association, 64 percent of women who die suddenly of coronary heart disease had no previous symptoms.

And when women do experience symptoms, those signs often are misinterpreted. Women’s symptoms are typically vague, including shortness of breath, nausea and vomiting, and back or jaw pain. Other women experience dizziness, lightheadedness, pain in the lower chest or upper abdomen, and extreme fatigue. You may be thinking, “Ha! I feel back pain and fatigue all the time.” I get that. I hope you’re talking to your health care provider about all your concerns. But if something feels “off,” if something feels “not right,” don’t wait. Trust your gut. Listen to your heart of hearts. Seek medical attention.

literature, art, slave narratives, and other materials of African history, which was purchased to become the basis of the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, named in his honor, at the New York Public Library (NYPL) branch in Harlem. Roberto Clemente, a Puerto Rican professional baseball player was a Major League Baseball right fielder who played 18 seasons for the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1955 through 1972. He was a National League, Most Valuable Player once, All-Star twelve times (15 games), batting champion four times, and Gold Glove winner twelve times. He is the first Latin American and Caribbean player to win a World Series as a starter (1960), to receive a National League MVP Award (1966), and to receive a World Series MVP Award (1971). Clemente died in an aviation accident on December 31, 1972, while en route to deliver aid to earthquake victims in Nicaragua.

HAVE A STRONG HEART. The bigger the belly, the higher the risk of heart disease. Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of American men — taking a life every 30 seconds. An expanding middle carries two kinds of fat: subcutaneous fat you can see and pinch, and visceral fat that surrounds the abdominal organs. This type of fat actually secretes lipids — such as triglycerides — which increase your risk of heart disease. Fortunately, a simple blood test can reveal your level of triglycerides. Learn your levels, and if you are at risk. Call 763-581-CARE to schedule an appointment at your nearby North Memorial Clinic.

Page 4 • February 16 - February 22, 2015 • Insight News

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Faith and community leaders announce initiative to close the race gap in Minnesota’s juvenile justice system

Michael Grant, Ron Busby, Reverend Jonathan Weaver

AME church leaders cite Black economic empowerment as 2015 goal Children From 1 micro-aggressions to which our children are subjected. My own children experienced such moments in their formative years at school: “what if I call you the ‘N’ word,” taunts of “Medusa” for having cornrow hair or wearing braids, and many more affronts throughout their youthful years, some of which they never disclosed. What we as parents of color pray is that our children never have to face a full frontal attack of racial slurs and the potential for violence. Although my children are now adults, and may face the same challenges as I when they have children, I’m still a parent, and it wrenches my heart to know that children from an American Indian school in South Dakota were the most recent recipients of the latest social injustice assaults that seems to be spreading like wildfire across this country. According to multiple news reports, 57 children from the American Horse School on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota had beer thrown

By Hazel Trice Edney (TriceEdneyWire.com) - When Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated, he and other protestors had won passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Therefore, his agenda had turned toward the next major issue - economic empowerment for Black people.

on them and racial slurs hurled at a Rapid City Rush hockey game. The children were there as a reward for outstanding academic achievement. They had traveled miles to attend a minor league hockey game as a reward and celebration. Instead, they became the latest in what some news reports are calling a potential “hate crime” and what appears to be an escalating embracement of serious aggressions across this country by police as well as citizens under many different guises. It also speaks to the long standing difficult race relations between the Native American population and the dominant white population of Pine Ridge South Dakota and elsewhere. Those reading this in Minneapolis know exactly what I’m talking about. Beyond the adult chaperones that raised their voices and brought attention to the matter, organizations such as The National Coalition Against Racism in Sports also have called for swift action. And let us not ignore the fact that national media has taken its sweet time in providing national coverage. Why Now, Why Them?

Therefore, on April 3, 1968, planning a march on behalf of oppressed sanitation workers, Dr. King told preachers at the Mason Temple in Memphis, Tenn., “It’s all right to talk about long white robes over yonder, in all of its symbolism. But ultimately people want some suits and dresses and shoes to wear

Historically hate crimes are actions perpetrated against a member of a group historically targeted for reasons of race/ ethnicity, sexual orientation and religion. American Indians are “the first people.” They walked the terrain we now call “the United States of America” centuries before Columbus socalled “discovered” it. While we celebrate Thanksgiving as a symbol of sharing across differences, the truth is that Thanksgiving is a celebration of the annihilation of native people. Having lived in Amherst, Massachusetts, It was recounted to me with pride the story of Lord Jeffrey Amherst, whose claim to distinction was knowingly selling blankets infected with smallpox to the indigenous population. Today, we call such acts genocide. Back then, Lord Jeffrey was celebrated as a hero with a town (Amherst, MA) and a college (Amherst College) named after him. The latest assault again these American Indian students is only the tip of the iceberg. The litany of ways in which America’s true indigenous populations have suffered include broken treaties, land loss through seizures, identity

AME TURN TO 5 harassment since they are the only group required to “prove” their identity in order to claim rights under historical treaties. They are also the only group for whom the government created an office, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, to serve as a steward—an bureaucracy that has mismanaged their duties and been a co-conspirator in land and natural resource robberies of native lands to name a few. Yet most of us in this society are clueless that many of these events occur at all. Why? It is because Native Americans/ American Indians are the most invisible population of all of the groups marginalized and underserved in American history. According to the National Indian Education Association (NIEA), in ten states, American Indians whose data are aggregated with Alaskan Natives (AI/ AN) represent anywhere from the lowest of 3.0 percent of the population in Oregon to the highest of 13.9 percent in Oklahoma and 19.6 percent in Alaska. In South Dakota, where this incident occurred, American Indians are 10 percent of the population. Yet, we hear very little about their

On Thursday February 5, faith leaders from African American communities and ISAIAH joined community and state leaders to announce their commitment to end racial disparities in Minnesota’s juvenile justice system. “Our juvenile justice system is broken and racialized; and the time is now to repair it,” declared Rev. Ovester Armstrong, Jr., pastor at Macedonia Baptist Church in Minneapolis. “The lives of our young black boys are being destroyed by a system designed to punish for life

JUSTICE TURN TO 8 struggles for social equality and education and economic access and inclusion. This incident reminds us of the vulnerability of this country’s first people. Why celebrate academic achievement of these students? Because, according to the NIEA, 40 percent of all AI/AN students “attended a school that did not meet Adequately Yearly Progress” as compared to 33 percent of white students. As far back as 1969, the Senate Special Subcommittee on Indian Education named the problem: “…The alarmingly high rates at which American Indian and Alaska Native students drop out or are pushed out of school is not a new phenomenon, but one that has persisted throughout the 20th and early 21st centuries.” So American Indian students who excel academically should be encouraged, recognized and celebrated. That was precisely what the American Horse School was attempting to do when this racial incident occurred. If we take the why a bit further, it’s also because children are America’s future—they hold in their small bodies the potential as future leaders, educators

Rev. Ovester Armstrong, Jr. at podium and scientists. Yet we are no closer to “underrepresented minorities” being equally represented in the sciences and engineering, critical areas in today’s technology-driven world, according to Dr. Donna Nelson, one of the very few Native American scientists in this country. In her study of “underrepresented minorities” or URMs in Science and Engineering, Dr. Nelson reveals that while there has been gradual progress among Blacks and Hispanics in the completion of PhDs in these academic areas, the growth for Native Americans is extremely small. Nelson notes that Native Americans, which also includes Alaskan Natives, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders in her study, “… have the lowest representation at all but one point—assistant professors in the second tier of earth science departments…” Why We Should Care? For anyone involved in social justice activism, the answer is obvious. If one group suffers, all of us suffer. We should care because no child should have to suffer racial intolerance. We

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Insight News • February 16 - February 22, 2015 • Page 5

BUSINESS The “Carnegie Hall or Bust” fundraiser FUNdraising Good Times

By Mel and Pearl Shaw Dr. Todd Robinson is a navy pilot and flight surgeon, author, film producer, medical school faculty member, and a practicing physician. He is an MD and a PhD. But until now there was one area in which he had no experience: fundraising. Here’s the background: Getting ready for the world premier of renowned composer Earnestine Rodgers Robinson’s oratorio “Exodus” required fundraising. Dr. Robinson (Mrs. Robinson eldest son), and family members needed to raise $140,000 to $170,000 to bring 200 diverse choir members to New York City’s Carnegie Hall.

The family organized supporters as Chicago Voices United. But, surprisingly, not as an independent 501c3 organization. “One of the FUNdraising Good Times! articles talked about being creative in looking for funding sources as it pertained to nonprofits. This was very encouraging as we struggled in the early phases. Initially, we used personal funds and a loan as start-up capital for Chicago Voices United. But we quickly realized that we needed the nonprofit status to be more attractive for donations,” Dr. Robinson shared. Instead of becoming a 501c3 organization, Dr. Robinson asked an existing nonprofit if Chicago Voices United could become a “sponsored project” of that nonprofit. The answer was yes, and months of paperwork and filing fees were saved, allowing the group to focus on their goal: fundraising for choir members. They launched a website (www.ChicagoVoicesUnited.

Todd Robinson org), attempted crowdsource funding, website marketing, and social media but found each to be “extremely ineffective.”

“We decided to go a different approach. Like the article I read and resonated with, we had to get creative with our fundraising,”

Dr. Robinson shared. “As a result, we decided to pursue industries/companies directly involved in our fundraising needs: hotels and airlines based in Chicago. We figured it would easier for a company to donate their time or services to a homegrown project instead of just forking over cash.” The results? “Requesting donations in the way of services, we quickly landed a sponsorship from Hyatt who made a donation in the form of “discounted” room prices; and in the world of expensive hotel rates of downtown Manhattan, this was a big win. Now, the price of lodging during the concert event was more within reasonable reach for our average choir member,” Dr. Robinson continued. “This also made it easier for us to recruit choir members. Recently, United Airlines has expressed interest in making a donation of its services.” A January “sneak preview” of Exodus in Chicago was

well-received, and part of the Robinsons’ fundraising strategy: potential donors and influencers had the opportunity to experience the oratorio and become inspired. Follow up meetings are in progress as we go to press. Dr. Robinson’s advice: “Constantly monitor your efforts with a critical eye; be adaptive and flexible enough to quickly change directions if needed; and think creative.” You can donate at www. chicagovoicesunited.org or by calling Dr. Robinson at 901-4143366. Contact him by email at info@chicagovoicesunited.org Copyright 2015– Mel and Pearl Shaw Mel and Pearl Shaw position nonprofits, colleges and universities for fundraising success. For help with your fundraising visit www. saadandshaw.com or call (901) 522-8727.

Dean named YouthCARE Executive Director The YouthCARE Board of Directors has appointed Willie Dean as the organization’s next executive director. He will succeed 40-year YouthCARE founding executive director Craig Luedemann, who will retire at the end of February. Dean brings significant nonprofit leadership and fundraising experience to his

Willie Dean

new position at YouthCARE. He comes to YouthCARE most recently from KFAI, a community radio station in Minneapolis, where he served as executive director for 18 months. Previously, Dean spent over 30 years in leadership positions with YMCA branches across the country, including most recently as the president/CEO of the

YMCA of Arlington, Texas from 2007 to 2013. Dean holds a Ph.D. in Education from the University of Minnesota and an M.B.A. from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. YouthCARE Board Chair Christine Ganzlin noted, “We completed a very thorough search for the next leader of YouthCARE. We’re excited

about where Willie’s substantial experience and passion for youth will lead YouthCARE in the future.” Dean will replace Craig Luedemann, who will retire this month after serving as YouthCARE’s executive director since the organization’s founding in 1974. “It has been a tremendous honor to have served

as YouthCARE’s executive director for the past 40 years,” Luedemann commented. “I look forward to seeing the exciting progress the organization will make in the coming years in the hands of a very capable executive director, board, and staff.” Willie Dean will begin his tenure as YouthCARE executive director on March 1, 2015.

Unless emergency measures are taken, many families will be cut off from their only source of income

Warsame seeks fed action on money transfer issue Minneapolis City Council Member Abdi Warsame is calling on federal agencies to quickly find solutions to a critical, developing issue that affects the local Somali community’s ability to send funds to their families in Somalia. Each year, Somali Americans in Minneapolis send hundreds of millions to help their loved ones meet basic needs like food, schooling and healthcare. The flow of these

funds is facilitated by Somali American Money Transfer Operators and represents a significant share of Somalia’s economy. In the last couple years, major banks have started withdrawing bank accounts from Money Service Businesses because of regulatory concerns. The last remaining U.S. bank, Merchant Bank of California, has recently chosen to close accounts for all money transfer

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during a special session on “Economic Development through the Black Church” during the A.M.E. Church’s 2nd District Mid-year Opening Plenary Session in Raleigh, N.C. late last year. His speech preceded a panel discussion that also included Marie Johns, former deputy administrator at the Small Business Administration; Ron Busby, president/CEO of the U. S. Black Chambers Inc. and Rev. Jonathan Weaver, senior pastor of Greater Mt. Nebo A.M.E. Church in Bowie, Md., and board member of the A.M.E. organization that deals with economic growth and development projects. Following the forum, Weaver says A.M.E. pastors, led by Bishop William P. DeVeaux, are now poised to carry out a specific plan that they hope will spread to other denominations and ultimately catch fire in other denominations and the Black community throughout 2015. “Clearly where we are at this point is to actualize and implement what we discussed in Raleigh,” said Weaver in an interview. “The whole thrust was how Black churches can help to empower Black businesses.” The starting plan, in a nutshell, is for churches located in the A.M.E. Second District - North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland and D.C. - to commit to the support of two Black-owned businesses. They are Thomas Morehead, president of a BMW dealership in Sterling, Va. and Donnell Thompson, co-founder/co-owner of RWDT Foods, Inc., a chain of restaurants based in N. Snellville, Ga. AME church members buying from those two businesses will cause the churches to benefit from those sales; then identify other businesses in and around the states and “replicate this process”, Weaver described. After tracking the sales, initiated by the churches, the hope is that other church districts will get involved and that the movement will spread to other businesses and other churches. “And we certainly hope and pray that this will become a much

From 4 down here! “It’s all right to talk about streets flowing with milk and honey, but God has commanded us to be concerned about the slums down here, and his children who can’t eat three square meals a day. “It’s all right to talk about the new Jerusalem, but one day, God’s preacher must talk about the new New York, the new Atlanta, the new Philadelphia, the new Los Angeles, the new Memphis, Tennessee. This is what we have to do.” The next day, Dr. King was assassinated. Nearly 47 years later, as America last month celebrated the King birthday holiday and is now celebrating Black History Month, a group of church leaders appears to be carrying out this Black economic empowerment goal in earnest. Invited to speak to a recent gathering of pastors and leaders of the African Methodist Episcopal (A.M.E.) Church, National Bankers Association President Michael Grant cited the words of human rights champion Paul Robeson: ‘”We realize that our future lies chiefly in our own hands,’” Grant quoted. “’We know that neither institution nor friends can make a race stand unless it has strength in its own foundation; that races like individuals must stand or fall by their own merit; that to fully succeed they must practice the virtues of self-reliance, selfrespect, industry, perseverance, and economy.’” Grant continued in his own words: “We played a major role in growing America from a small colonial outpost to the greatest industrial giant the world has ever known. We don’t have to argue about our ability to grow wealth. We have made everyone else rich, some filthy rich. Isn’t it time that we finally make our efforts productive for ourselves?” Grant was keynote speaker

Abdi Warsame larger Black faith effort and we will reach out to the Baptist community, the Church of God and Christ and the list goes on,” Weaver said. “If we’re able to affect a significant change in terms of relationship with Black businesses, can you imagine if we’re able to boost their profit margin and therefore they are going to have to hire more people and therefore they will be reaching back to the faith community. More people will have jobs, they will have better jobs; therefore there will be less frustration, economically, in our community.” So far, the congregations have been receptive to the idea, Weaver said. “Quite frankly, I’ve not met any resistance thus far.” In his speech, Grant reminded the audience that a legacy of Black economic develop was at the core of the founding of the A.M.E. Church. “I agree with that great A.M.E. historiographer, Dr. Dennis C. Dickerson, who said that the history of the African Methodist Episcopal Church - founded - by Bishop Richard Allen - reflects the black liberationist narrative of African - American history,” Grant said. “Nearly eight decades before the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation, Allen, a free man, was already promoting Black economic development. So it is fitting that we come to his church today with an urgent message: The time for Americans of African descent to take our place at the round table of economic opportunity is now. With each passing day, the price of not having a well - thought out economic agenda for Black America continues to extract a toll and degrade our position in this country and throughout the diaspora.” Grant, who last year received the U. S. Department of Commerce’s Lifetime Achievement Award for his Black business advocacy, ticked off statistics that undergird the need for an economic movement to support Black-owned businesses and Black-owned banks: There are currently 1.9 million

companies effective February 6, 2015. This results in serious concerns about the continued viability of remittance flows to African countries, including Somalia. “We want to make sure that our federal agencies are acutely aware of the importance of remittances to these countries and to U.S. residents,” said Minneapolis City Council Member Abdi Warsame. “This is a serious crisis and we are

asking the federal government to do their utmost to ensure that remittances continue to flow through secure, legitimate channels. The closure of these regulated channels could benefit other networks that prey on informal money transfer systems that are invisible to regulators and law enforcement officials,” added Council Member Warsame. “It would be a mistake to allow the only regulated

networks for sending money back to Somalia to absorb such a crippling blow,” Warsame said. “Unless emergency measures are taken, many families will be cut off from their only source of income.” The Merchants Bank account closure will impact almost all U.S. remittances to Somalia, and a number of Minneapolis based companies will be forced out of business immediately.

Black-owned businesses in America, but only about one in 20 have more than one employee and less than 2 percent have annual gross receipts of more than $1,000,000. In terms of relative wealth, White America is 20 times richer than Black America, according to a recent Pew Report. In the 1960’s, we had 60 Black-owned banks. Today, that

number has dwindled to only 30. What is insane about this tragic loss is this: The bank is the only institution in our community that can leverage or multiply dollars 7, 8, 9 or 10 times. That means for every $1,000,000 dollars of invested capital in these banks, they are able to loan out 7, 8, 9 or $10 million for economic development, business growth and job creation.

Grant said African-Americans lost significant ground in business ownership after integration, largely because AfricanAmericans were no longer forced to support each other. “As long as we were forced to trade with each other and barter with each other, our businesses (small as they were) thrived. But

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Page 6 • February 16 - February 22, 2015 • Insight News

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EDUCATION Poster series at Robbinsdale Spanish Immersion School honors famous African-Americans Teachers on Robbinsdale Spanish Immersion School’s Black History Task Force recently created a series of 42 posters about famous AfricanAmericans from all walks of life. These posters, which are in the school’s hallways, are in Spanish, and the theme is “Viva nuestra Cultural!” (“Long live our culture!”). “This theme represents the fact that African-Americans have contributed much to make our culture what it is,” said Elaine Mehdizadeh, RSIS’s principal. “It is a message of unity and respect for all cultures with a focus on the contributions and unique culture of AfricanAmericans.” The teachers on the task force are Laura Pezan, Brynn Peterson, Lesley de Paz, Cathy Kurvers, Carla Belistri, Molly Quinn and Karma Unverzagt. They consulted with Education Assistant Jim Snargrass and Equity Specialist Albert McGee about the individuals that were chosen for the posters.

Angelo Dungey (Teacher) reading to students Ma’Lon McCoy (l) and DeAnthony Thomas (r)

Students with arms wrapped around each other (l-r)Paris Howell, Ma’Lon McCoy and TyJon Harris

Project SPIRIT: Modelling African American success Project SPIRIT staff were asked the question: How were you similar to Project SPIRIT students? Their responses included: in foster care, talkative, lacked confidence, unstable home life, academic struggles, single parent households, low-income, and more. While staff members admitted to facing insurmountable odds, Project SPIRIT leaders have overcome hardships and are now beacons of hope and models of success for Project SPIRIT students. Challenging behaviors and life circumstances negatively impact academic achievement and development. Their shared experiences allows Project SPIRIT staff members to help students make the link between what they learn in and out of the classroom.

“Our African-American staff is our most essential asset, serving as role models for our scholars,” stated Shanene Herbert, Project SPIRIT Director.” They are college students and professionals that model what it means to be successful African-Americans.” Cultural Enrichment In Saint Paul Public Schools, 30% of students are African-American. “With such a high percentage of African-American students it’s critical we have programs that are culturally based,” said Nancy Stachel, Principal of Maxfield Elementary School. African-American parents and students report a “constant invisibility” when it comes to education and curriculum that relies heavily on culturally mainstream texts and narratives.

Culturally responsive education requires that students be able to “see themselves” in education. To address this, Project SPIRIT provides materials that reflect students’ unique history and culture. Project SPIRIT also engages students through culturally relevant activities and field experiences to enhance their learning process and increase cultural knowledge. High Expectations African-American students face one of the nation’s worst achievement gaps and there are few places in the country where the educational disparities are as pronounced as they are in Minnesota. According to the Department of Education, 75% of African-American students are not proficient in reading.

2014 // 15 SEASON Northrop Presents

THE NILE PROJECT

Tue, Feb 24, 7:00 pm

Aswan (film and live music) A concert and cultural celebration mixing African instruments and vocal harmonies to showcase the unique and varied musical traditions of the Nile River Basin.

The Nile Project. Photo © Matjaz Kacicnik.

While Project SPIRIT is currently working to close this gap, many African-American students still fail to meet the basic academic standards they must reach to be ready for college. Studies show that being exposed to positive adult role models, culturally responsive teaching, and maintaining high academic standards will significantly

decrease this achievement gap. For 20 years, Project SPIRIT has been providing this essential after-school programming for African-American children in Saint Paul Public Schools. “The high expectations and standards that Project SPIRIT maintains positively impact student performance during the school day,” mentions Nancy Stachel.

“Project SPIRIT is a huge asset to our school.” Get Involved Project SPIRIT is currently looking for classroom tutors, school supply donations, and field trip opportunities. If you are interested in getting involved, visit www.spacc.org/projectspirit.

insightnews.com

Insight News • February 16 - February 22, 2015 • Page 7

LIFESTYLE “COPING WITH CHILD LOSS”

Georgia Ellyse supports grieving families The Amana Family Scholarship Award (AFSA) is celebrating it’s third year in helping grieving families suffering from loss through death or battle with the serious illness of a child ages 0-21. Georgia Ellyse, Foxie 105 FM - WFXE drive-time co-host, created the award and partnered with Faith’s Lodge of Danbury, Wisconsin which has assisted eleven families so far. Faith’s Lodge provides a place where parents and families facing the serious illness or death of a child can retreat to reflect on the past, renew strength for the present, and build hope for the future. In its North Woods setting, Faith’s Lodge provides a peaceful escape for families to refresh their minds and spirits

INSIGHT NEWS www.insightnews.com

Insight News is published weekly, every Monday by McFarlane Media Interests. Editor-In-Chief Al McFarlane Publisher Batala-Ra McFarlane Assistant to the Publisher Shumira Cunningham Associate Editor & Associate Publisher B.P. Ford Culture and Education Editor Irma McClaurin Director of Content & Production Patricia Weaver Sr. Content & Production Coordinator Ben Williams Production Intern Sunny Thongthi Distribution/Facilities Manager Jamal Mohamed Receptionist Lue B. Lampley Contributing Writers Harry Colbert, Jr. Julie Desmond Fred Easter Timothy Houston Penny Jones-Richardson Alaina L. Lewis Darren Moore Carmen Robles Lydia Schwartz Ryan T. Scott Toki Wright Photography David Bradley Contact Us: Insight News, Inc. Marcus Garvey House 1815 Bryant Ave. N. Minneapolis., MN 55411 Ph.: (612) 588-1313 Fax: (612) 588-2031 Member: Minnesota Multicultural Media Consortium (MMMC), Midwest Black Publishers Coalition, Inc. (MBPCI), National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) Postmaster: Send address changes to McFarlane Media Interests, Marcus Garvey House 1815 Bryant Avenue North, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55411.

while spending time with others who understand what they are experiencing. The 2015 theme “Coping With Loss” goes straight to the heart of the matter, and will be used in messaging the entire year to elevate the issue of parental grief and to emphasize the ongoing need for supporting partnerships. As a grieving parent herself, Ellyse understands the plight of those going through such a life changing ordeal. There are a myriad of reasons that lead to a parent losing a child, but the common thread is dealing with the aftermath. “I know firsthand how critical that time is” said Ellyse. AFSA hopes to gain additional sponsors for the list of supporters making it possible to assist a broader reach of families with transportation to Faith’s Lodge, and continue providing the awareness the topic deserves.

Baby Amana February 21st, is the annual birthday of the media personality’s daughter for whom The Amana Family Scholarship Award prize is named. In commemoration, Ellyse added, “Faith’s Loge helped me to cope in ways I cannot explain, so I want to send as many families who would not be able otherwise in Amana’s name hoping they’ll

find peace too.” If you, or someone you know is grieving from the loss, or battling with the serious illness of their child; or if you would like to donate to The Amana Family Scholarship Award submit a letter of interest to request an application: amanaaward@ gmail.com Georgia Ellyse is mother to 6 year old Arayah, host of

Georgia and Arayah Georgia’s Juice, and co-host of the drive-time show at Foxie 105FM in Columbus, GA. In June 2012, she appeared on Black Entertainment Television (BET) as a Judge for Freestyle Fridays on the “106 and Park”. A University of Saint Thomas graduate with rigorous training at Penumbra and Guthrie Theater garnering screen time in major motion picture “Young Adult”

with Charlize Theron. Former cosmetic model on National Television Network ShopNBC, Winner of the 2013 Twin Cities Urban Music’s Model of the year award. Speaker for The 2012 United Negro College Fund’s Empower Me Tour, creator & mentor of “Be Royal” for Teen Mom’s at Saint Paul’s Harding High School and Ambassador of Faith’s Lodge.

Healing for the Black family Man Talk

By Timothy Houston During Black History Month, I want to continue my discussion about relationships. For our community to become better, we as a people must be better. The Black family is under attack, and the emotional battle between men and women of all races is at an all time high. To counter this, we need information that will help bring emotional healing and resolution. Knowledge is power, and power is needed for sustained changed. Here are a few things to consider as we work to help facilitate healing for the Black family. First, seek to get a better understanding of men. Consider this, man came from the ground and was an empty shell before God breathed life into him. Because of this, man has within him the ability to suppress his emotions which makes it possible for him to deal dispassionately

The black family can win the war waged against them but it will take strong communication skills to do it.

with the consequences of his actions. This emptiness is a part of his emotional makeup, and it gives him the capacity to wage war and still return home to love his wife and family. A man has emotions, but he generally expresses them through his actions. Men feel the most secure when they keep their emotions to themselves. Understanding the creative purpose for man helps us to understand him and this will make for a better family unit. Secondly, seek to get a better understanding of women. Unlike man, woman is an emotional being. She was created with the

ability to bring forth life within her. Able as she is to sense the subtle changes of a child growing in her womb, she has physical and emotional connections to the child that supersede that of a man. Because this is a part of her physical design, it allows her to nurture and care for her children and others. It is her nature to express her love and care through her emotions. Women feel most comfortable when they share their emotions. When men provide a healthy outlet for women to share, she remains emotionally balanced, and the family is better because if it.

Thirdly, seek understanding to the difference between man and woman. The way a man and a woman express their emotions is different and visible to all. Relatively speaking, if a man has five emotional strings, then a woman appears to have five thousand, an imbalance that makes conflict inevitable. Men and women will never see eye to eye so they must work on better communication. As the man works on sharing his emotions more and the woman works on allowing him time to do so, emotional conflict will be minimized. This harmony will have a positive impact on the Black family and our community. Finally, seek to end emotional battle altogether. Struggles involving emotional battles damage relationships, and in the end, no one wins. When men find themselves losing the battle emotionally, they may try to make it a battle of words which can be harsh and damaging. And if he continues to lose, he may shutdown completely which, in turn, causes him more internal conflict. Because man is an empty shell emotionally, he is able to put his silent behaviour into that temporary storage place leaving the woman alone to deal with her

feelings. Damage done to either the man or woman, results in damage to the relationship as a whole. This emotional battle will impact the family. The Black family can win the war waged against them but it will take strong communication skills to do it. Wars are ended with treaties. When a man and woman come together at the negotiation table, the lines of communication are opened, and the ability to resolve the issue becomes possible. There is no force more powerful in this world than a man and woman working together. Their union creases families and the whole world pauses to take notice. They then are no longer two but one spiritually and emotionally. This oneness makes for better relationships, neighbourhoods, and communities. When this union takes place, the war of the emotions is ended, and we are all better because of it. Timothy Houston is an author, minister, and motivational speaker who is committed to guiding positive life changes in families and communities. For questions, comments or more information, go to www. tlhouston.com.

Recognizing the heroes in your family Motivational Moments

By Penny JonesRichardson Today I talked with my sister about the elders in our family who are all gone away now. We reminisced about all the time we spent learning and listening to the

adults talk about how things were when they were young. As kids, we thought those stories were boring and didn’t have anything to do with what was going on in our lives at that moment. But looking back I now realize that everything they talked about is still very relevant today. There stories were important because they were sharing the past with us and showing us where we came from. I have heard so many times that you can’t know where you are going if you don’t know where you’ve been. I understand

that completely now. I know why I am who I am today and why I do some of the things I do. I know why I desire knowledge and why I love to write stories. I come from a long line of story tellers. My family would sit us down and share stories from their past and the lessons they learned from their elders. It’s so important nowadays to share with your loved ones the stories of their ancestors and those who worked hard so they can be who they are today. I don’t take that for granted for one moment. I

appreciate those who came before me and the many sacrifices that were made so I didn’t have to sacrifice as much. I understand about the blood, sweat and tears that my ancestors shed in order for me to be who I am today. I will forever be grateful and I will continue to try and make them proud. This Black History month take a moment to recognize the heroes in your family. They may not be famous, but they did amazing things that you may not even know about. This month I

honor those people in my family who dealt with more than I can ever imagine just so I didn’t have to. With much respect and love ALWAYS I say Thank You! And as always, stay focused, stay determined, and keep striving for greatness. Penny Jones-Richardson is a published author and life coach. She can be reached via her website at www.thequeensproject. com or email at penny@ thequeensproject.com.

AME From 5 in our minds, we were never quite good enough. We had internalized the lie about our lack of inherent worth,” he said. “When the doors of integration gave us the long - awaited pass to wine and dine with our former oppressors, we enthusiastically abandoned our own in search of an elusive White acceptance. We believed then - and many of us still do that association would bring on assimilation.” Dr. King concluded on April 3, 1968, the eve of his assassination: “We’ve got to stay together and maintain unity. You know, whenever Pharaoh wanted to prolong the period of slavery in Egypt, he had a favorite, favorite formula for doing it. What was that? He kept the slaves fighting among themselves. But whenever the slaves get together, something happens in Pharaoh’s court, and he cannot hold the slaves in slavery. When the slaves get together, that’s the beginning of getting out of slavery. Now let us maintain unity.”

Page 8 • February 16 - February 22, 2015 • Insight News

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COMMENTARY Each generation has something to offer Opinion

By Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr., Interim President, NNPA Whether it is in an inner city neighborhood across America, the Caribbean, in Europe or in a sprawling mass of people in an African or Brazilian urban area, millions of Black youth throughout the world are crying out for a better quality of life. They should always have a better life than their parents. I always try to keep my eyes and ears open to see and hear what our youth are saying and doing. The axiom that the future is in the hands of the young is certainly true today. I admire and support young people who stand up and speak out for freedom and equal justice.

Despite what you may have heard, I have been impressed by the new generation of young activists, freedom fighters and community mobilizers who are emerging from Ferguson, Mo. to New York City, Rio, Soweto, Cape Town, Kingston, Havana, Luanda, and Lagos to Kinshasa and Lubumbashi in the Congo. Over the past several years, we have witnessed Black youth in the United States and throughout the Pan African world rise to challenge the lingering vestiges of racial oppression, neo-colonialism and economic inequity. There is a hunger and thirst for new movements for social, political and economic change by a generation of youth who appear to be ready to move forward. Unfortunately, there are many young activists and leaders who are not receiving the kind of encouragement that they deserve and need to be successful. That’s especially true in the case of those of us who have learned the contours and dynamics of power, institution building and what it

We cannot afford a generation gap at the leadership level.

means to sustain an effective movement for change. We need to show our youth more love, concern and support, even when we have a different opinion about how they should approach a particular task. We cannot afford a generation gap at the leadership level. We cannot afford a cultural gap on the issues revolving around the poetry, music and art

forms of our young artists who have always evolved out of the crucibles of our long struggle for freedom, justice and equality. Wisdom must be transmitted from one generation to the other. But more than anything else, our young today need to be encouraged to withstand harsh contradictions of a society and world that still attempts to deny our humanity.

Yet, I know from first-hand experience that it is difficult, if not impossible, to give to others what you do not have in your own mind, pocket or spirit. In order to encourage our young lions to become strong freedom fighters, we have to be encouraged ourselves. If our spirit is broken, how are we going to inspire someone else? W.E.B. DuBois, John Oliver Killens, James Baldwin, Ralph Ellison, Zora Neale Hurston, Angela Davis, Sonia Sanchez, Nelson Mandela and many other of our freedom-fighting writers and scholars all were once encouraged by elders who pointed the way forward in the global struggle for freedom and empowerment. Now more than ever before, our youth need the encouragement and guidance of the elders who are sober with informative and inspiring wisdom of the past and present. That is true at home and abroad. For example, there are 78 million people, whose average age is 16 in

the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Millions of these young Congolese should be educated about the legacy and spirit of Patrice Lumumba. The majority of Africans across the continent are young, gifted and talented. This is no time for us to engage in hopelessness in Africa, nor in America. The miseries of the past do not have to be our future. We must learn from the past. Our future should not be determine by what others do to us, but by what we will do for ourselves, and in particular what we will do to help our youth excel, triumph and push for a better quality of life. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr. is the President and CEO of the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) and can be reached for national advertisement sales and partnership proposals at: dr.bchavis@nnpa.org; and for lectures and other professional consultations at: http:// drbenjaminfchavisjr.wix.com/drbfc

Did NBC’S Brian Williams also lie about Hurricane Katrina? Black Press of America By George E. Curry NNPA Editor-in-Chief “NBC Nightly News” anchor Brian Williams has finally admitted that he had incorrectly asserted that a helicopter he traveled aboard in 2002 while reporting on the Iraq War in 2003 was hit by a rocketpropelled grenade, forcing an emergency landing. “This was a bungled attempt by me to thank one special veteran and by extension our brave military men and women veterans everywhere…” he said on air. Williams’ admission came on the heels of a story published in the military publication Stars & Stripes that challenged

his retelling of events. “NBC News anchor Brian Williams has told a war story over the years since the 2003 invasion of Iraq. It grew to where he was claiming to be on a Chinook helicopter that was forced down after taking rocket-propelled grenade and small-arms fire,” the newspaper reported. “In his on-air apology Wednesday, he backed off that, but said that he ‘was instead in a following aircraft.’ Soldiers who were in two Chinook companies say he was not in, nor ever near, a helicopter that was being fired upon.” Williams, who makes $13 million a year, has drastically altered his story over the years, according to a timeline published by CNN. Lt. Col. Jerry Pearman, the mission commander when one of the three Chinooks took fire, told Stars & Stripes, “I can say with 100 percent certainty that no NBC reporters were on any

and that NBC would “keep covering it.” However, that was not the case. FAIR observed, “… Katrina’s impoverished victims faded rapidly away from NBC’s coverage thereafter. By the six-month anniversary in February, NBC had joined its rivals in limiting coverage to a brief look at the struggles of putting on Mardi Gras in a depopulated city, then moving on before anyone could accuse them of peering too deeply into matters of race or class.” Perhaps it was another ”bungled attempt” by Brian Williams to portray himself as a hero.

of the aircrafts.” Following his public admission, Williams said that he would forgo his anchoring duties at the toprated network news program “for the next several days.” Politico.com, describing what it called “a sign of deepening trouble,” reported on Sunday that Williams cancelled an appearance on “Late Night with David Letterman” that had been scheduled for Thursday. It was on an earlier Letterman show that Williams also gave his now-discredited account. The New York Times reported, “In 2013, Mr. Williams told David Letterman that he had actually been on the helicopter that got shot down, adding that a crew member had been injured and received a medal. ‘We figured out how to land safely,’ he said, ‘we landed very quickly and hard. We were stuck, four birds in the desert and we were north out ahead of the other Americans.’” Of course, none of that was true. Fairness & Accuracy in Reporting (FAIR), the media watchdog group, said, “Now

that he’s cleared that up, there are some other tall tales that Williams might want to take back. Take his recounting of the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans (Dateline NBC, 8/22/10; Extra!, 10/10): “You know, I’ve been around a lot of guns and a lot of dead bodies, and a lot of people shooting at people to make dead bodies. But you put them all together and you put it in the United States of America, and boy, it gets your attention…. “It was clear already there weren’t going to be enough cops…. Everywhere we went, every satellite shot, every camera shot, we were at the height of the violence and the looting and the—all the reports of gunplay downtown. Well, who’s bathed in the only lights in town? It was us…. “We had to ask Federal Protection Service guys with automatic weapons to just form a ring and watch our backs while we were doing Dateline NBC one night…. State troopers had to cover us by aiming at the men in the street just to tell them, ‘Don’t think of doing a smash and grab and

killing this guy for the car.’” FAIR stated, “As long as he’s in a confessional mood, Williams might as well admit that he didn’t see ‘a lot of people shooting at people to make dead bodies,’ nor would people have killed him for his car if he hadn’t been surrounded by feds – none of which appeared in his original reporting.” The New Orleans TimesPicayune reported in a Pulitzer Prize-winning story, “Four weeks after the storm, few of the widely reported atrocities have been backed with evidence. The piles of bodies never materialized, and soldiers, police officers and rescue personnel on the front lines say that although anarchy reigned at times and people suffered unimaginable indignities, most of the worst crimes reported at the time never happened.” To Williams’ credit he did air a week-long series called “After the Storm: The Long Road Back” in which the network tackled racial discrimination, among other issues. He said Katrina was different from most disasters

Children

Dr. King so eloquently stated “injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” So what can we do as nonAmerican Indians/non-Native Americans? Whether you are a person of color, a white ally, or someone who fundamentally believes in democracy and justice for all, speak out— make the invisible struggle of American Indian/Native American people more visible. Let us lift up our voices to

support their voices. Let us not use non-involvement as an excuse to turn our minds and hearts away. Let us say enough injustice, and especially for children. And let us congratulate the children and their chaperones, their families and their community and culture for the courage they are showing all of us by choosing not to remain invisible and for standing up for justice, especially for the

children. A stand for justice anywhere, even in a small corner of South Dakota, is a stand for justice everywhere. © 2015 McClaurin Solutions

Justice

or conservative issue; this is a community issue.” Faith leaders from African American communities and ISAIAH are partnering with community and state leaders to: • Create a fair, objective, data driven juvenile justice system that eliminates disparate treatment and prevents the over-incarceration of youth. • Urge our elected leaders to invest $5 million over the next biennium in the Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative (JDAI). • End mandatory minimum sentences for youth. • End sentencing youth to life without parole. • End the shackling of youth in the courtroom. • End the mass suspensions and expulsions in our public schools. • Allow formerly incarcerated youth to become licensed professionals. • Return voting rights to those who have served their sentences. “The steps we’ve outlined are simple steps we can take to make the juvenile justice system more just,” said Rev. Armstrong. “Members of our congregations will hold community forums and visit with their legislators and work to pass these restorative policies.”

From 4 should care because but for the grace of God, it could have been our children. We should care because this country has defied and defiled its own democratic principles and foundations in its historic dealings with the American Indian population. We should care because, as

From 4 rather than offer rehabilitation, forgiveness, and a hopeful vision and pathway for their future. We are committed to stand up for the humanity of our black youth and to call out the inhumanity of a system that fails to see the God in them.” Children of color are more likely to be disciplined, suspended, expelled, and referred into a juvenile justice system that often traps them for offences that are usually seen as simple youthful behavior when committed by white youth. While the overall number of juvenile offenders being imprisoned in Minnesota has hit record lows, a disproportionate number of young African American, Native American, and Latino American people are put behind bars. In fact, youth of color are three times more likely to be arrested for a delinquency offense. Sarah Davis, Program Director and Youth Advocate Attorney, Legal Rights Center in Minneapolis said that she overwhelmingly represents kids of color in the justice system. “Racial disparities in our incarnation system is very real and needs to be addressed. This is not a liberal

George E. Curry, former editor-in-chief of Emerge magazine, is editor-in-chief of the National Newspaper Publishers Association News Service (NNPA.) He is a keynote speaker, moderator, and media coach. Curry can be reached through his Web site, www.georgecurry.com. You can also follow him at www. twitter.com/currygeorge and George E. Curry Fan Page on Facebook.

Irma McClaurin, PhD is the Culture and Education Editor at Insight News; she is an activist anthropologist, writer and founder of McClaurin Solutions, a consulting firm.

insightnews.com

Insight News • February 16 - February 22, 2015 • Page 9

COMMUNITY J.D. Steele residency at Zachary Lane Students from Zachary Lane Elementary School recently worked with singer/composer J.D. Steele, of the singing group the Steeles, in a music residency. The residency allowed Steele to work with all grade levels using culturally responsive instructional practices. Classroom teachers observed and participated in each session. Students learned an original song composed by Steele, and fifth grade students performed three concerts with Steele on Feb. 3. The theme of the concerts was “Let Your Voice Be Heard,” and pieces focused on the voices of Minnesota composers. Patti Arntz, a vocal music specialist at Zachary Lane, said the theme of the concerts was meant to reflect the inclusion of many voices. “It’s about his voice, his culture’s voice, Zachary Lane culture’s voice, kids, adults – it’s about everyone having a voice in who they are, their identity,” said Arntz. “We’re doing a program of Minnesota composers, and that’s a voice of Minnesota. It’s just voices everywhere.” Steele said he focused on inspiring messages of hope, love, peace and harmony – “things we all can relate to.” He also tries to connect movement to singing, and the students sang two of his songs during the concerts. “They are fabulous to work

hope they get out of this a joy not only for singing, but also for performing. I want them to take away that it’s fun to sing and fun to move, and to take away the message of the music, and

with. What happens with kids in this age group is that they are less inhibited,” said Steele. “I love working with this age of students because they just give you all the energy you want. I

connect their heads and their hearts.” Steele, the eldest sibling (in the Steeles), was awarded a Bush Artist Composer Fellowship and is currently the director

and founder of the MacPhail Community Youth Choir. He has been commissioned on 10 original musicals, including a collaboration with his sister, Jevetta Steele on “Two Queens,

One Castle.” J.D. Steele continues to tour internationally with the musical productions of “Bagdad Cafe the Musical” and “The Gospel at Colonus.”

Bobby Joe Champion

Champion hosts special screening of film Selma

More than a dozen kids ages 10-12 spent the afternoon ice fishing with deputies and learning the best ways to reel in “a big one.”

Sheriff wants kids hooked on fishing The Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office in partnership with Hmong International Academy, Minnesota DNR, and the Hennepin County Sheriff Foundation, hosted the 2nd annual winterized Hooked on Fishing, Not Drugs event. More than a dozen kids ages 10-12 spent the afternoon ice fishing with deputies and learning the best ways to reel in “a big one.” The event is aimed to deter kids from experimenting with drugs by promoting the importance of making positive choices. The goal is to keep at risk youth interested

in fun recreational activities. The event took place at Fort Snelling State Park on Snelling Lake. Hennepin County Sheriff Rich Stanek spoke to the kids about making good decisions and the dangers associated with using drugs. The Sheriff’s Office Community Engagement Team assisted the Sheriff with the event. The Hennepin County Sheriff Foundation (HCSF) has hosted eight previous Hooked on Fishing, Not Drugs events, with the majority of them taking place in the summertime.

Classifieds

Phone: 612.588.1313

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Family Advocate

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Beacon Interfaith Housing Collaborative is hiring a Family Advocate for our Families Moving Forward program center in Minneapolis. Help us end homelessness! Visit: www.beaconinterfaith.org/careers for details.

RENTAL UNITS AVAILABLE

The Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe Housing Authority has rental units available in Cass County, MN. Please call 218-335-8280. Must meet certain qualifications.

West Falls Estates

International Falls, MN. 56649 Rent based on 30% Of adjusted income Call Patricia Brown At 218-283-4967 TDD 800-627-3529

Fax: 612.588.2031

Senator Bobby Joe Champion (DFL-Minneapolis) will be hosting a special screening of “Selma” on Thursday, February 19, 2015 at 7:00 p.m. at the Regal Cinemas Brooklyn Center Stadium. The doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the screening is free of charge. Sen. Champion urges area residents to come talk about the importance of voting and enjoy the new hit film, “Selma”! The screening is co-hosted by the Second Chance Coalition, Elliot Park Neighborhood Association, Heritage Park Neighborhood Association, NOC, The Council on Crime and Justice, Better Futures Minnesota, Insight News, and KMOJ. Regal Cinemas Brooklyn Center Stadium is located at: 6420 Camden Avenue North, Brooklyn Center, MN 55430. For more information please email joane.mcafee@senate.mn

Email: info@insightnews.com

Operations Generalist – Jury Specialist The U.S. District Court, District of MN is accepting applications for a full-time Operations Generalist – Jury Specialist. This position will be located in St. Paul. Salary range is $41,009 - $66,701. For complete job description, visit the court’s website www.mnd.uscourts.gov, Employment. An Equal Opportunity Employer

Music Director Part-time Mt. Olivet Baptist Church is seeking a PT Christian Music Director to support our Music Ministry. The ability to read and teach music, accompany other musicians and strong keyboard knowledge are requirements, as well as at least one year of experience teaching and directing choirs of at least 12 members. Duties include rehearsing assigned choir(s), serving during Sunday worship services, special events and as a supporting instrumentalist. Contemporary and traditional gospel music, anthems and hymns are a part of our worship. Position reports to the Minister of Music. If interested, please send your resume electronically to lorean48@aol.com or by mail to: Personnel Ministry Mt. Olivet Baptist Church 451 West Central Avenue St. Paul, MN 55103 Website: www.mtolivetbaptistchurch.org

North Memorial Needs Volunteers to Help Victims of Domestic Abuse SafeJourney, a program serving North Memorial Medical Center and Maple Grove Hospital, helps patients and individuals in the community who are experiencing domestic abuse. Volunteer advocates are needed to provide a listening ear, support, safety planning, information and referral. You do not have to have previous knowledge or experience, but rather looking for people who are sensitive to the issue, caring, and non-judgmental. Advocates sign up for 2 on-call shifts per month. Flexible scheduling - daytime, overnights, and weekends. Training is provided. Deadline to apply and schedule a short interview is January 26. Please call Suzy at 763-581-3942.

Page 10 • February 16 - February 22, 2015 • Insight News

insightnews.com

s e i t i C n i w T y a D a Dill 2015 By: Toki Wright Twitter - @mrwrighttc

M

usic has forever been changed by the presence of Detroit based producer/ emcee James Dewitt Yancey, better known as Jay Dee or J Dilla. His distinct solo and collaborative work was done with the likes of Janet Jackson, Busta Rhymes, Erykah Badu, A Tribe Called Quest, the Pharcyde, his group Slum Village and many more. His music is so impressive that his instruments are now in the Smithsonian.

DILLA TURN TO

12

James Craven stars as Thurgood Marshall

Lauren B. Photography

James Craven as Thurgood Marshall

The Illusion Theater’s 40th Anniversary Season continues with a powerful play based on the life of Justice Thurgood Marshall, starring one of the Twin Cities’ most venerable actors, James Craven. A journey of epic proportions, “Thurgood” is an eye-opening, humorous and uplifting portrait of a true American hero on stage March 6-15 at the downtown Minneapolis theater, located on the eighth floor of the Cowles Center, 528 Hennepin Ave. Post-show panels and audience discussions follow each performance. In “Thurgood” the story opens with retired Supreme Court Justice Marshall returning to Howard

University, where he earned his law degree, to give a speech. He then brings to life significant events and turning points – from his childhood in the back alleys of Baltimore to his career as a civil rights pioneer, and ultimately as the first AfricanAmerican Supreme Court Justice. Illusion’s Co-Producing Director Michael Robins directs the critically-acclaimed show. He said, “To honor the 60th anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education, the recent 50th anniversary of the Civil Right Act of 1964 and soon to commemorate 50th anniversary of

THURGOOD 12 TURN TO

insightnews.com

Insight News • February 16 - February 22, 2015 • Page 11

BOOK REVIEW

Turning 15 on the Road to Freedom 35 stitches to stop the blood gushing from her head, yet neither the beating nor the wound could discourage the determined young lady from joining the march from Selma to the Alabama state capital in Montgomery two weeks later. All of the above is recounted in vivid detail in this illustrated memoir aimed at young adult readers 12 and older. That target demographic makes sense, given Lynda’s age at the time of the demonstration and the fact that, as she says, “The Selma Movement was a kids’ movement.”

By Kam Williams “Jailed nine times before her 15th birthday, Lynda Blackmon Lowery refused to give up the fight for equal rights. She was the youngest marcher on the historic 1965 voting rights march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama. She vowed to make a difference—and she did.” Lynda’s story of overcoming terror and winning one of our nation’s most important battles is eye-opening and inspiring—a memoir that brings us into the heart of the civil rights movement to offer compelling proof that young people can be heroes.” -- Excerpted from the Bookjacket

Selma, as emotionally and absorbingly recalled by an unsung hero who persevered in the face of vicious intimidation on the part of the police. Turning 15 on the Road to Freedom My Story of the 1965 Selma Voting Rights March By Lynda Blackmon Lowery As told to Elspeth Leacock and Susan Buckley Illustrated by PJ Loughran Dial Books Hardcover, $19.99 128 pages, Illustrated ISBN: 978-0-8037-4123-2

© Robin Cooper

She initially served as part of the support team for high school students staging sit-ins at segregated places like lunch counters and movie theaters. But when Dr. King returned in 1965, Lynda declared herself ready to participate in acts of non-violent civil disobedience, too. Consequently, by the time she would turn 15, she had already been arrested nine times simply for seeking rights equal to whites. While in jail, she was subjected to torture prohibited by the Geneva Conventions, such as the occasion when she was left to roast in a windowless iron sweatbox until she literally passed out from the heat. Later, during the first Selma march nicknamed “Bloody Sunday,” Lynda was not only tear gassed but knocked unconscious with a billy club by a cop calling her the “N-word.” It took

The recent brouhaha over whether or not LBJ was dissed in the movie Selma has unfairly shifted the focus from the brave marchers who had their heads cracked open by racist police to a U.S. President sitting safely in the White House hundreds of miles away. If you’re interested in an eyewitness account of what actually transpired at the Edmund Pettus Bridge back in March of 1965, I heartily recommend “Turning 15 on the Road to Freedom.” As the title suggests, the author was a teenager when her grandmother first took her to hear Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. speak at a church in their hometown of Selma. Lynda Blackmon Lowery was instantly inspired by the charismatic leader to get involved in the Civil Rights Movement, even though she was barely in her teens.

ON STAGE AT THE GUTHRIE

TASTE OF WEST BROADWAY

THURSDAY FEB 26, 2015 5PM–8PM

MPLS PHOTO CENTER 2400 N 2ND ST, #200 MINNEAPOLIS, MN 55411 COCKTAIL AND BUSINESS ATTIRE

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WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE directed by JOE DOWLING and DAVID BOLGER

A fresh take on Shakespeare’s perfect play FEBRUARY 7 – MARCH 29

612.377.2224 GUTHRIETHEATER.ORG Sponsored by

Wine and beer tasting Local chefs Silent Auction Wall of Wine Live music

Page 12 • February 16 - February 22, 2015 • Insight News

Dilla From 10 After years of battling complications with Moschcowitz syndrome and lupus, Dilla passed away on Feb. 10, 2006 at the age of 32. In response, there has been an outpouring of support from across the globe as to how his music and work ethic transformed lives. Through the collaboration of several organizations, the Twin Cities has celebrated the life of J Dilla with events and dialogue. This year with the approval of J Dilla’s mother, multiple events will take place in Minneapolis and St. Paul in an official capacity culminating with Saturday night’s showcase at Nomad World Pub, 501 Cedar Ave. S., Minneapolis. I recently spoke with event organizer Raees “DJ

Thurgood From 10 the Voting Rights Act of 1965, I’m excited that we are able to bring this potent play to the Illusion stage. It’s fitting that we are spotlighting one of our

insightnews.com music?

RR: Dilla is one of the most important figures to music as a whole not just hip-hop. Dilla is the epitome of hard work ethic, of the love for music, and of soul. Dilla can live in all of us. He is someone that needs remembrance to teach to our youth and the world the about his legacy so it will never be forgotten.

(Dilla) Being from Detroit, Minneapolis has that Midwest connection. Minneapolis hiphop is so connected to his sound and his legacy. AS: How has Dilla Day grown since the first event? RR: The first was at a club called Trocaderos with St. Paul Slim, Slug and a bunch of other prominent emcees. The second event was put on by Michael Kuykindall at Icehouse two years ago. Last year Save the Kids put together a panel discussion and showing of his documentary. This year has brought a live show with quality artists to represent live. It’s just grown because people have realized how important it is. AS: Are the artists performing Dilla material? RR: All the artists are going to incorporate some Dilla element into their performance. AS: As a DJ, how has he impacted how you play

includes Jonathan Carlson (video), Roberta Carlson (music), Dean Holzman (sets), Mandi Johnson (costumes) and Michael Wangen (lighting). Tickets for “Thurgood” are $20-35. Group discounts are available for groups of 10 or more people. Tickets are available at the Illusion Theater

Box Office at 612-339-4944 or online at www.illusiontheater. org. Performance Schedule Thursday, March 5 @ 8pm – Preview Friday, March 6 @ 8pm – Opening Night Saturday, March 7 @ 8pm Sunday, March 8 @ 2pm

Wednesday, March 11 @ 10am – Matinee Thursday, March 12 @ 8pm Friday, March 13 @ 8pm Saturday, March 14 @ 8pm – Audio-described and ASL performance Sunday, March 15 @ 2pm

Francisco” Romero of Twin Cities Save the Kids to learn more about the annual celebration. AS: What is Twin Cities Dilla Day? RR: Twin Cities Dilla Day is a celebration of the life and legacy and contributions of J Dilla to hip-hop, music, and the world. It’s our way to show or love, respect and gratitude to this human being. AS: One of the main event organizers is Save the Kids. Tell the people more about what you do. RR: Save the Kids is a fully volunteer grassroots organization dedicated to end incarceration of all youth through transformative justice and hip-hop activism. The first International HipHop Activism conference takes place the same day at Augsburg College. If people want to get involved they can go to www.savethekidsgroup. org. We also have Save the

Kids Radio every Sunday 5 (p.m.) to 7 p.m. central standard time. You can also stream through the website. AS: What are some of the activities you have planned? RR: We have live performances by some of the top Twin Cities artists including the Lioness, DJ Kool Akiem, B-Boys J-Sun and Stepchild, photography by Sarah White, and many more. We have the dancing element, DJ element and visual arts element as well. We are trying to incorporate all four elements of hip-hop into the show. We also have Dilla pastries from Amber Ace Cleveland for the first two hours. AS: I hear Dilla’s mother is taking part in this year’s event. What’s her role and how important is it to have her involved? RR: There’s been three Dilla Days in Minnesota before this put on by different groups.

None of them had the backing of the Dilla Foundation. This is the first one that the foundation has backed and Ma Dukes (the title given to Dilla’s mother) approved. There are a lot of people doing Dilla Days around the world that are not getting approved. This is the first one the stamp is on. That’s one of the most important elements. She’s supporting this movement and how we build bigger Dilla Days in the future. AS: How important is Dilla Day? Why should people celebrate?

country’s biggest civil rights champions and are using this production as a catalyst for audience discussion of how his life’s work inspires us today.” Playwright George Stevens, Jr., is an award-winning writer, producer and director. “Thurgood” his stage writing debut, premiered in 2006 at the

Westport Country Playhouse (Connecticut) and starred James Earl Jones. The 2008 Broadway production featured Laurence Fishburne, who was nominated for a Tony Award and later starred in the 2011 HBO film of the same name. In addition to Robins, the “Thurgood” creative team

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RR: His instrumentals are going to be played forever. He has mandatory records along with the Biggies, the Pacs, the Public Enemys and NWAs that have to be played every time a DJ plays. It’s something that’s always on our mind. Whenever a real DJ plays, Dilla has to be on their mind. The Black and Brown community need to know Dilla’s legacy and contributions. He will live forever long after everyone reading this article is dead and gone. People will still be dissecting his music. For more information on associated events search DillaDay TwinCities on Facebook. The main event takes place Saturday, Feb. 21 at Nomad World Pub, 501 Cedar Ave. S., Minneapolis at 8pm. The Nomad event is 21-plus (other all ages Dilla events are also listed on the Facebook page).

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Understanding Our Past to Direct the Future “Sankofa” 7700 France Ave, Edina, MN

February 25, 2015

7:00 P.M.

Al McFarlane,

Town Hall Meeting Crisis in Black Education

February 26, 2015

7:00 P.M.

February 27, 2015

Marc Morial,

7:00 P.M.

Reverend Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr.

National Urban League

ON-SITE PARKING & SHUTTLE SERVICE

PARTNERS

All delegates must park at the Minneapolis/Bloomington Hilton located at 3900 American Boulevard West, Bloomington, MN. A shuttle service to and from the conference will be provided. The shuttle will leave every half hour from the Hilton and from the 7700 France Ave West entrance.

KMOJ Radio- The people Station, Insight Newspaper, Minnesota State Mankato College of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Minnesota State Mankato College of Education, Minnesota State Mankato College of Business, Minnesota State Mankato College of Arts and Humanities, Minnesota State Mankato Library, Office of Institutional Diversity.

Note: Delegates may park free at the 7700 France Ave location in the west parking lot (behind building) ONLY on the following days and times: t February 25-26-27 after 5:30 P.M. 4IVUUMF 4FSWJDF GSPN $46 QSPWJEFE CZ -BOE UP "JS t Wednesday, February 25 after 5:30 P.M. for Town Hall Meeting 5IVSTEBZ 'FCSVBSZ o 'SJEBZ 'FCSVBSZ t Thursday, February 26 for keynote presentation of Marc Morial at 7:00 P.M. %FQBSU $46 BU A.M. t Friday, February 27 for keynote presentation of Benjamin F. Chavis Jr. at 7:00 P.M. t Saturday, February 28 All day 3FUVSO $46 BU P.M.

www.mnsu.edu/panafricanconference A member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System and an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity University. This document is available in alternative format to individuals with disabilities by calling the Office of Institutional Diversity at 507-389-2914 (V), 800-627-3529 or 711 (MRS/TTY). Individuals with a disability who need a reasonable accommodation to participate in this event, please contact the Institutional Diversity Program at least five days prior to the day of the event. INDV161PO_0115