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Insight News May 8 - May 14, 2017
Vol. 44 No. 18• The Journal For Community News, Business & The Arts • insightnews.com
Zora TURN TO PAGE 2
Loretta Day
Page 2 • May 8 - May 14, 2017 • Insight News
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LEADING WITH ART: Lorretta Day’s “Zora” featured in Black is the Knew Black exhibit’
Zora Neale Hurston a literary great By Harry Colbert, Jr. Managing Editor
Zora Neale Hurston was one of the most powerful voices of the Harlem Renaissance … and in American literature. Prominent author Alice Walker said of Hurston’s novel, “Their Eyes Were Watching God,” that “There is no book more important to me than this one.” The 1937 literary classic
is credited as the most widely read novel of African-American literature. When a call went out to artists to compose pieces dedicated to Hurston, Loretta Day answered, but before doing so, she took part in a bit of discovery. “Up until then I didn’t know a lot about her, but when I started reading about her and reading her works I became immersed in her,” said Day. “Her life reminded me of my mother, being that they both lived during
the same time period.” Day’s work “Zora,” which is featured on the cover of this week’s edition of Insight News, is a piece that combines three age-progressive images of Hurston into one connected portrait. The painting, along with the works of seven other artists, will be on display until May 28 at the Show Gallery, 345 Sibley St. in St. Paul as a part of “Black is the Knew Black.” The exhibit is curated by Ta-coumba Aiken, one of the lead artists on the Seed Project, a public
The eyes of Prince looking over Minneapolis, in this Loretta Day painting, a piece she imagined for an exhibit dedicated to the iconic musician after his passing.
works project in Minneapolis that engages renowned AfricanAmerican artists such as Aiken in mentoring emerging artists such as Day, providing career development. Together the artists have created a mural that will adorn a stretch of Olson Memorial Highway in North Minneapolis. The work is set to debut in 2019. Along with works of Day and Aiken, works by emerging Seed artists Patrick Cunningham, Angela Davis, Christopheraaron Deanes, Jordan Hamilton,
Christopher Harrison and Esther Osayande will be on display for “Black is the Knew Black.” Exposing artists such as Day to a vast audience is a joy for Aiken. “Loretta is a diamond in the not so rough,” said Aiken. “Her work is brilliant and just needs more light shined upon it. Her work is Amazing.” Insight News will be featuring other artists of the Seed Project and “Black is the Knew Black” in coming editions of the newspaper.
Banning ‘lunch shaming’ Commentary
By Marian Wright Edelman “In 2017, we’re taking hot lunches out of a child’s hands and throwing it away ... We’re one of the wealthiest and most powerful nations in the world and we’re not feeding our children lunch. They are experiencing real hunger in the middle of the school day and to me that’s just unacceptable.” – New Mexico State Sen. Michael Padilla. Here’s a test with just one question. If a hungry child can’t afford to eat, should the adults in her school punish and humiliate her for not having lunch money? As disgraceful as this question is, adults in schools across the country fail this test every single day. New Mexico has just become the first state in the nation to ban “lunch shaming” – policies that penalize children who don’t have enough money to buy a hot lunch in the cafeteria. New Mexico’s new law, the HungerFree Students’ Bill of Rights, is a welcome move that has helped put a spotlight on a common form of cruel and unusual punishment
against poor children. State Sen. Michael Padilla, the lawmaker who introduced it, understands what it’s like to be hungry at school. As a child growing up in the foster care system he often couldn’t afford lunch either. He said in the New York Times, “I made Mrs. Ortiz and Mrs. Jackson, our school lunch ladies, my best friends. Thank goodness they took care of me, but I had to do other things like mop the floor in the cafeteria. It was really noticeable that I was one of the poor kids in the school.” In another interview he remembered that in addition to having to clean tables or help in the kitchen, sometimes his school lunch would be taken away or replaced with a slice of bread and cheese. “I’m 44 now, and I was shocked to find out that this was still happening. This is still a very real issue here in the United States.” Requiring chores in exchange for food or replacing hot nutritious lunches with cold cheese and bread are common occurrences in many communities. In 2016, Pennsylvania elementary school lunch worker Stacy Koltiska made headlines when she said she quit her job over her district’s policy of denying hot lunches to students with debt and replacing them with cold cheese sandwiches after seeing tears in a child’s eyes. She said, “As a Christian, I have an issue with this. It’s sinful and shameful is what it is . . . God
is love, and we should love one another and be kind. There’s enough wealth in this world that no child should go hungry, especially in school. To me this is just wrong.” This wrong is compounded in other school districts which use physical marks on the children to “remind” parents that they haven’t paid, as Arizona parent Tara Chavez learned when her son came home from his elementary school earlier this month with the words “LUNCH MONEY” stamped in block letters on his arm. She later learned her son’s school lunch account had money in it but was low. “I asked if he was given a choice by the lunch lady and he said, ‘No, she just grabbed my wrist and put the stamp on’ . . . I think there’s a better way to communicate the message than stamping a child with the word ‘Lunch Money.’ There’s a billion other ways you could do it that would be better than that.” Still other schools do not feed children at all. The New York Times shared the story of an Omaha school cafeteria cashier who asked to resign her position at a school with a “no money, no meal” policy. “She had been secretly paying for students’ meals,” a coworker remembered, “and couldn’t afford to keep it up.” School districts argue that “lunch shaming” tactics are necessary to weed out children whose families can afford to pay
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for meals but forget or choose not to, adding to the debt the schools are forced to absorb. Unpaid meals can add up. One study notes the School Nutrition Association found about 75 percent of districts had some unpaid student meal debt at the end of the last school year. But the same article notes many students who cannot pay for their meals actually qualify for free or reduced priced meals through the federal school lunch program but aren’t signed up. During the 2015-2016 school year 21.6 million children received free or reduced lunches through the National School Lunch Program. The federal program also includes a community eligibility provision which allows school districts, individual schools or groups of schools to offer two nutritious meals daily to all students at no charge if more than 40 percent of their students meet certain eligibility standards that should help address the unpaid meal fees problem. Last school year more than 18,000 high poverty schools in nearly 3,000 school districts across the country – serving more than 8.5 million children – participated in this program, giving them the chance to serve all of their students without the administrative burdens of taking applications and collecting meal fees and without being forced to turn children away. But many other eligible schools haven’t yet implemented this program.
The right answer should not depend on the kindness of lunch ladies or cruel school district policies that shame children and leave them hungry for more than food. The federal Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 required the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to examine the challenges of unpaid school meal fees. USDA sent a Report to Congress, “Review of Local Policies on Meal Charges and Provision of Alternate Meals,” and issued guidance requiring school districts participating in the National School Lunch or School Breakfast program, beginning with the 2017-2018 school year, to establish policies and procedures to address the challenge of unpaid school meal fees, although significant local discretion is allowed on the content of the policy. States also may develop policies or guidelines for all school districts to follow. The USDA’s website includes resources to help states and school districts develop, disseminate and implement effective policies for children and families. If we love our children the only moral choice in this rich country should be making sure children have access to the food they need. Schools are on the front line with hungry children entering classrooms every day and have a special obligation to ensure those children have the healthy food they need to concentrate and thrive. As the new law in New
Mexico now requires, schools should be offering to help eligible poor children sign up for the federal free or reduced price lunch program, rather than shaming them and denying them food for the “sins of their parents.” Jennifer Ramo, the executive director of the anti-poverty and anti-hunger group, New Mexico Appleseed, who helped draft the law said, “People on both sides of the aisle were genuinely horrified that schools were allowed to throw out children’s food or make them work to pay off debt. It sounds like some scene from ‘Little Orphan Annie,’ but it happens every day . . . We have to separate the child from a debt they have no power to pay.” She added in another interview, “We’re saying feed these children first, and let the grownups sort out the finances.” Other states, including Texas and California, are already working on similar anti-shaming legislation of their own. Every state should follow New Mexico’s example and ban this heartless and stupid practice. No child in rich America, the world’s largest exporter of food, should go hungry. Adults in schools who set this policy or carry out the cruel and unusual punishments are the ones who should be ashamed. Marian Wright Edelman is president of the Children’s Defense Fund. For more information go to www.childrensdefense.org.
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Insight News • May 8 - May 14, 2017 • Page 3
aesthetically speaking
Aesthetically It!: Events, concerts, venues in the Twin Cities
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Insight News May 8 - May 14, 2017
Vol. 44 No. 18• The Journal For Community News, Business & The Arts • insightnews.com
Hodges blocks; Delmonico stands down By Harry Colbert, Jr. Managing Editor Despite community opposition, Minneapolis Police Chief Janeé Harteau is sticking by her decision to promote Lt. John Delmonico as the commander of the department’s 4th Precinct. Harteau publicly announced last week that she had chosen Delmonico to take over as inspector – the lead position within the precinct. That decision was met with immediate community pushback from those who remember Delmonico as longtime president of the Police Officers Federation of Minneapolis and as someone who they say is an antagonist of Black citizens. Harteau’s decision to promote Delmonico was overruled by Minneapolis Mayor Betsy Hodges following community outcry.
Concerns about Delmonico came to a head in 2014 when he was a prime instigator in the now infamous #PointerGate story involving Hodges and Neighborhoods Organizing for Change (NOC) worker, Navell Gordon. Gordon and Hodges posed for a photo with the two pointing at one another. In a story that was presented by KSTPTV – and lambasted nationally including in a segment on CNN – the two were accused of throwing gang signs. Delmonico called Gordon a “known gang member,” which was never proven. Furthering the outrage was the fact that Gordon and the mayor were out registering citizens to vote at the time of the photo. In an email sent May 1 by Harteau to all police officers and obtained by Insight News through a data records request, the chief said her decision to promote Delmonico to inspector
of the troubled 4th precinct was the right one. “I want each and every one of you to know that I will always stand by my decision. Lt. John Delmonico has deep community partnerships and for the past year has led a team of nightwatch [sic] officers that have been key in bringing this precinct muchneeded, drastic reductions in violent crime,” wrote Harteau. The chief said she is disappointed that this process of selecting an inspector has been so public. Once she made the public announcement, Hodges came out in a statement overruling the decision. Since then, Harteau has released text messages between herself and the mayor in which the mayor says it is “Your call, though I have a question or two,” when she was informed of Heateau’s choice MPR News
4TH PRECINCT 5
Minneapolis Police Chief Janeé Harteau (left) and Minneapolis Mayor Betsy Hodges are at odds over the proposed promotion of Lt. John Delmonico to head the 4th Precinct.
Twins Allie and Alexx Hopkins raise the bar at North High By Harry Colbert, Jr. Managing Editor Students at Minneapolis’ North Community High School are making headlines on the field, on the court and in the classroom. The boys basketball team at North just defended its class 1A state title and the football team heads into next season at the reigning class champions. Now add twins Allie Hopkins and Alexx Hopkins to the growing list of achievers at North. Allie Hopkins and Alexx Hopkins are North’s valedictorian and salutatorian respectively. At last check Allie Hopkins had a 3.83 grade point average (GPA) on a 4.0 scale and twin Alexx Hopkins was right behind her with a 3.7 GPA. For the twins getting good grades is just as much a sport as competing on the football field or basketball court. “We’re pretty competitive
Essence
Deborah Watts
Deborah Watts in May Essence “Woke 100” list
Harry Colbert, Jr.
North Community High School valedictorian and salutatorian, twins Allie Hopkins (left) and Alexx Hopkins.
with grades,” said Allie Hopkins. “I was a little surprised (to
be named salutatorian). I wasn’t sure I’d be second in the class. I thought my friend was going
to beat me,” confessed Alexx
TWINS 9
New York –Essence has unveiled its first-ever “Woke 100” list in its May 2017 issue and an area woman is on that list. The list honors the top 100 women activists and social influencers from around the country – introducing a
sisterhood at the forefront of activism across the political, social and creative spectrum. The Woke 100 will also come to life during this year’s Essence Festival, which will officially be
ESSENCE 4
DFL lawmakers protest Republican transit cuts Legislators say deep cuts to transit are the wrong choice for Minnesota families DFL lawmakers protested Republican efforts to cut transit and halt Southwest Light Rail. They, along with community leaders called out what they say is inadequate funding in the Republican plan, and expressed how it will harm Minnesotans who rely on transit for school, work, and daily life. “The transit cuts in the Republican bill will seriously affect our ability to move forward as a region,” said Rep. Frank Hornstein (DFL – Minneapolis). “People can’t get to their jobs, doctor appointments, school and other every day activities. We need a transportation bill
that
works for everyone.” According to DFL leaders, the Republican plan would harm transit by cutting service to core cities by 10 percent and creating a $35 million Met Council transit funding deficit. They say Republicans want to abolish the Counties Transit Improvement Board and ban construction of South West (SWLRT) and Bottineau light rail lines. “Instead of working together to use our surplus wisely and lift up the economy
DFL 4
Business
Conscious consumers want to support businesses dedicated to Black women
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Rep. Ilhan Omar
Rep. Rena Moran
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News
Never forget the story of Black Wall Street
Third time’s a charm
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Community
Humphrey School professor Samuel Myers, Jr., honored as Activist Scholar
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Business
Bella Beauty and Hair: Conscious consumers want to support businesses dedicated to Black women By Harry Colbert, Jr. Managing Editor For quite some time a complaint by African-American women has been they have a hard time finding hair care products that are specific to their hair’s texture and needs. With natural hair styles gaining in popularity this complaint has grown louder. According to some, the search is exacerbated by the fact that most beauty supply stores are not owned by Blacks, thus staff is less knowledgeable about Black hair care and shops do
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Insight News is published weekly, every Monday by McFarlane Media Interests. Editor-In-Chief Al McFarlane Publisher Batala-Ra McFarlane Assistant to the Publisher Shumira Cunningham Associate Editor & Associate Publisher B.P. Ford Managing Editor Harry Colbert, Jr. Associate Editor Afrodescendientes Carmen Robles Associate Editor Nigeria & West Africa Chief Folarin Ero-Phillips Associate Editor Culture and Education Dr. Irma McClaurin Associate Editor Leadership and Social Enterprise Dr. Anita Davis-DeFoe Director of Content & Production Patricia Weaver Content & Production Coordinator Sunny Thongthi Yang Distribution/Facilities Manager Jamal Mohamed Receptionist Lue B. Lampley Contributing Writers Melvin Carter, Jr. Julie Desmond Fred Easter Gloria Freeman Timothy Houston Penny Jones-Richardson Michelle Mitchum Darren Moore Artika Tyner Toki Wright Photography David Bradley Rebecca Rabb Contact Us: Insight News, Inc. Marcus Garvey House 1815 Bryant Ave. N. Minneapolis., MN 55411 Ph.: (612) 588-1313 Fax: (612) 588-2031 Member: Minnesota Multicultural Media Consortium (MMMC), Midwest Black Publishers Coalition, Inc. (MBPCI), National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) Postmaster: Send address changes to McFarlane Media Interests, Marcus Garvey House 1815 Bryant Avenue North, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55411.
not supply the coveted products many Black consumers want. Karen Coffey is offering an alternative. Coffey, 31, knows Black hair care. A licensed cosmetologist since 19, Coffey too was frustrated with not being able to run to the local beauty supply to assist with her clients’ needs. Initially she began sourcing unique product lines and selling them to her the women who sat in her chair, but demand became so great that the next step for her was logical. This past January Coffey opened Bella Beauty and Hair at 7648 Zane Ave. N. in Brooklyn Park. “I’ve reached out to
David Bradley
Karen Coffey, owner of Bella Beauty and Hair in Brooklyn Park, displaying some of the products her shop carries. Bella opened earlier this year.
manufactures who are Black and dedicated to Black women,” said Coffey. “Many of these products that I carry are hard to find. And we’ve been getting feedback and ordering based on customer response.” According to the entrepreneur, who maintains her cosmetology chair at a shop in Uptown, the response has been overwhelmingly positive since Bella’s opening. “People are excited about spending with a Black-owned beauty supply,” said Coffey. “We’ve gotten a lot of support.” Some of the community’s excitement comes from seeing a welcoming face. Well-
publicized cultural clashes have played out throughout the nation recently between shop owners and patrons. Coffey said many customers remark that they are happy to spend with an appreciative soul. “Fifty percent of our customers complain how they were treated before (at other beauty supply stores), but they were forced to patronize because of need,” said Coffey. Bella Beauty and Hair is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. It is closed on Saturdays. The store’s phone number is (763) 710-4597.
Choosing and using a donor management system FUNdraising Good Times
By Mel and Pearl Shaw The complaints associated with using technology to support fundraising are many and varied. Unfortunately the “human factor” plays a large role in how well a specific database or tool performs. This includes taking the time to evaluate your organization’s technology needs, evaluating how a system integrates with existing hardware, data security, support costs and correctly estimating start-up, conversion, maintenance, training and staffrelated costs. It is easier to blame
Essence From 3 themed “Woke Wonderland.” Minneapolis’ Deborah Watts will be a part of that experience. Watts, co-founder of the Emmitt Till Legacy Foundation, was named to the inaugural Woke 100. A cousin of Till’s, Watts is dedicated to ensuring time will always remember Till and the societal conditions that caused his death. Till, just 14 years old, was brutally killing in Money, Miss. in 1955 by a group of
DFL From 3 of our entire state, Republicans are making it clear that they want to punish the economies of our major cities and Minnesota as a whole,” said Rep. Cheryl Youakim (DFL – Hopkins). “Halting Southwest Light Rail is a continued political game that is costing
technology than to assess human capacity. As with many aspects of infrastructure, the wish is for the challenge to be addressed quickly, inexpensively, and “once and for all.” But that is not always a good long-term perspective. Here’s an alternative. Consider the following guidance from Ashley Harper. We asked her a few questions that can help you improve your “human factor.” Shaw: What are the dos and don’ts when it comes to managing a donor management system? Harper: As with any important institutional knowledge, more than one person should understand how to use the system, and processes should be standardized, documented and adopted by all who use the system. One development professional told me that his boss used to say, “If you don’t document a conversation with a donor in
the system, it didn’t happen.” If a donor management system has been working well, think twice about letting a new staff person talk you into converting to a system they prefer or are familiar with. However, an investment in proper training for staff will almost always be worth the cost. Shaw: What do you consider the “average life” of a donor management system to be? (time period of usefulness before needing to upgrade or buy a new one) Harper: On average, nonprofits are assessing their
database systems every two to three years, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they are making a change that often. Unless there are significant needs that the current system cannot meet or vendor support issues, there is no reason to go through a database conversion. Shaw: Who are the people within a nonprofit who should have input into the decision of which system to purchase? Harper: Ideally, everyone that interacts with the database will have some say in the decision. The buy-in this creates will help when it comes to staff
racists whites for supposedly whistling at a white woman. That accusation was later deemed false. The May issue of Essence features one cover spotlighting 12 of the women using their various platforms to battle injustice and infractions to civil rights, dignity and basic humanity. Writer/ producer Shonda Rhimes, veteran journalist Joy-Ann Reid, Women’s March co-chairs Tamika Mallory, Linda Sarsour and Carmen Perez, Women’s March organizer Janaye Ingram, political commentator Angela Rye, Circle of Mothers founder Sybrina Fulton, author/blogger
Luvvie Ajayi, social activist April Reign, Black Lives Matter co-founder Opal Tometi and educator/activist Brittany Packnett all grace the cover. The Essence Festival, taking place June 30 – July 2, in New Orleans, will serve as the culmination of the brand’s celebration of change agents who are vigilant in creating and inspiring equality and a more inclusive and tolerant nation. Free and open to the public, the Festival’s Empowerment Experience Stage – held at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center – will host conversations and keynote addresses that put
the invaluable voice of Black women at the forefront and will feature influencers from the Woke 100 list, including Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.), Ajayi, Reign, Mallory and more. “We are beyond proud to announce our first ever Woke 100 list and to summon a circle of women who are shaping the narrative of today’s social and political climate,” said Essence editor-in-chief Vanessa De Luca. “As we kick off the conversation of modern activism in our May issue, the 2017 Essence Festival’s ‘Woke Wonderland’ theme will act as the intersection of passion and purpose –
bridging the gap between this generation’s most prominent voices in leadership and those who’ve laid the groundwork before them.” In addition to the Empowerment Stage’s previously announced keynote speakers and program topics, Ava DuVernay and Patrisse Cullors will receive official Woke Awards for their commitment to advancing representation and raising community issues in their fields. Following the awards ceremony, Asha Bandele will moderate a panel discussion with DuVernay and Cullors.
Minnesotans time and money.” Rep. Ilhan Omar (DFL – Minneapolis) spoke to the harm bus service cuts would impose on students and seniors in her district around the University of Minnesota campus. “Thousands of residents of my community depend on transit every day. These are people who create economic investment and opportunity here in Minnesota. They come from all backgrounds and all walks of life,” said Omar. “These
Minnesotans don’t depend on transit for entertainment or fun, they depend on transit to get to school, to get to work, and to live their daily lives.” Rep. Rena Moran (DFL – St. Paul) asked Republican lawmakers to get serious about funding transit to match their commitment to reducing racial economic disparities in Minnesota. “If we want all Minnesotans to be economically successful, we can’t take away
the services they rely on to get to work and school every day,” said Moran. “Transit is part of what makes a community vibrant and successful.” Rep. Lyndon Carlson (DFL – Crystal) also noted that light rail and bus service are broadly supported in his northwest metro district. “The DFL position is fairness and equity for transit funding in every community. My neighbors know that the Bottineau LRT line and good
bus service will enhance our communities and make us stronger,” said Rep. Carlson. “As we expect our population to increase in the next 25 years, we know that new residents want good transit, and that building our highways out to handle 800,000 new cars would be impossible.” DFL lawmakers say with a $1.65 billion budget surplus, cutting transit is the wrong choice.
Unfortunately the “human factor” plays a large role in how well a specific database or tool performs.
training and use of the new product. Ideally, a team should be assembled with one person leading the team and being the main liaison with the consultant and/or vendor. The team could include one representative from each department that will use the system, with the director of development being the team leader. The complexity and depth of the system will indicate the members needed. For example, if volunteers will be included in the system along with donors, staff members who enter volunteer data should be represented on the team. Learn more from Harper at abbharper@icloud.com. Copyright 2017 – Mel and Pearl Shaw Mel and Pearl Shaw are authors of four books on fundraising available on Amazon.com. For more information on fundraising visit www.saadandshaw.com or call (901) 522-8727.
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Never forget the story of Black Wall Street Commentary by William Reed Black Press Business What have you told your kids about Black Wall Street? The first thing is they should know that it was not in New York. The last thing they should understand that Black Wall Street was a legacy of success and that the past is prologue to the future. Tell all willing to listen that in 1921, the Greenwood District neighborhood of Tulsa, Okla. was site of one of the most devastating massacres in American. It was a massacre so ghastly, many chose to forget it. To understand the state of contemporary AfricanAmericans, it’s especially important to know the history of Tulsa’s “Black Wall Street” and understand what happened to it. In early 1900, Greenwood, with its Archer and Pine Streets tracts, aka Black Wall Street, was a thriving business district of African-American owned
businesses, a middle and upper class enclave with thriving schools, hospitals and theaters. It was a bustling commercial and social “island” on the Northeast side of Tulsa. Black Wall Street was destroyed in just two days in 1921. In today’s terms, the two days inflicted $30 million in damage, 300 killed, 800 injured and Black family fortunes evaporated. Black Wall Street’s demise was due to a terrorist attack on affluent Blacks. Today’s Blacks still suffer as result of white rioters’ envy and terrorism of the Black entrepreneurs’ Mecca. When not lured by “integration” and attraction of whites’ “colder ice” Blacks have had significant business acumen and independence. Oklahoma, which was rich in oil deposits, became a state in 1907. The Oklahoma Territory offered a “better life” for formerly enslaved African-Americans to get away and start over from a South that was still-repressive. In Tulsa, the Frisco railroad tracks divided the “white” part of town from the “Little
An aerial view of the area known as Black Wall Street smoldering in flames in 1921, a result of one of the bloodiest riots in American history where more than 300 African-Americans were killed. Africa” Greenwood District. Laws of the period prevented whites and Blacks from living in neighborhoods that were 75 percent the other race. Black Wall Street came about as Blacks made do with their lot as red brick buildings sprang up along Greenwood Avenue to be occupied by
businesses owned by a thriving Black middle class that came about from the 1910’s oil boom. Black-oriented theaters, clubs, churches and stores thrived in Greenwood. Money circulated and accumulated in Greenwood. But as the Black community flourished, disgruntlement and hatred did as well. With veterans
returning from World War I and jobs scarce, envy and racial tension grew among whites. This all came to a head on May 31 and June 1, 1921. Over 16 hours, almost every Black’s business was burned to the ground. Blacks are owed for destruction of Greenwood. Black Wall Street was Blacks owning and operating businesses. Blacks ruled the roast, when it came to business in Tulsa. In destruction of Blacks Wall Street, 35 city blocks comprised of 1,256 residences were razed. It’s important that Blacks articulate to the world what Tulsa’s Greenwood area represents to Blacks success in America. Much is owed the early pioneers that built selfsustaining businesses only 50 years after emancipation. There was O. W. Gurley, who opened a grocery store to service the Black community in 1905. Gurley then bought tracts of undeveloped land and constructed homes for sale and rent to Blacks migrating to Tulsa. Gurley ultimately built one of Tulsa’s finest hotels.
John Stradford built the 54-room Stradford Hotel, at the time, the finest Black-owned hotel in America. He owned rental houses and apartment buildings and believed that if Blacks pooled their resources and spent within their communities they could become self-sufficient and independent. Greenwood-resident Mabel Little, owner of Little Rose Beauty Salon, lost her beauty parlor, her and her husband’s restaurant next door and rental properties as result of the riots. It’s time Black Americans saw the results of these riots and used that mold to examine and address this country’s inequalities and debts owed them. The men and women of Greenwood are models of outstanding business acumen, and evidence the Black race has always overcome tremendous odds and accomplished great feats in America. Black Wall Street showed our grit and accomplishment separate from whites. William Reed is publisher of “Who’s Who in Black Corporate America.”
Flat funding for HBCUs is a win By Johnny C. Taylor Jr. NNPA Newswire Guest Columnist
My job is to promote the interests of America’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). So naturally I was concerned when I heard earlier this year that the Trump Administration was planning to propose increasing defense spending by $54 billion and slashing nonmilitary spending by an equal amount. That’s when the HBCU presidents, chancellors and I decided to roll up our sleeves and get to work engaging the Trump Administration and the Republican-controlled 115th Congress to fight and protect our interests. It paid off. In late February, after weeks of meetings and phone calls with
Johnny C. Taylor, Jr., says that recent visits to the White House reinforced his belief that the Black community must seek an open dialogue that transcends partisan lines to ensure access to quality higher education for all our deserving young people.
Not everyone is happy though. Some are critical of President Trump because they believe he should have significantly increased the budget for HBCUs. Such notions are naïve in the current political environment in Washington, D.C. – now run by Republicans who’ve vowed to reduce the size of government. There are some other important things to understand. First, the president makes a “budget request” while the Congress has to ultimately authorize and appropriate the funding for the actual budget. The HBCU community is working hard to ensure the president’s final budget request scheduled to be released this month protects HBCU funding. At the same time, we are engaging the Congress to not only protect the HBCU funding, but to also increase programs that are critical to our mission. This is the beginning of the
administration officials, more than 70 HBCU leaders and I attended a listening session with top administration officials, and a dozen returned the next day for a signing ceremony event at the White House, where President Trump signed an executive order recognizing the importance of our institutions. A few weeks later, the administration released its budget blueprint, which called for maintaining federal HBCU spending at current levels. Let me be clear … flat spending for HBCUs in a president’s budget that calls for a 13 percent funding decrease to the Department of Education is a win. It’s clear that this administration understands the value of HBCUs, which educate nearly 300,000 students a year, award three-quarters of all doctorates earned by AfricanAmericans and provided the undergraduate degrees of 80 percent of black federal judges. 1
2
4th Precinct From 3 of Delmonico to head the 4th and, “Great. Love that” when Harteau said Delmonico had the respect in the department and can handle the politics of the job, according to a report in the Minneapolis Star Tribune. Hodges appeared to reverse course once NOC worker Wintana Melekin posted in outrage on her Facebook page about the decision to promote Delmonico with the mayor saying the “progressive community remembers he commented on Pointergate,” and he said “racist stuff.” “The latest saga between Chief Harteau and Mayor Hodges is yet another illustration of the dysfunction and breakdowns of communication that plague city leadership. Chief Harteau should have known better than to appoint Lt. Delmonico to become Inspector of the 4th Precinct given his role in the racist #Pointergate scandal and his disturbing comments surrounding the death of Terrance Franklin,” said Former NAACP president, Nekima Levy-Pounds, a civil rights attorney and candidate for mayor of Minneapolis. In the killing of Franklin by Minneapolis police, Delmonico called Franklin a “criminal” who was responsible for his own death. Police contend Franklin was attacking them at the time of the shooting, but in a lawsuit filed by the family of Franklin they assert he was complaint, with his hands up at the time of
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Lt. John Delmonico the fatal shooting. Two police officers were shot during the incident with official reports saying Franklin got a hold of an officer’s gun to shoot the wounded officers. Levy-Pounds said Hodges is as much at fault as Harteau is for the kerfuffle. “This decision also reflects poorly upon Mayor Hodges’ leadership of the city, as she initially seemed supportive of the decision to appoint Delmonico, without any regard to concerns of North Minneapolis residents. Hence, it’s time for new leadership in our city,” said Levy-Pounds. Insight News reached out to the mayor’s office for comment but was unsuccessful in its attempts to speak with the mayor. A spokesperson did return our call and said the mayor was unavailable to speak with us at the time, but she was never on board with the promoting of Delmonico. In the May 1 email
Harteau said many candidates have expressed reservations in accepting the inspector’s position if offered. “Although we have many great leaders to choose from, I have heard from many of you that the recent events may make potential candidates hesitant to accept this position, and I understand why some may feel that way,” wrote the chief. Minneapolis’ 4th Precinct has been a lightning rod for controversy for some time with community and police tensions coming to a boil following the November 2015 police killing of 24-year-old Jamar Clark – an unarmed citizen. Clark was killed just a block from the precinct headquarters. Following the homicide community members set up camp outside of the 4th Precinct – an around the clock protest that lasted 18 days. “This decision by Chief Harteau is a slap in the face to the Northside community,” said Raeisha Williams, who was a vocal protester following the Clark killing and who is a candidate for Minneapolis City Council in the city’s 5th Ward. “In no way would Delmonico’s appointment curb the police brutality that we experience at the hands of 4th precinct officers, and in fact, it would likely have increased under his leadership and direction.” Jeremiah Ellison, also an active protester and DFL
endorsed candidate for the 5th Ward city council seat, said though he too agrees that Delmonico was not the right person for the job, the bigger issue is that that community was not given the opportunity to participate in the process. “The real issue is that Northsiders were not involved in the picking of the inspector,” said Ellison. “That in itself is troubling in itself.”
process, not the end. Secondly, the administration has proposed to maintain – not to cut – the Pell Grant program. And while it is true the administration has suggested reallocating $3.9 million in Pell Grant surplus funding, we are busy working with the Congress to use the additional funding to restore year-round Pell that was eliminated under President Obama. Our recent visits to the White House reinforced my belief that we must seek an open dialogue that transcends partisan lines to ensure access to quality higher education for all our deserving young people. That’s why we’ve chosen a strategy of engagement, building relationships in Washington in addition to our traditional allies, such as the Congressional Black Caucus. We are working hard to reach out to key lawmakers in both parties, such as Republican Sen. Tim Scott
(R-SC) and Rep. Mark Walker (R-NC), who hosted the fly-in for HBCU leaders in February. And we have developed a strong working relationship with the administration, which has been, frankly, more accessible than the Obama White House, which often shortchanged our budget requests and seemed to fail to grasp the complexities of our mission. I encourage all who support HBCUs to remember this is a marathon not a sprint. In addition to the upcoming fiscal year budget request, the Thurgood Marshall College Fund and our HBCU leaders have identified billions of dollars in additional needs over the next four or five years. We will get there through persistence, diplomacy and relationship-building, not by attacking those who are eager to work with us. Johnny C. Taylor, Jr. is the president & CEO of Thurgood Marshall College Fund.
Page 6 • May 8 - May 14, 2017 • Insight News
In August 2015, three months after completing Round Five of the 10week Insight 2 Health (I2H) Fitness Challenge I was diagnosed with infiltrating ductal carcinoma invasive stage IIIA grade 2 breast cancer.
By Carmen Robles Associate Editor
The doctor told me my attitude would play a significant role in the outcome of my diagnosis. “I’ve got this,” I said with great conviction and self-assurance. The foundation of having completed the vigorous I2H Challenge gave me the strength to say those words. Dramatic change, dramatic shift begins with contemplation of where you are and of where you want to go. To change the person you are, you must change your life. Stepping out of my comfort zone in January 2015 led me to participate in the vigorous fitness boot camp challenge. Sharing experiences through a blog and articles began my journey to change the person I had become
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Insight 2 Health Third time’s a charm … to change my life. Overweight, lacking energy, close to becoming cynical, I was certainly becoming a crabby vieja (old lady) in my old age. Getting through the fitness challenge made me realize I was stronger than I thought I was, in both body and mind. The experience was pivotal in preparing me for the nightmare health battle that lay ahead for me, and that would change my life’s direction. Tyrone Minor’s and Jaime Minor’s relentless “you can do anything for a minute” was often my mantra during the 15 lonely minutes I lay on the radiation table. Just me, myself and I and a metal arm circling my body, finding its target with precision and accurately shooting its beams destroying those cancer cells. The mechanical arm’s buzz, buzz, buzz was the only sound in the sterile room. Memories of my physical strength in completing the fitness challenge filled those 15 minutes of complete stillness, solitude,
Rebecca Rabb
Associate Editor Carmen Robles at the F.I.T. Lab. quiet (my choice, they offer music). After the prescribed treatment
of surgery, chemotherapy and radiation I decided to thank my body for
getting me through 18 months of uncertainty and joined I2H Round 9 Fitness Challenge. Round nine started out shaky for me. I wasn’t sure I’d be able to get through the strenuous exercises. With the support of F.I.T. Lab trainers and I2H family, by the end of the round I had gained back my strength and balance. I could do dreaded (albeit modified versions) pushups, burpees and mountain climbers. Best of all, I gained back my selfconfidence. I was surprised and disappointed to see the three-week hiatus between rounds nine and 10 was slowly eroding all the challenging work I did. Old habits crept slowly up at first, then unleashed themselves, coming at me full speed. The incessant tug at my weakness, underscored the importance of staying on track, staying surrounded by people who are on the path to lifestyle change and improved quality of life. Round 10 is my third round and it’s
a charm. It is giving me the full picture of the power that a home-grown team of passionate health conscious individuals can create, living by example, sharing knowledge and educating the masses, myself included. It’s like coming home. I was excited to greet familiar instructors and meet new ones. Each an expert in their field, I’m always confident they have my back. It is comforting to see old friends and delightful to make new ones who are on the same transformation path as I am. During the downtime between rounds nine and 10 I tried other fitness alternatives including neighborhood community centers and using my Silver Sneakers Card around the city. Nothing held that special spirit that is the essence of the I2H Challenge at the F.I.T. Lab. No other fitness alternative offered ambitious standards of education and empowerment through healthy lifestyle transformation. To learn more about the Insight 2 Health Fitness Challenge visit www.insight2healthchallenge.com or call the F.I.T Lab at (651) 6455242 and visit www.thefitlabinc.com.
Rashelle Brown trains for Spartan competition By Carmen Robles Associate Editor The 5:30 a.m. workout led by master trainer Rashelle Brown is just another example of the trademark of excellence that is the F.I.T. Lab. The 10th round of the Insight 2 Health Fitness Challenge, a 10-week fitness boot camp now offers an early session, allowing participants to alternate between morning and evening training. As a morning person, the crack of dawn workout was very
appealing. Little did I realize, though, I was walking into the workout of champions. Spartan champions. The cream of the crop being led by champion trainer Brown preparing for the Spartan Race, According to Wikipedia, “A Spartan race is a series of obstacle races of varying distance and difficulty ranging from three miles to marathon distances.” I received a warm welcome into the league of extraordinary competitors and instantly became an honorary Spartan. Never in my Rebecca Rabb
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Insight News • May 8 - May 14, 2017 • Page 7
NNPA Newswire exclusive:
Bill Cosby breaks silence By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Contributor Bill Cosby is blind. It’s been more than two years since the embattled, television and film legend, who was once known as “America’s Dad,” has spoken out publicly. During a recent interview with the NNPA Newswire, Cosby revealed that he’s lost his sight. Waking one morning about two years ago, he nervously called out to Camille, his wife. “I can’t see,” he said. Doctors later confirmed the worst … that there was nothing that could be done to repair his vision. “When he would perform, we’d draw a wide straight yellow line from backstage to the chair on the stage and he’d rehearse the walk, hours before the show,” said Andrew Wyatt of the Purpose PR firm, a public relations agency in Birmingham, Ala. Wyatt has worked with Cosby for years. Wyatt said that his star client has decided that it’s time to talk. Together, Wyatt and Cosby said they grew comfortable that the NNPA Newswire would be more interested in “facts over sensationalism.” Cosby has shunned most media inquiries, since allegations of sexual misconduct surfaced in late 2014; some of those accusations dated back almost 50 years. In 2015, According to CNN, Cosby was charged with three counts of felony aggravated assault in a case involving Andrea Constand, a former Temple University employee. Earlier this year, CNN reported that Cosby’s, “criminal sexual assault trial will stay in Montgomery County Court in Pennsylvania, but the jurors will come from another Pennsylvania
county.” In February, a federal judge dismissed a defamation lawsuit filed against Cosby by accuser Katherine McKee, according to USA Today. “This marks the third defamation lawsuit against Cosby that was either withdrawn or dismissed recently, prompting some Cosby crowing,” USA Today reported. “However, another defamation case against him, filed by six accusers, is still pending in the same federal court in Massachusetts.” While the beleaguered superstar declined to address any of his legal cases, his youngest daughter, Evin Cosby felt compelled to speak out. In a statement, which can be read in its entirety on BlackPressUSA.com, Evin, 40, questioned the veracity of the allegations against her father. “The harsh and hurtful accusations … that supposedly happened 40 or 50 years ago, before I was born, in another lifetime, and that have been carelessly repeated as truth without allowing my dad to defend himself and without requiring proof, has punished not just my dad, but every one of us,” said Evin Cosby. Devin T. Robinson X, an actor and poet who’s been featured on MTV, NBC, CBS and BET, said that Bill Cosby represents the finest example of someone being found guilty in the court of public opinion without ever facing trial. “Punishing people before they’re convicted in court only seems accurate when it serves a media narrative that doesn’t hurt a specific demographic,” said Robinson X. Dr. E. Faye Williams, the president and CEO of the National Congress of Black Women, Inc., agreed. “If the President of the United States can go on working in the White House after he has bragged about doing gross,
Courtesy Photo/Bill Cosby
Bill Cosby said that he hopes to perform again. The legendary comedian, who is facing criminal sexual assault charges in Montgomery County, Pa., will turn 80 in July. sexually-explicit and abusive things to women, without their permission, then justice requires that Bill Cosby should not be punished, unless he is convicted of crimes,” said Williams. Perhaps, the closest Cosby came to addressing his ongoing legal battles during the interview was when he opined about the true history of America. “The history about AfricanAmericans is a history of the United States; but the true histories, not the propaganda that is standard in our nation’s history books,” said Cosby.
“The great writer, James Baldwin, said, ‘If you lie about me, then you lie about yourself.’ The revolution is in the home. There is something about someone saying, ‘I didn’t know that,’ that could cause a change in that person’s thinking.” Cosby said he thinks about his illustrious career that, at least for now, has been placed on hold because of the court cases. Few have achieved the legendary status enjoyed by Cosby. His career has spanned more than six decades and
includes a host of best-selling comedy albums and books, gold and platinum records, and five Grammy Awards. With his role in “I-Spy” in the 1960s, Cosby became the first African-American co-star in a dramatic series, breaking TV’s color barrier and winning three Emmy Awards. After starring opposite Academy Award winner Sidney Poitier in the 1970s trilogy, “Uptown Saturday Night,” “Let’s Do It Again,” and “A Piece of the Action,” Cosby’s star soared even higher in the
1980s when he single-handedly revived the family sitcom and, some argue, saved NBC with “The Cosby Show.” “Darn right,” he said, when asked if he missed performing. “I miss it all and I hope that day will come. I have some routines and storytelling that I am working on. I think about walking out on stage somewhere in the United States of America and sitting down in a chair and giving the performance that will be the beginning of the next chapter of my career.”
Evin Cosby defends her father A Commentary by Evin Cosby I am the youngest of five. I remember our family trips and moving to NYC (New York City) just so we could be closer to my father as he worked. From the time he worked in Las Vegas to the “Cosby Show” in NYC, he always wanted us to be close, to be a part of his whole life, at home and on stage. I felt loved and remembered loving the moments that my parents shared with us by exposing us to all types of people from all walks of life. We grew up appreciating my father’s success because we knew the prejudice and racism he endured getting to where he got and how hard he worked for our family. Because I loved my childhood, I couldn’t wait to have a family of my own. I have two amazing children who love their grandfather. I already work
Spartan From 6 wildest dreams did I ever imagine being among the Hercules and Zena Warrior Princesses of fitness. “I am a coach” said Brown proudly. “My goal is to see you succeed so I can work myself out of a job.” Brown is owner/trainer of Full Steam Fitness. Her motto is Let Nothing Stand in Your Way. “I bug you every day to make sure you’re on track,” said the newest member of the F.I.T. Lab team. Brown does individual training or group classes at The F.I.T. Lab or the client’s location. Check out her website at www. FullSteamFitness.com. I asked Coach Brown if entry-level participants detracted from the strict military style training that is the Spartan model. “Lots of planning on the front end and intentionally thinking of each person is what works best,” said Brown, making
hard as a single mother, with no full-time help, and with a career in fashion design, I am lucky that I have supportive friends that I call family because my children and I need that support. The public persecution of my dad, my kids’ grandfather, and the cruelty of the media and those who speak out branding my father a “rapist” without ever knowing the truth and who shame our family and our friends for defending my dad, makes all of this so much worse for my family and my children. When people are so quick to cast hate, and make accusations of horrific violence against my dad, they are callous in their carelessness about the harm they are causing to others. I thought when my brother Ennis (Cosby) was murdered, that was the worst nightmare of all time. It’s so hurtful to this day. I try to block out the day he was killed, but that pain has only worsened in these last years. For some reason, my family’s pain has been a trigger for people to seize upon us harder.
it seem so simple to combine and oversee such a versatile group. Brown’s passion for fitness is a personal. Her struggle with weight led her to combine her academic background in psychology with her ACE Fitness Nutrition Specialist certification. She created her own program and after losing and keeping off 40 pounds she was inspired to share it with others. “It was a light bulb moment,” said Brown. “I’m just one person and I wanted to share this effective system with everyone. I wanted to get this information into as many hands as possible.” She did. In 2015 Brown wrote her first book based on that program, “Reboot Your Body: Unlocking the Genetic Secrets to Permanent Weight Loss.” The book can be found on Amazon. Brown is a United States Air Force veteran and we at Insight News thank her for her service. She worked as a military police officer before becoming a fitness guru.
Evin Cosby says that her dad broke barriers and raised the conscious of America on important topics, especially for the advancement of women. On the same day that Ennis was murdered, a woman came out claiming that my father had a “love child.” She was arrested for extortion. She was not my father’s daughter. On the day I gave birth to my son, another women came out, but that case was dismissed too – the district attorney investigated her claims also and didn’t press charges. Two years ago, and over 10
Brown joined the F.I.T. Lab alliance of experts in December 2016. Her air force background is perfect for the vigorous, strenuous military style training she leads. Brown is an ACE certified personal trainer and health coach with more than eight years and 2,000 hours of coaching and training experience. She holds the prestigious Spartan SGX Coach certification. It is the fitness industry’s only official obstacle race training credential that specializes in the areas of athleticism, endurance, strength and mind. For us newbies to hold our own, Brown modifies the extreme exercises. After she put us through the pace in boxing for example, my legs were jelly, I did the Frankenstein stroll for several days. But by the end of week one, while lagging way behind the herd of champs, I can proudly hold my own. Gracias Round 9 for getting me ready to run with the Spartans Round 10.
years later, several women came out. Like the woman from 2005, they claimed to have been raped and drugged. But, like the one from 2005, their stories didn’t match up. Instead of going through the criminal justice system, these stories never got investigated and just got repeated. They have been accepted as the truth. My dad tried to defend himself. His lawyers tried to defend him, but they all got sued. People were constantly reaching out to me about why doesn’t your dad say something. I kept saying he’s trying, but the media is only interested in the stories of the women. Friends of ours tried to help, but the media wouldn’t print what they said or knew. Our friends that spoke up were pressured to shut up. No one wanted to print their supportive words. We live in a scandalous country where the more sexualized and provocative the story, the more attention it gets. We get all sorts of mixed up
messages in our society. We are told that we have fundamental rights to be innocent until proven guilty. But, if enough people think you are a bad person, you are branded a bad person and the media just reinforces that. My dad, like anyone in this country, deserves to be treated fairly under the law. My dad broke barriers and raised the conscious of America on important topics, especially for the advancement of women. On “The Cosby Show” he only depicted women as smart and accomplished. On “The Cosby Show” and on “A Different World,” he took on then taboo subjects like menstrual cycles and rape, and even did a show on AIDS before anyone else would bring it up. I am his fourth daughter. He raised me to go to college, start my own business, and be my own woman. He is helping me raise my children and teach them family values. I know that my father loves me, loves my sisters and my mother. He loves
and respects women. He is not abusive, violent or a rapist. Sure, like many celebrities tempted by opportunity, he had his affairs, but that was between him and my mother. They have worked through it and moved on, and I am glad they did for them and for our family. The harsh and hurtful accusations of things that supposedly happened 40 or 50 years ago, before I was born, in another lifetime, and that have been carelessly repeated as truth without allowing my dad to defend himself and without requiring proof, has punished not just my dad but every one of us. They have punished the talented people who were still earning money and feeding their families from my dad’s shows and work. I am pleased that finally we are seeing the whole picture and seeing cases and claims dismissed from court. I just hope that those who pre-judged my dad are now willing to admit that they were wrong.
Rebbecca Rabb
Trainers Rashelle Brown and Miguel Schultz
Page 8 • May 8 - May 14, 2017 • Insight News
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Insight News • May 8 - May 14, 2017 • Page 9
New Orleans begins removing racist Confederate monuments By Lauren Victoria Burke NNPA Newswire Contributor Against a backdrop of death threats and under the cover of night, officials in New Orleans have begun to dismantle Confederate monuments honoring racists of the Civil War and Jim Crow eras of United States history. Workers removing the first of four monuments wore bulletproof vests, helmets and hid their faces. By 5:45 a.m. on April 24, the monument was gone. Three more monuments are set to disappear, but the city is not announcing publicly which statues will be next and what date the removals will take place. “The removal of these statues sends a clear and unequivocal message to the people of New Orleans and the nation … New Orleans celebrates our diversity, inclusion and tolerance,” said New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu in a April 24statement. At a press conference the morning after the first monument, the Battle of Liberty
Place Memorial, was removed, the mayor stated that the other monuments would be removed, “sooner rather than later.” “Relocating these Confederate monuments is not about taking something away from someone else. This is not about politics, blame or retaliation. This is not a naïve quest to solve all our problems at once,” said the mayor. “This is about showing the whole world that we as a city and as a people are able to acknowledge, understand, reconcile – and most importantly – choose a better future. We can remember these divisive chapters in our history in a museum or other facility where they can be put in context – and that’s where these statues belong.” The Liberty Place Monument celebrated an 1874 insurrection of a group of allwhite, mostly Confederate veterans calling themselves the Crescent City White League. The group fought against the racially integrated New Orleans Metropolitan Police. The monument honored members of the Crescent City White League who died during the battle. In 1932, a plaque was added to put an even finer point on the
Farm Security Administration/Wikimedia Commons
Inscription on “Battle of Liberty Place” monument, 1936, as photographed by Dorothea Lange. racist motivations behind the monument. The plaque in part read that the battle was fought to “overthrow of carpetbag government, ousting the usurpers” and that “the national election of November 1876 recognized white supremacy in the South and gave us our state.”
According to The New York Times, “In 1993, the City Council voted to remove the obelisk, but instead the plaque was covered with a new one that read: ‘In honor of those Americans on both sides who died in the Battle of Liberty Place’ and called it ‘a conflict
of the past that should teach us lessons for the future.’” The reactions on social media to the monument’s removal were quite animated. “It is more nuanced than that. One can support keeping the statues for accuracy ... as a historical reminder of a shameful
part of our history,” wrote one commenter on Twitter. Much social media discussion dealt with the issue of whether negative parts of American history should be commemorated. “When are we gonna put up some Hitler statues, ya know, to remind us of those dark times in History?” another Twitter user stated. Others debated the role of poor white southerners who participated in the Civil War. “It was the North who refused to recognize Blacks as people, resulting in the appalling 3/5 compromise. The South obv [sic] wanted,” wrote Erin Greer of Atlanta on Twitter. A Twitter user, who identified himself as Clayton Barnes, responded, “And the South just wanted to own them, treat them terribly, and work them like mules.” Lauren Victoria Burke is a political analyst who speaks on politics and African-American leadership. She is also a frequent contributor to the NNPA Newswire and BlackPressUSA. com. Connect with Lauren by email at LBurke007@gmail. com.
Humphrey School professor Samuel Myers, Jr., honored as Activist Scholar By Melanie Sommer Humphrey School of Public Affairs, University of Minnesota In recognition of his distinguished research on the impacts of social policies on low-income communities, Humphrey School of Public Affairs professor, Samuel Myers, Jr., received the Marilyn Gittell Activist Scholar Award from the Urban Affairs Association (UAA) and Sage Publishing. The award honors the contributions of urban scholars who engage in field-based research that incorporates direct engagement with local residents and organizations in the host community for the annual UAA conference.
Twins From 3 Hopkins. But sister Allie Hopkins wasn’t having any of it. “I wasn’t going to let that happened,” said Allie Hopkins, who said Alexx Hopkins is
Myers, an economist, is director of the Roy Wilkins Center for Human Relations and Social Justice at the Humphrey School. He is a pioneer in the use of applied econometric techniques to examine such issues as racial disparities in crime, illegal discrimination in credit markets and the impacts of welfare on family stability, among others. The nominating committee selected Myers based on how his “trajectory and breadth of work brings to light the real material conditions of racial income inequality … We appreciated especially his political economic analyses that reveal, challenge, and inform the discursive battles shaping policy that produce racial income inequality.” In accepting the award, Myers thanked the sponsors
both her study partner and best friend. “We have every class together. We did last year too and freshman year. They tried to split us up our sophomore year, but they couldn’t keep us apart.” Beginning in the fall the two will be apart with Allie Hopkins going to the University of Minnesota to study business and Alexx Hopkins going to St. Could State University to
Professor, Samuel Myers, Jr.
pursue a degree in phycology. Allie Hopkins has her sights set on becoming the CEO of a bank while Alexx Hopkins plans to open a clinic devoted to sexual education. Both say the culture at North breeds success in students. “Last year when people found out about our grades they would come to us for advice,” said Alexx Hopkins.
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“It makes you feel good to know some people look up to you for inspiration,” said Allie Hopkins. According to the school’s principal, the twins are two of many positive examples at the school that was once considered for closure due to declining enrollment. “The twins are a big example of what’s going on here at North High. One-third
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they need to be effective. “This award is not so much for me as it is for the untold number of scholars who dare to challenge the conventional detachment from communityoriented research, and who take personal and professional risks in devoting their time to helping leaders in our local communities,” said Myers. The award is named for Marilyn Gittell, former director of the Howard Samuels Center and professor of political science at the graduate school at City University of New York. Gittell was a scholar and community activist who was committed to training young urban scholars of color and women, and teaching them to understand the workings of democracy from the ground up, using the methods of rigorous field research.
of our kids are on the A and B honor roll,” said Shawn HarrisBerry, principal at North since 2012. Harris-Berry said more and more, North is being recognized as the “go to” school for academics. “There was a time when parents had students who were high achievers and none wanted their kids to go to North,” said Harris-Berry. “Now they are
selecting North as their first choice. Northside students don’t have to go across town or to the suburbs for a great education. They can walk out their front doors and know students are receiving a highquality education right here at North High School.”
Fax: 612.588.2031
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St. Paul Central H.S. Class of 1967 50th Reunion
Sept. 8-10, 2017 Facebook - St. Paul Central Class of 1967 50th Reunion or email address to: geministar1149@comcast.net, Marie Braddock Williams, Committee
Clerk of Court
U.S. District Court, District of Minnesota is accepting applications for a full-time Clerk of Court in Minneapolis, Minnesota. This position is located in the U.S. Courthouse in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Court is seeking a Clerk of Court with experience as an administrator of a diverse and innovative organization, preferably in a court environment. This position has overall management authority and responsibility for the administrative activities of the Clerk’s Of¿ce, and oversees the performance of the statutory duties of the of¿ce. The position requires an individual who possesses the experience, management skills, and technical expertise necessary to anticipate and resolve complex administrative, operational, budgetary, and information technology challenges quickly and ef¿ciently. Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills are required, along with a proven record of leadership and accomplishment. The Clerk reports directly to the Chief United States District Judge, and communicates regularly with the district and magistrate judges and Clerk’s Of¿ce staff. The Clerk of Court works in collaboration with the Chief U.S. Probation Of¿cer and the Clerk of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court. The ideal candidate will have a thorough understanding of organizational, procedural, and human aspects in managing a complex organization, preferably in a court environment. Salary range is $149,213 – $198,684, Depending on Quali¿cations. All applications will be given consideration commencing May 29 until the position is ¿lled. For more information visit the court’s website http://www.mnd.uscourts.gov, Employment. An Equal Opportunity Employer
for “acknowledging the value of scholarly research conducted in the interest of community activism.” He noted the contradiction that exists between research and scholarship on one hand, and community engagement and advocacy on the other. “The presumed contradiction is that one cannot maintain rigor or objectivity and also care deeply about local communities and the problems those communities face,” said Myers. “This is particularly true when the policy issue is race and is confounded when the scholar is a person of color.” Myers doesn’t see himself has an advocate in the traditional sense, however, but rather someone who empowers advocates and provides them with the skills
Administrative Assistant Do you have top-notch customer service and of ce skills En oy orkin ith a diverse customer base Want to use your skills to make people s lives better If this sounds like you, you mi ht be the perfect candidate to be an Administrative Assistant at the Washin ton County Community Development A ency. We offer reat bene ts, includin employer-paid health insurance options, 4 eeks of PTO per year, and a startin a e of 16.90 or hi her based on experience. We also provide a friendly orkin environment ith reat collea ues ho are committed to makin a difference, a tuition reimbursement pro ram if you re lookin to further your education, and a fantastic ork location ust off the interstate in Woodbury, close to shoppin , restaurants, and recreation opportunities. . chra. Apply, or et more information, at com careers. The rst revie of applications ill occur no earlier than May 19, 2017.
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insightnews.com Chance the rapper
Monday, May 8 OPEN JAM McNally Mondays Golden’s Lowertown 275 E. 4th St., St. Paul 8:30 p.m. – 10:30 p.m. 18-plus No cover Jam with McNally Smith College of Music Students every Monday night at Golden’s.
Tuesday, May 9 REGGAE/PERFORMANCE
May 8 May 21, 2017
International Reggae All-Stars Bunker’s 761 Washington Ave. N., Minneapolis 9 p.m. 21-plus $6 Some of Minnesota’s best reggae artists get together every Tuesday night at Bunker’s.
Wednesday, May 10 Aesthetically It! is a list of picks from the editors of Aesthetically Speaking. Aesthetically It! features venues, events, outings and more that are worthy of “It” status. If you have a venue, event or outing that you feel is “It” worthy, email us at aestheticallyit@ insightnews.com
PLAY “The Bluest Eye” Guthrie Theater 818 S. 2nd St., Minneapolis 7:30 p.m. $20-$64 Toni Morrison’s award-winning novel continues its run on stage at The Guthrie.
9 p.m. 21-plus $12 Get ready for the summer with performances by Lucien Parker, Like Minds, Free Lunch Creww, Avery 81st and Paige. The show is hosted By John X with music by Rich Lee and features live art and a Polaroid photo booth by Blair Moore.
Friday, May 12 HIP-HOP Chance the Rapper Xcel Energy Center 199 Kellogg Blvd. W., St. Paul 7 p.m. $39.50-$57 Grammy Award winning Chicago native, Chance the Rapper, has created a blueprint for do-it-yourself business and art. Check him out at Xcel if you can still get a ticket.
Saturday, May 13 HIP-HOP A Muslim Hip-Hop Extravaganza – ASL Interpreted Northstar Ballroom 2017 Buford Ave., St. Paul 6:30 p.m. – 10 p.m. This all ages event will feature Muslim hip-hop artists The Reminders (Colorado) and AlTawam.
Sunday, May 14 JAZZ
Thursday, May 11 HIP-HOP It Ain’t Summer Yet Party Honey 205 E. Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis
Keiko Matsui Dakota Jazz Club 1010 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis 7 p.m. $30-$40 Japanese keyboardist and
The Reminders
composer Keiko Matsui ends her four-day run at The Dakota.
Monday, May 15 THEATER “Refugia” Guthrie Theater 818 S. 2nd St., Minneapolis 1 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. $15-$49 Composed of nine interconnected chapters, the play explores exile, borders and the displacement of people – from a solitary old man settling into a nursing home to a gathering of Kurdish women at the Syrian Turkish border.
Tuesday, May 16 COMEDY Hopkins Comedy Festival Royal Comedy Theatre 809 Mainstreet, Hopkins 8 p.m. $20 Miss Shannon and a host of other comics play this year’s fest through May 19.
Wednesday, May 17 JAZZ Marcus Roberts Trio Dakota Jazz Club 1010 Nicollet Mall 7 p.m., 9 p.m. $30-$40 Outspoken jazz musician Marcus Roberts presents contrasting styles during his performance at The Dakota.
Thursday, May 18 R&B/SOUL
Marsha Ambrosius and Eric Benet Muse Event Center 107 3rd Ave. N., Minneapolis 8 p.m. $40 Two of the most respected voices in soul music hit Minneapolis for what should be a classic concert. Marsha Ambrosius made waves debuting in Floetry and later collaborations with Dr. Dre while Benet has continued a solid solo career.
Friday, May 19 POETRY SLAM St. Paul Youth Poet Laureate Slam Black Dog Café 308 E. Prince St., St. Paul 7 p.m. – 9 p.m. Ten finalists compete to become the first ever Youth Poet Laureate of St. Paul. The lineup includes Henry Benjamin, Samoa the Poet, Chavah Gabrielle, Armand McCoy, Cynthia Zapata, Donte Collins, Talia Young, Karinna Gerhardt, Lindsay Schaefer and Xavier Columbus.
Saturday, May 20 *Aesthetically It Recommended HIP-HOP/SOUL/ AFROFUTURISM Toki Wright “At the Speed of Life 3” EP Release Party Nomad World Pub 501 Cedar Ave. S., Minneapolis 9 p.m. – 2 a.m. $10 advance, $12 door After producing, writing, recording, designing and releasing seven songs in seven days for the 3rd volume of “At the Speed of Life,” Toki
Wright, also known as Mamadu, curates a night of good vibes, great sound, visual stimulation and play on all of your other senses. The night features mini-sets from The Lioness, Myc Dazzle & Faith Reigns, Asia Divine, Jay Hollywood, Off-10 Publications (G.P. Jacob & Scoundrel Spence), Maolu, P-Soul, Ghostband and Sonic Rain. The show is hosted by DJ Snuggles with DJ Willie Shu and DJ Miss Brit on the wheels. THEATER “#Testify” Intermedia Arts 2822 Lyndale Ave. S., Minneapolis 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. $12 advance, $15 door “#Testify” is an immersive, multi-sensory theater performance that instigates the line between fact and fiction, propaganda and politics, and race and class. The event is curated by Sha Cage in collaboration with Jayanthi Kyle, Johanna Easley, Felicia Perry, Bill Cottman, Amoke Kubat, Beverly Cottman and E.G. Bailey.
Sunday, May 21 CELEBRATION OF LIFE Breath, Gesture, Memory: Celebration of Life for Laurie Smith Carlos Pillsbury House Theatre 3501 Chicago Ave., Minneapolis 4:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Interdisciplinary artist Laurie Carlos was a pillar in the Minnesota arts community. All of Smith’s family, friends and artist family are invited to join to celebrate and share her work, life, love, breath, gestures and memory.
Observations but not grand pronouncements mlb.com
Minnesota Twins slugger, Miguel Sano.
By Fred Easter Sports Editor We’re nearly 15 percent of the way into the 2017 baseball season. Way too early to make grand pronouncements about how the season will turn out, but, barring injuries, this diehard fan is ready to make some small observations. Our record should improve over last year, as much because the division is weaker as anything else. The new hitting coach has
made significant progress with Miguel Sano and Byron Buxton. The lack of leadership will limit team improvement all year long. Brian Dozier and Joe Mauer are the established veterans, but, Dozier seems to feel his 42 home runs last year exempt him from having to run out ground balls. Mauer seems content to have “quality at bats” that produce little in the way of runs batted in. Eduardo Escobar, a utility infielder, has produced a body of work comparable to Mauer’s with fewer trips to the plate.
Marketing/team brand management seems frightened to make the moves that would darken and strengthen the ball club. Admittedly, no other team will take on Mauer’s salary and skill set. So, he’s our albatross. If team success was his focus, he’d restructure his contract so we could afford more pitching. The media and the public will trash Adrian Peterson for not restructuring, but there’s not a peep about Mauer. Rather, his accomplishments are hyped and the drag he is on the budget is never mentioned. He is a superb defensive first baseman, but his offensive production is what you would expect of a utility infielder. Both Kennys Vargas and Byung-ho Park are good defensive first basemen and they hit baseballs a long way. I think our best infield is Escobar at third, Ehire Adrianza at short, Jorge Polanco at second and Sano at first. Mauer could DH when Vargas needs a rest. Dozier should’ve been traded last winter, at the height of his value. We’d be better set for the future if Dozier were gone, Polanco was ensconced at second and young Nick Gordon or Adrianza we’re taking their lumps at shortstop and at bat with the big club, as Buxton did last year. Unfortunately that will never happen because right fielder Max Kepler, 4th outfielder/ DH Robbie Grossman and the catching committee of Jason Castro and Chris Gimenez would be the only white position players on the 25 man roster. By the way, both these catchers throw better than Kurt Suzuki, but he was never given credit for his quality at
EASTER 11
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Insight News • May 8 - May 14, 2017 • Page 11
Usher coming to the Minnesota State Fair Two additional evenings of entertainment are confirmed for the 2017 Minnesota State Fair Grandstand Concert Series and one is none other than R&B/pop superstar, Usher. Usher, with special guest to be announced, will perform Aug. 31 at the State Fair. Tickets are $97, $87 and $72. Also, pop star Sam Hunt with special guests Lanco and Ryan Follese are set to take the Grandstand state on Sept. 4, the final day of the fair. Those
tickets are $68 and $58. Tickets will be available at www.etix.com or by calling (800) 514-3849. Already announced Grandstand shows include Nickelback with special guest Daughtry (Aug. 24), Jim Gaffigan (Aug. 26), Toby Keith with special guest 3 Doors Down (Aug. 27), Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons (Aug. 28), John Mellencamp with special guest Carlene Carter (Aug. 29) and Pentatonix (Aug. 30).
Courtesy from Usher’s Facebook
Usher is set to headline the Minnesota State Fair Aug. 31.
Eboni K. Williams: “The Fox News Specialists” Interview
Williams weighs-in on new show and on turmoil at Fox By Kam Williams Attorney Eboni Williams, joined the Fox News Network in September 2015, sharing her insights and analysis as a contributor on “Outnumbered,” “The Five” and other programs. Prior to joining Fox, she served as a CBS News correspondent, a HLN contributor and a talk radio host in Los Angeles on AM 640. Williams began her professional career in Louisiana in the wake of Hurricane Katrina where she clerked for the Louisiana Secretary of State and the Louisiana Attorney General’s Office while still a law student. She also worked for a number of politicians, including New Orleans City Council members, assisting in the effort to rebuild the city. I spoke with Williams about her new show “The Fox News Specialists,” co-hosted by Eric Bolling and Katherine Timpf. The show airs weekdays at 4 p.m. on the Fox News Channel. Kam Williams: Hi, Eboni, how are you? Eboni Williams: I’m well, Kam. How are you doing? KW: Great. Thanks so much for the time. Congratulations on landing the new series. EW: Oh, thank you so much. It was all quite sudden, as I’m sure you could see. But it all feels pretty exciting and, yeah, we’re thrilled about it. KW: I recognized your talent right of the bat, and pegged you as a rising star. That’s why, when I interviewed you last fall, I predicted you’d get your own show in a year and a half. But you did it in just six months. EW: Yeah. For those who don’t know my full background, it’s important to note that I had my very first appearance on the Fox Network in July of 2013, on the 12th, I think. The segment lives on in infamy on YouTube. I was on O’Reilly’s “The Factor” discussing the George Zimmerman verdict. He’d just been found not guilty of killing Trayvon Martin. That was the genesis of my relationship with the network. From there, I was an unpaid guest for almost two years before I landed other network roles as a contributor and correspondent. But technically, our relationship did start in 2013. So, that’s kind of been the evolution of it. KW: How long was “The Fox News Specialists” in the making? EW: I only heard about the show fairly recently, directly from the executives. But I couldn’t tell you how long they’d been planning it. All I can say is that I was very excited to be invited to take part in it, especially by the idea of casting myself, Eric and Kat. It was a very deliberate choice to combine not only our divergent political voices, coming from the standpoints of an independent, a
Easter From 10 bats. Barring injury, l expect our September starting rotation to be Ervin Santana, Hector Santiago, Phil Hughes, Adalberto Mejia and Jose Berrios. Kyle Gibson is best suited for a long man role in the bullpen. He can’t make it through the batting order twice. Tyler Duffey could crack the rotation if it’s
insider.foxnews.com
Eboni and her co-hosts on “The Fox News Specialists,” Eric Bolling and Katherine Timpf.
Eboni Williams conservative and a Libertarian, respectively, but also our differing perspectives on life, with Kat being a humorist and writer, Eric having had a career in both sports and finance, and my having had a career in the law and also in the consulting space. We are people who come from three different worlds. We have different cultural backgrounds. We come from different generations ... we have different family dynamics, so, I think the network is valuing all that and what our dialogue will sound like. And then, they’ll be making it even more intriguing by adding two brand new voices to the mix every day. Two of the five hosts will be newcomers contributing fresh perspectives to the topics. I think this was a lot of the thought behind the planning of the show. KW: This has been a period of considerable upheaval at Fox, between the allegations of sexual harassment and the racial discrimination lawsuit. Yet, despite being Black and female, you’ve somehow successfully negotiated those dangerous waters, and continued your meteoric rise. Bravo. EW: Well, thank you. Did you read my statement I made about the situation in the New York Times? This was a few weeks ago, before Bill O’Reilly’s departure. KW: Sorry, I missed it. What did you say? EKW: I thought it was important, as a woman at the network, to speak out. I echoed some of the sentiments of my colleague, Kelly Wright. Whether some people think we don’t belong at Fox News on the basis of our gender or race, we do deserve to be there. We deserve
the opportunity to do the work we want to do wherever we want to do it. I think it’s important for people to understand that we’re not going to be limited by anybody else’s expectations. I also think it’s important that my background be represented anywhere I see fit. I have proudly chosen to work at Fox because it has a captive audience that perhaps is not all that exposed to people with my cultural, racial and generational background. My point of view is unique, particularly for its audience. And I enjoy being able to engage in dialogue and exchange ideas with the likes of Eric Bolling, Sean Hannity and others from different social circumstances. I think that’s good for our country, and good for the world. It’s a way we can all grow as humans, as Christians, and as Americans. KW: I agree. I don’t know whether you’re aware of it, but even when you were away on vacation in Paris a few weeks ago, your name would still occasionally be brought up by your colleagues on “Outnumbered.” For instance, I remember Meghan McCain saying something very positive about you, as she speculated where you’d stand on the issue they were discussing. EW: Oh, that warms my heart, not only from an emotional place, but from a credibility standpoint. When I say, “I’m proud to be working at Fox News,” that’s not me putting on blinders to the very real challenges we’re facing as a network. I am both aware of and am actively working to help rectify cultural problems at our network, as the Murdochs themselves have accounted for. Things need fixing. I’m aware
decided to keep Berrios or Mejia at AAA to postpone their free agent eligibility. I was saddened to see Buxton start the year batting third. Too much pressure too soon. African-American ball players are expected to produce, period. He should’ve started the season batting ninth and moved up in the order as the season progressed. Making Sano play right field last year, was another awful, unforced error. Does anyone miss Trevor Plouffe? Polanco is a decent infielder, but, he may never be ready to quarterback a defense.
He doesn’t seem interested in taking charge. He’s made some fine adjustments bouncing throws to first base, but his arm is better suited to second base. The sooner he gets over there and starts bonding with a long-term shortstop the better off we’ll be. I’d feel better about Manager Paul Molitor if he made Dozier run hard through first base and stop batting Mauer fourth. Maybe he figures that’s the best way to protect Sano. Still, when a team walks your three-hole hitter to get to the cleanup hitter you’ve got to wonder.
of that. and I believe they’re aware of it. At the same time, I am proud to work alongside people like Meghan McCain who, although we often differ
politically, we have a mutual respect for each other’s backgrounds and experiences. And like I said before, that’s where the potential for growth
is. KW: Thanks again, Eboni, and best of luck with the new show. EW: Thank you, Kam.
MNHS.ORG
Explore art, race and a nation on stage through the prism of the African American experience.
NOW ON VIEW 345 W. Kellogg Blvd., Blvd St. St Paul Paul, MN 55102
Page 12 • May 8 - May 14, 2017 • Insight News
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Photos by Harry Colbert, Jr.
Celebrating Black love and Ieesha Collins, beautiful couple Kelea Randall (left) and Vance “DJ Advance” McCain. Bars and clubs aren’t the only places to find fun in the Twin Cities. This past weekend (April 28 – April 30) a couple of gatherings brought out a diverse group of area professionals eager to share in one another’s company. One gathering was a game night hosted by the state’s chief inclusion officer, James Burroughs. Another was a Sunday brunch to celebrate 33 years of life for the effervescent Ieesha Collins. Here are a few moments captured by the cameras of Insight News.
New Delta, curator of Dessert and Discussion and the card game, “The War on Love,” Alex Merritt.
The birthday girl, Ieesha Collins (center) with friends Katie Troter (left) and Lulete Mola.
(From left to right) Misha Dunbar, Naomi Alemseged, Arianna Bloom, Heran Medhin, David Collier, Devonda Scott, Kulule Kenea and Lidya Makonnen take a break from charades to pose for a photo.
Founder of Black Excellence Clothing, Houston White shows off his Prince inspired Purple Reign collection, which debuted at the event.
Minnesota’s chief inclusion officer, James Burroughs (left) and professor and author Dr. Zakia Robbins during Burroughs’ hosted game night.
Jerelyn Tolbert at game night.
The love story that inspired the hit musical RENT.
May 6–21
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Teto Wilson (center) is the center of attention surrounded by (from left to right) Nikki Tabor, Dr. Zakia Robbins, Bianca Lewis, Dr. Sylvia Bartley, Anika Robbins and Husniyah Dent Bradley.