PRST STD U.S.POSTAGE PAID TWIN CITIES MN PERMIT NO. 6391
THE VOICE OF THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY SINCE 1934
See more Celebrating Moms of All Ages on pg. 7
November 29 — December 5, 2018 Vol. 85 No. 17 www.spokesman-recorder.com
‘Minnesota Nice’ for whom?
TRAVELING WHILE BLACK
‘Green Book’ guidebooks still resonate today By Cotten Seiler Contributing Writer In the summer of 2017, the NAACP issued a travel advisory for the state of Missouri. Modeled after the international advisories issued by the U.S. State Department, the NAACP statement cautioned travelers of color about the “looming danger” of discrimination, harassment and violence at the hands of Missouri law enforcement, businesses and citizens.
By Solomon Gustavo Contributing Writer It’s bad for Blacks all across the country, but for those in Minnesota it’s even worse according to 24/7 Wall St.’s The Worst Cities for Black Americans 2018 report. It identifies the Twin Cities as fourth among the 15 worst cities in the country for Blacks. The report ranked cities based on such factors as income, education, homeownership, unemployment, incarceration and mortality rates. Word that Minnesota made another list, which has occurred often, has become a practice in picturing extremes.
At one extreme there’s the North Star fairytale, which describes the state as a bastion of jobs, world-class education, organic markets, venues that host national acts, and downtown public transit that almost looks like an actual public transportation system. But, while the state basks in such details of domestic bliss, at the other extreme is the creeping sense of a dark underbelly. The cold climate and speciousness of “Minnesota nice” aren’t the state’s only drawbacks for African Americans. The numbers are damning. White poverty, says the study, is plenty lower
Kenneth Scales
The half-open road In American popular culture, movies (1983’s National Lampoon’s Vacation), literature (On the Road), music (the 1946 hit “Route 66”)
in Minnesota (six percent) than the rest of the country (10 percent). Black poverty, though, at 32 percent, is higher in the state. That’s compared to a national rate of 26 percent. Minnesota’s Black households, at just over $30,000 a year, make less than half of what White households make. White homeownership is at 75 percent, while only 24 percent of Blacks own a home. “This is as bad as we want to see ourselves,” said Alex Tittle, Hennepin County Disparity Reduction Director. “We’re progressively getting better, ■ See Nice? on page 5 Photo (r) by Marion Post Wolcott/Courtesy Library of Congress
SMALL BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT THE BOWTIE BILLIONAIRE
A weekly business profile se- try growing from shaving essenries giving brief snapshots of MN’s tials into a multibillion-dollar industry chock full of skin, face Black-owned businesses and hair products. Despite the growth, Black There used to be a time when the men’s grooming aisle con- men (and their more-populartained little more than shaving than-ever beards) have gotten basics. That has changed expo- the short end of the stick with nentially over the last decade, very few brands made specifiwith the men’s grooming indus- cally for or even catering to them.
the subject of a new movie, Green Book, starring Mahershala Ali. Although they ceased publication some 50 years ago, the guidebooks are worth reflecting on in light of the fact that for drivers of color, the road remains anything but open.
That’s where Kenneth Scales’ The BowTie Billionaire comes in. Scales launched his brand in 2016 with an all-natural beard oil after noticing that mainstream brands didn’t feature men that looked like him in advertisements and didn’t speak to his grooming needs. Instead of complaining, he went to work formulating his own beard concoctions for himself and then for others. Since then, he has expanded his lineup, including three signature oils, a beard wash, a hair and beard balm, and a wooden beard comb and brush that are sold in more than a dozen local barbershops and beauty supply stores, with goals of going international. Scales also collaborates with other local Black-owned brands to offer unique handmade grooming sets, including his Billi-Box that features oils from his collection, along with a beard pomade from HWMR and whipped shea butter from Butters By Jay. We caught up with the beard maestro — who refers to himself as “we” (he’s got big dreams) — to talk about his inspirations and
how self-care is helping to build a community’s self-esteem.
MSR: What inspired you to launch/start your business? Kenneth Scales: A lot of African Americans don’t really know too much about men’s personal care products. In the industry, it’s very White, so we got into business to hit a target market that wasn’t [being served]. When I started the business, I was looking up beard oils; I didn’t see any advertising that looked like me. Instead of me emailing the companies saying, “Hey, why don’t you have more African Americans in your advertisements?” I said, “Nah, why don’t we just create our own?” I’m all about scents, too. I wanted my beard to smell good and [create] something that complements and builds up the selfesteem — and smell good while looking good. And even though I’m a Black entrepreneur, I’m not just like “only Black people get this oil” — it’s for everybody. I believe in inclusivity. ■ See SBS on page 5
The civil rights organization’s action had been partly prompted by the state legislature’s passage of what the NAACP called a “Jim Crow bill,” which increased the burden of proof on those bringing lawsuits alleging racial or other forms of discrimination. But, they were also startled by a 2017 report from the Missouri attorney general’s office showing that Black drivers were stopped by police at a rate 85 percent higher than their White counterparts. The report also found that they were more likely to be searched and arrested.
and advertising have long celebrated the open road. It’s a symbol of freedom, a rite of passage, an economic conduit — all made possible by the car and the Interstate Highway System. Yet this freedom — like other freedoms — has never been equally distributed. While White drivers spoke, wrote and sang about the sense of excitement and escape they felt on automobile journeys through unfamiliar territories, African Americans were far more likely to dread such a journey. Especially in the South,
When I first read about this news, I thought of the motoring guidebooks published for African American travelers from the 1930s to the 1960s — a story I explore in my book Republic of Drivers: A Cultural History of Automobility in America. One of these guidebooks, The Negro Motorist’s Green Book, is also
Whites’ responses to Black drivers could range from contemptuous to deadly. For example, one African American writer recalled in 1983 how, decades earlier, a South Carolina policeman had fined and threatened to jail her cousin for no reason other than ■ See GreeN Book on page 5
Community raises $10K in scholarships to honor Northside hero By MSR Editors The Twin Cities community is turning pain into power with its support of the Donise White Scholarship Fund. White, who passed away November 8 after a brief battle with stomach cancer, was known for her commitment to community and youth. She not only believed in Black excellence, she exemplified it. Her husband Houston White, owner of HWMR barbershop and lifestyle brand Black Excellence, created the scholarship to honor her legacy. “Through this fund, young people in her community and surrounding communities will have the opportunity to receive funds towards the col-
lege of [their] choice,” said Houston. “Your offering no matter what amount will be a part of celebrating Donise and sharing in the longevity of her legacy for years to come.” In less than two weeks, Houston has already raised more than $10,000. He announced Aniki Allen, owner of Ice Cream Bow Ties, as the first scholarship recipient. [see “Aniki’s Ice Cream Bow Ties” in MSR’s Nov. 15 issue] “I thank each and every one of you for your generosity and support for a cause my wife deeply believed in,” shared Houston via the GoFundMe. “Donise loved to see young folks dream big and have the means to fund their ideas.”
For more info or to donate funds, visit gofundme.com/the-donise-white-scholarship-fund.
Submitted Photo