Groundbreaking DJ, Nappy DJ Needles comes to Minneapolis for Memorial Day day party MOREWeekend ON PAGE 10 MORE ON PAGE 10
Insight News May 18 - May 24, 2015
Vol. 42 No. 20 • The Journal For Community News, Business & The Arts • insightnews.com
Minneapolis Mayor Betsy Hodges
California Dreaming Master nail technician Ryan Morgan last month took the scenic route, scanning the horizon over Hollister, CA. in his first ever skydive. Morgan said he and friends found a super coupon offer for Hollister Skydiving, and decided to go for it. “You have to sign your life away, promise that you won’t sue and that your relatives won’t sue. And they tell you “accidents do happen…” Morgan said he was a little nervous, but relaxed when met the dive instructor, Braxton, who had just landed from a previous jump
Hodges: Inclusive growth critical Minneapolis Mayor Betsy Hodges participated in the National Forum on Youth Violence Prevention in Washington, D.C. The mayor said her participation was a part of her ongoing efforts to improve outcomes for young people of color, what she called a critical piece of her initiative to foster inclusive growth. Since 2012, Minneapolis has been a federallydesignated National Forum city. Attorney General Loretta Lynch
half an hour earlier. The fact that Braxton, to whom Morgan was harnessed, was an accomplished skydiver, “made me comfortable,” Morgan said. He said the jump from 8,000 feet from a plane flying at 120 mph included a 20-30 second free fall before the parachute was deployed. “I learned how to steer the parachute. Would I do it again? At first I said, ‘No,’ but, now I think I would if my son Ryan, Jr., wanted to try it,” he said.
FORUM TURN TO 7
10-year-old pepper-sprayed by police during downtown protest By Harry Colbert, Jr. Contributing Writer A 10-year old boy was among protestors subjected to spraying of a harsh chemical irritant by a Minneapolis Police Department officer Wednesday night. About 100 people took to the streets in downtown Minneapolis, marching in support of Tony Robinson, killed in March by a Madison, WI police officer. The street protest was to show solidarity for protesters in Madison, WI who are angry that a police officer would be charged for the killing of a 19-year-old man.
Women Leading Change By Dr. Artika Tyner
@micamaryjane
PROTEST TURN TO 7
10 -year-old Taye has milk poured into his eyes after being pepper-sprayed by Minneapolis police
Blacks becoming more comfortable discussing mental health By Jazelle Hunt NNPA Washington Correspondent WASHINGTON (NNPA) – The National Institute of Mental Health estimates that there are more than 40 million Americans currently dealing with mental illnesses, not including issues related drug and alcohol use. But mental health treatment goes far beyond diagnoses and prescriptions. “You don’t have to be what we know as mentally ill. You don’t have to be schizophrenic or bipolar to seek therapy. You can
Barbara Arnwine: Advancing justice
Terrie Williams, award-winning mental health advocate and author of “Black Pain: It Just Looks Like We’re Not Hurting.”
Insight 2 Health Improve your gut health!
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seek therapy because your dog died, and you just feel sad about it,” says Nikki Davis, a prison psychologist and substance abuse and family therapist in Virginia. “There’s nothing to be ashamed of. Your weakness comes from [when] you don’t seek the help you know you need.” Davis was about 10 years old the first time she saw a therapist. One of her siblings seemed to be struggling with an emotional disorder, and her parents felt the whole family could use some help. May is Mental Health Month and for many Black people, the concept iof mental health
treatment s somewhere between laughable and extravagant. Reasons abound for Black people who dismiss mental health treatment. “In the Black community we are hesitant to trust medical professionals. We think that mental health or mental illness is a White person’s disease. We have a tendency to want to pray it away,” Davis says. “[In therapy] they get an unbiased opinion. You’re going to get a non-judgmental and unbiased environment that is going to be as honest and forthcoming as it can be without
HEALTH TURN TO 7
Barbara Arnwine has played a key role in advancing justice in the arena of civil rights. Arnwine has served as the president and executive director of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law for more than 26 years. Within this leadership role her stance has been strong and her commitment has been unwavering to secure through rule of law, equal justice under the law. One such example is her determination to protect one of our most fundamental rights – voting. She has waged war against the direct assault of democracy as evidenced by laws and policies that restrict access to the ballot box. For example, she has fought against the restrictive voter id laws. Voter ID laws serve as an active barrier for the 11 percent of voting age citizens, who lack a government issued photo ID. Arnwine is fighting to protect the rights of these 21 million citizens. Furthermore, she is a prominent
Barbara Arnwine leader in Election Protection, which is the nation’s largest nonpartisan voter protection coalition. Equal Protection plays a vital role in supporting and protecting voters. Moreover, in 2011, Arnwine and the Lawyer’s Committee began tracking suppressive voting legislation across the nation, which led to the creation of the well-known “Map of Shame.” This map provides an in-depth look at trends in voter disenfranchisement legislation. Arnwine has positively
ARNWINE TURN TO 3
MLK Park
Our agenda
Commentary
Breaking ground in the spirit of MLK, Jr.
Let’s stop using the ‘p’ word, now!
Challenging economic racism in America Part II
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