Insight News ::: 2.27.12

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INSIGHT NEWS February 27 - March 4, 2012 • MN Metro Vol. 38 No. 9 • The Journal For Community News, Business & The Arts • www.insightnews.com

Standing on somebody’s shoulders Murua (Swahili for ‘Respect’) By Dr. BraVada Garrett-Akinsanya, Ph.D., L.P. I was born during the era of Jim Crow, where there were toilets for Blacks and Whites. I remember being a little girl in our small Texas town of Floydada (where rumor has it that a man named Floyd and his wife named Ada created the town). In that small rural community, it seemed that

the sense of unity and respect went only so far. For example, African Americans lived “across the tracks” and the train separated those of us with dark skin from those whose skin was white. The whistle of the train and crossing the tracks were bleak reminders of the numerous socio-cultural barriers that served as barricades to our dreams and our equality as human beings. One day, I recall our town celebrating “Old Settlers Day” when people like Floyd and Ada were recognized for their contributions to the township. During this festive period,

CROW TURN TO 5

Russell Lee, 1939

“Colored” drinking fountain from mid-20th century

Ellison: Ease restrictions on Somalia money transfers By Harry Colbert, Jr. Contributing Writer Rep. Keith Ellison has called on the U.S. Treasury to ease restrictions on money transfers to Somalia. Somali-Americans trying to send money to loved ones in their homeland have become

increasingly frustrated after the treasury department restricted transfers amid concerns that some of the money may have been used to fund terrorist organizations. The last U.S. bank to allow wire transfers to Somali, Franklin Bank, announced last December it would no longer allow Somali hawalas – an underground banking system based on trust

whereby money can be made available internationally – to hold accounts with the bank. “Somalia is experiencing the worst famine in six decades and it’s exacerbated by the fact that the country is operating with no government,” said Ellison, who along with Minnesota Senators Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken met with U.S. Treasury

undersecretary of terrorism and financial intelligence, David Cohen to discuss ways for Americans to send money to the war-torn African nation and ways banks and hawalas can operate with greater transparency. “Lives are on the line. If money is turned off from remittances, it will turn on an opportunity for al-Shabab,” said Ellison referring

to an organization with believed ties to al-Qaida, operating within the Somali borders. According to Ellison, nearly $150 million dollars annually are sent from people in the United States to those in Somalia. The congressman said with no other methods of getting money to Somalis in need, some may resort to the dangerous endeavor of transporting cash into

the country. Ellison said the famine is affecting close to 12 million people. “The situation is dire,” said the Minnesota representative. Somalia has been without an official government since 1991. Minnesota has the largest Somali population in the nation.

Obama announces steps to boost rural economy WASHINGTON, DC – As part of the Obama Administration’s “We Can’t Wait” efforts to strengthen the economy, create jobs and support business growth, Administration officials announced three significant actions to expand the government’s purchase of biobased products, promote regional rural job creation efforts, and develop a rural healthcare workforce, all of which build on the historic investments the Administration

President Barack Obama

Tom Vilsack, Secretary of Agriculture

has made in rural America over the past three years. Today’s announcements are the latest in a series of executive actions the Obama Administration is taking to strengthen the economy and move the country forward because we can’t wait for Congress to act. “My Administration is committed to using every tool available to promote economic growth and create good jobs in rural America,” said President Obama. “Today’s announcements reflect our

Mary Wakefield, Administrator, Health Resources and Service Administration

continued focus on expanding opportunity for rural Americans and all Americans, including supporting new and innovative businesses, and improving rural health care and education. And the actions we’re taking today are possible thanks to the feedback and ideas I’ve received from hardworking Americans across rural America, including the participants at the White House Rural Economic Forum.” “President Obama

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Marv Davidov

Freedom fighter takes final ride By Bill Tilton

Marv Davidov

Gateway to excellence

Waking the sleeping giant

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Walter Griffin

Let’s Move

Michelle Obama explains Let’s Move Campaign

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In 1961 Marv Davidov was a Freedom Rider who had an epiphany while imprisoned in Mississippi – He had a dream that he would spend his life fighting for social change through nonviolent agitation. For the next 50 years he did just that -- he lived that dream. Marv died on January 14, 2012, 80 years old, smiling, laughing, joking and happy right up til

the end, comfortable that he had indeed spent his life as a successful catalyst for justice. One of the Great Ones has passed. Time magazine in December named “The Protester” as Person of the Year and draws a direct line from the 60s civil rights marches to last year’s Arab Spring and Occupy movements. No one better than Marv Davidov exemplifies how this spirit of “Speak Truth To Power” was kept alive though

Aesthetics

Gabrielle’s got it going on !

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those 50 years. The Freedom Riders were people who purposely broke segregation laws in the deep South in order to challenge institutions of white privilege. These were brave folk who often were beaten severely by racist whites, including local sheriffs. In June 1961 one group of Riders included Marv Davidov, a 29 year old army veteran, beatnik Jew and self-

DAVIDOV TURN TO 15

Health

Circle of Red says remember your heart

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