Insight News ::: 8.2.10

Insight endorses Entenza-Robinson Insight News endorses Matt Entenza in the DFL Primary Election August 10th. Matt Entenza and running mate, former television news anchor and small business owner, Robyne Robinson, bring to the Executive branch of state government 21st Century visionary leadership, compassion and pragmatism, qualities sorely lacking during the current Republican administration.

The Entenza for Governor Campaign itself is not business as usual. It challenges how even our liberal friends too often find it convenient to relegate Black people’s interests, and the concerns of people of color are to an after-thought, kicked to the curb and held in abeyance until main business is taken care of.

You got Power!

August 10

th

ENDORSEMENT TURN TO 2

Suluki Fardan

Matt Entenza and Robyne Robinson

Got a Vote?

INSIGHT NEWS August 2 - August 8, 2010 • MN Metro Vol. 36 No. 33 • The Journal For Community News, Business & The Arts • www.insightnews.com

Hip hop artists rally youth vote for Entenza-Robinson

By Al McFarlane & B.P. Ford, the editors Minnesota’s Hip Hop Nation and Punk community artists rally in support of the Matt Entenza/Robyne Robinson campaign for Governor/Lt. Governor with a Hip Hop Action Day event, 3 pm Friday, August 6, 2010 at 1919 University Avenue, St. Paul.

Among artists participating in the phone bank and neighborhood canvassing event are P.O.S., St. Paul Slim, Desdamona, Felix of Heiruspecs, Brother Ali, Maria Isa, and others.

P.O.S. told Insight News: “Most people I know and grew up with never trusted politics and politicians, period. Even if you don’t trust politics, this is a way to at least be involved in changing the things we don’t like in our community. So I am telling people to spend a little of the time you spend on facebook, working on creating change. The problems in our community will change the way everything changes. Things will get so bad they can’t go the way they’ve been going. The vote for change made the difference in the last national elections, but the President is not the only office we need to vote for.”

P.O.S. said politicians realize the power of the youth vote. ”They get it, like Coca Cola gets it,” he said. But some of the youth don’t know their own power. “By the time they reach politics, they are out of culture,” he added.

P.O.S. said he likes Entenza’s support for education, and Entenza’s opposition to Bush Administration originated No Child Left Behind legislation.

St. Paul Slim said: “The youth have to be informed about the political process. Because at end of the day the things they want to see happen

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Photos courtesy the artist

Top (l-r): Desdamona, P.O.S. Middle: Maria Isa, Brother Ali. Bottom: Felix of Heiruspecs, Peter Parker, and St. Paul Slim.

Gubernatorial candidates present plans for Black community

By Lydia Schwartz Contributing Writer On Friday July 23, the Headwaters Foundation for Justice held a gubernatorial candidate forum as part of the African American Leadership Forum (AALF).

Headwaters strives to be a catalyst for social, racial, economic and environmental justice. Through grant-making and organizational assistance, they support grassroots communities addressing the root causes of injustice.

The event was held in the St. Paul Student Center North Star Ballroom at the University of Minnesota and was catered by West Indies Soul Food, which

offers authentic Caribbean cuisine and American and Southern dishes. S.E.E.D. (Spiritual Enlightenment Ever Development), a universal Christian rhythm and blues band that works to embrace the community, provided musical entertainment.

Volunteering at the event were youth from Metro City and the YMCA. Keesha Gaskins, Executive Director of the League of Women Voters MN, moderated the forum. The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan political organization that encourages the informed and active participation in government and influences public policy through education and advocacy.

“When I was asked to moderate this event, I was

Photos by Suluki Fardan

Trista Harris

very excited because every candidate was invited,” Gaskins said. Every candidate was given a chance to answer the question, ‘How does your campaign impact the African American community?’

Joseph White, Ph.D., Prof.

Emeritus at the University of California-Irvine, noted that the overarching “theme that

Gary Cunningham ran through the presentations was education. Teaching kids isn’t rocket science, but we still need to figure out how to do it.”

Many people are concerned about the future of education in the state of Minnesota and are looking to Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s replacement for answers. Trista Harris, Executive Director of Headwaters and co-chair of

AALF, said that they “work toward every generation building upon the previous.

However, current trends predict that [the next generation will be worse off] than we are.”

“We can’t afford to have young people not finishing high school,” Gary Cunningham, Vice President of Programs for the Northwest Area Foundation and founder and co-chair of AAFL, said. “We’re the ones who we’ve been waiting for. I’m tired of hearing the negative statistics about our people and what we can’t do…

The tent is big enough for all opinions. It’s time to take responsibility for what happens in our own community.”

Former US Sen. Mark Dayton, Democratic-FarmLabor (DFL) Party candidate

for MN governor, said that his priority will be closing the achievement gap in the public education system. “We must identify young students that are struggling with reading and use our funding to make sure that all are reading at or above grade-level,” he said. Dayton said that student performance correlates with future success and criminality rates.

Independence Party candidate Tom Horner also emphasized the need to come together around common solutions to make Minnesota a state for everyone. “Civic engagement is when we do things with each other, not for each other. We are on the verge of raising a generation

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Federal anti-crime measures target gun traffickers

By S. Himie Contributing Writer Last week community representatives, along with local state and federal law enforcement members, gathered Downtown Minneapolis at the Hennepin County Government Center Plaza around Minneapolis Mayor R. T. Rybak presenting a plan that takes a tougher stance on gun crimes.

“We have a great deal more guns and gun crimes than we should tolerate and we will not,” Rybak said. “This is a far more aggressive partnership between the city, the county attorney,

the US attorney and community members to come down as hard as we can on those who feel they can commit crimes with guns in our city.”

To date Minneapolis has suffered at least 30 gun murders.

U.S. Attorney for the District of Minnesota B. Todd Jones ushered in the program called Minneapolis Exile that will make it tougher for felons to commit gun crimes in the state and face stiffer consequences and less likelihood of bail.

According to Jones the exile program is a gun program used throughout the country that is really simple. “If you are a felon and have a gun and commit a crime you will face

Aesthetics: Webinars with screenwriter Michael Elliot

PAGE 5

Suluki Fardan

B. Todd Jones and Police Chief Tim Dolan in background.

Health:

Fight obesity by making family reunions a healthy affair

PAGE 6

prosecution and you will face the consequences,” Jones added.

According to Jones, it is primarily those between the ages of 18 and 25 who are committing most of the gun crimes. “There are federal statutes that have mandatory minimum sentences of up to 15 years for felons in possession of firearms if they have prior conviction- including juvenile convictions,” he said.

Jones said there have been similar successful programs in the past such as the Health Education Law and Safety (HEALS) program in the 1990s when Minneapolis got the Murder-apolis title stemming from the murders in the Phillips neighborhood.

Interview:

Harvard’s professor Charles Ogletree: Public intellectual

PAGE 7

He said the meetings over the last several months between law enforcement entities resulted in a collaborative effort that should send a message.

“We have a spike right now and there is concern because of the level of violence and the number of innocent getting caught in the crossfire,” Jones said. “There is a very basic diminishment of public safety in our neighborhoods. People can’t sit on their porch or walk down the streets because they don’t know when someone is going to start shooting.”

Jones said that much of the enforcement of federal firearms

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Sports Report:

Brett Favre’s got jokes

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Page 2 • August 2 - August 8, 2010 • Insight News

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CAIR-MN: Electrolux asked to clarify Ramadan accomodation (ST. PAUL, MN, 7/23/10) -- The Minnesota chapter of the Council on AmericanIslamic Relations (CAIR-MN) last week called on Swedish appliance manufacturer Electrolux to clarify a statement claiming that it will now offer legally-mandated religious accommodation to Muslim employees at its St. Cloud, MN, plant during the upcoming Ramadan fast.

Earlier in the week, CAIRMN requested accommodation because of a new policy that prohibits all food on the

production floor, except for food required by those with medical conditions such as diabetes.

Since that policy was put in place, Muslim employees, their union representatives, and CAIR-MN have worked to seek an accommodation to allow the workers to bring a snack onto the production floor to break their fast at sunset during the month of Ramadan. The time to break the fast changes daily.

In a news release distributed today by Electrolux, the company claimed it had adjusted its meal schedule so that Muslim

employees would be able to break their fast at sunset.

But Muslim employees who filed an EEOC complaint against the company over the food policy say they were not engaged in the process.

They have not yet accepted, or even had a chance to review, the company’s proposal. The proposal has apparently been sent only to the union to review for compliance with the labor agreement.

It is unclear if the proposed schedule change would allow all employees to break their fast

immediately after sunset each day in Ramadan. Additionally, according to the proposal, on most days, employees could only use the last 10 minutes of the new break time to end their fast and pray. This is because the time for sunset comes at the end of the break period.

“It is not possible for several hundred Muslim employees to break their fast, pray and eat their Ramadan meal in just a few minutes,” said CAIR-MN Civil Rights Director Taneeza Islam.

The new proposal still

does not allow food on the production floor, despite the fact that Electrolux already allows food in the production area for medical reasons. CAIRMN says courts have ruled that if companies grant a medical accommodation, they must also offer similar religious accommodations.

CAIR-MN will meet with Muslim employees next week to discuss the proposal and to come to a decision on whether to accept or reject it.

Ramadan, which will begin on or about August 10, is the

month on the Islamic lunar calendar during which Muslims abstain from food, drink and other sensual pleasures from break of dawn to sunset.

Muslims break the fast each day with food and drink immediately after sunset.

CAIR is America’s largest Muslim civil liberties group.

Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.

Letter to the editor: Include additional North Minneapolis Nice Ride kiosks I read with interest you article on bicycle apartheid. As cycling is a lifestyle choice for me, many aspects of this issue concern me.

Rep. Champion covered issued of funding and representation in the planning and execution of the bike program. The funding is public. It should be expected that its use would be considered

for varied populations. In knowing the populations it helps to know where important locations could be to place bicycle stations. The present sites are primarily downtown, the U-District and Uptown. As I bike past these places their placement could demonstrate some blind sightedness on the

Crime

guns into the community.

“The ugly truth is that the firearms that are killing our youth in our communities enter through legal commerce,” Zapor said. “The laws are violated before it ends up in the hands of the shooter or killer.”

Zapor explained that many of those individuals who obtain illegal handguns do so by what is known as a “straw purchase.”

Someone who has a legal Minnesota state firearms license purchases from a licensed dealer and then that person sells at a marked up price to those who cannot obtain guns legally.

“I advice those who engage in this business to expect a visit from us,” Zapor added.

Mary Johnson leads a community organization called From Death to Life 2 Mothers 2 Fathers Healing Group that was introduced by Rybak. Johnson’s own son was murdered in 1993 and she has since reached out and adopted the young man who murdered him as her own son.

Johnson said that she is not too sure if the new Minneapolis exile program will really make a long-term difference to the issues that persists in the community. “I hope so because something has got to be done,” she said.

Jones said what is often “troublesome” is that some have the “mindset” that you are protecting the community by not cooperating with the police.

That is completely off. You end up protecting those who harm the community. It does take courage to step up.”

“There are things we do when we arrest folks to make sure that they don’t get bonded out,” Jones explained. “I think people need the space and security of having the perpetrator out of the community so they don’t have to worry about them being bonded out or being back in the neighborhoods.”

Minneapolis Police Chief Tim Dolan believes that the community is willing to come forward to report gun crimes.

He pointed to heavy community involvement in confiscating anywhere from 1,000 to 1,500 guns seizures per year.

From 1 laws will be headed up by the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) lead by Special Agent in Charge Bernard J. Zapor.

According to Zapor it is against United States laws for juveniles, gang member or convicted felons to purchase or obtain a handgun. The ATF has been studying the trafficking of

INSIGHT NEWS www.insightnews.com

Insight News is published weekly, every Monday by McFarlane Media Interests.

Editor-In-Chief Al McFarlane CFO Adrianne Hamilton-Butler Publisher Batala-Ra McFarlane Associate Editor & Associate Publisher B.P. Ford Vice President of Sales & Marketing Selene White Director of Content & Production Patricia Weaver Sr. Content & Production Coordinator Ben Williams Production Intern Andrew Notsch Distribution/Facilities Manager Jamal Mohamed Receptionist Lue B. Lampley Technology Reporters Shanice Brown Ivan B. Phifer Christopher Toliver Contributing Writers Maya Beecham Brenda Colston Julie Desmond S. Himie Marcia Humphrey Alaina L. Lewis Rashida McKenzie Ryan T. Scott Lydia Schwartz Stacey Taylor Photography Suluki Fardan Tobechi Tobechukwu 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.

Endorsement From 1 Entenza has earned voter support with a record of progressive leadership and service to the people of Minnesota as a former leader of the Minnesota House of Representatives.

He is demonstrating that the principles that guided him as a Legislative leader are the principles that will guide his leadership as Governor of Minnesota.

Entenza speaks volumes in his selection of former news anchor Robyne Robinson as his running mate. His selection of Robinson creates a 21st Century iteration of the DFLers last successful campaign for Governor of Minnesota.

It was Iron Ranger, Rudy Perpich who was the last Democrat heading state government. Perpich chose urban media maven Marlene Johnson as his running mate, creating a winning outstate/ urban DFL ticket.

Entenza, from the opposite corner of the state, Worthington, in far southwest Minnesota, now builds on that winning combination.

His choice of Robinson, in her words and his during their Capitol steps announcement of the Entenza/Robinson ticket some months ago, revives

part of the planners. Even in choosing locations downtown places like Grant & Nicollet, Elliott Park (across from the east end of HCMC) and other similar sites that have tremendously diverse populations (and people who would use the program) are not included.

Someone from among

the planners wrote a letter to the editor that was fairly disrespectful of Rep. Champion and demonstrated an arrogance in his/her blind sightedness.

Rep. Champion is busy working on larger issues of concern to his constituents. Monitoring a bike program for the city would not be what I would expect him to

have spent his time. It is enough that he took the time to note the error. Focus groups with diverse constituents would be expected of the planners.

If the program was serious about including the whole city, sites at the West Broadway Cub, Penn and West Broadway intersection, near North

Suluki Fardan

“The secret behind that is that most of these guns are recovered because we get a call from somebody,” Dolan said. “If it were not for citizens we would be blind out there. We would just be dealing with what we-police see and that is a small percentage.

Citizens have been tremendously helpful, we just want to tell them to stay with it and they will see better results with those arrests with this effort today.”

“I really don’t know what we can do except from a spiritual aspect. Pastors need to come together, bring the people together so we can be united pray and bring about a change in our community,” Johnson added.

Prior to the July 23, 2010, press conference Rybak enlisted the help of Shiloh Temple Bishop Richard D. Howell, Jr. and other community leaders shortly following the murder of Anthony Titus Minneapolis’ 26th victim. Shiloh Temple is on West Broadway in North Minneapolis.

Since then, Howell scheduled and oversaw a series of meetings with groups like Johnsons as well as community and business leaders. “We came away from the meeting with the mothers who have lost and we felt that this is going to be the day and that is the feeling that is really strong right now,” Howell said.

“If we don’t do anything it is going to be a another letdown.”

“I just listened as community people spoke and heard a mountain of information.” There is a concern in the community

that we want to reinvent the wheel but there are programs that already exist with people who feel they are being overlooked and they just need funding to continue their programs,” Howell explained.

“These people are working off the clock with passion but cannot get the funding. We need funding to take guns out of their hands but what do we replace it with?”

Howell believes the three things needed in the community to create permanent change are a focus on education, parenting and job opportunities.

Howell said the group has a vision to see the youth graduate or get their G. E. Ds and he is calling on the community to help with on going support.

“The achievement gap is terrible right now and we need a greater sensitivity,” Howell said.

“Shiloh is doing this to make sure we can help support children and families to promote healthy living and give them a future,” said Pastor Andre Dukes of community affairs director for Shiloh Temple.

Dukes is also Engagement Director of North Side Achievement Zone (NAZ).

He said the achievement zone focuses on reduction of achievement gap. He believes one reason there is a gap is because violence is on the mind of the young people who have no support or enough opportunities to be successful.

According to Anthony Hayes, spokesman for Shiloh Temple,

and enhances the DFL’s winning spirit by building a campaign and statehouse that engages legacy principles to meet and manage 21st century challenges.

This outstate/urban ticket, like Perpich/Johnson, pairs legislative leader and urban business leader, seasoned politician and master communicator. What makes it a 21st century solution: the ticket’s embodiment the spirit of diversity and emerging markets in Minnesota.

Diversity is more that a word, more than lipservice for Entenza and the Matt Entenza for Governor Campaign. In Mississippi, as a civil rights lawyer, and in St. Paul, as leader of the House of Representatives, Entenza consistently fought and won battles protecting and advancing civil and human rights and workforce opportunity for people relegated to the margin by

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the church will serve as a center point for Northside youth in an effort to recruit and partner with businesses to increase employment opportunities. The group is ready to train youth with soft skills to gain entry-level

Memorial (by the shopping center), Lyndale and Dowling (near the public housing) and at 44th and Penn (near Steamworks) would be ideal choices.

I wish Rep. Champion and the bike program all the best!

Ken Lawrence employment.

Hayes said the group has invited entities such as the Vikings, Integrity Healthcare, Marsden office cleaning and ADM cleaning services, which owns the contract for the Metrodome and Honeywell.

“We hope to get them entry level jobs or possible long-term jobs. We hope to train youth to be employable and we hope to put some money in their pocket by those means. We are looking to businesses to help assist our youth with employment and we are seeking employers who have entry level positions available, as well as, felony friendly jobs,” said Howell.

“We don’t represent the community we want to be the connectors that can make the community come together. No one church organization or entity can do it. It is going to take the entire community,” said Duke.

Vote Tuesday, Aug. 10 in the DFL Primary

Our State Senator Linda Higgins ENDORSED BY DFL Party, AFSCME, MAPE, United Transportation Union, Minnesota Nurses, Sierra Club, DFL Veterans Caucus, Stonewall DFL GLBT Caucus, Planned Parenthood, NARAL, MFT Local 59, Education Minnesota, MN Women’s Political Caucus, and many Northside, North Loop, and Downtown friends and neighbors Prepared and paid for by Higgins for Senate, 1715 Emerson Ave. N., Mpls 55411. Bruce Center, Treasurer. 612 522 2776 lhiggins@nmpls.com

www.senatorlinda.com

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Insight News • August 2 - August 8, 2010 • Page 3

BUSINESS Unemployment rates: The numbers you need to know Plan Your Career

By Julie Desmond julie@insightnews.com According to a recent press release from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Unemployment rates were lower in June than a year earlier in 185 of the 372 metropolitan areas, higher in 168 areas, and unchanged in 19 areas.

In June, 226 metropolitan areas

reported over-the-year decreases in nonfarm payroll employment, 135 reported increases, and 11 had no change.”

What was that?

Americans toss around unemployment statistics like BP tosses oil. The numbers are splattered across newspapers, radios and conversations but most people are unsure about where they originate, or how today’s numbers will impact us long term. Hearing that unemployment is “highest since the depression” is depressing.

Why look for a job if there aren’t any? And when the numbers change, and unemployment rates

drop, then why is it still so hard to find a job? By learning about where those numbers originate, people can make better personal decisions about how to respond when they hear about them.

Very simply, the unemployment rate is published monthly and gives a broad view of how business is going locally and nationally. If companies are hiring, then business is good, and if not, then the economy is suffering.

The numbers come from a monthly survey of a crosssection of the US population, called the Current Population Survey.

Census Bureau

workers interview about 60,000 households every month, asking for information on the workrelated activities of anyone over 15 in that household.

People are classified as employed if they currently have a paid position or are unpaid but working for a family member.

Unemployed means someone doesn’t have a job, has looked for work in the prior 4 weeks, and is available for work if they find it. Everyone else is, generally, considered not in the labor force. This last number includes discouraged workers: people who have stopped looking for work because they don’t believe

there is work available to them.

The problem with the numbers is they are not completely reflective of any one person’s unique employment situation. And this is where that all-important other number comes in: One. You only need one job. Across America, unemployment is skyrocketing.

However, if your neighbor is looking for someone he trusts to assist in his repair shop or restaurant, then unemployment remains high, but you are 100 percent working.

The Employment Situation for June is scheduled to be released on August 6, 2010,

at 8:30 am Eastern Time. If you are not working, you are already acutely aware of your personal employment situation. Understanding where employment statistics come from can help job seekers put the numbers into perspective, reminding us that the only number anyone really needs to know is: One. Julie Desmond has fifteen years recruiting and career coaching experience and currently leads job search workshops in Minneapolis, St Paul and Edina, MN. Write to Julie@ InsightNews.com.

Habitually plugged in: Marketing via the internet

By Christopher Toliver Conventional wisdom states that any act done consistently for 21 days will become a habit. I would have to agree with that statement because as a young man and a greenhorn to penitentiary life I had to quickly learn to adjust and not deviate from my new habitual routine in order to survive.

Today though, I’m no longer a ward of the state, but a writer.

I’m no longer that piece which helps pessimistic puzzles pieces connect together only to taint family and community.

On the contrary, now I’m a literary lover who has served notice to those prison bars, and I’ve linked to today’s world of the Internet in order to see my dreams come true.

Presently, I’m a small company

Bob Carney, Jr. (Republican)

-- Crying Scrolls Publishing.

I’m the first and only author signed to the company. I’m still naïve to legal business, but I have the sense to know that when marketing a product, the marketer needs promotion in order to help his product sell.

I have no idea who invented the World Wide Web, but I am grateful for the day he or she was born. The Web has become the primary tool I use to gain notice for my Crying Scrolls Publishing in the vast world of literary publication.

Prior to my cutting the umbilical cord on Crying Scrolls, I joined Facebook.

Initially, I did the norm of reconnecting with old friends and making new. I also began posting my thoughts, and like I had hoped, I received welcoming feedback.

Next, I began dropping small hints

Leslie Davis (Republican)

Forum From 1 of children that will be [less well off] because they are less educated than their parents.

This is unacceptable,” he said.

Grassroots Party candidate Chris Wright agreed, saying that we all have the fundamental right to an education free-ofcharge through college. He also focuses his campaign on legalizing marijuana and ending the drug war because “it is racist in origin and in practice…Let’s get non-violent criminals out of jail and make it unprofitable for gangsters to terrorize neighborhoods,” he said.

Independence Party candidate John T. Uldrich admitted that we face painful economic times ahead, but vows that if he is elected, we must all share equally. Even so, he believes in funding “for a lifetime of education for people to continue to provide for their families.”

Republican Party candidate Olé Savior said that if elected, he will freeze student tuition rate hikes and even give students a rebate. He said that he would be able to lower taxes and still be able “to put money into programs rather than cut them.”

Former State Rep. and DFL candidate Matt Entenza thinks that bringing diverse teachers and students into the classroom is critical to a good public education. “I grew up poor; my father was an alcoholic who abandoned us. If I didn’t have a good public education, I wouldn’t be here today. We currently have an achievement gap that is shameful,” he said.

Entenza said that the state needs an administration that can come in and change the capitol for the better.

Independence Party candidate Phil Ratté is focusing his campaign on alternative energy and increasing Minnesota’s energy independence. He promotes different ideas such as better production of batteries for electric cars and increasing the efficiency of ethanol. “We need to do something,” Ratté said.

Republican candidate Leslie Davis believes in “expanding the money supply in order to raise all ships.”

He is focusing his campaign

Former US Senator Mark Dayton (DFL)

Suluki Fardan

Christoper Toliver

about my novel, Hallway Man. Friends began inquiring about the tentative release date and committed to future purchases of my book.

Recall that I said I had reconnected with old friends and new. Well, the key word

in that sentence is “new”!

Although at that time I hadn’t formally given birth to Crying Scrolls, I knew by accepting all new Friend Requests I would be creating a potentially much larger fan base for Crying Scrolls in the future. Thank God for intuition because today I’m interacting digitally with people I’ve never even met before in my life. My rapport and relationships with people all over the country can only mean one thing – more income for Crying Scrolls. The key is to stay consistent with my cyber friends as well as staying on top of all the business agreements I’ve already established through the Web. The Main Thing is to keep The Main Thing the Main Thing!!! And the Main Thing is to stay habitually active in creating relationships through the Web.

Matt Entenza Peter Idusogie Tom Horner (DFL) (DFL) (Independence)

on judicial reform. “There currently are no restraints on judicial spending…They are making money on the blood of our children,” Davis said.

DFL candidate Peter Idusogie vows that he will “work to preserve that which makes Minnesota great for future generations.”

He says that he will work for righteousness and justice and that “tough times don’t last, tough people do.”

Republican candidate Bob Carney, Jr. said that he is running “against [Republicendorsed candidate] Tom Emmer and to turn the Republican Party away from insanity.” He says that if elected, big money will not drive politics.

Minnesota Speaker of the House Margaret Anderson

Kelliher (DFL-60A) said that “we need to have the community at the table every step of the way.” Regarding education, Kelliher said that Minnesota needs to double its investment in early childhood education because this level of investment is proven strategy for closing the achievement gap and will increase the number of people going on to higher education.

The Democratic-FarmLabor, Independence, and Republican Party primaries are Tuesday, August 10. The General Election is Tuesday, November 2.

For more information on the African American Leadership Forum, contact David Nicholson at (612) 879-0609x11 or David@ HeadwatersFoundation.org.

Margaret AndersonKelliher (DFL)

Presently, I’m seeking out the most suitable e-book company to assist me in marketing my novel worldwide.

Did I say worldwide? People, this is bigger than me and my novel, Hallway Man. With e-books, my readers will be able to download my novel, and the e-book company will sell my masterpiece in over 2,500 stores worldwide. The e-book publisher will take a small cut for the sale, PayPal will receive a portion as well, and I’ll run to the bank with the remainder of the chunk. The beauty of it all is that the cost to me is the energy required to push a button. Surfing readers will be able to download my novel to their iPads, laptops, desktops, or notebooks and then comfortably kick back and read directly on-line.

Finally, another entity I’m

Olé Savior (Republican)

John T. Uldrich (Independence)

habitually staying on top of is my website, www.cryingscrolls. com.

My website is the centerpiece that makes Crying Scrolls go! My readers are able to locate a wealth of information about me and my soon-to-be literary empire. Through www. cryingscrolls.com, I can upload daily posts and news of current events taking place.

I encourage every person with a dream permeating within themselves to begin investing in self and motivating that dormant nugget to life. If an ex-con like me can make it happen, then I’m convinced that you can do it, too. Ask yourself, am I willing to take what’s rightfully mine? Once you answer that question with a positive yes, make your first step be in the direction of the World Wide Web!

Chris Wright Phil Ratté (Grassroots) (Independence)

Page 4 • August 2 - August 8, 2010 • Insight News

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Community coalitions urge Congress to adopt new plan for schools Minnesota Neighborhoods Organizing for Change (NOC) joined today with Communities for Excellent Public Schools (CEPS), a new national coalition of community-based organizations composed of parents and students in lowincome communities from across the country, to unveil a new comprehensive plan for successful, sustainable reform of the nation’s chronically underperforming schools and a report on schools that are eligible for federal turnaround intervention.

With the release of the coalition’s Sustainable School Transformation Plan and the report, Our Communities Left Behind, NOC members called for replacing the Administration’s proposals with

the coalition’s research-based best practices to help transform underperforming schools in the Twin Cities.

CEPS released the plan and report on Wednesday, July 28, in Washington, DC during an open Congressional briefing with members of Congress, parents, students and education experts.

NOC and CEPS are leading the charge for more parent and community involvement in the Administration’s plan for improving the country’s struggling schools.

The SIG program, utilizes strategies developed under No Child Left Behind (NCLB), to provide four options for using federal dollars to intervene in struggling schools: 1) fire school’s principals and all of its teachers; 2) convert school to a

charter or hand over the school to outside management; 3) close the school; 4) replace school’s principal and “transform” the school.

According to members of CEPS, the best way to ensure accountability for real education reform is to engage parents and community members in the development and implementation of policies and to use research-based best practices focused on effective educational strategies.

Secretary of Education Arne Duncan’s recent commitment to bring communities to the decision-making table indicated that parents and community members will have some input in which one of four intervention models will be imposed on their schools; however, it does not give them the opportunity to propose alternative intervention models and there are no guidelines to ensure parent and community involvement is meaningful.

“I’m glad the administration has made education reform a priority. Our schools need big changes,” said Rekoe Howard,

a parent from St. Paul and a member of NOC. “But this one-size-fits-all approach is disruptive, and it’s not helping where our kids really need help.

They focus on who’s running the schools, when in fact we need to be focusing on what’s going on inside our schools.”

Analysis of the new database of SIG-eligible schools found that black, Hispanic and low-income students are disproportionally served by these schools. Nationally, 81 percent of students in SIGeligible schools are students of color – the largest proportions being black students (44 percent) followed by Hispanic students (32 percent).

Similarly, low-income students are over-represented in SIG-eligible schools.

Nationally, 69 percent of students in SIG-eligible schools are poor (defined by eligibility for free and reduced price lunch) compared to 43 percent of students attending the rest of the schools in the nation.

While every state has SIGeligible schools, 61 percent of the students attending these

schools are concentrated in just nine states: Mississippi, Massachusetts, Texas, Michigan, New York, Florida, Illinois, Pennsylvania, and California. More than one million students currently attend schools that are likely to face mandatory “turnarounds” and many of these schools will be shut down.

Locally, 10,814 students are attending the 34 schools facing turnaround in Minnesota. Nine of the 34 schools (26%) are concentrated within a roughly two-mile radius in and around North Minneapolis.

“Research shows that longterm investments in developing an expert teaching force, a strong and relevant curriculum, and a collaborative culture both within a school and with the community, are essential elements for a serious effort at school transformation,” said Dr. Linda Darling-Hammond of Stanford University. “This well-researched report deserves consideration by policy makers.”

In the Sustainable School Transformation Plan, CEPS

provides the Administration with recommendations to ensure success for the more than 2,000 schools eligible for the SIG program.

“We’re calling on our Congressional representatives to face the facts and eliminate the Administration’s four reform measures that are based on tried and failed NCLB policies and replace them with those laid out in the Sustainable School Transformation Plan, “said Sunday Alabi, NOC Board Chair. The full plan is available at: www.mnnoc.org/ schoolreport.pdf Communities for Excellent Public Schools (CEPS) is a national coalition of 20 community-based organizations composed of parents and students in low-income communities.

MN Neighborhoods Organizing for Change (NOC) is a multi-issue, memberled nonprofit organization committed to building power in low-income communities in the Twin Cities through community organizing.

Endorsement

District. Ellison has delivered quality representation at leadership at the federal level as a Member of Congress. He continues to be outspoken, sometimes to the chagrin of the Administration, on the need to accelerate the civilian presence while winding down the military presence in places like Iraq and Afghanistan. And he continues to deliver federal funds for important projects and programs in his District.

U.S. Representative Betty McCollum for MN 4 House District. Like Ellison, McCollum brings seasoned wisdom and focused advocacy and service to the US House.

She delivers critical federal funds for St. Paul and Minnesota’s 4th Congressional District.

State Representative Bobby Joe Champion for Minnesota House District 58B. Champion is delivering sharp, articulate, reasoned and fearless articulation of his constituents’ interests, and serves as a lightning rod for justice and fairness in legislative and

administrative policy.

Minnesota State Representative Jeffrey Hayden, 61B, partnering with Champion, is delivering bold, principled representation, properly challenging and educating other legislators to focus on fairness and justice “for the least of these” and thus infusing guts and backbone into a DFL caucus that is sometimes hesitant to answer the call of leadership.

Willetha “Toni” Carter for Ramsey County Commissioner, District 4.

Carter continues to demand and deliver accountability in county government policy and management. She is intentional in insisting power players and public servants reach beyond their business as usual comfort level to discover, cultivate, and engage and serve the interests of all families and neighborhoods.

T Williams and Chanda Smith Baker for Minneapolis School Board.

Williams, the incumbent, and Baker, a rising star in education, both

bring assets that will stand the Minneapolis Public Schools in good stead.

Jeremiah Ellis, for Minnesota House of Representatives, District 65A. Ellis, a third-generation Rondo Community native, is running on a vibrant campaign of transparency and brining equity to the residents of 65A. Ellis will be a welcome addition to the Minnesota House and the already robust voices of Reps. Champion and Hayden, bringing Minnesota’s Black Caucus to three –potentially four.

Trayshana Thomas for Minnesota Senate, District 67.

Thomas, no stranger to DFL party politics having worked for over a decade in Rep. Ellison’s offices, and for a time with State Sen. Linda Higgins, will bring a voice of practically and tenacity to the Minnesota State Senate. Wins by both Thomas and Ellis, will bring Minnesota’s Black Legislative Caucus to four.

From 2 mainstream society.

That commitment to expanding inclusion and civic engagement for communities of color is evident in the Matt Entenza for Governor campaign as well. This campaign has engaged members of communities of color as paid staff to canvass our communities for voter support. It has made special outreach to young voters, determined to demonstrate that the youth culture enthusiasm and turnout that pushed Barack Obama over the top in the last General Election, was not a onetime anomaly, but rather, recognition and cultivation of a powerful voice that seeks and deserves a place at the table of decision.

In other Primary Election contests, Insight News endorses: U.S. Representative Keith Ellison for MN 5 House

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Insight News • August 2 - August 8, 2010 • Page 5

AESTHETICS Webinars with screenwriter Michael Elliot Screenwriter Michael Elliot has found an unlikely miracle in a film he wrote called Brown Sugar. This was a script that reformatted his destiny and afforded him the dream that many of us screenwriters desire: to see our words immortalized by the flick of a camera, when having our ideas brought to life when thoughts are transformed into moving pictures.

Elliot, who also wrote Carmen: A Hip Hopera, and later went on to write such urban classics as Like Mike 1 &2, and this summers smash hit, Just Wright with Queen Latifah and Common, understood going into the game that the road to success wasn’t going to just offer him a front door welcome. Armed with a pen and a pad, Elliot opted to follow an old theory set forth by a Beatles song; he “came in through the bathroom window,” by taking an unconventional route to meet his destiny in an ascending stairwell.

Twelve years later and with several successes painted into a cinema marquee, he’s now gone on to pay his fortune forward by sharing his blue print for garnering the entertainment dream in a new monthly webinar he created called “A Conversation with Michael Elliot.”

The event brings the viewer into Elliot’s home via

a computer screen, for a faceto-face meeting during which priceless wisdom such as how to make it as a screenwriter in this competitive industry is imparted onto viewers. The webinars are an affordable and very hands on option for people who seek knowledge from someone who has already walked the road they’re hoping to travel.

Elliot, who was once homeless, but never hopeless through all his strife, knew that giving up wasn’t an option, even as doubt attempted to etch a line into his confidence.

“At one point I was thinking to myself, ‘Michael, you’re a grown man, and you’re trying to start over at your age, at great sacrifice, and nothing has come of it. What are you doing?’ I was sitting on my couch thinking about what a failure I was, and how much of a mistake this might have been, when a friend of mine stopped by,” he told Insight News. “She basically said, ‘You know what, I’ve known you for a long time everything you’ve ever tried to do, you’ve done to make money and not because you love it. This is the first thing you’ve tried to do that you actually love. So my advice to you is: try one more time, don’t be so quick to move on and try something else.’ I honestly felt like God sent her to my house that day to tell me that because I took what she said to heart and decided that I was going to write one more script,” said Elliot.

And thus was born Brown Sugar.

see or they don’t get the shot that they deserve because the people who have the money to make movies don’t sort of see them the way I see them. My dream is to be on the other side of the table where I’m not even a writer, but rather a financier or an executive producer with the ability to make dreams happen.”

With several concepts and films coming to theaters in the near future, and a continual promise of setting his own destiny through each endeavor, he truly is unlike any other individual in the entertainment industry. He made it his way by his own accord and through marching to his own destiny rather than copying the standard of other artists.

Through his work

Michael Elliot Coming from a background as a magazine editor and doing a short stint working for P Diddy’s company Badboy Films, Elliot’s ability to reinvent his fortunes through a myriad of angles is not only an admirable fete, but proves that no matter the age, and no matter your background, life starts when you start, as long as you’re willing to take the first steps and continue moving forward.

“My bigger goal is to put myself in a position where I have the financial resources to really make a difference,” he said. “For me to really make a difference, I need to be able to

and his string of successes, he proves over and over again that he will always be the first Michael Elliot, every time he re-conquers himself and rises above the merit of his own cleverness.

With a humble spirit and an infectious work ethic, two hours with Michael Elliot will afford you a lifetime of spark in claiming a writer’s victory with every footstep.

For more information on Michael Elliot, or how you can attend the next “Conversation with Michael Elliot,” please visit his website: www.writerslittleblackbook. com or join his Facebook Group “The Ladder: Produced Screenwriters Helping Aspiring Screenwriters.”

Drew M. Lewis

make movies. I need to be able to have the money to say, ‘You know what, I don’t care what anyone else thinks, that’s a great idea, I think we need that movie. I can make that movie.’

I could employ all these people who need a shot because I’m the one holding the purse strings and in a position to give directors a chance to fulfill their dreams, and to be able to give actors, who I think are deserving, the opportunities that they haven’t gotten yet.

For example, I can’t look at Regina King, who I think is phenomenal and beautiful, and not wonder why she’s never starred in a movie? How is it that the last time I saw Nia Long star in a movie was in Love Jones? Love Jones was a long time ago. Whatever happened to Larenz Tate? There’s all this talent that we’ve seen in glimpses, that we hardly ever

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Page 6 • August 2 - August 8, 2010 • Insight News

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HEALTH Fight obesity by making family reunions a healthy affair

By Corliss Hill, National Director, UnitedHealthcare’s Generations of Wellness Family reunion season has arrived! Family reunions give families a chance to reconnect with loved ones from across the country, reflect on fond memories, share news and achievements, and welcome new additions.

Food is a big part of the celebration. From recipe swaps to barbeque bragging rights, many of the most cherished memories involve eating. But while grandma’s famous fried chicken and auntie’s sweet potato pie may be mouthwateringly delicious, they are also high in fat and calories.

As a result, instead of creating healthy traditions, we may be inadvertently passing down to our children a legacy of obesity.

Childhood obesity rates have more than tripled in the past 30 years, according to the National

Center for Health Statistics.

The problem also has caught the attention of First Lady Michelle Obama who has made combating childhood obesity a national priority. Her “Let’s Move” campaign aims to turn the tide of childhood obesity within a single generation.

The problem of obesity is among the most prevalent in the African American community.

According to the National Center for Health Statistics, one in three American children ages 2 to 19 is overweight or obese, and African American children have some of the highest rates.

Near- and long-term impacts of childhood obesity are indeed serious. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: • Obese youth are more likely to have risk factors for cardiovascular disease such as high cholesterol or high blood pressure; • Children and adolescents who are obese are at greater risk for bone and joint problems, sleep apnea, and social and

www.uhcfamilyreunion.com

psychological problems such as stigmatization and poor selfesteem; • Obese youth are more likely than youth of normal weight to become overweight or obese adults and at greater risk for adult health problems such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, stroke, cancer and osteoarthritis.

However, the good news is that obesity is preventable and

reversible, and a good place to start is at home, including extended-family gatherings like reunions. Family gatherings can become opportunities to introduce healthy habits by experimenting with different vegetables and meatless dishes, and getting people to exercise through sports and other physical activities.

This reunion season, UnitedHealthcare is continuing

its efforts to help fight childhood obesity with “The Generations of Wellness Virtual Family Reunion,” a new, interactive online tool designed to put a healthy spin on this year’s big family gatherings.

The Virtual Family Reunion site, www.uhcfamilyreunion. com, offers free health and wellness information and guidelines on how to incorporate healthy choices into the event.

For example, a “Food” section provides nutritional information and alternative healthy food choices that are lower in saturated fat and calories.

A “BMI Calculator” enables visitors to type in their weight and height to find out if they have a healthy body mass index, and a “Clinical Checklist” reviews common health checkups such as mammograms and prostate screenings.

The Virtual Family Reunion website also teaches children active ways to entertain themselves instead of logging on to the computer and tuning out.

Users can try the “Dance Area” to learn how many calories are burned through praise, hip hop and/or old-school dancing.

We must all remember that being overweight or obese is more than just an appearance issue; it’s a serious health issue.

By adopting proper nutrition and becoming active, we can start positive traditions early for our children and create some healthy new ones to win the fight against obesity.

Prescription help available for the unemployed Despite assertions that the recession is ending, many Americans are still out of work and continue to have trouble finding employment. Since 2000, a steady increase in unemployment has contributed to a lack of employersponsored insurance coverage.

Without health coverage, many have difficulty accessing needed medical care including prescription medicines.

The national unemployment

rate is uncharacteristically high at nearly 10%, and has been for more than a year. Minority populations struggle the most, with over 15% of the African American population and over 12% of the Hispanic population currently unemployed. Data suggest that the high unemployment rate means an increase in uninsured individuals.

Without employer-based insurance coverage, many

uninsured patients lack access to a medical home and ultimately forego preventative health care measures, which are critical to maintaining good health.

Millicent Gorham, Executive Director of the National Black Nurses Association, recommends patient assistance programs as a way for patients to gain access to the medicines they need if they become unemployed and

uninsured.

“Without insurance coverage, many people fail to receive the medical care they need, especially when it comes to their prescription drugs,” says Gorham.

“AfricanAmericans are particularly at risk. Many pharmaceutical companies offer patient assistance programs to help patients in need get access to prescription medicines. These programs can be a huge help when folks are struggling to make ends meet.”

One patient assistance program, the Pfizer MAINTAINTM Program, was developed to help eligible, unemployed patients continue to take their Pfizer medicines despite losing their prescription drug coverage. July marks the 1-year anniversary of the MAINTAIN program, which

is part of Pfizer’s family of patient assistance programs, Pfizer Helpful Answers®.

Pfizer Helpful Answers and the Wyeth patient assistance programs have helped nearly 6 million uninsured and underinsured patients get access to more than 48 million prescriptions in the past 5 years (2005-2010) alone.

Last year, Emmanuel Stone was laid off from his job as an IT engineer in Independence, MO, and lost his insurance coverage. When he learned of the MAINTAIN program, he applied, his eligibility was verified and he was accepted within only a few weeks.

“The MAINTAIN program has allowed me to get the Pfizer prescription medicines I could not have gotten otherwise during these difficult times’” says Stone. “I wish more

programs like this existed.”

“We launched our first patient assistance program at Pfizer more than 20 years ago,” said Gary Pelletier, Director and Team Leader of Pfizer Helpful Answers. “Since then, we’ve evolved our programs to meet the changing needs of people who don’t have prescription insurance. Our still-struggling economy is evidence that these programs are still highly important, especially to individuals who are recently without their medical coverage.”

If you or someone you know is interested in finding out more information about Pfizer’s patient assistance programs or to check your eligibility status, call 1-866706-2400 or visit www.

PfizerHelpfulAnswers.com.

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Insight News • August 2 - August 8, 2010 • Page 7

Harvard’s professor Charles Ogletree: Public intellectual Interview

By Kam Williams kam@insightnews.com Charles Ogletree, Jr. was born in Merced, CA, on December 31, 1952, the eldest of five children to bless the union of migrant farm workers Willie Mae and Charles Ogletree, Sr. A bright child who exhibited an intellectual curiosity from an early age, Charles credits his parents and grandparents for whetting that insatiable thirst for knowledge.

He would matriculate at Stanford University where he earned Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Political Science before heading to Harvard Law School. Since graduating, he’s enjoyed a storybook career as a public intellectual, between teaching at Harvard and moderating a host of television shows, perhaps most notably, “The State of the Black Union” and “The Fred Friendly Seminars.”

Furthermore, Ogletree has been a frequent guest on everything from “Nightline” to “Frontline” to “Tavis Smiley” to “Larry King Live” to “The Today Show” to “Good Morning America.” As an attorney, he has represented a number of highprofile clients, most recently, fellow Harvard Professor Henry Louis Gates of “Beergate” fame.

Currently, Ogletree is the Jesse Climenko Professor of Law at Harvard Law School where he serves as the founding and executive director of the Charles Hamilton Houston Institute for Race and Justice. He is also the author of seven books on race and the law, including his latest, The Presumption of Guilt, a sobering deconstruction of the Gates case, specifically, and of racial profiling, in general.

He has received numerous awards and honors, including being named one of the 100 Most Influential Black Americans by Ebony Magazine. In the wake of the Sergeant Crowley-Professor

Gates incident, Ogletree continues to serve as special counsel to President Obama and as an advisor on police behavior to both Harvard University and the City of Cambridge.

quoted in your book. I told him I’d be interviewing you, and he said he’d like to know what you think about the evolution of Barack Obama and his handling of so many crises on a daily basis.

CO: Howard’s a good buddy.

What’s interesting about Obama is that he’s had the opportunity to make more judgments not just with his brilliant mind, but with his big heart. That’s a good thing, because he has this cerebral quality. In addition, I have seen him grow enormously in both stating his case and learning more about politics, as well as in having this ability to multitask. To think that with two wars and a financial crisis going on, he still was able to get a nearly $800 billion stimulus package, healthcare, regulatory reform and extensions of unemployment benefits passed, is a sign of what he has done and can do. Far too much of it is overshadowed by the vehement resistance to him, but the reality is that he’s doing a terrific job under trying circumstances.

Kam Williams: Professor Ogletree, I’m honored to have this opportunity.

Charles Ogletree: Thanks. How are you?

KW: Just fine. I have friend who was at Harvard the same time as you who I’ve lost touch with, JJ. Jackson. Do you know him?

CO: Do I know him? He won’t let me call him JJ anymore.

He’s Judge William McKinley Jackson now. I see him every time I go to DC. KW: It’d be nice to be able to touch base with JJ, I mean Judge Jackson again, if you could help make that happen.

CO: No problem, I’ll send him an email right away.

KW: What interested you in writing The Presumption of Guilt, a book about Professor Gates’ arrest?

CO: The main thing was that it clearly raised the issues of race and class, and offered the perfect opportunity to talk about our lagging effort to solve the problem of racial profiling, and also to notice that the issue is not restricted to those who find themselves frequently in the criminal justice system. So, I thought that part of the intrigue would be to show how wide an array of Black men find themselves presumed guilty when they haven’t committed anything close to a crime.

KW: I loved the second half of the book the best, where you have 100 prominent brothers talk about being profiled. I have personally been subjected to profile stops at least 25 times in my life. How do you feel about the official report on the Gates case which was recently released?

CO: I thought it was incredibly helpful in coming up with suggestions about going forward in terms of reaching out to and engaging the community, and in terms of community policing

Charles Ogletree and examining whether charges like disorderly conduct can be administered in a neutral, professional and dispassionate way. On the other hand, when they said that both Sergeant Crowley and Professor Gates had missed equal opportunities to deescalate the situation, I thought that it was inappropriate and unfair to suggest that the citizen has the same power as the police in a situation like that.

The police have the authority, the power and the responsibility to control the situation, because they have the powers of arrest.

KW: What about how Professor Gates handled himself?

CO: Professor Gates was angry and did ask why he was being treated like this. But that was because he had produced two forms of I.D., and had done everything the officer had asked him to do in identifying himself, and yet there were still questions

Photo courtesy the author

about whether he was who he claimed he was. So, that’s why I think the review has a serious flaw when it equates the actions of Professor Gates with those of Sergeant Crowley.

KW: In his book The Best Defense your colleague Alan Dershowitz says that one thing they never teach you in law school is that any cop’s testimony is sacrosanct and treated like Gospel in the courtroom. So, I assume that in the Gates case you were up against the legal system’s inclination to rubber stamp a police officer’s word.

CO: Absolutely! The interesting thing though is that Alan Dershowitz praised my book in a very strong blurb, and wants to do even more about the issue.

KW: One of my editors, Howard Manly of the Bay State Banner, is among the 100 Black men whose profiling incidents are

KW: You taught both Barack and Michelle at Harvard. What were they like as students?

CO: They had very different personalities. Michelle came from a very strong family. Her parents made it possible for her and her brother to go to Princeton.

When she came to Harvard, she was a remarkable student who was committed to public service. While here, she worked with Legal Aid, which meant she represented poor clients in civil matters. I was convinced, back in 1985, that she was going to be the first Black female to become a U.S. Senator. It was clear that she had that capacity.

Barack came after she had already graduated. He was the brightest person in the room, but he always reached out to make sure the voices of other students were heard. He had the balance of not only being great in the classroom, but a pretty impressive game on the basketball court, even though he was skinny with an unorthodox jump shot. And as smart as he was, he was humble, which enabled him to get elected the first Black President of the

Harvard Law Review by his colleagues. Then, despite his academic success, he wanted to go back to Chicago to work as an organizer, which was extremely helpful to the community. So, he’s had one success after another that’s led him to the right place. It’s been remarkable!

KW: Yale grad Tommy Russell would like to know, how hard was it having such a high-profile case?

CO: It’s actually, more of a strain on the client than the lawyer.

I’ve represented everybody from Anita Hill to Tupac Shakur, with so many others in between, that I don’t mind the publicity, provided it doesn’t violate my client’s fundamental rights. What was interesting in this case was that people focused on class more than race, and saw Prof. Gates as arrogant and aloof, even though in my view everything that he had to say was protected. The other point is that I hope the case sheds light on how it is within our capacity to solve a problem without regard to race, religion, gender or any other factor.

KW: Attorney Bernadette Beekman asks, “What do you think will be the legacy of Skip Gates?”

CO: As much as he’s accomplished as a MacArthur Genius Fellow, having written over a half-dozen books, having received numerous honorary degrees and other awards, and having the highest title granted any Harvard University Professor, he still will be remembered, unfortunately, for better or worse, for the arrest and the Beer Summit. But if it creates a teachable moment, he has no hesitation to use it as a learning experience for himself and for others who might encounter a similar situation.

KW: Larry Greenberg, son of Third Circuit Federal Judge Morton Greenberg, asks, “Am I now legally required to speak respectfully to a police officer?

In other words, can someone be arrested simply for having a bad attitude?”

CO: The reality is much more

OGLETREE TURN TO 9

Page 8 • August 2 - August 8, 2010 • Insight News

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LIFESTYLE The public library: A great place for students to camp out Style on a Dime

By Marcia Humphrey marcia@insightnews.com It seems unbelievable that we have only about a month of summer vacation left! Where has the time gone? If you have kids, you may already be dreaming of the day when they are back in

school, rather than being home and complaining about boredom.

If all of the scheduled summer camps are over and you are nearly out of ideas for keeping your young ones out of trouble and mentally stimulated, check out all of the wonderful, free offerings at your local library.

4th through 6th grade can join the Guys Read Books Club and discuss preselected books which capture the interest of boys in his age group. The same options are, of course, available for your girls. This is an excellent way to build their reading and communication skills.

Cool Book Clubs: Throughout the entire year, the Hennepin county library system has book clubs available for all ages and all interests; Kids Book Club, Kids Jr. Book Clubs, Teen-Only Clubs, Girls-Only Clubs, etc.

For instance, your son, in the

Cool Storytimes: In addition to Baby and Toddler Storytime, there is also Family Storytime, which includes music and movement and World Language Storytime, where different languages are spoken. One of the best things we can do is to

help foster a love of reading at an early age. Visit your local library for details on times and locations or visit online at www.hclib.org.

Cool Contests: Read Write Draw is a contest going on through August 21 and it’s for kids from kindergarten through high school. They read a book and create a short review. Each review gives the child a chance to win a free book, as well as help other kids find out about interesting books. Sounds like fun, right?

Cool Tutoring: Did you know

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that during the school year, there are free tutors at the library? You don’t even need an appointment.

In addition, there is online tutoring available at the library or from your home. Visit your local library or go online to receive more information and a demonstration.

Have I convinced you that your local library is the place to be for the rest of the summer (and throughout the school year)? I hope so! Get yourself and your children plugged into the beneficial and free services

that are available to you. Our kids’ brains should not go on summer vacation, so make sure that the rest of the summer is spent sharpening their reading and math skills. Your child will feel more confident and look forward to having a great school year. Enjoy!

Marcia Humphrey is an interior decorator and home stager who specializes in achieving high style at low costs. A native of Michigan, she and her husband, Lonnie, have three children.

insightnews.com

Ogletree From 7 complicated than that. Speech is one of the most cherished fundamental rights in our society.

We have to be careful where we draw the line, even if the words are controversial, obnoxious, offensive or troubling. That’s the reason I wrote the book, so that people understand that they have a First Amendment right to say reasonable things and to be heard, and to act in a defiant way, so long as they don’t put themselves or the police officer at harm.

KW: Both children’s book author Irene Smalls and editor/ legist Patricia Turnier asked the same question: “Do you think we are in a post-racial era in the United States?”

CO: We’re not in a post-racial era because whether you’re the President of the United States, walking along the street, entering a hotel or working in certain places, race still matters.

We may have one Black man in the White House, but we have one million Black men in prison. So, we still have that and many other fundamental problems, like unemployment, mortgage foreclosures and a lack of healthcare. So, my sense is that we all have to fight as diligently as we can to create a post-racial environment. But it’s a little premature to say that we’re there yet, even though it’s a significant shift in the political climate to have the country elect an African-American President.

KW: Rudy Lewis says, “Though class is a corrosive element in America’s racial conflict, isn’t the heart of the problem a lack of resolution of Blackness and Whiteness among both Blacks and whites?”

CO: I think it’s class. And I think class is the understated factor, and that’s why I wrote about it as a key factor. One would hope that if you’ve worked really hard and achieved some semblance of success that you’ve earned the right to be treated with a certain level of dignity and success. But as the book makes clear, you’re going to be judged by the color of your skin, not by the year, make and model of your car or by the suits that you

Insight News • August 2 - August 8, 2010 • Page 9 wear. Consequently, it has not changed that people who are successful are still presumed to be a part of the criminal element.

It’s as big a problem in 2010, in some respects, as it was decades earlier.

KW: Have you read The Rage of a Privileged Class by Ellis Cose?

CO: Absolutely! In fact, I’m one of the people he’s interviewing for Part 2. He’s writing a followup about the rage which flows in the wake of the disappointment at the denial of one’s true merit, skills and abilities. About the frustration at having to be twice as good in order to be considered equal to peers that happen to be white.

KW: What was your secret to breaking through barriers to reach the pinnacle of success?

CO: Three things: First, nurturing parents and grandparents who had nothing but an abiding faith that things would get better for their children and grandchildren, and who prayed for that day to happen. Second, a thirst for knowledge that came as a young kid, and being able to read books to think things through and to grow intellectually. And third, remarkable mentors, some known and unknown. And these three keys to my success are only important if I can pass them on not only to my children to everyone I encounter in life.

KW: Is there any question no one ever asks you, that you wish someone would?

CO: Yes, why is this all important for the future? I have three young granddaughters who haven’t encountered the issue of race yet. I really hope that we, as those with the powers to set the tone, don’t poison them by producing racial and even gender stereotypes that make them judge people by the color of their skin rather than as Dr. King said by the content of their color. That has to be our mission, and I’m hoping that we’ll achieve it.

KW: The Columbus Short question: Are you happy?

CO: I’m as happy as can be!

KW: The Teri Emerson question: When was the last time you had a good laugh?

CO: Today. Whenever I have a chance to sit back with folks I might not have seen for awhile,

whether 10 days or 30 years, that’s grounds for laughter.

KW: The bookworm Troy Johnson question: What was the last book you read?

CO: I’m actually reading three books right now. The Bridge by David Remnick, The Audacity to Win by David Plough, and The Breakthrough by Gwen Ifill.

KW: The Tasha Smith question: Are you ever afraid?

CO: Not really, I think that just comes a feeling that whatever’s destined to happen will happen.

I’m prepared to fall from success.

I’m prepared to die if I have to.

The closest thing I have to fear is that those who follow me might not enjoy a full life.

KW: The music maven Heather Covington question: What was the last song you listened to?

CO: John Coltrane’s My

Favorite Things. It’s a great song that has a message that’s timeless and timely.

KW: When you look in the mirror, what do you see?

CO: Hopefulness that if we all work together with a sense of “we” rather than “I” or “me,” we can all move forward.

KW: What is your favorite dish to cook?

CO: Any type of fish, although my specialty is my mother’s sweet potato pie with her secret ingredients. It’s delicious and very popular.

KW: Care to share those secret ingredients in her recipe?

CO: If I told you, I’d have to kill you. [Chuckles] KW: The Ling-Ju Yen question: What is your earliest childhood memory?

CO: Libraries! Just going to libraries, and dreaming that I was somebody else, somewhere else. As the Southern Pacific Railroad rolled through the center of my hometown, I would imagine myself climbing aboard it to travel the world. Childhood dreams of the improbable are the very key to who I am today, so I will always cherish those fantasies.

KW: If you could have one wish instantly granted, what would that be for?

CO: We have to support our troops, but I’d wish for the end of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

KW: The Tavis Smiley questions.

First, how introspective are you?

CO: Very, because you always have to examine who you are and what you are, before you can have the ability and credibility to advise someone else about who

they are, who they should be and how to get there. So, there is much more introspection than expression of views.

KW: Second, what do you want your legacy to be?

CO: He was able to enter the door because of the help of others. And he not only left the door open but let a rope down to bring others in to follow his pursuits.

KW: Third, where are you in relation to that legacy at this point in your life?

CO: I’m there, but I’m never satisfied that my work is complete. I don’t think it will be complete until I’ve taken my last breath.

KW: Thanks for a great interview, brother.

CO: Thank you. Take care.

Page 10 •August 2 - August 8, 2010 • Insight News

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COMMUNITY CALENDAR Send Community Calendar information to us by: email, ben@insightnews.com, by fax: 612-588-2031, by phone: (612) 588-1313 or by mail: 1815 Bryant Ave. N. Minneapolis, MN 55411, Attn: Ben Williams. Free or low cost events preferred.

Events Young Writers Aug A gathering of aspiring young poets, novelists, fiction writers, essayists and more. Open to ages 13-19. Second and Fourth Tuesday of the month 6PM 8PM at Intermedia Arts 2822 Lyndale Ave. S, Mpls. FREE! Free Online Webinar on Adopting African-American Infants - Aug 3 Tues., August 3, 2010 at 7p.m.

The focus of the webinar will be on our African-American and African-American Biracial Domestic Adoption programs.

Registration is required to join the webinar. Online registration is available at: https:// www1.gotomeeting.com/ register/910762440 History Pub Crawls - Aug. 4, 11, 18 The popular History Pub Crawls return this summer with tours of St. Paul ‘s downtown, the West End and Summit Hill neighborhoods. Trolley picks up at the Minnesota History Center - 345 Kellogg Blvd W., St. Paul MN 55102-1903. $25; $20 for MHS members. 7-9pm (Trolley departs at 7 p.m.) For info call 651-259-3000 or visit Website: www.mnhs.org/pubcrawls Video Poems: Video Poetry Workshop for Teens – Aug 4 Combine creative writing with digital video to create your own video poem! Open to youth in grades 7 -12. FREE! Wed., Aug. 4, 2PM - 5PM at St. Louis Park Library 3240 Library Lane, St. Louis Park.

Fremont Family Fun Festival - Aug 5 The Festival will include free ice cream, face painting, kids games and activities, and prizes.

Thur., Aug. 5 at the Fremont Clinic from 3-6pm. For more information, call 612-2872425. 3300 Fremont Avenue N, Minneapolis.

Meeting to Organize for MN Day of Actions in Defense of Public Education - Aug 5 A meeting to plan and build towards actions in defense of public education across Minnesota on October 7th.

Thur., Aug. 5 • 6:30pm - 8:30pm @ MCTC, above the library room L.3000 1501 Hennepin Ave. Mpls, MN (childcare available in room L.3100) MidCity Fest Celebrates University/280 Neighborhood - Aug 6–8 FREE event features 25 participating venues and live entertainment. The University and Highway 280 neighborhood will open its doors to the public from 5:00 pm on Fri., Aug. 6 to 5:00 pm Sun., Aug. 8.

(University & Hampden) from 6 – 9 pm on Friday, August 6 and from Noon – 9 pm, Saturday, August 7.

St. Paul Central Class of 2000 10-Year Reunion - Aug. 7 Sat., August 7th, 2010 8pm – 12:30am. Windows on the River Ballroom, 22nd Floor Crowne Plaza St. Paul – Riverfront 11 East Kellogg Boulevard St. Paul, MN 55101. Purchase Tickets at: www.stpcentral2000. com For more info email: chs. co2000@gmail.com or call: 202.436.5186 2010 Pentecostal Assemblies Aug 8-14 Join us for the 2010 Pentecostal Assemblies of the World International Convention from Aug. 8th - Aug. 14th at

the Minneapolis Convention Center. Evening service begins at 7:30pm each night. Prayer Clinics, Mid Day Services, Evening Services and Concerts are Free.

Project Girl – Aug 11 Explore the effects of media and entertainment culture through writing, poetry, and visual arts with nationally renowned hip-hop and graffiti artists!

Open to youth in grades 6 -12.

Wed., Aug. 11, 1PM - 4PM at Zanewood Recreation Center 7100 Zane Ave. N., Brooklyn Park, FREE. Twin Cities First High Heel Dash – Aug. 11 Men and women of all ages are welcome to compete in the 25yard dash wearing a pair of high heels (heels must be a minimum of three inches) which will benefit two wonderful charities-Emergency Foodshelf Network and Soles4Souls. Check-in begins at 3:30 p.m. and race begins at 5:30 p.m. To register for the High Heel Dash please visit www.AegisFoundationInc. org Registration for Camden Music School’s fall - Aug 16.

Sign up for vocal and instrumental lessons, Musikgarten early childhood music classes (newborn to age 8), ensembles (rock ‘n roll, hand drums, choir, string jammin’), music theory and more!

Scholarships and family discounts are available.

Scholarship applications are due by 5 pm, Tues., Sept. 7. More information: 612-618-0219 or www.camdenmusicschool.com.

Lutheran Social Service Seeks Adoptive Parents - Aug 17 The adoption information meeting will be held on Tue., Aug. 17, from 6-8pm at the Center for Changing Lives (Room 182), located at 2400 Park Ave. in Mpls.

See the University’s website at http://www2.uwrf.edu/hr/as_upward_ bound_adv.htm for the application process, deadline, complete position description and qualifications.

The University of Wisconsin-River Falls is part of the Minneapolis-St. Paul statistical area. AA/EEO

ABA Minnesota Blizzards Basketball The Minnesota Blizzards ABA Basketball Team is announcing a program for college Internships for the fall and winter. The program will consist of five teams of 5 interns each in the following areas: (1) Sales, (2) Basketball Operations. (3) Marketing (4) Public Relations (5) Business administration. Each team will have a leader and be given challenging assignments.

We are looking for college students majoring in Sports Management, Business, Public Relations, Marketing Sales, Broadcasting and Event Planning. We need 20 or 25 interns working with us for a (minimum of 8 hours a week) on a part-time basis. Interns will gain valuable experience, and in most cases college credits.

Interested Parties please send resume to: The Minnesota ABA Team Attn: Internship Program 10125 Crosstown Circle #200 Eden Prairie, MN 55344

Hallie Q. Brown Community Center Substitute Teacher DEPT: Early Learning Center SUPERVISED BY: Youth Program Manager TITLES SUPERVISED: N/A FLSA: Non-Exempt SALARY GRADE: $10-13/hour POSITION SUMMARY: This is a substitute position designed to fill in as needed on a short or long term basis for permanent teaching staff. Substitute Teacher participates in long and short range activities for students in accordance with curriculum objectives and engages students in developmentally appropriate activities. Assists with ensuring that the classroom is appropriately staffed and maintained to provide a safe and secure environment for each child.

POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES: 1. Works with teaching staff to implement program curriculum and coordinate students activities.

2.

Plans and supervises the arrangement of the classroom environment in accordance to program goals and philosophy.

3. Maintains a safe and healthy environment, including safely managing developmental activities for the participants.

4. Keeps all appropriate records such as records, attendance, time sheets and accident reports.

5.

Maintains open communication with parents/guardians of the program participants regarding the developmental needs of the participants.

QUALIFICATIONS: Education: Associates degree or equivalent in early childhood development. B.S. in Early childhood Development preferred.

Licensing and Certifications: CPR and Meet all applicable licensing regulations. Valid Driver’s License and proof of insurance. Minnesota Teachers’ License (preferred).

Work Experience: 5 years of Child Care Center or related experience required.

Other Requirements: • Dealing with confidential information.

• Tight deadlines.

• Dealing with unfavorable weather conditions.

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

• Ability to work effectively with employees, colleagues and manager.

• Agree to mandated child abuse reporting guidelines.

• Ability to relate to children from diverse socio-economic and cultural backgrounds.

612.588.1313 612.588.2031

West Broadway Business Opportunity Fair - Aug 17 On August 17 local nonprofits, business partners and many professional business consultants will be on hand to give one-on-one consultations.

Information regarding the West Broadway business community will be presented at the Capri Theater from 4:30 to 7 pm. For more information or to register for this great event, visit MEDA online at www.meda.net or call 612-332-6332.

GLBT Host Home Program Aug 17&19 For more information about hosting a youth or supporting the GLBT Host Home Program, please join us at one of the following informational meetings: Tue., Aug. 17, 6-8pm @ Midtown YWCA 2121 E. Lake St. Mpls and Thur., Aug. 19, 6-8pm @ Common Roots Cafe 2558 Lyndale Ave. S. Mpls.

Camp Komoniwannarock kids performance - Aug 19 CMS’s Camp Komoniwannarock kids perform at Marcy Open School, 415 4th Ave. SE. Thur., Aug. 19 at Noon. FREE! Come hear the kids perform their favorite rock songs after a 2-week intensive rock ‘n roll camp!

Carnival de Wonque! - Aug 21 Indoor and outdoor activities * Games for children and adults * Consolation prizes for kids * Games just 25 to 50 cents to play * Featuring live music by Wolf Mountain * Tap dance by Ellen Keane * Food and treats * Bring all your family and friends! Sat., Aug. 21st from 1-5pm @ 3010 Minnehaha Ave. S. Mpls.

FREE! 2014 Project SUCCESS – August 23-26 Project SUCCESS, working with the Minneapolis Public School District designed a four-

EMAIL: ONLINE:

ben@insightnews.com www.insightnews.com

day event, August 23-26, aimed at helping all Minneapolis Public School 8th graders successfully transition to high school. The entire event is at NO COST to students and families. To register, go online at www.projectsuccess.org and click on the 2014 logo, call 612-874-7710, or email 2014@ projectsuccess.org.

Tutor an adult learner, assist in an adult classroom, or teach a basic English or GED class.

We have locations throughout the Twin Cities area, flexible scheduling and training to help you get started. Contact Allison at volunteer@themlc.org or 651-645-2277, Ext 219 or visit us on the web at www.themlc. org.

Chocolate - The Exhibition Oct 2 - Jan 2 From rainforest treasure to luscious treat — immerse yourself in the story of chocolate. Minnesota History Center, 345 Kellogg Blvd W., St. Paul MN 55102-1903.

Get to Know Guild – Ongoing Hear from individuals served, family members, and staff about the work Guild Incorporated is doing to help people move along their paths of recovery. To RSVP or for more information, call George Broostin at 651-925-8454. Visit www. guildincorporated.org/events. htm for more info.

African Dance / Afro Modern - Ongoing African Dance: Every Wednesday 7:00pm - 8:30pm.

Live drumming by Fode Bangoura & Dan Handeen.

Afro Modern: Every Thursday 5:30pm - 7:00pm. Zenon Dance Company and School, 528 Hennepin Ave. #400 Mpls.

Visit http://www.zenondance. org/news.asp?news_id=503 for details & registration.

Willard-Homewood Block Club Leaders (and Residents) Meetings – Ongoing Every third Thursday of the month, 6:30-8:00 pm at Northpoint Health & Wellness Center, 1315 Penn Ave. N. (Human Services Building, not the clinic), Mpls., Room 108.

See the block club page at www. willard-homewood.org.

Wanted: Community-minded book lovers - Ongoing One in seven U.S. adults lack the literacy skills necessary to enjoy great books, help their children with homework, or understand medication labels. But you can change this by volunteering with the Minnesota Literacy Council.

With only two or three hours a week, your love of reading can create a stronger community.

Touch Kickball at Phelps Park – Ongoing Come and play TOUCH kickball with your family & friends June 27 - Aug. 22 (except the 4th of July). 4:00 every Saturday at PHELPS PARK, 39th & Chicago Ave. More information: 612-824-4900, kelley01@visi. com.

Neighborhood Development Center business workshops – Ongoing NDC is a non-profit that works to empower low-income Twin Cities communities through successful entrepreneurship.

Visit www.ndc-mn.org or call 651-291-2480 for information.

Workshops are free.

Sabathani Farmers Market Ongoing Every Wednesday, 3:30-6:30pm. @ Sabathani Community Center 310 E. 38th St. Mpls, MN 55409 Tel: 612-827-5981 New Saturday African dance class with Whitney - Now-August African Dance with Whitney.

Sat. 1-2:30pm $12 Jawaahir Studios 1940 Hennepin Ave. Mpls.

CLASSIF C LAS SIFII E EDS DS

Upward Bound Advisor Academic Success Center University of Wisconsin – River Falls The University of Wisconsin-River Falls, a member of the University of Wisconsin System, is located 30 miles from the Twin Cities of Minneapolis-St. Paul in scenic west central Wisconsin. We are currently inviting applications for the position of Upward Bound Advisor. This is a 12-month, full-time academic staff appointment. This position is responsible for coordinating student services at UWRF and at target high school, assisting with student recruitment, supplemental advising/coaching students, communicating with parents, chaperoning events and field trips and planning workshops and seminars.

PHONE: FAX:

PHONE:

612.588.1313

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Request for Proposals Master Contract for Residential Real Estate Brokers/Agents RFP-A-28441-11 The City of Saint Paul Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA) is seeking proposals from qualified real estate listing brokers/ agents for inclusion on a Master Contract list of Professional Residential Real Estate Agents to list, market and sell foreclosed properties that have been acquired by and rehabilitated through the Invest Saint Paul Neighborhood Stabilization Program (ISP/NSP). Section 3 and W/M/SBE firms are encouraged to respond.

For a copy of the RFP, contact Contract & Analysis Services at 651.266.8900 or register and download the documents at www.demandstar.com. Instructions for receiving free downloads are available at http://www.stpaul.gov/index.aspx?NID=663

To apply, send a cover letter, resume, salary requirements and references to:

Deadline for Proposals: 2:00 p.m., CST, Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Hallie Q. Brown Community Center ATTN: Human Resources 270 N. Kent Street Saint Paul, MN 55102 651-224-7074-Fax hr@hallieqbrown.org

City of Saint Paul Department of Human Rights & Equal Economic Opportunity 280 City Hall 15 W. Kellogg Blvd Saint Paul, MN 55102

FAX:

612.588.2031

EMAIL:

sales@insightnews.com

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Insight News • August 2 - August 8, 2010 • Page 11

SPORTS Good Ol’ Country Boy Brett Favre’s got jokes... again

the tailgating anyway” without Favre (the door is always open for everyone to join the Tarvaris Jackson Fan Club…we got plenty of room.)

Certainly, you can’t find a quarterback in the NFL with more experience than Brett Favre, and being that wiley veteran, Favre also seems adept at skirting the eminent danger of big, fast dudes with bad intentions and helmets. You have to give it to the Good Ol’

Country Boy, he’s slippery, charismatic, fun-loving, and can play some ball like only a few others in history. Favre said that last years’ experience with the Vikings was the most fun he’s had in a season (or maybe the older you are, the more you appreciate it, I’m thinking).

Hands down, Favre provided the best late game heroics, and post game celebrations of all players in the NFL last year. Seeing the Good Ol’ Country Boy bark the

“pants on the ground” song, well, like I always say, you can’t make that stuff up.

But oh there are plenty of trumped up claims and games people play in this World for all varieties of reasons good and bad. Well, the face paint fans (the grown ones), can scoot back in their seats, take a few deep breaths, and slow the pitter-patter of their hearts, because when it’s all said and done for Favre he is going to plop down on somebody’s television set couch, look over with a wry grin, and say, “I was just messin’ with ya’ll the whole time.”

You have a lot of time to think when you’re out fishing and hunting, and a man’s imagination can do laps around the earth’s orbit and come up with all type of off the wall stuff (often found in this column).

The Good Ol’ Country Boy is more than well known for his locker room pranks, and with his constant (money making) media tour, you have to know that he also likes playing the interview game. If somebody said, go out there and mess with the media’s head, it would sound just like what Favre teases those reporters with. It’s all a game, and Brett Favre is having fun; at the media and the overzealous fans’ expense (and

process, we can change that.”

He said the Hip Hop Action Day event will have artists talking on phones, campaigning and walking neighborhoods getting people involved with the political process.

Muhammad is a member of the Entenza/Robinson campaign staff assigned to mobilizing the Youth Vote and the African and African American vote. In a primary that some say will boil down to the senior vote, the younger generations are mobilizing to be heard and counted alongside their senior counterparts, he said.

Desdamona said, “We have

to get young people more involved. I see them as our future. If we don’t invest in them, they are going to leave or they are not going to care.”

Maria Isa, leading voice in the SotaRico movement, said, “We want to see a governor who is supporting education, instead of taking it away. We need to bring change to our streets.”

“The number one reason I am here right now is Entenza is talking about education and the arts and community,” Peter Parker said. “That saves lives.”

IceDude, a North Minneapolis hip hop artist and entrepreneur said, “Hip

Hop is politics. We are already connected just through other ways. But we should get more involved in mainstream politics because we are the voices for young people. Hip Hop is the biggest music genre in the world. Everybody listens to Hip Hop. Everybody has Hip Hop in their lives, one way or another.

It is the biggest influence on young people in America.”

We should make more CDs about politics, and show our faces in the community with elected officials and candidates.

When our fans march with them they will support them at the voting polls,” IceDude said.

Mr. T’s Sports Report

By Ryan T. Scott ryan@insightnews.com I’m glad that I write for Insight News, because I can tell some interesting (I hope) stories, and perhaps add to the back and forth jibber-jabber over sports.

And you can say that you heard it here first, when I tell you that Brett Favre is pulling the greatest practical joke in sports history.

Say “Will he or won’t he?” ten times fast, and that is what sports news, local news, and every other news sounds like these days, referring to Favre.

Everyone is on the edge of their seats, and I would imagine that those fans that paint their bodies purple and gold can’t sleep a wink. And at the center of all this angst, the good ol’ country boy, Brett Favre, is pulling all those purple and gold heartstrings. The difference between Favre coming back, and not coming back, makes most Vikings fans think either: “Superbowl here we come” with Favre, or “the fun is in

Rally From 1 in their community they have the power to change through politics. If they don’t know about it they won’t be able change it.”

St. Paul Slim credited his brother, Mastermind, MC Nick Muhammad, for learning the ropes and talking to him about politics and civic engagement.

“Too many youth think what is, simply is, and always will be.

With knowledge of the political

Brett Favre

http://www.femalefan.com

making money doin’ it…in the words of Nino Brown, in the movie New Jack City “It’s the American way”).

You can see and hear the feigned enthusiasm of the national sports media, as they are forced to comment on Favre’s latest “ooh ahh” sentence. With the outlandish display put on by LeBron James, with regard to his team choice decision, it’s quite obvious that the one person James actually needed to call was Brett Favre, so he could get some lessons on how to play the field. While James had an hour-long goofy interview about his decision – that everyone who watched is salty that they did - Favre is putting together endless hours and hours of hullabaloo ‘bout nothin’ – and everyone will still

feel pretty much the same way about him no matter what he says (especially Packer Fans).

He’s just havin’ fun.

So when Brad Childress went down to visit Favre as he played catch with the local high school team, what Childress should have said was, “Wrap that ankle up tight and see you in a couple of months homie.”

The Good Ol’ Country Boy is pulling a fast one again, like the Dukes of Hazard. As a matter of fact, every time Favre opens his mouth with regard to whether he’s going to play or not, you should think of the sound that the General Lee made when Bo and Luke hit the horn. That’s the sound of the Good Ol’ Country Boy havin’ fun.

Page 12 • August 2 - August 8, 2010 • Insight News

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