IT’S COOL TO BE CRUNCHY Hipster hip-hoppers, Crunchy Kids provide alternative to swagger rap MORE ON PAGE
July 1 - July 7, 2013
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Vol. 40 No. 27 • The Journal For Community News, Business & The Arts • insightnews.com
MUL.
Getting
Daymond John
knowledge
By Harry Colbert, Jr. Contributing Writer Attendees of the 87th Annual Minneapolis Urban league (MUL) were treated to a “private” lesson in business from trailblazing entrepreneur Daymond John, founder of FUBU and star of ABC’s “Shark Tank.” The gala, which celebrated the civil rights organization’s 87 years of providing economic and employment resources to the area’s residents of color,
was recently held at the Minneapolis Convention Center. The lesson was private in that John, who has an estimated net worth of $250 million, admonished anyone from taping his motivational address. “You paid to be here to get this knowledge,” said John. “Don’t record this and go and give it to someone else for free. You should tell them (anyone not in attendance) they should have been here.”
GALA TURN TO 12
A movement for a new era of transformation Last week at our annual gala the Minneapolis Urban League celebrated 87 years as an organization in the movement for civil rights, social justice, and economic empowerment for African Americans. With the changing times, changing demographics, and changing priorities, I am
Gateway to excellence By Scott Gray MUL President/CEO
often challenged to defend the need for an organization like the Urban League. There is currently a wealth gap, an education gap, a jobs gap, an opportunity gap – each a mile long that is pervasive in the African American community and I am a bothered that the fire that started the civil rights
movement years ago seems to have dimmed. In my remarks I shared that the Minneapolis Urban League is calling for a New Era of Transformation. An era that is strategic and focused, an era that is passionate about the fight, and an era that is persistent and determined to drive change in
our communities. In preparing to honor our 2013 trailblazer, Dr. Josie Johnson, I had the privilege of spending some time with her discussing the progress of the movement. Dr. Johnson is someone who was around for the marches and protests of 1963 and led delegations to ensure the successful passing
of the Voting Rights Act. I was inspired and reenergized to continue the press for progress. The events of the last couple of weeks have served as a bitter reminder that our society has changed much and that a
GRAY TURN TO 2
Voting rights at risk By Harry Colbert, Jr. Contributing Writer The United States Supreme Court – in a sharply divided, 5 - 4 ruling – struck down a key provision of the landmark Voting Rights Act of 1965. The act, which ensures that previously disenfranchised voters – in particular, African-
President Barack Obama
Pete Souza
Obama pledges to fight for restoration of Voting Rights Act By George E. Curry NNPA Editor-in-Chief WASHINGTON – President Obama has pledged that his administration will do “everything in its power” to repair the damage
done by the United States Supreme Court on Tuesday when it struck down a key provision of the 1965 Voting Rights Act. “I am deeply disappointed with the Supreme Court’s decision today,” he said in a statement. “For nearly 50 years,
Leadership Will we choose to harness the potential of youth in our global village?
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the Voting Rights Act – enacted and repeatedly renewed by wide bipartisan majorities in Congress – has helped secure the right to vote for millions of Americans. Today’s decision invalidating
VOTING TURN TO 4
Americans – have guaranteed equal access to the ballot box, had Section 4 stripped by the High Court this past Tuesday (June 25). Section 4 required a “preclearance” for nine states and certain jurisdictions that meant they had to get approval from the United States Department of Justice before making any voting changes. Congress last reviewed the pre-clearance formula in 2006. With Section 4 being struck
down, many who had hoped the court would have ruled differently say Section 5 is now in jeopardy. Section 5, which is the teeth for Section 4, freezes election practices or procedures in certain states until the new procedures have been subjected to review, either after an administrative review by the
COURT TURN TO 11
Disappointed by Supreme Court decision (Washington, D.C.) Congresswoman Karen Bass (D-Calif.), a member of the House Judiciary Committee issued the following statement in response to the Supreme Court’s ruling striking down a key component of the 1965 Voting Rights Act: “I’m very disappointed to learn of the court’s decision today striking down a key provision of the 1965 Voting Rights Act. People of all races, religions, and backgrounds joined together and fought for that law because every one of us deserves a
fair shake and a fair chance at achieving our version of the American dream. The right to vote gives us the power to take our future into our own hands and the court’s decision today undermines this very important principle. The ruling ignores significant evidence of continuing racial discrimination and efforts to interfere with the rights of minority voters. Congress must now act and pass legislation to ensure the right to vote is protected for every American.”
Representative Karen Bass (D-Calif)
Education
Business
Full Circle
St. Paul teachers build parent engagement, trust
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We hold these truths to be self-evident
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