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December 27, 2018 — January 2, 2019 Vol. 85 No. 21 www.spokesman-recorder.com

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HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM THE MSR!

YEAR OF THE

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By Stephenetta Harmon Editor-in-Chief

2018

proved to be the year of history-makers for African Americans across the country, and Minnesota, in particular. From landmark elections and groundbreaking appointments to Hall of Famers and historical institutions, the MSR was on the frontlines covering Black Minnesota as it positioned itself for sweeping change.

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POLITICAL FIRSTS While politicians across the country aimed for blue and red to color the 2018 midterm elections, it was a decidedly Black wave that will impact the 2019 landscape. And Black voters showed up and showed out across the country, even helping to push historically red states and seats closer towards the blue line. The election was full of historic wins, especially right here in Minnesota. Among the political firsts, Keith Ellison took home the prize as the first African American elected attorney general or any statewide office in Minnesota. Winning Ellison’s former seat, Ilhan Omar is set to be the first-ever Somali American to serve in Congress. Medaria Arradondo, Minneapolis’ first Black chief of police, was appointed to serve his first full term in 2019. And, let’s not forget Melvin Carter III who kicked off his historic term in January as St. Paul’s first-ever Black mayor. There was also an increase in Black representation and wins across all levels, from city councils to school boards, as well as beyond the Twin Cities. Angela Conley is the first Black person to be elected to serve on the Hennepin County board of commissioners. After an appointment by outgoing Gov. Mark Dayton, Judge Juanita Freeman will be the first Black district judge to serve in Washington County. And Mike Elliott will be the first Liberian American to serve as mayor of Brooklyn Center.

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HISTORY MAKERS This year’s history-makers also include longtime teacher Tonyus Chavers, who played on one of the eight original Women’s Professional Basketball League teams. She was inducted into its Hall of Fame as a “Trailblazer of the Game.” Brittany Baker, graduated as St. Paul’s first Black woman firefighter in 10 years; Nerita Hughes became North Hennepin Technical College first African American dean, and the Minnesota African American Heritage Museum and Gallery was the first of its kind to open its doors in the Twin Cities this past September. While it wasn’t necessarily history-making, Minnesota did show a marked increase in diversity while hosting this year’s Super Bowl as compared to when it last hosted in 1992. BURIED HISTORY In the midst of highlighting our communities, the MSR even unearthed Black history at Pioneers and Soldiers Memorial Cemetery, Minneapolis’ oldest cemetery, which holds the remains of John W. Cheatham, the first African American firefighter in Minneapolis; Morgan Jones, a former slave of a Virginia tobacco field who moved to Minnesota after gaining his freedom; and William C. Goodridge, who was born slave in 1806, freed by age 16 and started his first business — a barbershop — at 18 years old.

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A LOOK TO THE FUTURE While all of these firsts signal a welcome wave of change in Minnesota, our communities still face persistent racial disparities, which led to the Twin Cities being named the fourth worst place to live in the country. But, leaders are poised and hopeful for change. “We’ve got strong leadership at the director levels of all of these critical areas, [from] social work to human services to health to public safety,” said Alex Tittle, Hennepin County Disparity Reduction Director. “This next group of commissioners, new leadership, attorney general, Chief Rondo — you’ve got a ton of people who are at the table who are focused and cognizant of the issues and they’re smart enough and they’re in leadership positions. “If we can’t deal with this right now with who we’ve got in place, shame on us. The World, the county, the community is depending us to do it right, [and] we’re positioned to do it.”

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Visit spokesman-recorder/bestof2018 for a complete roundup of stories that had readers talking in 2018.

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Minnesota African American Heritage Museum and Gallery

December 27, 2018 — January 2, 2019

Education issues

— from scholarships and resources to creating new partnerships and programs to reduce disparity gaps were at the forefront of conversations across the state. Minnesotans even voted to increase school funding by raising taxes in a midterm election that saw record turnout. With 2019 on the horizon, educators, parents and community members alike are working toward identifying and closing the divide on everything from early education learning gaps to college readiness as well as STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) disparities between African Americans and their White counterparts across education, access and employment.

Here are just a few highlights of stories that kept readers talking this year.

Hometown woman brings tech program to students of color in Twin Cities Originally published June 28, 2018 By Judith Hence Contributing Writer The STEM industry is one of the fastest growing industries worldwide; it is also one of the least diverse. Minneapolis native Shonnah Hughes teamed with Selina Suarez, Rebe de la Paz, and Stephanie Herrera to launch PepUp Tech in 2016. PepUp’s primary goal is to ensure students of color are prepared and available for career opportunities in a specialized field that might not

otherwise be available to them. Since launching, the program has graduated more than 50 alumni and has a current cohort of 90 students. Hughes has also expanded PepUp’s reach with new programming in the Twin Cities. The nonprofit partnered with Microsoft this summer to host its PepSTARS program at the tech retailer’s Mall of America location. Hughes plans to create partnerships with other organizations to implement more programs, including one in the works with Sisters in Technology at North High school. PepUp’s primary goal is to en-

sure students of color are prepared and available for career opportunities in a specialized field that might not otherwise be available to them. “Technology is a gateway to creating unlimited earning potential and building generational wealth,” said Hughes. “Companies are looking for diversity of thought to push innovation forward and our unique experiences are exactly what they need.

Submitted photo of Shonnah Hughes

Paisley Park partners with MPS to launch arts education program Originally published December 6, 2018 By MSR Editors Paisley Park has formed a new arts education program with Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS) to give students access to Prince’s iconic sanctuary in Chanhassen. The partnership will provide MPS students with admission-free tours, which normally range in price between $38.50-$160, to the private estate and recording complex-turned-museum, along with access to music education experiences. “Prince constantly pushed himself to reach new heights and taught others to expect the same from themselves,” said Mitch Maguire, Paisley Park’s tour operations manager. “He was a passionate advocate of music education and its ability to inspire children and adults alike, and we look forward to fulfilling this tenet through our work with MPS.” Paisley Park announced the groundbreaking partnership will kick off with students at The Fine Arts Interdisciplinary Resource (FAIR) School, with an aim of broadening the programs reach and helping to “equalize opportunity and access” for students to experience the late legend’s creative grounds.

One-third of community college students ‘misdirected’ to remedial classes Originally published September 20, 2018 By Stephenetta Harmon Editor-in-Chief

HOW TO FIND FREE MONEY FOR COLLEGE Originally published December 6, 2018 By MSR Editors With college costs on the rise and billions of dollars waiting to be claimed, what better time than now to start your scholarship search? “Scholarships are one of the most prevalent funding sources families use to help pay for college,” said Martha Holler, senior vice president, Sallie Mae. Fifty-seven percent of families used them last year. There is no limit to the number of scholarships you can apply for and there are billions of dollars waiting to be claimed. Scholarships don’t just pay tuition, either — they can help with other college costs, including books and on-campus housing. “The key is knowing where to find them, and how to apply,” said Holler. Visit bit.ly/scholarships19 for search tips.

According to new research, one-third of community college students enrolled in remedial classes don’t even need them. The Community College Research Center (CCRC) and social policy researcher MDRC recently released research revealing standard placement tests, such as the College Board’s ACCUPLACER, are actually “misdirecting” student placements. Under-placement creates additional barriers for students. A 2016 report by the Education Reform Now showed that remedial coursework cost first-year students and their families nearly $1.5 billion a year in out-of-pocket expenses — expenses that don’t go towards their degrees. In addition, many students never make it out of the remedial pipeline, having to take up to four non-credit-earning courses before putting a dent in their college requirements. To address such under-

placements, the CCRC and MDRC launched the pilot Multiple Measures Assessment project in the fall of 2016, exploring alternative assessment options and recommendations. Their research guide follows the project’s partnership with 10 Minnesota and Wisconsin community colleges to design and pilot the new placement systems.

Minnesota is already onboard to adapt to new changes. The state legislature passed legislation in 2017 requiring the Minnesota State Board of Trustees (MSBT) to reform developmental education offerings at system campuses. The MSBT is required to implement system-wide multiple measures placement guidelines by the start of the 2020- 2021 academic year.

Photo courtesy of Getty

Visit spokesman-recorder/bestof2018 for a complete roundup of stories that had readers talking in 2018.

December 27, 2018 — January 2, 2019

The news on sexually transmitted diseases in America is shocking Here’s what you should know to be safe

By Charles E. Crutchfield III, MD First published May 10, 2018 and reprinted by popular demand

exually transmitted diseases (STDs) are infections that are spread from one person to another during sexual acts. These include vaginal, anal and oral sex. STDs are common, and their occurrence is on the rise. The bad news is that STDs can cause dangerous health problems. The good news is that getting tested for STDs is easy, and most STDs are easy to treat. The best way to prevent getting an STD is not to have sex. If you are sexually active, the chances of getting an STD are markedly reduced by properly using latex condoms or dental dams during sex. If you are monogamous, get tested and, if clear, remain so. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has announced that the number of cases of syphilis and gonorrhea has increased dramatically over the past few years. In fact, both diseases are up almost 20 percent. In the United States, we have the highest incidence of STDs of any Western industrialized country in the world. This article will limit discussion of STDs to syphilis and gonorrhea. Gonorrhea is an STD caused by infection with the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae. It prefers to infect warm,

moist areas of the body, including the urethra, vagina, rectum, throat, eyes, and female reproductive structures. Syphilis is an STD caused by an infection with the bacteria Treponema pallidum. In addition to being spread during sexual contact, syphilis can also be spread from either an infected mother to a developing fetus during pregnancy or to the baby during exposure to the birth canal at the time of delivery. Syphilis can have severe and devastating health consequences if left untreated. Experts say that the increase in the incidence of STDs is a result of several factors, making up almost a “perfect storm.” One significant factor is funding, pure and simple. Both state and federal programs aimed at educating the public on STD prevention have experienced cutbacks. As a result, the public is less aware of, and more likely to contract, STDs. One of the biggest proponents of STD education, testing and treatment is Planned Parenthood. Of note, most Planned Parenthood patients are women, but they also treat men. Politically, there are groups that are calling for cuts in funding for Planned Parenthood. Decreased funding will directly affect STD screening and treatment for a vast group of citizens. Additionally, there are many STD clinics that are run by state health departments that can be negatively influenced by state funding cuts. In fact, many state-funded STD clinics have already closed their doors. These health department-associated specialty clinics are so important because many at-risk people are ashamed to discuss their health concerns and status with their family doctor, or they don’t have the financial resources to seek testing and treatment from traditional avenues or clinics. These clinics can provide confidential screening and no-cost therapies for patients and are critical in reducing the spread of STDs.

As mentioned earlier, some STDs are without symptoms. Because of this, fewer people are getting tested for STDs, and healthcare providers are not as thorough questioning patients about sexual histories, practices, and precautions. As a result, they are also not doing subsequent STD screening tests as frequently. By not picking up active STD cases, they can spread further. Additionally, HIV-AIDS, with the effective new treatments, has commonly been re-recognized to be a chronic medical condition rather than the “death sentence” it once was. As a result, the “scare factor” of contracting STDs has inappropriately diminished. In evaluating the STD increase, one notices that the numbers are rising in all patient groups. With this in mind, community disparities are also noted. For instance, groups with explosive increases include Southerners, Black and Latino women, young adults, and men. Dramatic STD increases are also recognized in the group of men who have

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sex with other men; that is, in the gay community. Even with large STD rate increases in these specific groups, the STD incidence rate appears to be up everywhere. There are very significant consequences in not treating STDs, more so in women, but still with unwanted results in all people. Untreated STDs can lead to infertility, cervical and penile cancer, neurologic disease, and even death. In pregnant women, it can be spread to babies in utero, with striking health effects, including heart problems. Sex is still a taboo topic in most of America. Talking openly and honestly about sexual practices and issues surrounding sexual health is still difficult for most people, even with their doctors. These attitudes need to change, and patients need better education and improved access to STD screening, testing, and treatment. The good news is that testing for STDs is simple, and most treatments are incredibly effective.

Reference: NPR.org Concerned about having an STD? Contact your doctor, a local Planned Parenthood Clinic, or visit RedDoorClinic.org. 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.

5 ways to stay out of the dental chair For good dental health, regular checkups are a necessity. But let’s face it — regardless of whether your teeth are in good shape or bad, going to the dentist, even just for a cleaning, isn’t on everyone’s list of top things they like to do. And when there’s extra work to be done — such as filling cavities — it can be even more troubling. Most people know they should brush and floss, but beyond that, what are some of the things they should do to stay out of the dental chair? “Reducing the amount of sugar in your diet is a great place to start,” says Dr. Anita Myers, a dentist and author of the book Stunning Smiles: A Dental Guide to Improve the Way You Eat, Smile & Live. “Many people, when they get up in the morning, get a croissant, muffin or doughnut, and a coffee with sugar. To protect their teeth, it would be much better to substitute whole grain cereal and then sweeten it with fruit.”

breaks down your teeth layer by layer. Some processed foods that people may not realize have significant amounts of sugar include low-fat yogurt, condiments such as ketchup and barbeque sauce, pasta sauce and salad dressings.

While Dr. Myers says most people worry about the impact of sugar on their weight, the damage done to teeth is just as bad if not worse. “If you change your lifestyle you can lose extra weight. But if you lose your teeth because of too much sugar, you can’t get them back.” Here, she offers advice for those who want to do a better job of caring for their teeth and gums:

Drink plenty of water Water cleanses the mouth of toxins.

Don’t abuse over-the-counter medications Prescription drugs can create dental issues. For example, a side effect of many medications is dry mouth, which leads to a variety of oral health problems. And, watch out for the sugar in most cough drops and antacids, as some people tend to rely on these on a regular basis. Don’t smoke or use tobacco In addition to being bad for teeth and gums, they increase the odds of oral cancer. Chewing tobacco bathes the teeth and gums in toxins.

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Make good diet choices Stay away from processed foods, which often contain sugar even when you don’t realize it. Sugar, of course, leads to tooth decay that causes cavities. Here’s how: The mouth has both good and bad bacteria in it. The harmful bacteria feed off the sugar, and as they do so they produce acid that

Don’t use illegal drugs Cocaine, methamphetamine and other drugs cause a reduction in saliva flow that results in decay and can affect the entire mouth. “Too many people think brushing and flossing are the only aspects of good dental care,” says Dr. Myers. “While those activities are important, there are many other things patients can do to maintain a great smile.” — Information provided by News & Experts. Photo courtesy of iStock

December 27, 2018 — January 2, 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.

THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY OF 2018 THROUGH MY EYES The Minneapolis Story Continues By Ron Edwards Contributing Commentator

Two years until the 2020 elections — time to get to work By Oscar H. Blayton Guest Commentator Most readers will be familiar with this scenario: A White politician that you have not heard from in two years starts to show up at Black churches, glad-handing the pastors, reciting his or her accomplishments for the congregation that you’ve never heard of, and reminding you to vote for him or her in the upcoming elections.

the next president of the United States already have advance people in Iowa and other key states preparing for the primary elections. Those eyeing congressional seats, state and local offices are organizing their political teams in order to hold on to those offices or to unseat an incumbent. 2016 has shown us that if we do not get engaged, we are in danger of being saddled with a lying racist, bent

If we do not identify, enlist and support candidates who champion our best interests, then we deserve the callous and unjust treatment that we receive from elected officials who do not respect us. It’s a scenario that is played out in most political districts where Blacks make up a significant portion — but not the majority — of the electorate. We know very little about these absentee politicians except that they are “the lesser of two evils” — the choice offered to those Black folk allowed to vote since the end of the Reconstruction era. Why are we consistently faced with only being able to choose between the lesser of two evils each election cycle? Or to put it another way, why can’t we have more options when selecting who will represent us? The answer is that we do have more options. We must constantly stay politically “woke” and not wait until the last minute to pay attention to who the potential candidates are. Politicians interested in running in 2020 already are lining up at the starting gate. People aspiring to become

on erasing all of the gains people of color have made during the last five decades. 2018 has shown us that when people organize, they can overcome many of the obstacles that are strewn in our paths to equal justice and the freedoms promised to us by the U.S. Constitution. 2018 also has shown us that there are those who would deny people of color justice and freedom by blocking us from our guaranteed right to vote. The Georgia governor’s race shined a light on how bigots and racists will go to any lengths to tilt the vote in their favor by removing voters from the rolls and by making it more difficult for voters to get to the polls to cast their ballots. Republican Brian Kemp ran for governor of that state while refusing to step down as its secretary of state, the office that oversees elections in Georgia. Over the years, Kemp systematically removed

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Black voters from the rolls through various questionable means, giving himself a clear advantage by increasing the percentage of wouldbe voters who were White. There are those who will try to cheat us out of our rights, including our right to vote. There are those who will try to steal elections in the way that Trump did in 2016 with the help of Russian interference. These people can be stopped, however. They can be stopped by you and by me. The way we stop them is by looking for people qualified to run for office in federal, state and local elections and helping them to win. These people can be found among your parents and your voting age children — and your aunts and uncles and cousins and friends. They must be identified and then encouraged to run for office. And when they run, we must support them. We must support them with our time, our labor and with our money. There may not be many of us that can give much of any of these things, but we can each give something. If we make more of an effort, we can get more elected officials of the type we want and deserve. The proof is in the pudding. 2018 saw a record number of women of color elected and it is expected that these women will work to steer America back on the correct course to fulfilling the promises of our Constitution. According to the Eagleton Institute of Politics at Rutgers University, women of color will occupy: • 38 seats in Congress • 9 statewide elective offices • 456 state legislative seats and • 10 mayoral offices in some of the nation’s 100 largest cities. We, as people of color, are in a pitched battle for our rightful place in this nation. And it is a battle that we will not win if we do not enlist as many people as possible in the fight. If we do not identify, enlist and support candidates who champion our best interests, then we deserve the callous and unjust treatment that we receive from elected officials who do not respect us. The clock is running and so are the same tired old politicians. It is time we bring some serious champions into the fight. Oscar H. Blayton is a former Marine Corps combat pilot and human rights activist who practices law in Virginia.

Minnesota has had its share of The Good, the Bad and the Ugly in 2018. The good includes historic elections and appointments, including the election of a Black attorney general for the first time in the state’s history. The 5th Congressional District elected another Muslim to represent its political future. St. Paul’s first Black mayor took office, while Minneapolis appointed its first African American police chief to his first full term. Hennepin County voters also elected the first African American and Latino commissioners to the county’s board.

cluding its part of the $450 million in profits from the 2018 Super Bowl in Minneapolis, as reported by the Star Tribune and the Super Bowl host committee. Though we have yet to see the documented verification of their numbers, it is anticipated that 2019 will continue this growing economic prosperity for Black Minnesotans. Minnesota will again host the NCAA Final Four national basketball championship in the people’s stadium. But what about the other side of the coin? Minnesota was also full of bad and ugly moments in 2018. This includes African American men dying on the streets of this city due to officer-involved shootings. African Americans are also suffering through an extremely dangerous period of drug-related deaths throughout the

What does that mean? Is there a plan or a solution or a beacon of light somewhere on the horizon? We must listen closely to the sounds and statements of pain from the loved ones of the victims. We must pay attention to the shadow of threats that they must live under in their neighborhoods, including jobs (“Blacks need not apply”), education (near “separate but equal” again), and housing (not enough for lower incomes). And, we’re still awaiting certified documentation of all the reported job development claims for African Americans working on major construction and new business projects. How accurate are the spoon-fed alleged stories of success? As a journalist and historian, I strive to cover the good on one side and the bad and ugly on the other. We need

We need more stories from both sides of the coin, supported by fact, as we address issues as team players. The U.S. Senate passed a sweeping criminal justice bill addressing concerns of unfair sentencing and of inadequately preparing federal prisoners (which account 10 percent of the U.S. prison population) for their return to society. We look forward to seeing how, in 2019, this reform will be adopted for prisoners in state, city and county prisons and jails, as well. In economics, African American leadership touted the Black community’s growing economic prosperity, in-

entire state (as well as the other 49 states). Some say gun violence is on the decline. I question that because so many shootings are not reported. At times, the East Side of St. Paul sounds like its own series of Spaghetti Westerns set in post-Civil War Dodge City and Abilene, Kansas. The North and South sides of Minneapolis sometimes sound like the 1881 Gunfight at the O.K. Corral in Tombstone, Ariz. Today’s political leaders say they are addressing problems.

more stories from both sides of the coin, supported by fact, as we address issues as team players working together and acknowledging both successes and failures. In 2019, I look forward to addressing how to increase the good and decrease the bad and the ugly, reaching out for what President Abraham Lincoln called cooperating to become united. Stay tuned. Ron Edwards is an author and hosts radio and TV shows.

Trump’s Republican party continues to fuel White nationalism By Roger Caldwell Guest Commentator In 2018, all Americans would like to believe that racism is over and that society is moving toward equality and certain inalienable rights for everyone. As such, the Democratic and Republican parties would respect every American based on the content of their character, as opposed to the color of their skin. But, with the 2016 elections, President Donald Trump is the leader of the Republican Party and it is going in the wrong direction. Instead of the Republican Party working to be more diverse and reflecting the rainbows of the different cultures and races in the society, the party has become primarily White. This has created a division in the country, which appears to be growing. “When Thomas Jefferson wrote that ‘all men are created equal,’ he did not mean that all men were equal in all respects. In other places he wrote with conviction about the existence of a natural aristocracy among men, based upon virtue and talent,” says John Van Til, writer at Foundation for Economic Education. America has always been a racist society. Once White men in America realized they could abuse and enslave people of color around the world, and no one would challenge their authority, the great society was born. Based on wealth, power, and violence, our great founders massacred an entire nation as if they did not exist, and justified their actions through religious, economic and political liberty. It was very easy for our founders to extol the virtues of equality on one hand while owning slaves and whipping human beings into submission on the other. But with the legislation providing for civil rights, voter rights, political and economic rights, people of color believed that equality and Democratic principles were just around the corner. There have been tremendous strides in equality, in every aspect of the society, and with the election of the first Black president, there was change in the air. But in 2016, a new ideology of racism and xenophobia took over American politics and

Donald Trump became president. Trump connected with White voters who are antiimmigration and racially conservative, and the Republican Party has made the president a mouthpiece for White nationalism. There are times that Trump represents almost 45 percent of Americans who are White, and many of these residents are motivated by racial resentment. “Trump’s victory was regarded as the elevation to the highest office of a political misfit when it was actually a return to normalcy, as attested by the increase in racially-motivated incivility and crime,” explains Professor Serge Ricard, writer of the Trump Phenomenon. This race factor, he said, is central to the Trumpian discource and the heyday of White nationalism under a President prone to stoking the flames of division and prejudice. The reality of racism is deeply entrenched in the alt-right, and the redneck mindset of White America. White racial prejudice and bigotry have raised their ugly heads again, and the Republican Party is following their hero, leader, and mouthpiece. When the president says something ridiculous and racist, the White Republican Party acts as if the statement never existed — like slavery or the destruction of the Native Americans. How long will it take prejudice, bigotry and White nationalism to be erased from the Republican Party, with leaders like Trump, and replaced with progressive ideas and healing? America must be elevated to include the diversity of the entire country, with all its colors and cultures. The challenge for the Democratic Party in 2018 is to speak the truth and address lies for what they are when they are spoken. Roger Caldwell is the president and CEO of On Point Media Group. Follow him at rogerpoliticalblogs.wordpress.com.

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December 27, 2018 — January 2, 2019

BEST FILMS OF 2018

By Dwight Brown Contributing Writer

2018, the stories told, talent on view, compelling characters, emotions expressed, and genres stretched were just amazing. It was more than enough to make viewers track films from the theaters to streaming services. Or vice versa. Check out the year in movies. Enjoy. Best Films Ben Is Back – The plague of drug addiction hits the tony suburbs and writer/director Peter Hedges takes his audience to the front door of a home that is bearing the brunt. Julia Roberts soars as the distraught mom trying to save the life of a duplicitous son, expertly played by Lucas Hedges. Courtney B. Vance co-stars in this compelling and cautionary family/drama. Black Panther – The late Stan Lee left behind a key to the future with Black Panther. As envisioned by the very intuitive director/writer Ryan Coogler, the African nation of Wakanda became the world’s numberone tourist destination ($1.3 billion at the box office). It’s supermen (Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan, Daniel Kaluuya) and superwomen (Lupita Nyong’o, Danai Gurira, Letitia Wright) were artfully displayed (by cinematographer Rachel Morrison) as they embodied Black power and pride.

inner-city Black neighborhoods are disappearing, and the inhabitants are stressed every day. Wonderful direction by Carlos López Estrada. BlacKkKlansman – Leave it to filmmaker Spike Lee to find the most unbelievable but true story about a Black cop (John David Washington) who infiltrates the KKK with the aid of a Jewish police officer (Adam Driver). The undercover brother even hoodwinks David Duke! A nervy and very informative look at the dimwits who joined the Klan and the brave policemen who thwarted their moves. Considering the times we live in, the 1970s subject matter has a very contemporary appeal.

actor Mahershala Ali plays a concert pianist who is driven around the South, in 1962, by a burly Italian chauffeur/bodyguard played hysterically by Viggo Mortensen. The most unlikely director in the world, Peter Farrelly (Dumb and Dumber), tells the tale with a nod and a wink and peppers it with social and racial themes, real drama and historical facts. An organic crowd-pleaser.

Best First Films All About Nina – Eve Vives Blindspotting – Carlos López Estrada

Crazy Rich Asians – This jolly film is the first Asian/American movie to get a major release in 25 years! A stellar cast — Constance Wu, Henry Golding, Michelle Yeoh, and Awkwafina turn a rags-to-riches love story into the best romantic comedy of 2018. Director Jon M. Chu with writers Peter Chiarelli and Adele Lim turn a golden opportunity into solid gold entertainment. The Favourite – The stodgy English period genre gets whacked by this demented take on an 18th-century triad of deceitful women: Queen Anne (Olivia Colman), Lady Sarah (Rachel Weisz) and a very ambitious and cunning palace interloper Abigail (Emma Stone). Eccentric director Yorgos Lanthimos finally gets a project that can withstand his very demented style of direc-

Spike Lee returned to top form with BlacKkKlansman Night Comes On – Kids separated from their parents and relegated to foster homes and institutions should have their stories told. New actor-turned-director Jordana Spiro uses a script she co-wrote with Angelica Nwandu as a basis for her poignant ode to troubled youth. Dominique Fishback plays the train wreck of an 18-yearold older sibling in the process of leading her 10-year-old sister (Tatum Marilyn Hall) down the wrong path. The film features vulnerable characters you have to love. Private Life – Every 10 years, writer/director Tamara Jenkins makes a feature film. It’s worth the wait. A neurotic couple, nearing middle age, tries to have a child. Previously, they were so caught up in their lives that by the time they decided to have offspring, they had to scramble, and hope IVF would pay off. Tough challenge for them. Great laughs for the audience. Kathryn Hahn plays the fretful wife with anxious humor and Paul Giamatti is the put-upon husband. A sweet, delicious adult comedy.

Black Panther was both a critical and box office revelation

Blindspotting – Of all the films that tackled racism and the PTSD a Black man experiences as a result, this very grassroots indie captured that feeling the best. Set in gentrifying Oakland, Calif., the ambitious script by lead actors Daveed Diggs and Rafael Casal chronicles a time and place when

Best Directors Ryan Coogler – Black Panther Peter Farrelly – Green Book John Krasinski – A Quiet Place Tamara Jenkins – Private Life Yorgos Lanthimos – The Favourite

Courtesy of Marvel

tion. Evocative cinematography (Robbie Ryan) and production design (Fiona Crombie) paint an astonishing portrait of palace intrigue. Green Book – A very unlikely story, based on true events, features the best acting duo of the year. The brilliant scholarly

A Quiet Place – This is the absolute best use of sound effects ever devised for a horror film. A very innovative but scary take on a post-apocalypse world where demons’ attacks are instigated by the slightest sound. Ingeniously conceived by actor/ writer/director John Krasinski who guides his wife Emily Blunt into the performance of her career as the protective mom.

Courtesy of Focus Features

I Am Not a Witch – Rungano Nyoni Night Comes On – Jordana Spiro A Star Is Born – Bradley Cooper Best Foreign Language Films Capernaum Dogman The Guilty I Am Not a Witch Roma Best Documentaries Amazing Grace Boom for Real: The Late Teenage Years of Jean-Michel Basquiat Free Solo Other Great Films 22 July, Alpha, Creed II, Eighth Grade, First Man, Halloween, Leave No Trace, Love, Simon, Mission Impossible – Fallout, Mobile Homes, On the Basis of Sex, A Private War, Searching, A Star is Born, A Prayer Before Dawn, Uncle Drew, Vice, What They Had, The Wife Worst Movies Acrimony, Loving Pablo, Red Sparrow, Robin Hood, Solo: A Star Wars Story, Suspiria, Tomb Raider, White Boy Rick Dwight Brown is an NNPA News Wire film critic. This story was edited for space in print. Visit MSRNewsOnline.com to see more of Dwight Brown’s top picks for 2018.

December 27, 2018 — January 2, 2019

Top 10 tips for good houseguest etiquette Life Etiquette -according to Ms. J.

Life Etiquette, it’s all about respect for ourselves, respect for others and respect for the world around us.

'Tis the season for visiting with relatives, friends, and acquaintances for the holidays. So, there’s no better time to talk about being a good houseguest. As I’ve done in previous columns, I reached out to people I know across the country to ask for their input on the subject. Here are the top 10 suggestions for being a good houseguest. Can you identify yourself in any of these situations? 1) Ask your host(s) what time they like to start their day and how. Then, get up, get dressed, and be ready when your host is ready to get the day started, but do not intrude on their “personal time.”

2) Make your bed and do not leave your clothes hanging out of your luggage and scattered about the room. Your host might have extra drawer space and/or closet space, but maybe not. This is when you have to apply one of your “mamma’s rules:” Be cleaner and tidier in someone else’s home than your own. 3) Speaking of tidiness, please do not start cleaning things, moving things around and offering suggestions without solicitation. Yes, you should offer to help, but if you appear to be critical of your host’s home and way of living, you are likely not to be welcomed back. 4) Television usage — this certainly can be a hot topic. You are a guest in someone’s home, not a hotel room; therefore, you do not get to choose the television program. If your host walks in and you know it’s time for their favorite show, give them control of the remote. And no heavy breathing, sighing or putdowns regarding what your host finds entertaining.

5) Give your hosts a break. If you are with them more than two days, find your own entertainment and/ or activities. 6) Bring a gift for your host. If you are staying with the person, it’s likely that you know them very well. There are so many options that this should be a joy and not a chore. Of course, you can always offer a gift card along with a personal note or card. 7) When you leave, leave a thank you card along with a thank you gift. Your host will appreciate the gesture. Here are some suggestions: Gift card to a movie, theater, or activity; a good book, something for relaxation. The gift should be personalized, it should say that you know the person and you noticed what they like and don’t like. 8) Leave your room or sleeping area as neat and clean as possible. Ask your host for clean linen to make the bed. At the very least, ask the host if you should take the used linen off the bed and where to leave it. 9) Offer to help with chores and be sincere about it. If the host says “no,” take that as an answer; don’t intrude. 10) Let me see if I can put this in a positive way: leave when you say you’re going to leave. Ok, let me just be plain about it: don’t overstay your welcome!

Courtesy of Getty Images I would appreciate hearing from my readers on this subject. What houseguest etiquette tips or houseguest stories — good or bad — do you have to offer?

Juliet Mitchell is a contributing columnist to the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder. She can be reached at jmitchell@spokesmanrecorder.com.

More than fun in the sun: vacations can be good teaching tools for kids are very daring. They like to go zip-lining. We went to the Bahamas last year and they went on the 500-story water slide, multiple times. Stuff like that. They will do anything. We went ATV riding in Maui. They’ve been jet-skiing. They’ve swum with dolphins. We are going to expose them to stuff and then let them have fun while they are there. SB: So that exposure is what it’s all about, right? LV: At the heart of things, you’re raising your children to know how to navigate in the world. So, when we go out to these different places, they may have to order food at a restaurant and nobody speaks English. So, they have to be able to talk to the waiter to understand what’s involved. They have to come out of themselves and get comfortable. That’s helped them mature and have more of a world perspective. It has really impacted Chase, my oldest. She is in her first year of college. She’s worldly. She’s been on four mission trips. She goes

places and feels very comfortable because she knows how to navigate the world and work with people. She’s going into public policy and that’s tied into the adventures we’ve had as a family. SB: Girl, that sounds good for them Vincent babies because they know how to act in a hotel room. The Brundidge babies are not so well-behaved. They gon’ eat all the food out the mini-bar, use the bed as a trampoline, and go swimming in the tub! LV: Girl, you’re funny. We train the kids early — don’t open bar snacks. Leave that alone. They know. Sheletta Brundidge hosts the Two Haute Mamas podcast for WCCO Radio online. You can reach her through her website at TwoHauteMamas. com or via email at shelettab@gmail.com.

(l-r) Chase, Dylan, Peyton, Lindy and Anton Vincent enjoying Maui, Hawaii, March 2017 during spring break.

By Sheletta Brundidge Contributing Writer I don’t know about y’all, but I have one girlfriend who just makes me sick: Lindy Vincent. She does with ease everything that it takes me real effort to complete. She works out without sweating, while I can’t walk around the block without needing oxygen and a paramedic. I can’t get my kids to mind me, but her children, Chase (18), Dylan (16), and Peyton (11) are well-behaved and always polite. She and her husband Anton recently celebrated 20 years of blissful marriage. Meanwhile, my man keeps a bag packed by the door just in case he needs to “make a run.” But I keep hanging around her ’cause she gives me #SquadGoals. You see, Lindy is the type of sista that I can always learn from. Listening to her talk, I always glean a little bit of knowledge that helps me to improve as a mother, wife, and friend. She always makes me a better person. But, as I said, she also makes me sick because those damn Vincents are always doing it up big! Last year, for example, I was trying to find her to wish her a Merry Christmas, but her family had jetted off to a tropical getaway. Then, when I called in the spring to see if they wanted to join us for a backyard BBQ, she was using her passport yet again. They have taken their kids to Mexico, Jamaica, Maui, and the Bahamas, just to name a few places. Meanwhile, I thought I was doing

something taking the kids to Valley Fair! When Lindy was stateside again, I demanded to know why she keeps trying to make me look bad to my kids. Well, don’t you know, in true Lindy Vincent fashion, she taught me how to use vacations as teaching tools for my own babies. An excerpt of our conversation appears below. Sheletta Brundidge: Have y’all always jetted off to exotic getaways? Lindy Vincent: Well, we decided when we got married [that] we would go to warm vacations twice a year — once at Christmas time and once during spring break so we could break up the cold winter. It has to be warm. That’s the only stipulation. We’re not going to Iceland. SB: But vacations aren’t just about fun in the sun for the kids, is it? You make it part of their growth and development? LV: It’s very important. We’ve taken them all over the place. We want them to know the world is a big place and they need to know how to present themselves in different environments. We want to expose them as much as possible. We don’t want them to think Minnesota is the end-all-be-all. No, let’s hop on a plane and go to Jamaica or the Bahamas. SB: What’s the goal for your kids when they go to new places? LV: Be adventurous. Get out of your comfort zone — that is so important. We’ve gone to Mexico and the kids have had to learn the language. And it helps them mature. My kids

Peyton Vincent enjoying the sights in Maui, Hawaii

Photos courtesy of Lindy Vincent

December 27, 2018 — January 2, 2019

BULLETIN

ou he r y W he t . e ss b o n it t usi e n e ed our b y u p. o u n y l a pul in g , pl e r yt h urces t. Just o v e s n e e s r i m a ss ys tourn , acce Frida w in d pades Fam s n : a u T f , A f o ck WH p Bla ar t or kick am l it i o n to sho r and F t u o n y y r a r e a C oa w e k r r P A o a w s i s eli c gy, usine strate d by isis, F ay & B w e d t a s o o H Br West le by b i s s o p Made

Free series for women in abusive relationships

Oasis of Love Crisis Intervention Program will offer a free four-part series for women who have experienced financial abuse within an interpersonal relationship. Materials, supplies, and a light supper will be available for up to 15 participants. Four 90-minute sessions will be facilitated by an experienced Oasis advocate and guest presenters. When: Location: More info:

Tuesdays, Jan. 29 and Feb. 5, 12, & 19; 6-7:30 pm 2901 Emerson Ave., N, Minneapolis (enter St. Olaf Lutheran Church parking lot) To enroll, call 612-529-6055 or email support@agapeoasis.com.

South Mpls. church awarded for hunger efforts CHECK CONDITIONS BEFORE HITTING THE ROAD With record-breaking travel expected over the holiday season, the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) is reminding travelers to plan ahead and check road conditions before beginning a trip. “More people choose to travel by their own personal car during the holiday season,” said Commissioner Charlie Zelle. “With all the vehicles on the roads, it is important that motorists check the road conditions before they head out for their holiday gatherings.” According to AAA, more than one-third of Americans —a record-breaking 112.5 million — will travel this holiday season, taking to the nation’s runways, roads and rails for the year-end holidays. Travelers in the Twin Cities will continue to see detours on the Interstate 35W north to I-94 west ramp and the I-94 east to I-35W south ramp. In Greater Minnesota, Highway 14/Highway 15 in New Ulm is under detour all winter.

MnDOT asks motorists to take responsibility to: • Allow extra time for travel delays. • Stay back at least 10 car lengths between your vehicle and snowplows. • Slow down and drive a safe speed for current conditions, which sometimes means lower than the posted limit. The 511 traveler information system website and phone app provide road and driving conditions and include links to the National Weather Service. The system is available at www.511mn.org or by dialing 511. Motorists can also download the free 511 app on their smartphones and other mobile devices. For more winter driving info, go to http://bit.ly/ MnDotWinterRoad or http://bit.ly/DepartPublicSafety. — Information provided by MnDOT.

With a $3,865 grant from Open Your Heart to the Hungry and Homeless, New Creation Baptist Church (NCBC) in South Minneap olis can provide more food to individuals experiencing hunger and homelessness. NCBC’s food shelf distributes food on Saturdays when most food shelves are closed, and currently serves close to 1,000 individuals monthly, with over 14,000 pounds of food distributed. Funding from Open Your Heart will provide the church with a new commercial freezer, which will enable the church’s food shelf to expand its services and capacity. Each year, Open Your Heart supports more than 200 homeless shelters and food shelves like NCBC, throughout urban, suburban, and rural Minnesota. Open Your Heart looks for gaps in funding of services based on geographic or demographic considerations and reaches out to agencies serving those communities. The nonprofit’s primary goal is to ensure that front line providers of crisis services have the tools, equipment, and infrastructure necessary to carry out their work. For more info about Open Your Heart, visit www.oyh.org. For more info on NCBC food ministry, visit newcreationbaptistchurchmn.org. — Info and photo courtesy of Open Your Heart

December 27, 2018 — January 2, 2019

Legals

Housing

NOTICE OF MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE SALE THE RIGHT TO VERIFICATION OF THE DEBT AND IDENTITY OF THE ORIGINAL CREDITOR WITHIN THE TIME PROVIDED BY LAW IS NOT AFFECTED BY THIS ACTION.

State of Minnesota Certificate of Assumed Name Minnesota Statutes Chapter 333 ASSUMED NAME: PRINCIPAL PLACE OF BUSINESS:

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN: That default has occurred in the conditions of the following described mortgage: DATE OF MORTGAGE: April 10, 2018 MORTGAGOR: Marla J. Stewart, a single person MORTGAGEE: Minneapolis Property, LLC, a Minnesota limited liability company DATE AND PLACE OF RECORDING: Recorded in the Office of the County Registrar of Titles, in and for Hennepin County, State of Minnesota, on April 10, 2018, as Document No. T05522317 MORTGAGED PROPERTY ADDRESS: 720 4th Street North #503, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55401 TAX PARCEL I.D. NOS. 22-029-24-24-0703 LEGAL DESCRIPTION OF PROPERTY: Unit Nos. 720503 and G-155, CIC No. 1300, 710 Lofts, a condominium located in the County of Hennepin COUNTY IN WHICH PROPERTY IS LOCATED: Hennepin

Mono V Mono LLC 1920 South 1st Sreet unit 1501 Minneapolis, MN 55454 USA

NAMEHOLDER: A Look Over Jordan & Co, LLC 1920 South 1st Sreet unit 1501 Minneapolis, MN 55454 USA I, the undersigned, certify that I am signing this document as the person whose signature is required, or as agent of the person(s) whose signature would be required who has authorized me to sign this document on his/her behalf, or in both capacities. I further certify that I have completed all required fields, and that the information in this document is true and correct and in compliance with the applicable chapter of Minnesota Statutes. I understand that by signing this document I am subject to the penalties of perjury as set forth in Section 609.48 as if I had signed this document under oath.

LET ME HELP YOU! I can get you financed. If I can’t get you financed today, at least let me put you on the path to homeownership.

SIGNED BY: Lee H. Jordan EMAIL FOR OFFICIAL NOTICES: leehjordan@gmail.com DATED: 11/26/2017 11:59 PM

ORIGINAL PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF MORTGAGE: $10,000.00

Minnesota Spokesman Recorder December 20 & 27, 2018

AMOUNT DUE AND CLAIMED TO BE DUE AS OF DATE OF NOTICE, IN-

952-201-4077

CLUDING TAXES, IF ANY, PAID BY MORTGAGEE: $11,526.36 INTEREST RATE AND PER DIEM: Current interest rate is 8%, with a daily per diem of $2.19.

View

That prior to commencement of this mortgage foreclosure proceeding Mortgagee complied with all notice requirements by statute; That no action or proceeding has

Continued from page 10

been instituted at law or otherwise to recover the debt secured by said mortgage or any part thereof; PURSUANT to the power of sale contained in said mortgage, the above described property will be sold by the Sheriff of said county as follows: DATE AND TIME OF SALE: January 9, 2019, at 10:00 am. PLACE OF SALE: Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office, Hennepin County Court-

“It doesn’t cement anything,” she stressed, “but that I’ve been blessed that people trust me to give me and my staff a chance…and they believed in me. “I knew very early…it was not just about basketball” but rather about preparing her players for life after hoops whenever and wherever their post-athletic lives began after graduation from college, Stringer continued. “I am happy and grateful that I have the opportunity to continue to shape the lives of these young women in this exciting age that we are going through right now.” Along with the countless players over the years, Stringer credits her success to “the people who encouraged me tremendously. Number one always was

house, 350 South Fifth Street, Room 30, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55415, to pay the debt then secured by said Mortgage, taxes, if any, on said premises, and the costs and disbursements, including attorneys’ fees allowed by law subject to redemption within from the date of said sale by the mortgagor(s), their personal representatives or assigns. DATE AND TIME MORTGAGOR MUST VACATE THE PREMISES: July 9, 2019, at 11:59 pm. THE TIME ALLOWED BY LAW FOR REDEMPTION BY THE MORTGAGOR, THE MORTGAGOR’S PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVES OR ASSIGNS, MAY BE REDUCED TO FIVE (5) WEEKS IF A JUDICIAL ORDER IS ENTERED UNDER MINNESOTA STATUTES, SECTION 582.032, DETERMINING, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THAT THE MORTGAGED PREMISES ARE IMPROVED WITH A RESIDENTIAL DWELLING OF LESS THAN FIVE UNITS, ARE NOT PROPERTY USED IN AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION, AND ARE ABANDONED. Dated: November 15, 2018 BERNICK LIFSON, P.A. By:

s/ Matthew S. Greenstein Matthew S. Greenstein (#392044) 5500 Wayzata Blvd, Suite 1200 Minneapolis, MN 55416 (763) 746-9227 Attorney in Fact for Mortgagee IMPORTANT NOTICE

This communication is from a debt collector and is an attempt to collect a debt. Any information obtained will be used for that purpose. Minnesota Spokesman Recorder, November 22,29 & December 6,13,20 & 27, 2018

SOe Continued from page 10

one in the state tournament was not the prettiest,” he noted. First, he was assigned to work the game that featured then-Minneapolis Central, “who at the time was one of the few schools

in the metro area that was primarily an all-Black team,” said Robinson. And since he also was Black, as expected, some in the crowd hinted quietly or loudly that Robinson would be onesided in his officiating. “Just about every call I made, whether it was [for] Central or against Central, I got heat from both coaches,” Robinson remembered. Then, late in the contest, “I called the foul, but I didn’t know who the foul was on,

the number of the player and more importantly…I didn’t know if the ball [went] into the basket or didn’t go in,” Robinson said. There wasn’t instant replay then but the scorers’ table helped him out, and the foul stood as called. “I finally made the motion of a good basket. It appeared like five minutes when it was probably a couple of minutes,” Robinson remembered. In either case, the official

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Todd.Williams@homeloans.com my [late] husband,” she said. “He always made me feel I could do anything. He would brag about me.” Also influential were her parents: “I think my mom and dad taught me a long time ago to know that nothing happens by accident. “I’ve seen it all, and I’ve gotten a chance to live through that,” Stringer said. “I am so, so lucky.” The other Big Ten Black coach Coquese Washington, with Stringer one of the Big Ten’s only two Black head basketball coaches, women or men, won her 200th career win Sunday. Now in her 12th season at Penn State, Washington has guided the school to three Big Ten championships and seven post-season appearances. Charles Hallman welcomes reader responses to challman@ spokesman-recorder.com.

became the most hated man in the place: “[Some might have thought] this African American referee doesn’t know what he’s doing,” he added as he survived and completed the game. “That was my first experience of refereeing in the tournament.” And his place in history was recorded as well. Working the state tournament “was a great challenge,” and it wasn’t about not being the same skin color of most officials that regularly got such plum assignments, Robinson pointed out. That first year, he was one of only two non-school officials chosen — up to that point the referees were also school teachers or administrators — Robinson for many years was the director of the teen center at the Inner City Youth League in St. Paul. Also, he later learned that his name came up after being “scouted” by a High School League official to determine whether or not “I was worthy of being a state tournament official,” Robinson said. “I had some mixed feelings against this guy who was selecting officials for the state tournament for years” and the official once “made some disparaging remarks” about him. “I jumped up and got in his face. My friend separated me from him,” Robinson recalled. A high school athletic director also told Robinson that his name was being discussed in an athletic

NMLS ID 341222

Fitz Continued from page 10

athletes aware of the social responsibility that they carry? MW: In part, I think it’s in making everybody aware of the social responsibilities. Sometimes I think the pendulum might have swung too far and it might be too heavily weighing in on what their responsibilities are, and all of us have those responsibilities. I certainly [do], and you and I have dealt with this over decades. In terms of our own responsibilities, it’s funny. I think someone was just talking about this, Draymond Green, and the word obligation. Whether or not it’s an obligation for you to want to dive into. It was an interesting topic and conversation they were having, and I was listening in on it. I don’t think none of us are as aware — or should I say woke — as we should be, and that’s part of the process. And storytelling is examining it and finding new stories myself that may inspire me to be more aware. Fitz: The juice you carry in covering major sporting events, Super Bowls, NBA Finals, All-Star Games, NCAA Final Fours — talk about how you go into covering games, events, knowing what your responsibilities are, yet trying to get the top story. That’s what our goal is? MW: There is a juggling act that goes on, and the bigger the event, the more balls that are in the air. And I’m still trying to be true to my work and my employer, as you mentioned the Washington Post and ESPN. There was a time where they were overlapping. I was doing both employers for nine years… I take the work seriously still, and I feel fortunate to be able to do that. I think we cheat the listener, the viewer or

directors meeting after a St. Louis Park state legislator and the late James Griffin, one of the state’s first Black officials and Robinson’s mentor, “lobbied the legislators [who] wanted to know how come these many years that [the high school league] never had an official of color refereeing in the state tournament,” Robinson said. Finally, he looks back with pride — Blacks today working state tournament games are commonplace. But he easily remembers the time when it wasn’t this way.

reader if we don’t. I want to be ready for April, for the playoffs, listening in to LeBron James, Kevin Durant or Damien Lillard, whether it’s the most popular guy or leastknown guy, and everybody is popular here at the All-Star weekend. That’s what locker rooms are still for, and I take that responsibility pretty seriously still. Fitz: The success and chemistry of ESPN’s popular PTI and you and Tony Kornheiser — talk about that. MW: It’s just a long time we’ve known each other, for 38 years. A lot of that was done at by-play, was started in the newspaper, and Tony would do it. He would refer to me, and someone said they wanted to put it on television, and we were like, what? What are you talking about? And so, people now think they can just pair people and they are going to have chemistry. No no, it’s 30-some years of that, and PTI is a relationship show as much or more than anything else. It’s grounded in sports, but it’s not as much a sports show as other things. It’s about two people able to do that with somebody, a family member, your child, your parent, your boy, your frat brother, your cousin, and having that type of by-play with somebody. And Tony and I have had that with each other. Larry Fitzgerald can be heard weekday mornings on KMOJ Radio 89.9 FM at 8:25 am, on WDGY-AM 740 MondayFriday at 12:17 pm and 4:17 pm, and at www.Gamedaygold.com. He also commentates on sports 7-8 pm on Almanac (TPT channel 2). Follow him on Twitter at FitzBeatSr. Larry welcomes reader responses to info@larry-fitzgerald. com or visit www.Larry-Fitzgerald.com.

“I was the only the Black official at the time that was of any noteworthy in the Twin Cities metropolitan area or the State of Minnesota,” Robinson concluded. “I could work every night if I wanted to.” Charles Hallman welcomes reader responses to challman@ spokesman-recorder.com.

December 27, 2018 — January 2, 2019

It’s been another fabulous year for MSR sports coverage. Things may have calmed down since the dizzying heights of Super Bowl 52 in February, but there’s been no shortage of compelling sports stories in 2018. The dedicated MSR sports journalists have followed the action. From NFL protests, gains in diversity on and off the field, history-making achievements or preparations for the upcoming NCAA Final Four men’s basketball championship in Minneapolis, to name just a few, the stories that have graced these pages have run the gamut.

Below, find an encore offering of some of the notable stories from 2018, and prepare for more great sports coverage in the New Year!

Pardon the Interruption: Interviewing Michael Wilbon different platforms, things that we did not start out aspiring to do at 18 to 22 years old. But I’m learning how to do that, how to navigate those things. It’s still the love of storytelling, telling the story today whatever that is. Today I’m going to get into this thing on LeBron James and somebody telling him to shut-up and dribble, which is patently offensive and insulting. So, whether the story is purely sports or the lighter side, like watching a certain Larry Fitzgerald, Jr. go out and win at Pebble Beach or hard stuff that’s difficult to jump into but we do anyway, I think it’s just the love of diving into that material every day and trying to make sense of it. Fitz: Having the platform that you have, do you get a sense of responsibility and having to do more and recognizing and making some of the

This story was originally published in our March 8-14, 2018 edition.

ports and politics: In 2018, the two are inseparable thanks to Donald Trump, because he has gone where no U.S. President has gone before him. All his flaws and scars are open wounds and end up creating a national dialogue. Fire NFL players, he told the owners in 2017, for their protesting during the playing of the national anthem. Sports teams or players on teams that win championships — now Golden State, South Carolina, and others — refuse to go to the White House. Over the last 20 years, O.J. Simpson, Colin Kaepernick, Tiger Woods, LeBron James, and Stephen Curry have reminded us for better or worse what Muhammad Ali stood for. ■ See Fitz on page 9 Recently, in Los Angeles, while covering the NBA All-Star weekend, I had a conversation with my friend, Chicago’s own Michael Wilbon (MW). The Northwestern graduate, Emmy Award-winning columnist (Washington Post) and TV host of Pardon the Interruption — ESPN’s popular and highly rated show — opened up to me about the sports landscape and challenges and responsibilities we face today as journalists. Below is an excerpt of our conversation. Fitz: Where did you go to high school in Chicago? MW: St. Ignatius. I would have gone to Calumet had I gone to the public high school in Chicago that I was assigned to, Larry. But my mother said no, no, that’s not happening. Here’s what you’re going to do. Fitz: What makes Michael Wilbon go? MW: Larry, that’s a good question. I probably shouldn’t ask myself that question now at this stage after 38 years. I think it’s still just the love of storytelling, and it’s evolved all these new things, and you’re doing all these different things to the Larry Fitzgerald and Michael Wilbon Submitted photo

Stringer is the first Black NCAA coach to reach 1,000 career wins This story was originally published in our November 22-28, 2018 edition. C. Vivian Stringer is the first Black coach to reach 1,000 career wins in a nearly halfcentury career that began in the 1970s before Title IX, back when a gallon of gas cost 40 cents, a stamp was eight cents, and it only cost $1.50 to see a movie. On November 13 Stringer became the sixth women’s basketball coach in NCAA history and the fifth Division I coach to reach the grand milestone, which brought well-deserved worldwide acclaim. Now in her 24th season at Rutgers, the Hall of Fame coach made history years ago as the first female coach to lead three different schools to the Final Four: Cheyney State in Pennsylvania (1982), Iowa (1993), and Rutgers (2000, 2007), twice finishing as national champions runners-up (1982, 2001). In her second stint in the Big Ten, Stringer is expected later this season to become the first conference coach to win 200 regular-season games. She won 169 games at Iowa (1983-95) and 30 at Rutgers, who joined the conference in 2010. Other oft-underreported key facts of Stringer’s career include the 18 players she coached who later became WNBA draft picks. She also coached former Minneapolis North star Mauri Horton, a key member of RU’s first Final Four club in 2000. Stringer still remains the on-

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VIEW Charles hallman

C. Vivian Stringer Photo by Charles Hallman

“I am happy and grateful that I have the opportunity to continue to shape the lives of these young women.” ly Black coach to lead an HBCU (Cheyney) to the national championship game, losing in 1982 to Louisiana Tech in the NCAA’s first-ever title game. The only two Black females ever to win national championships as coaches paid homage last week to Stringer in “love letters” published in The Undefeated: “You have done it such an elegant way…in a profession that doesn’t have many African American women to set the example for being successful,” wrote Dawn Staley, South Carolina, 2017. “You have broken down barriers…an incredible ambassador for women and women’s bas-

ketball,” wrote Carolyn Peck, the first Black coach to win an NCAA women’s title (Purdue, 1999), now a broadcaster. Stringer, on the eve of her historic milestone, spoke to reporters on a November 12 media call. When asked, she told the MSR how much winning all those games means to her already legendary status. “I remember hearing about a coach [winning] a thousand [games] in high school. I said to myself, ‘Wow.’ Then I remember when I got 700 and 800 [wins] and thinking those were a lot of games I have seen.

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Former metro prep stars make history while leading Augsburg to victory This story was originally published in our November 29-December 5, 2018 edition.

PreP Scene Dr. mitChell Palmer mCDonalD

When Augsburg University’s starting five of Tamira McLemore (Eagan), Camryn Speese (DeLaSalle), Arianna Jones (Osseo), Camille McCoy (Park Center) and Kaezha Wubben (Hopkins) took the floor to play an NCAA Division III women’s nonconference basketball game on their home court last week against Wisconsin-Superior, I saw something never seen previously during my 31 years as a photojournalist. The starters for Augsburg, who defeated UWS 79-63 to remain undefeated at 3-0, were all African American, marking the first time such a lineup had been witnessed by this

Tamira McLemore

Camryn Speese

Arianna Jones

columnist in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC). In fact, many observers believe it is the first time this has happened in conference history. Each starter made a significant contribution to the victory, including Aiza Wilson (DeLaSalle), who came off the bench. McLemore (5’8” junior forward) led the way with 22 points and four steals. Wubben (5’7” junior guard) had 14 points and three assists. Jones (5’4” junior point guard) added seven points, six assists and three steals. Speese (5’9” junior forward) chipped in five points, six rebounds and three steals. McCoy (5’8” senior guard) scored two points but led her team with eight rebounds, and Wilson (5’6” junior guard) sparked the winners off the bench with 11 points. Augsburg is coached by Ted Riverso and assistants Jill Tichy, Jackie Voigt, and Jennifer Phillips. Dr. Mitchell Palmer McDonald welcomes reader responses to mcdeezy05@ gmail.com.

Camille McCoy

Legendary referee refLects on triumphs and triaLs as LocaL history-maker By Charles Hallman Contributing Writer This story was originally published in our February 22-28, 2018 edition as a Black History Month feature. Nearly 50 years ago this March, Jim Robinson made Minnesota boys’ basketball history. “I worked the [state] tournament three years in a row,” beginning in 1971 as a game official, Robinson proudly stated. The longtime referee, now a supervisor of officials for the Minnesota State High School League, reflected on his legendary career in a recent MSR phone interview. Robinson for many years was among the few Black officials who regularly worked boys’ basketball games in the area. “There were a number of African American men who both had been coaches at some time and did some refereeing, but not like I was doing,” he

Aiza Wilson

Kaezha Wubben

remembered. “I was probably doing more games than most of the other Black officials. I was a seasoned referee [but] it took me 15 years to get to work or be [considered and selected] to work in the state tournament.” Then sometime in February of 1971, he received a simply-worded letter inviting him to attend an officials’ meeting at the University of Minnesota. “It said, ‘Welcome, you have been selected to [work] the state tournament,” Robinson recalled of the history-making correspondence from the High School League. He would be a member of the eight officials who would work the annual tournament to decide the season’s state boy’s high school basketball champions. Although it was historic, Robinson said the game wasn’t without twists and turns. “My first

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All photos by Dr. Mitchell Palmer McDonald

Sports odds and ends

Jim Robinson Photo by Onika Nicole Craven