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THE VOICE OF BLACK MINNESOTA FOR 87 YEARS
SOUTHSIDE Back in the Day
September 9 - 15, 2021
Vol. 88
www.spokesman-recorder.com
NO. 6
Back in the Day fest revives Southside community spirit
Johnnie Brown
What started out as a BBQ reunion of sorts in Phillip Crawford’s backyard has over the years blossomed into a beloved annual South Minneapolis community event, now in its 11th year. On Saturday, Sept. 4 Southsiders gathered once again at Phelps Park in Minneapolis to enjoy food, health clinics, free haircuts, kids’ activities, shopping with local vendors, and live entertainment from crooner Johnnie Brown and the Grammy Award-winning Sounds of Blackness. For more photos and to hear from attendees, visit msrnewsonline.com. Photos by Steve Floyd except where noted.
(l-r) Brothers Phillip, Marc, and sister Lisa Crawford Photo by Charity Singleton
A young attendee shares her treat
Sounds of Blackness
Attendees creating lasting memories Photo by Travis Lee
LABOR UNION HISTORY TAINTED BY RACISM ally becoming the first African
Chrysler were, at the time of
often boasted of my father’s initiative in challenging the White bosses’ notion of what was rightfully his. But as his Black co-workers filed by at the funeral home that wintry day, it was his grace that they spoke of, recalling the many times my old man encouraged them to pursue the technical bona fides that would allow them to work in the higher paying, less physically demanding skilled trade positions. “Now look, n—,” one of his coworkers recalled my father saying with a broad grin on his face, “if I can do it, you know they’ll let anybody do it.” But not really. My old man’s self-deprecating humor notwithstanding, the top jobs at
thanks to a clause in the union contract that locked Black workers in de facto segregated job classifications. According to the labor historian Herbert Hill, this clause, negotiated by the United Auto Workers and Detroit’s Big Three auto manufacturers—General Motors, the Ford Motor Company, and Chrysler— was in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act. By the time my father landed a job at Chrysler, African Americans accounted for seven-tenths of one percent of the skilled labor force at the Big Three’s auto plants, while making up 42.3% of the entire workforce, according to data compiled by the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights.
Labor Day’s annual hom- more than half of the Gross
rather advanced in his thinking
planted the seeds for its comeback by pushing Congress to override President Truman’s veto and pass the Taft-Hartley bill in 1947, limiting employees’ ability to strike, and perhaps most importantly, requiring labor leaders to oust the most militant workers, Communists and African Americans. Among the questions put to Blacks suspected of collaborating with Reds (Communists) were: “Have you ever had dinner with a mixed group?” and “Have you ever danced with a White girl?” White employees were asked whether they had ever entertained Blacks as guests and White witnesses were asked, “Have you had any conversations that would lead you to believe [the accused) is
progressive unionists with more enthusiasm than the UAW’s Walter Reuther, who would be the only non-Black invited to speak at the March on Washington in 1963. In an effort to consolidate Reuther’s base of Polish, Hungarian, German, and other White ethnics, the UAW and the National Maritime Union combined to purge 11 unions, representing nearly a million workers, from the CIO over a two-year period beginning in 1949. When Black autoworkers demanded an African American union vice president as was customary in CIO unions, Reuther refused, calling such a move “reverse racism.” Moreover, contracts be■See LABOR on page 5
To its own detriment, the American skilled tradesman at my father’s hiring, reserved for age to the American worker is Domestic Product (GDP), an on racial matters?” UAW toed the color line Indianapolis Chrysler. I have the Whitest and not the best— as good an opportunity as any all-time high. But big business No labor leader expelled By Jon Jeter Contributing writer
Never have I been so proud to be my father’s son than at his wake on a sunless, snowy midwinter afternoon 10 years ago. According to family lore, my father was unemployed on the day I was born in 1965 but found work at the Indianapolis Chrysler Foundry weeks later. As my father told the story, he walked into the plant on his first day and saw a slave ship of Black men shackled—if only figuratively—to a soul-killing, back-breaking assembly line, and decided on the spot that was not the life for him. He would go on to enroll in the training courses for a millwright’s position, eventu-
Fear of eviction intensifies for thousands of MN renters By Niara Savage Contributing writer Beginning on September 12, Minnesota renters who are behind on rent but ineligible for COVID-19 emergency rental assistance could face possible eviction as the state’s pandemic-era protections for tenants phase-out. Currently, landlords can decline to renew a lease for a renter who owes payments but does not qualify for rental assistance, although they cannot be evicted for nonpayment of rent. Attorneys with the Minnesota Anti-Eviction Project place the “very conservative” statewide estimate at 13,330 evictions for the first month when nonpayment of rent evictions resume — more than
10 times the pre-pandemic monthly number. While most “off-ramp” protections for renters will not end until October 12, at which point landlords will be able to file evictions for any legal reason unless a tenant has a pending COVID-19 emergency rental assistance application, the urgent need for housing security amid impending uncertainty has already intensified. Rachael Sterling, the COVID-19 eviction response coordinator and housing attorney at HomeLine, a nonprofit Minnesota tenant advocacy organization, told the MSR that calls from renters seeking assistance and legal counsel have spiked. “We are getting an increased
number of calls,” Sterling said. “We do see quite a few calls regarding landlord notices to vacate… Landlords are telling them that they need to go.” News of the Supreme Court’s decision to strike down President Joe Biden’s attempt to extend the eviction moratorium has dominated the national discourse surrounding the eviction crisis recently. Sterling said Minnesota’s state-wide policies have offered greater protection for renters throughout the pandemic and superseded narrower protections offered by the federal-level moratorium. “The CDC moratorium has never actually had much impact on Minnesota because, essentially, since March of ■See EVICTIONS on page 5
to reflect on both the towering triumphs and embarrassing failures of a trade union movement that has time and time again betrayed its own membership by agreeing to backroom deals that aid and abet corporations in discriminating against the Black rank-and-file. It began in 1935 at the nadir of the Great Depression when the Congress of Industrial Organizations, or CIO, rejected the American Federation of Labor’s tradition of segregated locals. Accelerating with the country’s entry into World War II, labor unions became a force to be reckoned with in American public life. By 1975, more than one in three workers belonged to a union. Employees pocketed
Are crowded stadiums a COVID risk?
By Phil Galewitz and Andy Miller Contributing writers
said Jason Salemi, an associate professor of epidemiology at the University of South Florida in Tampa. “But I would not go to these events right now.” The college football season is Salemi said that with COVID kicking into high gear, the National Football League season starts cases at their highest level since this weekend, and the baseball late January—with the seven-day pennant races are heating up. For average case count rising to just the first time since 2019, nearly over 149,000—and hospitals fillall stadiums will be fully open to fans. But with COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths soaring from the delta variant, many fans are wondering if that is a wise idea. ing up around the country, there Is it safe to go to a packed is too much risk even for people stadium even if you are who have been fully vaccinated. vaccinated? While outdoor events are less Six out of the seven public likely to lead to infection because health experts that Kaiser Health the air circulation is greater, sitNews (KHN) spoke to from big ting within just a few feet of 10 football states were adamant in or 20 screaming fans watching their response: No way. Not now. football, baseball, soccer or an “I am a die-hard sports fan,” auto race at a stadium reduces
that safety margin, he said. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that anyone attending large gatherings in areas with high numbers of COVID cases should “consider wearing a mask in crowded outdoor settings and for activities with close contact” with others who are not fully vaccinated.
“When there’s a lot of shouting and yelling it means they’re spraying the virus.’’ “A packed football stadium now is not a good idea,’’ said Dr. Olveen Carrasquillo, a professor of medicine and public health sciences at the University of Miami’s medical school. “When there’s a lot of shouting and yelling’’ without masks, “it means they’re spraying the virus.’’ ■See FOOTBALL on page 5
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September 9-15, 2021
Metropolis
Founder/chairman of Thor Construction honored By MSR Newservice Richard Copeland, founder of Thor Construction, was honored last Saturday in the multi-use building his former company, Thor, built on the corner of Plymouth and Penn Avenues in North Minneapolis. “Richard was resilient, transparent and accountable,” said Ravi Norman, a former executive with Thor. Norman was one among many friends, colleagues and community members who praised Copeland and commended his character and accomplishments. “My career would not be possible without Richard Copeland,” said Louis King, president and CEO of Summit Academy OIC. King pointed
out that many Blacks who have had success in the construction industry owe their success to Copeland. “Guys who have been at Ryan and Mortenson for 20 years have Richard to thank for that,” said King. Copeland was also honored by Jacob Frey, mayor of Minneapolis, with a proclamation that declared August 28, 2021 Richard Copeland Day in Minneapolis. Thor Construction closed its doors in 2019 after experiencing financial setbacks. Copeland started his construction company in 1980 with a single truck and turned it into a multi-million-dollar company with a few hundred employees, in the process becoming one of the leading construction companies in the U.S.
Richard Copeland (r) and Mpls. Mayor Jacob Frey Photos by Travis Lee
Richard Copeland with Patricia Tores Ray and Sen. Bobby Joe Champion
Minnesota reading, math scores decline sharply during pandemic By Rilyn Eischens Contributing writer
Minnesota students, since the tests—which are the only assessments offered statewide—were Minnesota students’ scores canceled in spring 2020. And, the on statewide standardized tests picture this year is incomplete: fell precipitously in spring 2021, More than 20% of eligible stufollowing more than a year of dents opted out of the tests. Although test scores aren’t a distance learning and disruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, perfect measurement of student according to results released learning, experts say they’re key in Friday by the Minnesota Depart- helping teachers and policymakers track progress and identify ment of Education. Roughly 44% of students met which students are most in need state standards in math, down of support. “The statewide assessment from 55% in spring 2019, when tests were last administered. Just results confirm what we already over 52% of students scored as knew—that the COVID-19 pan“proficient” in reading, compared demic has disrupted our students’ learning and they need our help to 59% in 2019. The results of the Minnesota to recover,” Heather Mueller, Comprehensive Assessments commissioner of the Minnesota (MCAs) provide the first snapshot Department of Education, said in of the effects of the pandemic on a statement.
extra academic support—saw the steepest declines in test scores this spring. In line with national trends, losses were greater in math than in reading. Fewer than 20% of Black and Indigenous students in Minnesota scored as “proficient” in math, a decline of more than nine percentage points for both groups. Among Latino students, about 21% met or exceeded state standards, compared to 31% in 2019. The percentage of White students who received proficient Courtesy of MGN scores fell 12 points, to about 52%. “The data should motivate Minnesota’s test scores had disparities in academic opportu- us to act with a sense of urgency, improved little in the years be- nity and achievement. Students making decisions to get kids back fore the pandemic, despite grow- of color —who were less likely to on track, and implement best ing urgency around closing the have access to high-quality re- practices that actually work to state’s worst-in-the-nation racial mote instruction, technology or improve learning,” said Josh Cros-
son, executive director of the nonprofit EdAllies, in a statement. “We don’t have time to sugarcoat this problem any longer or spend our energy gap-gazing.” The Minnesota Department of Education also announced Friday a new initiative to aid academic recovery during the upcoming school year. The Collaborative Minnesota Partnerships to Advance Student Success will provide training for teachers on supporting students of varying needs and backgrounds, data analysis and literacy support and best practices for helping students catch up. This story initially appeared in the Minnesota Reformer.
SEPTEMBER 17 & 18, 2021 LOWERTOWN, SAINT PAUL
2 DAYS OF FREE MUSIC ON SEVERAL STAGES twincitiesjazzfestival.com | #tcjazzfest
*While vaccinations and masks are not mandated by the Twin Cities Jazz Festival, we encourage both.
September 9-15, 2021
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September 9-15, 2021
Opinion
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.
Why the Minneapolis public safety ballot question is bad for Black people
By Don and Sondra Samuels Last summer, in the wake of George Floyd’s death, we joined our Minneapolis neighbors to raise our voices and joined the protests for justice, demanding meaningful reform to the city’s police force. The Minneapolis City Council has also responded but the response quickly became detrimental to our neighbors in the city, and particularly, those of us who are African American. Their rash approach is enshrined in a ballot question for the upcoming November 2 election that would eliminate the Minneapolis Police Department. It is incomplete, misleading and downright dangerous. actions is shouted down as As concerned citizens of Minsomehow promoting the spread neapolis, we have filed a lawsuit of disease. The right-wing speak requesting an immediate hearout against government over- ing to have the ballot question reach but then discredit them- replaced. The current question selves by dismissing the impact reads as follows: of COVID-19, with some denying its existence altogether. LibShall the Minneapolis City erals who ordinarily speak up on Charter be amended to strike and behalf of civil liberties believe replace the Police Department they must go along with any and with a Department of Public Safeall restrictions in order to stay ty, which could include licensed safe. peace officers (police officers) if The solutions needed to mini- necessary, with administrative mize the impact of COVID are authority to be consistent with multi-faceted. There is no mira- other city departments to fulfill its cle drug, no miracle vaccine, and responsibilities for public safety? nations that seemed to succeed Yes or No. with “zero COVID” plans are also coping with an increase in cases. As it is currently written, the While individuals declare proposed amendment identifies themselves to be pro or anti- no funding mechanism for the vaccines, the larger issues are new “Department of Public Safeunaddressed. The debates and ty.” It also does not specify an efmistrust stink from the head, fective date. Under state law, the that is to say, from the oligar- implementation date would be chy that runs this country. CO- 30 days after passage, meaning VID-19 does not have to be a the Minneapolis Police Departnever-ending crisis. It can be ment would cease to exist as of managed but only by establish- December 2, 2021. ing people-centered solutions to By only granting one month every problem in the country. to create a brand-new departThe pandemic put millions of ment, we feel the improper ballot people out of work, and many of them aren’t going back to the dead-end spiral of low-wage exploitation. They need more than temporary unemployment benefits. What they need is an entirely new system that gives everyone free health care and By Chuck Collins doesn’t put one class of people in overcrowded housing during a More than 1.2 million families pandemic. Workers need an as- are facing eviction in the coming surance that their children will be months. Millions of others face safe in the classroom and if not foreclosures, persistent homethat they can still be educated at lessness, unaffordable rental home. housing, and out-of-reach homeForcing vaccines and deciding ownership. that kids must be back in school The human costs of evicregardless of local conditions is tion are enormous, made worse a recipe for more illness. by the ravages and uncertainty Skepticism abounds for caused by the pandemic. good reasons. What passes Many communities need for political leadership lurches more affordable housing stock, between pretending that CO- but the main driver of the criVID-19 isn’t an issue until hos- sis isn’t housing supply, it’s who pitals are full of patients or de- owns that supply during a time of manding that everyone be extreme wealth gaps. vaccinated without changing The federal eviction moraany of their living conditions. torium put in place by former In any case, the virus President Donald Trump and exis now endemic, meaning tended by President Joe Biden, that it isn’t going away. A was designed to buy time to get nation that puts everyone federal emergency pandemic on a knife-edge of precar- funds to local jurisdictions to fill ity cannot begin to address the gap between lost wages and what this reality means for unpaid rents. millions of people. Systemic Unfortunately, states and lochange was needed before calities have moved at a snail’s the pandemic and it is sorely pace to spend that money. As needed now. of early August, only 11% of the $46.5 billion of funds from the federal Emergency Rental AssisMargaret Kimberley writes tance Program had reached tena regular column for BlackAg- ants and landlords. endaReport.com. The eviction blowout is the tip of the iceberg of a housing affordability crisis. For many households, rent or mortgage payments are absorbing half of their household budget and rendering the dream of homeownership impossible.
The COVID-19 crisis is the creation of a failed State By Margaret Kimberley Donald Trump was the convenient scapegoat for the first year of the COVID-19 crisis. Austerity, low-wage work, housing insecurity, and the profit-driven health care system were problematic issues before anyone heard the word COVID-19 or indeed before Trump’s presidency. Every failure of the United States already in existence came into sharp relief when the pandemic struck. Joe Biden has done nothing to alleviate these many crises. Temporary unemployment benefits end in September, and millions of people were denied these funds when Republican state legislatures decreed that they wanted people back at work. The Supreme Court struck down the eviction moratorium, and 90% of the funds allocated to pay for rent relief remain unspent. Millions of
90% of those who are seriously ill, but vaccine efficacy wanes and the vaccinated are urged to get boosters for protection. Biden is little better than Trump in addressing the pandemic. Like his predecessor, Biden’s goal was to get people back to work and make life easier for the private sector. He arbitrarily chose July 4 as the date when all would be right, with hopes for high vaccination rates. He didn’t trust the science either, as the Centers for Disease Control declared that the vaccinated no longer had to wear masks. The World Health Organization was far more cautious and advised against any such declaration. The rise of the Delta variant has driven an increase in cases and Biden administration miscues are responsible. The United States is as much a failed state now as it was when the pandemic began. Absent a coordi-
“The solutions needed to minimize the impact of COVID are multi-faceted.” people face the prospect of becoming unhoused. Meanwhile, even a small increase in the number of COVID patients upends health care around the country. Intensive care units are full, staffing shortages abound, and patients who don’t have COVID-19 are also suffering because the system isn’t designed to respond to emergencies. The words “trust the science” ring hollow when information changes daily. The public was assured that vaccines were a kind of magic bullet, but they are not. The unvaccinated comprise at least
nated plan for systemic change, the public has been whipped into a frenzy of hysteria and heaping scorn on the unvaccinated as the cause of every problem. Judges are ordering defendants to get “the jab” whether they want it or not. A judge in Chicago briefly deprived a mother of visitation rights because she was unvaccinated. Local governments are requiring workers to be vaccinated or lose their jobs, and restaurants, theaters, museums, and other public places are now accessible only to those who are vaccinated. Anyone who questions these
question is immature and poses an enormous risk to the safety of our children and neighbors. Minneapolis voters have a right to understand the potential outcome and timeline if the amendment passes. The current ballot question hides that information, minimizes the impacts, and must be corrected. For instance, the ballot question should mention that there is no identified funding mechanism and clarify the cease date. To complicate matters further, the amendment would: Not require the proposed “Department of Public Safety” to employ a single licensed peace officer—the only individuals that, under Minnesota law, can make arrests for felonies like domestic assault and kidnapping, among other crimes—effectively eliminating any form of City-provided peace-officer protection in Minneapolis. Remove the mayor’s “complete power” over the police, giving the head of public safety 14 bosses with no single person responsible for overseeing law enforcement in Minneapolis, effectively eliminating political accountability for law-enforcement actions. Remove the position of Chief of Police, thus eliminating our visionary and the first African American police chief, Medaria Arradondo. The current proposal was written by a new political coalition called Yes 4 Minneapolis, which is funded largely by entities from outside Minnesota. The coalition sued after the City attached an explanatory note to the ballot question. By the way, no suit was brought against having an explanatory note on the ballot question for rent control (which the coun-
cil approved), only about policing. Given the major changes being proposed, we want voters to have a full understanding of the impact it will have if passed. While other much smaller cities have disbanded police departments, no city close to the population of Minneapolis has ever attempted it. Without a proper plan for funding and only 30 days to create the proposed “Department of Public Safety,” the city becomes a social experiment for untested policing proposals. African Americans will continue to be the human sacrifices. For example, of the 435 people shot this year—a 125% increase over 2019—84% were Black, 82% male and 49% were under age 26. That means our young, Black males are and will continue to be the victims of our experiment-inprogress. Like many other Minneapolis residents, we demand meaningful change to the city’s police force, AND it must be done right. As it is currently written, this proposal, if passed, would only cause more crime, violence, death and confusion, especially for the Black citizens of Minneapolis. Don Samuels is a former city council member and CEO of MicroGrants, which awards modest grants to low-income people of potential, to start a business or career. Sondra Samuels is the president & CEO of the Northside Achievement Zone (NAZ), a collaborative of over 40 partner nonprofits and schools that is leading a revolutionary culture shift in North Minneapolis focused on ending multigenerational poverty through education and family stability.
The nation is on the brink of a housing crises Many communities need more affordable housing stock, but the main driver of the crisis isn’t housing supply, it’s who owns that supply during a time of extreme wealth gaps. In some places, large corporations and private equity firms like Blackstone have moved in to buy up millions of units of rental housing, including single-family homes. Families locked out of homeownership are forced to rent the homes that they aren’t able to buy. Other investor-buyers are removing millions of units of rental housing from the market and converting them to short-term rentals like Airbnb. This drives up rents for people who actually live in these communities. Finally, wealthy investors from around the world are buying up U.S. real estate—not to live in, but as a form of wealth storage. In cities like Los Angeles, that means tens of thousands of units of vacant housing sit alongside tens of thousands of people without homes. Many of these buyers are using anonymous shell companies to mask who the real owners are. Today, anonymous shell companies own 40% of the rental housing market, an estimated 18 million out of 48 million rental units nationwide, according to Census data. After World War II, our nation experienced a similar housing emergency. Back then, Congress made expanding affordable
housing a national priority. The famous GI Bill allocated funds to build rental housing and encourage homeownership with lowinterest loans through the Veterans Administration and Farmers Home. It wasn’t an equitable program—nearly all of the households that benefited were White. But it moved millions of people from tenancy to homeownership, a ticket on the wealth-building train to the middle class. Lawmakers today could repeat a similar program without the racial bias. But many communities aren’t waiting for the federal government to act. From Rhode Island to California, cities and states are levying “mansion taxes,” taxing luxury housing sales to fund permanently affordable housing. Other jurisdictions are taxing vacant units and passing laws requiring the disclosure of real ownership. Who owns the housing matters. Communities need to expand the supply of local homeownership and permanently affordable rental housing, owned by nonprofits and community housing authorities. Failure to act will lead to the destruction of stable communities and undermine the possibility of economic recovery for the majority of households. Chuck Collins directs the Program on Inequality at the Institute for Policy Studies where he co-edits Inequality.org.
September 9-15, 2021
Labor
the shop floor, Reuther’s nostrike pledge left the ineffective grievance process as the auto workers’ only recourse. By 1970, there were 250,000 written grievances at General Motors alone, one for every two workers employed in production. My father was injured badly in an on-the-job accident when I was 13, as I recall, and it was around that time when he told me he had been denied a promotion despite the highest score on a qualifying examination. When he asked a White supervisor about the promotion weeks later, he was told: “Now Jeter, if I give the job to a n—–, we’ll both get fired.” That gibes with what one White autoworker told filmmakers in the 1973 documentary “Finally Got the News”: “I
took three tests. Now one of the math tests I took I didn’t do too well on. The fella who was running the tests said, ‘Well, I tell you what, you go home and study up on this a little bit and come back and see me in a week.’ I know G-damn well he wasn’t going to tell that to any Colored boy.” At war with itself for the better part of 70 years, organized labor in the U.S. is virtually obsolete. Only one in 10 workers belongs to a union, and wages today account for just 43% of GDP. Reuther died in a 1970 plane crash, but in the last year of his life, African American autoworkers grew so disgruntled that they would hoist placards at wildcat strikes that asserted that UAW stood for “U Ain’t White.”
cialist in infectious diseases at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. “If you want to protect others, Continued from page 10 consider taking a home COVID test the day of the game. If the test results come back positive, or if you feel any symptoms, even What can be done to reduce a runny nose, mild headache, or risk? The first line of defense is be- cough, don’t go to a game,” Safdar ing fully vaccinated. If unvaccinat- said. And the experts said to pay ed, don’t go to the game, all seven attention to the level of COVID experts strongly recommended. Some colleges such as Louisi- cases in any city to which you are ana State University are requiring traveling. The incidence could be fans to be vaccinated or to show high, and that should factor into a negative COVID test to attend your decision about attending a a game—and many players on game. teams are vaccinated to reduce their risk and stay in the game. But Why worry now about football many stadiums will have no such games? There have been rare reports restriction on fans. Mask mandates vary by venue of outbreaks from major league for both the NFL and college baseball stadiums, which often teams. “It’s best if all parties are pack in 40,000 fans. But that wearing a mask, but wearing a could be changing, too, because mask is better than not wearing a the more highly transmissible mask,” said Dr. Nasia Safdar, a spe- delta variant has been widespread
only since July. Also, the experts said, it’s difficult to track how many fans get sick because the incubation period can last a week or more. People may not connect their illness to the game, especially if they assume outdoor activities are safe. “Delta changed the entire equation of how we looked at the risk,” said Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious disease expert at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in Nashville. “I do think there will be transmission’’ in stadiums. Health experts point to the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in South Dakota last month that has been linked to more than 100 infections.
Continued from page 10 tween the UAW and the industry prohibited work stoppages of any kind, and Reuther meekly acquiesced to company demands such as compulsory overtime, which was far cheaper than hiring additional workers but routinely required employees to work 12 hours a day for six or even seven days a week in noisy, unsafe factories. For their part, the Big Three agreed to collect union dues directly from the workers’ paychecks, insulating the UAW from dissatisfied employees who might be tempted to withhold their dues payments. Coupled with his endorsement of Jim Crow practices on
Football
This article originally appeared in Kaiser Health News and has been edited for length. The full story can be read here: https://khn.org/news/ article/your-covid-game-plan-arestadiums-safe/
Evictions Continued from page 10
2020 we have had stronger protections in place than what the CDC moratorium had to offer,” Sterling said. In March of 2020, when the pandemic first hit, Gov. Tim Walz ordered an eviction ban to limit the spread of the virus by enabling renters to remain housed. The Minnesota Volunteer Lawyers Network estimated in July that the eviction ban prevented an additional 22,200 COVID-19 infections and 680 deaths. Now, even as the Delta Variant rages and case rates in Minnesota and states across the country rise, the protections credited with saving the lives of hundreds of Minnesotans are growing progressively weaker. The Minnesota Eviction Moratorium Phase-Out is a temporary law that replaced Walz’s order on June 30. Over a 105-day period it progressively revokes the protections it contained. “What’s keeping a lot of tenants in place right now are the phase-out protections,” Sterling said. Weekly eviction filings tripled between when the temporary law went into effect and August 5, although they have not yet approached pre-pandemic levels because of protections that remain in place. Since the phase-out began, tenants can now be evicted for material lease violations, allowing illegal activity on the premises, or refusing to pay rent while also refusing to apply for assistance. Although the moratorium
has offered a measure of security to renters, landlords in Minnesota have fought the restrictions on evictions. The Minnesota Multi Housing Association brought a lawsuit against Walz in mid-June, alleging the ban on evictions was unconstitutional. “It’s regrettable and unfortunate but it’s the only option we felt we had,” said Cecil Smith, CEO of the Association, at a news conference when the lawsuit was announced. “It’s time for the governor to end his eviction moratorium and for us to get back to normal order.” The Minnesota Multi Housing Association represents landlords who own about half of the state’s rental units. The lawsuit claimed Minnesota has done a poor job of doling out $672 million intended for rental assistance. “Minnesota is well behind other states in beginning to distribute funds,” the lawsuit said. “Moreover, it is unlikely that—even with increased public awareness of the program—that the funds will get out to landlords faster.” Although the case was dropped after Walz signed off on the phase-out, concerns remain over the speed at which the rental assistance funds are being distributed. The process has been slowed because the State housing agency had to establish a new benefits program and navigate tedious federal application requirements. By early August, just $28.8 million of the $196 million requested had been paid out to renters, the Minnesota Reformer reported last month.
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Meanwhile, about 58,000 Minnesota households owe a collective $193 million in rent, Policy Link found, based on late-July and early-August data. More than 65% of the households behind on rent are families or individuals of color, while 84% are low-income and over half are households with children. The state of the pandemic has evolved rapidly since June 30, when the phase-out first went into effect. At that time, the seven-day average for new cases in Minnesota was 87. As of September 3, the figure stood at 1,604. With the most significant protections set to weaken over the next several weeks, Sterling advises those facing eviction to go ahead and apply for emergency assistance, as a pending application will offer protection in the coming months. Tenants who have pending applications for emergency rental assistance will remain protected until June 1, 2022. Showing up to an initial eviction hearing is also imperative to avoid a potential default judgement in the landlord’s favor. Tenants across the country are expressing fear and anxiety about becoming homeless. Recent census data showed that 7,397 Minnesota residents feared they’d be evicted within two months. More information on tenants’ rights can be found at RentHelpMN.org. Niara Savage welcomes reader responses to nsavage@ spokesman-recorder.com.
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September 9-15, 2021
Business
America’s first Black-owned distillery resides in South Minneapolis Du Nord Social Spirits
Black Business SPOTLIGHT
By Ashley Lauren Contributing writer Du Nord Social Spirits, known as the only legal Blackowned distillery in the U.S., is headquartered right in heart of South Minneapolis. Chris Montana is the distillery’s founder and his wife Shanelle Montana is his business partner. Montana is originally from Indiana and came to Minnesota as an adolescent. He grew up in “mostly South Minneapolis,” he said. He credits his upbringing for his success in life. “It’s important to know that I was ad-
Montana graduated from Hamline in 2013. He still serves in the capacity of an attorney while operating the business. Du Nord Crafts Spirits was established in 2013. The business name was changed to Du Nord Social Spirits in February 2020. “We changed it just this year—but started that process last year really.” He added, “It was a rebrand process.” Montana elaborated, “Halfway through that process, obviously, COVID happened right after we started, which shut us down, but then also George Floyd.” The unexpected events encouraged Mon-
Chris Montana
looked at that as probably the end of the road.” However, a positive shift in business occurred when Montana chose to utilize
opted when I was 14,” Montana said. “My dad had started his own law firm.” The influence of his family changed his life for the better. “I was offered stability that I didn’t have before—I don’t who or where I’d be if it wasn’t for that family,” Montana said. Before Montana became an entrepreneur, he aspired to become a lawyer. “I thought being an attorney would be the greatest thing ever, even when I was a kid. I ended up working in politics. I eventually came back to it.”
tana to “refresh the brand” with new labeling. Customers have a stellar selection of award-winning spirits to choose from. Du Nord Social Spirits (DNSS) offers five exquisite products, ranging from 'Étoile Vodka ("Leh twal"), Fitzgerald Gin, Mixed Blood Whiskey, Café Frieda Coffee Liqueur, and Apple Du Nord Liqueur. Although the pandemic and civil unrest caused an interruption in business, Montana never gave up. He said, “I thought that it had ended my
Greater Friendship Missionary Baptist Church
Worship Mount Olivet Missionary Baptist Church
business. There’s a series of events that you couldn’t have planned—COVID hits and our business was so heavily reliant on the cocktail room [that] we shut the room voluntarily.” But the unforeseen the alcohol for hand sanichallenges didn’t stop the tizer. “We ended up selling a significant amount, which got flow of business. us through those days in the pandemic,” he shared. Pivoting to meet the times Montana explained that When the distillery lost out on revenue, Montana created the hand sanitizer production helped keep the business a way to save the business. He recalled, “I’m not in- thriving and “allowed us to dependently wealthy; I don’t pay hazard pay to folks—our have deep pockets. So, I bartenders, we were able to
Bethesda Baptist Church
Rev. Dr. Billy G. Russell, Sr. Pastor
Rev. Arthur Agnew, Pastor
Rev. James C. Thomas, Pastor
451 West Central
St. Paul, MN 55103 651-227-4444
Church School 9:30 am Morning Worship 8:00 & 10:45 am Prayer Service:
Wednesday 7 pm "Welcome to
Mt. Olivet Baptist Church"
At the Old Landmark 1118 So. 8th Street Mpls., MN 55404 612-332-5904 www.bethesdamnonline.com bethesdamn@prodigy.net Sunday Service Times:
Early Morning Service 9 am Sunday School 10 am Sunday Worship 11:30 am Wednesday Prayer Meeting, 6 pm Adult Bible Class 7 pm Children's Bible Class 7 pm
2600 E. 38th Street Minneapolis, MN 55408 www.greatfriend.org Phone: 612.827.7928 Fax: 612.827.3587 info@greatfriend.org Sundays 8:00am Sunday School 9:30am Worship Service The Friendly Church Where Everybody Is Somebody
Pilgrim Baptist Church Rev. Doctor Charles Gill 732 W. Central Ave., St. Paul, MN 55104 Sunday Worship Service: 9:45 AM Sunday School: 8:45 AM
bring them back and employ them in hand sanitizer production,” Montana said. He added, “It was pivot or die— things just worked out.” DNSS is known as “the first legal Black distillery and the reason why we [say] that is because Black people have been distilling for hundreds of years. We’re the first ones that got the actual license and then distilled recognized by the United States government, but we’re not the first Black people to distill,” Montana said. He continued, “So the purpose of the company now is we want to make that quality product; we want people to purchase the product, because it’s a quality product and when they purchase, they’re also supporting the other work that we do, which flows largely through the Du Nord Foundation.” The foundation, established in 2020, provides Montana with an opportunity to manifest change in the lives of other entrepreneurs. “It was formed as part of our efforts to raise money for other businesses that were uninsured,” Montana said. The foundation has awarded a
the money, we’ll help with that—we’ll give you a place where you can do this work,” Montana said. He added, “I love the spirits business, but at the end of the day, we make something that people don’t need. You don’t need alcohol—it’s fun, but you don’t need it. We need economic development, but we don’t need it in a way that we’re asking for it; we need to be taking it and if you want to take it, you’ve got to own that business,” Montana said. “You gotta dream,” Montana encouraged. “I think most people go through their lives trying to live somebody else’s life and get to the end and they’re not with what they have.” He added, “I wanted to be a business owner but for the longest time I didn’t know what that business was gonna be—but if you have that idea, make it happen.” Du Nord Crafts Spirits is located at 2610 East 32nd Street, Minneapolis, MN 55406. (Note: The Cocktail Room is currently closed, but spirits are still available in stores).
Courtesy of Du Nord Crafts Spirits
generous amount of grants to local business owners.” DNSS values social responsibility. “When we sell that bottle of vodka, we can take some of the money from that, put it into the foundation that then can help build business incubators help other businesses get over those hurdles that I had. If you can’t raise
For more info, visit www. dunordcraftspirits.com or call 612-799-9166. Ashley Lauren welcomes reader responses to alauren@ spokesman-recorder.com.
Arts & Culture
September 9-15, 2021
7
‘Really Love’ writer on centering Black voices (and finding her own) By Stephenetta Harmon Contributing writer There is something revolutionary about a good Black love story. It transports us into a nuanced world of beauty and culture, intertwining intimacy, and vulnerability. And its very existence defies stereotypes that Black bodies are not whole or capable of love. Netflix’s new romantic drama, “Really Love,” gives us all of that and more with stars Kofi Siriboe (“Queen Sugar,” “Girls Trip”) and Yootha Wong-Loi-Sing (“Love Is”) whose characters’ ambitious careers challenge their ability to solidify their budding romance. Set in Washington, D.C., the film boasts stunning cinematography, a jazzy soundscape, and painted landscapes that layer on a textured backdrop for Siroboe’s and Wong-Loi-Sing’s romantic journey. The cast is rounded out Felicia Pride with such award-winning and veteran actors as Uzo Aduba, Blair Underwood, Michael Ealy, Tristan “Mack” Wilds, Naturi Naughton, Suzzanne Douglas, and Jade Eshete. While we celebrate the beauty of Black love on film, we often forget about the labor of love in creating these stories. For writer Felicia Pride, it was a 10-year journey that started midway in her career, leading her from entertainment journalism to television and film writing. This included a cross-country move, working in several writing rooms, and even writing and directing the award-winning short film, “tender,” before seeing her first full-length feature film come into fruition. “Filmmaking is not for the faint of heart,” Pride wrote prior to the film’s first AFI Fest premiere last
fall. The MSR connected with Pride to learn more about her process, finding her voice, and the importance of telling our stories. MSR: What inspired you to bring this film to life? What was
to do that in my television work, as well. “Really Love” was my first baby for the screen—I wrote books before that—so it taught me a lot about craft and collaboration. And it challenged me as an art-
to take a couple of steps back in order to take steps forward. But I also had a lot of life experience that helped me to understand things more quickly. And I had a purpose that guides me to this day.
Submitted photo
Yootha Wong-Loi-Sing (l) and Kofi Siriboe star in “Really Love” out on Netflix.
the journey like along the way? Felicia Pride: It was an incredibly long and arduous journey! I wrote the first draft of what would become “Really Love” more than 10 years ago. Throughout it all, the inspiration was to tell a romantic drama that felt authentic and rooted in lived experience—one that would showcase beautiful, complex, and complicated Black people in a D.C. that we rarely see depicted on screen. MSR: It’s one thing to be a writer for such renowned projects as “Queen Sugar” and now, “Grey’s Anatomy,” but what was it like to write in your own voice, and then hand it off to someone else— in this case, to director Angel Kristi—to translate your work to film? FP: It’s always a dream to be able to write fully in my voice. I also feel like my purpose is to tell stories that center Black people, so I have been grateful to be able
ist in profound ways. So, to see it realized on screen through the vision of Angel Kristi Williams and an amazing cast and crew is amazing. I honestly wasn’t sure if I was going to ever see this day! MSR: Speaking of voice, how did you find and become confident in yours? FP: Great question. I’ve been writing off and on for 20 years now, so I think part of cultivating my voice has come from time and my life experiences. I also think it comes from knowing myself and rooting in my own authenticity. Not being afraid to go there. Not being afraid to be vulnerable on the page. My voice is also an amalgamation of influences—hiphop, Baltimore, family, Blackness, and life. MSR: Disparities abound in entertainment in front of the camera, and even more so in writer and director roles. How do you see yourself impacting the industry at large? FP: It is definitely more disparate behind the scenes. There is still a feeling that Black people don’t need to be the go-to to tell our stories. So, that’s why I hold tight to my purpose of telling stories that center us and I find ways to do that inside and outside the Hollywood system. MSR: What were some of your own challenges entering the industry and how did you overcome them? FP: I moved to L.A. at 35 years old to pursue writing for the screen and to get “Really Love” made. So, I was not a spring chicken. I had to learn how things worked from the ground up. I had
MSR: What advice would you give to aspiring writers and creatives looking to enter the industry? FP: Write, write, write! I know it sounds easy and everyone says it, but it is true. Never stop learning. I’m in two writers’ groups and I still take classes. Definitely join a writer’s group. I took five classes over quarantine. Read, read, read—and not just screenplays. Read plays, essays, novels, and great journalism. Watch films and TV. Dissect them. Analyze them. And live life so that you have stuff to write about. MSR: Now that this is complete and streaming, we’d love to know what’s “now”? What are you thinking about and working on? FP: I’ve sold a show to Netflix and to FX. I sold two features to Universal, both romantic dramas, so fingers crossed they move forward. I’m turning my short film “tender,” which I directed, into a feature film. Lastly, with my producing partner Ivy Grant, I launched Honey Chile, a production company catering to Black women over 40 and we have a number of projects in development that I’m really excited about. “Really Love” is streaming now on Netflix. Stephenetta Harmon welcomes reader responses to sharmon@ spokesman-recorder.com.
8
September 9-15, 2021
Health & Wellness
Great news: Dying from COVID is now optional Essential updates on vaccine safety, mandates and more occur daily in the United States with COVID-19. Currently, over 1,500+ people die daily in the United States from COVID-19. The vaccines There are currently three vaccines available: Pfizer, Moderna, and the Johnson and Johnson. • 68% of Minnesotans are fully vaccinated. • 39% of African Americans in Minnesota are fully vaccinated. • 52% of the U.S. population is fully vaccinated. • 32% of African Americans in the United States are fully vaccinated.
U.S. population is fully vaccinated. Unless more people get vaccinated, we will not achieve population (herd) immunity. Q: What about vaccine mandates? A: Since the Pfizer vaccine has attained full FDA approval, many businesses, schools, federal agencies and colleges require workers, teachers and students to be vaccinated. It is very reasonable to create a safe environment for workers and students because we are now battling the most transmissible variant that we have seen to date. This is even more important in areas with people who can’t get vaccinated, like schools with children under the age of 12. Q: I have one shot, and they told me I need two shots. Is that really the case? A: Absolutely. The second shot can double and even triple your protection. So get the second shot, even if it is beyond the time you were told. Q: I heard that the vaccine would hurt my baby if I am pregnant. Is that true? A: No. On the contrary. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists have stated that they recommend the vaccine for all pregnant women and mothers who are nursing. Q: How do vaccines work? A:They allow your immune system to recognize organisms that cause disease and attack and neutralize them before they can cause problems. The mRNA vaccines do not contain any viruses. Q: Can I wait for herd immunity? A: Probably not. It may take
Vaccine schedules Pfizer: two shots, 21 days apart Moderna: two shots, 28 days The good news Dying from COVID in the apart Johnson and Johnson: one United States is now optional. This is because 99% of the people shot with a recommended boostwho currently die from COVID er; the precise schedule will be anare NOT vaccinated. The vac- nounced soon cine is readily available across the country. If you get vaccinated, you Vaccine schedules for will not die from COVID. This is immunocompromised Your doctor will tell you if you essential information for the Afriare immunocompromised, but can American community. generally this includes cancer patients, patients receiving chemoThe bad news Eighty million eligible people in therapy, transplant patients, and the U.S. are not vaccinated. A dis- patients receiving certain mediproportionate number of these cations or with certain medical are African Americans. As a re- conditions. Pfizer: three shots (note the sult, the disparity in death rates is widening. Because of not getting third shot is recommended as a vaccinated (vaccine hesitance), routine series of three for immuBlacks are dying at a higher rate nocompromised patients and is than other groups in this country. not considered a booster) Moderna: three shots (note In fact, reports indicate that only 38% of Blacks have had one the third shot is recommended as dose of vaccine. Considering that two doses are required for appropriate immunity, the precent of fully vaccinated Blacks is estimated to be 32%. The summer started out promising for the battle against SARSCoV-2. Unfortunately, now the delta variant is causing a surge in the country. Death rates are up. Hospitalizations are up. Hospitalized patients are younger. Hospital ICUs are at or almost at capacity around the country. The delta variant is affecting more children and affecting Charles E. Crutchfield III, MD has received the complete children more severely. The Eu- series of COVID vaccinations. ropean Union has taken the U.S. Submitted photo off the safe country list. Some experts think that the delta variant is a standard series of three for im- 1-2 years. If everyone waits for so contagious that the worst is yet munocompromised patients and population immunity, we will never get there. It is not a matter to come when it comes to the U.S. is not considered a booster) Johnson and Johnson: one shot of if you will encounter the virus; it fighting SARS-CoV-2. with a recommended booster(s); is only a matter of when. If you do, the number of boosters and don’t you want the have the best Names protection available? If you were For the sake of accuracy and schedule to be announced soon going into a street fight against clarity, the name of the virus that a deadly opponent, would you causes the disease is SARS-CoV-2 Common questions and want to be wearing only your un(severe acute respiratory syn- answers derwear or a steel suit of armor? Q: What do vaccines do? drome coronavirus 2). Q: I heard that the virus A: They teach/allow your body The name of the disease that SARS-CoV-2 causes is COVID-19 to recognize, attack and neutral- does not affect children, so why ize viruses so they don’t get the should they get vaccinated? (coronavirus disease). A: COVID-2019 does affect best of you. In some cases, they can prevent deadly viruses from fewer children than adults. UnforNumbers tunately, some people have conSARS-CoV-2 has infected 220 killing you. fused “less” with “none.” Q: Are the vaccines safe? million people; worldwide, 4.5 Many children have died from A: Doctors and scientists million people have died from COVID-19. SARS-CoV-2 has in- around the world have confirmed COVID-2019 and can be affectfected 40 million in the United that the vaccine is both safe and ed by a severe inflammatory conStates; 655,000 people have died very effective. It has been used dition that affects many organs. from COVID-19 in the United in hundreds of millions of people The new delta variant is affecting with great protective results. more children more severely—an States. In 2020, COVID-19 was the With the new delta variant, it is even better reason for the vaccithird-leading cause of death in the more important than ever that we nation of children. Q: Why aren’t there vaccines U.S. (only behind heart disease all get vaccinated. for children? Q: What is herd immunity? and cancer). COVID-19 was virtuA: They are currently being A: As Dr. Corbett, virologist ally unheard of the previous year. That means that one in every 488 and lead vaccine developer, sug- studied. It is expected that vacpeople in the United States has gests, the better term is “popula- cines for children six years to 12 tion immunity.” It is when a large will be approved by the end of died from COVID-19. SARS-CoV-2 has infected percentage of the population is 2021. The vaccine for children 650,000 people in Minnesota. immune to a disease. This will of- ages six months to six years Approximately 8,000 people have ten protect the other members of should be available about two months after that. died from COVID-19 in Minne- the community. Q: Will I need a booster vacPopulation immunity for COsota. With the new delta vari- VID-19 is estimated to be about ■See Advice on page 9 ant, 150,000 new infections 85%. Currently, only 52% of the By Charles E. Crutchfield III, MD
Employment & Legals For Sale MnDOT owned vacant land, located at 128th Ave and Coon Creek Blvd., Coon Rapids, Anoka County. Approximately 4.95 acres to be sold by sealed bid on 11/9/2021 at 2:00 at Central Office, 395 John Ireland Blvd, St. Paul. Bid Form, http://www.dot.state.mn.us/row/propsales.html . Info LandSales.MN.DOT@state.mn.us Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder August 26 & September 2 & 9, 2021
For Sale MnDOT owned vacant land, located at on York Ave between Stillwater Ave. and Hazelwood St., St Paul, Ramsey County. Approximately 120,286 sf acres to be sold by sealed bid on 11/9/2021 at 2:00 at Central Office, 395 John Ireland Blvd, St. Paul. Bid Form, http://www.dot.state.mn.us/row/propsales.html . Info LandSales.MN.DOT@state.mn.us Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder August 26 & September 2 & 9, 2021
From Display Ad
State of Minnesota District Court Department/MN Washington County Tenth Judicial District Spokesman-Recorder Court File Number: 82-JV-21-365 Case Type: CHIPS - Permanency
PHONE: 612-827-4021
In the Matter of the Welfare of the Child(ren) of: Alisha FORand BILLING Richert James Norgaard, III,
INQUIRIES Summons and Notice & TEARSHEETS PLEASE CONTACT Child In Need of Protection or Services Matter ACCOUNTING DEPT @ BILLING@SPOKESMAN-RECORDER.COM
NOTICE TO: Above-named parent(s) or legal custodian(s). From Display AD of Ad 1. DISPLAY A Child In Need Protection or Services Petition has Department/MN SIZE: COL X 2 INCHES = 4 of Juvenile Court located been filed2 in the Office of the Clerk RATE PER COL. INCH at Spokesman-Recorder 14949 -$42.00 62nd St. N; PO Box 3802 Stillwater MN 55082, alleging that the child(ren) of the above-named parent(s) or SUBTOTAL: $168.00 PER WEEK PHONE: 612-827-4021 legal custodian(s) in need of protection or services. TOTAL FOR 3is/are WEEKS = $504.00 2. FOR NoticeBILLING is hereby given that the matter of said Child In Need of Protection or Services Petition will be called for INQUIRIES hearing before the Juvenile Court located at 14949 - 62nd & TEARSHEETS respond with email confirmation St.Please N; PO proof, Box 3802 Stillwater MN 55082, on Septemberto21, PLEASE CONTACT display@spokesman-recorder.com. 2021 at 10:00AM or as soon after as the Matter can be heard.
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September 9-15, 2021
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From Classified
STATE OF MINNESOTA DISTRICT COURT Department/MN COUNTY OF WASHINGTON TENTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT ------------------------------------------------------Spokesman-Recorder IN THE MATTER OF THE CHILD OF: ORDER FOR HEARING AND NOTICE OF PUBLICATION PHONE: Alisha Richert and James Norgaard,612-827-4021 III Parent(s) ------------------------------------------------------FOR BILLING Court File No. 82-JV-21-365 County Attorney File No. JV-2021-728 INQUIRIES
TEARSHEETS That Betsey A. Urbas,& Assistant Washington County Attorney, representing Petitioner, Washington County Community Services, Stillwater, Minnesota, PLEASE CONTACT has filed in this Court a Petition to Transfer Permanent ACCOUNTING DEPT Legal and Physical Custody of parents Alisha Richert and James Norgaard, @ BILLING@SPOKESMAN-RECORD III, seeking to permanently transfer the custodial rights of mother Alisha Richert, as to child N.R., dob 4/23/20, to maternal grandparents COM Lisa and Greg Richert. THEREFORE, IT IS SUMMONS HEREBY ORDERED that said Petition be heard by the Court at the Washington County Law Enforcement Center, 15015 62nd Street FLAT RATE $200 North, Stillwater, MN, on September 21, 2021, at 10:00 a.m., or as soon thereafter as the matter can be heard, and on any subsequent hearing dates set on this matter. The MSR handles billing digitally.
This means you will get e-tears and e-mailed in co
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that notice hereof be given to the father of said unlessSpokesman-Recorder, you specificallyarequest a hard child, by publication voices in the Minnesota legal newspaper, for three weeks as provided by law and by mailing a copy of such notice by certified mail to the natural father’s last known address of 1222 Lincoln St. NE, Minneapolis, MN 55413. Dated: August 20, 2021
Judge Freeman Judge of District Court
Thisatmeans you will get e-tears Court the scheduled time and date. and e-mailed invoices unless you Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder September 2, 9, & 16, 2021 specifically request a hard copy. DISPLAY AD 4. SIZE: You have a right to beINCHES represented by counsel. 2 COL X 2.25 = 4.5 RATE $42.00 PER COL. INCH 5. SUBTOTAL: If you fail to appear at the $189.00 PERhearing, WEEKthe Court may still Walker Art Center conduct theFOR hearing and grant= appropriate TOTAL 3 WEEKS $567.00 relief, including taking permanent custody of the child/ren named in the The Walker Art Center is actively recruiting for a number of Petition. positions including: WITNESS, the Honorable Judge Freeman
Advice Continued from page 8 cine later? A: Yes. All vaccinated people will need a booster eight months after their second shot. In the future, boosters may be given five months after the second shot. The FDA is currently reviewing the shortened timeline. Next week: The COVID Q&A continues Charles E. Crutchfield III, MD is a board-certified dermatologist and clinical professor of dermatology at the University of Minnesota Medical School and a Benedict Distinguished Visiting Professor of biology at Carleton College. He also has a private practice, Crutchfield
College Football Continued from page 10
Dermatology in Eagan, MN. He received his MD 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. Minnesota Medicine recognized Dr. Crutchfield as one of the 100 Most Influential Healthcare Leaders in Minnesota. Dr. Crutchfield specializes in skin-of-color and has been selected by physicians and nurses as one of the leading dermatologists in Minnesota for the past 18 years. He is the team dermatologist for the Minnesota Twins, Vikings, Timberwolves, Wild and Lynx. Dr. Crutchfield is an active member of both the American and National Medical Associations and president of the Minnesota Association of Black Physicians. He can be reached at CrutchfieldDermatology.com or by calling 651-209-3600.
dent upon and implicated by racial capitalism, labor exploitation and structural violence.” Canada said she is in the middle of writing a book on college football she described as “the anthological version of ‘Friday Night Lights’.” The 2006 movie inspired an NBC series on a small Texas town where high school football was king and anti-Blackness reigned supreme. “My plan is in the next three years for the book to be a thing based on my dissertation research. “When I talk to anyone about football,” she said, “I’m having a conversation to think about things through a different lens… What I’m encouraging people to do is to think a little bit differently about some things [like college football] that they might take for granted and not think twice about.”
anti-Blackness.” It’s been a little over a year since America’s so-called racial awakening—the White guilt period that lasted maybe six months after the social unrest over George Floyd and other Blacks who died because of police violence. Institutions small and large, especially leaders of colleges’ and universities’ football teams, stumbled over themselves in their offers of “change” statements. But as the 2021 football season gets underway, it looks like business as usual. “The deeply rooted anti-Black framework of the college football system cannot be substantially addressed with a pithy hashtag or a new Charles Hallman welcomes logo or a fairly neutral public statement, said Canada. “College reader responses to challman@ football is an institution depen- spokesman-recorder.com.
Judge of District Court • Marketing Manager Please proof, respond with BY:email confirmation to • Stage Surpervisor display@spokesman-recorder.com. Annette Fritz Court Administrator For more information on these and other roles, or to apply The MSR handles billing digitally. visit us at walkerart.org/jobs. Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder September 2, 9, & 16, 2021 This means you will get e-tears and e-mailed invoices unless you specifically request a hard copy.
State of Minnesota Ramsey County
District Court Second Judicial District Court File Number: 62DAFA21920 Case Type: Domestic Abuse
In The Matter Of Laura Gabriela Hernandez Perez and OBO Minor Children Vs Railin Rafael Nunez Perez Notice of Hearing by Publication (Minn. Stat. § 518B.01, subd. 8) To Respondent named above: An order has been issued directing you to appear to a hearing on 9/16/21 at 9:15am before Referee Elizabeth Clysdale for an Order for Protection Hearing and explain why the relief sought in the Petition for the Order for Protection should not be granted. You must contact the Ramsey County Court Administrator’s Office at 651266-5130 for hearing location details. You may obtain a copy of the Petition and any order issued from the court from the Ramsey County Court Administrator’s Office. If you do not appear at the scheduled hearing, the Petitioner’s request may be granted as a default matter. Failure to appear will not be a defense to prosecution for violation of the Court’s Order. Court Administrator Ramsey Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder September 9, 2021
Prep Scene Continued from page 10 dium. Running back Mohamed Ibrahim rushed for 163 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Gophers.
men while teammate Allan Lankford Jr. led the defense. Quarterback Vinny Morton connected with Aiden Adams, scoring twice for Washburn.
one feel that this is not just for a certain group of people but is allSpokesman-Recorderinclusive,” stated Powers. Continued from page 10 Black Girl Gamers, a multiPHONE: 612-827-4021 platform age and LGBTQIA+ MSR discussed the term in an article last month), exists among inclusive on-line gaming community on Facebook, boasts over gamers FOR as well.BILLING INQUIRIES Women and girls, especially 6,000 Black women gamers. It & TEARSHEETS Black females, deserve “a safe was founded in 2015 by Jay-Ann PLEASE CONTACT place to come play, ” declared Lopez of the UK. She told Tech ACCOUNTING Powers, who earlier this yearDEPT be- Radar.com in 2020 that her main BILLING@SPOKESMAN-RECORDER.COM came a@ gaming ambassador for reason for starting the group was Team Liquid, a professional gam- because she was frustrated with RAMSEYShe COUNTY ing organization. also chairs the racism and misogyny she its diversity and inclusion task and other Black women regularly 1WEEKonce RUNhosted an faced as gamers, sometimes on a force. Powers FLAT RATE $100.00 PREPAID daily basis. all-woman NBA 2K tournament, Powers said she will keep and last month she hosted a simifighting for all women gamers, lar event in Ghana. Powers in 2019 launched especially Blacks and other POCs, her own Twitch channel, “POW- against gaming exclusion. “We ERZsurge.” She explained that all can play,” she said. “That’s the “Twitch is a platform where you amazing, beautiful thing about play video games and people can gaming. It brings us all together, watch it and interact while you’re no matter skin color, no matter playing. Talking while you’re play- shape or size.” ing is so, so cool. Charles Hallman welcomes “I started that because women in gaming…weren’t getting a fair reader responses to challman@ shake. It’s all about making every- spokesman-recorder.com.
Saturday September 4 The Lynx defeated the Washington Mystics 93-75 to extend their winning streak to five. Friday, September 3 Collier led the way with 21 In their high school football opener, Minneapolis North de- points, Aerial Powers had 20, feated St. Paul Johnson 41-0 Kayla McBride added 15, former with two touchdown runs each Lakeville South and Gopher great coming from Jaylon Washington Rachel Banham chipped in 13
Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier (24) goes up against Washington Mystics center Tina Charles (31). Photo by Dr. Mitchell Palmer McDonald
The Lynx
that I can kind of tweak and fit to whoever I’m coaching, whether it’s Macalester or 43 Continued from page 10 Hoops (a local girls AAU team).” “You’re only going to get better” going up against the men, said Richie. “I knew I was going to get screened like four or five said Powers. “The guys have been great,” times in practice. They get me said Wade. “I’m always appreevery time.” “I get bumped and banged up ciative of them, and we always try to take care of them as much a lot,” added Gill. Oduniyi stressed how appre- as possible. They’re our biggest ciative he is for “the learning op- supporters. “I just want to give big props portunity for me as a coach” to observe up close Reeve and the to them.” other Lynx coaches at practices. Charles Hallman welcomes “I learn new things and see how things would be implemented. reader responses to challman@ Discover some new concepts spokesman-recorder.com
Classified TheFrom Lynx Department/MN
University of Minnesota running back Mohamed Ibrahim (24) finds himself surrounded by Ohio State players. Photo by Dr. Mitchell Palmer McDonald
and Will Smith, and one from De’Meiko Anderson. Quarterback Deshaun Hill connected with Rio Sanders for another score. St. Paul Central defeated Minneapolis Washburn 16-14. Joshua Sims ran for two touchdowns to lead the victorious Minute-
points and eight assist as Sylvia Fowles’ 12 points rounded out the balanced attack.
Minnesota Lynx guard Rachel Mitchell Palmer McDonald Banham while playing the New welcomes reader responses to York Liberty mcdeezy05@gmail.com. Photo by Dr. Mitchell Palmer McDonald
University of Minnesota Taylor Landfair gets her point across against the Texas Longhorns. Photo by Dr. Mitchell Palmer McDonald
10
September 9-15, 2021
Sports
College football and anti-Blackness
Lynx practice players get ‘big props’ A
fter a year off due to COVID protocols, the Minnesota Lynx male practice players are back in action. Male practice players, a regular staple of women’s basketball, was first introduced by the late Tennessee coach Pat Summitt in the 1970s. The NCAA in 2007 tried to kill it, but coaches vehemently opposed such plans,
C
ollege football is perhaps the only American sport where being Black is not fully embraced. The sport and Major League Baseball for several decades competed in a turtle race on who would integrate last. It took forever for Black quarterbacks to be field generals, and for Blacks to be head coaches— two of football’s highly treasured positions. Nearly 50% of major college football players are Black, but the majority of decision-makers on and off the field remains predominately White.
Dr. Tracie Canada
enough to lead a team on the to play football with all of this research that was starting to come field as QB or coach. We contacted Dr. Canada and out about long-term effects…that asked her to further explain her were becoming more prominent.” The research Canada refers to is CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy), a progressive brain condition believed to be caused by repeated blows to the head, more associated with football and boxing. It cannot be accurately diagnosed during the affected person’s life, and there’s no cure. Warning signs usually include hypothesis. “As an anthropologist,” short-term memory loss and she stated, “I’ve been thinking mood changes. Asked if her research has about this for about 10 years now, talking to and hanging out with drawn any ire, especially at Notre and learning from Black college Dame, which to many fans is football players, to understand the cathedral of college football, what their experiences are and Canada said not at least publicly. how they feel about the environ- In her published article for the African American Intellectual Hisment that they’re in. “Why they chose to [play foot- tory Society, she stressed, “Both ball] is really interesting” to her, on and off the field, Black players continued Canada. “Why play- must navigate this atmospheric ers in general, but Black players ■See College Football on specifically, were still choosing page 9
Gaming remains White male-dominated Black women want a fair shake By Charles Hallman Sports columnist
quiet,” and he asked, “‘What the hell is going on?’ We were playing
NBA 2K, Apex Legends and NASCAR Racing among others.
Gaming is not just for computer geeks, but for everyone. Nearly 50% of U.S. adults play video games on a computer, television, game console or phone, and over 40% are females, said a 2015 Pew Research study. But the data on Black female gamers aren’t readily available. When she’s not hoopin’ Aerial Powers is gaming. The six-year WNBA veteran has been a gamer since her growing-up days in Detroit. She told us that gaming became a family affair in her home. “It was a way for us to gather and just share times together,” said Powers. “My mother playing my dad. My brother playing her. Just talking junk to each other [while] playing—that was our thing.” Aerial Powers “As I progressed and got older,” Photo by Maggie Hendricks she continued, “video games “For me, it’s kind of like a way of were staying in my life, and stay- a game together. “The next day he started play- relief,” admitted Powers, who was ing in my family’s life.” Powers recalled a story that ing it,” said Powers of her father’s a member of the 2019 Washington Mystics championship club. “Sometimes you’ll have a bad game and you want to just relax, get your mind off it.” Despite nearly half of this country’s gamers being females, gaming remains a White maledominated sport. Black girls and women have expressed concern that they haven’t felt welcomed in her opinion forever changed conversion to gaming. The Michigan State graduate, in the gaming community. “Miher family’s home life: “I forget how young we were. We had one now in her first season with the sogynoir,” a term describing Xbox at the time, and my brother Minnesota Lynx, said, “My Xbox hatred and prejudice specially showed me this new game called is a way to stay connected to my directed to Black females (the Call of Duty. One day my dad family when I go overseas [during ■See Gaming on page 9 came home and it was rather the off-season].” She also plays
“It’s all about making everyone feel that this is not just for a certain group of people but is all-inclusive.”
idea, I jumped on it.” Added Richie, “I got connected with [the Lynx] through a guy that works for the Timberwolves. I played basketball with him, and he said that they’re always looking for people, and I was really excited about the opportunity. “I always knew that they were great players,” he said of the fourtime champion Lynx. “I really
Submitted photo
“College football is an institution dependent upon and implicated by racial capitalism, labor exploitation and structural violence.” Some of us over the years have viewed college football as anti-Black. Notre Dame Assistant Anthropology Professor Tracie Canada wrote earlier this summer that “anti-Blackness and racism are woven into the fabric of the current [college football] system.” Its roots were planted in the late 19th Century and consistently watered by White Supremacy, spreading falsehoods about Blacks as not being smart
them to return during this year’s Olympic break. The coach quickly added, “My preference would be to have women that are practice players.” The league CBA won’t allow non-contract women players to serve this purpose—therefore, enter the men. “The guys add a level of toughness and physicality and
Sheu Oduniyi (in black shirt) surrounded by Minnesota Lynx players, coaches and practice players Courtesy of MN Lynx and it remains today with many athleticism,” Chicago Coach college WBB teams at all three James Wade told us recently after a practice. “It helps us.” NCAA Division levels. “They do a wonderful job and The WNBA also uses males in their practices. As “scout I’m appreciative,” added Lynx teams,” they help prepare teams forward Aerial Powers. “They’re for their opponents. But more taller [and this] allows you to importantly, the W clubs can up your game, because you’re keep their squads together playing against people that are a
“They do a wonderful job and I’m appreciative.” during scrimmages rather than going up against each other in competition. “They allow us to manage our bodies well,” explained Minnesota Coach Cheryl Reeve of the practice players when we asked earlier this season of their importance. At the time, the men weren’t allowed in the gym, but the league allowed
little bit bigger.” The MSR also talked to Lynx practice team members. “I actually got introduced to the idea by Paul Richie,” said Macalester College Assistant WBB Coach Sheu Oduniyi. He played high school basketball at Minneapolis South and later in college at Portland State. “When he brought up the
appreciate seeing that in person. The most impressive thing to me is to watch them work day in and day out, and to maintain that level of focus all the time, that level of intensity. And that goes for the coaches as well. Everybody is very focused.” Tim Gill plays pro ball overseas. “Last season I played in Argentina,” he said. “I got involved [as a practice player] in 2017. I have been playing with them ever since. I’ve been going back and forth through my [overseas] season playing and coming back in the summertime.” He said of the Lynx players, “They’re more athletic than you would assume. The IQ level is tremendously high.” “The women play physical,” ■See The Lynx on page 9
Busy week for a sportswriter
What a way to start the fall season: WNBA, NCAA football, high school football and NCAA volleyball. What more could a sports columnist ask for? Check out this summary of the past week. Oh yeah, and check out the pics. Tuesday, August 31 In WNBA action, the Minnesota Lynx started off the week with a 74-66 victory over the New York Liberty at Target Center. Kayla McBride led the way with 25 points and Napheesa Collier added 21 to go along with 14 rebounds. Minneapolis North running back Jaylon Washington scores against St. Paul Johnson. Wednesday, September 1 Photo by Dr. Mitchell Palmer McDonald The University of Minnesota volleyball team, ranked No. 10 nationally, lost to No. 1 Texas 3-1 at Maturi Pavilion. Stephanie Samedy led the way with 21 kills and three blocks. Taylor Landfair added 11 kills and one block.
St. Paul Central’s Joshua Sims (20) and Allan Lankford Jr. (15) sack the quarterback against Minneapolis Washburn. Photo by Dr. Mitchell Palmer McDonald
Thursday, September 2 The University of Minnesota football team lost to No. 4 Ohio State University at Hunting Sta■See Prep Scene on page 9