April 25 — May 1, 2019 Vol. 85 No. 38 www.spokesman-recorder.com
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NOOR TRIAL FACES MPD’S ‘BLUE WALL OF SILENCE’ By Mel Reeves Contributing Writer
N
ow well into its third week, the trial of former police officer Mohamed Noor has put the Minneapolis Police Department’s “blue wall of silence” in the forefront, along with issues of transparency and inconsistencies amongst its officers. Noor, a Black Somali immigrant, is facing second-degree murder and manslaughter charges for fatally shooting Justine Ruszczyk Damond on July 15 after he and his partner, Matthew Harrity, responded to a 911 call about a possible sexual assault. According to police reports, Noor shot Damond while sitting in the passenger seat of his squad car as she approached the driver’s side. He is only the second police officer in recent memory to be charged in Minnesota for
killing someone in the course of duty, which many in the community have attributed to his skin color and religion.
Some even turned off their cameras, thus effectively enacting the department’s infamous “blue wall of silence.”
“No part of this is about actually disrupting the system they are all a part of.”
One of the Twin Cities’ newest soul food spots is looking to make a lasting impression that goes beyond a great plate of food. Momma’s Kitchen opened September 2018 to great fanfare for its three coowners and friends: Hamza Muridi, Wintana Melekin and celebrity chef DeMarco Cavil who has has cooked for the likes of the Minnesota Wild, Magic Johnson and Bill Clinton. Their menu covers everything that is quintessential to Southern cuisine, from southern fried wings and Cajun catfish to rice bowls, lamb chops and sambusas.
is our Mac Bowl. It’s a bowl of macaroni and cheese topped with seasonal vegetables and a choice of chicken, steak or shrimp, spicy or non-spicy. MSR: How did you pick your location? WM: It was really important for us to have a business on the East Side of Saint Paul — where all three of us are from. The business is literally five blocks from where I grew up, and I’ve lived there since I moved to the United States [from Eritrea]. MSR: In what ways do you see your business impacting the community?
Officer Jesse Lopez testified in court that he told Noor, “Hang on. We gotta shut [the recording device] off. Just keep to yourself. Keep your mouth shut until you have to say anything to anybody.” Officer Mark Ringgenberg, who shot and killed unarmed Jamar Clark in 2015, also advised Noor to keep quiet. Ringgenberg testiWall of silence Multiple police officers have testified that, fied, “I just told [Noor] not to say anything.” after arriving on the scene of the shooting, ■ See Noor on page 8 they advised Noor to not incriminate himself.
“They can ‘look good’ by going after a cop without actually doing so,” commented Michelle Gross of Communities against Police Brutality on Facebook. “No part of this is about actually disrupting the system they are all a part of.”
Mostly White environmental groups downplay Black issues In addition, 11.2 percent of Afquality in the metro area could Minnesota’s groundwater as be a contributing factor, and ef- consistently “poor,” largely be- rican American children who forts to reduce air pollution are a cause “removing nitrate from tap live in urban areas are at risk for lead poisoning caused by leadcritical part of addressing the dis- water is expensive. “ As environmental justice batThe National Institute of based paint, according to the parities.” tles rage around the country, A Center for American Prog- Health reports “use of nitrate- Centers for Disease Control and thousands of African American ress report found that water con- contaminated drinking water to Prevention. children and adults are being Such disparities are tamination disparately “plagues prepare infant formula is a wellleft out of the conversation. Aclow-income areas and communi- known risk factor for infant met- only heightened by elite cess to clean drinking water, lead organizations (top photo, l-r) Hamza Muridi, Wintana Melekin and chef DeMarco hemoglobinemia,” a condition environmental ties of color across the nation.” paint abatement programs, and The EQB report card ranks known as “blue baby syndrome” Cavil Photo by Alvin Washington affordable energy bills are vital ■ See ENviroNmENtal on page 8 the unhealthy nitrate level in that could lead to coma or death. to the health and financial wellThe MSR caught up with WM: You get to see three being of communities — espeMelekin, who has gone from young Black leaders from the cially low-income families of colcommunity organizing and East Side of Saint Paul investor. Yet the disparities continue to public policy reform to econom- ing on the East Side of Saint According to the U.S. Institute of ic development, to find out how Paul. We wanted to invest in Health, cockroach allergens are these three got connected and the community that raised us detected in 85 percent of innertheir goal of investing in the and made us. I wouldn’t be city homes, and 60 to 80 percent where I am today without all community. “of inner-city children with asthof the community leaders on MSR: Tell us about Momma’s ma are sensitized to cockroaches the East Side, and I wanted to Kitchen. based on the skin prick testing.” be a community leader myself. Wintana Melekin: [Our] busiWhile Minnesota overall has My other two partners are alness is a soul food restaurant in good air quality, Twin Cities air so from the East Side, and they partnership between three peopollution kills nearly 2,000 peofeel the exact same way. ple — me, Hamza Muridi, and ple a year. “Children in the Twin head chef DeMarco Cavil. De- MSR: How else are you Cities metro area go to the ER for marco is an amazing chef. He impacting the community? asthma at a rate nearly twice that was a chef for Minnesota Tim- WM: We prioritize hiring of children in Greater Minnesowith criminal berwolves and other stadiums people ta,” according to the 2019 Envibackgrounds, and we across the country and he alronment and Energy Report prioritize in hiring people ways wanted to build someCard by the Minnesota Environthing in Minnesota on the East from the East Side of Saint mental Quality Board (EQB). Side [of Saint Paul], which is Paul. Every time you invest in “In some Minneapolis zip us, you don’t just invest in the where he’s from. codes, asthma hospitalization owners — you invest in the rates for children are four times MSR: What would you considcommunity. higher than the rest of the state,” Protestors march over contaminated water crisis in Flint, Michigan. er your top seller on the menu? ■ See BBS on page 8 reads the EQB report. “Poorer air WM: The number-one seller Photo Credit: Rebecca Cook / Reuters NEWS ANALYSIS By Hazel Trice Edney Contributing Writer
From radical student to retiring professor
The 50-year career of U of M’s Dr. John S. Wright
By Solomon Gustavo Contributing Writer
John S. Wright
Photo by Chris Juhn
For Dr. John S. Wright, change has been a long time coming. Nearly five decades ago, he helped make history as an antagonist for civil rights and racial equity at the University of Minnesota (U of M). He went on to teach African American & African Studies — a department he helped create and shape — and English for 35 years. Now the U of M professor is ready to hang up his teaching hat from the school where he earned his bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate degrees. As a student, Wright was a key figure in a group that brought Martin Luther King, Jr. to campus in 1967. In the aftermath of King’s assassination the following year, Wright and the studentled Afro-American Action Committee’s (AAAC) protest demands pushed the university to establish an African American Studies program.
“Stokely Carmichael came in 1967 to Williams Arena,” said Wright. “That event is largely forgotten.” That, said Wright, is what the university’s administration hoped Black students and everyone else would do after enough time passed following King’s death and the subsequent outpouring of emotion. “King’s assassination was on a Friday,” Wright recalled. “That weekend over 100 American cities were under flames.” Wright said he and other young Black people were influenced by what was happening nationally. With the AAAC, they protested alongside the rest of the country. “Radical organizations were part of our worldview,” said Wright. Following the protests, the university formed a task force to study the best way to move forward. One month passed, then three months, then five. ■ See Wright on page 8
February 16-22, 2017
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April 25 — May 1, 2019
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Money Matters
Local organization helps families overcome financial barriers to homeownership By Ray Richardson Contributing Writer The average cost of a house in the Minneapolis-St. Paul seven-county area is $265,000. That sounds like an overwhelming dollar value for middle- to low-income families with dreams of buying their first home or getting back into home ownership. But, it’s much more achievable than one might think — so don’t let that price tag turn you around. Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity, an organization dedicated to improving homeownership opportunities, has the resources and programs to help families make the life-changing shift from renters to property owners. “If we can get more people into homeownership, the options for a better quality of life improves greatly,” said former St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman, now CEO of Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity. “The goal for all of us is to have a safe, affordable place to live, a place you can call your own.” The St. Paul-based organization actively promotes financial programs and services that can help families throughout the metropolitan area overcome the challenging home-buying process. To qualify, participants must have a credit score of 580 or higher, be a Minnesota resident for at least two years and not have owned a home in the last three years. LaShonda McGowan, a single mother of three, was nudged by a coworker in December 2017 to look into Twin Cities Habitat after numerous failed attempts to secure financing to buy a house. McGowan first purchased a home in 2006 but moved into an apartment
LaShonda McGowan and family in their new house
in 2009 after a divorce. She was eligible for services from Twin Cities Habitat based on living in the apartment for nearly nine years. The inquiry turned out to be a memorable experience for McGowan and her kids.
Photos courtesy of Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity
ownership classes which helped her resolve credit issues and establish a budget plan. In September 2018, McGowan and her children left their cramped apartment and moved into a fourbedroom home in Cottage Grove. All
“The goal for all of us is to have a safe, affordable place to live, a place you can call your own.” “I was excited,” McGowan said of the opportunity to work with Twin Cities Habitat. “It wasn’t like, ‘yeah, we’ll see if this works out.’ It was real hope.” McGowan, an X-ray technician, enrolled in the organization’s home-
three of her children now have their own bedroom. “It was tiring mentally and emotionally, but I felt like I finally made it,” McGowan said of her ninthmonth process. “It felt like that race to the finish line.”
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Since Twin Cities Habitat opened its doors in 1986, over 1,300 families have benefitted from their resources to purchase a home. McGowan and her children were among 92 families that were able to buy a house in 2018 with its assistance — the organization’s highest success total in a single year. “Our strategic goal is to double that number in 2019,” said Brian Juntii, senior director of marketing and communications at Twin Cities Habitat. By the end of June, which completes the current fiscal year, Coleman said the organization hopes to close on at least 110 mortgages. “We know the need is definitely out there,” Coleman said. “There is a pipeline for assistance. If you’re not
qualified today, we can help you get there.” McGowan and her family represent a demographic Twin Cities Habitat is determined to target. The organization is pushing hard to raise more awareness in minority communities about financial assistance for potential home buyers. “Ninety percent of the families we serve are families of color,” said Shereese Turner, senior director of programs and services at Twin Cities Habitat. “We can’t ignore the fact that we have issues in the Twin Cities with regard to families of color and homeownership. We want to make sure [communities facing] disparities are served.” Turner added that the organization’s services are much broader than many expect. “We’re not just a program for low-income families,” Turner said. “We’re actively trying to attract higher income families who feel they won’t qualify.” As such, Twin Cities Habitat recently launched its Open Market Program, a plan designed for moderate- or higher-income families ranging from $40,000-$80,000 to qualify for home-buying assistance. The Open Market Program also allows families to use their own real estate agent to locate a house for sale while still taking advantage of Twin Cities Habitat’s services. If a client does not have a real estate agent, Twin Cities Habitat will either rebuild a home and sell it or construct a new home with volunteers. For more information about Twin Cities Habitat and their home ownership resources, go to buywithhabitat.org or tchabitat.org.
April 25 — May 1, 2019
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Esketamine: a promising new treatment for depression
By Charles E. Crutchfield III, MD
D
epression is a mental illness. It is estimated that depression will affect 15 percent of all people at some point in their lifetime. The condition is caused by imbalances in certain brain chemicals called neurotransmitters. These neurotransmitters play an important role in controlling your mood. In addition to directly affecting depression, neurotransmitters have other bodily functions. Depression Facts: • Depression medications are the most prescribed class of medications in the world. • Depression can cause a profound sense of sadness, apathy, worthlessness, and desperation. • Depression can affect anyone, of any age, of any color and of any income. • Depression is one of the leading causes of disability in the U.S. • Depression can occur after a tragic life event or for no apparent reason at all. • Depression can run in families. • Untreated depression is the most common cause of suicide. • Depression is treatable.
illegally at parties and even has the nickname “Special K.” The FDA-approved esketamine spray (trade name: Spravato) works as a rapid therapy for patients who have failed to respond to at least two FDA-approved antidepressant medications. Almost eight million American adults suffer from this type of treatment-resistant depression. While ketamine is given by an intravenous infusion, esketamine is given via nasal spray exclusively by a specially registered and specially trained physician in their office, often twice a month. Patients must be monitored carefully after receiving esketamine due to its (initial) mild psychedelic effects. Ketamine has long been in use as a potent anesthetic to ready patients for surgery. Shortly before the turn of the century, it was popularized in underground drugdriven party cultures because it could produce psychedelic, almost out-of-body experiences. Some doctors have even given ketamine to patients to treat depression without official FDA approval. Esketamine, however, is one of the first medicines designed to treat depression that has gained FDA approval in decades. It is the first significant pharmaceutical drug developed for depression since the approval of Prozac and several similar antidepressant drugs in the late 1980s. Those drugs focus on serotonin, a brain
neurotransmitter that can make people feel good. Unfortunately, many drugs in this antidepressant class can take weeks or even months to work. Ketamine and esketamine work differently as they do not target serotonin, but rather a chemical called glutamate. Glutamate is believed to restore brain connections that can, in turn, affect mood and treat depression. Esketamine’s advantage is that it can work almost immediately. Instead of waiting weeks to months
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recently approved a new medication to treat depression. The new drug, esketamine, was developed by Johnson & Johnson and is a variation of the wellknown drug ketamine. Ketamine is a fast-acting anesthetic that has quite a reputation as a drug used
Photo courtesy iStock
for depression to be relieved, patients can feel better right away. This is extremely attractive because patients suffering from depression are practically disabled and can suffer enormously. Additionally, depressed patients are at high risk of suicide. The other advantage of a medication that works fast to treat depression is that, in the cases where it doesn’t work, both the patient and doctor will know right away and can then initiate a different treatment plan. Some patients suffering from depression who didn’t respond to traditional anti-depressant medications and then tried esketamine say that the drug is lifechanging. Initially, the medication produces an almost psychedelic effect. Because of its unknown long-term effects, its use by certified physicians and eligible patients will be carefully and strictly monitored by the FDA for several years forward. Since it is so effective, researchers are also looking at other psychoactive psychedelic substances like psilocybin, the active component in psychedelic mushrooms, and MDMA, a euphoria-producing party drug, as possible treatments
for mood-affective disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder and depression. As there are currently no alternative and effective therapies for those who fail traditional anti-depression medicines and treatments, esketamine shows extreme promise for the treatment of depression for both patients and physicians alike. 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 received his M.D. and Master’s Degree in molecular biology and genomics from the Mayo Clinic. He has been selected as one of the top 10 dermatologists in the United States by Black Enterprise magazine. Dr. Crutchfield was recognized by Minnesota Medicine as one of the 100 Most Influential Healthcare Leaders in Minnesota. He is the team dermatologist for the Minnesota Twins, Vikings, Timberwolves, Wild and Lynx. Dr. Crutchfield is also an active member of both the American and National Medical Associations, and president of the Minnesota Association of Black Physicians.
Ramsey County reforms its response to sexual assaults Agencies that respond to sexual assault victims in Ramsey County recently established the Ramsey County Sexual Assault Response Collaboration, a detailed set of reforms and improvements in how system responders will collaborate to better serve the victims of sexual assault. Local public officials and agency leaders gathered April 4 to discuss to lay out and pub-
licly commit to the details of the multi-disciplinary plan to improve the outcomes that sexual assault victims too often experience after they report their assault to law enforcement. Agency leaders and staff have met regularly over the past year to develop an implementation plan and have already begun or completed work in many key areas. As a part of this collabora-
tion, significant additional investigative, prosecution and advocacy resources have been allocated into agency budgets throughout Ramsey County in the past year. These resources recently paved the way for law enforcement to include victim advocates from Ramsey County’s Sexual Offense Services program as a part of their investigations, and for law enforcement
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“Criminal sexual assault tears at the fabric of our community.” Sexual assault reports up significantly Since 2016, reports of criminal sexual conduct to law enforcement have dramatically increased, highlighted by a 75 percent increase in cases submitted by law enforcement for prosecution review to the county attorney’s office. This has resulted in a 19 percent increase in cases charged and a 17 percent increase in convictions from 2105 to 2018. While the overall charging and conviction rates compared to police incident reports have not improved during this time, there are many positive trends such as the number of jury trials, which went from three to 12 in a period of three years. Also, the amount of public investment in investigation, prosecution and advocacy has increased substantially. The implementation plan calls for training all patrol officers throughout the county, who are often the first officers responding to a call from a victim; decreasing first-response wait times when a victim calls 911; and a commitment for more
will conduct in-person investigative interviews with victim/ survivors of sexual assault, following best practices for a trauma-informed approach. “We believe that the interagency partnerships established in 2016 with focused leadership commitment to work collaboratively with increased resources is starting to make a difference in our community,” said Ramsey County Attorney John Choi. “With more victims coming forward to law enforcement in Ramsey County, I know that improved investigation…will continue to increase the number of sexual assault cases charged and perpetrators brought to justice.” Going forward, the Ramsey County Sexual Assault Protocol Team (RCSAPT) will manage the implementation of this collaboration. Ramsey County SOS Sexual Violence Services has a full-time staff member dedicated to the coordination of the RCSAPT and is leading coordination efforts. Over the next 18 months, the team will create a multi-disciplinary workgroup to execute
the work plan, instituting the Implementation Plan for Systems Change in Ramsey County. The RCSAPT will work to monitor and provide transparency for the public as we seek to achieve better outcomes for victims of criminal sexual conduct and engage the public for more support of these efforts. “This new partnership agreement between law enforcement, prosecutors and public health is an important next step in moving upstream to provide the support survivors need for healing and to focus on prevention,” said Saint Paul–Ramsey County Public Health Director Anne Barry. “The commitments we are making today acknowledge we must have a better consistent, coordinated response to survivors if we are going to change the culture and reduce future instances of sexual violence.” “Criminal sexual assault tears at the fabric of our community by taking away our collective sense of security,” added Saint Paul Police Chief Todd Axtell. “Thanks to this initiative, we’ll now be using the same best practices to hold criminals accountable for their actions — while making us more effective. More importantly, it will help us secure justice for survivors.” — Information provided by the Office of the Ramsey County Attorney
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April 25 — May 1, 2019
The seeds are sprouting Calvin: My name is Calvin Boswell Jr. I’m from Minneapolis. I’m an Aries, and I must say that the ram fits my personality. When I’m passionate about something and there is a challenge, I go at it head first until I get results. This personality trait is part of the reason why I failed to see beyond wanting revenge for the harm that was caused to my family. It led me into the judicial trap that landed me in prison. At the age of 15, I was sentenced to 30 years. I’m 30 years old now, which means my whole adult life and half of my entire life have been spent in prison. Tragic as it may be, and it is, this experience has given me a first-hand account of America’s well-oiled oppressive system. This sentence has allowed me to see what America looks like unmasked. One of the rallying calls in the movement these days is to #staywoke. But I must ask, what does that mean? Although it is not 1823 or 1950 and we have access to more opportunity and more platforms to express our frustration and justifiable anger as leftout Americans, there is still a cold, hard truth that we must acknowledge. This truth is yes, we have seen progress, but
A monthly column in which various contributors from both sides of prison walls explore common ground for effecting change. By Kevin Reese and Calvin Boswell, Jr. Contributing Writers Kevin: As my time behind the walls is coming to an end, I’m preparing for what is next and making room for the emergence of new leadership. Over the last five years, The BRIDGE has been part of the resistance and a vessel of reconnecting the left-out voices back into the community. Over the next couple of months, I will be introducing some leftout voices to the community as contributing members who have something to say. The following are a few words from our brother and friend Calvin Boswell.
Kevin Reese
Calvin Boswell, Jr.
there is still a war of genocide on our people both externally and internally. Things may look different, but nothing has changed in the practices of the American relationship with people of color. This country is still dominated by White males who control the people through violence and exploitation. This is what it looks like: During my court process, I had a conversation with my public defender and he tried to advise me to not go to trial, that I should take a plea bargain for 36 years (which
was more time than the law allowed for my crime). I refused, and he tried to persuade me by saying, “John McLaughlin, who is the same age as you, got life in prison, and he’s White.” Later, I found out that McLaughlin was convicted of a horrific school massacre where he killed multiple people. This was the only way this public defender could see my humanity — that if it can happen to a White kid then it is inherently in the cards for me.
Facing the root cause of poverty Systematic oppression is a term to conceptualize the production of inequality through the norms, values, culture, and practices of systems and institutions; it can also be explicit discrimination pursued by the state and its agents. — John Scott
First of a three-part column
If the misery of the poor be caused not by the laws of nature, but by our institutions, great is our sin. — Charles Darwin
Every three years the agency that I lead, Community Action Partnership of Ramsey & Washington Counties, conducts a thorough Community Needs Assessment (CNA), a process that takes the better part of an entire calendar year. Among the principle ideas and objectives behind this triennial assessment is to ensure that the “true experts” on poverty — our low-income neighbors — have not only a stake,
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This is what I have seen from the psyche of our mostly White American justice system. So, although unintentionally, my release in five years at the age of 35 will have kidnapped 20 years of my life, the experience and the accumulation of knowledge and resilience have equipped me to be on the front lines to fight with all that I have against such a vile system. I’m dedicating the rest of my life to this fight. Thanks to everyone who is reading this, and thanks to the MSR, Kevin Reese, and Voices for Racial Justice for carving out this platform. To learn more about me, contact me on Facebook @ Calvin Boswell Jr.
but also a voice, in the design, development and implementation of the programs and services Community Action provides. Recently, Community Action published its latest CNA, which spotlights six major findings (related to affordable housing, living-wage employment, educational equity, reliable transportation, health and nutrition, and disparities in the criminal justice system). In the next two columns, I will explore those specific issues along with the insight, nuance, experiences and knowledge that the people in our service area have shared with us. However, here, in the first of three installments regarding this CNA, I will focus on the prevailing theme (or overall finding, if you will) that was woven throughout the responses from our community members. So the word is out, so to speak, not that any of us needs reminding.It is not lost on me that MSR readers — along with other members of historically marginalized populations in this country — won’t be the least bit surprised by this particular conclusion. In fact, the principal finding of our CNA has long been the subject of numerous books, documentaries, and other media ventures. Nonetheless, it is a finding that bears repeating over and over again. Indeed, it must be shouted from the highest
Kevin: I go by the Mexican proverb, “They tried to bury us, but they didn’t know we were seeds.” None of us are free until we are all free. Stay tuned for more voices to come. Kevin Reese is a participant in Voices for Racial Justice’s “BRIDGE Partnership.” Reader responses are welcome to info@ voicesforracialjustice.org. To learn more about the organization’s work, visit www. voicesforracialjustice.org.
mountain top, the lowest valley floor, and through every corridor of power and privilege in America. The finding of which I speak is this: “At the root of poverty is systematic oppression.”
and how the nation’s institutions have long “rigged the game” in favor of the rich and powerful primarily at the expense of populations of color. For example, consider some of the latest data from the U.S.
“At the root of poverty is systematic oppression.” Again, no big surprise to most of us. Yet, we continue to live in a world in which much of the citizenry blames people in poverty for their own plight, a world where low-income people are relegated to the fringes of society either to be pitied or scorned. Moreover, the institutions of this country, including some that are set up to assist low-income individuals and families, not only help to produce poverty but also enable it to persist. All the additional CNA findings that will be presented in the next two columns — from employment to education and housing to health care — are inextricably connected with the overall finding of systematic oppression. We cannot continue to ignore the historical forces that have fostered that oppression over the last four centuries. Not long ago, I contributed a column to these pages that highlighted statistics revealing that race, despite what some scholars have suggested, still trumps class in determining the social mobility of Americans. Yet another column spoke to the concept of the “Iron Cage”
Census Bureau, which reveals that people of color in this country are up to four times more likely to live below the federal poverty line than are White Americans. That said, let us not forget that poverty rates also disproportionately affect women, children, the elderly, immigrants, and people with disabilities. So, while agencies like ours strive to help individuals and families increase their access to safe and affordable housing, better-paying jobs, quality educational opportunities, health care, child care, and transportation — these things alone are not enough. As is summarized in our CNA, “To eliminate poverty, this root cause (systematic oppression) must be addressed.” 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
April 25 — May 1, 2019
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.
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Omar and the ‘pseudotyping’ of Israel By Oscar H. Blayton Guest Commentator President Donald Trump is trying his best to demonize Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota’s 5th congressional district by unfairly castigating her via Twitter for public remarks she has made in recent weeks. Her remarks, while not directed against Jews, have been characterized by Trump as “antiSemitic.” Trump’s baseless accusations negate the fact that Omar, like most people of color in this nation, knows that Jewish Americans and African Americans alike have suffered from the bigotry and racism that is in the cultural DNA of this country. And, she also knows that the history of America is replete with acts of valor by both Jewish heroes as well as African American heroes who have sacrificed themselves to secure human dignity and justice for all Americans.
tions of anti-Semitism from the Jewish American community. As responsible citizens of the global community, we must not allow pseudotyping to cloud our judgment where a reasonable basis for criticism exists. And, while there are many examples of this to which we could point, I will only address one at this time. Since the election of two Muslim women to the United States Congress in 2018, there has been a heightened sensitivity to criticisms of the policies of the Israeli government that violate human rights, United Nations (UN) mandates and international law. The complexity of the Palestinian–Israeli crisis cannot be understated. It is a human tragedy with which the UN has wrestled since the end of World War II when the Nazi attempt at Jewish extermination created a sense of guilt among politicians in Europe and the
We must not allow pseudotyping to cloud our judgment where a reasonable basis for criticism exists. The tweeting disaster that lives in the White House fans the flames of division in America by relying upon the sensitivity of people who have suffered hurtful stereotyping. The result is a backlash of social “pseudotyping.” Pseudotyping, in the social sense, is the false perception that criticism aimed at the behavior of an individual, or individuals within a group, is a criticism of the entire group to which those persons belong. And, it arises from the well of pain created by harmful stereotyping that the entire group has suffered in the past. Attacks on Jews and Black folk are often based upon stereotypes grounded in bigotry. While these attacks may not always be physically violent or even lethal on occasion, they are always hurtful. Because of this, some Jews and Black folk can be quick to pseudotype a critique as an all-encompassing stereotype. Because of pseudotyping, past condemnations of human rights violations by the governments of certain African nations have triggered vocal protests from members of the African American community as being racist. Likewise, condemnations of the government of Israel for its treatment of Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank precipitates loud accusa-
United States and the political will to provide for “a national home for the Jewish people” began to gel. For years prior to World War II, the United Kingdom had been toying with the idea of a Jewish homeland. In 1903, Britain’s Colonial Secretary, Joseph Chamberlain, met with Jewish leader Theodor Herzl and offered to settle Jewish people in what is now Uganda. That offer ultimately was rejected as leadership in the U.K. Jewish community pushed for the establishment of a homeland in Palestine. In 1917, U.K. Foreign Secretary Arthur Balfour sent a letter to Lord Rothschild, a leader of the British Jewish community, expressing Britain’s interest in establishing a national home for the Jewish people, stating: “His Majesty’s government view with favour the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people, and will use their best endeavours to facilitate the achievement of this object, it being clearly understood that nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine, or the rights and political status enjoyed by Jews in any other country.” Despite Balfour’s words of protection for “non-Jewish communities in Palestine,” since 1844, the phrase
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“A land without a people for a people without a land,” had been a popular slogan in support of the establishment of a Jewish homeland in Palestine. This sentiment negating Palestinians was an echo of America’s Manifest Destiny doctrine that negated the existence of the Native Americans on the North American continent. Given this sentiment, it is no surprise that for more than 70 years, the government of Israel has forcefully removed Palestinians from land that they occupied for centuries (possibly, millennia). There has existed a constant state of hostility between Jews and Palestinians, along with neighboring Arabs, before and after 1947 when the United Nations voted to institute a Partition Plan that divided Palestine into a Jewish state and an Arab state with Jerusalem as an “International City” to be shared by both. And the wars and conflicts between the two sides have been too numerous to discuss in this short commentary. Various individuals on both sides of these conflicts have opposed the violence while others have perpetuated it. And criticisms leveled at the government of Israel are not leveled at all Jews around the world, just as criticisms leveled at the Palestinian Authority are not leveled at all Palestinian people. Governments should be criticized when they cause suffering and death, but we must not conflate the acts of some with the intentions of all. And we must not assume that a criticism of some is a criticism of all. We must neither stereotype nor pseudotype. I believe Omar is critical of many of the policies of the Israeli government towards Palestinians. But I also believe that a fair reading of her statements, which have been the object of so much controversy, will bear out that she has not disparaged Jewish people, as a group, through implication or otherwise. Trump and his minions have seized upon the tendency of the fearful to pseudotype and weaponized this against Omar. Trump does this because he always needs to rail against a “villain” in front of his supporters. And, in most cases, it is a villain he has conjured up out of lies. Oscar H. Blayton is a former Marine Corps combat pilot and human rights activist who practices law in Virginia.
Who gains when democracy is destroyed? By Julianne Malveaux Contributing Commentator Democracy is defined as the government “of the people, by the people, and for the people.” Who are the people who support our contemporary status quo? And how, in marginalizing the will of the people, is democracy destroyed? The long-anticipated Mueller report is a scathing exposé of at least 10 ways the President of the United States bent or broke the rules and actively interfered in an investigation of his wrongdoings. The attorney general, who auditioned for his role by sending a memo that indicated that a sitting President could not be charged by the Justice Department, edited, obfuscated, and then prevaricated about the many ways Donald Trump aka 45 simply did the wrong thing. His wrongdoings ranged from perjury (which he often couched as “I don’t remember”) to intimidation to near, if not outright, collusion. After the release of the Mueller Report, many Democrats have called for investigation or impeachment, but few Republicans have raised their voices to censure the rogue they selected as their leader.
to restore the rights of convicted felons, the legislature has attempted to reverse the will of the people by imposing financial requirements to these returning citizens. There will undoubtedly be a court challenge, but will it be resolved in time to have 1.4 million people participate in the 2020 Florida election? In Tennessee, the state legislature proposes to impose fines on organizations that register voters who make minor mistakes on their registration forms, mistakes as insignificant as middle initial or hyphen. Republican state legislatures are passing new rules to restrict the vote in anticipation of a 2020 surge of new voters. Florida and Tennessee aren’t the only states that would suppress the vote. But voter suppression is what 45’s sycophants gain when they fail to call him out on his perfidy. Those who support 45 gain profit maximization opportunities — he is the triumph of predatory capitalism. From a tax cut that disproportionately advantages the wealthy to a massive corporate tax cut that places a tax burden on the rest of the economy, 45’s economic policies have been an unapologetic transfer of income from people at the bottom to people at the top. While he talked populist trash to White folks
Trump’s rhetoric is a signal to racists that it’s okay to attack those who have been historically marginalized in our nation. As of this writing, Sen. Mitt Romney (Utah-R) has been the most vocal detractor of 45, but he was that long before the Mueller Report was issued. George Conway, the bold husband of the equally fearless Kelleyanne Conway, has called for 45’s impeachment even as his spouse maintains her position as the 45’s handmaiden. I don’t even want to wonder what their pillow talk sounds like, but George gets mad props for speaking his truth even as he sleeps with the devil. Why are so many others so silent, though? These are people who say they love democracy, but their truth is that they love it only when it works for them. So, while they cringe privately, they cower publicly, understanding full well that they work for a racist crook, and tyrant who will suppress democracy at any cost. What do they gain? Most importantly they gain the courts. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell built a wall between former President Barack Obama’s constitutional right to appoint judges by blocking appointments whenever he could — most notably a Supreme Court appointment that should have gone to Merrick Garland. On the other hand, he has never met an inexperienced Republican ideologue that he would not rush to confirm. Lifetime appointments to 39-year-olds (consider Florida’s Robert J. Luck) who have practiced law less than a decade, but proven their worth with harsh partisan positions,will have an impact on public policy for decades. If McConnell rules the Senate and 45 stays in office, so many of our rights will be eroded, including voting rights, the right to choose, labor rights and more. Voting rights are on the chopping block in jurisdiction after jurisdiction. The judicial repeal of the Voting Rights Act with the reversal of Section 5 has been a setback, but aggressive state legislatures who have sought to restrict the right to vote have posed an equally challenging problem. In Florida, despite a successful initiative
who had racial issues, he offered public policy that contributed nothing to his core constituency. Meanwhile, through his appointments to, as an example, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CPFB), he eroded consumer rights. Instead of draining the swamp, he fed his personal alligators the raw meat of consumer protection; shredding the many ways CFPB protected the little people. Supporting 45 also supports the triumph of White supremacy. After Heather Heyer was killed in Charlottesville by a now-convicted White supremacist, our nation’s leader opined that there are “good people on both sides.” His rhetoric is a signal to racists that it’s okay to attack those who have been historically marginalized in our nation. While we are in the middle of a cultural realignment, with pointed questions being raised about the corrosiveness of confederate culture, we have a national leader who disgustingly cleaves to the past and elevates White supremacy. Republicans who fail to censure an out of control president often do so because, while they abhor his behavior, they embrace his White supremacist enthusiasm. Democracy dies when tyrants prevail and when we have seen a prevaricator, a provocateur, a philistine, and a panderer occupy the Oval Office. Why? Because predatory capitalists gain from the elevation of a braggadocious tyrant who, while feeding their bottom line, is behaviorally uncontrollable. We have attempted to impose democracy all over the world. Why are we willing to support its demise in these United States? Julianne Malveaux is an author and economist. For booking or to view her latest project MALVEAUX! On UDCTV, visit juliannemalveaux.com.
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April 25 — May 1, 2019
DANCE ON: How Prince’s legacy of giving continues to thrive By Tony Kiene Contributing Writer “We’re at a place now in this country where we’re going to have to work together and stop looking at each other’s affiliations and start taking care of one another. These are desperate times.” —Prince
T
hree years after Prince’s untimely passing, fans are still coming to understand and appreciate the immeasurable impact and legacy the late artist has left behind. In addition to the more predictable tributes and accolades — he’s been heralded as a genius, provocateur, guitar god, multi-instrumentalist, superlative songwriter, visionary, etc. — emerged another imposing narrative: Prince the philanthropist. To many that may have inhabited Prince’s inner circle at one time or another, this was not news; Prince spent his entire career privately supporting causes that were near and dear to his heart.
justice, economic empowerment, technology, the environment, the arts, and health and wellness (he was a long-time supporter of former protégé Taja Sevelle’s organization Urban Farming) — Prince valued young people and education as much as anything else.
“Celebrating Prince is about more than just the music.” Upon his death in April 21, 2016, however, the expansive scope and impact of his charitable activities started to come to light, mostly from accounts of those who’d previously been sworn to secrecy. Through CNN commentator and activist Van Jones, talk show host Tavis Smiley, and others, America learned that Prince was a financial force behind organizations such as #YesWeCode, Green For All, Youth 2 Leaders, and Powerhouse. As Jones told CNN at the time, “There are people who have solar panels on their houses right now in Oakland, Ca., that don’t know Prince paid for them.” And while his giving was spread across a multitude of causes — social
For example, in the 1980s, Prince gave educator Marva Collins an initial sum of $500,000 to support her Westside Preparatory in Chicago’s Garfield Park neighborhood, with the belief that kids from the most impoverished of backgrounds will succeed academically if afforded adequate tools and resources. He continued to fund Collins’ efforts for years to come, and in 1994, featured her in the video for “The Most Beautiful Girl in the World.” Additionally, in 2011, Prince donated one million dollars to The Harlem Children’s Zone, as well as a quarter million dollars each to the Uptown Dance Academy and American Ballet Theatre. Locally, over the years, Prince donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to
The MN Timberwolves present PRN with a donation (l-r) Prince’s brother Omar Baker, Harlan “Hucky” Austin of PRN, Craig Rice of PRN, and Anthony Mendoza. Photo courtesy of the Minnesota Timberwolves Prep Network of Schools, The Bridge for Youth, Urban Ventures, Circle of Discipline, and numerous other endeavors, including a fund to support the victims of the I-35W bridge collapse tragedy. And still, his generosity knew no geographical bounds. A recent query into the tax records of his former Love 4 One Another charity by Indianapolis television station WISH revealed that Prince also contributed to schools, shelters, and other community-
based agencies from coast to coast and manifold points in between. Regardless of everything we’ve learned these past three years, as WCCO-TV’s Reg Chapman notes, “It’s possible the public will never know how much he gave, and to how many people.” Prince’s benevolent legacy lives on Fortunately, Prince’s legacy of leadership and benevolence is being carried
on today by the PRN (Prince Rogers Nelson) Alumni Foundation. Established in 2017, the PRN Alumni Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with a mission to “continue the generosity of their late boss who supported opportunities for underprivileged youth to grow in music, technology, the arts, and education.” The foundation also supports alumni members in need, as well as urban farming initiatives that promote nutritional education and cultivate sources of healthy foods in communities where they are otherwise scarce. Made up of former employees of Paisley Park, PRN Productions, NPG Records, Love 4 One Another, and any and all of Prince’s other enterprises over the course of four decades, the PRN Alumni Foundation is a volunteer force of musicians, producers, managers, administrative staff, visual artists, wardrobe designers, technical directors, stylists, film editors, valets, makeup artists, bodyguards, custodians, and more. The former head of Prince’s NPG Records and PRN Alumni Foundation president Jacqui Thompson explains, “To those of us that make up and support the foundation, celebrating Prince is about more than just the music. It’s passing on his message of loving one another and taking care of those less fortunate than ourselves.” Among the foundation’s primary goals are to reach youth from all over the world. Thompson adds, “We believe that one way to keep Prince’s legacy alive is to connect with the younger generations to make sure they recognize not only his phenomenal talent but his humanity. And in doing so, helping to recognize the humanity of all of us.” Amen to that. To learn more about PRN Alumni Foundation, please visit their website at prnalumni.org.
Little offers big fun … and a bit of side-eye
Marsai Martin makes history as the youngest person to serve as an executive producer of a Hollywood movie.
By Dwight Brown Contributing Writer Little is a guilty pleasure. The guilt comes as you watch a 14-year-old actress (Marsai Martin, Blackish) behaving like a lustful 38-year-old female who flirts with a middle school teacher. It’s kinda pervy. Or when an executive assistant (Issa Rae, Inse-
cure) points to her nether regions and gives a man a sexy stare. Fine for adults to see, but do tweens need to look at that? The pure pleasure comes when you laugh at the extremely funny and very animated performances by Martin, Rae and the incomparable Regina Hall. The sisters are crae-crae! How did all this come about? Word is Martin
viewed the Tom Hanks trans-age movie Big (a kid in a grown up’s body) with her parents. She thought it would be cool to reverse the situation and have an adult in a teen’s body. She approached her agent with her novel idea. Her agent balked, as they often do, and Martin fired the agent and got her project on the road. Hence her executive producer credit — at age 14! (hat were you doing in your tween years?) It’s a simple set-up. Jordan Sanders (Hall) runs her own tech company. Her management style is somewhere between Hitler’s and Idi Amin’s, only she’s less kind. Prissy, exacting, bossy, negative and a dream-killer. She makes everyone suffer. Staff, valet, even the baristas at Starbucks cower in her presence.
However, only one artist can take credit for turning a seed of an idea into a bonafide comedy, and that’s Marsai Martin. When obstacles were placed in front of her, she broke through them. She took on a challenging role and nailed it. The camera catches all her weird facial expressions and mannerisms. Her comic timing is impeccable. She knows when to clown around, be demure, introspective and direct. This is a big first step in what should be a promising film career.
If you’re just out for a lark, jump on board and enjoy the laughs. Her assistant April (Rae) is right in the line of fire. No matter how attentive April can be, it’s never fast or good enough for the very successful and egocentric Jordan. But as they say, karma is a little b----. One day in her office’s parking lot, Jordan goes off on a little girl named Stevie (Marley Taylor), an amateur magician who is the daughter of a food truck vendor. The intimidating boss screams at the diminutive tyke, “Check you, Boo!!!” But, Stevie gives back what she gets. They’re in a standoff, like the Wicked Witch of the West and Dorothy ready to rumble. Then, Stevie takes out her magic wand, swirls it around and hurls a curse: “I wish you were little!” Not long after, the evil and older executive wakes up one morning as a 13-year-old girl. She tries to berate and intimidate like she used to, but the people she encounters are not scared anymore. If you’re looking for something profound and extraordinary from this formulaic script by Tracy Oliver (Girls Trip) and Tina Gordon (What Men Want and TV’s ATL), you will be disappointed. If you’re just out for a lark, jump on board and enjoy the laughs. The characters are modern, urban and living large. The sexy dialogue and inferences just hit the top of the film’s PG-13 rating. Hall marks her territory here. She is a gifted comic actress and her mood swings from mean to meaner to meanest are hysterically funny. She’s a go-to comic actress. The dour Rae makes Hall’s perfect foil. The guys— James, Bell and Hartley — are up to the task. Cameos by SNL’s Mikey Day as the selfish client Connor and Rachel Dratch as a truant officer are also humor filled.
Regina Hall is a scene-stealer in Little. Photos courtesy of Universal Pictures If you feel a little uncomfortable when little Jordan winks at her teacher or cozies up to big Jordan’s lover, you aren’t alone. If the scenes of April administering a spanking to a teen make you queasy, it’s because they should. But know that Martin, Hall, and Rae will make you laugh your tail off — even as you’re calling child protective services. Editor’s note: Little opened nationwide April 12 securing the number-two spot and grossing $15.5 million its opening weekend. The film has grossed more than $23 million as of press time. Check local listings for show times. Find more show info at universalpictures.com/ movies/little. Dwight Brown is a NNPA Newswire contributor. Find more of his work at DwightBrownInk.com and BlackPressUSA.com.
April 25 — May 1, 2019
BULLETIN
City of St. Paul launches Opportunity Zone website The City of St. Paul has launched its Opportunity Zones website, a one-stop-shop for investors seeking development opportunities in St. Paul, a program that encourages longterm investments in specific low income and urban communities. Each of the city’s seven Opportunity Zone focus areas has its own designated page outlining economic and demographic data, cultural assets, and area amenities. Additionally, an interactive map provides site-specific information such as acreage, zoning, project contacts, and local area plans. “Opportunity Zones are an additional tool to help the City achieve our goals of economic inclusion and community wealth building,” said Dr. Bruce Corrie, director of the Department of Planning and Economic Development. “Recent Opportunity Zone projects involving City land or funding have committed to a wide range of community benefits including offering new community spaces; equitable business and workforce inclusion goals; and, integrating artwork by neighborhood artists.” Saint Paul’s Opportunity Zones are grouped into seven focus areas: City Center and Riverfront, including District Del Sol; Creative Enterprise Zone; Midway Soccer Stadium, including Little Africa; Green Line East, including Little Mekong and Rondo; North End Nexus; Phalen Corridor; and Gold Line East. To learn more, visit stpaul.gov/opportunityzones —Information and photo provided by the City of St. Paul.
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Public forum: Jim Crow of the North Community members are invited to a public forum to discuss the origins of housing segregation in Minneapolis. Inspired by the TPT documentary Jim Crow of the North, the event will feature a panel discussion and public conversation with refreshments to follow. The gathering will be co-hosted by the Jewish Community Relations Council, Jewish Historical Society of the Upper Midwest, the Minneapolis Urban League and other organizations.
Panelists: • Steven Belton, Minneapolis Urban League • Daniel Bergin, TPT • Ken Engel and Iris Tzafrir, CHAIM • Steve Hunegs, Jewish Community Relations Council • Norman Pink, Jewish Historical Society of the Upper Midwest • Sondra Samuels, Neighborhood Achievement Zone
What: Public forum: Jim Crow of the North When: May 9 What time: 7 pm Who: Moderated by Kate Dietrick, archivist at the Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
The event is free and open to the public. Register at www.jhsum.org.
Be a good neighBor when having a Backyard recreational fire
Local artist honors Nipsey Hussle
“Ermias Asghedom, also known as Nipsey Hussle, was a man of greatness and leadership. I drew this picture of the rapper Nipsey because of his greatness. He was a leader in many ways. He helped out not only the Black community, but his entire community – especially where his businesses were on Crenshaw and Slauson avenues in California. The impact of his passing on us was very rough; it affected a lot of us, so to remember his legacy, I decided to create this portrait of him.” —Romero Cummings, a sophomore at Kennedy High School in Bloomington, Minn. and a student at the Office of Educational Equity Leadership Program With the warmer weather comes more time outdoors, including taking in the simple pleasures of a backyard fire. Before lighting up, make sure to review the City of Minneapolis ordinances below to help keep neighborhoods safe and livable: • Outdoor recreational fires are permitted between 9 am and 10 pm. • Keep fires small: less than three feet in diameter and two feet high. • Postpone a fire when Minneapolis is under an air pollution advisory. Fires release fine particles that contribute to air pollution and are implicated in health problems including strokes, heart attacks, and asthma. Sign up for air quality alerts at mn.enviroflash.info. • Burn only untreated, unpainted, dry wood. Never burn cardboard boxes, trash or debris, because the smoke can be toxic. • Fires must be at least 25 feet away from a structure or combustible material and in a fire ring or pit with edges more than six inches high. • Have a hose or fire extinguisher present. • Postpone the fire when the wind exceeds 10 mph. • Fires must be constantly attended by someone 18 years or older and completely out before being abandoned.
Illegal open burning or recreational fires could result in fines that start at $200.
Be a good neighBor These simple suggestions could help neighbors be considerate of each other when having a fire: • Let neighbors know when planning a fire. • Postpone a fire when smoke will blow directly at a neighbor’s house or when still weather conditions prevent smoke from moving away at all. For more information on recreational fires or to register a complaint about a recreational fire, call 311 or email Minneapolis311@minneapolismn.gov, or to register a complaint about a recreational fire outside 311 hours, call 911. The Fire and Police departments are authorized to extinguish a fire immediately if it violates City ordinances. For more on Minneapolis law on recreational fires, visit the Minneapolis Code of Ordinances, Chapter 178 at minneapolismn.gov/government/ ord/index.htm. Information provided by the City of Minneapolis
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April 25 — May 1, 2019
pressed with how young we are, how ambitious we are, and how well we’re doing. I didn’t have that opportunity as a young perContinued from page 1 son to see lots of community leaders own their own businesses, so for young people to come ask me for advice, ask me for a job, or internships, and for me to MSR: Why is it important for you to invest in be able to say, “Yes, I can help you” — there’s nothwhere you live? ing more rewarding than that. WM: I moved to the United States in 1989 [FROM]. I’ve seen businesses come and go, especially trendy MSR: What are the future plans for your busiideas. What I haven’t seen is a long-term investment ness? in businesses of color, so it was important for me to MW: We’d like to expand [and] have multiple locainvest in my community and prioritize the commu- tions all across the Twin Cities and continue to exnities of color that live there. pand our menu. Demarco is one of the best menu With the rampant gentrification that’s happen- creators I’ve ever met in my life, and I’m really exing across this country, specifically in the Twin Cit- cited to see what he designs for our future locations. ies, I knew it was important for me to help prevent MSR: What advice do you have for aspiring enthat by creating a business that I knew could stay trepreneurs? for a lifetime that would be led by folks that live in MW: Don’t run to get things open. Take your time, that neighborhood. write your plan, do your research, do your target
BBS
“For young people to come ask me for advice, ask me for a job, or internships, and for me to be able to say, ‘Yes, I can help you’ — there’s nothing more rewarding than that.” MSR: What’s been your biggest challenge you’ve had in owning your own business? MW: I think the biggest challenge in owning a business is that there are very few [resources] for members of communities of color to own their own businesses. There are very few grants and loans that are specifically centered around communities of color, and often they want you to be a business with five to 10 years’ track record of [experience in order to access]. That’s just not going to happen in communities of color. With this massive disinvestment that this country has done into communities of color, you’re just not going to see us automatically have everything in perfect formation. Even though you have three ambitious entrepreneurs in this business, we will never technically be good enough because of how the systems works. So there’s always that challenge. We’ve worked very hard to lift ourselves above every hurdle to make sure we reach our goals, and we’ve been very successful in a very short amount of time.
marketing, figure out who your clientele base is. In the culture of social media, it looks like everybody has got things down really easily and really fast. Take a step back and do the math, do the writing, do the research, and then launch. Spend that extra time doing that due-diligence, and then launch your product. It’ll be a huge step up for you in the future. The amount of effort we put into doing the pre-opening made sure we were successful. MSR:What special deals could readers take advantage of? MW: Every Sunday, we have our Soul Food Sundays. It is a special combo only on Sunday. We serve oxtail, chicken wings, smothered chicken — those are just some entree samples. Then you get two sides. Some options are greens, sweet potatoes, macaroni and cheese, cornbread dressing. Then you get a choice between a muffin and a biscuit, and we also have dessert options. Momma’s Kitchen is located at 1058 E. Maryland Ave. in St. Paul. For more info, visit mommaskitchenmn.com.
MSR: What’s been the most rewarding part of owning a business? Interview conducted by Chris Juhn. Food photo by MW: When young people approach us and are ex- Derrick Koch/DKoch Creations cited to hear about our stories. When they’re im-
ENviroNmENtal Continued from page 1
that are overwhelmingly managed by White leaders who appear to be turning away from the conversations. A recent study by Green 2.0, an initiative dedicated to increasing racial diversity across mainstream environmental nongovernmental organizations, found that the movement is only “getting more White” as it continues to leave out people of color. The report indicated that nearly 70 percent of the Environmental Defense Fund’s (EDF) staff was White. It also concluded that “the top 40 environmental foundations have gotten more White across full-time staff, senior staff, and board members.” While some of these environmental groups in the area have used their presence to fight issues that impact everyone, other organizations are instead focusing on anti-pipeline and anti-energy activism in the state. Among the best examples is an issue playing out locally, where national environmental groups — including Greenpeace, 350.org and the Natural Resources Defense Council — are waging a major battle de-
scribed as “resistance against the oil pipelines.” They also are running major fundraising campaigns off of pipeline protests — even though the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Administration notes that pipelines are “one of the safest and least costly ways to transport energy products.” The singular focus on one environmental issue while appearing to ignore others implies the presence of environmental racism, a long-used description of the practice of allowing toxins to exist in communities of color. Some believe that these skewed priorities may be happening, in part, because of the lack of diversity in the environmental movement. Green 2.0 is pressing to deal with the racial inclusion issue in order to infuse greater sensitivity into the environmental justice movement. “Communities of color bring to bear experience and perspective on both problems and pathways to power building. As an organization, we plan to take a more aggressive approach to calling out the environmental movement for their lack of diversity,” said Whitney Tome, executive director of Green 2.0, in a statement. “For the past five years,”
Tome continued, “we’ve been working to ensure that the environmental movement and its leaders reflect the current U.S. workforce demographics.” Meanwhile, African American-led organizations are pushing environmental justice agendas, underscoring the importance of such issues in communities of color. “Clean water is a basic human right,” National Medical Association President Niva LubinJohnson wrote in a commentary posted on Seattlemedium.com last fall. “At the National Medical Association (NMA), we see firsthand how this crisis in clean water creates a variety of healthcare problems for Black patients and their families.” Instead of seeking ways to make energy more elusive and expensive for communities of color, activist groups could use their initiative to aid in the abating of these most fundamental challenges that continue to push headwinds against many Black families and other families of color. “This is just the beginning,” said Tome. “Environmental groups are now on notice.” Hazel Trice Edney is editor-inchief of the Trice Edney News Wire and president and CEO of Trice Edney Communications.
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cleaned the next day. It was then returned to service before the BCA again impoundContinued from page 1 ed the car for evidence, including fingerprint and Noor has, up to this point, gunpowder analysis. If the car taken their advice to the ex- had been cleaned and washed, treme. He has refused to the likelihood of obtaining eispeak to the Bureau of Crim- ther would be nil. inal Apprehension (BCA) or prosecutors about the events More inconsistencies The prosecution team of that night. seemed to be hindered by inconsistencies in police testiFraming the narrative Noor’s defense attorneys mony and, in some cases, an have set the narrative that Da- apparent attempt at obfuscamond startled Harrity and tion. For example, Lt. Dan May, Noor after hearing a thump or “a loud slap against the who made headlines in 1990 car,” which they perceived as for the shooting death of Tycel Nelson, initially told the a possible threat. Though Harrity reintro- court that the cops were on duced this assertion during heightened alert for an amhis testimony, saying under bush. However, May did not oath that he heard a “thump” include this threat in his reand a “murmur,” the prose- port on Damond’s killing. Harrity also claimed that cution team pointed out there neither Harrity or Noor had he feared ambush and dementioned any “thump” im- scribed as “dark” the alley they were in the night of the mediately after the shooting. A few officers testified shooting. Yet, according to that it was Sgt. Shannon Bar- neighbors, the alley where the nette who first introduced the shooting took place in Southidea that the officers heard a west Minneapolis’ Fulton thump. According to other neighborhood was well lit. Harrity testified that he testimony, Barnette — who was Noor’s and Harrity’s pre- sees everyone and every sitcinct supervisor at the time — uation as a threat to him “unalso introduced the idea that til it isn’t a threat anymore. It’s Damond was likely “a drunk kind of a scary way of thinkor drug addict.” This led of- ing. It’s a safety measure. I just ficers to search the victim’s want to be ready.” He later acknowledged that is how he house after the shooting. An expert contradicted thought of Damond until aftheir claims, testifying that ter she was shot, when he saw Damond’s fingerprints were her hands and realized that not found anywhere on the she wasn’t a threat. May also later admitted in car. However, another officer testified that Sgt. Barnette had court that no warnings about instructed him to wash and possible ambushes had been clean Noor’s squad car after made earlier on the date of the killing, and that no warnings the shooting. The car was delivered to had been posted on Noor’s the BCA after it had been 5th Precinct bulletin board.
Wright Continued from page 1
The task force study hit the eight-month mark with “little to show for their efforts,” said Wright. And so the Black student group escalated their measures. On a January day in 1969, some 70 students crowded into Morrill Hall, the school’s administrative building. The “Morrill Hall Takeover” demanded the school treat Black students better and start a department for studying Blackness.
Even the use of force was questionable. When the prosecution team asked if shooting Damon would have been the appropriate response had she hit the car, Harrity testified on the stand that “use of deadly force at that point would’ve been premature.” Given such deferences to the police as having Harrity interviewed at the home of his defense attorney, both prosecution and community members have been led to question the entire judicial process. The BCA’s standard protocol is to interview witnesses in their offices. “How do [the Hennepin County prosecutors question] the police procedure and routine of lying and fabricating stories to avoid prosecution and continue to claim confidence in the cases [in which] they relied on that same routine of lying and fabrication to achieve a conviction?” asked artist and community organizer D.A. Bullock on Facebook. “How do they avoid not going back through every socalled justified police shooting and asking the EXACT same questions?” As of press time, Noor’s defense team was set to present its arguments, with speculation that the trial would close by end of the week. Visit MSRnewsonline.com for more coverage. Mel Reeves has a blog, fighthepowerjournal.com, and welcomes reader responses to mellaneous19@yahoo.com. Front photo of Mohamed Noor at press conference in March 2018 was taken by Chris Juhn
Yet, as he prepares to leave, Wright feels the African American Studies program he helped start decades ago is still not adequately staffed and funded, and not responsive enough to cultural shifts as the years go on. “Historical changes require changes in strategy and philosophy,” said Wright. As well as continuing to inch the U of M and the greater community toward racial respect, Wright also has an eye for the arts. The professor created the first nationally touring exhibition on the Harlem Renaissance and created a jazz and poetry ensemble. As a spoken-word performer and producer, Wright performed nationally “The Langston Hughes Project-Ask Your Mama: 12
“I intend to stay very active.” The protest, which lasted 24 hours, paid off. The group’s efforts led to special advising and counseling for Black students and the establishment of the African American Studies program. The department started offering classes in 1970, which is also when the school created its Martin Luther King, Jr. Program supporting underrepresented communities. Wright directed the MLK program for three years as a graduate student. He soon left for Carleton College, which recruited him to create the African American & African Studies Department, serve as its chair, and work in the English Department. In 1984, Wright returned to the U of M and the African American program he first started. A few other of Wright’s professional bright spots in a constellation of glittering scholarly success include his nomination as a MacArthur Foundation Fellow by novelist Ralph Ellison, and receiving the U of M’s Horace T. Morse Award, the highest honor for undergraduate teaching at the school. Even nearing the end of his tenure, Wright’s activist spirit intensely burned. Wright worked on the 2017 exhibit “A Campus Divided: Progressives, Anticommunists, Racism and Anti-Semitism at the University of Minnesota 1930-1942,” which demonstrated that university administrators deliberately segregated student housing and oversaw surveillance of Jewish students. Wright spoke during the presentation, recommending the school change the names of few buildings named after the racist administrators and also commit to changes that go beyond the names of buildings. Many of the issues displayed in the exhibit remain. Considering lingering issues over race at the university, Wright said work by him and others at the school is “at one level, a success story.” Between 1965 and 1980, over 800 Black programs sprung up around the U.S. “Two-thirds no longer exist,” said Wright. “We survived the winnowing process.”
Moods for Jazz” for a decade. Locally — outside of Prince, of course — Wright said there have been many artistic “outgrowths.” He pointed in particular to the birth of Penumbra Theater and Gary Hine’s musical ensemble Sounds of Blackness. A legacy of Black excellence Wright is a local himself, born in Minneapolis’ Phillips neighborhood to an immigrant mother who’d come to the Twin Cities from Barbados a little before World War II, and a third-generation Minnesotan father who came from Kentucky at the end of the 19th century. Wright also comes from a long line of civicminded people, though he never really thought of his family and himself as such before his young adulthood at the U. “As a kid in the periphery, adults don’t always tell you everything that’s going on,” said Wright. Wright’s paternal grandmother was intensely active in the community. His grandfather helped organized the 1902 National Afro American Council convention in St. Paul. His aunt Martha graduated valedictorian from North High “at a time when there were only a handful of Blacks at North,” said Wright. Martha went on to be the only Black student in the U of M’s school of science. As president of the Council of Negro Students, she also protested against university administrators who prohibited Blacks from living in dorms. “I intend to stay very active,” said Wright, who is retiring as professor but will stay on as professor emeritus and continue chasing an “array” of scholarly projects, both on campus and in the community. “I’m looking forward to what lies ahead.” Solomon Gustavo welcomes reader responses to sgustavo@spokesman-recorder.com.
April 25 — May 1, 2019
9
Employment
Legals STATE OF MINNESOTA
DISTRICT COURT
COUNTY
JUDICIAL DISTRICT: SECOND
RAMSEY
COURT FILE NUMBER:62-DAF-19-418
In the Matter of:
A/1 Contract No. 20-009 REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS
CASE TYPE: HARASSMENT
Brittany Raeanne Young NOTICE OF HEARING
and obo minor child, Petitioner(s)
BY PUBLICATION
vs.
(Minn. Stat.§ 518B.01, subd. 8)
Jorge Luis Porter, Respondent
Sealed proposals will be received by the Public Housing Agency of the City of Saint
An order has been issued directing you to appear at JFJC, 25 W. 7th Street, Courtroom 5A, St. Paul MN 55102 on May 1st, 2019 at 8:30 a.m. and explain why the relief sought in the Petition for the Order for Protection should not be granted. You may obtain a copy of the Petition and any order issued from the court from the Ramsey County Court Administrator’s Office.
tation and Translation Services, Contract No. 20-009, until 4:30 P.M., Local Time, on May 22, 2019.
star Imaging, at 651-686-0477 or www.northstarplanroom.com, public plan room under Language Interpretation and Translation Services, Contract No. 19-101. Digital downloads are no charge, contact Northstar for hard copy pricing. Proposals must be accompanied by an EEO-1 form. The PHA reserves the right to reject any or all proposals or to waive any informal-
If you do not appear at the scheduled hearing, the Petitioner’s request may be granted as a default manner. Failure to appear will not be a defense to prosecution for violation of the Court’s Order.
ities in the RFP process AN EQUAL
MAI MOUA
OPPORTUNITY AGENCY
Date April 17, 2019
EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT/
/s/Tama Hall
COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER
Special Courts Administrator
(651) 292-6086 mai.moua@stpha.org
MN Spokesman-Recorder, April 25, 2019
STATE OF MINNESOTA
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder, April 25, 2019
DISTRICT COURT JUDICIAL DISTRICT: SECOND
A/1
COURT FILE NUMBER:62-DA-FA-19-383
Contract No. 20-007
COUNTY RAMSEY In the Matter of:
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS
CASE TYPE: DOMESTIC ABUSE NOTICE OF HEARING
In The Matter Of Jacquelyne Kennedy
BY PUBLICATION
Sealed proposals will be received by the Public Housing Agency of the City of Saint
(Minn. Stat.§ 518B.01, subd. 8)
Paul at 200 East Arch Street, Saint Paul, MN 55130 for FURNISHING JANITORI-
vs. Michael L Brown
AL SERVICES AND TRAINING AT THE W. ANDREW BOSS OFFICE BUILD-
To Respondent named above: An order has been issued directing you to appear at JFJC, 25 W. 7th Street, Courtroom 5A, St. Paul MN 55102 on n May 06, 2019 8:30 AM Order for Protection Hearing JFJC Court Room 5A
Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid. More info at www.mylegalaid.org/jobs.
Paul at 555 N. Wabasha Street, Suite 400, St. Paul, MN 55102 for Language Interpre-
Complete Request for Proposal (RFP) documents are available by contacting North-
To Respondent named above:
MANAGING ATTORNEY - IMMIGRATION LAW PROJECT
STAFF ATTORNEY - MINNEAPOLIS Central Minnesota Legal Services seeks full-time attorney for its Minneapolis office. Government benefits work. Licensed in MN pref’d. Post-law school pov. law exper., fam. law or clinical exper. pref’d. Spanish or Somali language a plus. Salary D.O.E. Excellent benes. Resume with references and writing sample to Ginger Palmquist, CMLS, 430 First Ave. No., #359, Minneapolis, MN 55401 or email to: cmls@ centralmnlegal.org Appl. deadline: 04/13/19 or until filled. EOE.
Legal Assistant Central Minnesota Legal Services-St. Cloud Office Full-time position in our St. Cloud office. Duties include client intake; compiling reports using office case management system; client intake; drafting legal documents; referrals to community services; and other duties as assigned. Microsoft Word & Outlook experience a plus. Familiarity with electronic case management systems. Salary: D.O.E. Excellent benefits. Resume, references, and cover letter by May 10, 2019. (late applications accepted until filled), specifying interest and skills to Sheila Merriman, CMLS, 110 6th Avenue South, Suite 205, 56301. Email – smerriman@ centralmnlegal.org No calls please. EOE.
ING, Contract No. 20-006, until 11:00 a.m., local time on May 9, 2019. A Pre-Proposal Conference will be held in conjunction with a Pre-Proposal Tour on April 30, 2019 at 9:00 a.m. at the W. Andrew Boss office Building, 555 N Wa-
Zon, Irene
basha, St. Paul. Immediately following the conference there will be a Pre-Propos-
Street, James J. and explain why the relief sought in the Petition for the Order for Protection should not be granted.
al Tour. All questions arising from this pre-proposal conference will be addressed by addendum, if necessary.
You may obtain a copy of the Petition and any order issued from the court from the
A complete set of bid documents are available by contacting Northstar Imaging at
Ramsey County Court Administrator’s Office.
651-686-0477 or www.northstarplanroom.com . Digital downloads are no charge,
If you do not appear at the scheduled hearing, the Petitioner’s request may be grant-
contact Northstar for hard copy prices.
ed as a default manner. Failure to appear will not be a defense to prosecution for vi-
2019.
Plans will be available Friday, April 19,
olation of the Court’s Order. Proposals must be accompanied by an Equal Employment opportunity form. The
/s/Tama Hall
successful proposer will be required to furnish a satisfactory performance bond and
Special Courts Administrator
separate payment bond.
MN Spokesman-Recorder, April 25, 2019
Business Systems Analyst Ledelsea, Minnetonka, MN. Req. Master’s in CS, Eng. Mgmt, EE, Software Eng., or related technical field, & 2 yrs. exp. business systems analysis or eng. analysis; 2 yrs. exp. w/: Tools: Rally, JIRA, SOAP; API design, testing & monitoring tools, Agile project mgmt, Scrum & Kanban methodologies & tools; data analytic & visualization tools including Splunk; 2yrs. exp. in IT industry. Position req. 60% travel to client sites within the Minneapolis Metro area. Duties: Solve organization information problems. Send resume to ayesha@ledelsea.com No agencies or phone calls.
The PHA reserves the right to reject any or all proposals or to waive any informalities in the bidding process.
Sr. Pharma Manufacturing Quality Engineer
Contract No.19-122 AN EQUAL
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS
STEVE AHNER
OPPORTUNITY AGENCY
PROJECT LEADER (651) 292-6069
Sealed proposals will be received by the Public Housing Agency of the City of Saint
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder, April 25, 2019
Paul at the Maintenance Administration Office at 200 E Arch Street, St Paul, Minnesota, 55130, for EMERGENCY GENERATOR MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR AT PHA PROPERTIES until 10:00 AM, Local Time, on May 9th, 2019. A complete set of documents may be obtained without charge at the above named office, or call (651) 292-6606, for PHA mailing of documents. Proposals must be accompanied by a Bid Guarantee, Non-Collusive Affidavit, Certifications and Representations of Offerors, and an Equal Employment Opportunity Form. The successful proposer will be required to furnish a satisfactory performance bond and separate payment bond. A Pre-Proposal Conference will be held on April 29th, 2019, at 10:00 a.m., in the Maintenance Administration Office at 200 E Arch Street, St. Paul. The PHA reserves the right to reject any or all proposals or to waive any informalities in the bidding process. AN EQUAL
Jordan LaSota
OPPORTUNITY AGENCY
Construction Program Manager (651) 292-6254
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder, April 25, 2019
MINNESOTA SPOKESMAN-RECORDER 3744 4th Ave. South • Minneapolis, MN 55409 Phone: 612-827-4021 • Fax: 612-827-0577
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State of Minnesota Case Type: Dissolution Without Children County of Hennepin District Court Summons without Real Estate First Judicial Court In Re the Marriage of: Case No: 27-FA-19-2319 Fadumo Abdulkadir Ahmed, Petitioner and Abdi Isse Abdi, Respondent ORDER FOR SERVICE BY ALTERNATIVE MEANS THE STATE OF MINNESOTA TO THE ABOVE-NAMED RESPONDENT: WARNING: YOUR SPOUSE (HUSBAND OR WIFE) HAS FILED A LAWSUIT AGAINST YOU FOR DISSOLUTION OF YOUR MARRIAGE. A COPY OF THE PAPERWORK REGARDING THE LAWSUIT IS SERVED ON YOU WITH THIS SUMMONS. THIS SUMMONS IS AN OFFICIAL DOCUMENT FROM THE COURT THAT AFFECTS YOUR RIGHTS. READ THIS SUMMONS CAREFULLY. IF YOU DO NOT UNDERSTAND IT, CONTACT AN ATTORNEY FOR LEGAL ADVICE. 1. The Petitioner, (your spouse) has filed a lawsuit against you asking for dissolution of your marriage (divorce). A copy of the Petition for Dissolution of Marriage is attached to this Summons. 2. You must serve upon Petitioner and file with the Court a written Answer to the Petition for Dissolution of Marriage, and you must pay the required filing fee. Answer forms are available from the Family Law Facilitator Program, Family Court Self Help Center located in the Family Justice Center, 110 South Fourth Street, Minneapolis, MN 55401. You must serve your Answer upon Petitioner within thirty (30) 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, the Court may give your spouse everything he or she is asking for in the Petition for Dissolution of Marriage. 3. This proceeding does not involve real property. NOTICE OF TEMPORARY RESTRAINING PROVISIONS: Under Minnesota law, service of this summons makes the following requirements apply to both parties to the action, unless they are modified by the Court or the proceeding is dismissed: (1) Neither party may dispose of any assets except (A) for the necessities of life or for the necessary generation of income or preservation of assets, (B) by an agreement of the parties in writing, or (C) for retaining counsel to carry on or to contest this proceeding. (2) Neither party may harass the other party. (3) All currently available insurance coverage must be maintained and continued without change in coverage or beneficiary designation. (4) Parties to a marriage dissolution proceeding are encouraged to attempt alternative dispute resolution pursuant to Minnesota law. Alternative dispute resolution includes mediation, arbitration and other processes as set forth in the district court rules. You may contact the Court Administrator about resources in your area. If you cannot pay for mediation or alternative dispute resolution, in some counties, assistance may be available to you through a nonprofit provider of a court program. If you are a victim of domestic abuse or threats as defined in Minnesota statutes, Chapter 518B, you are not required to try mediation and you will not be penalized by the Court in later proceedings. IF YOU VIOLATE ANY OF THESE PROVISIONS, YOU WILL BE SUBJECT TO SANCTIONS BY THE COURT. Date: 4/9/2019
Signed: Fadumo Abdulkadir Ahmed
Minnesota Spokesman Recorder April 18, 25 & May 2, 2019
SOE Continued from page 10 Haskins, now retired. “Those three guys (Haskins, Heathcote, and former Purdue coach Gene Keady) were all tough guys, but I swear to you none tougher than Clem Haskins. I just learned about how hard a team played. “That was a vintage era… I have tremendous respect for those guys. They were great
coaches, great guys. I miss all three of them in the league, I really do. Charles Hallman welcomes reader responses to challman@ spokesman-recorder.com.
ESpOrtS Continued from page 10 Getting paid for something he loves is “the biggest part,” Caicedo said. “When this came
Sr. Pharma Manufacturing Quality Engineer - Medtronic, Inc., Fridley, MN. Req. Master’s or foreign equiv. in Pharmaceutical Mgmt, Pharmaceutical Sciences/Operations, Industrial Eng. or related field & 2 yrs exp. in manufacturing quality engineering or Bachelor’s or foreign equiv. & 5 yrs exp. Must possess 2 yrs exp. in combination product manufacturing; Current Good Manufacturing & (cGMPs), USP, & FDA Quality System Regulations; FDA 21 CFR Part 210, 211, 820, Part 4 & Part 11, ICH, ISPE & Quality Management Systems; ISO 14644, ISO 13485 & ISO 14971 standards; CAPA (Corrective & Preventative Actions) & equipment & process validations using (DQ, IQ, OQ, & PQ), changes & non-conformances; applying engineering concepts to incl. DOE (design of experiments), risk, validation, methodical problem solving, & statistical analysis; and ERP systems & MES (Manufacturing Execution) Systems. Must have legal authority to work in US. Apply at www.medtronic.com/careers, select Req. #190005DL. No agencies or phone calls please. Medtronic is an equal opportunity employer committed to cultural diversity in the workplace. All individuals are encouraged to apply.
Human Factors Scientist Human Factors Scientist- Cardiac Rhythm Heart Failure for Medtronic, Inc. at its facilities located in Mounds View, MN. Human factors scientist-CRHF provides Human Factors support across the product lifecycle. Requires a Master's degree in Industrial & Human Factors engineering and include six (6) months post-bachelor's progressive experience in all of the following: medical device development processes based on FDA Human Factors Engineering Guidance and IEC 62366 regulations; providing product lifecycle support to include customer needs identification, user profiles, task analysis, user interface design, usability testing, use error analysis, design validation, and post-launch outcomes analysis; generating hardware and software design concepts, creation of prototypes (including physical models, graphical user interfaces, interactive prototypes and product graphics using Axure, Sketch and Adobe Illustrator); Human Information Processing to include Human Sensation, Perception And Cognition; designing for populations with special needs to include cognitive, physical, visual, or auditory limitations; study planning, protocol development, study coordination, managing participant recruitment, study management, data collection, analysis and documentation; conducting hazard-based compliance validation for user interfaces to meet FDA standards. Apply at www.medtronic.com/careers, Req.1900054I. Medtronic is an equal opportunity employer committed to cultural diversity in the workplace. All individuals are encouraged to apply. up, I knew I was good enough. You want to be the richest 2K player who ever lived. My goal is to be the greatest to ever do this.” Vilvens, who was hired last October after years of coaching traditional basketball, said he took the T-Wolves job for the
challenge. “The expectation for us is to compete for championships,” he said. Charles Hallman welcomes reader responses to challman@ spokesman-recorder.com.
10
April 25 — May 1, 2019
New film features winningest Soul on Ice chronicles overlooked Black hockey history H.S. hoops coach ever ANOTHER By Stacy M. Brown Contributing Writer
A place called Stop 6, an urban neighborhood of Ft. Worth, TX, was not known for much more than economic hardships, illegal drug abuse, and gang violence. But sitting in the heart of the community is Paul Laurence Dunbar High School, which has proved to be a beacon of light, according to the makers of a new documentary about the life of legendary Dunbar High School basketball coach Robert Hughes. The film 5700 Ramsey Ave., named after the address of
Hughes was elected into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2017. “I spent four of the most incredible years of my life under the tutelage of Coach Robert Hughes,” said the film’s director, Mike Byars, who played basketball at Dunbar under Hughes. “I knew something was terrific about his presence at the age of 14, but I had no idea how to translate what I felt into words. “I promised myself that if the opportunity ever presented itself, I would do something special to honor his life,” Byars said. Because the opportunity never came
B
lack contributions in hockey, whether in the United States or in Canada, have historically been whitewashed out of history books. Filmmaker Kwame Damon Mason’s goal is to help Charles rectify this omission. hallman Mason’s 2016 documentary Soul on Ice: Past, Present and Future tells the untold story of the Coloured Hockey League that was founded in Nova Scotia in 1895 and lasted until 1930, as well as the oft-overlooked history of U.S. and Canadian Black hockey players. It fea- Kwame Damon Mason tures archival film footage and interviews with the late Canadian-Jamaican Herb Carnegie, interest in hockey,” he pointed who founded one of Canada’s out. “Their lives have been about first hockey schools for Blacks in 1954, and Willie O’Ree, the basketball, baseball and footfirst Black player in the NHL in ball. I want[ed] the kids to see 1958, along with other current something different than what and former Black NHL players. they have been told all their life Mason, who wrote, direct- when it comes to sports.” ed, and was the film’s narrator, was in St. Paul in February and screened his film to two distinctly different groups: local school children and MinnesoAs for the Wild staff, “I ta Wild staff. The former were much more diverse than the wanted the staff…to say to virtually all-White team front themselves, ‘There is something more about the game office staff. After screening his film of hockey I did not know. We at the Wild’s downtown St. have three minority players on Paul arena, Mason talked to our team, and they come from us on the different post-film a longstanding history in this reactions from each gathering. sport,” Mason said. “I’m hoping that the staff “A lot of these kids, even after watching the film, had no is able to walk away with
VIEW
Photo by Charles Hallman this knowledge and feel a lot more comfortable about…doing a better job in going out to these communities and making them a part of our team just like everyone else,” Mason continued. He strongly urged the Wild, and all NHL clubs for
“Racism is a hurdle that hockey needs to get over.”
Coach Robert Hughes
Photo courtesy of NNPA
Dunbar High School, reveals that despite the hardships and harsh realities of the neighborhood, the successes of Coach Hughes and the Dunbar basketball team helped to shine a positive light on the residents in the community. Coach Hughes, who’s now 90 and coached Dunbar from 1973 to 2005, compiled an incredible record of 1,333 wins (most all-time) to only 262 losses in his illustrious career. Coaching at Dunbar for over 30 years, Hughes would only experience one losing season in which the team would still make the playoffs while winning two state championships. Under Hughes’ tutelage, more than 200 men earned college scholarships. In part because of Hughes’ approach to the game, he earned a reputation as a mean, no-nonsense man when those who know him still say he’s nothing more than a gentle giant.
in the form of Hollywood documentarians, Byars said he created a documentary on his own. He spent about two and a half years making 5700 Ramsey Ave. “It was the very least I could do to show my gratitude for the lifelong lessons he passed along to me,” Byars said. “No matter where you go in the United States as far as basketball is concerned, Coach Hughes is well recognized.
Fitz Beat
PreP scene
Larry FitzgeraLd’s
coLumn wiLL return next week.
The feature-length documentary is scheduled to debut at 6:30 pm on Thursday, May 2, at The Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, presented in partnership with the R.E.D.D.Y. Leadership Outreach. For more movie info, go to 5700rameyave.com. Stacy M. Brown is an NNPA Newswire correspondent. Thanks to her and the NNPA for sharing this story with us.
dr. mitcheLL PaLmer mcdonaLd’s coLumn
wiLL return next week
that matter, to do more in their outreach efforts to Blacks and other people of color besides the “Hockey is For Everyone” program that usually takes place in February each season. The almost 90-minute film, besides its historical timeline and interviews, also chronicles a young Black hockey player’s quest of making the NHL. It al-
so touches on the continuing problem of racism in hockey as discussed by some players. “It [racism] is a hurdle that [hockey] needs to get over,” Mason stressed. “I hope that one day [current Black players] will feel a lot more comfortable in speaking about [racist] situations. The guys who retired, a lot of them have no problems [talking] about what they went through. They have nothing to lose.” Mason said he wished he had devoted more of the film to Black female hockey players such as Angela James, one of the first females inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. “They called her the Wayne Gretzky of women’s hockey,” he added. Mason plans to return next year to the Twin Cities, probably in February. “What I’d like to do is connect the Black community with the Minnesota Wild and have some sort of call to action,” he said, “not just to watch the film, feel good and walk away.” Soul on Ice is now available on ITunes and Amazon. Next week: A Black woman starts a hockey fan club for females like herself. Charles Hallman welcomes reader responses to challman@ spokesman-recorder.com.
Twelve new Naismith Basketball Hall of Famers announced By Charles Hallman Contributing Writer The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame will enshrine 12 new members in September. The Class of 2019 was announced earlier this month during the Final Four at the Vikings stadium. We chatted with three of the inductees after the announcement and press conference. Overshadowed by such heralded teammates in Philadelphia as Julius Erving, Moses Malone and others, Bobby Jones first cut his defensive teeth against the best in the ABA. “I really felt the ABA prepared me to play in the NBA,” the 12-year veteran player admitted. “So many amazing players — Julius Erving, Larry Kenon, George McGinnis — guys I had to guard and very difficult to guard.” Teresa Weatherspoon is the WNBA’s New York Liberty player development coach. The only Black woman elected in this year’s class, the latest honor is another note on her iconic resume. Weatherspoon hit “The Shot,” the most famous shot in WNBA history, made from beyond half court with two seconds left to defeat the eventual champions, Houston, and force a third game in the 1999 Finals. A five-time All-Star, two-time Defensive Player of the Year, seven-time international All-Star and 1988 Olympic gold medalist, Weatherspoon pointed out, “What I have reflected on a lot is my whole basketball life, which I started when I was four years old. But what is standing out for me the most is how excited my family is, because they understand my journey. I also think a lot on my mom,” who recently passed away, she said humbly.
Sports odds and ends
Teresa Weatherspoon
Sidney Moncrief
Sidney Moncrief played 10 of his 11 NBA seasons in Milwaukee, a five-time All-Star, two-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year, and four-time league All-Defense team member. His Bucks club, however, wasn’t able to get past those of Boston and Philly, the East’s power elite at the time, the 1983 All-NBA first team member noted. “We won eight [division] titles” and won 50 or more games each season, Moncrief said. (Milwaukee won a total of 332 games during that run.) “We didn’t win a championship, but we were second. When you are competing at a high level and winning, and doing it the right way, it deserves recognition.” The other Class of 2019 members include the late Charles “Chuck” Cooper, who joins Earl Lloyd and Nat “Sweetwater” Clifton in the Hall, all three of whom broke the NBA’s color barrier in 1950; the late Carl Braun, posthumously; Al Attles (Contributor); Bill
Fitch (Coach); Jack Sikma, Vlade Divac and Paul Westphal (Players); the Tennessee A&I Teams of 1957-59; and Wayland (Texas) Baptist University (Team). The enshrinement will take place September 6 in Springfield, Massachusetts at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
Photos by Charles Hallman
Haskins remembered as ‘tough’ Before his team played Texas Tech in the Final Four, Michigan State Coach Tom Izzo, when asked, paid homage to former coaches Bob Knight, the late Jud Heathcote who hired him as a graduate assistant, and the late Flip Saunders. We asked him about former Minnesota coach Clem Haskins, who led the last Big Ten team (1997) to win a league title before the conference instituted the current post-season tournament. “He taught me a lot,” Izzo said of ■ See SOE on page 9
T-Wolves take the plunge into esports By Charles Hallman Contributing Writer The Minnesota T-Wolves Gaming hosts the (Toronto) Raptors Uprising GC and the (Orlando) Magic Gaming in esports double action April 24. In their first season, the T-Wolves Gaming is Minnesota’s first professional esports team and one of four expansion teams in the now21-team NBA 2K League. Also known as electronic sports, esports is a form of competition using video games. The season of 16 games starts in April and runs into August. Games are played at the NBA 2K League Studio in New York City along with three tournaments for prize money. Ted Johnson, the Minnesota Timberwolves’ and Lynx’s chief strategy officer, said during an invitation-only media background information session last month, which included the MSR, that the organization invested “high six-
figures” into the new venture. This includes a new state-of-the-art gaming training center facility at Mayo Clinic Square, player salaries ($32-$35,000 per player for six months), and housing for the six-player team. Christopher Anderson told us that his former team last season practiced in the same apartment building where he and his Cleveland teammates were housed. “Here we have a larger facility,” the 27-year-old, second-year gaming vet pointed out. This reporter admittedly was very skeptical, imagining a bunch of geeks playing basketball against other geeks in some high-tech video basement. Johnson, who admitted he once thought the same way, assured me that it was so much more, the primary reason why the NBA first got into esports. Johnson showed on his PowerPoint presentation that esports in 2018 attracted an estimated two billion-plus gamers
worldwide and a 380 million global esports audience. The NBA jumped into it based on the argument that nearly 60 percent of its “avid” fan base plays video games multiple times per week, and they are five times more likely to watch esports multiple times per week than non-fans. As a result, the NBA 2K League was formed in 2017 by 17 of the 30 team owners and played its first season in 2018. Minnesota in March took part in the league’s first draft, selecting four players and two players in the expansion draft. T-Wolves Gaming Head Coach and General Manager Shawn Vilvens told me, “We wanted to look for leadership qualities” in assembling the team’s inaugural roster. “Bear’ is a perfect example. We had him rated at the very top of our [draft] board.” “Bear” is 27-year-old Michael Key of North Carolina — his full moniker is “BearDaBeast23” (all players have such
(l-r) Christopher “Turnupdefense” Anderson, Brandon “Hood” Caicedo and Michael “BearDaBeast23” Key Photos by Charles Hallman screen names). He is currently fourth among MVP hopefuls, averaging over 16 points a game, seven assists, and over three made treys per game. “We are all professionals, practicing for 50-70 hours a week,” Key explained. “We are super passionate about [gaming].” Brandon “Hood” Caicedo and Christopher “Turnupdefense” Anderson were teammates in Cleveland last sea-
son; Anderson was an expansion pick and Caicedo was acquired by trade. “We go over film and a couple of plays for four hours, then take a little break,” Anderson said. “Then [we] come back and scrimmage for another four hours. “We play five-on-five against other teams. It’s real intense,” Anderson stressed. ■ See ESpOrtS on page 9