November 30, 2017 - MN Spokesman-Recorder

November 30 — December 6, 2017 Vol. 84 No. 17 www.spokesman-recorder.com

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THE VOICE OF THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY SINCE 1934

— See Sister Spokesman: Celebrating Moms of All Ages on pg. 7

FAKE NEWS IS NOTHING NEW It’s been around long before Trump’s attacks

By Charles Hallman Staff Writer

T

he state of the public’s current confidence in the news media, especially with the president’s constant attacks on fact-based reporting, is alarming. PEN America, a nonprofit organization that advocates press freedom nationally and worldwide, has established a Press Freedom Incentive Fund to help local communities discuss related issues.

utes reading the entire article, Gibney said. Satisficing — first introduced in 1956 as “only satisfactory results [that] the person is familiar with,” Bu si ne s sd ic t ion a r y.com noted. Hornbacher stressed that people tend to get “just enough information to satisfy them. We believe what we want to believe. We have to dig deeper for news.” Click-bait — Wikipedia says this is when people just “click” on a story based on the headline, which Regan

Members of Den Brothers North with founder, Andre “Debonaire” McNeal (standing at far right)

Changing lives with mentors and self-discovery By Brandi Phillips Contributing Writer The Doorstep Foundation, a start-up mentoring group committed to changing the lives of youth in schools and in the community, is the brainchild of Andre “Debonaire” McNeal. “Doorstep Foundation was something that I started way back when I was on KMOJ radio,” McNeal recalls. “Over the holidays, people would call me and ask me to help provide school clothes, backpacks, school supplies, Christmas toys and winter clothes — things of that nature. The calls had got so regular that it became a little overwhelming.

“One day,” he continues, “when I was on the radio, I said, ‘No matter what, leave it on Debonaire’s Doorstep, and we are going to figure it out.’” He then put out a “public ask” to the radio station’s listening audience. McNeal started receiving calls from listeners saying they wanted to help. Over the years, McNeal says, “I have done things privately and quietly. I have sent boys to prom and provided supplies for graduation, taking in a homeless teen and another troubled youth over time. As I volunteered for other programs in and around the Twin Cities, in my eyes I saw a gap.” As he started mentoring boys from the community in his home, he started doing so

with a purpose. Thus, the Doorstep Foundation was established, and from the Doorstep Foundation, Den Brothers North was started. Den Brothers North (for North Minneapolis) has 41 young men, ages eight to 18. The group just completed their second successful year with sessions held at NAZ (the Northside Achievement Zone). The name Den Brothers stems from McNeal’s days as an Eagle Scout and Boy Scout. “When we were Cub Scouts, we spent our time in what was called a den. Traditionally, as Black men, we consider ourselves ■ See Mentors on page 5

From pain to purpose:

A harrowing past leads one man to seek the greater good the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder (MSR) back in 1995, when he reached out to the publisher at the time to offer photos of the Million Man March in Washington, D.C. Back then Floyd was just “taking” pictures, not “making” them. He explained the distinction: “Taking pictures is just, you

Shannon Gibney The group co-sponsored a press freedom discussion on November 19 in downtown Minneapolis that featured four women: Minneapolis Community and Technical College Professor Shannon Gibney, journalists Sheila Regan and Marya Hornbacher, and poet Sun Yung Shin. Asked if the fake news issue discussed during the two-hour event, mostly attended by Whites, should be of any interest to Blacks, Gibney told the MSR, “Black media, ethnic media from historically margainized communities, has been the antidote to fake news from the beginning.

noted might be misleading. “The headline is trying to get you to click… Headlines can be terrible.” Confirmation bias — people filter out facts and opinions that don’t match their own, Wikipedia states. People today use this to decide whether or not a news story is true, Hornbacher pointed out. Fake news is on the rise, but it didn’t begin with President Trump’s attacks on stories he doesn’t agree with since January. It dates back to the muckraking days of the 19th century, Gibney said, but today people are “happily” sharing false information among

“We believe what we want to believe. We have to dig deeper for news.” “It doesn’t mean that we don’t need fact checkers. It doesn’t mean that you believe everything you hear” from non-mainstream news sources, she said. The Riveter co-founder and editorial director Joanna Demklewicz, who moderated the panel, defined ‘fake news’ as “false and often sensational information under the guise of reporting.” She told the audience that the term is in contention for 2017’s word of the year. Social media is partly to blame for this, said the panel, which introduced several terms to emphasize their point: Info-snacking — Joinstratosphere.com describes this as when people use the first few lines of an online news story to quickly get information. “The average person spends about two minutes on a news article” and around 10 min-

their circle of friends and family. “It’s bigger than you can imagine,” she said. Fake news “brings into question our credibility” as journalists, Hornbacher continued. “The media literacy has to be taught before [readers] get to college. “Fact checking actually is not very hard. I think, as consumers, we need to be well informed about our news consumption,” especially when using social media sources, she pointed out. “Fake news in the digital era and the era of Trump is totally proliferating… It’s not new,” said Gibney, the only Black person on the panel. “Blacks [and other people of color] know this. I think a lot of mainstream news historically [have] been called ‘fake’ by many in the Black community. I get a lot of my news from social media.” ■ See Fake news on page 5

went on expeditions to train his eye. In addition to National Geographic, Floyd has done assignments for humanitarian organizations; for magazines and newspapers, including the MSR, where he contributes frequently to the sports section and other areas; and for the local

“I wouldn’t change my race for nothing in the world.” see something and click, click. But to make a photograph, you see it and yet you’re working the background. You’re working everything just to get the right shot. Then the picture says a lot more than just somebody seeing something and snapping it.” Learning how to make a photograph would come later Steve Floyd with camera Photo by Nikko Floyd for Floyd, after grueling street and gang outreach work left him depleted and he took to travel to By Paige Elliott “You have an eye,” he told Floyd. decompress. Online Editor Heeding the recommenda“You know what you see, but tion of the photographer on the you need some training.” That Second of two-parts conversation would spark a plane, Floyd signed up for a On a fateful plane trip home new passion for Floyd, one that photography workshop in Sanfrom South Africa, Steve Floyd would embrace his wanderlust ta Fe, New Mexico. There he rewas looking at his vacation pho- and eventually launch him on a ceived extensive training from National Geographic veteran photos when a photographer sitting second career. Floyd first connected with tographer James Stanfield, and next to him noticed his shots.

architectural photography business Spacecrafting. “I shoot everything: nature, wildlife, landscape, sports, street photography… That’s one of my favorites, street photography — capturing people in the streets and catching moments,” said Floyd, who cites Gordon Parks and war photographer James Nachtwey among his favorites. Floyd credits longtime MSR Sports Columnist Larry Fitzgerald, Sr. with helping him get his start shooting at sporting events. “Steve and I go back many years,” explained Fitzgerald in an email. Both he and Floyd are from Chicago and grew up in the same ■ See PurPose on page 5

Steve Floyd with children from Fulani tribe in Senegal. Photo by Ann Dillard

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November 30 — December 6, 2017

Parents are the First Teachers and Home the First School

How parents can impact early literacy Help your reader sound out words Phonics helps children learn the relationships between the letters and the sounds of spoken language. For example, the letter n represents the sound /n/, and that it is the first letter in words such as nose, nachos and new.

By Tammy McIntyre Contributing Writer

R

eading with your child is a proven way to develop early literacy. By putting a few simple strategies into action you can improve your child’s reading in as little as 20 minutes per day. Here are a few ideas you can apply when reading with your child. 1. Set aside special reading time and a special reading place. 2. If you are not a good reader, you can still encourage your children to read. As your children learn to read, ask them to read to you. 3. Pointing at words as you read will help the child learn that reading goes from left to right and understand that the word he or she says is the word he or she sees. 4. Read your child’s favorite book over and over again. Your child will gain confidence as they are able to recognize words. 5. Reading with emotion draws a child into the story. It also helps them to better understand how words can describe something happy or sad. 6. Help your child to start their own library.

Reading programs Launching Young Readers is a public television series designed for teachers, parents, caregivers, and anyone else interested in helping children learn to read. Based on the latest research findings, the series consists of 30-minute television programs that explore the stages of reading that every child goes through. The programs feature the country’s top reading experts, look at different reading strategies, provide practical advice for parents, and interweave the personal stories of children, families and teachers. What can you do at home? Parents can have a significant impact on how much their kids read at home. A 1998 study published by the American Psychological Association links reading volume directly with both improving reading skills and future academic success. The key to getting kids to read a lot is to choose books that they find to be fun and interesting. To build your child’s reading skills, try these entertaining games, apps, and activities: • Scholastic’s website is dedicated to books, reading, authors and games. Scholastic’s Book and Games Apps are based on popular characters and series that kids love. You might want to try “The

Magic School Bus: Dinosaurs” or “The Magic School Bus: Oceans.” • Scribble Press (and the Scribble Press app on iTunes) is a multimedia creativity platform for creating, sharing and publishing stories. • PBS Kids “Between the Lions” provides vocabulary activities, games and stories with some additional scaffolding (vocabulary words, for example) and captions that highlight each word as it is read. • WordGirl, the companion website to the PBS Kids television show, offers entertaining games with vocabulary development.

Kids will barely realize they are learning, they’ll be having so much fun! Finally, parents, celebrate the fact that you still have a great deal of influence over what your child reads. According to the Scholastic organization, 81 percent of kids age five to eight say that their mom is a main source of information on providing them with good books to read.

workforce development consultant providing individuals and small businesses with career development services. She welcomes reader responses to mcintyre_tammy@rocketmail.com.

For reading ideas and resources see http://www.scholastic.com/parents. Visit www.pbs.org/launchingreaders/ parenttips.html to learn more about the Launching Young Readers series. Tammy McIntyre, M.Ed. is a

How to keep your kids academically engaged during the holiday season

By Wendy Johnson, Ph.D. Contributing Writer Now that the holidays are here, kids are ready to relax and have some fun. During this time, they typically separate themselves from all aspects of academics. Parents, it is good to allow your kids to have some fun; however, they can lose months of learning if you allow them to completely disengage during this time. Keeping your kids academically occupied will not be the easiest task, but with the right approach and delivery anything is doable. Kids today are immersed in technology. They are either playing a game, on their phone or sitting in front of the television or a computer. These are definitely ways to keep your kids occupied; however, there are other activities they can embark on that will give them a chance to maintain and/or enhance many of the skills they have already obtained during the school year or you may discover areas they need to develop. Here are a few tips to leverage during this holiday season: Communication Currently, we live in an email and texting world. This especially applies to kids. According to industry research (parenting.com), 61 percent of virtual-world vis-

itors are between ages three and 11, and 22 percent of kids ages six to nine already have their own cell phones. In a study in the Journal of Pediatrics, 58 percent of kids 10 to 15 listed a form of communication as the major reason to go online. Although convenient, there are pros and cons to this form of communication. In addition, many families text each other while they are in the house instead of talking to each other face to face. How do you solve this? First and foremost, you must shift their engagement and pull them away from their games, the phone, television and the computer. Do what we did years ago and talk to your kids about their friends, what they enjoy doing, what they want to be when they grow up and why. How are things going at school, etc.? There are many things you can discuss with your kids. This will not only give you a chance to get to know your kids better, it will also give you a chance to assess their ability to communicate. You will also see if this is an area that requires some additional development. You can assess eye contact, whether they are able to articulate, whether they can answer various questions, etc. These are all valid questions, especially for older kids. This kind of engagement should be ongoing. You will be surprised what you find out when you engage in face-to-face dialogue (not to mention body language is also key). Yes, we live in a technological age, but do not let this technical environment minimize the time you spend talking to your kids. Effective verbal and written communication skills (along with other traits) are needed for your kids to successfully matricu-

late in our society. They cannot hide behind email and text messaging. Reading This is definitely one of the more difficult areas to engage your kids. In order to make this happen, you must get involved. Why? Well, most kids will not read on their own. They will read a book assigned by their teacher, but casual reading outside of the classroom (in most cases) does not happen. Getting kids to read becomes more difficult the older they get. Younger kids are a little easier to engage. Keep in mind that these strategies will require some of your time. This first tactic caters to kids in K-6th grade. It requires taking time to read to your kids. Doing this gives you a chance to spend time with them, and it shows that you value reading enough to make time to read to them. Yes, this may take you out of your comfort zone, and this is a different approach. However, your objective is to engage your child in reading. This is about them, not you. And, although your parents may not have read to you, that does not mean you should not read to your kids. Older kids are a little different and obviously require an altered approach. One strategic way to engage your older kids is to get them involved with a project you are working on or “talk” to them about what they are interested in (sports, dance, sewing, etc.). Ask them some questions about their area of interest (you may need to do some research on your own in order to ask these questions). If they do not know the answer (in most cases they will not), ask them to look further into this matter, find out the answer, and reconvene with

them to discuss their findings. Or, get them involved in a project you are working on and tell them you need their assistance. Give them the details and ask them to investigate certain items. These are merely some examples; you must be creative and strive to make them feel needed. The goal is to get them reading and exploring. There are other areas you can work on during this holiday time. Mathematics is vi-

tal as well. This can be accomplished by involving your kids with cooking and chores around the house, for example. Overall, strive to “academically” engage your kids during the holidays. This will keep them thinking, growing and developing.

She has experience in the education and corporate sectors. This has been reprinted from our December 15, 2016

Dr. Wendy Johnson is the president and founder of the National Empowerment Group, Inc. a nonprofit organization that empowers women and girls.

DO YOUR HEART A FAVOR. QUIT SMOKING.

Roosevelt, Heart attack at age 45 Virginia

Smoking causes immediate damage to your body. For Roosevelt, it caused his heart attack. Your heart attack risk drops as soon as you quit smoking. For free help, including free nicotine patches, gum or lozenges, call 1-888-354-PLAN or visit quitplan.com.

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November 30 — December 6, 2017

3

New guidelines say thousands more people now have high blood pressure

By Charles E. Crutchfield III, MD and J. Michael Gonzalez-Campoy, MD, PhD, FACE In November of 2017, the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology issued new guidelines and definitions for the diagnosis of high blood pressure. The new guidelines are much stricter and place more than one-fourth of all Americans at risk. They changed the guidelines of having high blood pressure from anything above 140/90 to, now, anything above 130/80. High blood pressure may cause damage to vital organs over time. Brain damage causes a stroke. Heart damage causes a heart attack. And kidney damage causes kidney failure. High blood pressure may also damage the eyes and blood vessels, causing weakening of the blood vessel walls. If a blood vessel wall balloons out, this is called an aneurysm. Aneurysms may break and bleeding can happen. What causes high blood pressure? The blood pressure is determined by the amount of squeeze created by the circular smooth muscle of the blood vessels, by the speed at which the heart beats, and by the volume inside the blood vessels made up by the blood. The blood pressure will go up if there is too much squeeze from the blood vessels. It will also go up if there is an excess volume in the circulation. And it will go up if the heart is stimulated to beat faster or stronger.

Adrenaline, the “fight or flight” hormone, causes the heart to beat faster and the blood vessels to squeeze tighter. Therefore, too much adrenaline, as is the case with stress, can cause the blood pressure to go up. Table salt has sodium. Sodium holds on to water. So, the sodium inside blood vessels will hold on to water. This increased volume will make the blood pressure go up. Hardening of the arteries happens with aging. It comes sooner in life if you smoke. Hardening of the arteries contributes to a high blood pressure.

Previously: If the systolic blood pressure is 140 mmHg or more, the blood pressure is considered to be high. If the diastolic blood pressure is 90 mmHg or more, the blood pressure is considered to be high. If either the systolic blood pressure or the diastolic blood pressure remains elevated over time — if the numbers were equal to or greater than 140/90 — then the diagnosis of hypertension is made.

How is high blood pressure treated? High blood pressure is always treated with the right meal and physical activity choices. Eating more fresh fruits and vegetables, avoiding added salt, and eating less canned or processed foods is very important. These food choices limit salt intake. Regular physical activity limits the amount of body fat and makes it easier to move. Regular physical activity also helps keep the blood vessels healthy,

How common is high blood pressure? The medical term for high blood pressure is hypertension. There are over 60 million Americans with hypertension. Hypertension affects Blacks and Hispanics disproportionately more than Whites. The new diagnosis identifies even more people as at risk. How is high blood pressure diagnosed? There are two numbers in any blood pressure measurement. The top number, called the systolic blood pressure, measures blood pressure when the heart is pumping. The bottom number, called the diastolic blood pressure, is the pressure when the heart is at rest. Elevation in either one of the two numbers can make the diagnosis of hypertension. The new guidelines indicate that at least two different “careful” readings, taken at two separate times, are required to accurately evaluate blood pressure. This means a patient who comes rushing into an appointment late, battling traffic on the way in, and after consuming a caffeinated beverage is not in an ideal situation for an accurate blood pressure reading at the office. Best to take blood pressure at home over several days with a home measuring monitor or wearable measuring monitor. Your doctor will discuss with you the best way to obtain accurate blood pressure readings. Here are where the new guidelines come into play.

Now: If either one of the blood pressure numbers is equal to or above 130/80, the reading is considered to be hypertension. This causes hundreds of thousands of Americans to have the diagnosis who were not previously considered to have high blood pressure. Any consistent blood pressure reading above 130/80 is now considered to be hypertension. Can high blood pressure be prevented? Persistently elevated high blood pressure, which is called hypertension, is genetically programmed. It is not possible to prevent it. But the clinical onset of hypertension may be significantly delayed by keeping slim, maintaining a regular exercise program, and avoiding the use of excess salt in the meal plan.

which in turn keeps the blood pressure down. Persistently elevated blood pressure readings, despite a healthy lifestyle, warrants treatment with medications. Medications to lower the blood pressure may be used individually or in combinations of individual drugs. It is very important to note that there is tremendous benefit in lowering the blood pressure with medications. This benefit is far greater than any potential risks of medications. Recommended action steps The most important single step to take is to measure the blood pressure. This should be done not once, but regularly over the course of your life. Awareness of a high blood pressure is the very first step to take. This is especially important if other people in the family have a high blood pressure.

Additionally, if you are an adult with high blood pressure, you should teach your children the importance of checking their blood pressure regularly. You should check it at your local pharmacy, fire station, or consider investing in a home unit. The pharmacist can recommend an appropriate home blood pressure unit for you. The key is to check it regularly and write the number down for your doctor to review at all of your visits. Make sure you have a general medical examination once per year and more frequently if directed by your doctor. Following a healthy meal plan and taking medications as prescribed are crucial to prevent complications of high blood pressure over time. High blood pressure has been called a silent killer. Often it is the heart attack or stroke that is the first sign of trouble. Prevention is key when it comes to high blood pressure! Talk to your doctor to see how the new blood pressure guidelines affect you. J. Michael Gonzalez-Campoy, MD, Ph.D., FACE, Mayo Clinic graduate, is medical director and CEO of the Minnesota Center for Obesity, Metabolism, and Endocrinology in Eagan, Minnesota and past president of the Minnesota Medical Association. 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.

Mindfulness — a skill for living well

Emotional Wellness with Dr. Golden by

DeiDre Annice GolDen Ph.D., lP

By Nicole Winbush, MD, MS Physician, NorthPoint Health & Wellness Center Guest Columnist Have you ever found yourself half listening to a friend telling you a story while you try to make your shopping list in your head? Or called into work sick only to spend the day worrying about how much work will be waiting for you when you return? If you have had experiences like these, you are not alone. Many of us may go through most of our day doing one thing while thinking about something else. In part, this experience is normal and part of being human. Our mind likes to stay busy thinking about one topic after another, planning and strategizing. But our busy minds can be a source of great distress. If we spend most of our day replaying past events or dreading potential future events, there is little bandwidth to attend to the present. Mindfulness is one approach to help find balance in the midst of all of our doing and thinking. What is mindfulness? Mindfulness is the name given to an approach that brings our attention fully in the present. When we are mindful we

are able to focus our attention on sensing and feeling what is happening right now. When we are mindful we observe our thoughts, feelings, sensations, etc. without assigning a meaning or judgement to the present circumstance. What does this mean? Well for example, this morning when I was driving into work I found that I was running a bit late. I was looking at the clock and getting irritated with the drivers around me who I felt were driving too slow. I was feeling impatient. This impatience showed up in my body as tightness in my neck and shoulders. I also noticed how I was creating a whole story about how my day was going to be “ruined” because I was running a few minutes late. But, after a few minutes I began to notice my thoughts and sensations and to become more mindful. I brought my attention to the tightness in my neck and shoulders and began to breathe deeply to relax them and slow my breathing down. I could concentrate on driving attentively and safely. I did these things and ended up making it to my appointment more quickly than I thought I would. I was on time and feeling more relaxed, and my day went well. Mark Twain is credited with saying, “I have lived through some terrible things in my life, and some of them actually happened.” While it is true that many of us may have had unfortunate events occur in our life, this number often pales in comparison to the sometimes constant thoughts of potential bad outcomes to situations that we can create in our head. Let me be clear: I am not saying that you should go through your day without ever giving a thought to planning or problem

solving how you can address potential negative situations. But it should not be the constant focus. If we keep our mind awash all day long in contemplating potential negative outcomes, it leaves precious little energy to actually be in the present moment. The present is the only place from which we have the power to make changes that will positively impact our day and, more generally, our life. What mindfulness is not While certain religions and faiths of the world incorporate mindfulness often as an aspect of meditation, mindfulness is an approach that is inherently nonreligious. One can also be mindful while taking a walk, while washing one’s hands, and while cooking dinner. Mindfulness is also not the same as relaxation. While practicing mindfulness can sometimes feel relaxing, it is not in itself a relaxation process. It is about being present for what is — what one is feeling, thinking, and sensing in the present moment and being open to all of it (pleasant or unpleasant) without judgement. Some benefits of mindfulness Mindfulness has literally been shown to change our brains. Mindfulness practices have been associated with increases in the size of brain areas associated with memory. Mindfulness is associated with many potential benefits for physical and emotional health, including decreased levels of stress, improved ability to focus, and potential benefits for those dealing with chronic pain, depression and anxiety. Getting started The best part is, no equipment is needed. Taking a few

slow, deep breaths throughout your day, going for a mindful walk where you pay attention to the sensations of your body in the surrounding environment as you walk, are all ways to practice mindfulness. It can be helpful to have some guidance in your practice. There is a wealth of free resources available, including free phone apps (“Stop Breathe Think” is one that I like), online videos, and record-

ings and books available at your local library. You cannot do it wrong As you practice mindfulness, the goal is to be aware of the moment. Undoubtedly, your attention will wander. This is OK — when you notice your attention wandering, you just bring it back. The process of noticing and bringing your attention back is actually where the benefit is. It

is like doing a bicep curl for your mindfulness muscles, and you can do this workout anytime and anywhere. If you are interested in learning more about the mental health services at NorthPoint Health and Wellness, call Dr. D.A. Golden at NorthPoint Health & Wellness Clinic, 612-5432705.

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4 November 30 — December 6, 2017 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.

New FBI report raises alarm over domestic counterintelligence By Rep. Cedric L. Richmond Guest Commentator

Black celebrities, athletes and politicians must respect the Black Press By Rosetta Miller-Perry Guest Commentator Throughout history, the Black Press has been the best friend that Black celebrities, athletes and politicians have ever had. The Black Press often covers Black public figures from the very start of their careers, before they’re “discovered” by the mainstream media, all the way through to their ascension to star or leadership status. Before they became household names, had hit records, secured multi-million dollar contracts or became leaders in the United States Congress, it was the Black Press that was always there for their press conferences and events, often giving them extensive coverage when the mainstream media might only give them a brief mention in the B-section of their newspapers or 15 seconds at the end of an evening news segment. When the mainstream media finally “discovers” these same Black celebrities, athletes and politicians and they attain a certain degree of fame and success, suddenly, they think it’s okay to snub the Black Press. Now they don’t have time to give interviews to Black newspapers or magazines; there’s no time to make the visits to Black radio stations, where they once made regular appearances; their (usually) White public relations and management staffers guard their time and appearances carefully, and shun Black-owned media. These same public relations firms often discourage their Black clients from working with Blackowned media companies and advertising with the Black Press. This is a disgrace, because when things go bad and these Black celebrities want to get “their” side of the story out, the first place these folks run

to is the Black Press. If there is a story about political corruption, infidelity or other alleged crimes involving a Black public figure, the mainstream media’s attitude is usually “guilty until proven innocent.” It’s the Black Press that usually takes the “innocent until proven guilty” approach, urging fairness and caution, telling readers, listeners and viewers to wait until all the evidence is in, frequently reminding folks of all the great things that their favorite hero did in the past. The Black Press remains the advocate for Black celebrities, athletes and politicians, even now, despite the fact that so many of them seem oblivious to our existence. That is why, increasingly, the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA), the trade group that represents over 200 Blackowned media companies, that reach more than 20 million readers in print and online every week, is reminding these Black public figures that Black newspapers are their champions and defenders 24/7, and that we have backed them in good times and bad. While the classic case of a Black superstar, who ran away from the Black Press for years and then returned at the eleventh hour, remains O.J. Simpson, it is instructive to see how mainstream media is covering the NFL in the wake of Donald Trump’s garbage claims that the players are somehow ”disrespecting the flag and the military” if they kneel during the playing of the national anthem, a claim that was and continues to be absolute nonsense. The Black Press backed Colin Kaepernick’s protest against oppression and police brutality from the beginning, and continues to do so. The Black Press supports Seattle Seahawks defensive lineman Michael Ben-

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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.

nett and other players who have responded positively in the wake of criticism. Black newspapers have printed the entire Star-Spangled Banner, including its verses supporting slavery, while many mainstream publications have bought into the Trump idiocy. When conservative newspapers and publications attacked ESPN commentator Jemele Hill for her tweets about Trump, it was the Black Press that offered unqualified support. We’ve been there through decades of attacks on Black leaders, and we remain vigilant to the constant character assassination and innuendos lodged against Black public figures at the local, state and national levels. What the Black Press wants from Black celebrities, athletes and politicians is respect, fairness, transparency and the same access provided to mainstream media outlets. Don’t just advertise in The New York Times or The Washington Post; also do business with NNPA member publications; continue to make appearances at Black radio stations; order subscriptions to Black publications, in print and online. Our subscriptions and advertising rates are more reasonable than those of the big corporate newspapers, and despite what some advertising firms say, we’re more trusted in the Black community than “general” market publications. It’s time for the Black celebrities, athletes and politicians who say they value entrepreneurship and economic empowerment to do business with the Black Press. Why should Black public figures financially support our mainstream competitors, exclusively, when those businesses have very few connections to the Black community? The Black Press was there for our Black entertainers and politicians passionately sharing their stories with our readers, listeners and viewers when no one knew who they were, we celebrate their success and we won’t assume guilt if something goes wrong, or desert them when they’re wrongfully accused and dragged through the gutter by the mainstream media. So, to the Black celebrities, athletes and politicians that think that they’re too big for the Black Press: recognize and support us as we’ve recognized and supported you all along. Rosetta Miller-Perry, publisher the Tennessee Tribune. Thanks to her and NNPA for sharing this commentary with us.

If you’ve been to a Black Lives Matter rally or tweeted the related hashtag recently, then the FBI might consider you a “Black Identity Extremist,” at least according to a report published by one of the nation’s top law enforcement agencies. In October, an internal FBI report titled Black Identity Extremists Likely Motivated to Target Law Enforcement Officers, was leaked to the public — raising concerns of activists, civil rights groups, and policy makers, including [me] and other members of the Congressional Black Caucus. The report concludes, based on a limited total number of incidents, that: “...it is very likely Black Identity Extremist (BIE) perceptions of police brutality against African Americans spurred an increase in premeditated, retaliatory lethal violence against law enforcement and will very likely serve as justification for such violence. The FBI assess[es] it is very likely this increase began following the August 9, 2014, shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, and the subsequent Grand Jury November 2014 declination to indict the police officers involved.” These unsubstantiated conclusions are troubling, especially in the context of the FBI’s history of targeting African American activists and leaders, including Martin Luther King, Jr., and members of the Congressional Black Caucus. But what is more troubling is the FBI’s creation of the term “Black Identity Extremist” and the definition of it. According to the report, Black Identity Extremists are individuals who, “in response to perceived racism and injustice,” commit violent acts in the name of those beliefs, and, in some cases, desire a “separate Black homeland…social institutions, communities, or governing organizations within the United States.” The report continues: “The mere advocacy of political or social positions, political activism, use of strong rhetoric, or generalized philosophic embrace of violent tactics ‘may not’ (emphasis mine) constitute extremism, and may be constitutionally protected.” I think the words “may not” leave people who organize under the Black Lives Matter movement and other well-meaning African American activist groups vulnerable to the type of monitoring and manipulation that the FBI engaged in as part of COINTELPRO, a counter intelligence program that unfairly and, in some cases, unlawfully destroyed movements, careers, relationships, and lives. I’m also concerned about the FBI’s definition of “extremism.” The question becomes: What does the FBI consider extreme? The report never provides an answer to that question and further complicates the issue on page four in talking about the case of Micah Johnson, the African American man who shot 11 police officers in downtown Dallas, Texas, on July 7, 2016: “Johnson searched and liked social media pages of BIE and Black separatist groups, and had been ousted from a local BIE group for being too radical, according to an open source news article.” I agree that Johnson was an extremist, but here are some questions I have: What group kicked him out? Was it Black Lives Matter, a non-extremist group? Does the FBI consider this group representative of extremism? If so, then its definition of Black Identity Extremists is extreme and ineffective. Also, what does the FBI mean by “perceived racism and injustice” and “perceived past police brutality incidents?” Does the FBI believe racism, injustice, and police brutality

don’t exist? Here are some other questions I have: Why is one of the most powerful federal law enforcement organizations in the nation relying on news articles to figure out whether Johnson was kicked out of a local Black Identity Extremist group? Also, if this is a problem that’s on the rise as the FBI indicates, why isn’t clear and convincing incident data illustrating this included in the report? Finally, is the FBI devoting as much time on this issue as it is on White extremism? If they are, then they are not spending their time wisely when it comes to domestic extremists. According to a 2015 report by the AntiDefamation League, when it comes to extremist movements in the United States: “…White supremacists are by far the most violent, committing about 83 percent of the extremist-related murders in the United States in the past 10 years and being involved in about 52 percent of the shootouts between extremists and police. White supremacists also regularly engage in a variety of terrorist plots, acts and conspiracies.” White supremacist violence is even more concerning in the context of the 2016 election, the current political climate, and President Trump’s decision after White supremacist violence in Charlottesville, Va., to morally equate White supremacists with anti-racist protesters. In regard to the 2016 presidential election specifically, the Southern Poverty Law Center (SCLC) found: “…in the 34 days after the election, there were 1,094 incidents involving bias and almost 80 percent of them were anti-immigrant (315), anti-Black (221), anti-Muslim (112), swastika (108), White nationalist (47), anti-Semitic (33) or involved the KKK (7). Approximately 37 percent of the 1,094 incidents directly referenced either then President-elect Donald Trump, his campaign slogans, or his infamous remarks about sexual assault.” A few weeks after the FBI’s Black Identity Extremists report was leaked, the Congressional Black Caucus met with Facebook about ads that Russian operatives purchased through the social media platform to target the Black Lives Matter movement. During the meeting, the caucus explained to Facebook that their social media platform plays a role in how African Americans are perceived across the country and around the world. In this case, the perception Facebook played a role in creating was negative and could have had life and death consequences. The FBI’s “Black Identity Extremist” report is an example of how perception becomes reality and affects people’s lives on the ground. We don’t need Facebook and other social media platforms playing a role in creating negative perceptions of African Americans and we don’t need the FBI and other law enforcement organizations buying into these perceptions. In response to a letter from the Congressional Black Caucus, FBI Director Christopher Wray agreed to meet. We hope he walks away from the meeting with this understanding. We also hope he’s able to answer our questions. Congressman Cedric L. Richmond (DLA-02) is the chair of the Congressional Black Caucus. Thanks to him and NNPA for sharing this commentary with us.

Federal program should consider new focus

Trying My Best By Frank Erickson The federal program, “Countering Violent Extremism,” which focuses on local Muslims, looks more racist everyday as massmurders by Christian White males increase.

Moreover, local government grants given to combat “extremism,” court-ordered counseling for “terror suspects,” ISIS recruitment case, local Somali Americans put in prison for decades, community liaison officers and mentoring programs to combat “radicalization,” and Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office proposing a series of “Radicalization Prevention workshops,” all reflect the racist obsession that sees local Somali Americans as a violent threat, while White males continue to go about their business stockpiling weap-

ons and committing heinous crimes. How can this government program not be focused on keeping weapons out of the hands of angry White men? Frank Erickson lives in Minneapolis

November 30 — December 6, 2017

Steve Floyd walking out of the slave house “Rebel Room” in Gorée Island

PurPose Continued from page 1

neighborhood where Fitzgerald’s family owned a store. “Our paths crossed again in Minnesota,” noted Fitzgerald. “He is so talented. He has traveled the world for years doing remarkable humanitarian work and helping many. He’s the best photographer doing NBA, NFL live action [and] one of the most…dedicated and dependable people I know.” Floyd hopes to release a book of photos one day and also wants to start showing his work. “I’ve followed every Nobel Peace Prize laureate from the Dalai Lama to Desmond Tutu to Rigoberta Menchú and Obama… There are just a few more things and a few places I keep telling myself I want to go.” India is one such place he cited. But it’s not all camera equipment and travel bags for Floyd these days. His more than two-decades-long legacy in street and youth outreach lives on in his work as a mental health practitioner at Change, Inc., an early intervention and mental health services organization in Minneapolis. “I work with mainly African American boys with behavioral problems,” said Floyd, who has three sons and two daughters of his own. He illustrated his work by sharing a recent case: “We had a kid who was eight years old come in and cuss everybody out! They talked about how he was such a bad kid... I went to pick him up

one day at his house, and come to find out, he basically lived by himself. His mom was never there. He was in the basement [with] just a room and kitchen, TV and clothes everywhere. “The teachers had no clue,” said Floyd, adding that many kids in the community live in similar conditions. “It’s not that they’re just bad kids…there’s just no connection. So that’s a piece that I play — being with the kid, knowing the kid and observing them in school. It helps. It helps them in school.” Over the years, Floyd has adopted a balanced approach to his outreach work. “They allow me to be flexible,” he said of Change, Inc. “I’ll take a break. I’ll step back because of all of the lessons I’ve had in the past of trying to do it all and [how] it eventually just catches up to you.” Photography provides a respite for Floyd, but that, too, comes with risks, as safety often gives way to the thrill of the chase. Floyd seems to relish those moments. “When your sixth sense tells you to get out of the way, keep shooting,” he said. “I’ve been chased and screamed at and hollered at. It’s embarrassing; it’s a lot of different things at once when people don’t want [their picture taken]. I’ve been charged by an elephant… You gotta know when to drop the camera and go, but you also want to get the best shot!” Floyd said with a laugh. As adventurous and curious as Floyd is as a photographer, he recently visited a location he found too emotional to shoot. After years of avoiding West Africa, he traveled to the region on assign-

ment with Project Safety Nets, a local humanitarian organization. During a break from shooting, Floyd ventured out and explored historic sites on Gorée Island off the coast of Dakar in Senegal, and Jufureh, the village of Kunta Kinte in Gambia. Both places are known as major waypoints of the transatlantic slave trade from the 15th to the 19th centuries. Visiting the sites had a profound effect on Floyd. “Just being in those rooms [where slaves were held] — a nine by nine room, no windows, with 15 to 20 people packed in, shackled, naked and living among their own waste, vomit, etc. for three months… “You just try to imagine how they felt. You can smell and you can feel victims in there, feel your ancestors. It’s like they crowd you,” Floyd recalled solemnly. “I mean, I’ve seen 12 Years a Slave; I grew up on Roots. But there’s nothing like being there and seeing it.” Dakar also provided a poignant contrast to life in the States. “Small things like going to a wrestling match — which is their number-one sport. You have 30,000 people around the stadium trying to get in. When I first drove up I was like, ‘Man, I ain’t getting out there!’ Because my mentality is thinking about what would happen [in the States]. “At one point, the security came out and told everybody to get in line. And they grabbed each other by the waist and held each other until there was, like, three straight lines — two hundred yards long with Black men just holding themselves. I said to myself, ‘Man, brothas would never do that in the States!’ “But then you see people who look like you, but think nothing like you. You get inside and 30,000 Black people are sitting there and there’s no alcohol, and you’re having the best time! Drums are playing, there’s dancing…it’s just… You can’t put it into words.” Why in all his years of travel has he avoided West Africa? “I was tired of hearing about slavery and I wanted to go beyond it. Then when I started going down South, I started getting sick. I went to New Orleans and seen plantations and I got really sick. And, even when I hear Black people say, ‘Yes sir and yes ma’am,’ ya know, it just irritates me. Then when I finally went to West Africa, oh, I could see it how it would have been tough early on. I probably would’ve become an angry individual.” He’s not angry now? “Yeah, I’m an-

gry,” admitted Floyd, “because I see what we went through…and how [slavery] has developed us as a whole race of people in this country — the things we say or do and have no idea why. I’m angry because they have literally orchestrated this system so we will never be unified in the United States. It’s not made for that. I see it so clearly now.” Floyd said he has plans to tour West Africa again in a few months and has entertained the idea of moving there one day. And, as he’s done throughout his career, he’s searching for a way to use his pain for a greater good. He mentioned the possibility of developing a “rites of passage” trip for seniors in the Black Male Student Achievement initiative. Other people have also approached him about taking trips to the region

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to get “the gift of liberation and to just know who you are,” said Floyd. Though painful, confronting the harrowing past of his forebears has brought Floyd a renewed sense of identity. “From being in West Africa and having that experience, I wouldn’t change my race for nothing in the world,” he said. “I mean, however we’re put down and made to look small, I would rather be this, and know the strength of my ancestors and know that their strength is also in me.” Paige Elliott welcomes readers’ responses to pelliott@spokeman-recorder.com. This story was edited for space. Visit MSRNewsOnline.com for the full story and to see more photos from Steve Floyd’s visit to West Africa.

Standing in the slave house “Door of No Return” in Gorée Island Photos by Ann Dillard

panelists emphasized. “Some of [it] is really troublesome, and some of that is really good,” especially from underserved communities, Gibney Continued from page 1 said. She later told the MSR that social media such as Black Twitter have given Blacks and other people of color “a voice in terms of providing original Sun Yung stressed, “We need to see it for content and critiquing some of this mainstream what it is” and not take social media too se- stuff. “I am always eager to see what’s next on how riously. “We need to think bigger and not put so much importance on what we are hearing.” our community is going to use [social media] to Regan believes effective journalism, as a re- further this and other important conversations,” sult, is still needed. “[It] is not just about someone’s Gibney said. opinion or giving the PR spin. Statistics can be a Charles Hallman welcomes reader responses to nice addition to an article, but where do these statistics come from? You have to show where these challman@spokesman-recorder.com. numbers came from — not all data [are] created equally.” However, social media aren’t going away, the (l-r) Sun Yung Shin, Marya Hornbacher, Sheila Regan, Shannon Gibney

Fake news

Mentors

mal mistakes. McNeal believes anyone can be a mentor. To be a mentor, McNeal suggests, “Get involved with your local school, church or community center. Mentoring can be done with just one person. Don’t let lack of money be an obstacle.” McNeal said he does not have steady funding. He pays for most activities out of his pocket, along with help from the Den Mothers and other community members. He and the Doorstep Foundation are always looking for more adult mentors to be guest speakers or to work directly one-on-one The Doorstep Foundation since you started working with speak at group sessions. He with youth. Den Brothers North alalso has a program for young my brother he has been all nice tries to get adults who look like girls: Deb’s Girls. Etosha “Ms. and stuff.” With encourage- the young people he serves. He so holds observation days K.” Kemp, a professional at Ol- ment from Ms. Kemp and the wants the youth to know that where parents can observe son Middle School, suggested student, he agreed to start the there are people who have what a Den session is like. gone through the same chal- Sessions include a meal, that McNeal start a girls’ group. group for girls. McNeal said he wants to lenges with histories of bad homework (McNeal calls it She encouraged McNeal to show the same love to those “develop high-character young grades, slow learning, and growth work), one-on-one young girls as he shows to his men and women. I want them even bad relationships with sessions, self-reporting on to understand the choices that parents. This gives the youth a challenges, group celebra15-year-old daughter. The group could be a sup- are out there in front of them. way to identify and then make tions of individual successes, port for some of the girls who I want them to understand more wise choices with mini- and guest speakers.

may not have fathers active in their lives. McNeal’s daughter has become an important part Continued from page 1 of his social media presence. He documents the ups and downs of loving his daughter to be brothers. So, I just put the by showing the good, the bad two together and we consid- and the scary. While at Olson Middle er ourselves Den Brothers.” At the Den, he tries to ensure the School working with boys, Mcyoung men have a safe, fun, Neal recalls a young girl comnonjudgmental environment ing up to him asking, “What where they can express them- about us girls? You gotta start working with us girls. Ever selves.

those choices and understand how to navigate for themselves. “I run a self-discovery model. These children are discovering who they are and what it is they want to do. They are discovering the power of what is in them. Our self-discovery mode is to help them find out who they are and want to be in this world. But [we] also lay down some truths…that are unknown to them.” Adult mentors come in to

“Ever since you [Den Brothers] started working with my brother he has been all nice and stuff.”

Photos by Charles Hallman

At the end of each day Mc- ic Foundation. To get involved, Neal says he goes to bed know- contact andre_mcneal@ymail.com ing “It truly does take a village or 612-360-5284. B. Phillips welcomes reader to raise the village.” responses to bphillips@spokesmanThis story was made possible in recorder.com. part by support from the Medtron-

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November 30 — December 6, 2017

H

Meet Nicole Pillow

ello Beauties! Welcome to MSR’s new fashion column called Fashioning YOU - Inside & Out. Each month, I, Nicole Pillow, will have the distinct privilege of providing you with a fun and fashionfilled adventure tailor-made for both your body and soul. As a speaker, writer, educator and personal empowerment coach, I’m humbled to say that my faith and determination has provided me with a platform to inspire change in the lives of thousands of women across the United States and abroad. I currently live in my home state of Minnesota, where I serve as the education director at TANDEM, a nonprofit organization that cultivates a community of hope for thousands of women and children each year in crisis. This work has been rewarding beyond words. I also have the privilege of being a media ambassador and leader for Weight Watchers International, equipping hundreds of people each week with the skills and mind-set needed for a healthy and fulfilling lifestyle. My passion My jet-setting journeys include a career as the fashion commentator and production coordinator for Ebony Fashion Fair by Ebony Magazine (the world’s largest traveling fashion show). This is when my true passion for fashion first began. In February 1998, I received the most exquisite piece of mail I had ever seen.

It was my personal invitation to attend the Haute Couture fashion show of Givenchy. Several more invitations began arriving from Paris, France and Rome, Italy addressed to me, Madame Nicole Pillow. I was privileged to have a front row seat at one breath-taking Haute Couture fashion production after the next. I sat there and watched in a complete state of awe, marveling at the passion and detail that went into every design — a handmade work of art. My experience I attended these fashion shows to study and learn the latest trends of the season. Each year on tour, I traveled to 177 cities and 44 states every nine months to share fashion first-hand with audiences across the country. Through my experience, I have come to appreciate the workmanship of fashion. I have also discovered that fashion and style transcends well beyond the clothing that we put on. It’s so much more than what you wear. It’s about an attitude, a way of life, and how you share your personal story with the world. I now see fashion and style as a journey. My belief While fashion can deliver a boost of the ‘I got this’ factor, I believe that most people experience times when a shiny pair of shoes is not enough to do the trick. Life circumstances are real. Disappointments are real. Insecurities are re-

al. A universal message that I continue to hear from my friends, social media followers and clients is that how they present themselves on the outside is often inconsistent with how they’re truly feeling on the inside. I, too, have experienced this in my own life. In fact, as the founder of Inner Beauty Project, LLC, my motto is, “There’s no photo-shop for the soul and that’s exactly where real beauty begins.” This means, that no matter how much we love expressing ourselves through fashion and applying things that enhance our outer appearance, there is nothing more fashionable or beautiful than a woman whose sense of style and confidence radiates from her soul. My vision How I intend to utilize this column is two-fold. First, my hope is to help readers like you stay informed and inspired by the world’s greatest fashion trends from around the world, in a way that feels tangible and relevant to your everyday life. I’m also excited to keep you in-theknow about live events on the Minneapolis fashion scene. If I happen to see you there, I might get the chance to find out just what inspires your personal style. Finally, I am here to be a source of encouragement — to share practical tips and insights that will help you cultivate the most stylish, confident, fashionable YOU, inside and out. I am overjoyed to have this opportunity. Be on the lookout for my first official article in December, when I will

Nicole Pillow

Photo by Bryan Smith

share current tips and trends that are sure to keep you layered in warmth without compromising your style. We will also explore the layers of life that we can take off, to better experience a

greater sense of authenticity. Nicole Pillow welcomes readers responses' to npillow@spokesman-recorder. com

Young activist featured in Baltimore Rising says documentary helps reclaim the narrative

(l-r) Baltimore Activists Kwame Rose, Makayla Gilliam-Price, Adam Jackson, Dayvon Love Photo courtesy of HBO Publicity

By Nadine Matthews Contributing Writer In the tradition of women like Ida B. Wells Barnett, Elaine Brown, Angela Davis, Septima Clark and many others, Makayla Gilliam-Price is a Black woman at the forefront of the fight for social justice in America. The 19-year-old is at the center of HBO’s new documentary Baltimore Rising. Directed by actress and selfproclaimed change agent Sonja Sohn, the film chronicles the

efforts of various members of Baltimore’s community to deal with the myriad issues facing the city in the wake of the tensions that exploded after the death of Freddie Gray while in police custody. Of the film, Gilliam-Price says, “I think I actually fall in love with it more and more. I’ve been able to dissect and frame different symbolic parts of the documentary to a larger narrative about Baltimore which I didn’t really have the perspective to do the first time.”

The first time was a private screening with the filmmakers and the people who are featured, in addition to Makayla. She recalls, “The first time I saw it at one of our private screenings with all of the cast members and Sonja in Baltimore and just a few members of the HBO crew, it was so overwhelmingly embarrassing I had a hard time watching it all the way through.” Given her preternatural maturity, it is a bit jarring to hear words that remind us

that Makayla is in fact, still very young. Raised by a family drawn into the struggle for social justice by the 1998 state sanctioned execution of her uncle for a crime most believe he did not commit, Gilliam-Price created the organization City Bloc while in high school that worked to educate young people about how to exercise their political rights. She is also a member of Leaders of a Beautiful Struggle (LBS), an organization that seeks to mobilize young people and get them aware of the importance of legislation in the fight for social change and getting that legislation passed. Other members of that organization, Adam Jackson, Dayvon Love, and Kwame Rose, are also in their late teens and early 20s and are featured in Baltimore Rising. Rose is perhaps most familiar because of his infamous confrontation with TV personality Geraldo Rivera. The film’s director Sohn said she was inspired to do the film in part because of the stories the young activists were telling, and the work they were doing that was going unheralded by mainstream media. Makayla is one of two women featured in the documentary and says that women can have their own particular challenges when trying to be part

of a movement to effect social change. She explains, “I’ve always been charged with the task of carving out spaces for myself where I can exist politically. That does not mean it has been a singular struggle for me at all. LBS members have uplifted me and helped create spaces for me to exist, be affirmed, and empowered.” The strong bond between Makayla and her family is one of the highlights of the film. For young people in other communities who want to become politically active she advised, “Finding community or even creating community is the basis on which you can accurately and authentically engage politically. That is a priority for me. Community without surrounding activists, without supporters there really is no space to be liberated. We always have to use the village model and mobilize our community to see actual tangible change.” Police commissioner Kevin Davis, Lt. Colonel Melvin Russell who heads the Community Outreach Division of the Baltimore Police Department, Dawnyell Taylor, lead detective in the Freddie Gray case, and community leader Gennard “Shadow” Barr round out the focal point of Sohn’s searing documentary.

Baltimore Rising is a poignant study in grassroots organizing and the benefits, as well as the drawbacks for the activists and the community for which they fight. For Gilliam-Price personally, she sees it as a way for the voices of Baltimoreans to be heard without the filter of mainstream reporting. “I think it shows some of the actual organizing work that happens on the ground beyond the spectacular new stories that we see on mainstream media. I think it gives meat to the backbone of what Baltimore culture and politics are, which is extremely necessary, and effectively puts the narrative back in the hands of actual Baltimoreans — not just someone reporting on what is happening in Baltimore. “It is Baltimore through Baltimoreans’ eyes and that’s what I love and cherish about the documentary.” For more information about Baltimore Rising, including show times, go to www.hbo.com/documentaries/baltimore-rising. Nadine Matthews welcomes readers’ responses to nadine@ deeniemedia.com.

National Black Programming Consortium undergoes name change, keeps mission By Charles Hallman Staff Writer The National Black Programming Consortium (NBPC) since 1979 has brought films and other programming produced by Blacks to the American audience. The organization now has a new name: Black Public Media (BPM). The name change was first brought up in 2011, but in the last couple of years, BPM Executive Director Leslie Fields-Cruz and the NBPC board began exploring the possibility and did its analysis and assessment, Fields-Cruz told the MSR in recent phone interview. She added that it was important that the name change would position the organization positively for the present and future. The name change is in conjunction with the group’s relaunching of its website (www.blackpublicmedia.org), which will include content for the general public, short films, filmmaker chats and educational discussion guides on its programs, as well as BPM Producers’ Portal for filmmakers, according to a BPM press release. A series of projects and events from WOKE! Broadening Access to help Black “creatives” con-

nect to one another has also been launched. FieldsCruz stressed that BPM’s mission is to present the Black experience and the African Diaspora to all viewers and that “will not change.” “It is Black Public Media for the public,” the executive director reiterates. “We are looking to expand in emerging media, and not looking at traditional media as (just) public television. We are really public media in many different spaces, including PBS, You Tube and other such media.” The Harlem-based, national arts nonprofit organization over the years has funded Black-produced films — such as 2017 Oscar nominee I Am Not Your Negro — and has brought programming to PBS, such as its signature documentary series AfroPoP. BPM’s focus on “developing content with quality and purpose, and make it available as broadly to the public” reaffirms Fields-Cruz. “Our content does well in the festival area,” Fields-Cruz pointed out. A movie on Lorraine Hansberry is scheduled for PBS broadcast in January, she reported. “We have been doing well.” Fields-Cruz also announced the group’s receiving a multi-year grant from the MacArthur Foundation, as well as a New York Department of Cul-

tural Affairs grant to help in its funding efforts. “We are staying for as long as we can,” she stressed. Finally, “I think it’s important for everyone to know that we have a relatively new name, but we continue to provide quality and purposeful content, and our ongoing support for filmmakers of African descent has not changed. We are going to

ensure that our voices and our perspectives [as Black people] are” fairly represented in the media, concluded Fields-Cruz. Charles Hallman welcomes reader responses to challman@spokesman-recorder.com.

November 30 — December 6, 2017

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The Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder is pleased to present the honorees for this year’s "Sister Spokesman: Celebrating Moms of All Ages” event. Join Sister Spokesman Saturday, December 2, 2017 from 12 to 4 pm to see these phenomenal mothers honored and celebrated at Midpointe Event Center at 415 Pascal Street North in St. Paul.

Janaya Bagurusi

Valerie Bolden

Janaya is one of the most courageous, authentic, heartfelt, funny and determined women I know. She’s spent her life in social service, working with organizations that provide housing and education for individuals and families that need help and hope. She’s raised four children on her own since late 2013, the year she lost her husband, Jumba, to cancer. Through it all, she’s met every challenge with determination, kept her sense of humor, pushed for high educational standards and opportunity for her children, and has hung onto her dreams of career changes and advancements that will better align with her values. I hope you choose to celebrate her drive, her courage, and her spirit by choosing her for this “Celebrating Moms of All Ages” award.

I would like to put my mother’s name in. Her name is Valerie Bolden of Val’dess designs. She is an amazing woman who has accomplished so much while having five children and finishing her B.A. degree at the Art Institute. She would be an amazing asset to your show.

Josephine Arkadie Bunton Some people may say that Josephine Arkadie Bunton was just a teacher, but there is no such thing. Over the course of her 35-year teaching career, Josephine (affectionately known as Jo) taught science and economics to thousands of youth. As a science teacher she helped to develop and encourage the hunger within her students to seek and do more and many have. Before bringing her passion and love for teaching and learning to the Twin Cities, Josephine began her teaching career in Humboldt, Minnesota where she was the first Black teacher at Humboldt High School. This 4-ft. 11” woman realized that parents often counted on teachers to continue mothering their children by teaching and preparing them to participate in a changing world. As a teacher, Josephine had been mothering a long time before she became a mother to Joseph and Joslyn. Josephine is also the grandmother to Gregory, William and Kalani. Jo has encouraged me and other African American teachers not to give up on our desire to nurture students while teaching, because our children need us. At 87 years old she continues to inspire me to fight for our children and to guide our youth. She inspires me to continue to believe as a teacher that I can make a difference; that I can still reach one and teach one and that I can instill hope and love to children who need us to keep hope alive. I am nominating Josephine Bunton because I believe she would be a worthy recipient of the Sister Spokesman honor, Celebrating Moms of all Ages, in recognition for her ongoing support of youth and education in our community and the teachers who serve them. Kathlyn G Stewart

Arlene Thomas Favors I would like to nominate Arlene Thomas Favors for the Mothers of All Ages event. Arlene is a real estate agent, entrepreneur, women’s football player, business owner, a mother of six children, and a grandmother with five of those children being step-children. With all of that, she still has time to mentor and take care of boys in her community who are underprivileged or just don’t have a very involved parent. At any given time, you can see Arlene with a full group of boys who are not her children, and she lets them stay as much as they like or to help their parents. She buys sports equipment and clothing for them without being asked, and does so quietly and doesn’t expect anything in return. For a woman and mother of only 36 years of age, I believe she is a great role model and mentor not to only children, but to other young mothers and women trying to plant financial roots. Younin Greenfield

Clare Henderson This is a real Wonder Woman. Clare is a working mom and has done an amazing job with her three children. She is the cornerstone of her firstgeneration immigrant family, listening to their struggles, helping them process strategies to improve things. She is the one to bring everyone in the family together. She is dedicated to the culture from her homeland, South Africa, infusing it into the Minnesota landscape. She takes time to support community initiatives and social justice events involving her family and friends. During the day, she works as a social worker and gives her clients hope with her tender response and love for her fellow Minnesotans who lack resources or who life has not treated fairly. At night, she has her kids connect with family members using FaceTime so they can say goodnight. Women like Clare bring great vitality to our society. Leon Rodrigues

Tyreca Maxwell I would like to nominate Tyreca Maxwell because ever since the day she found out she was pregnant she has put her son first. She moved away from Minnesota after completing her medical assistant training to live her dream in the South. She had to leave the South and come home to get the support she would need to be a successful single parent. She made a plan for her and her son’s future and she stuck with it, working part-time before and after pregnancy to support them while going to nursing school full-time. She made a lot of sacrifices and struggled through her studies with little time for almost anything else. I am the proud mom of this Herzing University 2017 graduate with a bachelor’s degree in nursing. Stacy London

DeVon Nolen I worked with DeVon for a few years — she is one of the most brilliant, passionate, and kindest people I know. I always admired her parenting style, because she is very patient and took time to understand and cultivate her children’s individual assets. She is very passionate about her work and a real community changemaker, but she always puts her children first. She’s a role model for all mothers. Erin Heelan

Kristopher Belfry

Brenda Ewing Brenda Ewing is a daily reminder of God’s love for me. She is the epitome of what a mother should be. She puts her needs, wants, desires, goals, and aspirations second, so her children can shine. She prays for her children daily, she inspires us, she loves us unconditionally, and she’s absolutely my angel, my heaven on earth. Every time I’m in her presence or hear her voice, it’s a daily reminder that God loved me so much that He blessed me with this gift that keeps on giving — my mom. The world is such a better place because of her. What would this world be like if there were more Brenda Ewings? Mom, you are loved so much! Katina Lane-Fomby

Alfreda Flowers Birth mother to eight adult children and spiritual mother to many, my mother has a heart that never stops caring and never stops giving. During her years as a stay-at-home mother and wife, she modeled the skill of nurturing her children and managing daily household obligations while simultaneously serving in various leadership and support roles within her church and multiple community organizations. Along with the partnership of my father, my mother opened up our home as a temporary refuge for young families who were experiencing homelessness. After raising her children, my mother reentered the workforce within the nonprofit sector, providing emergency support to families in crisis. She later transitioned her work into higher education and led capacity building training programs for faith leaders within the urban community. After several years, and an eventual retirement from higher education, my mother founded a local nonprofit organization, Family Values for Life (FVFL). Built upon the four guiding principles of being physically fit, financially secure, mentally alert and spiritually empowered, FVFL is committed to creating a support system that provides tools to strengthen families living within St. Paul’s Eastside community. In addition to offering several core programs, FVFL hosts one of the largest back-to-school partnership events, providing a one-stop resource hub and backpack giveaway to over 2,500 low-income families. As a daughter, mother/ grandmother, sister and spiritual leader, my mother has committed her entire life to her Christian values of being the hands and feet of Jesus by serving and loving her neighbor. Juanita Flowers

Annette Lee Annette is a single parent of twins. She works two jobs and got her master’s degree in education. She got her degree from Howard University, but returned to school to qualify to teach special education for her boys. She is now married and is giving back to the community as an allvolunteers youth choir director for her church. She also started a book club for African American students and coordinates a Progressive Historical Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) tour and is a part of Thinking College Early. I’m proud to nominate my daughter, Annette Lee. Jo Ann Clark

Virgie McGregor Mother Virgie McGregor started Crocheting for A Cause five-six years ago at Living Word Church & World Outreach Ministries in St. Paul. She and her group crochet blankets for veterans, children and cancer survivors. She has given hundreds of blankets to comfort and express love to our service men and women. Her pastor and church bless the blankets before they are taken to the Veterans Administration and Hospital. Mother McGregor is a mother to her own children and a community and church mother to many men and women. She raised her awesome purpose-driven children in North Minneapolis and they are professionals, leaders, business extraordinaire and philanthropists. Dr. Mary Winston

Rosie Samuel My mother, Rosie Samuel, has never stopped being my mom. I am 43 years old and never would have thought that at this age I would need my mom, but I do every day! She is and has always been the backbone of this family, making sure everything and everyone is ok. Still today I wake her up every day to babysit my two-year-old son, who is full of energy. She greets him with open arms and a warm hug, doing it all with a smile on her face. As an adult, I have come to realize what an amazing woman my mother is. Anyone who knows her can be a witness to her love for life and that she will to keep going for as long as she can. My mother lost her home and husband in the same year; not one time did she stop to ask, “Why me?” Instead, she picked up and kept going all with a smile on her face. My mother deserves the world and I would love to give her a small piece of it to enjoy for a few days. I love that lady with everything in me. Danielle Hatcher

8

November 30 — December 6, 2017

”Sister Spokesman: Celebrating Moms of All Ages” continued Brienda Sanders

Kesha Taylor

My mother, Brienda Sanders, is the best mother a woman could ever ask for! Growing up, she always wanted me to understand she is a mother first and a friend second. I definitely understood the many times she needed to bring that back to my remembrance. However, I just want to say that I am blessed to not only call her mother, but my best friend; I have the best of both worlds! My mother has pushed me to be the best I can be academically and in life in general. She encourages me with the truth that I can do whatever I put my mind to. Due to her care, compassion, sacrifice and love for both my sister and me, it is incumbent upon me to celebrate my mother as she so rightly deserves. My mom has gone above and beyond for my sister and me not only physically but emotionally and spiritually. We were held up and covered by the prayers and support of this strong Black woman. I honor her this day and will continue to do so. Alexyis Nelson

Juan “Jo” Witherspoon Turner I would love to nominate my mom for “Celebrating Moms.” My mom grew up in North Minneapolis and graduated from North High. She went on to become a registered nurse, married the love of her life, Donald Turner, and raised seven children, including one through adoption. She has worked tirelessly in Minneapolis as a nurse and nursing instructor. She mentored many people and created a feeling of love through the caring way she taught and lived her life. She became a licensed evangelist and minister in 2006. Her name is Minister Juan L. Turner. Many know her as Juan “Jo” Witherspoon Turner. Yvonne Turner

I would like to nominate my mother, Kesha Taylor, as a phenomenal mother. Let’s just say our mother-daughter relationship has not been a fairytale and I don’t know if it ever will be. I have learned many important things from my mother. My mother has always been present when times have been devastating. She didn’t come from the best family; I’ve learned some of her story and it’s dawned on me that my mother is an overcomer! When I was 17 and pregnant and felt like I let my whole family down, my mother’s response was, ”It’s okay, I’m going to help you.” Not only did my mother help me with my son, she pushed me to still achieve my goals and to continue to gain my independence. Years later, after becoming a successful hairstylist, I made a huge lifechanging mistake. While out on bail, my then-six-year-old daughter was diagnosed with cancer (leukemia). My phenomenal mother, again, came to the rescue, caring for my daughter through a bone marrow transplant, which has left my daughter with a 50-60 percent chance of survival (feeding tubes, health training, ports, chemotherapy, radiation, hair loss, mood swings, many daily oral meds, hospital stays and apts, and visits to prison to help keep me and my children connected). My phenomenal mother, Kesha Taylor, had taken a leave from work to care for both of my children; she has had courage and unexplainable strength through it all. I am truly blessed to have no worries because of the woman my mother is and how she has supported me through unimaginable circumstances, which, in fact, could have been completely devastating for my mother, as well. The most important thing I’ve learned from my mother is how to keep going when life gives you tornadoes. Kesha Taylor is a phenomenal mother! Jasmine Jones

Sierra Williams Sierra Williams is a mother of five children; she is resilient in many ways. She acquired significant passion for children over the past 18 years. This year, her firstborn son will turn 18 and graduate from high school. This year she has committed her career toward being a doula, breastfeeding coach, community coach in juvenile services, and parent to her five children. Sierra is strategically balancing all of her roles and championing single parenting. She never gives up; she is full of faith and relies on God for her better tomorrows. I am proud to be her mother! Paula Haywood

Kathy White

I’m nominating Kathy White, my mother-in-law. She has been there in ways that are more than my birth mother has for me. She’s always supportive of everything I’m working on or doing such as helping me with my fundraising goals to support research to stop diabetes. She goes above and beyond every request we ask her to help us with, whether it’s looking for a replacement jadeite plate/bowl, sweatshirts or princess dresses for our daughter; she does it without wanting a refund and she drives all the way from Rochester to drop it off for us in Minneapolis. She even washes the clothes for the girls beforehand so we don’t have to worry about it. She’s there and willing to drive up from Rochester to help give my husband and me a break from our daughters so we can have some adult time. She sends a card for every special occasion. I’m very blessed to

have her for a mother-in-law.

Hoa Nguyen

Wendy’s House of Soul Owner: Wendy Puckett Service: Soul food; Catering, take out and walk-ins welcomed Address: 1021 W Broadway Avenue North, Minneapolis Phone: 612-800-4535 Social media: @YouveBeenSouled on Facebook Email: ROLLOFSOUL.@gmail.com

Order YOur 2018 Minnesota spokesMan-RecoRdeR Black HistOrY calendar tOdaY! Celebrate the new year and support local Black business by purchasing the MSR “2018 Black History Calendar.” Included in the calendar are feature profiles on local news-makers and businesses, as well as notable figures in Black history. A perfect gift for family and friends!

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November 30 — December 6, 2017

9

Legals STATE OF MINNESOTA COUNTY OF HENNEPIN Richard Miller, Plaintiff, vs. Toni Rice, Defendant.

CASE TYPE: PERSONAL INJURY DISTRICT COURT FOURTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT

SUMMONS

THIS SUMMONS IS DIRECTED TO the above-named Defendent. 1. YOU ARE BEING SUED. The Plaintiff has started a lawsuit against you. The Plaintiff’s Complaint against you [is attached to this summons] [is on file in the office of the court administrator of the above-named court].* Do not throw these papers away. They are official papers that affect your rights. You must respond to this lawsuit even though it may not yet be filed with the Court and there may be no court file number on this summons. 2. YOU MUST REPLY WITHIN 20 DAYS TO PROTECT YOUR RIGHTS. You must give or mail to the person who signed this summons a written response called an Answer within 20 days of the date on which you received this Summons. You must send a copy of your Answer to the person who signed this summons located at: Brantingham & Curtis, PA 2200 E Franklin Avenue, Suite 202 Minneapolis, MN 55404 3. YOU MUST RESPOND TO EACH CLAIM. The Answer is your written response to the Plaintiff’s Complaint. In your Answer you must state whether you agree or disagree with each paragraph of the Complaint. If you believe the Plaintiff should not be given everything asked for in the Complaint, you must say so in your Answer. 4. YOU WILL LOSE YOUR CASE IF YOU DO NOT SEND A WRITTEN RESPONSE TO THE COMPLAINT TO THE PERSON WHO SIGNED THIS SUMMONS. If you do not Answer within 20 days, you will lose this case. You will not get to tell your side of the story, and the Court may decide against you and award the Plaintiff everything asked for in the complaint. If you do not want to contest the claims stated in the complaint, you do not need to respond. A default judgment can then be entered against you for the relief requested in the complaint. 5. LEGAL ASSISTANCE. You may wish to get legal help from a lawyer. If you do not have a lawyer, the Court Administrator may have information about places where you can get legal assistance. Even if you cannot get legal help, you must still provide a written Answer to protect your rights or you may lose the case. 6. ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION. The parties may agree to or be ordered to participate in an alternative dispute resolution process under Rule 114 of the Minnesota General Rules of Practice. You must still send your written response to the Complaint even if you expect to use alternative means of resolving this dispute. Dated: 07/17/2017 Signed By: Brantingham & Curtis, PA Jeremy l. Brantingham, MN #0299558 Megan M. Curtis, MN #0393601 2200 E Franklin Avenue, Suite 202 Minneapolis, MN 55404 (612) 339-9700 ATTORNEYS FOR PLAINTIFF MN Spokesman-Recorder, November 23,30 & December 7, 2017

STATE OF MINNESOTA COUNTY OF HENNEPIN Richard Miller, Plaintiff, vs. Toni Rice, Defendant.

COMPLAINT

CASE TYPE: PERSONAL INJURY DISTRICT COURT FOURTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT

Plaintiff complains of Defendant, and for cause therof alleges: 1). That on or about September 9, 2016, 18th Avenue North and Lyndale Avenue North were public roads located within Hennepin County, Minneapolis, Minnesota. 2). That on September 9, 2016, Plaintiff was the owner and operator of a 2007 Harley Davidson Roadster. 3).That on September 9, 2016, defendant Toni Rice was the owner and operator of a 2008 Nissan Altima. 4). That on September 9, 2016, defendant Toni Rice, operating the 2008 Nissan Altima traveling northbound on Lyndale Avenue North, made a left turn in front of 2007 Harley Davidson Roadster, causing a collision. 5). That on JSeptember 9, 2016, defendant Toni Rice operated the 2008 Nissan Altima in a negligent manner when made a left turn in front of 2007 Harley Davidson Roadster, causing a collision. 6). That as a direct and proximate result of the negligence of defendant Toni Rice in the operation of the motor vehicle, a collision occurred which caused Plaintiff to be bodily injured. Plaintiff sustained injuries to his head, neck,back, shoulder,wrist, finger,elbow and knee. 7).That as a direct and proximate result of the negligence of Defendant, Plaintiff has been caused to expend sums of money for medical care and treatment of his injuries, and in the future will be required to expend sums of money for medical treatment of his injuries. Plaintiff has incurred expenses which meet Minnesota threshold requirements under Minn. Stat.65B.51,subd.3. 8).That Plaintiff has been caused to endure great pain and suffering as a result of the negligence of Defendant. 8). That Plaintiff has been caused to endure great pain and suffering as a result of the negligence of Defendent. WHEREFORE, Plaintiff prays for judgement against Defendant for an amount in excess of Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000), together withhis costs and disbursements herein. Dated: 07/17/2017 Signed By: Brantingham & Curtis, PA Jeremy l. Brantingham, MN #0299558 Megan M. Curtis, MN #0393601 2200 E Franklin Avenue, Suite 202 Minneapolis, MN 55404 (612) 339-9700 ATTORNEYS FOR PLAINTIFF The undersigned hereby acknowledges that costs, disbursements, and reasonable attorney fees may be awarded to the opposing party or parties pursuant to Minnesota Statute 549.21, subd. 2. Signed By: Megan M. Curtis, MN #0393601 MN Spokesman-Recorder, November 23,30 & December 7, 2017

STATE OF MINNESOTA COUNTY OF HENNEPIN Omar Elmi, Plaintiff, vs. Hussein Mohamed and Sharifo Salah, Defendants.

CASE TYPE: PERSONAL INJURY DISTRICT COURT FOURTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT

CASE TYPE: PERSONAL INJURY DISTRICT COURT FOURTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COMPLAINT

Plaintiff complains of Defendant, and for cause therof alleges: 1). That on or about July 18, 2014 21st Avenue South and Minnehaha Avenue South were public roads located within Hennepin County, Minneapolis, Minnesota. 2). That on July 18, 2014, Plaintiff was the passenger in a 2011 Hyundai SGL, which was owned and operated by Shafeho Elmi. 3).That on July 18, 2014, defendant Hussein Mohamed was the operator of a 2003 Dodge Caravan. 4). That on July 18, 2014, defendant Sharifo Salah was the owner of a 2003 Dodge Caravan. 5).That on July 18, 2014, defendant Hussein Mohamed, operating the 2003 Dodge Caravan , ran a stop sign, causing a collision. 6). That on July 18, 2014, defendant Hussein Mohamed operated the 2003 Dodge Caravan in a negligent manner when he ran a stop sign, causing a collision. 7). That as a direct and proximate result of the negligence of Defendants, Plaintiff has been caused to expend sums of money for medical care and treatment of his injuries, and in the future will be required to expend sums of money for medical treatment of his injuries. Plaintiff has incurred expenses which meet Minnesota threshold requirements under Minn. Stat.65B.51,subd.3. 8).That Plaintiff has been caused to endure great pain and suffering as a result of the negligence of Defendants. WHEREFORE, Plaintiff prays for judgement against Defendant for an amount in excess of Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000), together withhis costs and disbursements herein. Dated: 02/18/2017 Signed By: Brantingham & Curtis, PA Jeremy l. Brantingham, MN #0299558 Megan M. Curtis, MN #0393601 2200 E Franklin Avenue, Suite 202 Minneapolis, MN 55404 (612) 339-9700 ATTORNEYS FOR PLAINTIFF The undersigned hereby acknowledges that costs, disbursements, and reasonable attorney fees may be awarded to the opposing party or parties pursuant to Minnesota Statute 549.21, subd. 2. Signed By: Megan M. Curtis, MN #0393601 MN Spokesman-Recorder, November 23,30 & December 7, 2017

STATE OF MINNESOTA COUNTY OF HENNEPIN

DISTRICT COURT JUDGE, PROBATE DIVISION 4TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT FILE NO. 27-PA-PR-17-1299

In Re: Estate of RUBY BELL COATES

NOTICE OF INFORMALAPPOINTMENT OF PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE AND NOTICE TO CREDITORS

Decedent.

TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS AND CREDITORS: Notice is given that an application for informal appointment of personal representative was filed with the Registrar herein, No will has been presented for probate. The application has been granted. Notice is hereby further given that informal appointment of ANTIONETTE RUBY COATES,whose address is 630 HALL LANE, MINNEAPOLIS, MN 55411, to serve as the personal representative of the estate of the above-named decedent, has been made. Any heir, devisee or other interested person may be entitled to appointment as personal representative or may object to the appointment of the personal representative and the personal representative are empowered to fully administer the estate including, after 30 days from the date of issuance of letters, the power to sell, encumber, lease or distribute real estate, unless objections thereto are filed with the Court (pursuant to Section 524.3-607)and the Court otherwise orders. Notice is further given that ALL CREDITORS having claims against said estate are required to present the same to said personal representative OR to the Probate Court Administrator within four months after the date of this notice or said claims will be barred. SIGNED BY: Julie Peterson, Probate Registrar, Probate Division Sarah Lindahl-Pfieffer, District Court Administrator SIGNED DATE: November 22, 2017 Minnesota Spokesman Recorder November 30 & December 7, 2017

Employment Institutional Giving Manager The Minneapolis Parks Foundation is seeking an Institutional Giving Manager, who will be responsible for foundation, corporate, and government grant-making to the Minneapolis Parks Foundation as well as corporate sponsorship. This position is fulltime,salaried, and benefited. For the full job description and how to apply, visit https:// mplsparksfoundation.org/blog/ and view the November 28 posting. Applications will be accepted until position is filled, preferably by year-end 2017. EOE.

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SUMMONS

THIS SUMMONS IS DIRECTED TO the above-named Defendent. 1. YOU ARE BEING SUED. The Plaintiff has started a lawsuit against you. The Plaintiff’s Complaint against you [is attached to this summons] [is on file in the office of the court administrator of the above-named court].* Do not throw these papers away.They are official papers that affect your rights. You must respond to this lawsuit even though it may not yet be filed with the Court and there may be no court file number on this summons. 2. YOU MUST REPLY WITHIN 20 DAYS TO PROTECT YOUR RIGHTS. You must give or mail to the person who signed this summons a written response called an Answer within 20 days of the date on which you received this Summons. You must send a copy of your Answer to the person who signed this summons located at: Brantingham & Curtis, PA 2200 E Franklin Avenue, Suite 202 Minneapolis, MN 55404 3. YOU MUST RESPOND TO EACH CLAIM. The Answer is your written response to the Plaintiff’s Complaint. In your Answer you must state whether you agree or disagree with each paragraph of the Complaint. If you believe the Plaintiff should not be given everything asked for in the Complaint, you must say so in your Answer. 4. YOU WILL LOSE YOUR CASE IF YOU DO NOT SEND A WRITTEN RESPONSE TO THE COMPLAINT TO THE PERSON WHO SIGNED THIS SUMMONS. If you do not Answer within 20 days, you will lose this case. You will not get to tell your side of the story, and the Court may decide against you and award the Plaintiff everything asked for in the complaint. If you do not want to contest the claims stated in the complaint, you do not need to respond. A default judgment can then be entered against you for the relief requested in the complaint. 5. LEGAL ASSISTANCE. You may wish to get legal help from a lawyer. If you do not have a lawyer, the Court Administrator may have information about places where you can get legal assistance. Even if you cannot get legal help, you must still provide a written Answer to protect your rights or you may lose the case. 6. ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION. The parties may agree to or be ordered to participate in an alternative dispute resolution process under Rule 114 of the Minnesota General Rules of Practice. You must still send your written response to the Complaint even if you expect to use alternative means of resolving this dispute. Dated: 02/18/2017 Signed By: Brantingham & Curtis, PA Megan M. Curtis, MN #0393601 Jeremy l. Brantingham, MN #0299558 2200 E Franklin Avenue, Suite 202 Minneapolis, MN 55404 (612) 339-9700 ATTORNEYS FOR PLAINTIFF MN Spokesman-Recorder, November 23,30 & December 7, 2017

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STATE OF MINNESOTA COUNTY OF HENNEPIN Omar Elmi, Plaintiff, vs. Hussein Mohamed and Sharifo Salah, Defendants.

SOE Continued from page 10 [play],” AAMU sophomore guard De’Ederick Petty said. The lopsided scores notwithstanding, these contests “get us to the point where we are ready to go on January 1 when we go to Grambling” for their conference opener, Marsh explained. More importantly, “These experiences when we travel to different places” provide his players more on-the-road, on-the-court and off-thecourt excursions. “We have two kids who’d nev-

PrEP Continued from page 10

MSR: Any final thoughts? TM: Thank you to Minneapolis North High School for giving me the platform to showcase my talent and helping me make my dreams come soon. Always a Badger. Always a Polar.

er flown before,” the coach noted. “We thank our coach for bringing us out here to play in this environment,” Sherif said of playing in the Barn in front of 11,000-plus spectators. HBCUs will unfortunately continue to be seen as fodder for larger schools. “At some point we have to do something about that in order to change that perception,” concluded Marsh. “That means competing hard and for 40 minutes, not just 10 or five or 15.” Charles Hallman welcomes reader responses to challman@spokesman-recorder.com.

Note: From 1984-89 the Minnesota Miss Basketball award was given to the top Class A player and top Class AA player. Hill Murray’s Mya Whitmore, African American player, won the Class AA award in 1987. Since the award was given to one player after 1990, Moore won it followed by African American players Mauri Horton (Minneapolis North) 1999, Shannon Bolden (Marshall) 2001, Jeanna Smith

Fitz Continued from page 10

I stress patience — it all depends on the Timberwolves staying healthy and focused and continuing to buy into Coach Thibodeau’s unrelenting message and Butler’s and Gibson’s leadership. You read it here first: The Timberwolves are look-

(Bloomington Kennedy) 2006, Angel Robinson (Marquette) 2007, Tayler Hill (Minneapolis South) 2009, Rachel Banham (Lakeville North) 2011, and Nia Hollie (Hopkins) 2016 have won it. A total of nine African Americans have won the award. Mitchell Palmer McDonald welcomes reader responses to mcdeezy05@gmail.com.

ing good and are on the come up. Larry Fitzgerald can be heard weekday mornings on KMOJ Radio 89.9 FM at 8:25 am, on WDGYAM 740 Monday-Friday at 12:17 pm and 4:17 pm, 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.

June 8-14, 2017

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November 30 — December 6, 2017

Timberwolves looking good!

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elieve it: As we close out the month of November, the NBA has already played one quarter of their season. It’s not a Major League Baseball (MLB) 162-game marathon. It’s the next best thing — 82 games midOctober to late April. This is the earliest start to an NBA season ever with not as many dreaded back-to-back games. The hometown Timberwolves are 128 at the quarter mark, their best start to an NBA season since 20052006. If not for a hiccup or two, they could be 14-6. Yet many observers and critics locally are already complaining about this and that, saying the team should be playing better. Tom Thibodeau, the team’s second-year president and head coach, is doing his best to get this talented group to be more consistent, to play harder, smarter defensively, and above all to play for one another for 48 minutes. The new additions Jimmy Butler (16.3), Taj Gibson (9.6) and Jeff Teague (13.5) have blended in nicely with Andrew Wiggins (18.8) and Karl Anthony Towns (20.6). They have, however, struggled primarily against the Eastern Conference teams.

They have played eight games against the East teams and are just 3-5 while going 9-3 against the powerful Western Conference. That includes losses to NBA Champion Golden State and San Antonio on the road. It’s been 13 straight very cold years of missing the playoffs. I firmly believe that this group will make the playoffs in 2018 and challenge the big boys . Obviously, we have a long way to go. Talented Washington is in town this week (Tuesday) at the marvelously renovated Target Center. From a business standpoint, business is good for the Timberwolves. Attendance is up; they average over 16,000-plus fans a game. The product is much better. This is an exciting team to watch, also frustrating at times, yes, because you see the potential is unlimited. These are slam-dunk days for NBA owners. Team values are soaring thanks to media deals and sponsorships with TNT-ESPNABC networks to the tune of nine years and $24 billion. Every team in the NBA except Brooklyn made a profit last year. Average franchise value has increased to $1.25 billion per team. That’s up 13 percent from 2016. Before renovating Target Center to the tune of $150 million, the Timberwolves franchise was worth $720 million. So that’s why all the smiles. Things are looking skyward for the league and the Timberwolves.

Sports odds and ends

HBCU ‘cupcakes’ tend to lose big to mostly White schools The smaller schools do gain from the experience

By Charles Hallman Staff Writer

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re HBCUs the Rodney Dangerfield of college basketball? Larger Division I schools annually put them on their non-conference schedule seemingly to pad their win columns. Let’s look at a sampling of last week’s game results:

Dennis Marsh

Hampton lost by 36 to Xavier. Morgan State lost by 63 to West Virginia. Chicago State lost by 39 to Cincinnati. Alabama A&M lost last Tuesday by 43 to the Gophers at Williams Arena. It happens in women’s hoops, too: Grambling lost by 43 to Florida State. Maryland defeated Howard by 62 points. Coppin State lost by 23 to Missouri. Historically, the local media have called Minnesota’s non-conference opponents ■ See Fitz on page 9 “cupcakes,” especially HBCUs. These games

played at home are commonly called “guaranteed games” — the visiting team is guaranteed a specific amount of money to play. The Gophers are now 5-0 against Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) teams, of which Alabama A&M is a member, and 7-0 overall against Black colleges. Are these Black college teams that bad? Or are the Gophers and other predominately White programs that much better? The defeated opponent is typically treated afterwards by local mainstream media types as non-entities. AAMU after the November 21 contest got only one reporter’s request for post-game comments: “If you have a game like we had tonight, nothing changes that perception,” first-year Head Coach Dennis Marsh told the MSR. “You need to get tired of being rolled over. Until we can get to that point when an HBCU goes in [and] competes, and competes hard, then you’ll get the respect and lose the label of being soft or being a cupcake,” Marsh said. There are, however, exceptions: “We won at Michigan State” when he was an assistant coach at Texas Southern, Marsh recalled. “We went to Kansas State and won. It’s about competing.” “We put up a good fight, but we could’ve

Mohammad Sherif Photos by Charles Hallman team member not originally from the South. “I lived in Philly my whole life. I wanted to see [what] down-South life, HBCU life, is all about,” he said. Minnesota as well as other Division I schools assemble “soft” schedules under the oft-used “their conference schedule is tough enough” justification. On the other hand, teams such as Alabama A&M finds scheduling Minnesota, Michigan (December 21) and Georgetown (December 23), all away from home, helps prepare them for the SWAC slate

“You need to get tired of being rolled over.” done better,” Bulldogs senior forward Mohammad Sherif surmised — he led the squad with 10 points. “Our team is way better than we played tonight.” Sherif, a Philadelphia native, is the only

beginning in January. “Playing against a Big Ten school like Minnesota helps you out in conference ■ See SOE on page 9

Tamara Moore assumes leadership roles on-court and off Decided in eighth grade: ‘They are With North championship, ‘finally not going to stop me’ out of the shadow of the boys’ If she’d only waited at least a week longer, Tamara Moore would have played at the University of Tennessee. “Going into my senior year, it wasn’t supposed to be Wisconsin, [but] it was charles meant to be,” Moore reflecthallMan ed on her Badgers career. The North Minneapolis native was among 10 new inductees September 29 into the school’s Athletics Hall of Fame in Madison. Moore’s athletic star first rose as a budding Northside teen, then rose even higher while playing AAU summer ball. She more than held her own at a couple of summer camps at Tennessee, which caught the eye of the late legendary coach Pat Summitt. “I knew in my mind where I wanted to go. [Tennessee] was my number-one school,” Moore recalls. But as confident as she was on court, Moore admits she wasn’t as confident about taking her SAT/ACT college exams. “I had a good high school GPA, but I struggled with the SAT/ACT,” she continues. “I took it four times.” Summitt offered her a pact but told Moore she would do so only if she were eligible to play as a freshman. Still unsure if her fourth test attempt would be successful or not, Moore opted for her second choice, Wisconsin. “I made the choice because I wasn’t confident I would pass… Seven days later I passed my test. If I had waited seven days, I would have been at Tennessee.” Moore points out without regret, “I wanted to be part of something at Wisconsin. I wanted to be a part of a change of culture and build something.” That she did — two WNIT appearances, in-

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a starter. I recruited you to be our leader, but you can’t do that from the bench.’ That conversation from that moment on made me realize that PreP Scene no matter what I felt my abilities were, [her coach] Mitchell PalMer McDonalD was always going to want me as a leader.” Among her highlights Tamara Moore, one of was seeing her name on the most decorated high ESPN after the WNIT tischool basketball players tle game. “They spelled in Minnesota history who my name all wrong, but went on to an outstanding I didn’t give a care. I was on SportsCenter,” she beams. Tamara Moore Moore later played for Photo by Mitchell Palmer McDonald seven WNBA clubs and four foreign clubs after Miami selected her 15th overall in the 2002 Draft. She remains the only Northsider to evcollege and WNBA career, er play for the Minnesowas inducted into the Unita Lynx, where she was versity of Wisconsin Athtraded midway through letic Hall of Fame in Sepher rookie year. tember. “The kids are so in As a senior in 1998, the shock when they hear 5’-11” point guard teamed [that] I played for the with Mauri Horton, TiLynx. Moore is a recara Medlock, Felicia Bell, ognizable name,” she Jill Kalvik, Tisa ThomPhoto courtesy of U of W as, Abby Reed, Savannotes, referring to current Lynx Maya Moore, na Martens, Demetrice no relation. Walker, Marquise Williams, Jenny Dowzak, ErShe retired as a player in 2009 and now in Duffy, and Edna Zackary to lead Minneapolis owns the Twin Cities Elite, a semi-pro team. North to its first of five Class 3A state champion“It has been exciting that I’m the owner and ships head coach.” Now an educator in the Minneapolis Public Schools system and the general manager of a men’s semi-pro team, Moore (TM) reflects below on her prep career.

“Thank you to Minneapolis North High School for giving me the platform to showcase my talent and helping me make my dreams come soon.”

“The kids are so in shock when they hear that I played for the Lynx.” cluding the 1999 WNIT championship, and two NCAA berths. Moore (1998-2002) was a two-time All American and two-time all-Big Ten, a finalist for two national awards, 2001 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, and the school’s all-time career leader in assists and steals. “I had the same mentality that I had as an eighth grader (playing varsity) at North — they are not going to stop me,” Moore says confidently. Initially she didn’t mind being a reserve off the bench, but her coach did. “She came to me and said, ‘Tamara, I didn’t recruit you to come off the bench. I brought you in as

sophomore to senior years. She taught me how to believe in myself as a leader. She was someone who always believed in my ability and helped me flourish in the role of top-level athlete. MSR: How did you end up choosing Wisconsin over Tennessee? TM: Having the opportunity to have the most decorated college coaches in [Tennessee Coach] Pat Summitt recruit me was an honor. It gave me validation that I had become a top-level athlete. The most honest answer is that I struggled on my ACT/ SAT, and I believed that I had a great chance of getting into Wisconsin. I loved the coaching staff there as well, as my good friend [former Tartan standout] Jessie Stomski deciding to go there. I signed with Wisconsin, but I found out a week

Her legacy added another résumé note with her Badgers Hall of Fame induction, adding her name to the school’s all-time greats. “I’m so proud of what I’ve done as a basketball player, [but] I want people to see me not just as a basketball player, but also something that is very multi-faceted in [the] different things that I do.” Charles Hallman welcomes reader responses to challman@spokesman-recorder.com.

MSR: How did you get started playing basketball? TM: My family had a hoop on the garage, and I would skip chores and go outside to play. It started off as a way to get out of cleaning, but then I started to get better and better, which made it a passion. MSR: What role did your high school coaches play in your development? TM: Freshmen year was Tonyus Chavers, who made me humble in my first season by making sure that I knew I had to work hard every day. She taught me a huge lesson during tryouts when I just knew that I played well, but she made me sweat and taught me to always be a team players. Faith Johnson Patterson coached me from

later I passed my test. Tennessee was my dream school, but Wisconsin made my dreams come true with a great career, Hall of Fame induction, and WNIT Championship. I wouldn’t change it. MSR: What did it mean to help North win that first state title? TM: I think being able to be a part of the firstever championship not only at North, but also being the first city team to win one, it’s something that shined a light on the talent of the city. North went on to win four more, but I can always say I was a part of the very first. We were finally out of the shadow of the North boys’ team, but it was great to know that we gained and earned the respect of the city and state. MSR: What did it mean for you to be the first African American to be named Ms. Basketball outright? TM: It was a very prestigious honor to be the first, because it was a door that may have seemed closed and hard to open, but it solidified my place in history. I always looked up to [former Minneapolis Henry standout] Tracy Henderson growing up, and when she didn’t win [in 1993], I knew I would have to work hard. Now, looking forward at how many African American girls have won since, the sky is the limit. MSR: Anything else you would like to mention as you reflect on your prep career? TM: [I was] honored as the first female to play in the Inner City All-Star classic in 1998. It was a great opportunity that has now grown to even bigger heights. With my name being added to the MVP Trophy for the girls’ game, I’ve been blessed. ■ See PrEP on page 9