Inside this Edition...
Read about the JXTA groundbreaking on page 2.
THE VOICE OF BLACK MINNESOTA SINCE 1934
September 30 – October 6, 2021
Vol. 88
NO. 9
www.spokesman-recorder.com
Breakthrough biography reveals Bobby Marshall’s greatness
in the Western Conference (later to be named the Big Ten Conference) and the first to be named All American. He was a two-way star, playing both defensive obby Marshall, a great and offensive end. He graduated from athletic “everyman,” may be one of the greatest the University of Minnesota in 1907 Twin Citians to ever live with a law degree and practiced law in while remaining one of the Twin Cities for several years. our least-known bright lights. But that Marshall was the first Black person is changing as a result of a biography to play professional football, starring released last week in the Twin Cities for the Rock Island Independents at the about his life titled, “Breaking Through age of 40 in 1920. Weeks later he was the Line: Bobby Marshall, The N.F.L.’s joined in the league by African AmeriFirst African American Player,” by Terry can Fritz Pollard, who weeks later beMcConnell. gan playing for the Akron Pros of the Marshall was also nominated and then-American Professional Football presented to the NFL Hall of Fame sel to r, Lorie Washington, Kathy Washington, Betty Association, which soon changed its l to r, Tina Schlief, Don Marshall, Natalie Sims, lection committee by Minneapolis Star Washington , Bobby Marshall’s grandchildren and Bobby Marshall’s grandchildren name to the National Football League. Tribune sports writer Mark Craig, for great-grandchildren Photos by MSR Incidentally, 13 African Americans consideration for induction in the 2022 would enter the NFL from 1920 to sity of Minnesota from 1904 to 1906 in baseball, football and track. Mar- He came to Minneapolis after his fam- 1933 before an unwritten agreement Hall of Fame class. Long before turning pro, Marshall after graduating from Minneapolis shall was born in Milwaukee March 12, ily migrated there. among league owners kept more from Marshall was the first Black player starred playing football at the Univer- Central High School, where he shined 1880, the grandson of Virginia slaves. ■See MARSHALL on page 5 By Mel Reeves Community editor
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PETITO STORY EXPOSES ‘MISSING WHITE WOMAN SYNDROME’ Not all missing persons get the same attention By Niara Savage Contributing writer
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ou probably know Gabby Petito’s story, the Florida resident who went missing while on a road trip with her fiancé. But what about Black women and girls who’ve gone missing from Minnesota? The disappearance of Petito, which has tragically unfolded into a homicide investigation, has dominated the airwaves in recent weeks. Meanwhile, the names, faces, and sometimes
equally tragic stories of Black girls missing from Minnesota and around the country have failed to pique the interest of American media in the same way. But is the public’s fascination with the case fueled by an innocent and unbiased drive to pursue justice for Petito, or by a more complex social phenomenon—“missing White woman syndrome”? The phrase “missing White woman syndrome’’ was coined by late journalist and PBS newscaster Gwen Iffill at the Unity Journalists of Color convention in 2004, when she joked, “If there is a missing White woman, you’re going to cover that every day.” MSNBC host Joy Reid called out the disparate coverage of missing persons on an episode of the ReidOut on September 20. “The way this story has captured media attention has many Gabby Petito wondering, ‘Why not the same media attention Photo: Instagram/GabsPetito when People of Color go missing?’” she said. Viewers nationwide have been delivered who was reported missing on September 11 play-by-play updates about 22-year-old Petito, after her boyfriend Brian Laundrie returned
home to Florida without her from the couple’s cross-country road trip. The breathless coverage, delivered via television and social media feeds, extended overseas: 60 Minutes Australia aired an in-depth segment on the Petito investigation earlier this week. Ultimately, public awareness and engagement in the case is what led to the discovery of Petito’s body. Shortly after a family of YouTubers, who were in the Grand Tetons at the same time as the couple, discovered they had captured the couple’s van on film and contacted the FBI, authorities announced remains were found a short distance from where the van was spotted. But the public has not been privy to information regarding the disappearance of 16-year-old Patria Taylor Wallace, who was last seen in Fridley in February 2021, and has therefore not been able aid in the search for her. Authorities say the 5-foot-1 inch, 117-pound teen may have traveled to St. Paul. A records request submitted to ■See MISSING on page 5
U.S. Dept. of Justice investigates the MPD Citizen accounts of police encounters are invited
women from CUAPB, Michelle Color and protestors. It was a small gathering, Gross and Darlene Scott. They the first of a few such events shared some powerful facts Earlier this month Commu- intended to hear community with those in attendance, most nities United Against Police ideas and experiences, and notably that the police departBrutality (CUAPB) hosted a it succeeded in its goal. The ment’s annual budget includes public discussion in Beltrami event was hosted by two ■See CUAPB on page 5 Park on the Department of Justice (DOJ) investigation into Minneapolis Police Department (MPD) misconduct. The group was there to engage with the community, hear stories, and brainstorm solutions to our policing problems. CUAPB plans to pass these stories and ideas on to the DOJ for inclusion in a consent decree. The decree is a list of changes the DOJ will present in court and require the MPD to undertake. The DOJ is looking into such issues as police mistreatment of the homeless community, racial discrimination and lack of service to people of color, mistreatment of those with mental illnesses and other disabilities, and use of Darlene Scott holds the microphone while Tamara Russell speaks excessive force on People of Photo by R.B. King By R.B. King Contributing writer
Photo by MSN
BIDEN CALLS ABUSE OF HAITIANS ON U.S. BORDER ‘HORRIFIC’ Deportations widely challenged as discriminatory
By MSR News Service
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Images of White men on horses at the U.S. border with Mexico swinging what appeared to be whips or ropes and shouting nasty epithets at Haitian migrants last week drew outrage among many in the U.S and abroad. The hasty deportation of Haitians at the border without allowing for asylum claims also drew criticism. Ten flights arrived in Haiti from Sunday to Tuesday last week in planes designed for 135 passengers, accord-
ing to Haitian officials, who didn’t provide a complete count but said six of those flights carried 713 migrants combined. Vice President Kamala Harris on Tuesday called the treatment “horrible” and said she planned to discuss the issue with Alejandro N. Mayorkas, secretary of the Homeland Security Department and the son of Cuban migrants. “Human beings should never be treated that way,” Harris said, “and I’m deeply troubled about it.” The Haiti Support Project
(HSP) last week condemned the brutal treatment and mass deportation of Haitian migrants who have gathered at the Texas border seeking refuge from the devastation of the recent earthquake, a series of hurricanes and tropical storms, and a deepening political crisis following the mysterious assassination of President Jovenel Moise two months ago. Plagued for decades by grinding poverty, Haiti’s economy has virtually ground to a halt as a result of ■See HAITIANS on page 5