PRST STD U.S.POSTAGE PAID TWIN CITIES MN PERMIT NO. 6391
THE VOICE OF THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY SINCE 1934 November 5-11, 2020 Vol. 87 No. 14
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“AS IT WAS SPOKEN ... LET US RECORD.”
Now What?
T
he voting turnout nationally has been unprecedented. Amidst concerns about the spread of the COVID pandemic, protests against police violence, and increasing poverty and homelessness, people took to the ballot box for relief. Over 100 million had cast their ballot by press time, and absentee ballots have been cast in record numbers. In New York City about 20% of eligible voters cast their ballots early. As a result of early voting and mail-in balloting that was encouraged because of COVID, there
were not a lot of long lines at the polls as usually occur during presidential elections. “This election, regardless of the outcome, will not lessen the need for continued, relentless pressure for change,” said a Minneapolis voter who wished to remain anonymous. “Otherwise there is great risk of all-too-quickly losing whatever ground may have been gained toward racial justice after the death of George Floyd. That’s just the reality of how the system works, how it’s always worked, and how it always will work until we get it right.”
Voters lined up and voted at the Phyllis Wheatley Community Center in Minneapolis. Many already voted early, making the numbers of voters smaller than usual on Nov. 3, 2020. Photos by Chris Juhn
Combating the hidden biases in data
Local organization seeks to demystify data use and emerging technologies
By Marquis Taylor Contributing writer As technology continues to advance, the need to create and make transparent ethical practices can at times be an afterthought, especially when understanding the use and importance of big data. Leading the charge is the Twin Cities Innovation Alliance (TCIA), a social venture that serves as a co-creation space for coalitions, organizations, entrepreneurs, thought leaders and policymakers interested in thinking about innovation with a diverse lens, not as a silver bullet.
Central to this work is TCIA’s focus on SMART Cities and Connected Communities. A critical component in SMART Cities is education. At the foundation of TCIA’s success is engaging communities in learning about emerging technological trends and their impact on society and linked to action. Founded in 2017 by community organizers and leaders Aasim Shabazz and Marika Pfefferkorn, the Twin Cities Innovation Alliance is at the Marika Pfefferkorn forefront of change in this Submitted photo big data moment by raising awareness, educating, engag- ing individuals, communities ing, equipping and activat- and organizations in ensuring
TCIA has partnered with local organizations like Koinonia Leadership Academy, Macalester College, Civic Eagle, and the University of Minnesota and with national organizations like Communities for Just Schools Fund, Data for Black Lives, Data Funders Collaborative, Center for Democracy and Technology, Brookings Institute, Project Evidence, and Dignity in Schools Campaign A long list of community leaders, entrepreneurs and Dr. Ruha Benjamin academics are focused on the Submitted photo ultimate objective of transforming the Twin Cities into data serves the public good. In its three-year existence, an inclusive, forward-think-
ing, innovative, global Smart City that is anchored in community through a humancentered approach. As a part of national and local problem solving eco-systems, TCIA invests in inspiring others to be part of transformative change through learning exchanges, anchored in restorative justice, data for public good, and SMART City governance. “At the Twin Cities Innovation Alliance, our work is about raising awareness, educating and equipping folks about the impact of big data. This is particularly important for BIPOC and rural communities, but it has implications ■See ALLIANCE on page 5
‘Avid protester’ begins long walk for justice
Black women caught where sexism and racism intersect By Charles Hallman Contributing writer
Black women too often are both misunderstood and marginalized compared to their White counterparts. Dr. Nefertiti Walker calls this “intersectionality.” “The reason why I use intersectionality to view issues and organizations in society is because it forces you to talk about how people are marginalized,” said Walker, an UMass vice chancellor and chief diversity officer. She was among six Black women scholars who virtually appeared at the October 19 U of M Tucker Center Fall Lecture. Walker, who also is an associate sport management professor, specifically studies intersectionality as it applies to race, gender and culture in sport. During a post-event phone interview, Walker explained, “Being Black and being a woman, you have a uniquely different experience because of these intersecting identities and marginalized identities of being both Black and a woman. You are not going Activist and artist Lavish Mack Submitted photo to have the same experiences as Black men or as White women.” However, Walker advised, By Tiffany Johnson “If we don’t consider the issues Contributing writer that impact Black women at the intersection of racism and sexOn Sunday, October 31, loism, we will never have equity or cal activist and artist Lavish even inclusion in sport for Black Mack started a one-month women.” journey from Minneapolis, A prime example of Walker’s Historically, walking has where George Floyd was Minneapolis welcomed Terry murdered, to Louisville, Ken- Willis on his 1,000-mile trek been one of the most power- intersectionality can be found in tucky, where Breonna Taylor from his home in Alabama to ful forms of peaceful protest. the WNBA, America’s longest running women’s professional was murdered, both at the the George Floyd memorial One of the most famous was basketball league. Even though it in protest against racial in- James Meredith’s “March hands of the state’s police. will celebrate its 25th season next Walking as a way of pro- justice, and specifically police against Fear” in 1966 in which he walked 220 miles test is nothing new. In July, brutality.
“You don’t have to be in the streets. If you don’t want to give up your time, give up your money.”
■See PROTESTER on page 5
year, the league still struggles for acceptance beyond its faithful fan base. Sue Bird, who stars for this year’s W champions Seattle, said in a recent CNN interview that a possible reason is that her league is “tall, Black, gay” as opposed to other women’s sports, such as soccer. “To be completely blunt,” Bird said, “soccer players generally are cute little White girls. We have…70 to 80 percent Black women. A lot of gay women. We’re tall. We’re big.” Walker said she totally agrees with Bird’s assessment “because [women soccer players] fit the stereotypes of being physically appealing…that meet the taste of society when they are thinking about women. “The WNBA is Black, and they are dealing with the racism,” she reiterated. “They are women that don’t fit the general standard of feminism—they are bigger and taller. Then you have a lot of gay women in the league.” Since late May, America’s
Dr. Nefertiti Walker Photo courtesy of U-M Tucker Center finally be answered “I’m not sure or that optimistic, because over time and over history we’ve had those moments of social unrest and social reckoning around racism, a lot of attention, and then we go quiet. “I think for me this moment, we had organizations coming out and making commitments and promises to becoming more anti-racist…in ways they haven’t
“I think there needs to be a group of people that are constantly pushing organizations and people in leadership to keep their promises.” typically blind eyes and deaf ears opened to a new awakening, a widespread call for change, equity and inclusion. Walker was asked if she thinks this call will
before,” Walker said. “I think it is up to us as society and people who care about these issues to hold these organizations accountable.” ■See WOMEN on page 5