THE VOICE OF BLACK MINNESOTA SINCE 1934
July 14 - 20, 2022
Vol. 88
PRST STD U.S.POSTAGE PAID TWIN CITIES MN PERMIT NO. 6391
Inside this Edition...
Read more about Darius Dotch on page 8.
www.spokesman-recorder.com
No. 50
SAVING THE COLISEUM: New life rises from the ashes of violence
By Tony Kiene Contributing Writer
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hough it covers less than one square mile of land in South Minneapolis, Longfellow is undeniably one of the most historic neighborhoods in the City of Lakes. A vital piece of that history, the cultural landmark known as the Coliseum Building, remains standing thanks to community members who view its preservation as a stand against injustice. Named for the 19th-century poet whose epic “The Song of Hiawatha” chronicles the
mythical adventures of its titular enous trade routes along the Mischaracter and his young love Min- sissippi River. The influence of Henry Wadnehaha, Longfellow lies within the ancestral lands of the Dakota sworth Longfellow’s poem is people and was integral to indig■ See COLISEUM on page 5
Left image courtesy of Robyne Robinson; right photo by Tony Kiene
Police killings display flagrant racial double standards By Jon Jeter Contributing Writer
N Jayland Walker’s police shooting has spurred days of protests.
Courtesy of MGN
o sooner had police announced the arrest of the 21-year-old man suspected of opening fire on a suburban Chicago parade than social media exploded with accusations of a racist double standard. Police say that Robert E. Crimo
III squeezed off more than 70 rounds from a Highland Park rooftop on July 4, killing seven and injuring dozens more. After a brief car chase, Crimo was arrested without incident. The same cannot be said for Jayland Walker. In a July 3 press conference, police in Akron, Ohio acknowledged that nine patrol officers shot the 25-year-old Door-
Dash driver more than 60 times during a foot chase. While police contend that Walker fired at them from his car during the initial pursuit following an attempted traffic stop, they concede that he ditched his gun in his vehicle and was unarmed when officers fired more than 90 shots at him as he fled on foot. ■ See WALKER on page 5
Celebrity barber inspires African diaspora By Abdi Mohamed Contributing Writer
But before he was known for giving fades to top players in the NFL and NBA, Akway s a young kid growing started as a barber for his up in Fridley, Akeem school basketball team at FridAkway rarely encoun- ley High School. Back in 2009, tered successful images of before cutting hair for pro African entrepreneurs. Now ballers, Akway gained notoriety a successful barber, he hopes for his work as the high school that his own attainment of team’s barber, where he would the American Dream can help earn $5 each cut. From there he went on to inspire others. From tailored suits and attend the Moler Barber School sports cars to flashing lights, and afterward work as a barber at all the stops were pulled out at Fhima’s Minneapolis Restaurant on the evening of July 3 to celebrate the seven-year anniversary of Akway’s Sports Barbershop. Friends and family all came out to show love Final Cut in the Maplewood Mall. for the celebrity barber and Roughly six years later, Akway would open his first barbershop Minnesota-raised Akway. “It feels amazing because I in Spring Lake Park, where he wish I had this growing up, but would quickly gain a reputation I didn’t, so it’s up to me to cre- for his hard work, generosity, and celebrity clientele. ate it,” Akway said. Known for sitting courtside at Timberwolves games, Akway Making the cut It took one cut with forhas cut the hair of professional athletes like Anthony Har- mer Minnesota Vikings player ris, Patrick Beverly, Anthony Jerrick McKinnon to get the Edwards and Karl Anthony ball rolling. McKinnon then referred Akway to teammate Towns to name a few.
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Anthony Barr, who then got word to former Timberwolves player and fellow Minnesotan Tyus Jones. For a while, Akway was Jones’s best-kept secret until Timberwolves power forward and center, Towns, began to pry. Once Towns discovered Akway, his work as a celebrity barber took off, even becoming somewhat of an official barber for the Timberwolves. Akway and Towns became close
“In the end, he won. That’s why we’re here to celebrate.” friends over the years with the star player often referring to Akway for sponsored shoots. “As far as the celebrity barbering thing,” Akway said of his success, “I just knew that if I got a chance to cut one guy, that was it. I believed in my skill.” Born in Ethiopia, Akway arrived in the United States at the age of 10. Becoming a business owner wasn’t an easy task for him, and it took years of struggle to arrive where he
Akeem Akway, seen here kneeling, is surrounded by friends and family celebrating his seventh year in business. Photo by Abdi Mohamed is now. “We’re celebrating the adversity,” Akway said behind his shades while wearing an all-white suit. “Sometimes the landlord would say, ‘Y’all got to move cause y’all too loud,’
and we were able to make it through those stages.” Akway, 31, now owns three different barbershops in the Twin Cities metro area. He moved the original store location to Mounds View and pro-
ceeded to open his second store in the Uptown neighborhood in Minneapolis near the intersection of Lake and Lyndale. Last fall, Akway opened his third location at the Twin Cities ■ See BARBER on page 5
Federal court sentences Chauvin to 21 years for civil rights violations By Henry Pan and Cole Miska Contributing Writers
2020 Chauvin placed his knee on his neck for nine minutes and 29 seconds. Chauvin’s actions resulted in days of protests, an abandoned Third Precinct, efore former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin many activists and a photojournalist was sentenced to 21 years with with one less eye, many of his former credit for time served at the Federal colleagues filing for workers’ compenCourthouse in St. Paul, his attorney Eric sation because of post-traumatic stress Nelson addressed the court on why he disorder, and a community struggling over what public safety should look like. decided to become a police officer. “I really don’t know why you did “Talking to Chauvin about what he liked best [about being an officer] and what you did, but to put your knee on why specifically the Third Precinct, he another’s neck until they expire is simsaid he felt that was where he could ply wrong. For that you must be subactually make an impact on people’s stantially punished,” said Judge Paul A. Magnuson as he sentenced Chauvin lives,” said Nelson. Indeed, Chauvin, who appeared in to 21 years in federal prison for violatcourt in an orange jumpsuit accompa- ing George Floyd’s civil rights, as well nied by his wife and mother, has made as the civil rights of John Christopher an impact on people’s lives. George Pope, Jr. John Pope (l) and attorney Robert Bennett Chauvin bashed Pope’s head with a Floyd is dead and his family is without their loved one because on May 25, flashlight when Pope was 14 years old.
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Judge Magnuson added that Chauvin also destroyed the lives of J. Alexander Kueng and Thomas Lane, two former officers who were working their first days on the job when Chauvin knelt on George’s neck and had them help. Chauvin will serve the sentence concurrently with his state sentence. He will also have to pay restitution, an amount to be determined at a later date. He will also serve five years of supervised release and not be allowed access to guns, lines of credit, any contact with Pope, his family, or George Floyd’s family, nor be a police, security, or corrections officer. He also received credit for time served for when he was in jail between May 2020 and October 2020 and from April 2021 to June 2021. His defense requested 20 years Photo by Cole Miska ■ See CHAUVIN on page 5