May 31, 2018 - MN Spokesman Recorder

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THE VOICE OF THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY SINCE 1934

—23rd Annual Graduation Celebration Special Edition on pg. B-1

May 31 — June 6, 2018 Vol. 84 No. 43 www.spokesman-recorder.com

TEACHERS

UNDER SIEGE

Student assaults ‘common’ in MPS special ed schools By Charles Hallman Senior Staff Writer

severe emotional and behavioral needs. In 2017, a 17-year-old student punched the Harrison school principal in the face; the student later life-threatening attack on an education pleaded guilty to felony third-degree assault. The assistant at Harrison Education Cenprevious year, a female teacher was assaulted by a ter last week has exposed a larger prob14-year-old student. Surveillance camera footage lem of violence and racism in Minneapolis Public from last Tuesday’s brutal beating showed 18-yearSchools’ (MPS) special education centers. The May old Burfield knocking Dukuly to the ground and 22 beating of Mohammed Dukuly by a White high punching him unconscious. school student, Corey Burfield, left him critically injured and on life support – and left staffers in fear of their own lives. There has been a history of staff members being attacked at Harrison and River Bend Education Center, both of them MPS special education schools located on Minneapolis’ North Side. According to Staff members at both schools say such incithe school’s website, River Bend provides intense dents are commonplace, but they are afraid to individual and behavior management support for speak out for fear of repercussions from MPS ofK-8 students “who have significant emotional, beficials, two staffers exclusively told the MSR. Both havior and mental health needs that adversely afagreed to speak on the condition that their gender fect their academic and social progress.” Harrison and names would not be published. serves high school students, ages 14-18, who have “Harrison and River Bend are not average

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“I get cussed out every day.”

MSR celebrates graduating students, parents

Scholarships awarded at 23rd annual dinner

“I got my thumb broken, a knee replaced and my schools,” said one of the staffers. “Every staff member there knows it is [expletive deleted] every day.” eye cut, and got two concussions” in two years at “Last week, I was hit by a kid. I was attacked… the school, the other recalled. “I get cussed out evbut not [bad enough] to be put in the hospital,” said ery day.” one. ■ See SIEGE on page 5

White NFL owners try to stifle Black protest By Charles Hallman Senior Staff Writer The National Football League is now the first U.S. major professional league with a national anthem policy. Last week, 30 of the league’s 32 team owners approved a new rule mandating that all team personnel – especially players – must stand while the national anthem is played before games.

protest against social issues, including racial injustice and police brutality. In July 2016, the Minnesota Lynx wore Black Lives Matter t-shirts during the national anthem before a game, and other WNBA teams have locked arms before regular-season and playoff games as well. “I don’t think there is ever an inappropriate place for players to effectively voice their opinions,

sparked when former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick sat during the anthem at a 2016 preseason game and, later, took a knee. Other players did likewise during that season as well as this past season. Seventy percent of the NFL players are Black. There are only two people of color (one Asian American, the other Pakistani American) among the principal

2018 Cecil E. Newman Scholarship winners. Read their winning essays on page B-1. By James L. Stroud, Jr. Contributing Writer

come.” Comedian and radio personality Shed G, who has become a mainstay for the graduation celebration, emceed the event and kept the audience entertained and laughing throughout the evening like a “Ringmaster of Fun.” When asked what it meant for him to get the call to emcee the MSR event again, he said, “What I love about all of this is [that] you see students from different nationalities and the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder giving them an opportunity to receive scholarship money. The other thing I love is when the guest speakers say something that I can

The Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder (MSR) and its nonprofit namesake the MSR 501(c)(3) hosted the 23rd annual Graduation Celebration Thursday, May 24 at the Metropolitan Ballroom in Golden Valley. More than 200 community members, graduating students and their parents attended the free scholarship dinner and ceremony awards. Ten students were presented with Cecil E. Newman Scholarships at the event themed “Education and Graduation: It’s a family affair.” Each year, the MSR invites graduating African and African American high school students in Minnesota to participate in a ■ See GRAD on page 5 500-word essay contest for the scholarship named after the late MSR founder and publisher. A volunteer essay committee selects the winners. The 2018 Cecil E. Newman $1000 Scholarship winners are Zarina Sementelli, Majeste Phillip, Jay Viar Johnson, Jasmine Jackson, Charlotte DeVaughn, Verbena Dempster, Jerrell Daniel and Maryam Abullahi. Two additional graduating students, Miracle Campton and Amed Faud, each received a $500 Cecil E. & Launa Newman scholarship. After the event, scholarship recipient Zarina Sementelli said, “It feels empowering (l-r) Wallace “Jack” Jackman and keynote speaker, and liberating to receive this honor because Dr. Tonya Jackman Hampton Photos by Travis Lee of who I am and everything I had to over-

San Francisco 49ers’ kneel during the national anthem before an NFL football game against the Houston Texans, in Houston. Photo courtesy of AP/David J. Phillip Major League Baseball, the NHL, NBA, WNBA, Major League Soccer and the NCAA have no such rules. Only the U.S. Soccer Federation requires its players to stand if they are “representing a Federation national team.” Since 2016, many pro players have used the pre-game ritual to

especially on social and political issues,” Women’s National Basketball Players Association President Nneka Ogwumike told the New Haven Register. Since last week’s announcement, some saw the new NFL policy as a direct result of Black players kneeling when they protested racial injustices, first

owners of the NFL’s 32 teams. The rest are White. “The NFL, like America in so many ways, has shown that it is more interested in silencing the speech of Black players…and rather wanting to make White America comfortable,” said Wash■ See PROTEST on page 5

SLAIN ACTIVIST’S CLOTHING LINE RELAUNCHED IN HIS HONOR Family and friends of slain activist Tyrone Williams raised fists and fashion in honor of his memory May 24 at a special edition of the Ted Talk-inspired Assata Speaks at the Brave New Workshop Comedy Club. The monthly event featured a special fashion show relaunching Williams’ clothing line, Black Rock Coalition. Models walked the runway in T-shirts and hoodies emblazoned with the brand’s logo along with a few new designs, including “This Is America,” “Queen,” and “Royalty” graphics. Williams’ sister Raeisha, who also served as one of the speakers at the event, closed out the fashion show in a black tee with a gold foil graphic of an Egyptian queen. Event organizers Nekima Levy-Pounds and Marques Armstrong joined Raeisha on the runway with fists raised in memory of Williams. “This is about uplifting him and building his legacy,” said Raeisha.

Kim Nelson Photos by Chris Juhn Visit spokesman-recorder.com for more images and the full story on the event.

May 4-10, 2017

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May 31 — June 6, 2018

Harvest schools announce ‘the next phase of our journey’ Harvest Prep and Best Academy merge to improve student performance

HARVEST NETWORK OF SCHOOLS CELEBRATES 25 YEARS Since its founding in 1992, Harvest Preparatory School and the other two schools in the Network – Best Academy and Mastery School – have educated thousands of children, and its influence and impact in the North Minneapolis community has mattered greatly in the lives of individual children, their families, and the broader community. Many of its scholars have gone on to success in high school, college, and career, and some have returned to The Harvest Network of Schools as staff. TWENTYFIVE YEARS HAVE RESULTED IN MANY ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

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arvest Network of Schools (HNS), a nationally recognized leader in delivering an excellent, affirming, enriching education through a portfolio of K-8 public charter schools in North Minneapolis, announced on May 23 a series of strategic organizational and structural changes that will take effect July 1, 2018. Harvest Preparatory School, a K-6 school founded in 1992, and Best Academy, a K-8 school founded in 2008, will merge and operate under a single board of directors. The Mastery School, a K-8 school founded in 2012, will operate under separate management of an independent board of directors while continuing to collab-

will cease serving as their charter management organization effective July 1, 2018. Each of the schools will now directly provide the services previously contracted through the Harvest Network of Schools. “Harvest Network of Schools successfully transformed education theory and practice in North Minneapolis during our first 25 years, educating African American scholars at the highest levels,” said Eric Mahmoud, CEO and Founder of Harvest Network of Schools. “As we pushed our education model to serve more children through growth and replication, several key performance indicators trended downward begin-

Eric Mahmoud MSR file photo

orate with Harvest Prep and Best Academy through a partnership. The Harvest Network of Schools organization and board of directors, which manages academics, strategy, operations and administration for all three schools,

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ning in 2015.” Mahmoud says Harvest Network of Schools hired one of the most respected education consulting groups in the nation to identify pressure points that were impacting the Harvest Network of Schools system. “We took

the findings and recommendations seriously and are excited to share the next phase of our journey and a return to greatness for the next 25 years.” Harvest Prep and Best Academy’s sole focus will be improving its student performance model. The academic model is designed to improve academic achievement by exceeding academic performance for low-income and socially disadvantaged students through a high-expectations, no-excuses culture; a rigorous curriculum; highly qualified, effective teachers; and a longer school day and school year. Best Academy board chair Ezra Hyland states, “Best Academy is thrilled to join forces with Harvest Preparatory School to return our schools to their historical level of educational excellence in North Minneapolis. By streamlining our governance and resources, we can increase our focus on making sure our teachers and scholars have what’s needed in the classroom to deliver on our goals.” In the next phase, Eric Mahmoud will continue to provide leadership to the Harvest-Best school consolidation as the new organization journeys toward greatness. The Mastery School (currently serving grades K-5) will focus on strengthening student performance through its elementary model and by adding sixth grade in the fall of 2018 with a goal of building out its middle

school program by the 2020 school year. “The Mastery School is focused on unleashing an entrepreneurial spirit,” said Margie Soran, chair of the Mastery School board of directors. “We look forward to working with the community and staff to move the school from good to great.” Eric Mahmoud said, “I believe the consolidation of Harvest Prep and Best Academy, along with its continued partnership with Mastery, will significantly reduce complexity and position the schools for greater success.” – Information and photos provided by HNS

• Hundreds of alumni have graduated from high school and college • 2017 Home of WCCO ”Excellent Educator” Loretta Hall • 2010-2016 Harvest Preparatory recognized as a ”Beating the Odds” school by Star Tribune for seven consecutive years • 2016 Home of MN Teacher of the Year Abdul Wright (first Black male, first charter school teacher, youngest recipient) • 2015 Harvest Network of Schools established • 2013 Profiled on CNN’s Black in America with Soledad O’Brien • 2013 Best Academy receives national honor among top five best schools for educating boys of color (COSEBOC) • 2012 THIRD school opened – Mastery School • 2009 Best East and Sister Academy opened (programs of Best Academy) • 2008 SECOND school opened – Best Academy (grew out of Boys Academy program) • 1998 Harvest Preparatory became one of Minnesota’s first charter schools • 1993 Prince made $200,000 gift to expand Olson Highway campus • 1992 Harvest Preparatory founded by Eric and Ella Mahmoud as a private school (grew out of Seed Daycare, founded in 1985)

Seizing Opportunity. Applying education to life.

What drives you?

SKILLS CHILDREN NEED BEFORE ENTERING KINDERGARTEN

Kindergarten is supposed to be fun and educational and allow children an opportunity to blossom, because it is usually the first time the tykes are away from their parents for any significant amount of time. And while most kindergartens don’t exactly have GPA requirements, for a child to succeed there are a few milestones that should be reached before they toddle through the door, says Alise McGregor, founder of Little Newtons, an early education center with locations in Minnesota and Illinois. “New parents, especially, can have a hard time understanding that there are actually things their child should know prior to kindergarten,” McGregor said. “But if they take time to make sure their child knows some basics, it will make kindergarten a better experience.” McGregor says the typical things a child should know prior to entering kindergarten are: • Basic shapes. The child should have learned basic shapes like the square, circle, rectangle and triangle in preschool. If not, parents should teach them. In kindergarten, they will probably be introduced to the hexagon, star, heart and octagon. • The letters of the child’s name. They should at least be able to recognize the letters of their name. In kindergarten, they will learn their uppercase letters and begin lowercase letters. They will also begin to learn how to write freehand without tracing. • Numbers 1 to 10. Although some children will be able to count to 100 by the time they reach kindergarten, all should be able to at least be able to count to 10. Numbers will be used starting on the first day of kindergarten, so the children need to at least understand and recognize numbers. • Social skills. The child should be able to follow directions, be able to be separated from the caregiver, and use the restroom independently. Children who scream and cry when they are separated from caregivers disrupt the rest of the class. Teachers simply do not have the time to supervise individual students who cannot independently use the restroom. McGregor says that it is important for children to get off on the right foot early in school. By teaching children these skills prior to attending kindergarten it should make it easier for them to succeed.

ccaps.umn.edu

The University of Minnesota is an equal opportunity educator and employer. © 2018 Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved.

Kezele L.

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May 31 — June 6, 2018

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CRISPR: life-changing, world-changing science that will revolutionize medicine

By Charles E. Crutchfield III, MD Dr. Crutchfield, my nephew said there may be a new treatment called CRISPR for hundreds of diseases. What in the world is CRISPR?

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RISPR is science and medicine’s potential secret weapon for treating and preventing inherited diseases like sickle cell anemia, among many others. Asked to comment about the potential of CRISPR, scientists and doctors who understand it may respond by saying: • CRISPR is THE next “big thing.” • CRISPR has the potential to absolutely revolutionize medicine. • CRISPR is the most important scientific discovery of the last 100 years. • CRISPR has the potential to change the world as we know it. These are incredible statements, but they may just turn out to be true. CRISPR is a system that allows one to edit the DNA of living organisms, including humans. Pronounced “crisper,” the acronym sounds like a drawer in a refrigerator, but it actually stands for “Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats.” Our DNA is a series of instructions – how tall we are, what color eyes we have, and any number of thousands of traits – that add up to making us who we are. The instructions are written as a series of chemical letters in our DNA located in the nucleus of every cell. These genetic instructions are the same for all living organisms, from worms to corn plants. Just like a book filled with letters that make up words and sentenc-

es that constitute paragraphs and allow the reader to understand the story, sometimes, rarely, there can be an error or misprint in the letters of our DNA. We pass on our DNA to our offspring, so if there is an error, there is a chance that our children will inherit the mistake. Sometimes, the DNA error means nothing. Other times, a DNA error of even a single letter can so profoundly affect a gene that it causes a terrible disease. For example, sickle cell disease is just such a case. If only one single letter in the DNA instructions is incorrect and makes structural protein in our blood cells weak, these weak blood cells can clump and clog our blood vessels, leading to pain, damaged organs, and even premature death. How does CRISPR work? CRISPR was discovered in bacteria. Bacteria have developed an ingenious system of protection against foreign invaders, especially viruses that infect bacteria. Bacteria possess an enzyme complex called CRISPR that recognizes foreign viral DNA in subsequent infections and chops it up, rendering it ineffective. It’s like an immune system for bacteria. Scientists can now take this enzyme complex (containing an enzyme cutter called Cas9 and an RNA guide component) and program it to recognize any DNA sequence, bind to it, and then cut it. Not only can it cut out defective DNA, but it can also be programmed to repair defective DNA with the correct DNA! So now, if someone has a defective gene, we have the potential to repair it. Additionally, we also have the potential to correct faulty genes and DNA in eggs and sperm, so the disease will not be passed on to children. Of course, getting programmed CRISPR into a human body and the desired cells isn’t going to be easy, but scientists are working on it around the clock. There are over 600 diseases (like cancer, sickle cell, Alzheimer’s, Hun-

tington’s, ALS, hemophilia and many others) that are the result of defective DNA. CRISPR has the potential to prevent and/or cure them all. CRISPR is revolutionizing medicine. It makes research more effective and precise, faster, easier, and less expensive. This is truly life-changing and world-changing science. Think of CRISPR as a word processor and our DNA as the set of instructions, like words on a page that

CRISPR is that the discoverers are allowing it to be used by scientists around the world to work on almost any legitimate scientific project. It can be purchased online for less than $100. To date, it has been ordered over 44,000 times and shipped to over 2,100 research laboratories in over 60 different countries around the world. Easily editing DNA is no longer science fiction. Dozens of companies have been established around

CRISPR allows editing the DNA of living organisms. spell out who we are. Now, with CRISPR, scientists potentially have the power to correct any “typos,” rewrite our instructions, and permanently change who we are, much like changing the letters, words or sentences on a written page with a word processor. The Human Genome Project was an international effort to decode all DNA in humans. This meant deciphering almost three billion DNA letters, which codes for more than 30,000 human genes. The project began in 1990 and was declared finished in 2003. During that time, we learned what the human genes coded for, and what defects in them caused disease, but we had no way of fixing the errors that caused disease. Now, with CRISPR, we can. The most exciting thing about

the world to develop CRISPR technology. CRISPR technology will undoubtedly fuel a multi-billion-dollar therapeutic market in just the next few years. Scientists have used it to treat mosquitoes so they can’t transmit certain diseases, rice plants to withstand severe weather conditions, and dogs to be more muscular. They have even treated blind mice and monkeys, enabling them to see. As mentioned earlier, researchers are also using CRISPR to correct defective genes (for a type of inherited heart disease) in sperm and eggs so that, in the future, their children may not inherit the disease. This has the potential to change the genetic history of a family who has suffered from devastating genetic diseases for generations. This is just the tip of the proverbial “iceberg” for CRISPR.

Doctors say let’s use CRISPR to treat human disease and suffering. It should make a significant impact in health care over the next 10 years, and CRISPR will be transformative for the health of the next generation of humans. While CRISPR technology has the potential to eliminate disease and suffering, it also has the potential to be abused. If we can rewrite DNA, why not rewrite DNA to produce designer babies who are smarter, more attractive, taller or stronger? Most scientists agree we are nowhere close to changing humans. Researchers say that changing genes is incredibly complicated. For example, eliminating one gene can decrease the risk for heart disease, but at the same time it can increase the risk for diabetes. There is much to be understood. With CRISPR we can change our DNA. When we change our DNA, we can change ourselves and all of our descendants. The profound potential of CRISPR is ineffable. The key is to use CRISPR safely and ethically. Charles E. Crutchfield III, MD is a board certified dermatologist and Clinical Professor of Dermatology at the University of Minnesota Medical School. He also has a private practice in Eagan, MN. He received his M.D. 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. Dr. Crutchfield was recognized by Minnesota Medicine as one of the 100 Most Influential Healthcare Leaders in Minnesota. 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.

MENTAL HEALTH MONTH IS A GOOD TIME TO ASSESS YOUR OVERALL WELLNESS have emotional problems and depression. A diet rich with whole foods, fruits, vegetables, lean meats and fish is recommended for good mental and physical health. Emotional Wellness with Dr. Golden by

DEIDRE ANNICE GOLDEN P H.D., LP

The theme for May’s Mental Health Month 2018 is “Fitness #4Mind4Body”. In order to have optimal health, we have to take good care of our bodies as well as our minds. MentalHealthAmerica.net suggests several ways that changes in your lifestyle can help you on your personal journey towards health and wellness. You will first need to consult with your primary care physician who can help you identify a wellness plan based on your health status. These wellness factors include: • Diet and nutrition • Exercise • The gut-brain connection • Sleep • Stress Diet and nutrition The importance of good nutrition begins during pregnancy. Women who eat a diet high in fried, processed and sugary foods during pregnancy are more likely to have children with emotional problems. Children, adolescents and young adults who eat unhealthy diets are more likely to

Exercise Living an active lifestyle is another way to promote wellness and good physical and mental health. You do not have to join a gym or purchase equipment to get the health benefits. Walking, standing and stretching all have health benefits. If you have been inactive for some time, you may want to start out slowly by simply increasing the number of steps you take. The gut-brain connection The gut, also known as the gastrointestinal tract, refers to all of your internal organs that are involved in digesting food and processing it into waste. This includes your mouth, esophagus, stomach, pancreas, liver, gallbladder, intestine, colon and rectum. The gut, sometimes referred to as “the second brain,” is responsible for the production of serotonin, which is a chemical in our brain that controls our mood. Poor gut health has been found to increase the risk of psychiatric, neurological and medical disorders. A diet high in fruits, vegetables, highfiber foods, beans and whole grains promotes “a healthier digestive system, which means a healthier you.” (med. nyu.edu)

Sleep Getting a good night’s sleep is another way to promote good emotional and physical health. There are a number of health benefits related to adequate sleep, and it also reduces the risk for several illnesses such as depression, anxiety, health disease and diabetes. Although there is some variability in the amount of sleep a person requires, most adults need between seven and nine hours each night. Babies, children and teens need even more. School-aged children need nine to 11 hours while teens need eight to 10. Some of the things you can do to improve your sleep include: limit caffeine and alcohol, don’t exercise within two to three hours of bedtime, don’t nap, and set a sleep schedule. The body responds best if you go to sleep and wake up at the same time every day. It is also recommended that you don’t use electronics within one hour of bedtime. Stress Stress is a common occurrence and often comes and goes. It is when you experience chronic stress that your emotional, mental and physical health can suffer. Constant stress over a long period of time increases the risk for heart disease, high blood pressure, depression, anxiety, substance abuse and gastrointestinal disorders. It can also lower your immune system’s ability to fight off infection. Talking with others who are

supportive, eating a healthy diet, practicing relaxation, meditation or deep breathing, and journaling are a few ways to manage stress. If you continue to struggle, discuss what is happening with your therapist or primary care physician. Making changes to your lifestyle can be difficult. Each year, between 40-45 percent of adults in America make New Year’s resolutions. The top three resolutions are to lose weight, exercise and stop

smoking. Less than 50 percent still maintain these resolutions six months later. Mentalhealthamerica.net has a list of worksheets that can help you make changes to your diet, exercise, sleep and management of stress. Starting small, setting realistic shortterm and long-terms goals, and getting support can help with the process of change. It can also be helpful to write these goals down and review and revise regularly as you

make progress. Stop by the NorthPoint clinic and human services lobby Tuesdays and Thursdays in May for educational materials about improving your mental and physical health. Staff will be available to share about the mental health and chemical health services that are available at NorthPoint. NorthPoint Health and Wellness Center is located at 1313 Penn Ave. N., Minneapolis. Or contact us at 612-543-2500.

September 21-27, 2017

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4 May 31 — June 6, 2018 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.

GRADUATION IS JUST THE FIRST HURDLE By Julianne Malveaux Contributing Commentator

The NFL’s ‘anthem policy’ is pure hypocrisy By Jeffery Robinson Contributing Commentator The NFL’s new “anthem policy” requires players to “respect” the flag and the national anthem or stay in the locker room until it is played. The NFL refers to this as a compromise — it was anything but. This was a mandate, not a decision arrived at through a collaborative process. Despite claiming that they would consult with the players before making a decision on this issue, the National Football League Players Association said, “The NFL chose to not consult the union in the development of this new ‘policy.’” So, the league and owners will decide what shows “respect.” Kneeling is out. The Pittsburgh Steelers indicated that raising a fist or linking arms is out. If one team decides a gesture or posture is respectful, but another team doesn’t like it, what will happen? One of the NFL officials actually said, “We will know it when we see it.” Players who want to kneel (or raise a fist or link arms or do some other kind of gesture) are told, “If you do that on the field, we will take money away from you.” This is simply a variation of an old, familiar theme. Don’t demonstrate in the street because you block my commute home. Don’t demonstrate downtown, I have shopping to do. Don’t demonstrate at a sporting event because you take away from my entertainment. Why can’t you all just shut up and dribble? Telling players to stay in the locker room also rings familiar, as well. Get to the back of the bus. Get to the

other water fountain. Do not appear in public in ways that will threaten or displease White people in America. If you want to protest, do it in a way that White folks don’t have to see it or deal with your claimed injustices. And with the collusion to keep Colin Kaepernick out of the league, combined with teams asking free agents if they will stand during the anthem, another message is being delivered. Be thankful you are making all that money — you play a game for a living. If we didn’t allow you to be making this money, you would be out there with the rest of “them.” President Donald Trump weighed in on players staying in the locker room saying, “Maybe you should not be in the country.” In a country that claims to value free speech and expression, you should be fined or forced to leave the country if you “speak” in a way some don’t like. Orwell would have loved it. John Elway and other NFL officials have said that we should “take the politics out of football.” Really? What about the millions of dollars paid to the NFL by the Department of Defense to promote the military? If encouraging people not to serve in the military is a political act, then encouraging them to serve is equally political. What about the show of military aircraft flying overhead and flags streaming across the field? Kneeling during the anthem has nothing to do with being for or against military recruiting, but the Pentagon paid for the NFL to promote the military — an overtly political act — and the NFL has been delivering. There is nothing wrong with

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CORRECTION POLICY If we make an error, we want to correct it. If you believe that an error has been made email jhence@spokesman-recorder.com. If a correction is warranted, it will be printed the next week.

that, but it is what it is. The NFL gave up being non-political a long time ago. The NFL said the new policy would change “a false perception among many that thousands of NFL players were unpatriotic.” Think about that for a minute. There was a false perception that players were unpatriotic, meaning the players kneeling were patriotic. The cure for this false perception is to force players to stand when they would prefer to kneel. By forcing them to stand, the fans will now know they are patriotic. This makes no sense. Only one team has said they will stop selling concessions during the anthem. It does not appear that the suspension of selling of beer, hot dogs, banners, and the like, was even considered by the group. I guess it is not disrespectful to leave your seat and miss the anthem in order to get a dog and a beer. After all, there is money to be made. And no disrespect is shown by the fans at home who go to the bathroom, grab another beer, or set up the snacks during the anthem. The respect must come from the players. Houston Texans owner Bob McNair told players last year, “You fellas need to ask your compadres, fellas, stop that other business; let’s go out and do something that really produces positive results, and we’ll help you.” Much has been made of the NFL setting aside money for social justice. The money was not new money to support communities, but re-allocating already designated charitable funds from one issue (breast cancer) to another (social justice). This is what caring means to an institution which was forecast to hit $14 billion in gross revenue last year. If people are serious about making a difference, they use whatever platform they have to make that clear. The NFL released its new policy at the same time news was breaking about NBA player Sterling Brown being abused and tased by officers of the Milwaukee Police Department. This is the kind of incident that started the protests. The NFL did not mention this incident in any of its messaging. Apparently, speaking out about police abuse in the Black community isn’t something they are interested in during the offseason either. Jeffery Robinson is the ACLU deputy legal director and director of the Trone Center for Justice and Equality.

Marvel’s Black Panther, Chadwick Boseman, graduated from Howard University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree in 2000. On May 12, Boseman returned to his alma mater to address the Class of 2018 while receiving an honorary degree. The Howard University graduation was one of more than 100 Historically Black College and University graduations and one of more than 4,000 general graduations across the country. On May 5, White House Correspondent April Ryan brought down the house at Bennett College in North Carolina. On the same day, in Arkansas, journalist and political commentator Sophia Nelson made lasting remarks during the Philander Smith College commencement exercise. All across the nation, families gathered, people celebrated and graduations were being hailed as an occasion of joy. However, despite these many festivities, if you are a Black American who graduated from the University of Florida (UF), your achievements may have been marred by the horrible memory of faculty marshals physically pushing you off of the stage, after you decided to celebrate your Black Greek (fraternity) pride with the execution of a few “steps.”

barbecuing in a public park in Oakland, Calif., where barbecuing is customary. That’s why the police were called on three Black women (and a White man) because they failed to wave or smile when they exited an Airbnb in Rialto, Calif., and were detained for 45 minutes despite possessing proof that they had reserved their space. That’s why the police wrestled a 25-year-old Black woman to the ground (exposing her bare breasts) in an Alabama Waffle House after she asked for plastic cutlery and an ignorant employee reportedly said, “She did not know her place.” And the beat goes on and on and on. The police are too often called to put Black people in their place, to force them to comply, to reinforce the tenet of White supremacy; the notion that when we see a White person, we must shuck and jive and smile. So-called law enforcement officers become servants of racism, who want us in our place. I want the graduates to know that their place is every place. Class of 2018, your place is in that Starbucks at the table, order or not. Your place is in that Waffle House, getting the utensils you requested. Your place is at the lake in Oakland, burning those bones on your grill. Your place is on that stage at UF. Resistance has a high price. Who wants to go to jail and end up like Sandra Bland, whose mysterious death in Texas still has not

I want the graduates to know that their place is every place. More than 20 students were assaulted by an unidentified faculty member (who some say is a chemistry lecturer) who is now on paid leave. Why would the university continue to pay someone who seems to have differentially attacked Black students, as apparently no White students were assaulted or pushed off of the stage? This lecturer is a menace to society and college students, who should not be exposed to his racism, either on stage or in a classroom. According to The New York Times, UF President W. Kent Fuchs apologized to the affected students and left a personal message of apology on Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity member Oliver Telusma’s voicemail, due to the incident. However, from where I sit, President Fuchs should track that student down along with all of the others and visit them face-toface. The UF incident reminds Black students that graduation is but one of the many hurdles they must clear. Every day — every single day — they face the possibility of pernicious racism, differential treatment, and the threat of law enforcement to compel compliance with the most foolish of laws and norms, spoken or unspoken. That’s why Holly Hylton, the White woman who managed a Philadelphia Starbucks, felt free to call the police on two Black men after they had been seated, without ordering anything. That’s why a hysterical White female bigot called the police on a Black man who was

been solved? Who wants to be handcuffed, humiliated, exposed, and maligned, just for asking a simple question? Starbucks recently closed thousands of stores to the tune of millions of dollars for unconscious bias training. But, who will train these biased police officers and the racists who call them, because their feelings are bruised when no one waves at them? The Class of 2018 will learn, as have millions of other Black Americans, that racism is alive and well. They’ve cleared a hurdle with graduation, but even as some cross the stage, they are being reminded that there are many more hurdles to clear, to survive in our unfortunately racist nation. Perhaps, though, the Class of 2018 will be among those to dismantle the racist hurdles. Perhaps in the process of clearing other hurdles (graduate and professional school, marriage and children, artificial intelligence and gentrification), they will also find the wherewithal to eliminate racial barriers to success. Julianne Malveaux is an author, economist and founder of Economic Education. Her latest book Are We Better Off? Race, Obama and Public Policy is available to order at Amazon. com and at www.juliannemalveaux.com.

Trying My Best There’s nothing fair and balanced about ‘fraudphobia’ By Frank Erickson Contributing Commentator After Fox 9 TV reported claims that Somali American daycare facilities were guilty of fraud and sending the money overseas, a Star Tribune editorial stated, “While nothing can eradicate greed, there’s always room to improve fraud detection... The Fox 9 TV report underscored that ongoing responsibility. Senator Jim Abeler, R-Anoka, struck the right tone about this situation, saying scrutiny is not about ‘Islamophobia’ but about ‘fraudphobia.’” Not even close, Tribune. What both you and Fox 9 TV have as an “ongoing responsibility” is to first be fair and balanced when investigating fraud within state programs — not to highlight, scrutinize, and sensationalize only the claims of fraud by people of color. Their approach is Islamophobic, because they run it as a lead story, when the majority of fraud within state programs are committed by White people — especially when the majority of recipients of state aid, for all programs, is White people. Most of this greed that the Tribune says is impossible to “eradicate,” is White people ripping off state programs, but that doesn’t get the GOP at the State Capitol fired up. Only when Somali Americans are accused of fraud do we hear the outrage. And the Star Tribune, for some strange reason, goes along with it because they just love connecting the local Somali Americans to terror any chance they can get. Frank Erickson lives in Minneapolis.

May 31 — June 6, 2018

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“Being in a room with all of the graduates and their families to recognize their achievements and accomplishments truly demonstrates that “Education and Graduation” is a family affair.”

(l-r) Amed Faud , Charlotte DeVaughn , Zarina Sementelli, Majeste Phillip, Jasmine Jackson, Spokesman-Recorder president Tracey Williams-Dillard , Jay Viar Johnson, Maryam Abullahi, Jerrell Daniel, Verbena Dempster, and Miracle Campton Photos by Travis Lee

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take home as an adult. It makes being here each time extra special.” The Graduation Celebration featured a variety of offerings, including a career, resource and education expo in the afternoon followed by the gala dinner, live entertainment, and giveaways in the evening. Keynote speaker Dr. Tonya Jackman Hampton, Ph.D. spoke on the importance of individual branding and knowing where you come from. Dr. Jackman Hampton advised that one should find one’s executive style and then own it. She encouraged the students not to buy into the lie that using proper communication skills is a form of “sounding or talking White.” Jackman Hampton also referenced her brand as an example, re-

vealing that she, too, benefited from the influence of the late Cecil E. Newman as one of his granddaughters and embraced the Graduation Celebration’s “It’s a Family Affair” theme with pride. Performers included “Step with Soul” step team, which opened the entertainment with a fiery, synchronized, crowd-pleasing and footstomping routine; and a creatively choreographed performance by dance troupe Shape Shift. Singer Kennedy Hurst also graced the stage with her rendition of Mariah Carey’s Hero. Tracey Williams-Dillard, MSR CEO & publisher, closed the evening with heartfelt words. “Being in a room with all of the graduates and their families to recognize their achievements and accomplishments truly demonstrates that ‘Education and Graduation’ is a family affair,” said Williams-Dillard. Over the years, the MSR has re-

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ington Post Global Opinions Editor Karen Attiah in a published article last week. “Trump rallied against NFL players… [He] insults and degrades professional athletes, then virtually dictates the new policies,” King stated. “Whiteness is at the root here.” Jemele Hill, senior correspondent for ESPN and The Undefeated, said, “It’s no secret that the league… [is] scared of President Donald Trump,” and added that the NFL “doesn’t seem to care that it is alienating many of its Black and brown fans.”

cruited marquee-name entertainers as keynote speakers such as LL Cool J, Tavis Smiley, Kimberly Elise, Hill Harper and Nick Cannon, just to name a few, who have helped put the annual celebration on the local and national map. In recent years, however, MSR has recruited from local talent to address the scholarship winners and their families. The main event sponsor for the Graduation Celebration was the Medtronic Foundation. African or African American high school students graduating in 2019 are encouraged to apply for next year’s MSR Graduation CeleAmed Faud and Miracle Campton, 2018 Launa Newman scholarship winners bration in the spring at www.graduation-celebration.com, or call the Visit MSRNewsOnline.com for more photos from the event. MSR at 612-827-4021. James L. Stroud, Jr. welcomes reader responses to jlswriter@gmail.com.

also an artist, filmmaker and grassroots organizer. “I recognized that what rights I did have were the product of people who were taking a stand in past generations. I was at risk of losing rights for myself and for my children and future generations.” Newsome is against the new anthem policy and supports the players, urging them not to stop protesting. “I think it raises more questions about not just the rights of athletes to protest, but in the way the NFL is structured. It’s a majority White-owned league [and] the players are predominately Black,” she points out, adding that the NFL owners’ latest action shows “the imbalance of power” that is in place. “The White ownership is shutting [the Black players] down” in future protests, she stressed. “The owners can try to prevent kneeling, but they open another can of worms,” University of Kansas African and African-American Studies and History Professor Randal Maurice Jelks said in an Associat-

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The staffers also report that both schools are very segregated. “The White kids are on one side. They don’t have to intermix with the Black kids. The Black kids are over-policed, but the White kids can do anything they want to do. It’s messed up. It’s crazy,” the staffers continued. “That shouldn’t have happened,” said one staffer about Burfield. “That kid should not have been there. That’s not the first [attack] that kid has done.” Burfield was arrested immediately after the assault, but was released without bond May 24 to his parents and must be on electronic home monitoring. His next court appearance on assault charges for the attack is scheduled for June 22. Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman said he would prosecute Burfield despite the young man’s reported men-

Mohammed Dukuly Photo courtesy of the subject’s family tal health issues. “He assaulted someone who, in many ways, could have died,” Freeman said. An MPS spokesperson told the MSR that the district’s current concern is for Harrison to move forward. “We are just focused on healing Harrison at this point. We are trying to heal the community,” Julie Schultz Brown, executive director of marketing and communications, said via phone. Both unnamed staffers, however, expressed doubts on how

much MPS actually will ensure more safety at Harrison and River Bend. “I think [the district leaders] are trying to make this... an unsupervised place.” They said the community must get more involved, such as by spending time in the building and seeing for themselves what’s going on. “It will blow you away. It’s sad.” Charles Hallman welcomes reader responses to challman@ spokesman-recorder.com.

GET NEWS FASTER Detroit Lions players take a knee during the national anthem before an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons in Detroit on Sept. 24, 2017. Photo courtesy of AP/Paul Sancya NFL players do have the option to stay in the locker room during the national anthem and not be penalized. The league nonetheless “basically caved in to President Trump,” said activist Bree Newsome in a recent MSR phone interview. The Charlotte, N.C. native became famous for her 2015 civil disobedience when she was arrested after climbing the flagpole and taking down the Confederate flag at the South Carolina State House. But she was an activist before that event – Newsome was arrested in 2013 during a sit-in at the North Carolina house speaker’s office while protesting the state’s voter ID law. She also co-founded The Tribe, a grassroots organizing collective in Charlotte. “I ended up taking a stand because I witnessed the injustice in light of the Trayvon Martin case and the attack on voting rights,” said Newsome, who is

ed Press article. “Imagine if players decide as a team to not come out for the national anthem. Or if onethird of the team decides not to come out.” Activist DeRay McKesson, in the same article, said he hopes NFL players will fight the new policy. “If we narrow the conversation to simply being about sit, stand, squat, salute during the anthem, then I think we are really missing the forest for the trees,” Newsome said. Read more of Bree Newsome’s comments about the NFL anthem policy in the MSR sports section. Charles Hallman welcomes reader responses to challman@spokesman-recorder.com.

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May 31 — June 6, 2018

The MSR celebrates Black Music Month All through the month of June, the MSR will devote our entertainment pages to highlight African American musicians in celebration of Black Music Month. Black Music Month began after Kenny Gamble, Ed Wright, and Dyana Williams came up with the idea to set aside a month to celebrate the impact of Black music. The group successfully lobbied President Jimmy Carter to host a reception June 7, 1979, to formally recognize the cultural and financial contributions of Black music. Each president since then has announced the June observance.

‘Purple Music’ to plumb the rich depths of Minneapolis’ musical legacy Editor’s Note: Welcome to the launch of “Purple Music: Musings on the Minneapolis Sound,” a new column by writer Tony Kiene. With this column, Kiene will highlight the lasting legacy of the late Prince, and by extension, the many artists who have played a pivotal role in shaping what’s commonly known as “the Minneapolis Sound.” Enjoy the first installment below.

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n the introduction to their September 2017 special “Prince” issue of the Journal of African American Studies, co-editors Judson L. Jeffries and Shannon M. Cochran write that the “primary responsibility of the scholar is to put in historical, political, and social context that which has not only shaped our thinking about people, places, things, and events, but give meaning to them.” And, as they underscore the prominence of Prince in the history of popular music and culture, Jeffries and Cochran appropriately add that Prince was so much more than music.

Back in 1996, when I was a wannabe scholar myself, I wrote my master’s thesis on the meaning of Prince and The Minneapolis Sound. Mind you, I was no pioneer. A year prior, C. Liegh McInnis published his dissertation from Jackson State University titled The Lyrics of Prince. At Purdue University, where a couple of my professors enthusiastically supported my research interests, namely Floyd W. Hayes, III and the late Anthony J. Lemelle, the majority of their colleagues, as well as a fair share of my peers, questioned the legitimacy of Prince as an intellectual enterprise. Whether their derision was due to academic snobbery, simple mindedness, or perhaps another form of chauvinism, who cares? I certainly didn’t. It was not as if there wasn’t already a tradition of studying Black musical forms and their social, cultural, and political power. Take, for example, Frank Kofsky’s Black Nationalism and The Revolution in Music or Ben Sidran’s Black Talk, among others. That said, there has also been a tradition in America’s ivory tower and the larger culture of marginalizing the significance and contributions of Black art, music, and literature, making the meticulous study of someone like Prince and a myriad of other extraordinary artists even more essential. Now before I go any further, I wish to stress that this column (and in particular, its first installment) is not about why Prince should be studied in the academy (he should). But rather, why the thoughtful and extensive exploration of Prince and his art should transcend all boundaries, disciplines, and circles of discourse, as did he. In making this point, I want to briefly reference some of the standout work that has been done on

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former teaching a Prince class at NYU, among other related projects, and the latter having delivered a series of lectures at Harvard which inspired a contemplative book of his own. Since the beginning of 2017, alone, there have been academic conferences on Prince at Yale University, the UK’s University of Salford, and NYU Brooklyn. And then, most recently, there was the expansive three-day “Prince from Minneapolis” symposium organized by University of Minnesota geography professor Arun Saldanha,

Prince over the years, as well as survey some of the scholarship, journalism, and other historic and artistic ventures that are being undertaken today in honor of Prince’s life and legacy; if for no other reason than to highlight the broad scope and diversity of such efforts and to provide a foundation for the future of this column. In the 1980s, journalists such as Greg Tate, Armond White, and Nelson George elevated the discourse on Black

“There has also been a tradition in America’s ivory tower of marginalizing the significance and contributions of Black art, music...” popular music including more than the occasional nod to Prince – oftentimes in admiration of, and sometimes not. Their quest to advance the discussion of Black music and culture both within and beyond academia was followed by scholars such as Tricia Rose, Cornel West, and Michelle Wallace, who helped to usher in the new era of the “public intellectual.” And, over the years, as more and more people spoke, wrote, lectured, and even preached about Prince, the substance and vigor of such musings inexorably had to rise in order to keep pace with their subject. In recent years, both prior to and following Prince’s untimely passing, there have been insightful and multidimensional texts by the likes of James Perone, Ben Greenman, Joseph Vogel, and Duane Tudahl. The authors of Prince: The Making of a Pop Music Phenomenon, Stan Hawkins and Sarah Niblock, who while acknowledging the inherent value of the Prince biographers that have exhaustively presented “chronological facts, journalistic anecdotes, and performance stats,” sought themselves to explore what makes Prince “so profound.” Questlove and Touré, a pair of African American cultural icons in their own right, have also made significant contributions in advancing Prince’s legacy with the

which when it comes to local tributes to Prince, is part and parcel of a much larger movement. Author Andrea Swenson’s Got to Be Something Here: The Rise of The Minneapolis Sound is a deep dive into the history of the local Black music scene, revealing the social and racial politics that once relegated African American artists to the musical periphery of the Twin Cities. Kristen Zschomler, historian and archaeologist with the State of Minnesota, has chronicled much of that same history in her mission to register several Prince and Minneapolis Sound-related sites with the US Department of the Interior’s National Register of historic places. Pamela Ayo Yetunde and John Chang-Yee Lee of the United Theological Seminary have delved into Prince’s provocative and complex spirituality with their Theology of Prince project, plus we now have the inspiring, labor of love known as The People’s Museum for Prince, curated by interdisciplinary artist Emma Balázs. On the nonprofit side of things are Heidi Vader’s Purple Playground, which will soon launch its music education initiative The Academy of Prince, and the philanthropic vision being carried out by former Prince associates who have established the prn alumni foundation. Going forward, future installments of this column, with Prince as its seminal figure, might feature thoughts about a particular song, album, tour, event, or theme. It will also give attention to some of the aforementioned ■ See PURPLE MUSIC on page 7

Hot performances raise temp even higher at Soundset 2018

Songstress Erykah Badu brought smooth soul to this year’s Soundset. Photo by Chris Juhn Iconic performances by legendary artists Wu-Tang, Erykah Badu and Ice-T, and newer artists Migos, Jaden Smith and more, marked this year’s Soundset music festival. Over 40 local and national acts converged at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds on May 27 for the 11th annual celebration of hip hop, which included a car show and live graffiti art — all on a 93-degree day. Visit MSRNewsOnline.com for more photos and a recap of the event.

May 31 — June 6, 2018

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VocalEssence marks milestone season with new voices, unique collaborations By Paige Elliott Online/entertainment editor

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inneapolis-based choral organization VocalEssence has recently unveiled the musical offerings for its jubilee 50th season. Highlighting a diverse lineup of concerts and programming, the nonprofit’s 2018-2019 season promises outdoor summer sing-alongs, a new family series, and musical celebrations of inclusion, perseverance and identity. The season kicks off in August with a look back at the nonprofit’s historic journey. “When I founded VocalEssence in 1969, I knew that both the tradition of choirs and the community I lived in could benefit by the inclusion of new voices and new perspectives in the art,” said VocalEssence Founder and Artistic Director, Philip Brunelle in a press release. “I’m very proud to see what we’ve achieved — touching lives from children to seniors, bridging cultures with educational programs, and commissioning work from artists, both worldfamous and emerging,” he added. “This season has a feeling of triumph about it because it’s a validation and continuation of our mission,” said VocalEssence Associate Conductor G. Phillip Shoultz, III. “The beginning of the year opens with a retrospective, so for me to share the podium with [Brunelle] on things that have had great meaning for the organization through the 50 years is exciting,” Shoultz told the MSR. “But then to immediately turn and look forward after that...will be great.” Shoultz hails from Columbus, GA, and is embarking on his fifth season with the organization. In addition to sharing the podium with Brunelle as conductor, he is also the director of learning, engagement and community programs, including WITNESS, ¡Cantaré!, and the Carnegie Hall Lullaby

Project. As he explained, “VocalEssence has a concert series [consisting of] main subscription concerts. And then we have several programs that involve learning initiatives like WITNESS, which has its own subscription concert, but also a young person’s program of the same theme where we’re in 50 schools…and have a curriculum that we put together. “And, we engage teaching artists like Ginger Commodore, T. Mychael Rambo and Roxane Wallace…who go into the schools and lead workshops. And then the students come together for a culminating experience at Orchestra Hall.”

G. Phillip Shoultz, III in action

VocalEssence announced the lineup for their 50th season with a free concert at the Crystal Court in IDS Center on May 15. Shoultz cited WITNESS, with this year’s theme of “Yet They Persist,” as one of the offerings he’s looking forward to this season. “WITNESS is always exciting because that is the one program that I pretty much create myself artistically,” he said. “This theme of ‘yet they persisted,’ it just kinda stuck with me. “‘Could we celebrate the trailblazing women, particularly the ones in our own community?’ For me it was some great learning — to learn about Hallie Quinn Brown, and what she meant and why we have the Hallie Q. Cen-

ter. And to be able to pay homage to her and then Sharon Sayles Belton [Minneapolis’ first Black and female mayor], and [Rep.] Ilhan Omar [the first Somali American Muslim woman lawmaker] and Andrea Jenkins [the first transgender Black woman lawmaker] and to put that in a way to musically represent what they stand for. “We’ll have diverse pieces of music to represent perseverance and triumph through time and strength and music by African American composers, by African American female composers,” said Shoultz about the February 2019

offering. “Then we have the Spelman College Glee Club; you know, being a Georgia boy, any time I can get one of our HBCUs — Morehouse or Spelman up here — I’m going for it!” Shoultz also said he’s excited about “Identity,” which will allow youth to create expressions that “relates to their identity or connects to who they are in the world.” Playing off the theme of age identity, the senior choir, Vintage Voices, will join the youth choir in a collaborative piece that Shoultz said will be created through their collective input. Another unique offering is “Tales & Tunes,” which will showcase the work of the “Lullaby Project” that offers teenage moms at Longfellow High School a platform to create original lyrics and music in the form of lullabies for their children. The opportunity to engage with people from various ages and backgrounds is something Shoultz said he most cherishes about his work at VocalEssence.

“Whether it’s a preschooler learning to keep a steady beat…to an older adult who finds joy in singing the songs from their past — slightly off-key, but with great vigor — all of that brings me as much joy as when we’re on stage with our professional singers,” said Shoultz. He added, “There’s a reason we were given a voice, and it’s the most personal form of human expression that we have and every person has the ability to do it. “We’re on a mission to encourage everyone to find his or her voice and then to put it together to make community.” VocalEssence’s 2018-19 season kicks off with The Wizard of Oz Movie SingAlong, August 31, 2018. Find more info about the upcoming season and programs at www.vocalessence.org. Paige Elliott welcomes reader responses to pelliott@spokesman-recorder.com. Photos courtesy of VocalEssence.

Local playwright celebrates exploration of gender with new play press materials. Suffice to say, conventional expectations are to be left at the door. Personable, thoughtfully reflective, wearing a tee-shirt with “Gully” scrawled across it, Bridgforth relaxed in the PHT lobby to discuss her craft with the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder (MSR). An excerpt of our conversation appears below.

Arts No Chaser Dwight Hobbes

Contributing Writer

Pillsbury House Theatre’s (PHT) world premiere of Sharon Bridgforth’s dat Black Mermaid Man Lady/The Show is the latest triumph for successfully innovative voices. Bridgforth has been at PHT since 2005 and figure in Twin

Cities theatre since 1995. An abridged list of her accomplishments includes being published in love conjure/blues, the Lambda Literary Award-winning The Bull-Jean Stories, and Experiments in a Jazz Aesthetic: Art, Activism, Academia and the Austin Project. Bridgforth’s artistry has been produced by Links Hall, The New Black Festival, the New York SummerStage Festival, and the John L. Warfield Center for African and African American Studies.

She describes Mermaid as “performance processional that celebrates multiple ways of embodying gender. The characters HoneyPot, Miss Kitty and dat Black Mermaid man lady, work with Oya, Osun and Yemaya — Yoruba deities — to train a next generation healer, as they lift communal prayers to the Light.” “[The audience is] invited to make offerings to this world of womanizing, piano playing, knife carrying she’roes and old people that fly,” according to

MSR: The poetry of Mermaid puts me in mind of, say, for colored girls who have considered suicide/ when the rainbow is enuf. Sharon Bridgforth: Yes. I feel informed and inspired by Ntozake Shange, the people who came through in that time and broke ground. In fact, Laurie Carlos, who was the “Woman in Blue” [in the Broadway version of for colored girls] mentored me. So, I totally come from all of that. When I saw for colored girls, in the ’70s in San Francisco, it was the first theatre I’d ever been to. The way they used language [and the way] their bodies moved in the space, the way music was part of everything, spoke to me in a deep way. I sought the book out and that became instruction. Later, I got to work with Laurie. MSR: How was that experience? SB: Life-changing. In many

ways, she saved my life I had no language. I didn’t come from a theatre background. Sonja Parks — who was a very trained actor — and I just played together which shaped lot of my ideas of what I was doing. Laurie came to Austin to direct one of my shows and I got to literally sit next to her. Laurie looked at me and decided I was one of hers. Took me in. That was when it all started to make sense. MSR: What prompted this piece? SB: It’s borne out of my heart’s desire to celebrate the Black wisdom, experience of home, and family my parents gave me. MSR: Clearly, you’re a believer in those who’ve helped you come along. Who’re you helping? SB: Again I have to credit Laurie. One time, back in the day, I was complaining. What am I gonna do? I need to make more money; nobody’s hiring me. She just looked at me and said, “You need to go help somebody!” and walked away. That hit me in such a deep place. I didn’t know how, but I figured out how to facilitate creative process for others, how to walk with them as they grow.

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contributions to the preservation and expansion of Prince’s legacy. In addition, the column will lift up the stories of others who played a critical role in the development of the Minneapolis Sound, stories which otherwise may have been lost to history. More than anything, “Purple Music” is simply a space to honor our hometown hero, his meaning to us, and his meaning to the world. Perhaps it was Bono who put it best back in 1988 when he said that soul music is “not about being Black or White, or the instruments you play… It’s a decision to reveal or conceal. And without it, people like Prince would be nothing more than a brilliant

Three of the cast members are in that [group]: Mankwe Ndosi [and] Florinda Bryant [who] I’ve worked with since she was 18. PaviElle French is someone I’ve worked with for a while. Kenyai [O’Neal] is new to me but I’ve now snatched him up. Honestly, [they’re] countless names and I owe it to the people who taught me that. MSR: Anything to add? SB: The thing I would say [to readers] is please come. We’re gonna party! The audience will be involved. It won’t be one of these [shows] where you just sit there separate from what’s happening. Those that don’t want to engage, it’ll be fine. But, there’ll be times when we invite people to dance with us. And it’s going to be a living celebration. Sharon Bridgforth’s dat Black Mermaid Man Lady/The Show runs June 1- 24 at Pillsbury House Theatre, 3501 Chicago Avenue in South Minneapolis. For more info, visit http://pillsburyhouseandtheatre.org or datblackmermaidmanlady.com. Dwight Hobbes welcomes readers’ response to dhobbes@ spokesman-recorder.com.

song-and-dance man. That he is… but he’s so much more than that.” Yes, that he is. Moreover, some might even say that he’s the best there’s ever been. Tony Kiene’s experience in the Twin Cities nonprofit and entertainment industries includes work with Minneapolis Urban League, Penumbra Theatre, Hallie Q. Brown, and Pepé Music. He holds a B.A. in sociology and African American Studies and a M.A. in American Studies from Purdue University where his Master’s Essay was titled, Uptown: The Racial, Sexual, Spiritual, and Political Sociology of Prince and The Minneapolis Sound. He welcomes reader responses to tkiene@spokesmanrecorder.com.

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May 31 — June 6, 2018

Big Hats = Big Fun

Attendees at the 2018 Big Hat Luncheon

Tracey Williams-Dillard

Dedra Powell (l) & Charlitta Moss

Elise (l) & Demetrius Clemmons Photos by Travis Lee

By Travis Lee Guest Contributor The aesthetic at the Minneapolis Marriot West Hotel was upstaged Saturday May 26 by 200 high fashion attendees at It’s Your Affair’s “Big Hat Luncheon.” Ladies and gentlemen, as young as seven and as old as 80, gathered at the 10-year anniversary celebration with one common bond: their love of elegant, one-of-a-kind headpieces. Common folk call

them church hats, but these fashion-forward attendees took it to another level, rocking their finest fedoras, fascinators and, even, crowns. The three-hour event served all the ingredients of a high-class afternoon, including a red carpet photo session. The banquet hall was transformed into a Big Hat wonderland with tables and chairs custom-decorated, and a centerpiece hat designed by Yvette Reed. Menia Buckner served as Mistress of Ceremo-

nies and live band Big Homie served up some jazzy vibes. Other performers included Mya Marchelle, Bernice Gregory and comedian Juice Sutton. Each year, It’s Your Affair hosts the festive event to celebrate the rich history and culture of hats in the Black community. They look forward to expanding their reach with events in Atlanta and beyond.

Kim Nelson receives YWCA’s firstever ‘Woman of Power’ award

Kim Nelson Those who know Kim Nelson well say she speaks the truth, breaks down barriers, and is not afraid to share the power. Once the highest-ranking African American woman at General Mills, she retired at the end of 2017 with a lifetime’s worth of accomplishments behind her. As an executive at General Mills, she wielded her influence to make the company a more inclusive workplace for women and employees of color. She co-founded Black Champions and Women in Marketing networks, mentored women and people of color at the company, and helped General Mills earn the title of Best Company for Multicultural Women by Working Mother magazine. Given her trailblazing efforts, it was only fitting that the YWCA Minneapolis recognized her with its inaugural “Woman of Pow-

er” award. Nelson received the honor at the 2018 Circle of Women fundraiser on May 10 at the Minneapolis Convention Center. The “Woman Of Power” award is presented to an individual who has shown extraordinary leadership, dedication and achievement in all of YWCA’s core values – peace, justice, freedom and dignity. YWCA Minneapolis established the award to honor women across the Twin Cities who have demonstrated commitment, enthusiasm and support of its mission. In addition to her distinguished and influential leadership, both in her career and community work, Nelson has earned a reputation as a mentor to many and a role model to all, committing her life to making a better, more just world. As a dedicated YWCA Minneapolis supporter, Nelson served two consecutive terms on the YWCA board, including two years as board president. Her passion to close the education opportunity gap for children of color in the Twin Cities led Nelson to be a founding member of Generation Next, a cross-sector community partnership working to close the academic achievement gap in Minneapolis-St. Paul. “It is an incredible honor to be the inaugural recipient of the YWCA Minneapolis ‘Woman of Power’ Award,” Nelson said in a recent press statement. “The idea of a ‘Woman of Power’ Award is very timely. We are at a crossroads in our nation and in the world as relates to women and power, living in the #MeToo movement. “We are standing up and standing in our power,” Nelson continued. “My prayer for all women is that we live every day as women of power – confident, courageous and willing to help others.” – Information and photo provided by YWCA

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Worship Greater Friendship Missionary Baptist Church

Mount Olivet Missionary Baptist Church

Bethesda Baptist Church

Rev. Arthur Agnew, Pastor

Rev. Billy G. Russell, Sr. Pastor 2600 E. 38th Street. Mpls., MN 55408 612-827-7928 fax: 612-827-3587 www.greatfriend.org Sunday Morning Worship: 8 am Sunday School: 9 am Morning Worship: 10:40 am N.B.C.: 5:30 pm Evening Worship: 7pm (1st Sunday) www.greatfriend.org The Friendly Church Where Everybody Is Somebody

Rev. James C. Thomas, Pastor 451 West Central St. Paul, MN 55103 651-227-4444

Pilgrim Baptist Church Rev. Doctor Charles Gill 732 W. Central Ave., St. Paul, MN 55104

Dr. Willa Lee Grant Battle, Pastor 1908 Fourth Ave. So. Mpls., MN 24 Hour Dial-A-Prayer: 612-870-4695 www.gtdci.org Sunday School 9:30 am Sunday Worship 11:30 am Prayer Daily 7 pm Evangelistic Service: Wednesday & Friday 8 pm

Sunday Worship Service: 9:45 AM Sunday School: 8:45 AM

Church School 9:30 am Morning Worship 8 & 10:45 am Prayer Service: Wednesday 7 pm "Welcome to Mt. Olivet Baptist Church" Grace Temple Deliverance Center

At the Old Landmark 1118 So. 8th Street Mpls., MN 55404 612-332-5904 www.bethesdamnonline.com email:bethesdamn@prodigy.net

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May 31 — June 6, 2018

Legals State of Minnesota Certificate of Assumed Name Minnesota Statutes Chapter 333 ASSUMED NAME: CIPAL PLACE OF BUSINESS:

SLI Government Solutions PRIN8555 16th St., Suite 800 Silver Spring, NJ 20910 USA NAMEHOLDER: SLI Global Solutions, LLC 8555 16th St., Suite 800 Silver Spring, NJ 20910 USA In whose signature is required, or as agent of the person(s) whose signature would be required, or as agent of the person(s) whose signature would be required who has authorized me to sign this document on his/her behalf, or in both capacities. I further certify that I have completed all required fields, and that the information in this document is true and correct and in compliance with the applicable chapter of Minnesota Statutes. I understand that by signing this document I am subject to the penalties of perjury as set forth in Section 609.48 as if I had signed this document under oath. SIGNED BY: James R. Maida, Manager EMAIL FOR OFFICIAL NOTICES: a.koutsouris@gaminglabs.com DATED: 5/15/2018 11:59 PM Minnesota Spokesman Recorder May 31 & June 7, 2018

NOTICE OF MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE SALE THE RIGHT TO VERIFICATION OF THE DEBT AND IDENTITY OF THE ORIGINAL CREDITOR WITHIN THE TIME PROVIDED BY LAW IS NOT AFFECTED BY THIS ACTION. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that default has occurred in the conditions of the following described mortgage: DATE OF MORTGAGE: July 16, 2010 ORIGINAL PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF MORTGAGE: $40,000.00 MORTGAGOR(S): Ronald L. McNichols MORTGAGEE: SharePoint Credit Union DATE AND PLACE OF RECORDING: Recorded with the County Recorder in and for the County of Hennepin, State of Minnesota, on September 13, 2010, as Document No. 9558503 ASSIGNMENTS OF MORTGAGE: Assigned to Blackstone 1, LLC, recorded April 5, 2018, as Document No. 10542273 LEGAL DESCRIPTION OF PROPERTY: Lot 3, Block 5, Hickory Ridge First Addition PROPERTY ADDRESS: 6258 Meadowlark Lane North, Maple Grove, MN 55369 COUNTY IN WHICH PROPERTY IS LOCATED: Hennepin AMOUNT DUE AND CLAIMED TO BE DUE AS OF DATE OF NOTICE, INCLUDING TAXES, IF ANY, PAID BY MORTGAGEE: $35,401.93 THAT there has been compliance with all pre-foreclosure requirements; that no action or proceeding has been instituted at law or otherwise to recover the debt secured by said mortgage, or any part thereof; THAT pursuant to the power of sale contained in said mortgage, the above-described property will be sold by the Sheriff of Hennepin County as follows: DATE AND TIME OF SALE: July 11, 2018, at 11:00 a.m. PLACE OF SALE: Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office, Room 30, 350 South Fifth Street, Minneapolis, Minnesota to pay the debt secured by said mortgage and taxes, if any, on said premises and the costs and disbursements, including attorneys’ fees allowed by law subject to redemption within six (6) months from the date of said sale by the mortgagor(s), their personal representatives or assigns. The date on or before which the mortgagor must vacate the property if the mortgage is not reinstated under section 580.30 or the property redeemed under section 580.23: January 11, 2019, at 11:59 p.m. THE TIME ALLOWED BY LAW FOR REDEMPTION BY THE MORTGAGOR, THE MORTGAGOR’S PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVES OR ASSIGNS, MAY BE REDUCED TO FIVE WEEKS IF A JUDICIAL ORDER IS ENTERED UNDER MINNESOTA STATUTES, SECTION 582.032, DETERMINING, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THAT THE MORTGAGED PREMISES ARE IMPROVED WITH A RESIDENTIAL DWELLING OF LESS THAN FIVE UNITS, ARE NOT PROPERTY USED IN AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION, AND ARE ABANDONED. Dated: April 20, 2018 Blackstone 1, LLC Assignee of Mortgagee HOELSCHER LAW FIRM, PLLC By: /s/ Brian G. Hoelscher Brian G. Hoelscher #0238752 Attorneys for Assignee of Mortgagee 13100 Wayzata Boulevard, Suite 100 Minnetonka, MN 55305 (952) 224-9551 THIS IS A COMMUNICATION FROM A DEBT COLLECTOR. FORECLOSURE DATA Minn. Stat. Sec. 580.025 (1) the physical street address, city, and zip code of the mortgaged premises is 6258 Meadowlark Lane North, Maple Grove, MN 55369; (2) the name of the transaction agent, residential mortgage servicer, and the lender or broker, as defined in section 58.02, if the person holding the mortgage is a transaction agent as defined in section 58.02, subdivision 30 are as follows: – not applicable; or the name of the residential mortgage servicer and the lender or broker, as defined in section 58.02, if the person holding the mortgage is not a transaction agent as defined in section 58.02, subdivision 30 are as follows: residential mortgage servicer – Blackstone 1, LLC, lender or broker – Blackstone 1, LLC; (3) the tax parcel identification number of the mortgaged premises is: 35-119-22-34-0042; (4) if stated on the mortgage, the transaction agent’s mortgage identification number is: - not applicable; (5) if stated on the mortgage, the name of the residential mortgage originator as defined in section 58.02 is: SharePoint Credit Union

State of Minnesota County of Hennepin With Real Estate In Re the Marriage of: Asmaham Mohamed Ghazal, Petitioner and Ahmed Hashim Sharif, Respondent

Case Type: Dissolution Without Children District Court Fourth Judicial Court CASE NO: 27-FA-18-3041 SUMMONS WITHOUT REAL ESTATE ORDER FOR SERVICE BY ALTERNATIVE MEANS

THE STATE OF MINNESOTA TO THE ABOVE-NAMED RESPONDENT: WARNING: YOUR SPOUSE (HUSBAND OR WIFE) HAS FILED A LAWSUIT AGAINST YOU FOR DISSOLUTION OF YOUR MARRIAGE. A COPY OF THE PAPERWORK REGARDING THE LAWSUIT IS SERVED ON YOU WITH THIS SUMMONS. THIS SUMMONS IS AN OFFICIAL DOCUMENT FROM THE COURT THAT AFFECTS YOUR RIGHTS. READ THIS SUMMONS CAREFULLY. IF YOU DO NOT UNDERSTAND IT, CONTACT AN ATTORNEY FOR LEGAL ADVICE. 1. The Petitioner, (your spouse) has filed a lawsuit against you asking for dissolution of your marriage (divorce). A copy of the Petition for Dissolution of Marriage is attached to this Summons. 2. You must serve upon Petitioner and file with the Court a written Answer to the Petition for Dissolution of Marriage, and you must pay the required filing fee. Answer forms are available from the court administrator’s office. You must serve your Answer upon Petitioner within thirty (30) days of the date you were served with this Summons, not counting the day of service. If you do not serve and file your Answer, the Court may give your spouse everything he or she is asking for in the Petition for Dissolution of Marriage. 3. This proceeding does not involve real property. NOTICE OF TEMPORARY RESTRAINING PROVISIONS: Under Minnesota law, service of this summons makes the following requirements apply to both parties to the action, unless they are modified by the Court or the proceeding is dismissed: (1) Neither party may dispose of any assets except (A) for the necessities of life or for the necessary generation of income or preservation of assets, (B) by an agreement of the parties in writing, or (C) for retaining counsel to carry on or to contest this proceeding. (2) Neither party may harass the other party. (3) All currently available insurance coverage must be maintained and continued without change in coverage or beneficiary designation. (4) Parties to a marriage dissolution proceeding are encouraged to attempt alternative dispute resolution pursuant to Minnesota law. Alternative dispute resolution includes mediation, arbitration and other processes as set forth in the district court rules. You may contact the Court Administrator about resources in your area. If you cannot pay for mediation or alternative dispute resolution, in some counties, assistance may be available to you through a nonprofit provider of a court program. If you are a victim of domestic abuse or threats as defined in Minnesota statutes, Chapter 518B, you are not required to try mediation and you will not be penalized by the Court in later proceedings. IF YOU VIOLATE ANY OF THESE PROVISIONS, YOU WILL BE SUBJECT TO SANCTIONS BY THE COURT. Date: 05/8/2018 Signed: Asmahan Mohamed Ghazal

Minnesota Spokesman Recorder May 24 & 31, June 7, 2018

State of Minnesota County of Hennepin With Real Estate In Re the Marriage of: Nimo Abdullahi Omar, Petitioner and Shaqalle Hugur Muse, Respondent

Case Type: Dissolution Without Children District Court Fourth Judicial Court SUMMONS WITHOUT REAL ESTATE ORDER FOR SERVICE BY ALTERNATIVE MEANS

THE STATE OF MINNESOTA TO THE ABOVE-NAMED RESPONDENT: WARNING: YOUR SPOUSE (HUSBAND OR WIFE) HAS FILED A LAWSUIT AGAINST YOU FOR DISSOLUTION OF YOUR MARRIAGE. A COPY OF THE PAPERWORK REGARDING THE LAWSUIT IS SERVED ON YOU WITH THIS SUMMONS. THIS SUMMONS IS AN OFFICIAL DOCUMENT FROM THE COURT THAT AFFECTS YOUR RIGHTS. READ THIS SUMMONS CAREFULLY. IF YOU DO NOT UNDERSTAND IT, CONTACT AN ATTORNEY FOR LEGAL ADVICE. 1. The Petitioner, (your spouse) has filed a lawsuit against you asking for dissolution of your marriage (divorce). A copy of the Petition for Dissolution of Marriage is attached to this Summons. 2. You must serve upon Petitioner and file with the Court a written Answer to the Petition for Dissolution of Marriage, and you must pay the required filing fee. Answer forms are available from the court administrator’s office. You must serve your Answer upon Petitioner within thirty (30) days of the date you were served with this Summons, not counting the day of service. If you do not serve and file your Answer, the Court may give your spouse everything he or she is asking for in the Petition for Dissolution of Marriage. 3. This proceeding does not involve real property. NOTICE OF TEMPORARY RESTRAINING PROVISIONS: Under Minnesota law, service of this summons makes the following requirements apply to both parties to the action, unless they are modified by the Court or the proceeding is dismissed: (1) Neither party may dispose of any assets except (A) for the necessities of life or for the necessary generation of income or preservation of assets, (B) by an agreement of the parties in writing, or (C) for retaining counsel to carry on or to contest this proceeding. (2) Neither party may harass the other party. (3) All currently available insurance coverage must be maintained and continued without change in coverage or beneficiary designation. (4) Parties to a marriage dissolution proceeding are encouraged to attempt alternative dispute resolution pursuant to Minnesota law. Alternative dispute resolution includes mediation, arbitration and other processes as set forth in the district court rules. You may contact the Court Administrator about resources in your area. If you cannot pay for mediation or alternative dispute resolution, in some counties, assistance may be available to you through a nonprofit provider of a court program. If you are a victim of domestic abuse or threats as defined in Minnesota statutes, Chapter 518B, you are not required to try mediation and you will not be penalized by the Court in later proceedings. IF YOU VIOLATE ANY OF THESE PROVISIONS, YOU WILL BE SUBJECT TO SANCTIONS BY THE COURT. Date: 05/24/2018 Signed: Nimo Abdullahi Omar

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Continued from page 10

TV starting Thursday at 8 pm Central. Again. I’ll be covering the NBA Finals for MSR and NPN, and I pick the Warriors to repeat in five games.

Cleveland made a big trade in February, and James still carried the load with different teammates to reach the Finals again. The Warriors are going for their third title in four years and trying to join Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Detroit, Houston and Miami as back-to-back NBA Champions. All the NBA Finals games can be seen on ABC-

Larry Fitzgerald can be heard weekday mornings on KMOJ Radio 89.9 FM at 8:25 am, on WDGYAM 740 Monday and Friday at 9:10 am, and at www.Gamedaygold.com. He also commentates on sports 7-8 pm on Almanac (TPT channel 2). Follow him on Twitter at FitzBeatSr. Larry welcomes reader responses to info@larry-fitzgerald.com, or visit www. Larry-Fitzgerald.com

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June 8-14, 2017

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May 31 — June 6, 2018

Warriors, Cavaliers make NBA history

Just when you think you have seen it all, sports delivers a first – and lately, several firsts. NHL expansion team Las Vegas reaches the Stanley Cup Finals in year one; the NHL has been playing for 125 years. And, the Supreme Court delivers a landmark 6-3 vote allowing states to legalize betting on college and professional sports. Home teams usually win game seven right? Not so fast. In two days we saw two road teams, Cleveland and Golden State, win game seven against heavy odds at Boston, where the Celtics were 10-0 in the playoffs, and in Houston, the team with the NBA’s best record. Injuries can handicap the best of odds also. All-Stars Kyrie Irving and Gordon Hayward were missed by Boston, and the Rockets could not overcome the loss of All-Star Chris Paul to a hamstring injury in games six and seven. Starting Thursday, May 31 in Oakland, for the first time in NBA history and in sports history, the same two teams, Cleveland and Golden State, will play for the NBA Championship for the fourth straight year. It’s never ever happened before in NFL, NHL or MLB history either, that two teams played for their leagues’ championships four years in a row. Cleveland, with LeBron James leading the way, has reached the NBA Finals again. For Cleveland, it’s their fourth-straight trip for James; he has led his team to eight straight trips to the NBA Finals. Boston reached 10 straight NBA Finals with Bill Russell. James is the first player in 50 years to play in

eight straight. Boston, Golden State, Miami and Los Angeles are the only NBA franchises to reach four straight. Houston, the NBA’s best regularseason team (65-17), made more three-point shots than any team in NBA history during the regular season. In the Western Conference Finals game seven, they were cold as ice. Leading 54-43 at halftime, the Rockets missed 27 straight threepoint shots. That’s called dying with your boots on, as they finished just seven of 44 for the game and one of 21 down the stretch. Golden State made 16 of 39 from three-point range. The two teams set a record with 83 attempts combined. The Warriors are the biggest favorite to repeat as NBA Champions since 2002. They have the home court advantage in the best-of-sev-

Cleveland’s LeBron James chasing another title Photo courtesy of LarryFitzgerald.com en Finals. They played Cleveland twice during the regular season and Cleveland lost both games, 99-92 and 118-108. The Warriors truly have the heart of a champion. They are the first team in NBA history to trail by double digits twice in playoff games six and seven and come back to win.

■ See FITZ on page 9

NFL ‘caved in to Trump’

The league’s new anthem policy is so wrong for so many reasons. “All team and league personnel on the field shall stand and show respect for the flag and the Anthem,” says the new rule, approved last week by 30 of 32 team CHARLES owners, with two abHALLMAN stentions. No more kneeling, holding hands, crossing arms, whatever some players, especially Black players, did before games last season to protest racial injustices and police brutality, among other things. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said in the May 23 release, “We believe today’s decision will keep our focus on the game…and on our fans who enjoy it.” But no other U.S. pro league or the NCAA have placed such a demand on its players. It is racially motivated, Sports Illustrated’s Charles Pierce said on NPR’s Only a Game. “African American players…are simply expected to shut up and take it,” Shaun King of The Intercept added. The U.S. president, who has been oftcritical of players kneeling during the national song, once calling them SOBs, expectedly gave the policy a thumbs-up. He told his favorite Fox News folk that if players don’t want to stand for the national anthem, they should leave the country. “It was unfortunate that on-field protests created a false perception among many that thousands of NFL players were unpatriotic,” Goodell noted. Rather, the new rule should be called SSP as the stand up, shut up and play policy. It’s “[a] blatant violation of free speech…,” wrote the Philadelphia Tribune’s Michael Coard. “If their goal was to de-politicize the issue, they [the owners] only made it even more politicized,” Bree Newsome said. Newsome gained national notoriety in 2015 after she climbed up a South Carolina state house flagpole and took down the Confederate flag in protest. She got arrested for it, but her action nonetheless got posterized worldwide ever since, and eventually led to the flag being permanently removed in that state.

ANOTHER

VIEW

Bree Newsome Photo courtesy of subject The Charlotte, N.C. native, community organizer and artist, who is also featured this week on the MSR front page, told us by phone that the NFL “basically caved in to President Trump” with its new policy. “Football is such a big part of American culture,” Newsome added,

“This is another form of humiliation for Black players.” and the Black players’ silent protest ran counter to this culture. This “You shall stand” rule sounds like plantation massa-speak. “This is another form of humiliation for Black players,” King stressed of the fact that 70 percent of NFL players are Black. “These [pro] leagues were created by White people for the entertainment and wealth of White people. When African Americans tinker with that formula – they are shut down.” But the owners did include an ‘out’ clause: Players can stay in the locker room or off the field until the anthem has been played. King suggested, and we support, players taking this option. I’d go a step further – players should leave the field once the pre-game clock

Sports odds and ends

ESPN leads the field in sports media diversity By Charles Hallman Senior Staff Writer Conclusion of a two-part story

Jemele Hill Photo courtesy of Twitter

America’s newspapers have been shrinking for several years, and not unlike most U.S. industries, diversity becomes a causality when cuts occur. The latest Associated Press Sports Editors (APSE) Racial and Gender Report Card, whose key findings were featured here last week, showed that the percentages of Whites among the five analyzed positions — sports editors, assistant sports editors, columnists, reporters and copy editors/designers — remain in the 70s and above; all White at nearly all the major U.S. newspapers and websites, except one. “ESPN has been a leader in the hiring of women and people of color in key positions,” The Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport (TIDES) Director Richard Lapchick noted: Two of 12 people of color who are sports editors, 11 women of color columnists, 18 of 24 Black male columnists, six of eight Latinos, all three Asian columnists and five of six people categorized as “other” all work for ESPN.

Former ESPN president John Skipper’s diversity leadership during his tenure should be more widxely recognized, Lapchick suggested, especially The Undefeated that was finally launched in 2016. On a daily basis, The Undefeated discusses how race, sports, and culture intersect. “The Undefeated changed the quality of ESPN [by publishing] stories that wouldn’t have been told by [mainstream sports outlets], the TIDES director told the MSR. Originally announced in 2014 with Jason Whitlock as editor in chief, The Undefeated never got off the ground, as the oft-controversial sports columnist reportedly was a terrible manager unable

left the New York Times, and Jemele Hill, who last week NABJ named its Journalist of the Year,

Rhiannon Walker Photo courtesy of ESPN

“Early in my career, a lot of people didn’t take me seriously.” to attract and retain talent, and he kept up a negative workplace environment. ESPN fired him in 2015 and hired Kevin Merida, an award-winning journalist and

Maya Jones Photo courtesy of ESPN

author from the Washington Post, where he was managing editor. Under Merida, the website took off and attracted top talent such as William C. Rhoden, who

and who will be honored in August at their convention in her hometown Detroit. The Undefeated’s long-form stories and commentaries take on and expertly give context to subjects that rarely find a place in mainstream media. “I started at ESPN about five years ago,” said Associate Editor Maya Jones, a former ESPN The Magazine senior researcher. Jones began her journalism career as a freelancer at the New Orleans Times-Picayune while in college. Associate Editor Rhiannon Walker graduated with her broadcast journalism degree from the University of Maryland in 2015 and had secured nine media internships while in college. I met both Jones and Walker last summer at the NABJ convention in New Orleans.

hits 0:00. This could be a new way to continue protesting racial profiling and other injustices. “I don’t know,” Newsome said with some skepticism of such protests, while also emphasizing her support for those who do. “That is part of the dilemma

“I had a high school teacher who tried to talk me out of [studying journalism], Walker recalled. “She wouldn’t let me write on the [school] newspaper. I pulled my weight three times over to get to ESPN.” I subscribe to both The Undefeated and Robert Littal’s BlackSportsOnline (BSO). Littal and I finally met face to face at the New Orleans NABJ, but we have talked by phone a few times over the years. “Early in my career,” he told me as he thanked me for my support, “a lot of people didn’t take me seriously.” He is not restricted by so-called mainstream norms: “I can say exactly what [the Black athletes] say.” Lapchick in his executive summary wrote, “What would be the impact of having more people of color and women involved in sports media? Would stories become more inclusive of

they [the players] find themselves in. A lot of them just want to play football and make a living.” But the issues that Black people face in this country, Black professional athletes also face. “They are at risk of being profiled [by police],” she said. The NFL owners’ free speech suppression act was clearly a racial power play. “The White ownership is shutting [the Black players] down” for future protests, Newsome said. Charles Hallman welcomes reader responses to challman@spokesman-recorder. com.

St. Paul city track meet was full of highlights The St. Paul City Conference boys’ and girls’ track meet held last week at St. Paul Harding High School last week had plenty of highlights. Here are five of them. 1. Seventh-grader Hemetii Apet anchored the 4x400 girls’ relay team – which also included Sophia Rubins, Isabela Gonzales and Mary Ostergren – to a first-place finish, helping PREP SCENE St. Paul Central to the team title. DR. MITCHELL 2. Keylan Jackson of St. Paul Johnson was a PALMER MCDONALD triple winner, taking the 100 meters (11.05), 200 (22.50) and 400 (48.67), capping a brilliant threeyear conference career for the Governors. 3. St. Paul Washington junior sprinter Janice Cole also found success three times, capturing top honors in the 100 (13.26), 200 (27.22) and 400 (1:01.28). 4. St. Paul Highland Park Junior Seth Zeitchick anchored the 4x100 meter relay team –which included Babatunde Akimadale, Tramonta Garner and Goodword Simon – to victory, leading the Scots to the boys’ team title. 5. Junior Brooklyn Jarrett contributed to St. Paul Central’s girls’ title by placing first in the discus and shotput. Dr. Mitchell Palmer McDonald welcomes reader responses to mcdeezy05@gmail.com.

Robert Littal Photo courtesy of Twitter

all athletes and better represent and appeal to our entire society? The positions evaluated in this study are the primary decisionmakers in sports media, and they determine the content reported by their organizations.” Charles Hallman welcomes reader responses to challman@spokesmanrecorder.com.

Keylan Jackson Photo by Dr. Mitchell Palmer McDonald