August 1, 2024 - MN Spokesman-Recorder by MN Spokesman Recorder

Vice President Kamala Harris calls for reforms after Sonya Massey shooting

By Jennifer Porter Gore

ice President Kamala Harris, the Democrats’ presumptive presidential nominee, called for police reforms after the death of Sonia Massey, an unarmed Black woman shot to death by a white officer in her own home in Springfield, Illinois, after reporting a possible burglar. Massey “deserved to be safe” at home but instead died at the hands of an officer

“sworn to protect and serve,” Harris said in a statement issued last week. She was reacting to police body camera footage of the shooting, which authorities released Monday, July 22.

The vice president’s thoughts are also with communities “whose calls for help are often met with suspicion, distrust, and even violence,” according to her statement. “The disturbing footage released ■ See MASSEY on page 5

holds a sign at July 12 protest for her daughter’s July 6 shooting death at the hands of a Sangamon County (Illinois) sheriff’s deputy.

MSR: Norma Jean Williams: A story of heart, humor, and legacy

By James L. Stroud, Jr. Contributing Writer

n the bustling heart of the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder (MSR), Norma Jean Williams’ legacy stands tall, radiating warmth and goodwill. Known for her dynamic tenure as the former interim publisher, Williams’ impact on the publication and the community is fondly remembered by many, including her niece, Dauhn Jackman, brother, Wallace “Jack” Jack-

Eastern Star Sisterhood provides charitable community support

By Vickie Evans-Nash

Contributing Writer

s a child, Leslie Byrd only knew the Order of the Eastern Star (OES) by their white dresses and sashes. Yet her maternal and fraternal grandmothers and great-grandmothers were members. The passing of the generations before her made Byrd want to pick up the torch and continue their legacy.

Her grandmother’s grandmatron connected her with members in Minnesota, and she became a member in 2001. She served in most of the offices as an active member and worked her way up to worthy grand matron, a presiding officer of the highest authority. In 1784, Prince Hall was the first

U.S.-established North American Freemasonry created for African Americans in Boston, Massachusetts. It was the first organization in U.S. history dedicated to improving social, political, and economic issues. In 1894, Prince Hall Masonic Temple was established as the Minnesota affiliate.

The OES is its sisterhood organization. “We are not a religious group, but we have religious beliefs,” says Byrd. “We try to build bonds of brotherly love and sisterly love.”

Much like the Greek fraternal organizations on college campuses, they are a fraternal organization. Yet, they are not affiliated with colleges or any other organization, though they have state-wide jurisdictions.

They have a Christian rather than mythological foundation.

“In our organization, we have Muslims, we have Christians,” says Byrd. “So, we have folks of different religious backgrounds. However, you must believe in a supreme being because we follow biblical rules.”

The sisterhood exemplifies five heroines in the Bible: Adah, Ruth, Martha, Electa, and Ester. It tries to emulate these heroines by providing charitable and educational support to its community. This includes backpack giveaways and supporting two food shelves: Hallie Q. Brown in St. Paul and Sabathani Community Center in South Minneapolis.

■ See EASTERN STAR on page 5

man, and longtime friends Shirlee Callender and Callie Riser.

Dauhn Jackman reminisces about her youthful days at MSR, where she lent a helping hand in folding papers for delivery. “I recall she would host the bachelor/bachelorette event at year’s end,” Jackman shared, reflecting on her aunt’s commitment to fostering community and social engagement. “So, I would say she left a big

■ See NORMA JEAN WILLIAMS on page 5

Newly crowned Miss Minnesota USA shares entrepreneurial and charitable message

By Abdi Mohamed Associate Editor

When Muna Ali graced the stage at the Ames Center on June 23 during the State Pageant Finals of the Miss Minnesota USA 2024 contest, she had no idea that her years of dedicated hard work would culminate in her literal crowning moment when she was named Miss Minnesota USA.

Born in Rome, Italy, and raised in Minneapolis, Muna’s path to becoming Miss Minnesota USA was winding, filled with opportunities for growth and the ability to express her passions on such a large platform. As the first in her family to

graduate college, Muna pursued a career in the healthcare field to give back to her community. She graduated as a pre-med major, wanting to become a clinical therapist or physician’s assistant. However, she became interested in opening her own business and having alternative ways to encourage healthy lifestyle choices.

Before graduating, Muna launched a vending machine business where people could purchase healthy snacks. She learned as she went and could scale her business as her list of clients and locations grew. Unfortunately, she had to take a break and pivot from the business due to the pan-

demic and the closure of many schools and businesses.

Despite this setback, Muna discovered her passion for entrepreneurship and was encouraged by the successes she experienced in the venture.

Growing up, Muna’s mother treated her colds and illnesses with herbal holistic medicine, which she cherished in their relationship. Over time, Muna’s friends and peers became interested in her holistic practice and asked questions about the products she used, especially her use of nutrientdense sea moss gels, which took off as a side business of hers.

“I was taking sea moss a lot. I would post it, and everybody

would ask me about it constantly. And I ended up saying, ‘You know what? I’m going to turn this into a business,’ and the first year did very, very well,” she said.

Muna saw the requests increasing and quickly worked to keep up with demand. She took many lessons from that venture and hopes to pursue it at a larger scale once she puts more infrastructure in place to meet the demands that she experienced.

Outside of her passions for

and

Historica

Capsule

Donna Massey (center), mother of Sonya Massey,

Photo courtesy of 1221 Photography

Eastern Star members are looking to serve more in the community.

Photo submitted by Eastern Star

Muna Ali stands center stage moments after being crowned Miss Minnesota USA 2024 on June 23. Courtesy of Miss Minnesota USA 2024

Norma Jean Williams MSR file photo

Jack and Jill held its national convention in Minneapolis Community health fair helps

By Tony Kiene Staff Writer

This past week, Jack and Jill of America, Inc. held its 46th National Convention right here in the Twin Cities. Established in 1938, Jack and Jill of America is a national membership organization of mothers with children between the ages of 2 and 19, which seeks to nurture future Black leaders “through leadership development, volunteer service, philanthropic giving, and city duty.”

With 262 chapters spread across seven geographic regions, Jack and Jill of America engages more than 50,000 individuals who are making an indelible impact in communities across the United States every day.

In advance of this year’s convention, Jack and Jill of America’s National President Kornisha McGill Brown stated that “this promises to be a memorable gathering where we will celebrate our rich history, strengthen our bonds, and chart a course for the future of our organization.” That said, the organization’s latest assembly offered even more than it has in previous years.

In addition to deciding on Minneapolis as the site of 2024’s national convention, Jack and Jill of America likewise Community Health Fair, billed as “Your Health, Your Legacy,” at the

ter on Tuesday, July 23, where more than 20 local, regional and national organizations participated.

“Adding a health fair to the national convention this time around meant a lot to us,” noted Sativa Leach-Bowen, Jack and Jill of America’s National Vice President. “Although we do a lot in philanthropic giving, a big part of our mission is communication, outreach, and sharing vital information with those whom we serve. In this case, it is to provide education and resources around health and wellness issues in our communities.”

Among the many agencies and organizations that participated in Jack and Jill’s first-ever Community Health Fair were the American Cancer Society, Minnesota Department of Health, the SonRise Project, the American Red Cross, Boys and Girls Clubs of the Twin Cities, Volunteers of America for Min-

Clarence Jones, executive director and community engagement strategist with Hue-MAN, told the MSR why it was so important for his organization to get involved with the health fair.

“In part, it’s just a goodwill gesture to welcome the delegates of Jack and Jill to our city. This is a national conference,” Jones explained.

“But it’s much bigger than that,” Jones added. “It’s a chance for us to highlight the work we are doing here in the Twin Cities

priate information with participants and their families and communities. That helps us all.”

Not only did those attending the Jack and Jill Community Health Fair have the chance to engage vendors about healthrelated resources and the type of work that they are doing, but were able to experience an array of health and wellness services directly and initiatives onsite, including blood pressure and CPR workshops provided by the American Heart Associa-

Twin Cities’ own Reviving Roots Therapy and Wellness.

When asked about plans for Jack and Jill’s next national conference, which will take place in 2026, Leach-Bowen said that another community health fair will definitely be part of that gathering.

“Each time we come together as an organization, be it regionally or nationally, we always want to be sure we left a community better than we found it,” she said. “Sure, we impact local

footprint in those communities by focusing on the health of the families we support. That’s the legacy we are looking to build.”

Here at Jack and Jill of America’s 46th National Convention, part of that legacy includes donating more than $58,000 to the George Floyd Rise & Remember Foundation.

For more information on Jack and Jill of America and how to get involved, visit www.jackandjillinc.org.

Tony Kiene welcomes reader comments at tkiene@spokesman-

Jack and Jill of America Inc. National Executive Board at health fair.

Photo by LeVern A. Danley, III

Levi Downs, MD

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Opioids have a far-reaching impact on communities of color

You don’t have to struggle with addiction and mental health challenges alone. Help is here!

By Tony Kiene Staff Writer

Minneapolis-based HueMAN Partnership is a coalition of organizations and individuals dedicated to addressing issues that are critical to the overall health and wellness of local communities across the Twin Cities, particularly those that have been historically underserved and underrepresented.

Among the issues they’ve tackled in recent years is the ongoing opioid crisis and its increasingly disparate impact on populations of color. In 2020, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reported that for the first time since an epidemic was declared more than two decades ago, the opioid-related death rate among Black Americans now exceeded that of white Americans.

Here in the North Star State, recent data from the Minnesota Department of Health reveals that Black Minnesotans are more than three times as likely to die from an “opioidinvolved overdose” than white

Indigenous communities, residents are dying at a rate 10 times greater than white Minnesotans.

Yet even before these announcements, Hue-MAN had started its community outreach in this area.“We became involved in this effort because someone approached us telling us there is a real serious, far-reaching problem around opioids in our communities,” said Clarence Jones, HueMAN’s executive director and chief engagement strategist.

“The model we use at HueMAN is to listen to the community, to have a conversation at ground level as to what is really going on,” Jones continued. “Then, we start to engage and promote the allies and organizations that are doing the

tant because sometimes those who are fighting the hardest, who are the most passionate about an issue, don’t have the support they need.”

To remedy this, Hue-MAN works with everyone they can to increase access to available tools and resources, help foster new and innovative strategies, and highlight critical information that improves public health outcomes.

Such partners include HMOs, public agencies, community-based organizations, local media outlets, academic institutions, and concerned citizens. “After all,” Jones noted, “we understand that no one entity, no single organization, can do this work alone.”

Still, Hue-MAN remains on the front line in the struggle to push back against the opioid

Access

“means going from underserved to unstoppable.”

U.S. Bank Access Commitment

Courtesy of Shutterstock

crisis through strategies that include both the distribution of life-saving medicines such as NARCAN and training on how to administer it properly.

Hue-MAN also works with individuals and families around the safe use of prescription medications and a better understanding of how some drugs might negatively interact with others.

Yet even another approach at Hue-MAN has been to train 35 young people on how to talk to their peers about opioid use and the genuine danger that it presents. No one has been closer to the ground regarding these combined efforts than Fred Evans, who’s served as an Outreach Worker for Hue-MAN since its inception some 20 years ago.

“In my role at Hue-MAN, I’ve done community outreach related to many different health issues over the years,” Evans said. “Diabetes, cardiac health, hypertension, plus other things.”

When asked about his work combatting the opioid crisis, Evans replied, “I go where the problem is. That’s what is expected of me. That’s my job.”

In addition to distributing NARCAN in the community, Evans has been called on to administer the medication four times, on each occasion bringing the individual back to life before making sure they were safely transported to the hospital by ambulance.

“Fred is recognized and respected in the commu-

“I might see some guys at the corner Lyndale and Broadway that I know are using. I let them know that there is a good chance whatever they are taking is laced with fentanyl.”

nity,” Jones added. “He’s out there talking to people on the streets. Engaging those who might be struggling with addition. He’s out there doing the real work, where the rubber meets the road.”

Evans takes the role seriously, and it’s not lost on him that every conversation he has can be the difference between life and death for someone. “I might see some guys at the corner Lyndale and Broadway that I know are using. I let them know that there is a good chance whatever they are taking is laced with fentanyl,” Evans said.

When contemplating what more he’d like to see done in this fight, Evans doesn’t hesitate: “We need more education around this issue. And it needs to happen much earlier. Kids don’t find out about this in the street. We need to start talking to kids about these things in elementary school.”

For more about the HueMAN Partnership and its work on the opioid crisis, visit www. huemanpartnership.org.

For treatment and other supportive resources in Hennepin County, contact the Addiction and Recovery Services Unit at 612-879-3671 or visit the Minnesota Department of Human Services at bit.ly/HennepinGetHelp.

Tony Kiene welcomes reader comments at tkiene@spokesman-recorder.com.

offers expertise and resources that empower underserved communities, including communities of color, families and businesses. Whether it’s growing your small business, becoming a homeowner or building generational wealth, U.S. Bank is committed to supporting you in reaching your goals. U.S. Bank is proud to support the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder 90th Anniversary Gala and Legacy Boat Cruise. Access your financial goals: usbank.com/access

MASSEY

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yesterday confirms what we know from the lived experiences of so many”: that the justice system doesn’t live up to its name.

“We must come together to achieve meaningful reforms that advance the safety of all communities,” Harris said.

Sean Grayson, the Sangamon County sheriff’s deputy who shot Massey, was indicted for first-degree murder in the shooting. He is currently being held without bond.

Posted on the Illinois State

NORMA JEAN WILLIAMS

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social footprint.”

Jackman also recalled being a junior bachelorette herself, influenced by her aunt’s vibrant social events that brought people together and celebrated milestones.

“Norma had a wonderful personality, and she was a comedienne,” says Callender, one of Williams’ dear friends of over 50 years. She just turned 91 in June.

Callender also says that Williams was naturally funny, and everyone loved that about her. She didn’t realize how funny she was during times when she was casually talking about any subject and made people laugh without trying.

Callie Riser, another longtime friend of Williams, says, “I used to work with Norma and assist her with the bachelor and bachelorette weekly column that she

EASTERN STAR

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OES also participates in activities to raise funds through walks for Alzheimer’s, diabetes, and heart health. Each worthy grand matron chooses an organization that they like to support.

For Byrd, it is autism. She became familiar with Hospitality House in North because her grandson attends their program. “My grandson can be a handful because of his disability,” she says. “I know that they work with children that have struggles like my grandson” who has autism.

Through their interaction, they determine the community’s needs. “It’s something that

Continued from page 1

organizations that are making change on the ground.

Years ago, Muna’s friend Leo Jameson founded an organization called Educare Haiti, which aimed to serve the needs of young orphans in Haiti. Having expressed interest in his work, Muna was invited to travel to the country and do work alongside Jameson and his team. The opportunity was life-changing for Muna and instilled in her a sense of duty and commitment to the cause.

Police website, the 36-minute video details what unfolded around 1 a.m. July 7 at Massey’s home in Springfield, Illinois. It shows Grayson and his unnamed partner responding to her 911 call, checking the exterior of her residence, and then chatting with Massey in her living room.

“Don’t hurt me,” Massey says before inviting the officers inside her home.

Grayson and his partner had been at the home for roughly 30 minutes, and he’d already checked Massey’s identification after asking her for her last name several times. But the calm interaction explodes into chaos after Grayson or-

started, along with the year-end event for singles, and she was a radio personality too.” Williams sometimes bundled her MSR interviews with her radio shows on KFAI FM and KMOJ FM.

Williams is sorely missed but not forgotten and is often quoted or mentioned during conversations around the MSR office about the history of the MSR, as the 90th anniversary on August 10, 2024, is steadily approaching.

ders Massey to move a pot of boiling water from the stove.

When Massey says, “I rebuke you in the name of Jesus.” Grayson draws his weapon, orders her to drop the pot, and then shoots Massey in the

ner from attempting to offer Massey medical help while she was still breathing. The second deputy—whose name hasn’t been released—tried to help the victim anyway, but it was too late.

Along with the murder, Grayson was charged with official misconduct and aggravated battery with a firearm. He has pleaded not guilty on all charges.

face as she cowers behind a kitchen counter, hands raised.

After shooting Massey, Grayson discouraged his part-

taking on duties as a journalist and interviewing high-profile individuals like the Godfather of Soul, James Brown, and the Mother of the Civil Rights Movement, Rosa Parks, to name a few.

That year was also a bittersweet time for Williams because MSR founder and Willams’ stepfather Cecil E. Newman died.

Wallace Jackman, Williams’ brother, provides further insight into their synergistic partnership at MSR. “I cleared the way for

She is remembered for her administrative skills, immense heart, community spirit, and ability to bring joy and laughter to those around her.

Williams took on many different roles while working at the MSR. She first came to Minnesota with her immediate family in 1965 and began working on various small tasks there. Still, with her developed writing skills, in 1976, she started

you can see with homelessness,” Byrd says. “We’ve been to those encampments and just wanted to give out food. So, we go where we see the need. We try to stay local to help our community first.” They also commit to their members with celebrations like Queen Ester Day. They attend an annual event with an 11-state Midwest jurisdiction spanning from Minnesota in the north to Kentucky in the south. Nationally, the grand masters and matrons meet annually across the United States. Each state is a sovereign within itself. Anyone can join if they follow their state’s requirements. In Minnesota, members must be 18 or older, reside in the state for at least one year, believe in a supreme being, and follow their bylaws.

on this and spread the word.” Looking forward, Muna expressed her enthusiasm for what this moment offers. In the next few weeks, she will prepare for the national competition to be Miss USA.

Along with the murder, Grayson was charged with official misconduct and aggravated battery with a firearm.

He has pleaded not guilty on all charges.

“In this moment of hope for our country to recognize the leadership and value of Black women, we are yet again reminded that Black people are not safe at the hands of police, whether calling for help, being pulled over, or sleeping in our own homes,” said Jamila Hodge, executive director of Equal Justice USA.

“It is beyond comprehension why our country continues to pour billions into policing instead of proven communitybased and trauma-informed responses. We must end the centuries of racist policies in our criminal legal system that

Norma to handle administrative duties while I would back her up. But I was more interested in the tasks of ordering equipment, community relations with youth, and handyman-type work around the MSR building,” he said, highlighting their complementary roles.

These requirements differ somewhat from state to state.

There are four chapters in Minnesota; three gather in South Minneapolis at the Masonic Temple at 3832 4th Ave., and the fourth in St. Paul. “We are diverse,” Byrd says. “However, you will find most of us are African American.”

Their Queen Ester 16 chapter is predominantly Liberian. Chapters are made up of the community’s people. Members tend to join where they are familiar with people. Prospective members may be put off by the time commitment of monthly meetings and workshops to help them understand the organization’s purpose. “We don’t want to waste their time, nor do we want our time wasted.” They are looking for active members.

Wallace praised Williams’ generosity, remembering how she often welcomed people in need into her home. “She just gave them a safe place to be until their situation got better. My sister was a goodwill ambassador and an angel to those who needed help,” he added.

Having a felony is also a reason individuals are not accepted. “If you have a criminal record of theft, assault, or harming others, that would be a ‘No,’” Byrd says in efforts to protect donations and vulnerable participants.

“We are trying to be more in the community. [Talk to] anyone you see with one of the Easter Star shirts on. We are very vibrant out there in our attire.”

Other reasons a prospective candidate may not want to pursue membership are that “we have been labeled a cult or

Williams’ legacy extends beyond her administrative prowess. Her sense of humor and love for entertainment shone brightly on February 1, 1988, when she made her debut stand-up performance at the Twin Cities Banquet Center to salute Black History Month. The event, which attracted a sold-out crowd, left

a part of Illuminati,” says Byrd. They also have longtime members, so a new member may feel like an outsider. They do not recruit but are proactive about being in the community so that people know who they are. “About three years ago, we had roughly 300-odd members of the order,” Byrd says. “However, every year when we have our conferences, they have been depleting.”

Aging is the biggest reason for declining membership, followed by the passing of older members. “I think we are just a little over 100 members and a little over 305 masons.” The numbers are larger in bigger cities, like Illinois, with over 500 members.

Most commonly, interactions happen at community events. On July 31, they will

enable this tragic killing and harm. Sonya Massey deserved better. We all do,” Hodge said. The prosecutors charging Grayson pointed out that his body camera was not on and didn’t record the interaction. But his partner’s body camera recorded the entire incident. Civil rights lawyer Ben Crump, who represents the family, announced that the U.S. Department of Justice will also investigate the shooting.

Jennifer Porter Gore is a writer living in the Washington, D.C., area.

This story was republished with permission from Word on Black.

a lasting impression as Williams delivered her routine to an appreciative audience.

Though she wasn’t interested in becoming a regular on the comedy scene, she continued to perform at clubs and private engagements. Her last routine, which took place on the MSR boat cruise, earned her a standing ovation.

“After she passed on, there was a Proclamation for Norma Jean Williams Day,” Jackman concludes. “But at the MSR, every day is Norma Jean Williams Day.”

Norma Jean Williams’ legacy at MSR is a testament to her multifaceted contributions as a leader, a caretaker, and an entertainer. She passed away on June 6, 2023, at age 81. She is remembered for her administrative skills, immense heart, community spirit, and ability to bring joy and laughter to those around her.

James L. Stroud, Jr. welcomes reader comments at jlswriter@ gmail.com.

participate in the Southside Back in the Day event at Phelps Park in Minneapolis. “‘My grandmother was an Eastern Star.’ I hear that all the time,” says Byrd of those who see them at events. Though they fellowship with many churches, Byrd says, “We are trying to be more in the community. [Talk to] anyone you see with one of the Easter Star shirts on. We are very vibrant out there in our attire.”

For more information, go to mwphglmn.org or the Prince Hall Grand Chapter Minnesota Facebook page. Contact their secretary at phgcmn.sec.com or Leslie Byrd at Leslie.byrd@yahoo.com.

Vickie Evans-Nash welcomes reader comments at mary_11@ msn.com.

“I went, and it was honestly one of the best things that I’ve ever done,” she said. “It was just a really great experience to feel like I’m helping in some way, shape or form. That’s why this platform is very important to me. I want to use it on a bigger scale to be able to speak

However, in reflecting on her journey, Muna shared that she was glad she stuck with her pageant aspirations all these years later. This was her fifth year competing, only taking the previous year off; she had returned to the pageant consecutively year after year, determined to be crowned Miss Minnesota USA one day. “I’m honestly just really happy that I stayed consistent and

didn’t give up. I also want that to be an example for other people,” she said.

As she continues down the path toward competing for Miss USA, Muna looks forward to her duties as Miss Minnesota as she prepares for community events and engagements where she can continue to spotlight the causes and efforts she holds close, such as healthy eating and holistic medical practices.

“There will be charity work and all different kinds of events, and I’ll get to be a part of the community and handson,” she said. “I want to be an example to women or to everyone in general that you can come from nothing and follow your dreams. Obviously, it takes time; you must put in the work and the energy, but it is possible,” she said.

Abdi Mohamed welcomes reader responses to amohamed@ spokesman-recorder.com. MISS MINNESOTA

Norma Jean Williams (l) shown here in mid-80s with mother and former publisher Launa Q. Newman. Photo by Charles Chamblis

first-time homebuyers. I

By Christian Phillips

Today’s housing landscape and financial market leave potential homebuyers like me with more questions than answers. Is it a good time to buy?

How much can I really afford?

Where do I even start?

With rent approaching the same potential mortgage payment cost (according to online calculators), I sat down with Lance Elliott, my dedicated community development loan officer, to better understand my options. While this process is new to me, Lance assists multiple potential homebuyers per month.

Pro tip from Lance: It’s always best to assess your financial situation before browsing so you don’t get your heart set on a house that’s not in line with your budget.

Get started: gather your financial records

Pre-qualification is an informal process where prospective homebuyers and mortgage lenders review financial information to determine how much you can afford. Most lenders will require a few things to get started: a valid ID such as a driv-

er’s license or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number, two years of tax statements (W2 documents), and two months of bank statements.

Pro tip from Lance: Provide enough details to depict your financial condition accurately. If you’re concerned about anything in your finances, such as a low credit score, it’s best to talk about it and your options. What are your plans for the next five to ten years? Even that can matter. Your loan officer needs a complete picture of where you are and where you want to be.

My main concern when purchasing a home is relying solely on my finances. Includ ing my partner’s finances in the pre-qualification process

may boost my chances of being seen as a viable borrower.

Your purchasing power Lenders generally review three things when determining an applicant’s purchasing power–or how much home you can afford and at what interest rate—and generally your credit, income, and assets. I don’t have a lot of debt, but I am working to pay down my car loan, student loans, and credit card balance.

I was surprised to learn how common it is for prospective homebuyers to want to improve their credit score. Since

and the day you close on your home.

Pro tips from Lance: Here are small credit habits you can start that could positively impact your credit report.

• Work to pay off credit card debt.

• Don’t open new lines of credit – not even a store credit card!

• Pay more than the minimum balance to prevent added interest.

• Pay on time. Late and missed payments impact your score.

• Avoid maxing out credit cards.

• Limit credit usage for emergencies only.

In addition to changing my daily payment habits (hi, debit card!), I reviewed my credit report for discrepancies. Lance also offers financial education classes to provide more detailed advice and assistance for those looking to improve their financial position.

Build up your downpayment

Now that I feel comfortable with my income and credit, I’m still uncertain whether I can afford to buy a home based solely on my financial situation.

I understand that purchasing a home as a single person can be quite challenging due to high downpayment requirements, which greatly affect affordability and make it less feasible without extra financial help.

purchase price, or more. A conventional mortgage can be obtained with a down payment as low as 3 percent. However, certain groups, like veterans and first-time buyers, may be eligible for mortgages with $0 down, but they still need to have cash to cover closing costs.

Pro tip from Lance: Remember that low-down mortgages require mortgage insurance, which will increase your monthly payments. Make sure you’re considering that additional cost when evaluating your proposed monthly payment costs.

Fortunately, numerous down payment assistance programs are available to support

one of his informative

to gain further insights

Lance Elliott

Submitted photos

By H. Jiahong Pan

Contributing Writer

Arts & Culture Plans for Somali Museum in flux?

The Somali Museum of Minnesota hopes to open a Somali cultural center to display its 1,500-piece collection in a new museum on Franklin Avenue.

What will ultimately be built, however, remains in question. As museum representatives work with their consultants and their board on a vision, they are not entirely sure whether they will build a new museum on Franklin Avenue. Some neighbors oppose a new museum proposal because it could destroy a historic resource and gentrify the neighborhood.

who want to connect with Somali culture. They want to be able to house all those activities under one roof, in addition to a cafe, library, and offices for the community to use.

“You can’t imagine our [limited] capacity and the tension we’re getting from the community. We need a bigger space. Because of the lack of space, we don’t do everything that they need. But once we have space, we will have more than seven or eight different programs running through the cultural center,” Ali said.

In March, Augsburg University announced its intent to sell the Bethany Lutheran Church building to the Somali

honors Bethany Lutheran’s legacy of service.” Augsburg University says they worked with the community development organization Seward Redesign to evaluate possible site uses.

Both Augsburg University and the Somali Museum are in the due diligence phase of the sale. They expect for the sale to close within 120 days of the phase concluding. Neither party has disclosed how much the church will sell for, though Augsburg’s spokesperson says they don’t expect a net gain.

Even after the sale closes, the Somali Museum isn’t sure whether they will demolish the church. They believe renovating the church to house a community center and offices will cost between $3 million and $4 million. On the other hand, demolishing the church to build a museum and a community center would cost between $25 million and $30 million. The Somali Museum received $3.9 million during the 2023 legislative session to purchase and build a museum and cultural center.

Director Osman Ali said in a phone interview that the Somali Museum has been looking for a new location for quite some time. The museum exhibits artifacts and organizes dance, finger weaving, and language programs for people

Museum. In doing so, Augsburg University spokesperson Rachel Farris wrote in an email that they wanted to find a “financially sustainable, community-serving use that contributes to the vitality of the E. Franklin Ave. corridor and

“We are under negotiation with the board, with consultants, about how we can combine these two,” Ali says. Ali adds that if the church isn’t demolished, the museum will remain in its space at the Midtown Global Market.

The building housing Bethany Lutheran Church was built in 1917 to replace a previous church that was destroyed in a fire. The congregation worshiping in it, which were Scandinavians, was formed by splintering from the nearby Trinity Lutheran Church in the 1900s. They did not trust their pastor after he had written a “steamy love letter” to someone over 20 years his junior, according to a 2019 Star Tribune article. (The Trinity Lutheran Church still worships today at Augsburg University; its physical church was bulldozed in the 1960s during Interstate 94 construction.)

In 2020, the Bethany Lutheran Church board voted to donate the property to Augs-

burg University. Augsburg allowed the congregation to remain until it disbanded in 2021. It also allowed local organizations, including the Minnesota chapter of the Council of American-Islamic Relations and the free lunch organization Soup For You Cafe, to remain until May of this year.

The sale of the church to the Somali Museum and its possible demolition worry Joel Albers, a Longfellow resident who is a pharmacist and is working on health care reform.

“There is a history, there’s a heritage, there’s an architecture, there’s religious, deeply rooted, Lutheran Scandinavian history up in this church,” Albers said in a phone interview. Albers spearheaded a cam-

paign to save the church from demolition by gathering over 100 petition signatures, organizing 25 people onto an e-mail list, and nominating it to be designated as a historic landmark. According to an architect he’s working with, he agrees with the Somali Museum that the church could be renovated for around $4 million.

Gentrification is another one of Albers’ concerns.

“Franklin Avenue, that whole corridor, is really at risk of the usual takeover by the corporate real estate companies,” Albers said.

H. Jiahong Pan welcomes reader comments to hpan@ spokesmanr-recorder.com.

Augsburg University announced its intent to sell the Bethany Lutheran Church building to the Somali Museum.

Mohamoud Mohamed (center) leads the Somali Museum’s dance troupe. Somali Museum Facebook Page

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The Summer Olympics and Black Patriotism

By Kellen Reeves Contributing Writer

I love the Summer Olympics. Every four years, the world comes together to compete in every sport conceivable. From those games played in seemingly every village and hamlet on earth to those you can’t even find an AAU league for.

Regardless of the popularity of their chosen event, these athletes compete. They do so by loudly and proudly wearing the flags and colors of their home nations.

The Olympics are the one time in which national pride is displayed in a way that isn’t blatantly or dangerously political, although the 1972 Munich Games may be the exception. Blacks gravitate towards the games, and rightfully so, for entertainment and as staunch patriots. It’s no secret that historically and currently, it is hard being Black in America. In fact, it’s hard being Black in most of the world. But Black Americans have a unique relationship with the nation we call home.

Chris Rock once said that for Black folks, America is like the uncle who paid for you to go to college… but abused you. Most of us are grateful for America. Most of us don’t want to live anywhere else. But we’ve been abused, battered, and broken by this place. It makes for a confounding relationship with home.

America is such a fraught place for Black folks that the presence of the American flag itself on someone’s clothes or car often means we should steer clear. The symbol stated to represent freedom and op-

portunity is often used to represent exclusion and hatred.

Being an American isn’t enough. To quote a line from the movie “Civil War,” released earlier this year, the question is, ‘What kind of American are you?’

That is why I love the Olympics. Despite all the hurt and pain we’ve suffered at Uncle Sam’s hands, Black Americans show up to the Olympics with that flag plastered across their chests. Unashamed and undaunted, they wear it. And we cheer. We root without hesitation for the boys and girls in red, white, and blue.

We are Americans. More than any other time, the Olympics allow us to wear that pride on our sleeves.

We watch as melanated Americans compete and dominate in events that, generations ago, we weren’t even allowed to play. It’s a beautiful thing. No matter how many people, factions, or entities attempt to make us feel like lesser Americans because of their hatred, greed, prejudice, insecurities, or any other agenda, we’re still around, standing, shining, and excelling!

The Summer Olympics occurs every four years, normally in the same year as the U.S. presidential election. They’re athletic competitions that have very little impact on the world other than the economic effects for the host country, sponsors, and networks involved. It’s not an international summit between world leaders. We’re not solving world hunger

Project FREEDOM unveiled to combat controversial Project 2025

By Stacy M. Brown

President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris have repeatedly warned in campaign speeches that if Donald Trump wins a second term, he plans to use the conservative blueprint to exert unprecedented presidential power, eliminate the Department of Education and federal housing assistance, and significantly cut or restrict food stamps and other social welfare programs.

Trump has tried to distance himself from Project 2025, calling some of the proposals “seriously extreme,” but its architects helped shape his Republican Party platform.

McBride, co-founder of Black Church PAC and the National Black Brown Gun Violence Prevention Consortium.

They said Freedom to Live is born from the idea that the Black community should be able to “live freely and without fear.” Organizers are calling for the passage of the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, which Republicans in the U.S. Senate have stalled.

inflation, and a pilot program for Universal Basic Income in lowincome communities nationwide.

or working towards the greater good of humanity here.

Still, this means something to us. In truth, the Olympics can’t be separated from the Blackness radiating throughout the games at this point. We’re too intertwined. Despite this nation’s hateful history toward Black people, two of the most iconic moments of American Olympic history are directly related to Black resiliency and liberation.

Tommie Smith’s and John Carlos’ raised fists, clad in black gloves during the 1968 games in Mexico City, is perhaps the most well-known Olympic-related image ever and serves as the image most related to Black power.

To stand on that stage, at that time, after dominating the world on the track to take home the gold and bronze, was Black excellence at its highest form. Some would argue that a moment even more impactful on the world stage was that of Jesse Owens absolutely obliterating the rest of the world to win four gold medals in 1936, a time when Black lives were constantly at risk from white fragility and hate.

Owens did this, of course, in Berlin of all places, under the assuredly furious eye of Adolf Hitler, who intended for those games to be affirmations of the superiority he claimed his Aryan race held over the rest of the world.

He also did this after being labeled as “un-American” by politicians for daring to float the idea of a boycott of those games due to the already clear racism of the Nazi party. The image of Owens standing on the highest podium saluting with “USA” across his chest while those beneath him presented their Sieg Heil Nazi salute was displayed worldwide.

In a virtual news conference, the organizers said that Project FREEDOM is designed to engage Black voters in four key battleground areas.

In the plan, the group says it aims to mobilize voters of color through town halls, community events, digital campaigns, and phone banks in Michigan, North Carolina, Las Vegas, and the Pennsylvania/Tri-State area.

Project FREEDOM aims to provide voters with a substantial policy agenda for Democrats ahead of the November election, offering a clear and precise contrast to Project 2025. Organizers say Project FREEDOM is based on four pillars: Freedom to Live, Freedom to Learn, Freedom to Vote, and Freedom to Thrive.

“When people show you who they really are, you have a responsibility to speak your truth. Project FREEDOM is our opportunity to speak in one collective voice and say, ‘This will not stand,” said Rev. Michael

“The way to really engage voters to go to the polls is to make sure they know we’re not just going for a celebratory vote. Instead, we’re going to the polls with our bag of demands with us,” said Tamika Mallory, cofounder of Until Freedom, an intersectional social justice organization.

“Our democracy is under siege by a man and political machine that put themselves above all those in whom they detect ‘otherness.’”

Mallory emphasized the need to address income inequality, educational challenges, and police violence. She referenced the case of Sonya Massey, an unarmed 36-yearold Black woman and mother of two, who was fatally shot by former deputy Sean Grayson in her Illinois home.

Grayson’s troubled history in law enforcement, including prior disciplinary issues, highlights systemic problems in policing that Project FREEDOM aims to address.

Meanwhile, Freedom to Thrive calls for expanding the Child Tax Credit, increasing the federal minimum wage to match

Additionally, Freedom to Learn focuses on education, including canceling student debt and protecting Black American history in public schools. Freedom to Vote aims to strengthen voting rights, advocate for the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act’s passage, and reshape the U.S. Supreme Court. Michael Blake, founder of Project FREEDOM and CEO of the KAIROS Democracy Project, emphasized the urgency of the initiative. “Our democracy is under siege by a man and political machine that put themselves above all those in whom they detect ‘otherness,’” said Blake, a former vice chair of the Democratic Party.

“We cannot afford to forget the pain inflicted on our people throughout Donald Trump’s administration, and we certainly cannot afford the destructiveness a second term would normalize,” Blake stated.

Project FREEDOM officials said, “Make no mistake: Communities of color are the frontline communities targeted by the poison that is Project 2025’s Christian Nationalist vision for the future, and Project FREEDOM is the antidote.”

Stacy M. Brown is the NNPA Newswire national senior correspondent.

We need political nonviolence now more than ever

By Rivera Sun

Learn how political nonviolence can rehumanize us to one another and defend democracy in the U.S. and around the world.

After the shooting at former President Trump’s campaign rally, many people rushed to say that “political violence has no place in our democracy.”

Let’s go even further and boldly say that political nonviolence is essential for democracy.

protests in 2020, Vox editor Ezra Klein wrote an essay titled “Imagining the nonviolent state.” In it, Klein asked the thought-provoking question, “What if nonviolence wasn’t an inhuman standard demanded of the powerless, but an ethic upon which we reimagined the state?” He went on to explore new standards of policing, restorative justice, and responding to protest movements.

In a world of political nonviolence, we’d see these kinds of changes:

What can you do to make this vision a reality?

Start talking about political nonviolence and the specific ways we uphold it. With these ideas, reach out to public officials, policymakers, police, and activist groups.

Work with groups like Meta Peace Teams, DC Peace Team, and Joy to the Polls on election safety and keeping the polls safe for all voters.

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We are Americans. More than any other time, the Olympics allow us to wear that pride on our sleeves. We will tense our muscles as Sha’Carri Richardson explodes off the blocks. Feel our hearts jump as Noah Lyles rounds the curve. Hold our breath whenever Simone Biles’ feet leave the mat. Pump our fists for Coco Gauff aces.

We’ll shout when LeBron does something he should be too old to do or when Napheesa Collier dominates. These are our people. This is our country. Despite anything and everything that’s been done to us, we’re still Americans and just as patriotic.

Kellen Reeves is an educator and freelance writer based in Charlotte, NC. He is also the son of the legendary MSR community editor and civil rights activist, the late Mel Reeves. He welcomes reader comments to kr.kingdomdreamer@gmail.com.

The ties between nonviolence and democracy run deep. We know from the groundbreaking research of Erica Chenoweth and Maria J. Stephan that even if a nonviolent movement fails to achieve its primary goals, it often leaves a more democratic society in its wake.

On the other hand, violence swiftly destroys democracies, shoving them toward authoritarianism and “politics at the barrel of a gun.”

Political violence has a terrible track record. It has spent centuries delivering and defending injustice, abuse, discrimination, and destruction.

So, what should we do instead? Boldly and with vision, we should be building a culture of active nonviolence, including defining and implementing new standards of political nonviolence.

If we want to have a politics where every voice feels safe and respected, where each citizen has a right to participate, and where no one will be harmed for their political beliefs, nonviolence needs to be both a state and an individual policy.

Amidst the George Floyd

• Nonviolent protesters can exercise freedom of speech and assembly without fear of police repression.

• The use of nonviolent action as a tool for social, political, cultural, and economic power is fully protected for all people.

• Police are not allowed to use violent repression against unarmed protesters.

• Political events are weapons-free for all participants.

• Polling places are protected by peace teams.

• Every citizen trains in violence de-escalation and antiharassment skills.

• No one makes threats of violence or intimidation over political views.

• Political campaigns are legally required to refrain from hate speech, discrimination, and violent rhetoric.

• Debate, discourse, voting, and democratic process are held as sacred by all.

• Each community trains to defend democracy with nonviolent action, learning how to thwart coups, attempts to steal elections, and unjust policies that undermine fair participation in the political process.

Engage with your fellow citizens about this by fact-checking, fostering civic discourse, and working to build understanding rather than fear and division. Join efforts like Braver Angels that help people rehumanize one another during extreme polarization.

Learn how nonviolent action defends democracy. Check out how Choose Democracy and Hold the Line protected the 2020 elections and consider how these strategies can be adapted to help us now.

The long-term work of building a culture of active nonviolence can start right here in addressing the political violence that is threatening our country. The United States is not alone in dealing with these issues. Around the world, many nations are grappling with authoritarianism, extreme politics, politically motivated violence, and increased repression of protests.

We need political nonviolence more than ever. It’s a vision of democracy worth striving for.

Rivera Sun, syndicated by PeaceVoice, has written numerous books, including “The Dandelion Insurrection” and the awardwinning Ari Ara Series.

Education

Aspiring teen journalists inspired by seasoned publisher

By MSR News

The NorthPoint Center gathered a group of curiously attentive high school students in the Youth Curator Program, offered by the Minnesota African American Heritage Museum and Gallery (MAAHMG), to engage them in discovering the craft of museum curation.

Program participants learn skills in research, interviewing, photography, and art. On July 13, they received motivational insights in newspaper publishing from MSR publisher and CEO Tracey Williams-Dillard. The program is led by Tina Burnside, the museum’s curator and head of its development team. Ms. Burnside is

also a civil rights attorney and writer in Minneapolis. The program’s mission is designed to inspire, motivate, and educate young, upcoming journalists and photojournalists to use their gifts and talents to

sire to grow and make an impact with their writing, much like her grandfather and the founder of MSR did.

Williams-Dillard shared her beginnings in the publishing business when she was

write news articles reflecting current affairs, culture, and stories that educate and engage their communities. Williams-Dillard delivered sage advice, encouraging the students to recognize their de-

eight, learning how to use the address-o-graph machine. She encouraged the youth group to start where they are, bridging the age gap with their current ambitions. She spoke about the power of the press in advancing civil activism and how building relationships with influential changemakers was instrumental in driving societal change. She highlighted the contributions of each family member to the newspaper, including her grandmother, Launa Newman, who accessed and reported on matters of

relevance through her social groups and committees.

With each anecdote, the youth group gained insightful motivation to examine their connections and let those stories fuel their passion for writing. When asked how things have changed since she started with the newspaper compared to the current generation, Wil-

liams-Dillard explained that while there has been improvement in the empowerment of the Black community, racism still exists. She emphasized the imperative to continue the legacy of student advocacy topromote justice for all in any capacity they can. She encouraged the students to write and send her their stories.

those experiences fuel their success.

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Report unveils puberty’s role in intensifying racial bias against Black children

By Stacy M. Brown

A new report from

Psychol-

ogy Today has revealed how puberty exacerbates racial bias against Black children, with the study’s author highlighting the need for immediate educational and societal reforms.

Dr. Rona Carter, an associate professor at the University of Michigan and the report’s author, explained that Black children are often perceived as older and less innocent than their white peers, leading to increased stress, anxiety, and identity struggles. “The psychological toll of being perceived as older can be profound for Black children,” Carter wrote for Psychology Today, the world’s largest mental health and behavioral science destination online, which includes free access to hundreds of thousands of professionals.

“Educational reforms are necessary to create an environment where Black children can thrive, including curricula that reflect the diverse histories and experiences of Black communities,” Carter wrote.

The issue of adultification is

deeply rooted in societal biases and stereotypes, manifesting in harsher disciplinary actions in schools and more severe judgments in the criminal justice system. A 2022 study by researchers Gadson and Lewis examined the experiences of Black adolescent girls, revealing that when these girls counter stereotypical images, they often face gendered racial microaggressions. They determined this could lead to feelings of invisibility or hypervisibility in classrooms, contributing to over-discipline and a lack of protection within the school system.

Historically, Black children have been perceived and treated as less innocent and more adult-like than their white counterparts, a bias amplified with puberty. Research indicates that Black girls often enter puberty earlier than children of other races, sometimes as young as 7 or 8 years old. This early development can make them appear older, exacerbating the adultification bias.

When Black children enter puberty early, societal misper-

ceptions of their age and maturity intensify. For instance, a 10-year-old Black girl who looks physically mature might be expected to behave with a level of responsibility and emotional control unrealistic for her actual age. This misperception often leads to disproportionately harsh disciplinary actions. Black girls are six times more likely to be suspended from school than white girls for similar behaviors, reflecting a bias that punishes them more severely.

treated as adults in the criminal justice system,” she noted. The cases of Tamir Rice, a 12-yearold Black boy shot by police while playing with a toy gun, and Kalief Browder, who was held in solitary confinement for three years without trial as a teenager, highlight the fatal consequences of adultification and racial bias.

Addressing adultification requires a multifaceted approach, Carter concluded. Policy changes are essential to mitigate bias in educational and judicial systems. Schools should implement bias training for educators to help them recognize and counteract their prejudices. Law enforcement agencies need similar training to prevent tragic misunderstandings arising from adultification biases.

children about their experiences and teaching them to assert their rights and identities.

Carter asserted that the consequences of adultification extend beyond the classroom.

“Black boys who mature early are more likely to be seen as older and as threats, significantly increasing their interactions with law enforcement and the likelihood of being

Community and parental involvement are also crucial. Community programs supporting and advocating for Black children can help them navigate these challenges. Carter suggested that parents could play a pivotal role by engaging in open discussions with their

“Imagine an 11-year-old Black girl standing in her school hallway,” Carter said. “She has just entered puberty, and her body is beginning to change in ways that make her look older than her years. Despite her tender age, she is often treated by teachers and peers as if

she is much older, expected to possess a maturity beyond her years. This phenomenon— known as adultification—strips Black children of their innocence and childhood, placing burdens on them that their white peers rarely experience.”

Stacy M. Brown is the NNPA Newswire national senior correspondent.

Youth Program Specialist

Sabrina Ford followed up by directing the students to express their generation’s passion for change. She encouraged them to be empowered by their experiences and to let

Tracey Williams-Dillard (far right) poses for a photo with the students after addressing them at NorthPoint Center.

Employment & Legals

Principal Systems Engineer- Lead Systems Integrator (LSI), Medtronic, Inc., Minneapolis, MN.

Req. Master’s deg. in Mechanical, Industrial, Biomedical Engr., Engr. Mgmt. or rel. engr. fld. & 3 yrs. exp. as a systems/product engineer or rel. occupation for medical devices; or Bachelor’s deg. & 5 yrs. exp. Must poss. 3 yrs. exp. w/ the following: DMAIC, DRM & Lean Six Sigma; MS Project, Medical device product dev. process & design ctrls.; DOE, regression analysis & QMS; & Non-conformances in design process, investigating root-causes, CAPA & disposition plan. PMP Certification required. Open to telecommuting from anywhere in the U.S. Apply at https://medtronic.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/MedtronicCareers, Req. #R82. No agencies or phone calls. Medtronic is an equal opportunity employer committed to cultural diversity in the workplace. All individuals are encouraged to apply.

Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder August 1, 2024

Delight Home Healthcare, LLC, Brooklyn Park, MN Residential Home Supervisor, (Multiple Positions) Coordinate the operations of group homes and personnel; Program documentation at a high level, ensuring extensive daily documentation and all documentation is up to date. Train and oversee the staff’s data collection and regularly review and collect and monitor the program data collection. Attends quarterly and annual meetings with residents; Responds to emergencies situations as needed; Provide support and oversight as needed Provide periodic training and oversite to compliance-related task. B.A or B.Sc required. Resumes to info@delighthomehealthcare.com

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Relief Homecare, LLC, Burnsville, MN Residential Home Supervisor, (Multiple Positions) Coordinate the operations of group homes and personnel; Program documentation at a high level, ensuring extensive daily documentation and all documentation is up to date. Train and oversee the staff’s data collection and regularly review and collect and monitor the program data collection. Attends quarterly and annual meetings with residents; Responds to emergencies situations as needed; Provide support and oversight as needed Provide periodic training and oversite to compliance-related task. B.A or B.Sc required. Resumes to Reliefhomescareservices@gmail.com

Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder August 1, 2024

SWIMMING

Continued from page 12

Both Tucker and Greene strongly encourage more Blacks to learn how to swim and dispel the myths and stereotypes that have served as barriers to the sport.

“These stereotypes kind of linger,” lamented Tucker.

“Yes, there is a stereotype that Black people don’t swim, but there are also historical reasons why fewer Black people swim.”

Continued from page 12

East with head coach Rusty Horsely for six seasons.

During my first year as a sportswriter, Johnson caught my eye as a 6’2” eighth-grade center leading Highland Park Junior High School to the 1988 St. Paul City championship.

Johnson developed into one of the state’s most dominant players after starring on Central’s ninth team during the 1988-89 season and splitting time between the junior varsity and varsity the following season in the 1989-90 campaign. This culminated in his being named a finalist for Minnesota’s Mr. Basketball as a senior in 1992.

Johnson’s first two years of collegiate basketball were spent at community colleges North Dakota College of Science and Casper College (Wyoming), before finishing at the University of Wyoming in 1996.

When I called Johnson at his home in Cheyenne last week, it became apparent that he was unaware that his mom had contacted me.

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He also made it known that this was his dream job and that he would take full advantage of the opportunity.

Johnson, who also serves as a guidance counselor at East, hardly contained his excitement during the conversation.

While the Xs and Os will always be important to the team’s success, Johnson emphasized another vital component that he feels is the key to his team’s success.

“The biggest part is the relationships you have with your players,” he said. “That’s the key. It’s about getting everyone on the same page.”

As the conversion neared its end, Johnson paid homage to his high school coaches. He played three years of varsity basketball and spent his junior year as a football team member under Hall of Fame coaches Dan Brink and Floyd Smaller, respectively.

“I learned a lot from them,” Johnson said. “Without their guidance and leadership, I’m not where I am today.”

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Continued from page 12

deal also produced questions.

The NBA, which owns 60% of the WNBA, negotiated the deal along with its new deal with the same broadcast partners as the W. The 11-year package is reportedly worth $77 billion—an estimated nearly $7 billion on average per season.

The W’s deal is roughly $200 million for the same 11-year period.

Terri Carmicheal Jackson told the Washington Post, “The NBA controls the destiny of the WNBA. We have wondered for months how the NBA would value the WNBA in its media rights deal.”

Hall of Famer Cheryl Miller said during WNBA All-Star Weekend in Phoenix just days before the new deal was officially announced that any final number for the W would be “a lowball.”

“We need tough and fair negotiations and visionaries,” said Miller, “and we need a bully behind the table that’s willing to say, ‘We will break up the pieces and go from there.’”

Furthermore, the WNBA still has existing broadcast deals with Ion and CBS that run through 2025—the Ion deal is worth $13 million a year.

The league is expected to negotiate at least two more deals, possibly re-upping

with Ion and CBS, which could push the total deal as high as $260 million a season.

“We have seen our highest attendance in 26 years,” said Engelbert. “A lot of our teams are up triple digits in attendance, and we have 16 WNBA games this year that have averaged at least one million viewers, the most in any WNBA season in league history, and we’re just over a little over halfway through the season.”

“The WNBA media deal is only the beginning,” stressed Dr. Jen Fry, who owns a social justice education firm and works with teams and organizations on best practices that create more equity. “I would add that women are playing catch-up in a system that has devalued them in all ways, especially monetarily. Everyone watches women’s sports.”

However, Jackson added her concern about whether the NBA properly values the WNBA: “We look forward to learning how the NBA announced a $2 million valuation. Neither the NBA nor the WNBA can deny that in the last few years, we have seen unprecedented growth across all metrics.”

Time will tell if the new WNBA media deal is real or just smoke and mirrors.

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

‘Black Folk Don’t... Swim’ doc re-airs to honor Black U.S. Olympic swimmers

By Charles Hallman Sports Columnist

imone Manuel (women’s) and Shaine Casas (men’s) are two Black swimmers on the U.S. Olympic swimming team in Paris. Anthony Nesty is the first Black U.S. head swimming coach.

Jamal Hill and Lawrence Sapp are the only Black swimmers on the U.S. Paralympic team, which is also slated to compete in Paris in August.

In honor of these swimmers of color, Black Public Media (BPM) is reairing the “Black Folk Don’t… Swim”

short, which examines the myth that Black people don’t swim. The short is part of the “Black Folk Don’t” series produced and directed by Angela Tucker for BPM’s AfroPop Digital Shorts series, which is now streaming for free on Black Public Media’s YouTube Channel.

Tucker’s irreverent series comically examines some of the biggest myths and stereotypes about Black people.

“Yes, there is a stereotype that Black people don’t swim, but there are also historical reasons why fewer Black people swim,” such as limited or no access to swimming pools, noted Tucker

s the recently announced WNBA media rights deal a fair valuation of the league at a time of heightened growth and popularity?

in all ways, especially monetarily.”

last week in an MSR phone interview. I think it’s important for people to remember the histaory of Black Americans [in swimming],” she added.

She spoke to people on the street, including journalists Melissa HarrisPerry and Touré, who discussed the truths and myths behind why Blacks don’t swim.

“I tried to get a variety of people that you wouldn’t necessarily think would have a lot to say about the subject matter,” continued Tucker. Using humor “is something that really disarms people, so once people laugh or get in a state where they feel like it’s OK and safe to laugh,” she noted.

“Then I think they actually take the message in a deeper way,” explained the filmmaker. “That’s been my experience with it.”

Tucker is an Emmy and Webbywinning filmmaker and artist. Her latest work, “The Inquisitor,” about political icon Barbara Jordan, will be broadcast on PBS.

BPM also referenced the following facts on swimming:

• A recent CDC study says drowning is the top cause of death for children ages 1-4.

• Black youth drown at a rate 5.5 times that of Whites ages 5-19.

• A USA Swimming Foundation/

University of Memphis study showed that 64% of Black children in the U.S. cannot swim.

• A 2024 CDC study shows that 37% of Black adults don’t know how to swim.

BPM Director of Programs Denise A. Greene told the MSR that her mother wanted her and her brother to learn how to swim, and Greene has taught her daughters how to swim. Greene said that only after becoming an adult did she learn that her mother didn’t know how to swim.

“She was actually maybe a little fearful,” remembered Greene. “I can tell it wasn’t easy for her, but she just made it a point” that her children would not be afraid of the water, she said. An Emmy and Peabody Awardwinning producer/director, Greene oversees the development and distribution of BPM-funded programs that premiere on public television. She is also the producer and director of BPM’s AfroPop, AfroPop Digital Shorts, and BeHeard series.

“I’m a proud swimmer,” added Greene, who described swimming as “a great exercise. It’s great cardiovascular. It’s great for all types of muscle toning all over the body… a really calming type of exercise.”

Johnson finds dream job as head coach

his past May, I received a Facebook note from Linda Ballard informing me that her son had just been named head coach of the boys’ basketball team at East High School in Cheyenne, Wyoming.

Twin Cities metro area?

It just so happens that Ballard’s son is former St. Paul Central boys’ basketball great Sly Johnson.

Disney and NBCU will also distribute games in key international markets, and Prime Video will distribute games globally to more than 200 million Prime members.

“These agreements allow the league to continue to build

Beginning with the 2026 season and running through the 2036 season, Disney will distribute WNBA games on ABC, ESPN, or ESPN2 and stream them on ESPN’s forthcoming direct-to-consumer service. NBCU will distribute its games on NBC, USA Network, and/or Peacock, while Amazon will stream its games globally on Prime Video. Under the new agreements, the partners will distribute more than 125 regular-season and playoff games nationally each season, including a minimum of 25 games on Disney platforms, 50 on NBCU platforms, and 30 on Prime Video.

a long-term and sustainable growth model for the future of women’s basketball and sports, which will benefit WNBA players, teams, and fans,” said WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert in a released statement.

Almost immediately after the historic hoopla, the new

Why would this interest me, as most of my MSR columns focus on prep sports in the

Since I had the privilege of covering Johnson’s prep career as a young journalist from 1989 to 1992, it is assumed that Ballard felt it was important to inform me of her son’s latest accomplishment.

Johnson has had quite a journey. Before his appointment, he was an assistant at

f you want to see Cheryl Miller’s greatness, watch HBO Sports’ “The Women of Troy” documentary (2020). For many of us who knew about her way before the film, it serves both as a reminder and, to others, an introduction to just how great she was.

The documentary highlights USC’s 1980 women’s basketball team that featured Miller, Pam and Paula McGee, Cynthia Cooper, and their teammates, who established a standard for women’s college basketball that others have since followed. You can view it on MAX, HBO’s streaming service.

If it weren’t for a knee injury suffered during a pickup game, Miller’s name would be more well-known than it is. She

never got to play pro ball overseas or in the WNBA when the league came in the late 1990s.

But Miller made her mark in league history as the Phoenix Mercury’s first head coach and general manager and coached in the W’s second-ever finals. Though she defers to being called it, Miller is 100% a legend.

“No, I don’t obviously talk about legacy because I’m still alive.”

“No, I don’t obviously talk about legacy because I’m still alive,” Miller said to an MSR

question during the WNBA All-Star Weekend in Phoenix.

She coached top rookies Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark for the first time and was the winning coach of Team WNBA as they knocked off Team USA, also a team of all WNBA stars, on July 20.

“It’s a unique collaboration of the best players in the world,” Miller pointed out. “What coach on this planet wouldn’t want to be in that situation? Now, it’s my job to just stand back, roll out the ball, and be the cheerleader. It’ll be a lot of fun.”

The players, many of whom were not even alive when Miller starred in college, also had fun being coached by the 6’2” forward who dominated the college game, won two nation-

al titles, and was a four-time All-American who averaged a double-double (nearly 24 points and 12 rebounds) after dominating in high school in California.

Miller has been involved in basketball as a college and pro coach, a broadcaster, and a member of the 1999 inaugural Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame class. Her brother Reggie Miller joined his sister in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2012 after she was inducted in 1995.

“It is completely full circle, given the opportunity to coach these great players and be a part of it,” said Miller. “It’s amazing.”

Never bashful to speak her mind, Miller told a reporter who asked if there is a cur-

Denise A. Greene Photos courtesy of Black Public Media

See SWIMMING on page 11

Sly Johnson Submitted photo

WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert Photo by Charles Hallman Dr. Jen Fry Courtesy of jenfrytalks.com

Cheryl Miller Photo by Charles Hallman

Angela Tucker