January 3, 2019 - MN Spokesman-Recorder

January 3-9, 2019 Vol. 85 No. 22 www.spokesman-recorder.com

PRST STD U.S.POSTAGE PAID TWIN CITIES MN PERMIT NO. 6391

THE VOICE OF THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY SINCE 1934

By Sheletta Brundidge Contributing Writer

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Race & Hair Wrestler’s shorn locs expose more than outdated rules

See OPINION on page 5 for more on this issue

Realities of living with sickle cell By Charles Hallman Contributing Writer One in 2,400 are born with sickle cell disease (SCD) in the U.S. As one of the most common inherited blood disorders, it is widely misunderstood. Last month, the Minnesota Sickle Cell Coalition — comprised of patients, doctors, healthcare providers, and advocates — co-sponsored a Sickle Cell Disease Stakeholder Forum at Sanctuary Covenant Church in North Minneapolis. Approximately 60 healthcare professionals and others attended the Dec. 10 event to not only help improve care for those afflicted by the disease but also to increase awareness of the disease, screening and healthcare disparities. SCD is a group of inherited red blood cell disorders including Sickle Cell Anemia (Hgb SS Disease), Hemoglobin SC Disease, and Hemoglobin Sickle Beta Thalassemia. People with sickle cell disease produce abnormal hemoglobin (Hgb S), which can interrupt blood flow and prevent oxygen from getting to important parts of the body. This can cause many potential health complications, including extreme pain, risk of stroke, and pulmonary hypertension. “Pain is what I have been born into,” Isaiah Lane, who has SCD, told the MSR. It has historically been seen as a childhood disease because those stricken typically did not live to adulthood. Yet, according to a 2013 Harvard study, the average life expectancy for persons in the U.S. with SCD is 38 years for men and 42 years for women.

SMALL BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT Aromas of hibiscus and chai fill the air as you walk through the doors of the Heritage Tea House & Café located at University and Western Avenue N. in St. Paul. Run by Raeisha Williams, the tea house first opened its doors in December 2017, although it’s been a dream of hers for quite a while. Offering a full menu of healthy soul food options, tea and liquor, the tea house’s couches and tables provide a wide array of seating choices and a comfy atmosphere to those who want to enjoy a relaxing meal or just some tea. Photographs of Williams’ family are scattered across the wall of this cozy spot where locallymade African crafts are offered for sale on the back wall. The MSR sat down with Williams (RW) for a Q-and-A session about the tea house and the legacy she’d like to leave behind. MSR: What inspired you to become a business owner? RW: My mom and grandma. For as long as I can

Rae Blaylark

Photo by Charles Hallman

While state and national health experts report a longer life expectancy, it still remains an incurable, often unbearable disease. “I’m 30. I live with SC disease,” said Brianna (her last name withheld by request). “I have near constant pain. When I don’t have pain, it is a memorable day.” Those afflicted are not only burdened with shortened lives of pain, they face uncertainty in communities that are ill prepared to provide unbiased care and support. The national Sickle Cell Disease Coalition recently released its 2018 State of Sickle Cell Disease Report Card focused on four major areas: access to health care, training and professional education, research and clinical trials, and global issues. According to its report card, there have been initiatives around the country that have ■ See sickle cell on page 8

lack communities across the country watched in disbelief as a Black New Jersey high school wrestler was forced to either cut his dreadlocks or forfeit a regional match. A video showing Andrew Johnson having his hair and his heritage chopped off at a match last month went viral with more than 20 million views on social media. Andrew, a student at Buena Regional High School, had a cover for his hair that he had worn in previous matches; however, Alan Maloney, a White referee, said it wasn’t good enough. Instead, he started the clock, giving Andrew minutes to comply. Wanting to compete, Johnson begrudgingly allowed team personnel to cut his hair. He is seen crying and visibly shaken in the viral video. “I don’t care what the rules are,” said Lindy Vincent, co-host of “Two Haute Mamas” podcast on Minnesota’s WCCO Radio online. “If someone is doing that to my child, I’m going down there to speak up for him. I’m not just going to sit in the stands and watch him be humiliated and wronged in such a horrific way.” The incident hit close to home for Vincent, because like Johnson, her son Dylan has dreadlocks and plays sports for Breck School. She was shocked to find out that Andrew’s parents, Charles and Rosa Johnson, were in the stands. “For that official to just take some scis-

Andrew Johnson Submitted by Johnson family sors to his head like she was chopping down a bush outside the front door of her home broke my heart. There was no feeling in it for her. She had no compassion for this child. She looked like she didn’t have a care in the world.” Added Vincent, “This whole incident says a lot about the criminalization of Brown skin and Black culture. This official didn’t just cut off his hair, she chopped off his humanity, as well.” Vincent was among many across the country who expressed outrage. New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy said he was deeply disturbed by the story. Olympic wrestler Jordan Burroughs, ■ See Wrestler on page 9

Be Better Foundation

honors victims of gun violence “I want to give my condothe 31st, which was her birthlences to the Flowers family day,” said Flowers. He told the MSR, “I don’t because I know exactly how “Often, we think, ‘That want her [passing] to be in it feels,” said Hayden. Boyd’s brother, Al Flowkind of thing doesn’t happen vain. Anybody who dies with to me.’ But nothing precludes gun violence should always ers, Jr., has taken the personus from being a victim of vi- be recognized, and I want to al tragedy as inspiration to olence,” said Minnesota State use this as an opportunity. work for well being in the Senator Jeff Hayden, whose Our family has a lot of pain, community. 25-year-old sister was killed but we can lift that hurt for “Little Man, as we call him, in a crossfire July 23, 2016 be- others who are in the pain.” ■ See Be Better on page 8 tween rival street gangs. Having already established the Taylor Hayden Memorial Foundation to End Gun Violence in her honor, Hayden was present Dec. 22 at the launch of the Tarvanisha B. Boyd “Be Better” Foundation at Sabathani Community Center in Minneapolis in honor of another victim of gun violence. Veteran activist Al Flowers created the “Be Better” Foundation in honor of his own tragic loss — the shooting death of his 24-year-old daughter Tarvanisha Boyd on Dec. 20, 2014 during an argument in her Georgia home. “This is always a tough time for [the family] from the 20th, when we lost Tarv, to Al Flowers, Jr. (left) and John Thompson Photo by Antanisha Spears By Dwight Hobbes Contributing Writer

HERITAGE TEA HOUSE & CAFÉ

remember they’ve been business owners. They coowned a floral and African gift shop on 38th and Nicollet for most of my childhood. Just being there with them, helping them with floral design, running the register inspired me the most. Also, seeing the difference between business owners and workers and how the success paid off. MSR: Why a tea house? RW: We knew we wanted to be small, we knew we wanted to be intimate, we knew that we wanted to have things that we loved, and my family traditionally has loved tea. Oftentimes people don’t think of tea as African American culture, but it is. There are so many articles that date back to the early 1800s where affluent African American women-owned tea houses. So just continuing that tradition is sort of re-emerging that tradition of tea houses owned by African Americans — it’s actually happening nationwide.

Raeisha Williams

Photo by Chris Juhn

■ See sBs on page 8

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January 3-9, 2019

The DOC’s mission is only on paper ed to take a broader approach to the gaps in the system, not wanting to focus on my personal experience. But some recent developments have landed me in the gaps of this broken system. Recently, I was denied work release by the department for doing the community organizing that I do from here. They imposed an infraction for “enterprising.” What they called “enterprising” was me promoting reentry by connecting fellow prisoners to community organizations that valued and respected their experiences and talents. This means that I will not be returning to the community in February 2019, as expected. I will still be joining the community, but now no later than October 2019. By the time this goes to print, I will have roughly nine months before my release after more than 14 years of incarceration. So, after taking the loss of my work release (a program that the policy says was tailor-made for someone like me), I wanted to lean on the department mission of effective community reentry.

A monthly column in which various contributors from both sides of prison walls explore common ground for effecting change. By Kevin Reese Contributing Writer

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ust days after the U.S. Senate voted on a criminal justice reform bill that that is giving a much-needed push to de-incarcerate this nation’s prisons and jails, I find myself holding out hope on what it means. It is a great policy, but I’m waiting to see how it shows up in practice. My skepticism is rooted in my experience with the system, where I have seen policies not transfer into practice far too many times. Let’s examine the Minnesota Department of Corrections’ (DOC) mission statement — a policy that shows up very differently in practice.

Kevin Reese assuming something without speaking to someone is the definition of prejudice. This official prejudged my request for a meeting as an attempt to persuade her to do me some favor, when in actuality I

This culture makes people bitter, not better.

The DOC mission statement as written policy is: “Reduce recidivism by promoting offender change through proven strategies during safe and secure incarceration and effective community supervision.” However, there is a great divide in the way this mission is written versus the impact it truly has on communities. While doing this work, I always want-

I reached out to a department official requesting a meeting to talk to her about my reentry possibilities. Instead of meeting with me, she sent me a response that is filled with the language of what the fragments of a broken system look and sound like. She starts her response with, “I am assuming…” We all know that

was looking to speak with her about possibilities. In her role, she is in a position to help me shape what my reentry back to the community could look like. Instead of offering help, she stated: “There is no possible help for you. You had your chance and made a decision that had dire consequences to

what your reentry looks like.” This response is from a person whom I have never met and who knows nothing about me. The decision she refers to is my work connecting prisoners to the community in a way that supported their struggles and valued their talents. That being the culture we are in, this is my question to the department:” Is this the type of language and practice that promotes effective reentry?” I want to be clear that the department does not owe me any favors, but it does owe the voters and taxpaying citizens of Minnesota. There should be an expectation of professionalism and common sense practices that are geared toward everyone contributing to a safer Minne-

sota. This culture makes people bitter, not better. As I write this, there is a fear of retaliation. I am marginalized, and the marginalized are always vulnerable to tyranny. I again press send on this keyboard and lean on the department’s mission statement to protect me. Part of its mission is that I should have “safe and secure incarceration.” I have to explain to the community that awaits me why the wait may be a little longer. So yes, I have made decisions. To contribute to a safer Minnesota, I decided to build from right where I was at. Look at the track record of the work I have been able to do over the years. I completed every positive program the DOC has to offer, facilitated men’s groups, mentored youth, organized workshops, and went 12-plus years without any major infractions. I’ve organized people to vote and to give away school supplies to children. I have spoken via phone to churches, universities, community gatherings, museums, libraries, schools, healing circles, political rallies, and stop-the-violence walks. I have contributed to books, won national awards for education programs, and connected as many formerly incarcerated people to the community in a meaningful way as I possibly could, all while being intentional about positioning my work in the community to be synonymous with promoting peace and prosperity. That is what I have spent these 14 years in prison doing, and that work has shaped and

molded my life. According to the DOC mission statement, it should promote my work as a proven strategy. Instead, the work has been demonized. The DOC mission statement in actual practice is: “Perpetuate recidivism by promoting offender change through ineffective strategies, during overcrowded incarceration, and under systematic oppressive community supervision.” The department needs to be humble enough to admit that it may have some of the strategies, but it does not have all of them. Also, if an idea is outside of what the department knows, that does not mean the department has to criminalize it or demonize it. As the new DOC leadership begins to settle in and embark on what their tenure should look like, the first thing that they should do is either rewrite or recommit to the department’s mission statement. A mission statement should not only guide the policies that an institution believes in — it should also guide its practices. Kevin Reese is a participant in Voices for Racial Justice’s “BRIDGE Partnership.” Kevin and Executive Director Vina Kay had planned to continue a monthly dialogue over the next few months culminating in Kevin’s release in February 2019. Now that plan may have to change. Reader responses are welcome to info@voicesforracialjustice. org. To learn more about the organization’s work, visit www. voicesforracialjustice.org.

Good news in our efforts to alleviate poverty We must rapidly begin the shift from a “thing-oriented” society to a “person-oriented” society. — Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The idea that some lives matter less is the root of all that is wrong with the world. — Paul Farmer

Unique, local content from the Unique, local African contentAmerican from the community's African American perspective! community's

If you want one year of prosperity, grow grain. If you want ten years of prosperity, grow trees. If you want one hundred years of prosperity, grow people. — Chinese Proverb

perspective!

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As we reflect on the passing of another year and anticipate the unfolding of the new one, I want to strike a somewhat different tone in this first column of 2019. The purpose of this column has always been to shine a spotlight on poverty and its detrimental effects on our communities, state, nation and world. And as such, the column repeatedly highlights injustice and inequity, while most likely inspiring anger and sorrow in many of us. In other words, it is not what you might call a pleasant read, albeit a necessary one. I am reminded of legendary author Richard Wright’s response when someone asked him why he writes only about racial problems. Wright declared that he writes about such problems explicitly “to bring an end” to them, adding that “If I deal with racial problems, it is because those problems were created without my consent and permission.”

across the United States served nearly 17 million people, 41 percent of which were children and another 21 percent of whom were seniors. Among the services provided were early childhood education, financial education, employment training, energy assistance and weatherization services, asset development, housing and transportation assistance, emergency services, and health and nutrition initiatives among others. The ultimate goal of all of these programs and initiatives is not to provide a “hand-out,” but rather a “handup.” It’s not about charity; it’s about change. With that in mind, it is imperative that Community Action agencies, and for that matter all nonprofit and social service organizations, work to provide resources and opportunities to help those in poverty chart a course toward financial empowerment. Each and every day, antipoverty organizations are using all available resources to leverage even more support in these efforts. And yes, each and every day we are lifting individuals and families out of poverty. So that is good news. Still, our resources are finite. At the same time, as some are escaping the ranks of the poor, the current state of our world is forcing others to join those ranks. The late Canadian-American statesman John Kenneth Galbraith famously said, “I am worried about our tendency to over invest in things and under invest in people.” Me too.

“I am worried about our tendency to over invest in things and under invest in people.” I believe that the same must hold true when tackling the issue of poverty, and this column will continue to operate in that fashion. Nevertheless, at least for today, I would like to take a moment to shed some light on the accomplishments of the antipoverty movement both locally and across the country, without losing sight of all that still needs to be done. Here at Community Action Partnership of Ramsey & Washington Counties, we provide direct services to approximately 20,000 households and more than 60,000 low-income individuals each year. There are another two dozen Community Action network agencies statewide and about 1,000 nationwide that dedicate all of their time, energy and resources to reducing poverty and the effect that it has on our fellow citizens. In 2018 alone, Community Action agencies

This is why we, as a society, must increase the investments we make in such critical items as affordable housing, living wage jobs, educational equity, environmental justice, access to quality health care, and so many more things. Above all else, we must keep investing in one another — as sisters, as brothers, as equals. Clarence Hightower is the executive director of Community Action Partnership of Ramsey & Washington Counties. Dr. Hightower holds a Ph.D. in urban higher education from Jackson State University. He welcomes reader responses to 450 Syndicate Street North, St. Paul, MN 55104

January 3-9, 2019

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A cool solution to chemotherapy hair loss

By Charles E. Crutchfield III, MD

Previously published May 10, 2017, reprinted by popular request

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ith respect to cancer treatment, chemotherapy has been extremely beneficial and effective. Unfortunately, it brings with it a common and undesirable side effect: hair loss. In fact, a small percentage of women will actually decline chemotherapy out of a desire to not lose their hair. Fortunately, research and practice in Europe have brought new promise in minimizing the side effect of hair loss. Researchers have discovered that reducing the temperature of the scalp during chemotherapeutic sessions has a significant protective effect in preventing or greatly reducing hair loss experienced by many patients undergoing the cancer treatments. The concept is rational and straightforward: Cooling the scalp causes the blood vessels to shrink, and it reduces the total blood flow in the skin of the scalp that surrounds the hair follicles. With less blood flowing to the area, there is much less of the chemotherapeutic drug available to affect the hair follicles. Less drug exposure results in

less hair loss. Both studies used a scalp cooling system where a chilled liquid coolant is continuously circulated inside a cooling cap that covers the head. The scalp cooling is started before chemotherapy is initiated and is continued for 90 minutes after the chemotherapy is discontinued. This machine-regulated circulating system offers better temperature regulation over the older versions in which caps filled with liquid coolant were kept frozen and changed out every 30 minutes or so. The treatment itself is very well tolerated. No patient has discontinued their participation in either study due to treatment discomfort. Most patients reported that the treatments were a bit chilly and mildly uncomfortable for just the first few minutes, after which the treatment became almost undetectable. The results are both impressive and promising. It should be noted that there are several different chemotherapeutic agents used, so results are both dependent on the participant’s individual genetic response and the chemotherapeutic medicine used.

Overall, among patients undergoing chemotherapy and using the scalp cooling system, 55 percent kept at least half or more of their hair, and approximately seven percent of the treated patients kept all of their hair. In contrast, women undergoing chemotherapy who did not use the cooling system experienced significant or total scalp hair loss a frustrating 95 percent of the time. The scalp cooling systems used in the two studies were the Digni Cap and the Paxman Scalp Cooling System. Both have been FDAcleared. Experts comment that this type of treatment is best for the chemotherapy required for solid cancers, such as breast cancer, but not for liquid/blood cancers. Currently, the scalp cooling systems are not widely available but are becoming more so. It is rarely covered by insurance, so the cost is paid out-of-pocket by the majority of patients using it, and the cost averages about $2,000 for a set of treatments. Patients and physicians alike are hopeful that insurance providers will provide better coverage as the procedure gains popularity and demonstrates continued effective-

ness. Patients and physicians both acknowledge that not every patient will want scalp-cooling treatments. This choice is analogous to the case where not every woman has breast reconstructive surgery or elects to wear a hairpiece. For some patients, hair retention helps to preserve selfesteem; for others, it offers a measure of control over an involuntary and very difficult situation. Nevertheless, most believe that every person should have the option of using a scalp cooling system to preserve hair during chemotherapy treatments. Fortunately, the scalp cooling systems are here now and becoming more readily available. 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. Correction: A previous version of this story stated the Digni Cap and the Paxman Scalp Cooling System had both been “FDA-approved.” The story has been updated to state they have been “FDA-cleared.”

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In 1900, the life expectancies of men and women were 40 and 42, respectively. The most common causes of death were influenza (flu) and pneumonia, tuberculosis, and gastrointestinal infections. Things have dramatically changed over the last 118 years, with infections no longer being common causes of mortality. The introduction of penicillin to treat bacterial infections in 1942 helped pave the way for more research into the biology of infections and how to prevent them. Vaccinations have successfully eradicated most viral infections from polio and chicken pox to the measles. While the first flu vaccine was created in 1942, its production was not truly beneficial until 1972, when the World Health Organization (WHO) developed better technology to identify the viral strains infecting people. Flu is most commonly spread through close contact, coughing and sneezing. Therefore, covering the mouth while coughing and sneezing, in addition to good hand-washing techniques, can help prevent spread of the virus. Symptoms of flu include fever, chills, sweats, headache, sore throat, cough, runny nose, muscle aches and fatigue. Ac-

cording to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), there has been increased flu activity in the United States. So far, there have been five influenza-associated pediatric deaths this 2018-2019 flu season. While thousands of people no longer die every flu season, there are groups that remain very susceptible, such as babies, young children, and elderly adults. Individuals with naïve or suppressed immune systems are the most susceptible to the flu. Here are some things you should know about the flu vaccine: • You cannot get the flu from the injectable vaccine given to most adults. Children and young adults are candidates for the vaccine as a nasal spray and rarely can develop cold-like symptoms, such as runny nose, cough and fever. • It takes two weeks after vaccination to develop full immunity. • The flu vaccine is a combination vaccine against two strains of influenza A and one strain of influenza B. • The flu vaccine only protects you from specific influenza A and B strains. You could still end up with the flu even if vaccinated if you are infected with a different virus strain. To help promote personal

health and wellness, get an annual flu vaccine. While you may feel that you are healthy and immune to the flu, vaccinating yourself helps protect others around you as well and prevents transmission of the virus. Vaccination should occur every year due to the ongoing genetic changes in the viruses causing the disease every flu season. Save a life with the flu vaccine. It is not too late to protect yourself and others this flu season. The vaccines are available through many employers, commercial labs, and directly from most pharmacies for a nominal fee. Margareth Pierre-Louis, MD, MBA, is a boardcertified dermatologist and dermatopathologist and Medical Director of Twin Cities Dermatology Center. Dr. PierreLouis promotes visible wellness and treats skin, hair, and nail disorders affecting patients of all ages, skin types, and backgrounds. She has cared for thousands of patients in consultation through academic and private practice and via telemedicine. Her expertise lies in the treatment of inflammatory skin conditions, pigmentation disorders, and hair loss. Learn more about Dr. Pierre-Louis at twincitiesderm. com and contact her TCD@ tcdermmn.com or 612-268-5005.

February 16-22, 2017

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January 3-9, 2019

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Money Matters

How to get the most rewards out of your credit card

More

than 77 percent of A m e r ic a n s prefer using credit cards instead of cash or debit cards for major purchases, yet few take full advantage of or even know what rewards and benefits come with their cards. That means millions of us may be missing out on experiences, cash back, or other benefits that credit cards offer. With great knowledge can come great rewards, so with the New Year in full swing, let’s resolve to maximize our spending power. Here are a few tips to make sure you are getting the most when it comes to a rewards card.

Do your research Aim for cards with rewards to complement your shopping habits. Some cards offer more retail or travel rewards and even cash back; others offer grocery and gas rewards. “All credit cards offer rewards program,” said Jonathan Marcello, founder, Marcello Solutions. “The key is to find cards with rewards that are tailored to your expenses and spending habits. If you travel a lot, then you should be looking at a travel rewards program.” Make sure to avoid a rewards program that you’re not likely to use or that requires you to meet a certain spending requirement within a set period. Instead, choose a rewards card that allows you to earn points for everyday purchases, such as dining, gas and groceries. Also look for cards with rewards points that never expire.

them. According to MarketWatch, over $16 billion worth of credit card rewards go unclaimed each year. The process for redeeming rewards used to be a lot more cumbersome, but you can typically just go log in to your account and redeem them If your rewards points expire, find out expiration dates and make sure to redeem them throughout the year. Another simple way to guarantee you’re redeeming rewards regularly is to have your points automatically credited to your account each time you hit a set number. For example, changing your settings to redeem your rewards points each time you hit the 1,000-point mark will help you take full advantage of your rewards program, even if you forget an expiration date.

Image by Getty Pay attention to interest rates and other fees If you’re paying an annual fee that adds up to more than the rewards you redeem, you’re likely not making the most of your credit card rewards program. A card with a low-interest rate may seem like the most attractive option at first glance. According to TheBalance.com, three other key fees you should also look out for are teaser rates, balance transfer fees, and late fees.

Use the card with the best rewards Got multiple cards? Aim to do most of your shopping with one card to help you rack up points faster. It’s also a good way to monitor your spending habits and get your budget in order. Reminder: just because there are rewards at stake doesn’t mean you should amp up your spending or buy more than you can afford. A good tip to manage your debt is to make regular card payments every paycheck to avoid debt surprises.

Don’t miss out on points Typically, you only need opt-in to your card’s rewards program and start racking up the points. However, for bonus rewards points, many cards require that you activate special rewards program. Make sure to read the fine print and open your card’s emails to see what point deals you could be getting. Redeem your rewards This might seem like a no-brainer, but way too many of us stack up rewards points and never even use

Know your perks, too Credit cards come with so many other benefits than points and cash back. Some offer other benefits such as TSA PreCheck, free FICO scores, travel insurance, collision insurance on rentals and roadside assistance. Again, make sure to read the fine print to learn about any additional perks your card may have. Finding the right credit card can take time and energy but earning and redeeming rewards will make the effort worthwhile. —Information provided, in part, by StatePoint Media.

RETIREMENT 101

These three questions can help you start your retirement income plan After decades of work, easing into retirement can be an exciting time. But the luster can wear off quickly if you don’t have a good retirement-income plan already in place when those weekly paychecks stop — especially if your retirement savings and Social Security aren’t enough to cover expenses. “Some people retire with no income plan at all, but that’s like flying without GPS and still expecting to hit your target,” said Jay Sharifi, an investment advisor at Legacy Wealth Management and author of Building a Better Legacy: Retirement Planning for Your Lifetime and Beyond. “Maybe they think since they’ve saved some money, they will be okay. But saving money for retirement and planning your retirement are two different things. When you fly, you want to know exactly where you’re going and how you will get there. The same

is true when you’re planning your retirement.” Sharifi said there is plenty of territory to cover when trying to work out how you will pay monthly bills, handle unexpected emergencies, and hopefully have some money left over for a little fun. But perhaps a good place to start is to ask yourself these three questions: HOW MUCH MONEY DO YOU NEED? This can vary widely — and wildly — by the household. “The general rule of thumb is that retirees will require 70 to 80 percent of their pre-retirement income to maintain their lifestyle,” said Sharifi. So, if you had an annual income of $100,000 pre-retirement, you need to shoot for about $80,000 in retirement. Once you decide what that number is, the key becomes Image by Getty matching your income need with the correct investment strategies, options, and tools to satisfy that need, he added.

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HOW LONG DOES YOUR MONEY NEED TO LAST? The number-one fear that haunts retirees is the possibility they will outlive their money. It’s a legitimate concern because people are living longer than they used to — which means they need to stretch that money out to meet their life expectancy. The average man in 1950 lived to be 65 and the average woman 71. Today, men are averaging about 19 additional years, and for women, it’s an extra 15 years, according to the Social Security Administration. “You need to plan for at least 20 more years of income,” added Sharifi. WHAT HAPPENS WHEN LIFE PLANS CHANGE? Part of income planning involves taking into account what happens when one spouse gets sick or dies, potentially resulting in the loss of a pension check and definitely the loss of a Social Security check. “Poverty after the loss of a spouse is more

common among women than men, which isn’t surprising since women live longer,” Sharifi said. “The income goes down, but the bills coming in remain the same.” Retirees have a few options to alleviate this concern, such as life insurance plans, living benefit options, and joint-income riders that can be purchased when designing an income portfolio. A financial professional also can provide advice on how to maximize Social Security benefits. “Leaving your retirement up to chance is inadvisable by nearly any standard, yet millions of people find themselves hoping for a happy ending instead of planning for one,” said Sharifi. “With information, tools and professional guidance, creating a successful retirement plan can put you in control of your financial management. And as a result, you won’t be flying blindly.” —Information provided by News & Experts

January 3-9, 2019

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.

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When a wrestler’s haircut is really about a race MELLANEOUS By Mel Reeves Contributing Commentator Peace, goodwill, and good tidings this holiday season were interrupted by the outrageous violation and public humiliation of a Black New Jersey high school wrestler. Andrew Johnson, a student at Buena Regional, was forced to cut off his dreadlocks so he could compete in a wrestling match late last month. No, it was not another incidence of police or racist violence, but it nearly equaled it for its sheer degradation and temporary emasculation, along with the accompanying sense of powerlessness.

was helpless against a system that said he must comply or not be a “team player.” Ironically, the news of this outrage was not initially reported as the disgusting racist misuse and abuse of power that it was. Mike Frankel of the South New Jersey Today News initially tweeted that the wrestler was the “epitome of a team player. It was either an impromptu haircut or a forfeit. He chose the haircut, then won…to help spark Buena to a win.” Frankel’s tweet was the epitome of cluelessness, as he missed the real story, which was an injustice of the highest magnitude: a young person being forced to comply with an adult’s unreasonable

bigoted referee did not like the way he looked. The referee did it because he could, and it was allowed to happen because his coaches, and to a lesser extent his teammates, refused to resist the inhumane request. The team should have taken a stand on behalf of their teammate rather than try to comfort him in his pain. However, adults, including his coach and the dozens of fans sitting in the audience, allowed this miscarriage of justice to play out right in front of them. They could not see or refused to see that this was not about this kid getting his hair cut off, but something much, much deeper. Only Johnson’s grandfather seemed to under-

“How many different ways will people try to exclude Black people from public life without having to declare their bigotry?” Prior to the match, referee Alan Maloney informed Johnson that he could not wrestle because of the length of his locs. When the wrestler sought to comply with the rules by offering to cover them, the cover was unacceptable to the referee. He was faced with a choice: Either cut his hair or forfeit the match. Truth is, there was no choice to make. Andrew’s hair is a part of him, a part of his identity. How could he part with it without giving up a little piece of himself, of his dignity, of his worth as a human being? Anger and outrage have been repeatedly voiced on social media by those who viewed the short video of the young man publicly having his hair chopped off. It has been viewed over 14 million times across the globe. The wrestler’s mother, after watching the video of the event, said, “It was the hardest thing I have ever seen.” It was a difficult thing to watch for anyone with any amount of sensitivity, compassion, and empathy. There was even a large show of support among Whites, particularly women. The mother’s note was in response to a parent of one of her son’s teammates who was congratulating her for her son’s sacrifice for the good of the team. But, some sacrifices are too big to make and in the end are not worth making! As the website Sputnik insightfully reported, “Bits of him were chopped off.” His shoulders slumped as a trainer chopped away his hair. He

request, apparently invoked by his racism. Frankel, however, was unable to see a racist decision, the torrent of Black pain, or a gym full of people complicit in the injustice. It didn’t cross his mind until it was brought to his attention by many outraged Twitter readers. Frankel later apologized but backtracked, tweeting, “In my mind, it was ‘just’ the ultimate sacrifice by a high school athlete,” he wrote. “According to many of you, I missed the correct ‘framing.’” In other words, he is still not convinced he got it wrong. But, how else could it be framed? How would he have framed it if little Susie had been forced to shave her head in order to compete? Would he have framed it as “little blonde-haired Susie took one for the team?” But we get it. Johnson being publicly violated is really not that big a deal. Sometimes you gotta take one for the team, or the school, or the company. “Stop complaining so much,” they say. “It’s not that bad. I don’t see it as racist. Stop playing the race card.” The rights of the individual only apply to White people. In U.S. society, people of color, especially Blacks, have historically been asked to bury their grievances for the good of the country. Black people are expected to grin and bear indignities. “They just do not feel pain like everyone else.” In essence, Johnson was bullied, picked on, and picked out to be humiliated and singled out for disparate treatment because the vile,

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stand the gravity of the event and had to be restrained from running onto the gym floor to stop the hair cutting. The ACLU Chapter of New Jersey got it right when it tweeted, “This is not about hair. This is about race. How many different ways will people try to exclude Black people from public life without having to declare their bigotry?” This was a teachable moment. It was an opportunity for the kid’s coach to teach the young people that there are some things more important than athletic contests and winning and losing. The coach should have invoked principle and demonstrated “real” teamwork by taking his team off the floor. He should have declared to everyone in that gym that “If Andrew can’t wrestle and keep his dignity at the same time, then none of us are wrestling.” Instead, the bigoted referee handed out lessons in power. What is more important, an athletic contest or a young man’s emotional well-being and sense of self? Peace and goodwill on earth will not be achieved until all of us recognize the humanity in one another! Justice, then peace. (In memory of my loving sister Sonja Denise Roberts) Mel Reeves has a blog fightthepowerjournal.com and welcomes reader responses to mellaneous19@yahoo.com.

Don’t get too excited about ‘Opportunity Zones’ just yet By Roger Caldwell Guest Commentator After almost two years in office, President Trump has laid out a policy to spend money and investments in “distressed communities across the country.” At an executive order signing at the White House on Dec. 12, with a majority of African Americans in attendance, Trump said, “This order would draw investment into neglected and underserved communities in America.” With a sea of Black faces, including billionaire Bob Johnson of BET, Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina, and United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Ben Carson, Trump assured the mainstream media that this is one of the solutions to fix the numerous economic problems in urban America. Under Carson’s leadership and direction, 13 federal agencies have already put together a list of 8,761 potential designated action zones.

Very few African Americans are aware of or have information about Opportunity Zones…and the Treasury Department has yet to establish rules for the program. All 50 states, the District of Columbia, and five U.S. territories are able to participate in the Opportunity Zones (OZ) initiative. State governors are responsible for nominating low-income communities based on qualified census tracts, and the U.S. Department of the Treasury will certify Opportunity Zones within 30 days of receiving nominations. “The White House’s new executive order for agencies to prioritize OZs is a positive first step to transform more communities into walkable, equitable, and thriving places and repair the mistakes of the 20th century that led to sprawl and disinvestment,” said Christopher Cotes, Director of LOCUS, a program of Small Growth America. “Most importantly, this new council must encourage greater transparency to ensure any federal investment in OZs achieves equitable development outcomes that are good for both residents and businesses.” On paper, Opportunity Zones appear to be

an excellent concept, and major corporations have an opportunity to invest in distressed communities and get a break on their taxes. These Opportunity Zones were created a year ago under the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, but a year later there are still no established rules to implement the program. At the executive order signing, different prominent Blacks spoke in favor of the project. Pastor Donté Hickman of Southern Baptist Church, in partnership with other faithbased stakeholders’ institutions, has created the East Baltimore Revitalization Plan. The plan will address development needs of 100 acres, approved and adapted by the City Planning Development of Baltimore. “Our area has been federally designated as an Opportunity Zone, and this bipartisan legislation can leverage public and private funding toward community revitalization,” said Pastor Hickman. Johnson is also a big supporter of Opportunity Zones. “What this proves is the efficacy, Mr. President, of a program that allows capital to flow to places where people are seeking out opportunity. And I am convinced that this program…will cause people to invest money where before they saw risk. Now they see opportunity,” he said. It is too early to reach an informed opinion on the Opportunity Zone project. There are different numbers from different leaders on the amount of money the government is willing to invest. Some say $1.3 billion; others say $2.2 billion — but both numbers are substantial. Presently, the major question is how will the African American community benefit from Opportunity Zones? To begin, very few African Americans are aware of or have information about Opportunity Zones, and many consumer advocates warn that the investments may not reach distressed areas. Many of these projects will be a public/private partnership, and many companies refuse to invest money in a poor community, where they don’t foresee getting a return on their investment. As everyone gets excited about the Opportunity Zones project, everyone must remember that no Opportunity Zones have been identified, and the Treasury Department has yet to establish rules for the program. Roger Caldwell is a contributor for the NNPA Newswire.

Trying My Best

WHAT MOON LANDING? By Frank Erickson Contributing Commentator Why are people given the freedom to not believe in God, but not the freedom to question whether the U.S. landing on the moon happened? It appears that a professional athlete not believing the U.S. landed on the moon will get him in as much trouble as not standing during the national anthem. There’s a certain crowd that works very hard to keep everyone in line. But, is Steph Curry disrespecting astronauts? There must be a swift pushback against anyone who denies the existence of the Holocaust, but what is the harm of denying the moon landing? Why is it important to stop Curry from talking about it? To question the moon landing is harmless. It is more than appropriate, it is also fun. Curry should have held his ground — he is now letting the bullies control the narrative. Russia and the U.S. were locked into this childish win-at-any-cost race to the moon, and now the whole thing looks like a hastily thrown-together movie, a bad movie. One in four Americans, and also one in four Brits, believe we did not land on the moon; in Russia, one in three are non-believers. This is no small crowd — over 100 million within these three nations. When looking at the evidence, I would say it is good science to not believe. Frank Erickson lives in Minneapolis.

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January 3-9, 2019

Immortal Technique raises the roof for a worthy cause

Poison Pen (left) and Immortal Technique share the Cedar Cultural Center stage.

By Chris Juhn Editorial Intern

O

ne of New York’s biggest underground hip-hop artists, Immortal Technique, recently took to the stage at Cedar Cultural Center in Minneapolis for a benefit fundraiser. “WATER: A Collaboration of Art & Music to Support the Movement Against Line 3” was hosted Dec. 21 as a “night of resistance” to raise funds to support the on-the-ground fight to stop a new pipeline from running through Minnesota. The pipeline, Line 3, is a proposed Enbridge tar sands pipeline that activists fear will threaten the lakes, rivers, and wild life of North-

ern Minnesota in Ojibwe/Dakota territory. Immortal Technique has been a supporter of pipeline resistance for more than three years. He performed a benefit show at Standing Rock on September 16, 2016, with Constant Flow, an artist from his own record label, Viper Records. Fellow New York artists Poison Pen and DJ Static joined him for the benefit concert, along with local hip-hop heavyweights, including Muja Messiah, Maria Isa, Nataanii Means, TUFAWON and DJ Michel Be, who opened up the night. Nearly 350 fans came out to support the cause and take in the music, along with vendors selling merchandise, artwork and CBD (or

Photos by Chris Juhn

cannabidiol, a chemical component of cannabis without the psychoactive effects of marijuana). All proceeds raised will go to directly support the Line 3 resistance efforts. To learn more about Line 3 resistance, visit MN350.org or to stopline3.org.

(right) A young boy plays the drums during Maria Isa’s performance at Cedar Cultural Center.

Minnesota Historical Society unveils new Prince artifacts Prince fans can catch a glimpse inside the Purple One’s prestardom promotional materials, as the Minnesota Historical Society (MNHS) recently announced the acquisition of new items from his first manager, Owen Husney. The acquisition includes a 1977 press kit created by Husney’s advertising firm to promote Prince. Husney deliberately kept the design minimalist, wanting Prince’s music to do most of the talking. “The press kit is one of only 15 that were ever made, and we personally hand-delivered them to record label executives in California,” Husney said. “We wanted people to understand A) that Prince was a serious artist and B) our support for his talent and genius. Everything had to be first class.” And it worked. Three labels ended up in a bidding war over Prince before he ultimately signed a contract with Warner Bros. Accompanying the kit is a silver demo reel of three Prince songs, two recorded at Sound 80 Studios with sound engineer David “Z” Rivkin, and one recorded at Moon Sound Studios, both in Minneapolis. “Soft & Wet” and “Baby” ended up on his debut album For You, but the third song, “We’ll Make It Through the Storm,” was never released. This collection of artifacts also includes a marketing sheet Warner Bros. used to introduce Prince to radio and retail mar-

kets, which has a similar look to the press kit. “The Minnesota Historical Society is very fortunate to acquire these pieces from Owen Husney,” said Jennifer Huebscher, curator of photography and moving images at MNHS. “These truly unique materials highlight Husney’s efforts to introduce Prince to the record executives who would help make him an international icon.” Husney, a Minnesota native who now lives in California, felt strongly that these items should go to MNHS rather than a private buyer. “There was no doubt in my mind that I wanted them to go to the Minnesota Historical Society,” Husney said. “They will be preserved for all Minnesota residents and visitors to see a portrait of a young genius.” These items join other MNHS artifacts documenting Prince’s early musical career, including handwritten 1977 lyrics to the unreleased song “I Hope We Work It Out” and a ticket to Prince’s first solo concert at the Capri Theatre in Minneapolis in 1979. These acquisitions will be digitized and made available on the MNHS website. Digitization of collections items for online access is made possible by the Legacy Amendment’s Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund. For more information, visit mnhs.org. Information and photos courtesy of MNHS

January 3-9, 2019

BULLETIN

Free First Saturday:

SHARING STORIES

Brighten up the winter months with a colorful day of learning and creativity. Join artists Jason Fulford and Tamara Shopsin (authors of Find Colors and This Equals That) for fun activities exploring colors and the stories they tell. Plus, local author Bao Phi reads his award-winning A Different Pond. Free First Saturdays feature free gallery admission on the first Saturday of every month, plus performances, games, art-making, and kids’ films from 10 am to 3 pm. Family-friendly food options are available or bring something from home to snack on in the museum’s public spaces. For more info, visit http://bit.ly/FreeFirstSat. — Photo and information courtesy of Walker Art Center

Green Card Voices (GCV) needs your help with a new book project. Nominate an immigrant to tell their story in GCV’s upcoming book:

Green Card STEM Voices! Nominees must be currently residing in Minnesota and working in STEM: that’s Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. Nominations will be considered for people working in all science fields, including mental health and psychology. Send nominations (including their name and contact info) to info@greencardvoices. com by February 1, 2019.

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8

January 3-9, 2019

Be Better

this an annual event. I want people to know [a death] is not always the end. Sometimes it’s the beginning.” Hayden echoed those sentiments during his remarks. Looking around at the children sitting on laps and at the tables, he said, “It’s so wonderful to see these babies because that’s where it starts. We are all that we’ve got. If we’re going to be saved, it’s time for us to spend some equity on ourselves.” Patunya Cofield, Tarvanisha’s mother, steeled her emotions to close out the program. “Tarvanisha meant so much to so many people,” she said, surrounded for moral support by Tarvanisha’s sisters, Shyanna Cotton and Destiny Cofield, and her brother Flowers, Jr. “She was the first person who taught me to love the rest of [my children]. How could you not love a child who made it her business to make sure you knew she loved you? In everything she did.” She underscored the heart of this gathering: “[Gun violence] don’t afPhoto courtesy of Facebook/ Lisa Clemons fect you until it hits your family.”

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is dedicated to everybody who has lost their lives to gun violence so nobody will ever be forgotten,” said Flowers. “I’m thankful for what he’s involved with and what he’s going to accomplish.” Flowers, Jr. said, “[Tarvanisha] told me, ‘Be better. Just be better in everything you do, no matter what. Always try to be better.’ She was right. “We do need to be better — better fathers, teachers, doctors, better community members [and] better people just in general,” said Flowers, Jr. “It’s on us. We have to stand up. Every single day.” He added, “You can’t save the whole world, but you can help the next person change. It could be just your friend, your child. It’s not an overnight fight. It’s going to happen over time. This is not just a memorial; it’s the start of something strong.” Hayden commended the family for their activism efforts. “One of the things the Flowers family has supported me in is a bill named after my sister that figures out how we can get the resources so we can get our young people to understand what happens when you pull that trigger. How everybody’s lives change, your life, your family’s life.

(l-r) Al Flowers, Patunya Cofield

“Your victim’s life really changes, and their family changes,” Hayden told the crowd. “I’m thankful for their tireless work on this issue.” He also challenged the community to take a universal stand against all violence. “If this was a case of police shooting someone, the place would be packed, the media would be here,” said Hayden. “When it’s us who kills us, somehow that doesn’t rise to the level of us caring about us.

ly came on board as a patient advocate. “If you are a person of color Continued from page 1 in Minnesota, you often don’t have a choice in finding a provider that looks like you,” Nel“moved the needle in the right son told the MSR. “We know direction,” but there still exist that there is more trust when “too many barriers to quality it is racially and culturally [a care,” “implicit bias,” and not good fit] between patient and enough healthcare providers provider. Just with the addi“with comprehensive tion of [Blaylark] to the team… knowledge and expertise to people will show up to the care for individuals with SCD.” clinic and take their medication and follow up. A lot of that Racial disparities is about trust building. That’s a SCD is also mainly seen as a national issue.” “Black disease,” said Dr. Steve Nelson of Children’s MinneScreening sota. Nelson, a hematologist A person with the Sickle and a member of a 14-person Cell Trait (SCT) inherits a sin“sickle cell team” of doctors gle Hgb S gene and usually and nurses at Children’s Mindoes not have related health nesota in Minneapolis, where problems but is at highest risk he also is chief of staff. He exfor having children with SCD. plained, “We talk about one in If both parents have SCT, they 600 African Americans [havwill have a one-in-four chance ing SCD] instead of saying one with each pregnancy of having in 2,400 Americans. It is actuala child with SCD. ly the most common inherited If one parent has SCD and disorder in the United States. another has the trait, the risk While the percentage of Afincreases to 50 percent. If the rican Americans afflicted by child inherits two abnormal the disease is higher than their hemoglobin genes, including White counterparts, the perat least one sickle hemoglobin centage of Black care providgene (Hgb S), they will have ers is not. SCD. Nelson’s own team was allThe United States mandated White, until Rae Blaylark, the in 1986 that newborn babies be founder and executive direcscreened for SCD, but it wasn’t tor of Sickle Cell Foundation until 2006 that all 50 states, of Minnesota (SCFM), recent-

Sickle cell

“I care about us,” Hayden said. “When I think about what we need to do, there’s a saying we have: ‘Let’s get upstream.’ Let’s talk about prevention. You know where prevention starts, family? Right here.” Sabathani’s president, Cindy Booker, who donated space for the event, said, “Al Flowers has done a great deal for the community in a lot of various ways, and it was a tragedy what happened to his family.”

Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands had newborn screening programs in place. Minnesota instituted its program in 1989. The Minnesota Department of Health reported that 1.5 percent of 67,232 newborns screened in 2017 were identified as having Hgb issues —

Dr. Steve Nelson

992 of 1,026 infants found with abnormal Hgb had the SCD trait, and 34 had SCD. SCD is also a major killer

SBS

MSR: What are the struggles with running a business? RW: I think our biggest struggle has been not

of infants and children in developing nations, especially in India and sub-Saharan Africa. The Centers for Disease Control’s Mary Hulihan said via video that there are “gaps in knowledge” about SCD, including how many people may have it due to the lack of a na-

“If you are a person of color in Minnesota, you often don’t have a choice in finding a provider that looks like you.”

having enough capital. Initially, when we got our financing, we knew we were going in on a shoestring budget. I think that we underestimated Continued from page 1 how tight the budget was going to be and how much more capital we should have asked for [from the business loan]. I think a lot of times minority businesses just try to get the doors open. We’re so used to doing MSR: Have you owned any other businesses bethings on a shoestring budget, and I think that’s fore the Heritage Tea House? to our deficit. RW: I’m a serial entrepreneur, so I’ve had a few other businesses prior to the tea house. The first business is a consulting firm, Doll Face Media — we do marketing and PR. The second business is a lash bar on Broadway in North Minneapolis. MSR: What do you think your failures and successes have been so far with running businesses? RW: My successes early on were in college. I was able to learn the process of incorporating and also the importance of having an accountant. That prepared me as much as you possibly could about processes like tax forms and licensing. One of the failures would have to be not doing enough advertising in previous businesses. We’ve had huge success by word-of-mouth and social media, but we neglected a lot of other advertising and marketing aspects.

Booker said she had also suffered a violent death in her family. Dwight Hobbes welcomes reader re“My father was murdered too, so, sponses at dhobbes@spokesman-recordI understand what a family goes er.com. through,” she said. “It was just an honor for us to give back to the community by providing this space, and for the community to come out and give back to the Al Flowers family and for [that] family to continue to give to the community.” Booker added, “I hope to make the MSR that she first learned she had the SCD trait when she was in high school. “The 11th grade was the first time I even heard the words ‘sickle cell.’ I never heard the words again until I had a child and learned the results of [his] newborn screening when my son was two weeks old and I was told that he had sickle cell disease. I was 24.” Blaylark’s son, now 22 years old, “is doing well,” she said. “Having a support network and an advocate at your beck and call has made a huge difference. But it doesn’t mean he hasn’t been faced with medical bias.”

“Whether you have sickle cell or know someone who is affected, someone in your family is affected by at minimum the sickle cell trait,” Blaylark said. “And if you don’t know who that is, someone in your community is affected by a disease that does not exclusively affect us, but primarily affects us [as Black people]. We have to be ready to take action Living with the disease Both Lane and Brianna at any given moment, and we pointed out that as adults, SCD do that by having ongoing concan be more difficult to nav- versations.” She said that such forums igate than as children. Lane stressed how his fear of being are needed throughout the properly treated has increased year. “I think it is important to as an adult: keep the community informed “I don’t know where to go of what we are doing,” Blaynow. Emergency room? Do I lark concluded. “I think we want to go through that?” he can do a better job of expresssaid. “It is very shocking…to ing, explaining, and educating go into the adult world starting the community.” Photo by Charles Hallman at age 18 and start to experience more blatant discriminaCharles Hallman welcomes tion. While I was at Children’s, reader responses to challman@ I did experience discrimina- spokesman-recorder.com. tional database. Blaylark, who founded her tion from different nurses. nonprofit organization in 2015, They didn’t check in as much has a child with SCD. She told or [would] say I didn’t look MSR: How has the community supported you? RW: The community has been really happy we’re here and really receptive and supportive. That has been our main customer base. We just got to get out there more and let more people know that we’re here.

entrepreneurs to, even if you don’t have the capital, even if you don’t know how you’re going to get it started, start doing your research, start preparing that administration piece, start just building. Before you know it, your business will be up and running.

MSR: How do you feel you’ve impacted the community? RW: I think very positively. It offers the community another space.

MSR: What legacy do you want to leave behind? RW: I want to create a legacy of Black businesses. Historically, we’ve had conglomerates and communities of strong businesses. We’ve had banks, we’ve had our own butcher, we’ve had these things out of necessity. If you look at other communities — particularly immigrant communities and communities of color — they work together as a community and support each other’s businesses. My goal is to rebuild African American businesses that are high quality in every possible way in the community. We don’t have to go outside of our community to enjoy things like a nice quality restaurant, for example.

“My goal is to rebuild African American businesses that are high quality in every possible way... We don’t have to go outside of our community to enjoy things like a nice quality restaurant.”

MSR: What differences do you see between minority and White businesses when starting out? RW: I’d say capital, big time. We have a low rate of being able to raise funds from funding sites, for one example. Through systematic racism, we also haven’t been able to get the bank loans we need. When you don’t have the capital to start a business or you have the capital to start a business but not to maintain it, that’s when our businesses fail early on.

sick.” “I got more discrimination going into the ER,” Brianna added. “I wonder how [having SCD] increases the racial bias not only in the medical field, but in our day-to-day lives in how it impacts us as sickle cell patients.”

MSR: What’s your vision for where you want to take the business? RW: The next course of business would be producing a tea line. Our tea line will offer hibiscus punch bottled and a few other bottled products. We also want to expand to Minneapolis. MSR: What advice do you have for aspiring entrepreneurs? RW: I would encourage any aspiring

The Heritage Tea House & Café is open Monday through Friday, 11 am to 6 pm; Saturdays, 11 am to 4 pm; and Sundays from 12 pm to 4 pm. Now through January 15, MSR readers can receive a 10 percent discount by mentioning this article. —Interview and photo by Chris Juhn

January 3-9, 2019

Legals

Housing NOTICE OF POSTPONEMENT OF MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE SALE

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the sale as set forth in the above Notice has been postponed to the 7th day of February, 2019, at 10:00 o’clock a.m. at the place indicat-

View Continued from page 10

ed in said Notice. If the sheriff’s sale is not further postponed, the mortgage is not reinstated under Minnesota Statutes section 580.30, the property is not redeemed under section 580.23 or the redemption period is not reduced under section 582.032, the premises must be vacated by August 7, 2019 at 11:59 PM. Dated: December 13, 2018

BERNICK LIFSON, P.A. By:Matthew S. Greenstein (#392044) Macey L. Muller (#400192) 5500 Wayzata Blvd, Suite 1200 Minneapolis, MN 55416 (763) 746-9227 Attorney in Fact for Mortgagee IMPORTANT NOTICE

This communication is from a debt collector and is an attempt to collect a debt. Any information obtained will be used for that purpose. MN Spokesman-Recorder, January 3, 2019 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: April 10, 2018 MORTGAGOR: Marla J. Stewart, a single person MORTGAGEE: Minneapolis Property, LLC, a Minnesota limited liability company DATE AND PLACE OF RECORDING: Recorded in the Office of the County Registrar of Titles, in and for Hennepin County, State of Minnesota, on April 10, 2018, as Document No. T05522317 MORTGAGED PROPERTY ADDRESS: 720 4th Street North #503, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55401 TAX PARCEL I.D. NOS. 22-029-24-24-0703 LEGAL DESCRIPTION OF PROPERTY: Unit Nos. 720503 and G-155, CIC No.

outside of Detroit, but the city nonetheless got blamed. “[It] would be something negative to be labeled on the city,” said former NBAer and Detroit native Steve Smith. Goodall, in high school at the time, recalled, “I was listening to the game [on the radio]. My sister called me, and she said they are fighting at [the Palace]. They are fighting everybody.” Detroit native and Hallof-Famer Spencer Haywood pointed out that when he played, fights in the NBA were common, “but the Malice at the Palace got more attention.” Thomas said he also was bothered that only the players seemed to get blamed. “We put all that on the players. Did any of the coaches get suspend-

FOR RENT

ed? Did any of the coaches get fined? This is what happened constantly with Detroit in terms of image, perception, and media coverage from people outside of Detroit,” Thomas noted. But, like an Elton John song, The D still is standing after all these years. Broadcaster Stephanie Ready told me that she had no idea the connectedness Detroiters feel for their sports teams, especially the Pistons. “You can tell that Detroit runs through the blood” of the likes of Haywood, Smith, Goodall and Thomas among many, many others who proudly claim The D as their own.

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1300, 710 Lofts, a condominium located in the County of Hennepin COUNTY IN WHICH PROPERTY IS LOCATED: Hennepin ORIGINAL PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF MORTGAGE: $10,000.00 CLUDING TAXES, IF ANY, PAID BY MORTGAGEE: $11,526.36

SOe

INTEREST RATE AND PER DIEM: Current interest rate is 8%, with a daily per

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AMOUNT DUE AND CLAIMED TO BE DUE AS OF DATE OF NOTICE, IN-

diem of $2.19. That prior to commencement of this mortgage foreclosure proceeding Mortgagee complied with all notice requirements by statute; That no action or proceeding has been instituted at law or otherwise to recover the debt secured by said mortgage or any part thereof; PURSUANT to the power of sale contained in said mortgage, the above described property will be sold by the Sheriff of said county as follows: DATE AND TIME OF SALE: January 9, 2019, at 10:00 am. PLACE OF SALE: Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office, Hennepin County Courthouse, 350 South Fifth Street, Room 30, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55415, to pay the debt then secured by said Mortgage, taxes, if any, on said premises, and the costs and disbursements, including attorneys’ fees allowed by law subject to redemption within from the date of said sale by the mortgagor(s), their personal representatives or assigns. DATE AND TIME MORTGAGOR MUST VACATE THE PREMISES: July 9, 2019, at 11:59 pm. THE TIME ALLOWED BY LAW FOR REDEMPTION BY THE MORTGAGOR, THE MORTGAGOR’S PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVES OR ASSIGNS, MAY BE REDUCED TO FIVE (5) WEEKS IF A JUDICIAL ORDER IS ENTERED UNDER

His first head coaching job came in Minnesota (2005-07). He was fired and later hired at Toronto, where he won four division titles and five consecutive playoff appearances. Detroit hired him last summer. “I was going to land on my feet,” Casey said, cool and confident before his team played Minnesota last month. “I was going to bounce back and get another job. This league has been good [to me].” Both Casey and Bickerstaff certainly paid their dues coaching while Black.

Opportunities for Blacks to coach can be elusive, and it comes with a hefty price on one’s career record. Often they are handed keys to a losing franchise with “Magic Negro” unrealistic expectations to turn things around. If they’re unsuccessful, their efforts in setting things up for the next coach to reap the benefits go largely unnoticed. A great example is Mark Jackson, now an NBA analyst who coached Golden State for three seasons (2011-14) with young players such as Steph Curry and Klay Thompson, among others. He later was fired and Steve Kerr took over, becoming like Joshua in leading the Warriors to the NBA Promised Land and winning three NBA titles in four tries. Only Kerr has publicly given credit to Jackson’s Moses-like efforts as his predecessor.

Bickerstaff told the MSR that his comfort level as a permanent head coach is getting there. “Obviously having a couple of stints in the past has helped. Until you actually do the job, you are not necessarily prepared for the job. The slide over one seat is a huge difference.” We unabashedly root for Casey, Bickerstaff and all other Black coaches, no matter the sport or gender. We cheer for them in their first chances, and when necessary in their second or third chances as well. Charles Hallman welcomes reader responses to challman@spokesmanrecorder.com.

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: November 15, 2018

BERNICK LIFSON, P.A.

By:

s/Matthew S. Greenstein

Wrestler Continued from page 1

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who won a gold medal in 2012, called the incident “… an abuse of power, racist, and absolutely shameful.” Buena Regional School District said Maloney would no longer be officiating games in the district. The New Jersey Division of Civil Rights has launched an investigation into the referee, and the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association has barred Maloney from calling any future wrestling matches until an investigation is complete. The Johnson family has since released a statement saying they are grateful for the outpouring of support and are supportive of their son’s coaches. But, many who viewed the video wondered why the coaches didn’t contest the referee’s ultimatum. “Where was the coach or the assistant coach or a parent to protect this young man?”

asked Ian Cody, whose nephew Malachi is an eighth grade student at St. Thomas Academy in Mendota Heights and a member of the school’s wrestling team. “Why didn’t anyone say anything? That’s disturbing that nobody said anything or spoke up for him. That’s an eye-opener and a red flag for me.” Cody said he watched the video with Malachi to teach his nephew one important life-lesson: self-advocacy. “What I wanted him to learn from seeing the clip is to stand up for himself and know that he has rights as a student athlete. “If he feels like he’s in a compromising position, and I’m not there, say something. That’s his right to say something. Say something to the coaches or another adult. Stand up for yourself. That’s what I hope this teaches him.” Cody added that he was also blown away by Johnson’s dedication in spite of the situation. “I tried to point out the good, which was this young

man’s dedication,” he said. “He got his hair cut, but he was focused and still won his match. That was definitely big of him. This whole situation is so negative that initially I didn’t want to point it out to my nephew, so I tried to look for the good points.” Jeff Wichern, who owns JJ Trained Wrestling School in Eden Prairie, noted that cutting a wrestler’s hair prior to a match isn’t all that uncommon. In fact, he said, it happened to him as a teenager. “When I was in high school, I had to have my hair cut on the side of the mat. A referee is supposed to handle this hair situation at weigh-in, but the referees are not always at the weigh-in. At least mine wasn’t on that fateful day. I went out on a mat, the referee saw my hair for the first time and said it was too long. My coach had to cut my hair in order for me to compete.” But, Wichern said there is no way he would have allowed one of his players to get his hair cut courtside. “I would have forfeited the

match and taken care of this at another time, you know, get some other authorities involved to make it a better situation. “I think the situation was handled wrong just looking at the video,” said Wichern. “I wouldn’t want something like that to happen to one of my wrestlers.” One thing he does know is that the hair rules in wrestling are outdated. “I hope it opens everyone’s mind that maybe we need to make some different rules as the sport evolves,” he said. “The rules were put in place so long ago they don’t apply anymore. There are more females wrestling today. There are more people of color wrestling, as well. We have to address these things.” Sheletta Brundidge is the cohost of the Two Haute Mamas podcast online at WCCO Radio. You can listen to the show on her website at twohautemamas.com. Cover photo courtesy of Getty

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January 3-9, 2019

‘Malice at the Palace’ shadowed Pistons’ contributions Boys” and not for Third of a setting a defensive multi-part series standard that forced the league to change. They were also Over the years, known for the “Malthe Detroit Pistons Charles ice at the Palace.” have brought sevhallman November 19, eral significant, 2004, was the first largely good, if unrecognized, changes that meeting between the Pistransformed the NBA on and tons and the Indiana Pacers since they played in the off the court. “We made it a point that Eastern Finals. It was naour team was covered by tionally televised on ESPN, African Americans,” Isiah and the heated but lopsided Thomas, who played his en- contest between the two ditire 12-year NBA career in vision rivals was in favor of Detroit, told Black journal- the visiting Pacers. “Watchists last summer at NABJ in ing it [on television], I saw Detroit. “I am really proud two teams that weren’t going of how the Detroit Pistons to back down,” Thomas said. not only changed the land- “You put all in the same arescape of journalism but al- na together” along with some so changed the landscape of rowdy fans in the stands, and this became a bad mix. basketball.”

ANOTHER

VIEW

“You can tell that Detroit runs through the blood.”

Cheers to all Black coaches, no matter sport or gender Sports odds and ends By Charles Hallman Contributing Writer

D

wane Casey and J.B. Bickerstaff are members of the NBA’s “second chance” coaching fraternity. They, along with Nate McMillian, Alvin Gentry and David Fizdale, are in their current positions after getting second or third head coaching opportunities — a rarity for Black coaches. Both Casey and Bickerstaff got their second chances after leaving Minnesota.

2007-11 and before that, the same in Charlotte (2004-07), where he worked with his father and then-head coach Bernie Bickerstaff. Before going to the NBA, the younger Bickerstaff also served as director of operations for the University of Minnesota’s men’s basketball program in the early 2000s. “It means a lot,” Bickerstaff said earlier this season when his team played Minnesota. “It was tough to go through what we went through last year. You basi-

“Until you actually do the job, you are not necessarily prepared for the job. The slide over one seat is a huge difference.” Now in his first season as Memphis head coach, Bickerstaff went from associate head coach to interim head coach after former coach Fizdale, now in his first season with the New York Knicks, was fired in late November 2017. Fizdale was also Houston interim head coach early in the 2015-16 season after that coach was fired. There, he guided the Rockets to a 37-34 finish and a postseason berth. Bickerstaff was an assistant coach in Minnesota from

cally put your career on the line. Not a lot of places are going to give you a chance with all those losses,” said the first-year Grizzlies head coach. Casey, after leading Toronto to its best season last year and earning two NBA Coach of the Year awards, was fired almost as soon as his name was announced last spring. Beginning in 1994, he has served as a head coach, associate head coach and assistant coach in the NBA for 23 seasons.

Dwane Casey

J.B. Bickerstaff

■ See SOE on page 9

Photos by Charles Hallman

Former metro standouts playing well for Gophers (l-r) Stephanie Ready, Spencer Haywood, Steve Smith (center rear), Vincent Goodall (center front), Isiah Thomas Photo by Charles Hallman Vincent Goodall, who was once a team beat writer and now covers the NBA for Yahoo Sports, added, “When people like [Thomas] found out I am from Detroit, I got pulled aside. They were always giving advice” on how best to correctly and honestly cover the city and the team, he pointed out. “We were the first smallmarket [team] to have our own plane [and] the first to stay in first-class hotels,” Thomas continued. “We were the first team to start wearing shirts and ties to the game. The other [team] owners had to upgrade.” However, the Pistons are mostly known as the “Bad

A scuffle between two players on the court in the waning minutes of the game soon boiled over into the stands. The aftermath saw 11 players fined by the league — an estimated $11 million lost in salaries. Players received multiple-game suspensions; Indiana’s Ron Artest was suspended for the rest of the season. Five players and five fans were later charged with assault and battery, and two Pistons fans were later banned from any events at the Palace, as well. All this took place at the Palace of Auburn Hills, some 60 miles

Four former metro prep basketball stars — Amir Coffey, Gabe Kalscheur, Daniel Oturu and Kenisha Bell — are making major contributions to the University of Minnesota men’s and women’s basketball programs, respectively. Junior guard Coffey (Hopkins), who stands 6’8”, is averaging 15.3 points per game for the men’s team — currently sporting a 102 record — while compiling 39 assists and 12 steals. Kalscheur (DeLaSalle), a 6’4” freshman guard, has a 10.8 scoring average for the Gophers to go along with 18 assists and 10 steals. Oturu (Cretin-Derham Hall) is chipping in 10.7 points and eight rebounds per game and also has 24 blocks. Bell (Bloomington Kennedy), a 5’9” senior guard, leads the nationally ranked, undefeated Gophers women’s team in scoring 19.5 points per game, along with 50 assists and 29 steals in 11 games. Dr. Mitchell Palmer McDonald welcomes reader responses to mcdeezy05@gmail.com. Photos by Dr. Mitchell Palmer McDonald

■ See ViEw on page 9

Amir Coffey

Gabe Kalscheuer

Larry Fitzgerald’s column will return next week. Kenisha Bell

Daniel Oturu