April 12, 2018 - MN Spokesman-Recorder

November 4 - 11, 2015

April 12-18, 2018

Vol. 84 No. 36 www.spokesman-recorder.com

— See All the Women on pg. 6

PRST STD U.S.POSTAGE PAID TWIN CITIES MN PERMIT NO. 6391

THE VOICE OF THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY SINCE 1934

More than a statistic: community rocked by shooting death of activist Tyrone Williams

By Shephenetta Harmon Contributing Writer

Tyrone Williams at Black Fashion Week last April.

Photos by Chris Juhn

Last Tuesday, the Minneapolis community was floored by the news that Tyrone Williams, activist, entrepreneur, and father of four, was fatally shot just steps away from his mother’s Northside home.

The first wave hit with a Facebook plea from his sister Raeisha Williams, asking

if anyone knew who shot her 33-year-old brother. Hours later, reality set in and friends, family and movements came out en masse — grieving and in utter disbelief.

Tyrone Williams was killed by a single gunshot to the abdomen moments after spending “a beautiful day” with his family, which included filming a video of himself rapping a Dr. Seuss book to his children.

Now Minneapolis police are on a manhunt, searching for details that could connect a car seen fleeing the scene after his death.

Tyrone Williams’ murder came days after he stood at the forefront of a public safety community forum on March 28, calling on elected officials to say no to police brutality, while pleading for an end to gun violence among African American males.

“Why do we have a gun problem? It’s because it’s systematically put in place for them to win,” he said. “We need to change the narrative and actually start doing the work. It feels like we’ve been set up over and over.”

While Tyrone Williams entered the national spotlight in 2016 after calling out Joe’s Crab Shack’s racist use of a photo ■ See Shooting on page 8

Minneapolis professor faces 90-day deportation deadline

By Keith Schubert Staff Writer Augsburg University Professor Mzenga Wanyama and his wife, Mary Namalwa Mzenga, were given a 90-day deadline to either show a path to legalization or leave the country after meeting with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on April 5.

A group of around 100 supporters met Wanyama and his wife when they arrived for their checkin, including Augsburg President Paul Pribbenow and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey. Frey spoke to the crowd and voiced their opposition to the possibility of Wanyama being deported.

In a written statement released on Thursday,

Pribbenow said, “We are disappointed and sad that ICE has failed to exercise its prosecutorial discretion to stay Dr. Wanyama’s and his wife’s removal from the United States.”

Wanyama spoke to the MSR after meeting with ICE and said the meeting didn’t go as well as he wanted. “We did not expect them to give us a deadline,” he said. “The last time we had been there, they had been more lackadaisical,” he explained.

Despite being in the throes of a deportation threat, Wanyama remains hopeful. He explained that ICE can win in two ways — by deporting him and by discouraging him. “We are not going to allow them to make us feel defeated,” he said.

■ See Deportation on page 8

New non-profit helping mothers in Gambia, West Africa

By Brandi Phillips Contributing Writer Access to pre- and postnatal care in America is easy.

Shopping for baby’s necessities such as bottles, diapers, formula, and clothes are taken for granted. But access to decent resources can be a luxury for families of Farafenni, a town in the Gambia in West Africa.

Born to Native Gambians, Fatamouta Jaiteh (pronounced Faa-tah-maa-tah Jaytay) is an African American Muslim majoring in the biology of human health, in her junior year at the University of St. Thomas.

Jaiteh recounted how she visited her family’s hometown Farafenni in the Gambia last year. While there, she toured the local hospital with her uncle. “I have always had a fascination with hospitals and healthcare,” she said.

She noted the condition of the hospital’s maternal aftercare unit. “There was about seven women in the room and they did not have enough resources for their children due to being in a rural Gambian city.” The families needed formula, baby food, and baby bottles.

Hospitals were in such shortage of supplies that mothers needing a C-section would have to provide their own needle and thread for surgery. “It was kind of crazy,” Jaiteh recalled.

In North America, we have programs such as the TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needed Families), WIC (Women, Infants and Children), and Medicaid. There are also churches and organi-

zations to help with maternal resources.

Catholic Charities in Grand Rapids and Muskegon, West Michigan have a baby pantry where each month, mothers can get new and gently-used items for infants and babies.

The Salvation Army has a prenatal clinic where mothers and children can get medical care, OB-GYN services, traditional and alternative prenatal care, annual physicals, family planning, and wellchild exams.

Farafenni, Gambia is missing these services.

Because Jaiteh and her mother were visiting during Ramadan, which is a time of charity in the Muslim faith, they did a lot of charitable

giving, “But I left that hospital thinking these conditions are not what they should be for mothers in the Gambia.

“When I finally came back home [to America], I was thinking…[about] the resources that my mother had here to raise me and take care of me.” She remarked how the Twin Cities had a good preand post-natal healthcare system.

Jaiteh created the non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, From Mother to You, after her experiences in the Gambian hospital. Often, mothers will not go to the hospital during pregnancy or for aftercare; they will go, however, once their ■ See gambia on page 8

Fatamouta Jaiteh wants healthcare for pregnant women in Gambia.

Courtesy of Fafamouta Jaiteh

Mzenga Wanyama talks to the crowd of 100 supporters after his meeting with ICE.

Photos by Chris Juhn

St. Paul’s first Black mayor feels uniquely positioned to serve

By Charles Hallman Senior Staff Writer Second of two parts Shortly after he officially assumed his duties, St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter III received yet another reminder of his historic achievement as the city’s first Black mayor.

“We were sitting there with” other newly elected Black mayors, incumbent Black mayors, and former Black mayors at a national mayors’ conference in Washington D.C. in January, Carter remembered. “All of these incredible people… these older mayors just went way out of their way to check St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter III at this year’s in with us [and show] how can they Crashed Ice event.

Photo by Lorie Schaull support our success.

“It was an honor for me to see these people — momentous figures in American and supervisors to apply on all calls. It inhistory. That was a momentous moment.” cludes new guidelines in de-escalation, medCarter said he has been taking in all the ical services, training and intervention. breathtaking moments since his election last St. Paul must be “a welcoming place” for fall as he embarks on his first term as mayor all citizens, and the city’s police department of his hometown. plays a key part in ensuring that all St. Paul “I have an amazing family, from my wife residents are served and protected fairly, Dr. Sakeena Carter to our children to my par- Carter said. ents,” the fourth generation St. Paulite proudThe new policy is expected to be included ly noted. “I see it through their eyes. These in his first State of the City address on Saturare the folk who prop you, who lift you up, day at Johnson High School, along with his and pull you away so you can relax and vision for a St. Paul “that works for all of us,” breathe.” he said.

Carter is also the second consecutive St. Finally, “I am very aware of the imporPaul native to serve as the city’s top executive, tance of this role, the magnitude of things a feat he said was not lost on him. “My life that rely on us getting this right,” Carter statin many ways [provides]… the incredible op- ed. “It is very natural to build a team and adportunity to show what St. Paul has to offer. I ministration that reflects the diversity of this think my life experience gives me a perspec- city. In doing so, that makes resources and tive and context, and the nuances. policy decisions more natural for our admin“Being a son of a St. Paul police officer, I istration as well. prayed [for his father’s] safety every day,” “If we are really going to be innovated, reCarter said. “Being an African American silient and drive equity, that means people growing up in this city, I also know what it across the city have to [be involved],” Cartfeels like to be pulled over for driving while er stressed.

Black. Being able to get these two experiences together gives me a real context of policing.”

Charles Hallman welcomes readers’ responses The mayor last month released an updated to challman@spokesman-recorder.com. use of force policy for St. Paul police officers

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April 12-18, 2018

Remembering the Dreamer…50 years later

And reminding ourselves what we must do to fulfill his dream and property rights are considered more important than people, the giant triplets of racism, materialism, and militarism are incapable of being conquered.”

L

ast Wednesday, April 4, 2018, marked the 50th anniversary of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. When I first sat down to contemplate this column, I envisioned it to be a personal reflection of what Dr. King meant, and still means to me today.

In large part, the column will still fulfill those intentions. However, I quickly realized that out of respect for Dr. King’s legacy, it must be more than that, something that I will address in my concluding remarks.

I was one month shy of my ninth birthday when Dr. King delivered his famous “I Have a Dream” speech from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial on August 28, 1963. A few years later, on April 4, 1967, Dr. King spoke before two-thousand people inside New York City’s Riverside Church and thousands more who listened outside over loudspeakers.

In this address, titled “Beyond Vietnam: A Time to Break the Silence,” Dr. King proclaimed: “We must rapidly begin the shift from a ‘thing-oriented’ society to a “person-oriented” society. When machines and computers, profit motives

Many scholars, activists, and historians agree that with this speech, Dr. King essentially signed his own death warrant. Ten days later, Dr. King revisited the themes he explored in “Beyond Vietnam” at Stanford University (where the majority of his papers are archived today) and later that April during an address here at the University of Minnesota.

Following his visit to the Twin Cities, a Minneapolis Spokesman editorial titled “Tie up with Vietnam dissent will harm Civil Rights Movement,” suggested that Dr. King’s attempt to coalesce the movement with his anti-war views and the issue of widespread economic inequality “was idealistic but not good strategy.”

The Minneapolis Tribune expressed similar sentiments. Then, exactly one year to the day of the Riverside Church speech, Dr. King was taken from us. I was 13 years old.

As a high school student a couple of years later, I was taking a public speaking course and chose to speak about the “I Have a Dream,” speech for a class project.

I discovered at that time that I already knew a lot about the speech, but not much about the man who many consider the greatest American in the history of this nation. As I prepared for my own speech, I expeditiously began to learn more about Dr. King, not

the least of which included the provocative Riverside speech and the last year of his life.

Among the things that immediately struck me were: Dr. King’s unselfish and unyielding desire to make life better for all people; the time he had to sacrifice away from his family; and his fearlessness to do what was right in spite of the perpetual threat of death.

I was also inspired by his exceptional command of the English language, coupled with his ability to effectively meld the sacred pulpit into the arena of social justice. While others may have accomplished such a feat, Dr. King serves as America’s clarion standard in this regard.

Moved by Dr. King’s example, I have spent my entire 40-year professional career in the nonprofit industry, the last decade at one of this country’s 1,000 Community Action agencies, which were born out of President Lyndon Johnson’s War on Poverty.

When Johnson considered forsaking this endeavor in its early years, it was Dr. King (along with Robert F. Kennedy) who refused to allow the president to walk away from the commitment he made to the American people.

Today, Community Action agencies serve more than 16 million people each year. And, as a pastor myself for nearly 14 years, I am reminded of Dr. King’s indelible impact on our world every single day of my life.

I’ve been fortunate enough to have the opportunity to visit Ebenezer Baptist Church and pay my respects to Dr. King at his final resting place in his native Atlanta. I’ve stood on the balcony outside of Room 306 of the Lorraine Motel’s National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis, only able to ask, “Why?” It seems that humans often revere our heroes more in death than in life.

Dr. King is no doubt a giant in death,

but he was a giant in life as well. What is of paramount importance 50 years later — is not simply recognizing all of the things that Dr. King did for America and the world — but that there are current forces that seek to undermine, dismantle, and reverse the progress of the Civil Rights Movement.

In the latest issue of Time Magazine, Eddie Glaude, Jr., Chair of the Department of African American Studies at Princeton University cites Black Lives Matter, #MeToo, and March for Our Lives as recent movements signaling a possible sea change in our political landscape.

Dr. Glaude also makes reference to

the latter years of Dr. King’s life, when he was so dismayed at the evil he saw perpetrated by human beings against other human beings; he fell into a deep depression even struggling on at least one occasion to get out of bed.

However, as Dr. Glaude poignantly notes, “We have a chance, once again, to make real the promises of our democracy. It will require us to honestly confront who we are. No myths. No fables. Evil sent King to his bed, but he got up and kept fighting. We must do the same.”

We owe that much to ourselves and our children. We owe that to Dr. King.

Clarence Hightower is the Executive Director of Community Action Partnership of Ramsey & Washington Counties. Dr. Hightower holds a Ph.D. in urban higher education from Jackson State University. He welcomes reader responses to 450 Syndicate Street North, St. Paul, MN 55104. Graphics courtesy of MGN Online

Lorraine Motel, where Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in 1968 Photo by George W. Poehlman

Gone but not forgotten: four little girls killed in church bombing

Lisa McNair with students at MCTC event

By Charles Hallman Senior Staff Writer Spike Lee’s film 4 Little Girls (1997) documented in vivid detail the events leading up to and following the September 15, 1963 bombing at the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama. Ku Klux Klan members placed bombs at the church, where, at the time, a strategy meeting was being held for local Blacks to fight Jim Crow laws and other injustices.

Cynthia Wesley, Carole Robinson, Addie Mae Collins and Denise McNair were all killed in that blast.

“It happened to be four children who happened to be in the [church] bathroom at the same time, and happened to be murdered,” Lisa McNair told the MSR after her February 28 appearance at Minneapolis Community and Technical College in downtown Minneapolis.

McNair, one of Denise’s two younger sisters, spoke about this as part of MCTC’s “Untold

Truths” series during Black History Month in February.

“It’s a fantastic portrayal,” Lisa said of Lee’s movie that was shown the day before her appearance.

“She [Denise] was [her parents’] only child they had for many years. Almost a year to the day she was killed, I was born,” McNair told the 100-plus audience, including a group of St. Paul middle school students. She and her sister, over the years, learned about their slain sister through recollections from their parents, family members and others.

“Denise was an activist in her own way,” Lisa explained.

She often wanted to take part in local protests, but her parents felt she was too little and young.

“She had a real sense of right and wrong, from what I learned about her from family members and friends.”

“I miss not having my big sister,” Lisa disclosed. “I think it would have been really cool to have a big sister to talk to.”

The early Sunday morning

Photo by Charles Hallman bombing in 1963 shocked everyone. It “struck people not just in the South but all over,” Lisa reiterated. “Killing children was bad. Killing children in church was egregious. You are supposed to be safe in church.”

Expectedly, Denise’s death affected her family: “There were many days when [her mother] would be crying. Dad didn’t really heal from it totally. Relatives tell me he didn’t cry until six months [after Denise’s death],” Lisa recalled.

A very close cousin of Denise might have been affected harder than most, Lisa continued. “They were always together. Lynn’s little brother was sick that day and my auntie didn’t take Lynn to church…Lynn never got over it.

“I always wanted to know more about Denise [but] she would never talk about her. She died [a few years ago], an alcoholic and drug addict,” Lisa said. Her parents are still alive: Mama is 89 [and] has Alzheimer. Daddy is 92 [and] has strokerelated dementia,” she noted.

Four men were later charged with the bombing. The first conviction came in 1977, and two more in 2001 and 2002 respectively. The fourth man charged died before facing trial.

Lisa said then-state attorney general Doug Jones, now a U.S. senator, led the prosecution team in the final three cases. “Doug Jones did a great job in bringing those fellows to justice. He will be forever a friend of ours,” she noted.

She stressed that despite her sister’s tragic death, her parents “instructed that we love everybody. [Although] my sister was killed by White people, we could’ve been that family that hated just for the sake of hating. People dislike people for all kinds of reasons but to [kill] someone because of the color of their skin is very wrong.”

It wasn’t called that back then, but the 1963 bombing would have been classified as an act of domestic terrorism,

Lisa responded during a Q&A session.

“I don’t live in a fairy tale world,” said Lisa, who works as an office manager for a nonprofit organization in Birmingham. She’s also a part-time photographer, and a co-founder of a non-profit group that conducts civil rights history tours.

“My sister and I had a talk [in 2013] and we decided that I would speak to groups” about Denise, Lisa said. She is currently working on a memoir dedicated to her sister and hopes to complete it later this year. “Since Denise’s death, things in this country certainly have gotten better. But lately harsh words [and] phrases we’ve heard back in the day…It seems we’re regressing instead of progressing.

This is really bothering me,” Lisa stated.

“My message is just love and embracing people,” Lisa told the MSR afterwards.

“I think it’s important for our

students to hear history, and it’s good for them to see history alive,” Hazel Park Middle School Assistant Principal Kenneth Turner told the MSR of the 16 eighth graders that heard McNair’s speech and met with her afterwards.

All four girls, who were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal by former President Barack Obama, have names and stories that should be told, MCTC African American Empowerment Program Coordinator Marcellus Davis told us.

“Their martyrdom doesn’t exist if we don’t tell their story in its entirety,” he advised.

“We got to share the story,” Lisa McNair stated. “I feel that it is my job to carry on the story. I find that a huge, but wonderful, responsibility,” she concluded.

Charles Hallman welcomes reader responses to challman@ spokesman-recorder.com

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April 12-18,2018

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Glaucoma: Early diagnosis and treatment can prevent blindness velop suddenly, producing blurry vision and eye pain. This is a medical emergency and should be treated immediately.

By Charles E. Crutchfield III, MD

G

laucoma is the name for several ocular conditions that cause an increased and destructive pressure inside the eye. This elevated pressure produces damage to the optic nerve and, subsequently, vision loss. A common cause of increased pressure is when channels that normally drain fluid from the eyes get blocked, resulting in pressure building up inside the eye.

The optic nerve is the main nerve that transmits vision from the eye to the brain. If the optic nerve is severely damaged or destroyed, the brain cannot receive visual input from the eyes and vision is lost, producing blindness.

Two types of glaucoma Open-angle glaucoma is where the standard drainage system of eye fluids appears normal, but does not function well. Closed-angle glaucoma, not as common in the Western Hemisphere, occurs when the angle of the iris is too severe and causes a blockage or interference of eye fluid flow.

In rare cases glaucoma can de-

Risk factors • Family history of glaucoma • Increasing age, especially over age 40 • Ethnicity (Black and Asian) • Diabetes • Heart disease • High blood pressure (hypertension) • Low thyroid gland function (hypothyroidism) • History of eye trauma or surgery • History of severe eye infection • History of far-sightedness • History of cataracts • History of chronic eye inflammation • Chronic use of steroid medications African Americans older than age 40 have the highest risk of developing glaucoma. Persons of Asian ancestry have a moderately increased risk, too. A family history of glaucoma is a significant risk factor.

Although glaucoma can occur at any age, including childhood, it is the most common cause of vision loss in persons over age 60. Unfortunately, in many of these cases glaucoma could have been prevented.

Glaucoma produces a gradual decrease in vision, especially apparent at the periphery of a field of view. This usually happens in both eyes. Over time, the vision of an affected person becomes narrower and narrower, producing a condition referred to as “tunnel vision.”

Glaucoma can, without treatment, progress over a few years to pro-

duce permanent blindness.

Accompanying the onset of glaucoma may also be blurred vision, severe headaches, halos around lights at night, reddening of the eyes and eye pain. Initially these symptoms may be mild, and the condition can be painless. As a result, glaucoma has been called “the sneaky thief of vision.”

Prevention The goal is early detection and treatment with eye pressure control. If you are over 40 years of age or have a family history of glaucoma, schedule an eye examination with an eye specialist physician known as an ophthalmologist. The eye doctor will tell you how often, after this examination, you should have regular eye check-ups. With risk factors, usually the eye doctor will recommend regular eye examinations every one to two years.

How is glaucoma diagnosed?

Your eye doctor will perform a careful examination of your eyes.

This eye examination will include a vision test and drops to dilate the pupils so the eye doctor can get a good view inside your eyes and a good view of your optic nerve.

The eye doctor will also do a particular test called tonometry that measures eye pressure. This pressure test is painless. The eye doctor may also take photographs of your inner eye to document any eye changes over time.

How is glaucoma treated?

The primary focus of glaucoma treatment is to reduce and normalize the pressure inside the eye.

Pressure normalization can be accomplished by the use of topical medications (eye drops), oral medications, and by surgical intervention and correction.

Eye drops: The goal of eye drops is to either increase the draining of fluid inside the eye or reduce the amount of fluid produced by the eye, or both. The result is a reduction of the abnormally high and destructive pressure in the eye. Sometimes oral medications are used in conjunction with eye drops for optimal results. Some glaucoma medicines can affect the heart and lungs, so discuss this with your doctor.

Surgery: Both laser surgery and micro-surgery are used to treat and control glaucoma. The goal of all surgical interventions is to create openings that will increase fluid flow and drainage in the eye to reduce eye pressure. Sometimes drainage tubes can be surgically placed to re-establish normal eye fluid flow and pressure balance.

Remember, glaucoma can’t be prevented. Fortunately, if glaucoma is diagnosed early, it can effectively be treated and controlled, avoiding severe eye problems. Talk to your eye doctor to develop an examination schedule based on your risk factors, and stick to it. If you notice any vision changes, don’t wait – talk to your doctor immediately. Your eye health is in your hands.

Charles E. Crutchfield III, MD is a board-certified dermatologist and Clinical Professor of Dermatology at the University of Minnesota Medical School. He also has a private practice in Eagan, MN. He has been selected as one of the top 10 dermatologists in the United States by Black Enterprise magazine and one of the top 21 African American physicians in the U.S. by the Atlanta Post. Dr. Crutchfield is president of the Minnesota Association of Black Physicians.

Find help For domestic abuse MARPE’ (Greek for “inner healing”) supports women as they recover, heal, and thrive. No one deserves to be abused.

Women dealing with domestic abuse are invited to enroll in the 2018 Spring MARPE’ program, a nine-week, nine-step women’s support and advocacy program of OASIS of Love Crisis Intervention Center.

Get quality, confidential, and free services from our caring and skilled Advocates.

Dates: Tuesdays, April 24 to June 19 Time: 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Location: 1200 37th Ave. North Minneapolis (Group materials, supplies, and refreshments included)

NAMI presses for change in mental health services

“We’re tired of waiting,” chanted an overflow crowd of mental health advocates on Mental Health Day at the Capitol on Thursday, March 15. More than 500 people, including NAMI Minnesota (National Alliance on Mental Illness) members joined in the rally to call on legislators to make mental health care services equal to those provided for physical care.

The mandate of mental health parity remains far from a reality according to mental health advocates. Long waiting lists, lack of crisis response and school-linked mental health services, shortages of psychiatrists, psychologists, residential treatment, affordable supportive housing, employment programs and more re-

main commonplace.

In related news, NAMI Minnesota will hold a free, interactive workshop that provides families and individuals with information on mental illnesses, practical coping strategies, and hope for recovery.

The workshop will be held in Minneapolis at Hennepin County Medical Center, 716 South 7th Street, Red Skyway to Popkin Family Resource Center, on Saturday, April 28, from 9 am to 3 pm. For information or to register call 651-6452948 or see “classes” at namihelps.org.

— Information provided by NAMI Minnesota.

OASIS Kidsplace is available for child witnesses of domestic violence. Kidsplace follows the MARPE’ schedule (above) and provides age-specific support circles for children (tots to teens). Parent or guardian consent is required.

Call 612-529-6055 to schedule your intake or send an email to support@agapeoasis.com.

For more info about OASIS of Love, go to www.oasisoflove.solutions.

—Information provided by OASIS of Love

February 16-22, 2017

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4 April 12-18, 2018

Recycling champions needed at apartment buildings

L

iving in an apartment can sometimes make the process of recycling more of a challenge, causing some residents to throw recyclables in the trash.

There’s a lot of room for improvement in recycling at apartment buildings — a study recently conducted by Hennepin County found that 23 percent of materials thrown in the trash at apartments could have been recycled.

Fortunately, there are many steps you can take to become a recycling champion and help make it easier for your neighbors to reduce, reuse, and recycle.

To make apartment recycling successful, Hennepin County offers many free services and materials that will make it easier for you and your property manager to improve recycling. Access these at www.hennepin. us/apartmentsrecycle.

The Black community and American energy policy:

Motivate others by becoming your building’s recycling champion If you are enthusiastic about recycling, offer to champion the recycling program and educate other residents. Neighbor-to-neighbor encouragement can be the best form of recycling education, and some building mangers are even willing to offer a rent credit or other perks for someone who spearheads the program and makes sure all residents are informed of how to recycle.

Some ideas for recycling education include: • Provide recycling information to new residents when they move in, and give periodic recycling reminders and updates to all residents. Studies show that posting two or three recycling reminders throughout the year can increase partic-

Graphic courtesy of American Association of Black Energy

Black consumers, businesses must lead American energy policy talks

By Freddie Allen Contributing Writer

Photo courtesy of Hennepin County Work with your property manager to follow best practices As a resident, working with your property manager is the best way to improve recycling for all residents. Property owners and associations are required to provide residents with the opportunity to recycle.

Some best practices for improving recycling include: Have the same capacity of recycling service as you have for trash service.

Make recycling as easy as possible by making recycling bins just as convenient as trash cans and trash chutes.

Clearly label all recycling and trash containers with labels that include pictures of the materials people have to recycle.

Give all residents a recycling guide of what is and is not accepted, and post recycling instructions in common areas of the building.

Provide educational materials in multiple language if some residents are not native English speakers.

ipation by as much as 20 percent.

• Offer positive feedback to residents who are recycling. Consider setting a goal for your building and tracking progress regularly.

• Promote the benefits of recycling, and assure people that the materials they put in their recycling bins are actually getting recycled and being made into new products.

• To help your education efforts, Hennepin County offers free labels, recycling bags, educational materials, and recycling guides. Many of the resources are offered in multiple languages.

The county also has resources and services for starting up organics recycling and disposing of items like furniture and other bulky waste, hazardous waste, electronics, batteries and unwanted medicine. Learn more about these resources and order free materials at www.hennepin. us/apartmentsrecycle.us.

—Information provided by Hennepin County.

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Due to shifting demographics in the U.S., it’s increasingly important for Blacks to take the lead in shaping America’s energy policies.

The American Association of Blacks in Energy is a Black think tank focused on energy policies, emerging technologies, and environmental issues.

President Donald Trump and the Senate Democrats released infrastructure plans that include more than one trillion in spending.

As the debate continues over the future of energy in the U.S. and around the world, industry insiders say that now is the time for African American consumers and businesses to step up and help shape America’s energy policy.

The country’s demographics are changing. According to the Census Bureau, the U.S. population, as a whole, is expected to become majority-minority in 2044.

“The minority population is projected to rise to 56 percent of the total in 2060, compared with 38 percent in 2014,” the Census Bureau reported.

Forward-thinking industry leaders have taken notice and are working to recruit and train an increasingly diverse labor force.

According to the American Petroleum Institute’s “State of American Energy 2018” report, as the baby boomers retire and the oil and natural gas industry expands, job opportunities in the industry will continue to grow over the next couple of decades, requiring more workers. Researchers project that nearly 1.9 million new job opportunities will be available in the industry by 2035.

“According to an IHS study, women and minorities will account for hundreds of thousands of those openings — more than 700,000 African Americans and Hispanics and 290,000 women through 2035,” the report said.

During an interview with the NNPA Newswire, Jack Gerard, the president and CEO of the American Petroleum Institute, said that the oil and natural gas indus-

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try is working to broaden its base in the Black community and increase awareness about the high-paying job opportunities in the industry.

Tracey Woods, the vice president of operations at the American Association of Blacks in Energy (AABE), a Black think tank focused on energy policies, regulations, emerging technologies, and environmental issues, said that it’s important for potential employees and entrepreneurs who are interested in getting into the oil and natural gas industry, to understand policy.

AABE’s founder, Clarke Watson, understood how critical it was for Blacks to not only understand energy policy, but to also be involved in the planning and implementation of America’s policies.

According to Watson’s biography on AABE’s website, “Watson worked in the energy industry for decades, eventually starting his own consulting firm. He founded the American Association of Blacks in Energy in 1977 after hearing of a meeting of energy policymakers that had been called by then President Jimmy Carter. No minorities were on the original guest list.”

The group’s mission continues today, because energy policies set today can have lasting socioeconomic effects for generations.

And when it comes to policies about access to STEM education and investment capital, those economic effects could mean higher wages in the oil and natural gas industry for Black workers and increased business opportunities for entrepreneurs.

Woods said that Black energy experts and industry leaders have to talk to people about President Donald Trump’s infrastructure plan and what it means for the Black community.

Trump’s infrastructure plan commits “$200 billion in federal funding over 10 years to stimulate state and local spending and private investment,” NPR reported. “Half of the funding, $100 billion, would be used as incentives to entice cities, counties and states to raise at least 80 percent of the infrastructure costs themselves.”

The article continued: “That’s a departure from the way many projects are funded now. Funding for federalaid highways, including interstates, is usually allocated in an 80-20 federal-state split.

So, President Trump’s plan would flip that funding burden.”

Shortly before the president’s infrastructure plan went public, the Senate Democrats released a “Jobs and Infrastructure Plan” that promised a “historic $1 trillion federal investment to modernize our crumbling infrastructure and create more than 15 million goodpaying jobs that American families desperately need.”

The Senate Democrats’ plan would also hit President Trump’s tax law signed late last year. The plan would raise the corporate tax rate to 25 percent, which Republicans cut from 35 percent to 21 percent, according to CNN Money. The Democrats’ proposal also “undoes parts of the new tax law in order to fund increased infrastructure spending.”

Woods said that when the Black Press informs the community, Black voters can hold legislators and policymakers accountable.

Woods said that with federal, state, and local funding, more than one trillion dollars will be spent on fixing bridges, highways and roads, building pipelines and upgrading the country’s energy grid. The Democrats’ plan also promised cheaper fuel and greater access to highspeed Internet in rural areas.

“That’s about one trillion dollars that you’re going to pay for,” said Woods, referring to taxpayers. “We need to ensure that we’re participating.”

Woods continued: “Our communities are, very often, not at the table and not represented and miss the moment to impact the legislation. So, when you look at the Black Press and the opportunity to get that message out about the importance of policymaking in the energy industry — that’s huge.”

Thanks to NNPA for sharing this story with us.

April 12-18, 2018

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The Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder (MSR) welcomes and values commentary and feedback from the community. The articles found here are edited for clarity and/or space, but the opinions are the author’s own and do not reflect the views of the MSR.

Through My Eyes

The Minneapolis Story Continues

In the matter of Terrance Franklin’s death by police Five-year legal battle drawing to an end

By Ron Edwards Contributing Commentator As this is written on April 2, 2018, it is 10 days prior to when the City of Minneapolis will meet in the Federal Court building with attorneys for the Terrance Franklin family for a settlement conference in the civil suit filed by the family regarding Terrance Franklin’s shooting death by police on May 10, 2013.

In 2013, my columns covered that tragic case on May 22 and 29 and June 12 and 19.

Those columns raised over 40 questions; many are still unanswered.

Federal courts use the settlement conference to reach agreements prior to trial as to what will be considered fair. It has not been that simple for the Franklin family. Behind the scenes, citizens and taxpayers of Minneapolis are not being told about the pitched battle running five long years. The Franklin family has sought justice, as the City of Minneapolis has fought that at every turn.

On November 10, 2016, Judge Donovan Frank handed down a final ruling that the case must go to trial. But the City keeps appealing.

The City of Minneapolis lost to a threemember panel of the 8th circuit court of appeals. Later, the City appealed to the entire nine- member panel, and lost again. The City of Minneapolis has appealed to the United States Supreme Court, which has taken it under advisement and will make its determination before the current session recesses.

Much of the information contained in the briefs and motions filed on behalf of the Franklin family have been suppressed by the local media and other supporters of the City of Minneapolis, despite the many issues raised by the attorneys for the Franklin family regarding the chilling events leading to Franklin’s death. Franklin was shot 10 times along his right side, including his armpit, in-

dicating his arms were raised.

The City attorneys and the local media should be embarrassed by what they have suppressed. They know few will exercise their lawful right to review documents that have been filed by all parties in the case of Franklin’s execution.

Review the statements Judge Frank issued on December 10, 2016, and the statements of the City of Minneapolis on December 7, 2016.

Depositions should also be reviewed of police officers and others who were in that basement when Franklin was killed.

It is a sad commentary that the City in response to the Franklin execution would be so dishonest, issuing so many false statements to cover up the acts of brutality against this young, unarmed Black man. How will the United States Supreme Court ruling determine how much evidence can be suppressed by the City of Minneapolis?

If the Supreme Court does not rule on this matter, the case will be returned to the trial judge, Donovan Frank, who stated on November 10, 2016, that this case must go to trial.

Read our earlier four columns on Terrance Franklin on our web site archive: http:// www.theminneapolisstory.com/toc13col.htm April 4, 2018 was the 50th anniversary of Martin Luther King’s death. In his daughter’s words, he was ”the apostle of nonviolence.”

What he considered to be the center of any solution is the same today: character and nonviolence. What he said then is the same today “in spite of a decade of significant progress, the problem is far from solved.”

Stay tuned.

Ron is an author and host of radio and TV shows.

Call us, write us, email us - your stories Send story ideas, news tips and opinions to Judith Hence at jhence@spokesmanrecorder.com.

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Several options to reverse housing needs

By Catherine Fleming Guest Commentator When North Minneapolis was separated and isolated by highways it was a big deal, and similarly, we need big ideas and plans to reverse that tragedy in order to address the housing needs of the current and future residents.

Below, I have listed some ideas that I thought about as long- and short-term solutions. They do not necessarily need to be taken at face value, but I hope it will spur some out-of-the-box big ideas among our elected officials.

Short-term - Homelessness I see so many unused spaces that could be used to house our homeless population during the winter months. Examples would be the fairgrounds in St. Paul, Dunwoody area parking lots, and areas used for summer carnivals, etc. etc.

On those sites, we could place SRO (single room only) modular units with or without a private bathroom, electricity for a microwave and be located near transit.

These modular units are attractive and colorful and removable, if needed, during the summer months. The areas I’m

recommending already have a hard surface.

Fourplexes in Minneapolis I am currently not a fan of the City of Minneapolis recommendation that allows for the building of fourplexes across the City, especially in areas with SFR’s. Instead, I would recommend that all fourplexes built in areas where SFR’s (Single Family Residence) already exist must be built in the following manner: a maximum of a duplex structure with a livable, finished basement and a garage that has an ADU (accessory dwelling unit) above.

This will hopefully keep in line with the SFR-look and feel of the neighborhood instead of creating a ”rental” approach. I believe that homeownership should be a top priority for the City of Minneapolis and rentals being a less desirable, but necessary, option.

Paths to homeownership that the City can champion I don’t claim to be a financial scholar, but I am of the opinion that City government has the following financial tools at their disposal to greatly jump start homeownership and provide options to reduce dis-

placement, address the housing crisis, increase the tax base, and have many other positive outcomes.

• The City can float a bond(s) to either repay or not funding to rehab the 273 boarded-up, vacant buildings owned by the City or Hennepin County.

• After rehab, these homes would be made available to residents whose PITI (Principal Interest Taxes Insurance) would be a little less than they are currently paying for rent. This would, of course, increase homeownership and also free up the rental units these residents currently occupy.

• The City could supplement the bond with federal funds like LivCommunities, Section 108 funds, and Promise Zone benefits. These funds could be used to supplement developer costs.

• The City of Minneapolis can accomplish most of the above ideas without any funds from the State; how amazing would it be if they also garnered their support and funds.

Catherine Fleming is CEO at Business Direct LLC

MLK’s assassination reminds the nation of unaddressed gun violence ReveRend IRene MonRoe

By Rev. Irene Monroe Contributing Commentator The 50th anniversary of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s assassination is, sadly, a searing reminder of unaddressed gun violence in America. Because gun violence has gone unaddressed for half a century, now and future generations of children live in fear of guns when the children are not running scared for their lives.

They are not living in the safer and healthier America MLK spoke about so dreamingly.

During last month’s ”March for Our Lives” demonstration in Washington, D. C., students were demanding safer gun laws. One of the surprise guest speakers was 9-year-old Yolanda Renee King, granddaughter of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Like the hundreds of thousands of children and teens who came to the nation’s capital with the mission to end school shootings, Yolanda told the audience, “My grandfather had a dream that his four little children will not be judged by the color of the skin, but the content of their character.”

Standing on stage alongside one of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting survivors, Yolanda continued sharing her dream with the crowd: “I have a dream that enough is enough. And that this should be a gun-free world. Period.”

As I watched King’s cherubic-looking granddaughter deliver her speech to a cheering crowd, I nearly cried realizing Yolanda never met her grandfather, because a bullet shortened his life leaving us all wondering how long he might have lived.

King wrote in his “Letter from the Birmingham Jail” in April 1963, “Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly…This is the interrelated structure of reality.”

In 2018, no one could have fathomed the number-one issue all American school-aged children will face is an epidemic of school shootings — whether in wealthy suburbs like Newtown and Parkland or urban cities like Chicago and Baltimore. Gun violence is killing our children, and gun reform continues to be that hot-bottom issue as a country we can’t seem to budge on.

It was a similar problem 50 years ago.

Just two months after King’s death in April — with a nation still in mourning — New York senator, and then-presidential hopeful, Robert F. Kennedy, was assassinated in June. His brother, President

John F. Kennedy, was assassinated five years earlier in November 1963. Immediately following JFK’s assassination, King told his executive director of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), Andrew Young, Jr., “Guns are going to be the death of this country.”

President Lyndon B. Johnson thought so, too. Johnson wrote to Congress requesting stronger gun laws in the wake of RFK’s death.

“Far too many [guns] were bought by the demented, the deranged, the hardened criminal, and the convict, the addict, and the alcoholic.

So today, I call upon the Congress in the name of sanity … and in the name of an aroused nation to give us the Gun Control Law it needs.”

Johnson passed landmark civil rights legislation during his tenure, but he could not make a dent in gun reform.

King would have been proud of the “March for Our Lives” demonstration. It demonstrated the collective power of children and teen activists to shame and to bring recalcitrant Second Amendment advocate lawmakers to their knees as the Children’s Crusade of 1963 did in Birmingham, Alabama. The Children’s Crusade braved arrest, fire hoses, and police dogs to bring to the nation’s attention their state’s unrelenting segregation laws.

I don’t know if MLK could have ever imagined an epidemic of school shootings. No one could. He did, however, speak out about America’s children being reared on a steady diet of violence. He suggested a link between watching violent acts in movies or television shows that resulted in antisocial behavior or acting aggressively in life.

King stated in 1963, “By our readiness to allow arms to be purchased at will and fired at whim; by allowing our movie and television screens to teach our children that the hero is one who masters the art of shooting and the technique of killing; by allowing all these developments, we have created an atmosphere in which violence and hatred have become popular pastimes.”

King’s assassination shocked the nation. The alleged weapon was the Remington 30-06 hunting rifle — a weapon that was as easily obtained then as the AR-15 is today. The Remington 30-06 hunting rifle was used in the 1930 Valentine’s Day massacre; the AR-15 was used in the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shootings.

President Johnson redoubled his efforts to get sensible gun laws in place with each act of gun violence, unlike President Trump, but the NRA was able to quickly mobilize an opposition team in Congress against Johnson to oppose gun reform legislation.

There have been 17school shootings since March of this year. The high volume of school shootings can be pointed to the NRA and its allies employing similar tactics used 50 years ago to obstruct gun safety legislation.

No one, however, could have fathomed the NRA would use those same tactics against the safety of our children, too. But our children have spoken up, and they want sweeping new gun control laws now and not crumbs.

King’s assassination is a glaring reminder of what happens to a future generation when an important issue like gun safety goes unaddressed. In King’s famous “I Have a Dream” speech he said, “Now is the time to make justice a reality for all of God’s children.

It would be fatal for the nation to overlook the urgency of the moment.”

I’m hoping lawmakers are listening this time.

Rev. Irene Monroe is a Huffington Post blogger and freelance journalist.

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April 12-18,2018

All the Women in My Family Sing: A powerful collection of stories revealing hurt and hope

Arts No Chaser Dwight Hobbes

Contributing Writer

All the Women in My Family Sing: Women Write the World — Essays on Equality, Justice and Freedom (Nothing but The Truth, $16.95) showcases social commentary seldom heard. After all, who listens to females of color outside celebrity Oprah Winfrey or political firebrand Maxine Waters?

Edited by Deborah Santana, lauded by Henry Louis Gates, Jr. and Alfre Woodard, this international collection of 69 contributors adds a chorus that should be heard and well-heeded.

Fed up with so-called social progress, Crosby-Johnson laces into a fluidly articulate, seething indictment. “[H] ere I am, African American in a time overflowing with that were marked First’— America’s First Black President.

“There were sorrows that made us weep and wail, as donned wristbands with the hashtag #BlackLivesMatter. We marched and stood before tanks to convince those who shoot us and leave us dying in the streets, those who would use the power of their badges to imprison and rape us that we are here to stay.

“We still need the courage when others run away and to develop tools to fight enemies more cunning and violent than the KKK of my Colored grandparents.”

Menen Hialu forcefully brings home the tragically minimized issue of sexual health, which, if STDs struck men as readily, one must surmise awareness and prevention would be significantly heightened.

Culled from the accounts of 17

"But people are governed by laws and not love, so it would be good if people were forced to follow antidiscriminatory laws on HIV/AIDS.” La Rhonda Crosby-Johnson’s “From Negro to Black,” waxes subtly sardonic: “I was just about getting the Negro thing down when the world turned Black. Huey Newton. Angela Davis.

The old schoolyard adage, ‘If you’re white, you’re all right; if you’re Black get back” was quickly replaced with “black is beautiful, brown is hip, yellow is mellow and white ain’t sh*t.”

Ethiopian women, “Invisible Women” strikes a profoundly disturbing chord at the outset, that, in this day and age, ignorance and fear so prevail that they spoke on the condition of anonymity so as not to be ostracized for something over which they’ve no control — being afflicted with HIV/AIDS. One can only imagine how many more, for the same reason, dare

Courtesy of Nothing but The Truth not seek medical treatment to prevent the HIV virus from progressing to AIDS. “In Ethiopia, the rate of HIV/ AIDS for women is twice as that for men. Inequalities characterizing the lives of women including poverty, violence and lack of protection make them

more vulnerable to the disease.”

Hardship extends to daughters — young women compelled to work in the Middle East as domestics to send money back home when, for instance, an infected mother is rendered unemployable or dies of AIDS. Recruiters

trick most of them into traveling illegally and, once they are smuggled abroad, find themselves ready victims of abuse, often forced sex trafficking.

The voices heard in “Invisible Women” hold onto hope. One of them states, “Love is what is most important. But people are governed by laws and not love, so it would be good if people were forced to follow anti-discriminatory laws on HIV/AIDS.” “Prison Parenting” hits hard, to the heart and soul. Rhonda Turpin, currently incarcerated, recounts, “When a woman is sentenced, her children and grandchildren automatically become victims of the criminal justice system also. There is, of course, no calculating the mental and emotional cost of that sudden loss to the little ones left behind.

How much worse it is for those whose new providers can’t afford get them therapy. Or how much damage is done when there’s no other family and they are shuttled off to Children’s Service, which is well-known for opportunists who simply warehouse youngsters as nothing more or less than bodies that bring in a regular county or city support check.

As Turpin relates, women have been locked for the flimsiest of reasons, including cashing a deceased husband’s social security check in order to keep a roof overhead, clothes on youngsters’ backs and food on the table.

“The tide is turning, somewhat,” Turpin observes, but real reform is a long way off.” Clearly, so is the capacity of countries around the world to transcend man’s inherent inhumanity to woman.

Dwight Hobbes welcomes reader responses to P.O. Box 50357, Minneapolis, MN 55403.

Chappaquiddick: Damning docudrama revisits Kennedy cover-up port the accident to the police and fire department.

In fact, the authorities only learned about the wreck the next morning when, at low tide, a couple of fishermen spotted the wheels of a car bobbing in the channel.

Unfortunately, by the time divers arrived, Kopechne had already run out of oxygen and died of asphyxiation.

Nevertheless, Teddy, with the help of his cronies, did his best to exculpate himself of any wrongdoing. At first, he claimed Kopechne had been driving, so that no one could accuse him of driving under the influence. Later, he admitted being behind the wheel but concocted a tall tale about having tried to rescue his passengers several times before she expired.

Lucky for Teddy, his legal team was able to influence the inquest. Without performing an autopsy, the medical examiner concluded that Kopechne died of drowning.

Consequently, the powerful senator would not be indicted by the grand jury or charge with a crime

Kam Williams Contributing Writer

On July 18, 1969, Sen. Ted Kennedy (Jason Clarke) hosted a reunion in a rented cottage on Chappaquiddick, a tiny island just 150 yards off

the coast of Martha’s Vineyard. The gathering was in honor of the Boiler Room Girls, a half-dozen women who had worked on his late brother Bobby’s aborted presidential campaign the previous year.

Around 11:15 pm, Teddy left the party in his ’67 Oldsmobile with one of those young staffers, 28year-old Mary Jo Kopechne (Kate Mara). An hour or so later, the car ambled down a dirt road and off a wooden bridge, before landing upside-down in Poucha Pond.

Sen. Kennedy escaped and swam to shore, leaving Kopechne in the submerged automobile, wrongly assuming that she had drowned.

Truth be told, she was still alive and able to breathe, thanks to a large air pocket.

However, instead of trying to save Kopechne, Ted turned his attention to damage control. After all, he was already planning a run for the White House in ’72. So, while she remained trapped and terrified for hours, he convened the Kennedy family brain trust, rather than re-

Images courtesy of Entertainment Studios of any nature.

Directed by John Curran (The Painted Veil), Chappaquiddick is a damning docudrama belatedly setting the record straight about what really transpired in Massachusetts on that fateful night back in 1969. Ironically, the elaborate cover-up didn’t enable Kennedy to become president, though it did at least keep him out of jail.

Don’t let it be forgotten that once there was a crash which in one brief, shameful moment brought down the curtain on a dynasty known as Camelot.

Excellent (4 stars) Rated PG-13 for smoking, profanity, mature themes and disturbing images Running time: 101 minutes Production Studio: Apex Entertainment / DMG Entertainment Distributor: Entertainment Studios Motion Pictures opened Chappaquiddick April 6. See local listings for showtimes.

Kam Williams welcomes readers’ comments to kam_ williams@hotmail.com.

April 12-18,2018

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St. Paul recognizes winners of second annual business awards

On

April 5, 2018, the St. Paul City Council announced the winners of the Second Annual St. Paul Business Awards. The eight winners, and all the nominees and other businesses who choose to operate in St. Paul, will be celebrated at the City Council meeting on April 11 at 3:30 pm with a reception following. The St. Paul Business Awards honor businesses in several categories based on nominations from the community.

The 2018 St. Paul Business Award Winners: • Morelli’s Market - Traditions Award (Honoring a business that has been active in St. Paul for at least 20 years) • Caydence Records and Coffee - New Kid on the Block Award (Honoring a business that has opened in St. Paul within the last five years) • Afro Deli - Large Business Excellence Award (Honoring a business with a staff of at least 50 that cares for its employees and the community) • A Backyard Farm - Small Business Excellence Award (Honoring a business with a staff smaller than 50 that cares for its employees and the community) • Eyes All Over - Alice O’Brien Award (Honoring a woman-owned business that is committed to equity and empowerment) • Hmong Elder Center - Reflecting St. Paul Award (Honoring a business owned by a person of color that is committed to equity and empowerment) • Heritage Tea House Boutique - People’s Choice Award (Honoring a business that

is recognized for its excellence by St. Paul residents) • Wet Paint – St. Paul Open for Business Award Winner (A special award created by the Selection Committee to honor a business that exemplifies excellence across multiple award categories) As part of the Open for Business initiative that began in 2016, the awards are another step in making St. Paul an even better place to do business. “This year’s process was very competitive and I am proud of the diverse businesses that were nominated and selected,” said Ward 1 Councilmember Dai Thao.

“The Business Awards are evidence of the successes and commitment that businesses have in our city.”

“We’re thrilled to be able to celebrate this year’s award winners — as well as all of the many great nominees — who are not only building a strong and dynamic business climate in St. Paul, they’re deeply rooted in our communities on so many levels,” said Ward 2 Councilmember Rebecca Noecker.

“When the proliferation of chain stores starts to make all cities look alike, these award-winning one-of-kind Saint Paul businesses give our city its distinctive character and its competitive edge,” said Ward 7 Councilmember Jane Prince. “Congratulations to these businesses that place Saint Paul above the crowd!”

The selection committee that reviewed applications and selected winners was made up of business advisors from across the city and former award recipients. The selection committee included:

Image courtesy of Heritage Tea House Boutique’s Facebook page • Brianne Hamm, Securian Financial Group • Ryan Huseby, Tongue in Cheek • Brenda Reid, Dayton’s Bluff Community Council • Bee Vang, Neighborhood Development Corporation • Roxanny Armendariz, Neighborhood Development Alliance • Ann Dejoy, East Side Neighborhood Development Company • Brook Dalu, African Economic Development Solutions

• Kari Tierney, Highland Business Association The People’s Choice Award, received by Heritage Tea House Boutique, was selected based on receiving the largest number of nominations from the community.

Find more information on the award criteria and process, visit www.stpaul.gov/ bizawards.

Congratulations to Marshall and Crystal

Obituary

Edward J. Ballard, Sr Sunrise 1939 — Sunset 2018

E

dward J. Ballard, Sr. 79, beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, and uncle, peacefully passed surrounded by family on March 30. He is survived by wife Linda; 12 children; 29 grandchildren; 35 great-grandchildren; sisters Gaynell Ray and Barbara Doyle, and a host of family and friends.

The service will be at 10 am Thursday, April 12 at Mt. Olivet Baptist Church, 451 West Central Ave. in St. Paul. Visitation will be at 8:30 am prior to the service.

The interment will be held at Fort Snelling Cemetery, with arrangements by Brooks Funeral Home.

M

arshall and Crystal Douglas were married on Saturday, March 24, 2018 at The Blaisdell in South Minneapolis.

The occasion couldn’t have been more elegant. It was a beautiful expression of stylish attire by the happy couple and their guests.

The reception immediately following the ceremony was at Terzo, a modern Italian restaurant and wine bar in Minneapolis where the guests enjoyed an enticing buffet and drink.

The wedding party then moved to downtown Minneapolis to continue the celebration at the Constantine in Hotel Ivy. Following the festivities, the couple left for a beautiful and relaxing honeymoon week in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.

Worship Greater Friendship Missionary Baptist Church

Mount Olivet Missionary Baptist Church

Bethesda Baptist Church

Rev. Arthur Agnew, Pastor

Rev. Billy G. Russell, Sr. Pastor

All your celebrations and memorials belong on the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder’s Community page.

CALL US : 612-827-4021

2600 E. 38th Street.

Mpls., MN 55408 612-827-7928 fax: 612-827-3587 www.greatfriend.org Sunday Morning Worship: 8 am Sunday School: 9 am Morning Worship: 10:40 am N.B.C.: 5:30 pm Evening Worship: 7pm (1st Sunday) www.greatfriend.org The Friendly Church Where Everybody Is Somebody

Rev. James C. Thomas, Pastor 451 West Central St. Paul, MN 55103 651-227-4444 Church School 9:30 am Morning Worship 8 & 10:45 am Prayer Service: Wednesday 7 pm

Pilgrim Baptist Church Rev. Doctor Charles Gill 732 W. Central Ave., St. Paul, MN 55104

Dr. Willa Lee Grant Battle, Pastor 1908 Fourth Ave. So. Mpls., MN 24 Hour Dial-A-Prayer: 612-870-4695 www.gtdci.org Sunday School 9:30 am Sunday Worship 11:30 am Prayer Daily 7 pm Evangelistic Service: Wednesday & Friday 8 pm

Sunday Worship Service: 9:45 AM Sunday School: 8:45 AM

"Welcome to Mt. Olivet Baptist Church" Grace Temple Deliverance Center

At the Old Landmark 1118 So. 8th Street Mpls., MN 55404 612-332-5904

www.bethesdamnonline.com email:bethesdamn@prodigy.net

Service Times: Sunday School 10 am Sunday Worship 11:30 am Wednesday Prayer Meeting, 6 pm Adult Bible Class 7 pm Children's Bible Class 7 pm

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April 12-18, 2018

Shooting Continued from page 1

of a public lynching, his impact went far beyond a single viral post. “He was a person of love and light and committed his life to social justice,” his mother Rosemary Nevils-Williams told the MSR. Tyrone Williams was an active voice in the city, often arriving at the scene of an injustice before crowds and news crews.

He helped organize against the police killings of Jamar Clark and Philando Castile and participated in the Dakota Access Pipeline protests at Standing Rock.

His mother also shared that he coached football at Powderhorn Park in Minneapolis where he once played as a child, himself. “He was just a big old teddy bear who believed in his community and his people,” said Nevils-Williams. “He believed in all the social justice movements. He wasn’t perfect, but he was a good guy. He believed in humanity.”

Civil rights attorney and friend Nekima Levy-Pounds called Williams “a true frontline warrior in the fight for justice, a revolutionary and entrepreneur,” in a recent Facebook post.

“To say he was a protector of the community — he embodied that,” said friend and fellow organizer Chauntyll Allen. “He wanted to figure out ways to teach other people to embody that and be that. He was huge on community defense and carried this idea of protecting your own community. He took that to heart. That’s one of the biggest things he taught me as an organizer.”

The fallen community leader also founded the clothing line Black Coalition, which offered up hoodies, tees and other apparel emblazoned with empowering messages.

“I just didn’t know that my son had impacted so many people,” explained Nevils-Williams. “I’m realizing that now.”

Now a hole exists where his brilliance and passion once stood, and a community is struggling to deal with the loss.

gambia

gowns for the mothers. She wants to supply anything Continued from page 1 she can to the new mothers to make them feel supported when they leave the hospital.

She returns to the Gambia child is sick. Jaiteh’s goal is to develop a maternal health in May of 2018 and hopes to care program where mothers bring donated care packages can take their babies for pre- to hand out to every mother during her visit. and post-natal care.

For her second initiaJaiteh said the mothers wake early, put their chil- tive, she wants to establish

“They did not have enough resources for their children due to being in a rural Gambian city.” dren on their backs, and go to the market or work in the garden. “When they are done with the work day they go home to do household work, cook for their family, and… raise their children. It just seemed like they do not really get a break or enough time to take care of themselves,” or even enough time to go get a check-up to make sure that everything is okay once they have given birth.

For the first of two initiatives, Jaiteh wants to collect funds and resources, such as gently used clothing and shoes, bottles and formula, socks, diaper bags, and

a program for mothers to get a checkup at the hospital while they are pregnant and after they give birth. The mothers would be provided with helpful resources, products, and information.

As part of her Muslim faith, Jaiteh wants to continue giving far into the future.

For more information about From Mother to You, contact the website www.frommothertoyou.org.

Brandi Phillips welcomes readers’ responses to bphillips@ spokesman-recorder.com.

Tyrone Williams speaking at a public safety meeting on March 28.

Their overarching call, however, is to not be broken.

“This is painful, but at the same time, his death doesn’t have to be in vain if [we] can come together,” said Pastor Brian Herron of Zion Baptist Church. “Even now, in this death, I think there is a clarion call for everyone to come together and to address the issues

that we have within our community.”

Allen agreed. “He moved people,” she told MSR. “I believe people are really going to step up and start to address the gun violence and some of the trauma that’s in the community.”

She added that his sister, Raeisha Williams, a former can-

Deportation Continued from page 1

The outcry of community support has touched Wanyama. “It has made a difference, it may not be obvious but it has,” he said. He added that his situation has rallied the community and has given visibility to other people whose stories are not being told.

Governor Mark Dayton wrote a letter to ICE last Wednesday stating that it would be a loss for the community if Wanyama were to be removed from the country. Wanyama said he found the sentiment particularly moving. “If the Governor of Minnesota wants me in his state that should be enough for me to stay,” Wanyama contended.

Wanyama said he fears that if he and his wife are removed, there could be a negative impact on the community, beyond just the loss of a professor and nurse. “If you get the type of community support we have got, and you still can’t prevent this from occurring, it has to make you feel very hopeless,” he said.

“I don’t think it’s really good for the whole community to begin feeling hopeless about their ability to influence affairs and things like this.”

In 1992, Wanyama and his wife moved to the United States with their two young children and in 1998 had another child in Minneapolis.

The two children Wanyama moved here with were granted protection from deportation under an Obama-era provision that protects early childhood arrivals, commonly known as DACA. While his two children are protected now, Wanyama is concerned about what could happen if the program is not extended.

“There is no doubt that we are anxious about their situation as well. We don’t know what’s going to happen or how it is going to affect them,” he said.

Wanyama entered the United States with a visa requiring that he return to Kenya for two years before coming back to the states.

He applied for asylum in 2005 in fear of persecution for articles he had written about the Kenyan president at the time. It wasn’t until 2012 that a federal appeals court denied his case.

Over the next three months, Wanyama and his lawyers will be exploring other legal options to stop the deportation. His law-

didate for Minneapolis City Council and owner of the Heritage Tea House Boutique in St. Paul, plans to turn his clothing line into its own foundation.

Allen also shared that before his death, she worked with him and a group of organizer friends to expand the brand into community programming and activation. The organization aims to continue the fight for social justice as a testament to his legacy and willingness to create a better future.

“We came up with a mission and principles that were all approved by Ty,” said Allen. The organization’s new principles are based on youth advocacy, education, community engagement, environmental justice and community defense.

“Out of all bad comes some good,” said Nevils-Williams.

“Now, folks are really renewing their commitment to not just marching down the street, but also creating programming for the community and the youth.

“Zion [Baptist Church] has committed to opening up their door to do programming with the youth. And, we want

to do some intergenerational programming to get our elders back together with the youth. We just want to look at the positive and go forward one day at a time — one day is going to be better than the next.”

Right now, however, the community is still working through its grief. “It is important for us to heal as a community,” said Pastor Herron. “Take comfort in your faith and take the time to grieve.”

Funeral arrangements have been announced for Saturday, April 14 at 12 pm at Shiloh Temple International Ministries located at 1201 W Broadway Ave in Minneapolis.

The family is accepting donations on behalf of his four children at www.paypal.me/ TyroneMemorialFund.

Anyone with any information about the shooting is asked to call the Minneapolis Tip Line at 612-692-TIPS. Stephenetta Harmon welcomes readers’ responses at sharmon@ spokesman-recorder.com.

“[ICE] cannot tell us what they are going to gain from removing us.” yers will try to reopen his asylum case under a provision called Changed Country Conditions.

Last year, Wanyama made public that his mother was murdered in his hometown and that he believed it could have been politically motivated. He said it is up to his attorneys to figure out how to use that information. But he noted, “I have no idea if that will resonate with [ICE] or if they will ignore it. They might

Wanyama said he wonders why the federal government is spending so much time and resources on removing someone with no criminal record and who is a contributing member of society. “[ICE] cannot tell us what they are going to gain from removing us, but they keep on insisting on it,” he said. “You can tell there is another aspect of it that has very little to do with the law they claim we violated.”

Mayor Frey advocating for Wanyama

want more evidence to justify me staying.”

The message that Wanyama said he is getting from ICE is that the agency knows it may be dangerous for him to return to Kenya; however, he hasn’t done enough to prove the danger. “Maybe they even want that proof to come in the form of [my] death,” he said.

While Wanyama did not completely see his situation coming, he said because of the change in the White House, he was not totally surprised.

“We have a new administration in power, and we know that it is very different from the last administration in terms of the attitude towards immigrants,” Wanyama said.

“The fact is, our situation was never a priority but now it is,” Wanyama stated. “There is a lot of power in a particular office and that power is being deployed vehemently,” he added.

This type of situation is not unique to Wanyama. He said he hopes his situation can bring light to the fact that what is going on in our country is not consistent with its pledges for human rights.

Immigrants come to the United States for an opportunity to better their lives, Wanyama said. He maintained that is what he has been trying to do since he got here. “They have praised this element in other people when they have shown it,” he said. However, in his case, he asserted that ICE is trying to criminalize it.

“Ultimately, my situation is a manifestation of a bigger problem that needs to be addressed,” he said.

Keith Schubert welcomes readers’ responses to kschubert@spokesman-recorder.com. Follow him on Twitter at @keithsch94.

April 12-18, 2018

Legals STATE OF MINNESOTA COUNTY OF HENNEPIN

DISTRICT COURT FOURTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT FAMILY COURT DIVISION CASE TYPE: CUSTODY

In Re: Custody of C.S.A., DOB: January 6, 2003 Mariana Sofia Alvarez Zuniga, Petitioner, and Cornelio Sanchez Lopez, Respondent.

SUMMONS

STATE OF MINNESOTA COUNTY OF HENNEPIN In Re: Estate of Lisa Marie Maanum, a/k/a Lisa M. Maanum

DISTRICT COURT FOURTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT PROBATE DIVISION Court File No.: 27-PA-PR-18-414

Decedent

Court File No.: 27-FA-18-1991

TO THE ABOVE-NAMED RESPONDENT: THIS SUMMONS IS AN OFFICIAL DOCUMENT THAT AFFECTS YOUR RIGHTS. A copy of the paperwork regarding the lawsuit is served on you with this summons. Read this summons and attached petition carefully. If you do not understand it, contact an attorney for legal advice.

1.The Petitioner has filed a lawsuit asking the court to decide custody of the minor child listed above in the caption. At this time, the Petitioner is not asking for a ruling on Child Support.

2.You must serve upon Petitioner and file with the court a written Answer to the Petition.

If Petitioner is requesting child support, you must file a Financial Affidavit along with your Answer. You must pay the required filing fee. If you cannot afford to pay the filing fee, you may qualify to have the filing fee waived by the court. You must file an In Forma Pauperis application with the court and a judge will decide whether you must pay the fee.

All court forms are available from the Court Administrator’s office and on the Court’s website at www.mncourts.gov/forms. You must serve your Answer and Financial Affidavit upon Petitioner within twenty (20) days of the date you were served with this Summons, not counting the day of service. If you do not serve and file your Answer and Financial Affidavit, the court may grant Petitioner everything he or she is asking for in the attached Petition.

NOTICE OF PARENT EDUCATION PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS Parenting education may be required in all custody or parenting proceedings. You may contact court administration for additional information regarding this requirement and the availability of parent education programs. /s/ You may serve the Petitioner’s Attorney: Stephen Roiger Walther Goss Law 333 Washington Ave North #208 Minneapolis, MN 55401 612-824-2244 stephen@walthergoss.com

NOTICE OF INFORMAL APPOINTMENT OF PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE AND NOTICE TO CREDITORS

TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS AND CREDITORS: Notice is given that an Application for Informal Appointment of Personal Representative was filed with the Registrar herein. No Will has been presented for probate. The application has been granted.

Notice is hereby further given that informal appointment of Michael Dana Maanum, whose address is 5836 10th Avenue S., Minneapolis, MN 55017, as personal representative of the estate of the above-named decedent has been made.

Any heir, devisee or other interested person may be entitled to appointment as personal representative or may object to the appointment of the personal representative and the personal representative is empowered to fully administer the estate including, after 30 days from the date of issuance of letters, the power to sell, encumber, lease or distribute real estate, unless objections thereto are filed with the Court (pursuant to Section 524.3-607) and the Court otherwise orders.

Notice is further given that ALL CREDITORS having claims against said estate are required to present the same to said personal representative or to the Probate Court Administrator within four months after the date of this notice or the claims will be barred.

Dated: April 10, 2018 ALONNA J. WARNS Probate Registrar SARAH LINDAHL PFIEFER Court Administrator MN Spokesman-Recorder, April 12 & 19, 2018

View Continued from page 10

Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder, April 12, 19 & 26, 2018

Soe Continued from page 10

will accompany him Friday, however.

James explained, “I keep a very small close circle around me. It’s my corner men — my father, my brothers and my cut man. I keep the ones who contribute to my work and success.” James is 22-1 with 10 knockouts (KOs); his last victory came on December 15, and his only defeat was a unanimous decision in August, 2016.

The three fighters all said they can’t wait for Friday.

“I’m not thinking anything about the lights, the cameras or

none of that. The only thing on my mind is the man in front of me, and the W,” said Owens, who hopes to improve his 9-0 record.

“It’s going to be Friday the 13th, and it is going to be amazing,” Sims predicted. “I’m already ready for the fight.”

“He’s ready,” confirmed James’ trainer Santana Frazier of his fighter.

“I’m extremely ready for it.

I’m not doing this for myself.

I’m doing this for my family and my community,” James said.

Charles Hallman welcomes reader responses to challman@ spokesman-recorder.com. Boxing gloves graphic courtesy of MGN.

ohio Continued from page 10

Transfers are a growing concern, especially in men’s and women’s hoops: “Young people [are transferring] before they get to us,” the AD stated. “They transfer from high school… or AAU team.

It’s normal behavior now — the grass is greener over there.”

He reiterated that adults in charge must do more to help these young people make better-informed decisions in

women’s league — it really doesn’t matter what you did in college.

“The WNBA is heads and shoulders above the college game,” Laimbeer stressed. “These players are grown women. They’re physical. They know how to play basketball.

Even number one picks get cut.”

“Certain things that we’re looking toward is an ability to make other people around you better, speed and quickness, separation, IQ items,” Stocks added.

“It’s also the pace of learning and implementing…It’s that IQ and that rate of retention and can they be effective. It’s a fast-paced game,” Chatman surmised.

“Some of them make that transition quickly and for others, it takes a while to make the right decisions as far as their nutrition, sleeping habits, just their overall mentality, and physicality,” Stocks concluded.

Charles Hallman welcomes reader responses to challman@ spokesman-recorder.com. WNBA Draft Graphic courtesy of MGN

choosing college. “It’s better to stick it out as opposed to making a quick decision, and listen to somebody else — some coach, some parent telling them they got to get out of there,” Smith advised. “We are seeing that now from eighth [grade] to 12th grade.”

The disparity in men’s and women’s sports media coverage: “Our challenge is we are trying to put on women’s sports the same expectation as the men’s,” Smith offered. “A large part of our population likes college football. We pack 108,000 [for each home game]; I would really love our women’s hockey [games] to be packed.

I’ve been doing this for 35 years. This has always been the case.”

The latest college sports scandal: “I don’t think we will ever be able to eliminate [them] but we must find a way [to deal with it],” Smith said. “Bad actors are bad actors.”

Smith is part of a 14-member committee formed last fall and chaired by former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to examine the current issues in college sports. “We had hearings over all issues,” he reported. “Some of the things we recommend will bring some changes. We will have our report [released on April 24].”

Charles Hallman welcomes readers’responses to challman@spokesman-recorder.com.

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“They need to talk to old folk once in a while. We do know something, whether you think so or not.”

CoaCh Continued from page 10 to make history back in 1964 or essentially become “blockbusters,” they just wanted to buy the house they loved in the area they wanted to live.

“Blockbusting” was an illegal real estate practice that began in the 1950s and into the ’60s, and mainly employed in Northern cities to convince White homeowners to sell their homes at low prices based on fears and myths that Blacks were coming in, which would result in lower property values. Then these White real estate agents would turn around and sell these homes to Blacks at higher prices.

“We found this little house… [it] had all the things my wife and I had been talking about. The house was owned by two little White ladies who were twin [sisters]. They were ready to retire to Florida.”

He continued, “The real estate agent was scared to death. He showed us all types of properties” but only in certain areas, he added.

But the house sellers liked the Moore family, especially their then-15-month-old daughter. “They loved her to death. They fell in love with us,” Moore remembered.

But at the same time, the realtor was getting pressure from the homeowners’ neighbors not to sell to the Black family, mainly based on the unfounded fears that once Blacks moved in the neighborhood, the area would drastically go downhill in value.

“It took months to buy the house,” Moore said, as neither the buyers nor sellers refused to give up and move on. He remembered one of the sisters telling the agent, “‘If you can’t sell this house to this wonderful couple, you’re fired and I’ll get somebody else.’”

Eventually, the purchase was completed “and [we]

moved in the end of January [1965],” Moore said proudly.

After that, the block began to change: “We moved in... and a few [White] people moved [out],” Moore said.

He remembered being challenged by some White neighbors who didn’t want to believe that he, indeed, lived on the block. Oftentimes he was stopped by local police and asked to account for him being there, even if he was standing in front or near his home, simply because he was Black.

“We are still in the same house [today],” Moore noted.

He and his wife raised their three children to adulthood there. The block consists of an even split of Black and White residents as well.

Moore, after years of working as a store manager, later joined the late U.S. Congressman Martin Sabo’s office as a community organizer. “He was one of the old-time politicians,” Moore recalled of Sabo. He also for a time owned and operated a small retail business as well. “It was a lot of work but a good experience,” said Moore.

Finally, Moore’s advice to today’s generation: “They need to talk to old folk once in a while. We do know something, whether you think so or not. That is one thing I think young people need to do.

“They need to understand the history of Minneapolis, and they need to understand what took place in [the ’60s] in Minneapolis” and in this country regarding Black people, Moore advised.

“It helps to understand your community, to have achievements in life. I would like to see more [youth] get involved,” said Moore.

Charles Hallman welcomes readers’ responses to challman@ spokesman-recorder.com.

9

10

April 12-18, 2018

It’s WNBA Draft time!

Pioneering coach reflects on storied career

By Charles Hallman Senior Staff Writer Louis J. Moore is the president of the Major Taylor Bicycle Club, which attests to his youthful exterior at 70-plus years of age. The majority Black club annually takes intra-state and cross-country bike trips. “We have a very diverse group of [members]” said Moore.

of Black kids and White kids” from both sides of Nicollet Avenue, the seemingly racial residential dividing line in South Minneapolis.

“They learned to play together [and] travel together,” continued Moore. “Their parents learned to enjoy each other’s company. I think we had a pretty successful program. We were able to develop a program that also

ANOTHER

VIEW

Louis J. Moore

Photo by Charles Hallman

In addition to his time with Major Taylor, Moore has also been a fixture in Minneapolis youth sports for years. He helped create a diverse youth sports program at Martin Luther King, Jr. Park in 1964.

“We saw a lot of kids wanting to do something at the park,” he recalled. “Each year we have [football] teams in each [age] division either [as] champions or at least runnersup. The teams were composed

encompassed basketball and running track. We ran [it] from 1964 until 1980.”

Moore didn’t just blaze a trail in sports, his home purchase in the mid-1960s — where he and his wife still live today — was historic as they would become the block’s first Black family.

Moore pointed out that he and his wife weren’t looking ■ See COaCh on page 9

T

LaChina Robinson (l) with Lynx center Sylvia Fowles Photo by Charles Hallman

Charles hallman

he perennially underreported WNBA Draft is Thursday. It typically is barely discussed by the sports media, unlike the exhaustedly long NFL and oft-overhyped NBA drafts.

“I think the draft has definitely been talked about more over the years,” ESPN’s LaChina Robinson told the MSR during the April 6 pre-draft media call.

“Even this call right now — we have a lot of media, a lot more than I remember having when I first started participating in these calls.”

“I think the synergy

and energy coming off the NCAA Tournament is great.

We just had arguably the greatest Final Four in the history of women’s college basketball. There was a lot of media attention, a lot of national media catching fire to what’s happening on the women’s side.

“I just think the overall popularity of the game is growing, whether it’s in viewership or attendance.

So I think the more the game grows, the more the WNBA Draft will continue to grow.”

But Robinson’s ESPN has yet to show the entire threeround draft in its entirety, showing only the first round before switching to another round of non-stop NFL draft talk or something

Sports odds and ends

LET’S GET READY TO RUMBLE

closely related.

A’Ja Wilson, Lexie Brown, Jordin Canada, Diamond DeShields, Kelsey Mitchell, Kia Nurse, Victoria Vivians, Monique Billings, Azura Stevens and Gabby Williams all were invited to attend Thursday’s proceedings in New York. All are expected to be gone when the 2017 WNBA Champions Minnesota Lynx (No. 5, second round) takes its turn — they don’t have a first-round pick.

“You would think that the number-one need Minnesota wants to fill is to find another mobile post that they can bring in off the bench to give [starting forward] Rebekkah Brunson some time to rest,” ESPN’s

Rebecca Lobo told the MSR. Plenette Pierson announced that she would retire at last season’s end, and Natasha Howard [Minnesota’s first-round pick] was traded to Seattle over the winter — both were key frontline reserves last season.

Wilson is the prohibitive overall pick — Las Vegas (who relocated from San Antonio) has the top pick. “I think she is ready for the pros right now,” Lobo pointed out.

“She can attack the basket with one dribble,” Vegas Coach-GM Bill Laimbeer said of Wilson. He joined Indiana Coach-GM Pokey Chatman and Chicago Coach-GM Amber Stocks on last week’s call. Indiana (No. 2) and Chicago (No. 3 and 4) follows Las Vegas in the first round.

“We are focused on the top of the draft. We have a lot of needs to address,” Chatman said.

Stocks told reporters that the Sky most likely will use their two picks as of now, but wouldn’t rule out her using one or both in postdraft dealing if needed.

“Trading [them] is always an option,” she reiterated.

Finally, the WNBA is a ■ See View on page 9

Ohio State AD takes a fast

round of questions

— boxing returns to the Armory ed in kind. Later he told the MSR, “I didn’t realize how big he [Oliva] was growing up until I got older. To know he’s behind me, he makes me want to train harder. He makes me want to fight that much harder.”

Also on Friday’s card are Marlin Sims and VeShawn Owens, both of Minneapolis in separate fights.

mory probably won’t look like one of the old Hollywood boxing movies — a smoke-filled room with White male reporters wearing fedoras, camped at ringside. It will be, however, this reporter’s first fight there, but I don’t own such a hat.

We asked the three boxers will they have a spectacular processional leading them

“I’m not doing this for myself.

I’m doing this for my family and my community,” Jamal “Shango” James

By Charles Hallman Senior Staff Writer Boxing, for the first time since 1973, returns to the Minneapolis Armory this Friday.

The building in its heyday was the regular home for pro and amateur boxing — Sugar Ray Robinson among others once fought there and it once housed the five-time NBA champions Minneapolis Lakers before they “caught the last train for the [West] coast,” borrowing a line from Don McLean’s “American Pie” and relocated to Los Angeles.

Local welterweight contender Jamal “Shango” James of Minneapolis will fight Abel Ramos (18-2-2) as the headline event. It will be his first fight in his hometown since 2013. “I feel honored and humbled to be the main event,” he said at a March 30 noontime press conference.

“I want to come out and put on a great show.”

Minnesota Twins all-time great Tony Oliva promised to be there Friday night. He told reporters that he is a longtime family friend, but has been too nervous to watch James in previous fights because he doesn’t want to see him get hurt. “I’ve

known him since he was a little kid,” said the should-be-Hall of Famer.

“The art of boxing is to hit and not get hit,” James respond-

“It’s my first time being on TV,” Owens said of the nationally televised card on FS1 and Fox Deportes. “It is on a big stage. I’m 10 minutes away [from the Armory]. I won’t be late,” he said.

“This is just my second pro fight,” Sims admitted. “I’m excited.”

Unlike yesteryear, Friday night’s fight at the Ar-

into the ring — an “entourage” of glad-handlers and other such folk on Friday night.

“We just have the people we train with, and our coaches,” Owens responded. “I believe [fighters] have that entourage to keep them pumped and feel comfortable…” He did admit “two hype men” ■ See SOe on page 9

Gene Smith

Photo by Onika Nicole Craven

By Charles Hallman Senior Staff Writer Gene Smith is a rarity, a Black man in charge of sports in a position that is nearly 90 percent held by Whites. He has been a Division I college athletic director for over three decades.

Forbes Magazine once called Smith one of college sport’s most powerful persons. Ohio State hired him in 2005 and he oversees 36 men’s and women’s sports and over 1,000 student-athletes at that state’s largest university and Power 5 School. Smith held previous positions at Arizona State, Iowa State and Eastern Michigan.

Smith is only one of 14 Black ADs at a big-time Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) school. He is in the middle of a three-year term as a member of the College Football Playoff Selection Committee.

Ohio State is as big-time as it gets, and Buckeye sports is big business in Columbus,

which annually deals with very high expectations from zealous students, fans, alumni and boosters. “As long as we are winning, I am good,” Smith said matter-offactly.

During a busy March Madness weekend last month, Smith jetted here and there and watched his men’s and women’s basketball teams, and women’s hockey club compete in NCAA tournament play.

He briefly talked to the MSR during one intermission at the Ohio State-Clarkston women’s hockey national semifinals at U-M’s Ridder Arena. “It’s challenging and fun,” he admitted. “I’m blessed to have the best group of coaches I’ve ever worked with.”

Given the time constraints, Smith spoke on several subjects in a quick round of questions: ■ See OhiO on page 9

Fitz Beat

by Larry Fitzgerald will return next week.

PreP Scene (l-r) VeShawn Owens and Marlin Sims

Photos by Charles Hallman

by Mitchell Palmer McDonald will return next week.

PreP Scene

Dr. mitChell Palmer mCDonalD