Insight News ::: 07.23.18 by Insight News, Inc

WINNER: 2018 NNPA MERIT AWARDS: 3RD PLACE BEST COLUMN WRITING

Insight News July 23 - July 29, 2018

Vol. 45 No. 30• The Journal For Community News, Business & The Arts • insightnews.com

En tre pre neur

Northside businessman, 13-year old Jaequan Faulkner, is the toast of the town Harry Colbert, Jr.

Page 2 •July July 23 - July 29, 2018 • Insight News

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Jaequan Faulkner’s hot dog stand on Penn Ave N. gains national attention By Harry Colbert, Jr. Managing Editor harry@insightnews.com Jaequan Faulkner is a 13-yearold with ambition … and some darn good hot dogs and polish sausages. Since 2016 Faulkner has set-up shop outside his house at 1510 Penn Ave. N in Minneapolis selling hot dogs, polish sausages, water, soft drinks and chips. The enterprising young man said he set up shop to make money mostly to buy clothes. But while the sun has been out much of this summer, someone tried to rain on Faulkner’s stand. A person not publicly named placed a call to the Minneapolis Health Department stating, in eﬀect, the young entrepreneur should be shut down because he was not properly licensed. And true, Faulkner – like most kids with a lemonade (or in this case, hot dog) stands – was not, and thus was in violation.

Faulkner’s stand had to be shut down immediately. But staff inside the city’s health department didn’t go about business as usual, and instead they stepped in to assist the young entrepreneur. Instead of shutting him down, they cleared the way for Faulkner to get properly licensed. Minnesota Health Department (MHD) staff reached out to the people at the Northside Economic Opportunity Network (NEON), a business incubator and resource center in North Minneapolis, to connect the organization with Faulkner so he could go through the training of proper food handling to receive his license. MHD staff also chipped-in – along with the Minneapolis Urban League and others – to help pay for the necessary license. The city also donated equipment for a proper hand washing station. Now properly trained and licensed, Faulkner’s stand re-opened July 16 under the banner Faulkner’s Old Fash-

Harry Colbert, Jr.

Jaequan Faulkner (right) serves an eager customer following the July 16 grand re-opening of his hot dog stand, Faulkner’s Old Fashioned Hot Dogs, 1510 Penn Ave. N., Minneapolis. ioned Hot Dogs. The news was such a big deal that CNN shined

a national spotlight on the opening. The soon-to-be 8th grader at

Sojourner Truth Academy said the experience and support has

been overwhelming and he is thrilled to be a licensed business. “The permit let’s everybody know that I’m oﬃcial and I’m really about business,” said Faulkner. He said his stand is more than a business, it’s an opportunity to tell a positive story about North Minneapolis. “(The hot dog stand) was never about money. It’s about doing something positive. Just being over here (North Minneapolis) doesn’t mean I’m ghetto. Just because I’m Black doesn’t mean I’m not a decent person,” said the young entrepreneur. Faulkner said he sees upwards of 300 customers a day at the stand that is open Monday – Friday from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. – hours Faulkner is not all that thrilled about. “I wanted to be open until 7 (p.m.) but they say I can’t because of something called child labor, but I don’t understand that … it’s my business,” said Faulkner laughing.

The Black Press challenges ‘fake news’

By Lauren Poteat Burke NNPA Newswire Washington Correspondent As President Donald Trump’s persistent “fake news” rhetoric continues to fester in the media, Black publishers across the nation, recently took charge of the conversation, giving way to a special forum entitled “Black Press vs. Fake News.” The forum took place during the National Newspaper Publishers Association’s (NNPA) annual convention. Dorothy Leavell, the chairman of NNPA and publisher of the

Chicago Crusader, the Gary Crusader and the Chicago Reader, moderated the dialogue about misinformation in mainstream media. “What do we do in this age of fake news?” said Leavell. “Our struggles and our truths have been at the forefront of battling fake news throughout history. In 1827, we battled the lie that we were nothing more than three-fifths of a human, spearheaded by the Freedom’s Journal, the nation’s first Blackowned and operated newspaper, which stepped in and showed us different. In 1895, activist Ida B. Wells, who established the Memphis Free Speech refuted the fake news of her day –

Freddie Allen/AMG/NNPA

Panelists discuss the effects of “fake news” on the Black community during the NNPA’s 2018 annual convention in Norfolk, Va. concerning the mythical rape of a white woman.”

history

Leavell said throughout Black people have

been victimized by the proliferation of fake news and misinformation, including some of our most profound Black leaders such as Marcus Garvey, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., leaders of the Black Panther Party and even today’s Black Lives Matter. “All these obstacles are nothing new to us,” said Leavell. “So, while Donald Trump has been credited for popularizing the term ‘fake news’ we know this too is ‘fake news.’” Joining in on the dialogue were Sarah Glover, the president of the National Association of Black Journalists; Deborah Gray-Young, the managing partner of D. Gray-Young,

Inc., Dr. Julianne Malveaux, an economist and sociopolitical commentator and A. Scott Bolden, the managing partner of the Washington, D.C., office of the global law firm Reed Smith. The panelists challenged Black publishers and their teams to not only report real stories, but to also report them right. “I’m not so much concerned about what is being said, as I am with what isn’t,” said Malveaux. “We (Black people) can define what news is. For example, ‘45’ (Trump) is running around bragging about how low the Black unemployment rate is, but

NNPA 8

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Insight News • July 23 - July 29, 2018 • Page 3

aesthetically speaking

Aesthetically It!: Events, concerts, venues in the Twin Cities

MORE ON PAGE 10

WINNER: 201 8 NNPA MERIT AWARDS: 3RD PLACE BES T COLUMN WRITING

Insight News July 23 - July 29, 2018

Vol. 45 No. 30• The Journal For Community News, Business & The Arts • insightnews.com

Ellison rally melds political theater and hip hop; stars Bernie Sanders enthusiastic supporters ranging in age from toddler to senior and varying demography of color, faith and social constructs. The crowd’s makeup oﬀered a stark contrast to the nearly all white crowd that turned out in Duluth last month to see President Donald Trump. And though the rally was for Ellison in a state race, there were several national overtones throughout the event, including those calling for Sanders to again run for president in 2020. There was also zero mention of any of Ellison’s opponents in the upcoming Aug. 14 primary nor of his possible Republican rival if he prevails in August, but there was mention – to a chorus of boos and groans – of Trump and his policies and divisive rhetoric. “There is no person outside of our circle of compassion,” said Ellison. “All are included.”

By Harry Colbert, Jr. Managing Editor @HarryColbertJr Rep. Keith Ellison is putting Minnesota on notice that it is not politics as usual in his bid to become the state’s next attorney general. In a campaign rally that was as much a hip-hop concert as it was political theater inside the iconic music venue First Avenue in downtown Minneapolis, throngs of supporters turned out for a Friday morning (July 13) rally that featured hip-hop DJ Shannon Blowtorch, a performance by hip-hop artist Dwynell Roland and it was topped of with the rock star of progressive politics … 76 years young … Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT). With the exception of Prince and a few others, not many have seen a larger crowd

Harry Colbert, Jr.

Rep. Keith Ellison (left) and Sen Bernie Sanders embrace on stage at First Avenue during a July 13 rally for Ellison, who is seeking to become Minnesota’s next attorney general. inside the concert venue that holds an oﬃcial capacity of

1,550. Friday’s rally may have

nudged number

slightly with a

past that crowd of

Ellison, who is leaving Washington D.C. after serving five terms as the representative of Minnesota’s Fifth Congressional District, explained his decision to run for Minnesota Attorney General. “People are asking why I would leave the House to run for a state attorney general seat, but let it be known, state attorney generals are the ones fighting back against Trump,” said Ellison. “It was state attorney generals who sued – and won – against his Muslim ban. It was state attorney generals who took on Trump and his devastating immigration policies. State attorney generals are fighting to protect an open internet. As your attorney general; if some entity wants to open up 20

ELLISON 8

Candidates seek to diversify Hennepin County government By Abeni Hill Staff Writer With midterm elections this fall and primaries next month, many local candidates urge their communities and supporters to stay informed, especially when it comes to communities of color. Hennepin County Board of Commissioners is a body of seven members and has yet to elect a person of color since its founding in 1852. There

are six candidates of color across three districts vying for the seats on the board – Irene Fernando, LaDonna Redmond, Iyob Waldsmayate, Blong Yang, Natalie Johnson Lee and Angela Conley. “It’s easier to ignore us when we are absent from the room,” said Fernando, candidate for District 2 commissioner. Fernando learned about the lack of diversity on the board when she attended her ﬁrst County Commissioner meet-

CANDIDATES 9

L-R from top: Irene Fernando, LaDonna Redmond, Iyob Waldsmayate, Blong Yang, Natalie Johnson Lee and Angela Conley

Rep. Ilhan Omar

Insight News’ Harry Colbert, Jr. and other area journalists up for awards

Ilhan Omar’s campaign raises nearly $180,000 for first reporting period

NABJ Salute to Excellence Awards finalists announced WASHINGTON, D.C. – The National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) announced the finalists for its 2018 Salute to Excellence Awards – among them, Insight News managing editor, Harry Colbert, Jr. Colbert is one of three finalists in the category of Best Commentary (Under 150,000 circulation). The nomination is the first such for NABJ for both Colbert and Insight News. The nominated commentary, “Journalist by profession, Black by nature,” appeared in the June 26, 2017 edition of Insight News and was written in response to the not guilty verdict in the trial of Jeronimo Yanez, who faced manslaughter

MKx8 Design

Insight News Managing Editor Harry Colbert, Jr. charges in the killing of motorist Philando Castile. Twin Cities journalists Adri-

Business

Another assault on the Black Press

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enne Broaddus (KARE 11), Marcus Fuller (Star Tribune), Emma Sapong and Mike Edg-

Insight 2 Health Imagination can make the impossible possible

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erly (MPR News), Maria Alejandra Cardona and Regina McCombs (Minnesota Public Radio) and Greg Mees and Michiela Thuman (Star Tribune) are also up for various awards. Broaddus is a finalist in multiple categories including one category in which she is nominated twice. Other finalists include veteran journalists Oprah Winfrey, MSNBC’s Joy Reid, NBC’s Rehema Ellis and Ron Allen, CBS’s James Brown, Lesli Foster of WUSA9 in Washington, D.C., Steve Crump of WBTV in Charlotte, Phillip Martin of WGBH in Boston, and Jeffrey

Since announcing her run for Congress in Minnesota’s Fifth Congressional District Rep. Ilhan Omar (DFL-60B) has raised nearly $180,000 from more than 1,300 individuals. “Our campaign is focused on engaging, empowering and lifting up the voices of our community,” said Omar. “And people are excited to be a part of this. They know we are at a significant turning point in American history and the urgency of the times we are living in demand action.” “Our campaign is

NABJ 9

Lifestyle

Dana Blair talks mentorship, NNPA’s HBCU journalism program

PAGE 8

investing in people and we are committed to grassroots organizing,” said Omar’s campaign manager Joelle Stangler. “We are paying a living wage to our staff, including our interns. The positive response we’re receiving on the phone and at the doors is so inspiring. People want to see Ilhan in Congress because she will bring an essential perspective missing from Washington D.C. as well as hope and the resolve to win the tough fights we face.”

‘Risking Light’ screens during FLOW

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Business

Black newspaper publishers take a hit with Trump’s tariffs on Canadian newsprint

Another assault on the Black Press NNPA Newswire By Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr. President and CEO, NNPA Amid the rush to comprehend the ramifications of a full-scale international trade war initiated by the errant and backward tariff policies of the Trump Administration, there are results of the tariffs that need to be challenged by Black America.

The financial sustainability of the Black Press of America is now facing a catastrophic and a possible deadly impact, because of these new tariffs. The current dispute over the rising costs of the paper product termed “newsprint,” because of tariffs on Canadian newsprint threatens the future of member publishers of the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) and could further isolate and disenfranchise African-American businesses and communities in cities and towns across the United States. Import duties the U.S.

Commerce Department is now applying to Canadian-made newsprint is already increasing costs enough to prompt layoffs and scaled-back news coverage by some of the nation’s major dailies and weekly publications. If these tariffs remain in place, scores of newspapers with smaller circulations, notably those that serve AfricanAmerican communities, could be forced to cease publishing a print edition or close altogether. During the past 191 years, the Black Press has survived, endured and overcome past firebombing and improvised explosive attacks, as well as other deadly manifestations of racial violence. The newsprint tariffs appear to have been put in place by the Trump Administration after being encouraged by the interests of a single paper mill in Washington state called NORPAC. NORPAC argues that Canadian government policies give

NNPA

Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr., the president and CEO of the NNPA, says that the NNPA opposes the Trump tariffs on newsprint and demands an end to the disastrous trade policies that are hurting our businesses and communities. Canadian paper producers an unfair advantage in the U.S. market. NORPAC says the added duties, or tariﬀs, at the border are protecting it. NORPAC can ﬁght for its self-interest but the U.S. government has an obligation to consider

the impact the tariﬀs are having on the nation as a whole, and in particular the impact on African American owned newspapers and businesses. We forthrightly oppose the Trump tariﬀs on newsprint and demand an end to

the disastrous trade policies that are hurting our businesses and communities. Given that newsprint and labor account for most of the cost of running a newspaper, it is easy to see how jacking up the price of newsprint by more than 30 percent could spell the difference between these publications eking out a modest profit or going out of business. Around 2,000 newspapers have closed or morphed into something else in the last 15 years. The NNPA is proud that its 215 member-publications are moving forward even in the face of these new contrived dangers and obstacles in the marketplace. Our newspapers enliven and inform the debate within African American and other communities that we serve and help to empower with news, information, and the reaffir-

CHAVIS 9

Roland Martin: Pleading our own cause NNPA Newswire Columnist By Julianne Malveaux Kudos to Roland Martin, the pioneering journalist who has taken his departure from TV One and turned it into a digital platform. He’ll be back with a daily pro-

gram, but he’ll be online instead of traditional media. He has ﬁnancing from AFSCME, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, and he is also hoping for funding from us, the folks who say we miss the program and say we want unﬁltered news. From his website, www.rolandmartin.com, you can join his #BringTheFunk support group and help Roland bring the funk. Roland has had it with the traditional media, and he is right to point out the lack of

commentators and hosts on conventional media – the networks and the “key” cable outlets. Many of those folks have to toe the line, and can’t be, but so “controversial.” But sometimes one person’s controversy is another person’s truth. The corporate media squirms when journalists call out our 45th president on his many lies because some of them are still currying favor with him. And unless light shines on the ﬁlth that is occurring in Washington, it will continue. Forty-

five said he would “drain the swamp,” but he has become one of the world’s great alligators, profiting from his presidency both through ties to China (even as he imposes tariffs), through his many namebranded hotels, and through all kinds of other shady deals. Dorothy Leavell, the publisher of the Crusader newspapers in Chicago and Gary, Ind., is the chairman of the National Newspaper Publishers Asso-

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MALVEAUX 9

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Insight News • July 23 - July 29, 2018 • Page 5

Dougherty Family College seeks to make college attainable for all

Removing barriers to higher education By Harry Colbert, Jr. Managing Editor harry@insightnews.com Twenty-ﬁve thousand, two hundred and ninety dollars. That is the cost on average for one year of in-state tuition plus room and board at a public college or university according to Collegedata.com, a site run by 1st Financial Bank. That’s the low number. For a year at a public out-of-state or private institution of higher learning the costs could rise to beyond $50,000 a year. For many, that is a signiﬁcant barrier in attaining a four-year college degree … and escaping poverty. A 2017 study revealed shocking numbers in the ethnic wage gap among Minnesotans. The study conducted by 24/7 Wallstreet found the median income for Blacks in the state was about $30,000 compared to nearly $67,000 for whites. According to a 2017 article in USA Today, in 2015, college graduates earned 56 percent more a year than those without degrees. So, the question becomes, how does one attain a college degree if one cannot afford the cost of college? Thus, how can there be a transition from poverty to prosperity, espe-

cially for people of color? The University of St. Thomas may have the solution. Founded last year, the Dougherty Family College at St. Thomas seeks to offer deserving students of lesser financial means the opportunity to earn that coveted college degree. Dougherty Family College is a two-year associate degree-earning program offering students much of the same curriculum taught in the university’s traditional schools, with a few key differences. The first difference is cost. “It cost us about $15,000 a year (not including room and board) to educate a student, but through Dougherty Family College, each student comes out of about $2,000 a year,” said Alvin Abraham, dean of the Dougherty Family College. Abraham said thanks to corporate partnerships and private donations the Dougherty Family College has raised $30 million of a $42 million goal to fully fund the school. The corporate partnerships are also beneficial in offering each student paid internships with companies such as 3M, Delta, US Bank and others, which is a requirement for students in the program. “We know

Dougherty Family College

Dougherty Family College inaugural students Junior Paylue (left) and Xavier Abdullahi during a class session this past school year. money is an issue for our students, so we have internships paying $15 an hour for our stu-

dents,” said Abraham. And with money being an issue, Abraham said a

Dougherty Family College student’s books, meals and even public transit pass are included

in tuition along with a laptop computer. “We’re trying to remove every barrier possible,” said Abraham. Heading into its second year, the Dougherty Family College has spots for 167 students. Candidates for the school must demonstrate strong financial need and have a 2.5 high school GPA. Once accepted, students matriculate in small cohorts, with each cohort assigned dedicated mentors, who assist with class and life issues facing the students. Upon completion of the two-year program, students earn an associate degree and are granted admission to the University of St. Thomas’ fouryear schools, with opportunities for further financial assistance. “We have $15 million in scholarships to help students fund the final two years,” said Abraham, who said students could also choose to attend a different college or university if they so choose. The Dougherty Family College is accepting applications for the upcoming fall semester. Those interested in applying can do so online at www. dfc.stthomas.edu or call (651) 962-6150 to speak with an admissions counselor.

Awards honor Arline V. Winfield legacy Afrodescendientes

By Carmen Robles “Congratulations to all the Learners Today, Leaders Tomorrow. We know you will make a positive impact on the world as you go forward. We are proud of you!” Sincerely, David and Tonya Winfield The 42nd Annual Winﬁeld Awards Banquet Learners Today, Leaders Tomorrow was held Sunday, June 3rd at the Intercontinental St. Paul-Riverfront Hotel. The smooth sounds of Music by Tangents – W. Rayford Johnson welcomed the more than 170 guests into

the elegant hotel event ballroom. The impressive twotired head table was the perfect stage for highlighting the stellar group of scholars. To date, more than 400 recipients have been recognized. Much more than an opportunity to highlight high school graduates or to celebrate the incredible resiliency of young people’s tenacity and perseverance, and, more than an opportunity to honor the families, coaches, teachers, administrators, mentors who played a role in helping a child achieve their academic goals, the Winfield Awards Banquet, the event honors legacy. It is a triumphal tribute to Arline V. Winfield, single mother to Stephen and David Winfield. Arline V. Winfield was a beloved Rondo community resident and advocate who was taken too soon by breast cancer. She instilled faith, dedication, ethics and values in

L-R: K’Lynn Lewis, St. Agnes School; Steve Winfield, Chair Winfield Awards; Jack Branby, Highland Park Senior High School her sons at an early age. The brothers, who walk side by side

as one, were cradled in a village of love, hope and inspiration.

The David M. Winfield Student-Athlete Award is dedicated to Arline V. Winfield’s philosophy of paying it forward. The annual banquet recognizes exceptional St. Paul high school graduating seniors who have combined excellence in the classroom, in varsity competition and have been involved in community service. A special Arline V. Winfield award is presented each year to a woman who exemplifies the exceptional family and community values that Arline V. Winfield personified. The 2018 distinction was presented to Freddie Lissamore. A 1997 Winfield Awards honoree, St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter, III, delivering welcoming remarks, was the perfect example of one of those 400 recipients coming full circle. Ron Johnson II, Fox 9 KMSP Vikings Game Day

Live co-host and KFAN host, delivered the keynote address. Johnson is a former Minnesota Gopher gridiron star and wide receiver for NFL’s Baltimore Ravens. In a speech entitled “Faith in your Focus” Johnson, now a Senior Account Executive with Business Impact Group, said “Kids have focus. It’s what we help them focus on that matters the most.” Reflecting the truth of George Benson’s song lyric in The Greatest Love ‘Teach them well and let them lead the way’, 2017 winners Alexandra Reeve and Denzel Foudungallah, passing the baton, and showcasing the strength of peer-to-peer leadership, delivered heartfelt congratulations to the 2018 finalists. For more information on the Winfield Awards contact Beverly Wittgenstein at bwittgenstein@msn.com

Little League team from Benin, West Africa coming to Minnesota The dream of coming to America and competing in the 14th Annual Robbinsdale Wood Bat Baseball Tournament (Aug.2-Aug. 5) will become reality for 12 Little League aged players and four coaches from Benin, West Africa. Their trip is being funded by donations to Baseball in Benin, a non-proﬁt organization founded in 2011 by two former Robbinsdale Little League coaches, Gary Tonsager and Wally Langfellow, who had a vision of bringing baseball to the small French-speaking coun-

try of Benin. Since 2011, the program has sent gently used baseball equipment, uniforms and shoes from Minnesota to the players in Benin. In 2016, a ﬁrst-ever team from Benin travelled to Minnesota and competed in the wood bat tournament which exclusively beneﬁts the Baseball in Benin program. In May of this year, Tonsager and Langfellow traveled to Cotonou, Benin where they evaluated players, met with player’s families and helped organize the team’s trip to Minnesota. They also met with

In addition to bringing America’s pastime to Benin, the Baseball in Benin program is working to provide books and school supplies to the players and families involved in the program.

Beninese government oﬃcials and U.S. Embassy personnel to help further awareness with the goal of baseball becoming a national sport in Benin. Team Benin will arrive Monday (July 23) at 12:30 p.m. at the Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport. Two weeks of activities include a Minnesota Twins game on July 30, Twins Baseball Camp on July 31 at Minnetonka High School and a trip to Mall of America on a date to be announced. There will also be a celebration of Benin’s National Independence Day on

Saturday, July 28 at Lakeview Terrace Park in Robbinsdale. In addition to bringing America’s pastime to Benin, the Baseball in Benin program is working to provide books and school supplies to the players and families involved in the program. Currently there are now more than 400 players playing baseball throughout Benin. To donate to Baseball in Benin or sponsor a player go to baseballinbenin.org. Equipment donations will be accepted during the tournament played in Robbinsdale.

Page 6 •July July 23 - July 29, 2018 • Insight News

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Insight 2 Health

Imagination can make the impossible possible Afrodescendientes

By Carmen Robles Imagine a roomful of cheerleaders encouraging you, celebrating your every tiny step as you fight your way to meeting your fitness goal. Imagine continuous, buddy like on-going support during the four times a week fitness workout that is the Insight2Health Fitness Challenge, now in its 12th round. Imagine for a moment a roar of cheers urging you to take that squat a little lower; to hold that heavier weight a little higher above your head as you high knee it around the walking course. Imagine getting a second wind and giving it all you’ve got just because there’s someone behind you believing you can do it. “I am committed, and I will not quit.” The I2H XII workout mantra. An acapella choir of positive messaging blended into the sometimes musical, but always grueling movements required of the daily workout circuit. Imagine modified movements producing the same intensity as those done by the Spartan-like

warriors. True story; those modified sitting down circuits yield the same results as the torturous standing and bending ones. Do not underestimate the power of the chair or wall when exercising. Now imagine all levels of participation, even a drop-in visitor, easily melding into the smooth but intense workout. No need to imagine. It is a reality. It’s the Insight2Health Fitness Challenge boot camp that’s taking place at the Cora McCorvey YMCA on 4th Avenue North in Minneapolis. Only a few weeks left to the finish line. A few more weeks of cheers, jeers, tears, high-ho’s, ooh-la-la’s, high fives, and way to gos. A few more weeks to pump it up a little bit harder, to push the body a little bit further … to imagine my battered body, recovering from two surgeries chemotherapy and radiation, gaining endurance and strength. As I share early morning physical torture with a community of individuals who, like me, are dedicated to a healthier lifestyle, I am in awe of the phenomenal group of individuals who are from all walks of life. The two or so dozen participants representing the richly diverse and inclusive community of humanity. Ah yes, a familia (family) of fitness crusaders harmonizing in movement, grunts and moans. Becoming a perfect chorus line of lean mean fitness machines. The hoots and shouts of adulation bounce off the gym walls and echoes through the celestial halls of the Cora McCorvey YMCA, as we reach milestones; relishing in someone else’s accomplishments. All of us imaging a stronger, leaner body. It is easy to imagine. Why? Because of the unique innovative model that is the Insight2Health Fitness Challenge. This lat-

I2H early morning workout class. est round brought together the coaching style of Noir Elite Fitness Team, the savory ﬂavor of food specialist Lucianne Olson and the meditative Zen zone of yoga with Femi Akinnagbe; all successfully ushering a community into the movement of health. The warm welcome and open-door policy of this innovative community driven health initiative; the dedicated support of neighborhood organizations, local businesses and corporate partners and the experts facilitating this community led initiative is unique in concept and in delivery. I read somewhere that to feel anything is possible, makes it possible. The only disaster is staying miserable because it’s familiar and you’re scared. With me, it starts in my God-given gift of my imagination. When Ms. Myrtle (receptionist at the Y) buzzes us in at 6 a.m. I imagine

I’m part of a YouTube ﬂash mob dance scene, where everyone is in perfect sync, bringing joy to others. Driving back to St. Paul with my two accountability buddies we’re all stinky, sweaty, short of breath, achy but feeling oh so good; rejoicing in achieving the unimaginable. Once we couldn’t imagine doing burpees, sit-ups, planks, jumping jacks or bear-crawls to name a few. Today we can’t imagine not doing those exercises. We have a village watching over us holding our hands, cheering us on to the ﬁnish line. Join this growing community for the upcoming 13th round of the Insight2Health Fitness Challenge. For more information on the challenge contact Batala McFarlane at (612) 588-1313 or visit www.insight2healthchallenge.com.

NIH and Prostate Cancer Foundation launch large study on aggressive prostate cancer in African-American men

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The largest coordinated research eﬀort to study biological and nonbiological factors associated with aggressive prostate cancer in African-American men has begun. The $26.5 million study is called RESPOND, or Research on Prostate Cancer in Men of African Ancestry: Deﬁning the Roles of Genetics, Tumor Markers and Social Stress. It will investigate environmental and genetic factors related to aggressiveness of prostate cancer in African-American men to better understand why they disproportionally experience aggressive disease – that is, disease that grows and spreads quickly – compared with men of other racial and ethnic groups. RESPOND is supported by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD), both parts of the National Institutes of Health, as well as by the Prostate Cancer Foundation (PCF). The NCI funding will be provided from the 21st Century Cures Cancer Moonshot Initiative. “Understanding why AfricanAmerican men are more likely to be diagnosed with aggressive prostate cancer than men of other racial and ethnic groups is a critical, unanswered question in cancer disparities research,” said NCI Director Dr. Ned Sharpless. “This large, collaborative study can help the cancer research community better understand and address these disparities.” African-American men have about a 15 percent chance of developing prostate cancer in their lifetimes, compared to about a 10 percent chance for white men, and African-American men are more likely to be diagnosed with aggressive disease. In addition, the risk of dying from prostate cancer for

African-American men is about 4 percent compared to about 2 percent for white men. With the RESPOND study, researchers aim to learn more about why these disparities exist. “This study, which is combining state-of-the-art molecular approaches with social and environmental science, will help unravel the complex interactions of biological, behavioral, and environmental factors that contribute to excess prostate cancer burden and poorer outcomes in African-American men, allowing development of tailored approaches for prevention, diagnosis, and treatment in this population,” said NIMHD director, Dr. Eliseo Pérez-Stable. The investigators aim to enroll 10,000 African-American men with prostate cancer into the RESPOND study. The participants will be identified primarily via NCI’s Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results Program and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Program of Cancer Registries. In addition, this study builds on years of research collaboration involving investigators who are part of the African Ancestry Prostate Cancer consortium. These investigators will contribute additional information and samples from 10,000 African-American men with prostate cancer. In accordance with NIH data sharing policies, and with appropriate informed consent, the de-identified data and samples collected as part of this research will be made available as a resource to the scientific community, aiding future research. Investigators in the study will examine possible associations between aggressive disease and exposures to neighborhood/environmental stressors such as discrimination, early-life adversity,

and segregation. They will also study DNA and tumor samples to identify gene variants associated with aggressive prostate cancer. Once researchers have identiﬁed genetic changes associated with aggressive prostate cancer, they will investigate how the social environment interacts with those genetic changes. “Previous research on prostate cancer disparities has investigated social and genetic factors separately, but we know these components interact with each other to contribute to disparities,” said Dr. Damali Martin, program director for the study in NCI’s Epidemiology and Genomics Research Program. “The ability to integrate genetic and environmental factors, including individual, neighborhood, and societal factors, into one large study will enable us to have a better understanding of how all of these factors contribute to the aggressiveness of prostate cancer.” NCI’s Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics will perform genotyping, and the Center for Inherited Disease Research at Johns Hopkins University will conduct DNA sequencing for the genetic component of the study. NCI’s Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences is administering the study grant. “No group in the world is hit harder by prostate cancer than men of African descent, and, to date, little is known about the biological reasons for these disparities, or the full impact of environmental factors,” said Dr. Jonathan Simons, PCF’s president and CEO. “We celebrate our partnership and applaud NIH for spearheading this study, which we believe will help pave the way for groundbreaking discoveries that will improve health equity for African-American men and their families.”

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Insight News • July 23 - July 29, 2018 • Page 7

An excerpt of his book, “All You Want”

Chapter 2: Too Ignorant To Know Anything About Life - Ages 8-17

lifestyle from where I left oﬀ in California. I was not street-smart at all. I let people walk all over me and push me around. I could not and did not defend myself

from their bullying... I was a coward. I did not tell anyone about my experiences under the abusive hands of the bullies for fear of their retaliation. I often felt unconnected and

out of touch with life. I felt like I was diﬀered from other people; like they did not understand me and I did not understand them; as if I was an alien and not really a part of or from this world. I began to hate myself; to feel a strong dislike for anything that had ‘me’ in it. I did not want to see my own picture. I would erase my face out of family portraits just so I would not see myself. I began to struggle in high school, in various aspects. I was not performing like I used to. Things went from bad to worse, literally. I cried out to God and asked him to help me, for things to change in my favour. By the time I began my senior year; I would get straight ‘A’s, was voted student body president, was voted runner-up for Homecoming King, lead the Christian Youth Club as President,

experiencias con agresores abusivos por temor a represalias; tampoco quería ser percibido como “débil” por mi familia. Me guardaba y me reservaba para mí mismo estas situaciones de conﬂicto. Me volví experto en interiorizar. Literalmente me quedaba atascado y no podía moverme cuando estaba siendo intimidado porque me sentía aterrorizado. Me callaba cada vez que encontraba un acto de injusticia, porque tenía demasiado miedo de hablar. Sentía que mis pensamientos y creencias no importaban y que realmente estos no cambiarían nada; ¡qué equivocado estaba! A menudo me sentía desconectado y fuera de contacto con la vida. Sentía que las otras personas eran diferentes a mí; que no me entendían ni yo las entendía; como si fuera un extraterrestre y no realmente parte de este mundo. Empecé a odiarme a mí mismo; sentía una fuerte aversión por cualquier cosa que tuviera que ver conmigo. No quería ver mi propia foto. Borraba mi rostro de los retratos familiares para no verme a mí mismo. Empecé a tener diﬁcultades en la escuela en varios aspectos. Yo no me estaba desempe-

ñando como solía hacerlo. Las cosas literalmente iban de mal en peor. Le pedia a Dios por su ayuda, le pedía un nuevo comienzo; un nuevo inicio; una nueva atmósfera y un clima que me permitiría prosperar y expresarme por completo; otro lugar donde pudiera vivir una gran vida, una mejor que esta que estaba viviendo en ese momento. No lo sabia, pero Dios daría la vuelta a la situación por mí. Poco sabía yo que Dios me concedería mi petición. Para el tiempo en que comencé mi último año escolar; obtendría “Varias A” consecutivas, fui elegido presidente del cuerpo estudiantil, fui elegido ﬁnalista del concurso de Rey de hogar de la escuela, dirigí al Christian Youth Club como presidente, representé a mi escuela secundaria en el Consejo Estatal de Estudiantes, fui elegido para la convención estatal de American Legion Boys en MN. El nuevo entorno me ayudó a ganar conﬁanza y desarrollarme como la persona que siempre había deseado. ¡Dios me había dado exactamente lo que necesitaba y quería! Pueden ver que he tenido que luchar contra algunos “demonios personales”, como la

baja autoestima, la poca conﬁanza en mí mismo y que la gente (principalmente en la escuela) no veía muchas cosas buenas en mí, y siempre se burlaban y me molestaban. Yo tampoco veía nada bueno en mí mismo. Tenía amigos, pero me sentía aislado; como si no fuera lo suﬁcientemente bueno. Pero a Dios no le importaba eso. A él no le importa lo maltratado que usted esté; a él no le importa lo rechazado y no deseado que usted sea o cómo usted se menosprecie a sí mismo. Dios no ve eso, ni lo rechazará. Por el contrario, Dios lo ayudará; él trabajará con lo poco que queda de su “verdadero” yo, y él trabajará con usted y lo guiará para que usted supere sus desafíos. A él no le importa cuál sea su opinión sobre sí mismo o cuán mal se vea a sí mismo. De hecho, muchas veces, cuanto menos usted piense en sí mismo, más le permitirá a Él manifestarse y obrar un milagro. La Biblia dice que su poder se perfecciona en nuestra debilidad. Su opinión sobre usted mismo y las opiniones de otras personas sobre usted no le importan a Él; ¿Se considera usted un “caso perdido”? Tome valor:

By Victor Armando Martinez Editor’s note: Victor Martinez, a Henry High School student leader a little over a decade ago, shares a lifechanging message of life lessons he learned as he searched for the love of his life. He reveals a framework for getting everything you want out of life and more. Martinez now pastors a bi-lingual congregation at North Minneapolis’ New Generation Church. Available on Amazon. I remember growing up to be a chubby pale looking kid who did not get enough exercise and ate too many unhealthy meals. I started school in Shakopee, Minnesota, continuing my loner

Por Victor Armando Martinez Nota del editor: Víctor Martínez, un dirigente estudiantil de secundaria Henry un poco más hace una década, comparte un mensaje de cambio de vida de las lecciones que aprendió como buscaba el amor de su vida. Revela un marco para todo lo que quieres de la vida y mucho más obtener. Martinez ahora pastorea una congregación bilingüe en Nueva Generación Iglesia de North Minneapolis. Disponible en Amazon Recuerdo haber crecido como un niño gordito y pálido que no hacía suﬁciente ejercicio y comía mucha comida poco saludable. Comencé la escuela en Shakopee, Minnesota, siguiendo un estilo de vida solitario tal como lo había hecho en California. Yo no era nada listo en la calle. Dejaba que la gente me pisoteara y me empujara. No podía defenderme de su intimidación... Yo era un cobarde. No le contaba a nadie sobre mis

Victor Armando Martinez

represented my high school at the State Student Council, was elected to The American Legion Boys’ State Convention. God had given me exactly what I needed and wanted! I had lots of “personal demons” to ﬁght, such as a low self-esteem, low self-conﬁdence and people (mostly at school) not seeing much good in me, always taunting me, making a joke of me and bullying me. I did not see any good in myself, either. I did have friends, yet I felt alienated; like I was not good enough. But God does not care how damaged you are; he does not care how rejected and unwanted you are or how you belittle yourself. God does not see that, nor will he reject you. Instead, God will help you; he will work with what little is left of the “real” you and

will work on you and help you overcome your challenges. He does not care what your opinion of yourself is or how badly you see yourself. In fact, often times the lesser you think about yourself, the more you allow Him to manifest Himself and work His miracle. The Bible says that His strength is manifested in our weakness. When we are weak, He is strong. Your opinion of yourself and other peoples’ opinions of you do not matter to Him; do you consider yourself to be “damaged goods?” Take heart: God fixes damaged goods; whether you consider yourself unworthy of being loved, he loves you nonetheless. What is diﬃcult to you is easy to Him. No human can unscramble an egg… but God can.

Dios da solución a los casos perdidos; incluso si usted se

considera indigno de ser amado, Él lo ama a pesar de todo.

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Page 8 •July July 23 - July 29, 2018 • Insight News

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Lifestyle

Mentor: Be prepared, be polished, pay attention By Dana Blair NNPA DTU Road Trip Navigator When I was a little girl I wanted two things – a pair of magic earrings, identical to the ones in my favorite cartoon, and to be a fairy princess ballerina astronaut. Both seemed like realistic options in my little world, which I created from my bedroom in Alexandria, La. I was not aware that hologram, timetraveling earrings did not exist … and probably never would in my lifetime. Nor was I told that balancing a theatrical career and space travel might prove to be diﬃcult and test my time management skills. I was young, full of hope and daring to dream. As an adolescent, I aspired to be a ballet dancer. It seemed like a more far-fetched dream than the magic earrings, because I did not know any AfricanAmerican professional dancers. I could see my cartoon every week on television in the living

INSIGHT NEWS www.insightnews.com

Insight News is published weekly, every Monday by McFarlane Media Interests. Editor-In-Chief Al McFarlane Publisher Batala-Ra McFarlane 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 Director of Content & Production Patricia Weaver Content & Production Coordinator Sunny Thongthi Yang Distribution/Facilities Manager Jamal Mohamed Receptionist Lue B. Lampley Staff Writer Abeni Hill Contributing Writers Nadvia Davis Fred Easter Timothy Houston Michelle Mitchum Latisha Townsend Artika Tyner Toki Wright Photography David Bradley V. Rivera Garcia Uchechukwu Iroegbu Rebecca Rabb Artist Donald Walker 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.

room (yes, cartoons felt like real life), but a real-life, professional dancer of color in front of my very eyes … not likely. I was often the only dancer of color in my ballet classes, and when you live in “Small Town, USA,” being a dancer, or any creative occupation for that matter, is not exactly encouraged. My mother, my first mentor, recognized my passion and love for the performing arts and was determined to not only encourage me to pursue my dreams, but also to show me that those dreams could in fact become a reality. My mother heard about a principal ballerina in her hometown of Houston by the name of Lauren Anderson. Ms. Anderson was a performance powerhouse with the Houston Ballet. She was also one of the first AfricanAmerican ballerinas to become a principal for a major dance company, an important milestone in American ballet. My mother had two tickets to see Ms. Anderson perform the Pas de Deux in “The Nutcracker” ballet, and she was taking her baby girl. When Ms. Anderson stepped on stage, I felt as though I leaped onto that stage with her. Every step, turn, and gesture had a young Dana Blair mesmerized. The possibility of seeing someone like me, in front of my very eyes, accomplish their dreams was all of the motivation and inspiration I needed. I then knew that my dreams could also come true. Fast forward several years to when I would move to New York and, quite literally, live out multiple careers, first as a dancer and marketing executive and now an on-air correspondent and producer. While the journey seemingly had no clear path, it did have men and women along the way that took interest in my potential, supported my goals and nurtured my dreams. Thus, like my mother, these mentors went above and beyond the call

Be prepared You are journalists now. It is your duty to know all of the angles, research and possible plot twists on the subject. What do you want to discover, explore and share with your readers? Furthermore, how do you want to deliver this to your audience? Be polished Ms. Anderson provided important representation in the dance world and created a ripple eﬀect in my life, and I am sure in many others. It is important that the fellows are on point. As young men and women being granted access to some really cool stories, rooms and executives, conduct yourselves in a polished manner. You never know who is watching and what your presence may communicate.

DTU

(From left-right): Tyvan Burns of Norfolk State University, Denver Lark of North Carolina A&T University, Ila Wilborn of Florida A&M University, hip-hop legend MC Lyte, NNPA DTU Road Trip Navigator Dana Blair, Daja E. Henry of Howard University, Diamond Durant of Morgan State University and Natrawn Maxwell of Claflin University. of duty to guide, challenge and direct my energy and talents. They too showed me that my dreams could become my reality. Without them, I know I would not have achieved many of my milestones, big and small, along the way. Their mentorship guided me through diﬃcult career decisions and taught me invaluable life lessons. Each of my mentors over the years have come from different economic backgrounds, ethnicities, cultures, and industries. However, they have all given me the same advice over the years, “Don’t thank me. Just pay it forward. One day it will be your turn.” Now it is my turn to step up to

the plate and pay it forward. This is why I joined NNPA’s 2018 Discover the Unexpected (DTU) Journalism Fellowship program as a road trip navigator (mentor). I was honored to be considered for the role and leaped for joy once I found out that I was on the team. I now have the opportunity to align with General Motors, plus get to know six really cool, motivated young men and women representing six HBCUs throughout the country. I had the pleasure of meeting the DTU Fellows in Detroit for an intense two-day boot camp to get them road trip ready. I must say I felt like the overzealous, nosey auntie at the family barbecue. Their eyes were bright. The

energy was high. I wanted to be all in the mix. I wanted to know everything about them from birth all the way up to what they had for breakfast that morning. As six sets of eyes looked at me from around the table, I struggled to ﬁnd the right words to empower and inspire, yet not overwhelm them (I tend to talk a lot). These young, bright minds are future Black journalists that will shape dialogue in our country and increase representation for their generation. What words of wisdom did I want to impart? I came up with these three tips to help them prepare for their summer-long internship of road tripping.

Ellison From 3 accounts in your name without your consent I’m going to sue the (mess) out of them.” Sanders said while he will miss having Ellison in Washington, he believes Minnesota and the nation will be well-served with Ellison in the state’s attorney general seat. “By electing Keith Ellison you can help take back America from the billionaires and deliver it to the middle and working class,” said Sanders. “And I know with what’s going on in the White House many of you are depressed and have lost hope; but know

NNPA From 2 if you research the statistics and labor market correctly, you’ll see that a large number of Black people, have actually left the labor market altogether. This is the real story that needs to be told and not 45’s ‘fake news.’ This year alone (more than) 150,000 Black women left the labor market, which represent the stories that nobody is telling.” According to a report by CNBC, nearly 70 percent of all American citizens are concerned about “fake news” being used as a weapon. What’s more, in a recent report by NBC, “fake news” or just overall lies, were shown to spread faster on social media than the actual truth. Examining the critical role of Black media, which has long been the beacon of light in the Black community, alongside the new age of technology, Gray-Young, placed emphasis on millennials and their role in escaping the idea of “fake news.” “Black media is being dismissed and not being regarded for its true worth,” said Gray-Young. “It’s time

Pay attention In media, it is your job to see the details. It is often those details or tidbits of information that pop up in an interview that can make or break a story, carrying you down a new road to ﬁnd something truly powerful and interesting. I am humbled and honored to be a part of the NNPA’s 2018 DTU Journalism Fellowship and the fellows’ journey. I hope that my stories, lessons learned, tips and, of course, the occasional corny joke show them that their dreams can become a reality, just like mine. This is their time to thrive and shine, and I am beyond thrilled to sit next to them in the driver’s seat. Dana Blair is the road trip navigator for the NNPA’s 2018 Discover the Unexpected Journalism Fellowship program. She is also a producer and on-air personality. Learn more about the NNPA’s Discover the Unexpected Journalism Fellowship at nnpa.org/ dtu.

that the antidote for political depression is activism. All over America people are standing up, ﬁghting back, saying Trump’s vision for America is not our vision for America.” Alison Campbell of Minneapolis is one of the ones “ﬁghting back.” She attended the rally with her 3-yearold son, Lucas. Campbell said being at the rally was important not only for her, but for her son’s future. “A lot of people are devastated by what’s going on in the country right now, and we’ve got to be supportive of the movement and of change,” said Campbell. “In these days it’s easy to get discouraged, but it’s so important we don’t become numb to the tragedy going on in our nation.”

we take a page out of Donald Trump’s book and reinvigorate our bases. Then we need to take a step back and reestablish trust, particularly among young people. We’re in a time now, where millennials are asking, ‘What’s the source of true information?’ That source is the Black Press and we need to do a better job explaining that.” Bolden said in America, right now, “we don’t struggle with the ideals of what is right and what is wrong, but what is the truth.” Closing out the discussion, Leavell called on mainstream media and the general public to denounce the idea of “fake news” and its message, while encouraging all Americans to support the Black Press. “NNPA has served as a vanguard and a honest look into the lives and struggles of Black Americans for over 40 years,” said Leavell. “The Black Press has been around for over 191 years. To say that there is no real news or reporting, just isn’t factual as history shows us diﬀerent. As members of the Black Press it is our job to be that torch of insight and lead other generations on.” This article was originally published on BlackPressUSA. com.

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Insight News â&#x20AC;˘ July 23 - July 29, 2018 â&#x20AC;˘ Page 9

You donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to break the bank to give back Earlier this year, a man named Jack Weldon Patrick passed away in Menomonee Falls, Wisc. A long-time lawyer, Patrick was remembered as a family man, an advocate for social justice, and a respected community leader. One day a check arrived by mail for the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) in memory of Jack Weldon Patrick. A few days later, another one arrived, and a few weeks later, another check. Individual donations kept coming to support the work of TMCF and our publicly-supported Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in honor of Patrick. His obituary read, â&#x20AC;&#x153;in lieu of ďŹ&#x201A;owers the family suggests memorial donations in Jackâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s name to causes he cared deeply about.â&#x20AC;? One of those causes was TMCF. So many of us outside of TMCF headquarters and Menomonee Falls may have

NABJ From 3 L. Boney of the Houston Forward Times.

Candidates From 3 ing last year in February. She attended the meeting to learn more about government at the county level. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I was in total awe of the amount of responsibility,â&#x20AC;? said Fernando. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Lots of change can happen at the county level.â&#x20AC;? Redmond, candidate for District 3 commissioner,

Chavis From 4 mation of the vitality of Black cultural genius and excellence in all ďŹ elds of endeavor. Our printed editions are especially important in communities where people are less likely to be able to aďŹ&#x20AC;ord or take full advantage of broad-

Malveaux From 4 ciation (NNPA). At the organizationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s June conference, she convened a panel that focused on â&#x20AC;&#x153;fake newsâ&#x20AC;? and the Black Press. I was privileged to participate with the National Association of Black Journalist (NABJ) President Sarah Glover, pugnacious attorney A. Scott Bolden and marketing expert Deborah Gray-Young. I think

of the famous quote by Nelson Henderson, â&#x20AC;&#x153;The true meaning of life is to plant trees, under whose shade you do not expect to sit.â&#x20AC;? While philanthropic anonymity is honorable, philanthropic leadership helps organizations like TMCF reach new supporters, encouraging new donor circles to give. Showcasing the fac-

The Salute to Excellence Awards Gala is the only awards program that honors exemplary coverage of African and/or African-American people or issues exclusively. The NABJ Salute honors work from print, television, radio, online,

photojournalism and public relations. Winners will be announced Aug. 4, at a gala celebration during NABJâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 43nd Annual Convention and Career Fair in Detroit â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the largest annual gathering for journalists of color in the country.

During the Salute, NABJ will honor Jemele Hill of ESPNâ&#x20AC;şs â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Undefeatedâ&#x20AC;? with the organizationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Journalist of the Year Award for her commentary on whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s currently happening in sports and in the news.

Other top honorees include NBC4â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Beverly White as the recipient of the associationâ&#x20AC;şs Chuck Stone Lifetime Achievement Award, Wyn-Win Communicationsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Wynona Redmond with the Pat Tobin Media Professional

Award and Detroit Free Pressâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Robert G. McGruder for the Legacy Award. NABJâ&#x20AC;şs 43nd Annual Convention and Career Fair takes place Aug. 1- Aug. 5.

also believes in the power of the county. â&#x20AC;&#x153;A lot of our lives are operated by the county,â&#x20AC;? said Redmond, highlighting the countyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s role in public health and public safety. Yang, candidate for District 2, also mentioned the importance of the county government. â&#x20AC;&#x153;As the oldest son of poor Hmong refugees, I have been a recipient of many county services. I grew up on welfare. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve had to work hard to get to where I am,â&#x20AC;? said Yang. â&#x20AC;&#x153;As

Hennepin County Commissioner, I will serve and protect people at every stage of life. I will help them get services by making the county easy to understand and easy to use.â&#x20AC;? Redmond also discussed how inďŹ&#x201A;uential Hennepin County Commissioner board is. â&#x20AC;&#x153;(Hennepin) county is the oldest form of government. (Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s) older than the state government in Minnesota,â&#x20AC;? said Redmond. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The way this county goes, the rest of the state goes.â&#x20AC;?

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Hennepin County is the second most powerful level of government in the state,â&#x20AC;? said Conley, candidate for District 4. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I talk (to voters) about how we can truly shape our own lived experiences by getting involved in local politics and how, for many folks, our local elected leaders have more of an impact on our lives than what is happening nationally.â&#x20AC;? Voting in local elections can have the most immediate and tangible results for citizens. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I believe in the pow-

er of local government and the ability for everyday citizens to make positive changes in their community,â&#x20AC;? said Waldsmayate. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s very crucial to go out and vote in low-key (local) elections. I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t think it is going to be low-key this year.â&#x20AC;? Even though many voters look to the presidential campaigns as the ones to make change, it is also the midterm elections that can spark change at an national and local level. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Midterm elections are always important because they have the potential to

change who will control the House and the Senate locally and nationally,â&#x20AC;? said Lee, candidate for District 2. â&#x20AC;&#x153;As people of color, we can no longer be passive about our right to vote. In many elections we hold the margin of victory and soon that margin will be greater.â&#x20AC;? The primaries are Aug. 14, with early voting having already begun. The Hennepin County Commissioner District 3 race will not be a part of the primaries. Midterm elections take place on Nov. 6.

band Internet access. However useful todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s technological innovations are in sharing information, for many people, there is no substitute or aďŹ&#x20AC;ordable alternative to the local weekly newspaper of, by, and for the African-American community. Our newspapers are the lifeblood for our communities. The tariďŹ&#x20AC;s threaten more than local newspapers. Newsprint is used for promotional materials by retailers and civic groups. It is used by book

publishers and printers. Often these are small businesses serving local communities. If newsprint goes up in price, printers will get fewer contracts and have fewer customers. Ironically, the tariďŹ&#x20AC;s NORPAC wants in place will actually threaten paper producers and a range of related business. A coalition of these businesses, the STOPP Alliance, estimates some 650,000 jobs could be at risk â&#x20AC;&#x201C; all to help one company that has no allies or supporters

within the U.S. paper industry. The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) is reviewing the facts in this case and is expected to announce its recommendations on what to do with the tariďŹ&#x20AC;s later the summer. In the meantime, memberof Congress from both parties have introduced legislation to suspend the tariďŹ&#x20AC;s immediately. The STOPP Alliance has also created an online petition (www.stopnewsprinttariffs. org/join-the-fight-to-protect-

u-s-jobs) to urge the ITC to end the tariďŹ&#x20AC;s. Consider adding your voice to this eďŹ&#x20AC;ort. After all, the threat the duties on newsprint pose to daily and weekly print publications serving communities in urban and rural areas is especially acute. If there was ever a time when the country needed a range of authentic and â&#x20AC;&#x153;trustedâ&#x20AC;? outlets to share news and perspectives, it is today. In todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s world, the newspapers that serve African-American

communities will continue to play a crucial role. Errant trade policies and duties championed by a single company must not be allowed to diminish the meaningful role of the Black Press of America. Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr. is the president and CEO of the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) based in Washington, D.C This article was originally published at BlackPressUSA.com.

fake news is not only about the Trump shenanigans and lies, but also about news that is unreported or distorted. For example, how come every time a white person shoots up a classroom, movie theater or public space, the focus is on their â&#x20AC;&#x153;mental illness,â&#x20AC;? while whenever a Black person commits a crime, of any sort, the focus is on criminality. Why has the Rev. William Barberâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Poor Peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Campaign been so underreported, and why was the June 12 shackling of faith leaders outside Supreme Court wholly ignored by the mainstream (and even the side-

stream) media? Why has there been so little focus on the economic status of African-American people, except when â&#x20AC;&#x153;45â&#x20AC;? crows about all the improvements he has (not) made on the economy. Just the other day, I was commiserating with someone about the ways the mainstream media ignores the African-American community. The brother I was talking to said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;this is why I miss Roland.â&#x20AC;? So, Roland is coming back roaring, lifting up the oft-quoted 1827 line from Freedomâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Journal, the nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ďŹ rst Black newspa-

per, â&#x20AC;&#x153;We wish to plead our own cause. Too long have others spoken for us.â&#x20AC;? Roland Martin and the NNPA have made the case that if we want our story told, we have to support it. The Black Press, those who plead our cause, must not feel that they have to buckdance to the whim of advertisers. Advertising, all too often, is contingent on the support of a speciďŹ c position, or avoidance of controversy. Thus, in launching his #BringTheFunk group, Roland is challenging AfricanAmericans who say that they want real news to support it.

That means contributing a little or a lot to grow the digital platform Roland is building. Everybody wants to go to heaven, but nobody wants to die. In other words, everyone wants real news, and nobody wants to pay for it. One of the ways to support real news is to take out a subscription to an NNPA newspaper, or three. Another way is to help Roland bring his particular brand of reporting and analysis to us through his digital platform. Check his powerful statement out at www.rolandsmartin.com. And check out the ways you

support fake news by failing to challenge the mainstream media. Do you write letters to the editor? Reach out to producers? Ask hard questions about representation? Silence is consent. Julianne Malveaux is an author, economist and founder of Economic Education. Her latest book â&#x20AC;&#x153;Are We Better OďŹ&#x20AC;? Race, Obama and Public Policyâ&#x20AC;? is available to order at Amazon.com and at www.juliannemalveaux.com. Follow Dr. Malveaux on Twitter @drjlastword.

Phone: 612.588.1313 /,/Âś6 $1*(/6 0(025< /266 6833257 *5283

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who might be willing to give, or those who have the capacity to do so. TMCF member-schools like North Carolina Central University are experiencing record gains in gifts secured from younger donors. Texas Southern University recently raised more than $1 million at its annual Maroon and Gray gala, an event which just in its second year which has cultivated new supporters for the university and has raised nearly $2 million for student scholarships and institutional support. So today, we honor one man â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Jack Weldon Patrick â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and his commitment to HBCUs, and we thank his friends and family for their continued investment in the work of TMCF. We hope his example encourages others to consider impacting peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lives by supporting our nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s HBCUs. Harry L. Williams is the president and CEO of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, the largest organization exclusively representing the Black College Community. Before joining TMCF, he spent eight years as president of Delaware State University.

never known Patrick as a stalwart of access and opportunity for students attending Black colleges. Many of us arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t even aware he was part of the reason why in 2016, private giving and contracts earned by HBCUs increased for a second straight year, posting a four-year high of $320 million. But we do know he was a living embodiment

Delaware State University

Harry L. Williams, president and CEO of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, says anyone believing in the power of education to transform lives should invest in HBCUs.

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ďŹ ning HBCU philanthropy and support. The data on ďŹ nances and the number of degrees we produce in areas like STEM, education, social sciences and criminal justice already show just how productive HBCUs continue to be in graduating Black students. Seventy percent of our publicly-supported HBCUs attendees are ďŹ rst generation college students (like I was) and eligible for Pell Grants. In comparison, the national average is only 37 percent for all public schools. By providing this quality education, students transform their lives and prepare to enter economically sustainable careers. Now TMCF wants to illustrate that same culture within our giving networks. Anyone believing in the power of education to transform lives should invest in HBCUs. This includes alumni who want to have a tangible way to support their schools. All people in our networks at work, at church, in our communities, fraternities and sororities, and other circles of activity are worthy of soliciting for support. Age, earnings and personality are not elements for disqualifying those

es and stories of those who give is an important tool in cultivating similar donors, encouraging a culture of giving around our campuses. This is a critical strategy that grows an organizationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s base of support every year. For non-proďŹ t organizations, individual giving is the largest type of charitable gift â&#x20AC;&#x201C; four times the amount as the next largest category in 2015, according to Giving USA. Organizations like TMCF thrive due to the generosity of individuals who believe in our work and want to expand our impact, through monthly and annual donations, as well as the legacy gift. TMCF combines these individualsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; gifts with foundation grants and partnerships with major corporations and government agencies to provide the funds that allow us to transform lives. It takes a philanthropic village to develop young minds, and we are humbled to be good stewards of the resources that our donors and partners entrust to us. TMCF, its 47 memberschools and the nearly 300,000 students attending them each year, want to play a role in rede-

Commentary by Dr. Harry L. Williams President & CEO Thurgood Marshall College Fund

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Page 10 •July July 23 - July 29, 2018 • Insight News

insightnews.com Flynt Flossy

Scarface

Scarface The Cabooze 917 Cedar Ave. S., Minneapolis 8 p.m. 18-plus $40

Monday, July 23 SOUL Jearlyn and Jevetta Steele Dakota Jazz Club and Restaurant 1010 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis 7 p.m. $30-$35

July 23 August 5 2018 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

Hometown soul and gospel legends, Jearlyn and Jevetta Steele bring a special night of music to downtown Minneapolis.

Tuesday, July 24

One of the best to ever touch the mic and onethird of the Geto Boys, Mr. Scarface returns to Minneapolis at The Cabooze.

Thursday, July 26

Blues icon Wee Willie Walker hits the stage at intimate concert venue, Crooners.

Tuesday, July 31

Saturday, July 28 ART

“Carmen” Mill City Museum 704 South 2nd St., Minneapolis 7:30 p.m. $50-$125 Among the most famous and performed of all operas, Carmen is a riveting story of love, lust, betrayal, jealousy and murder.

Keynote speaker Carla Harris, vice chair of Global Wealth at Morgan Stanley joins this year’s annual dinner.

Wednesday, July 25 Friday, July 27 BLUES

HIP-HOP

7 p.m. – 10:30 p.m. $5 Vie Boheme presents her new open mic series on Lake Street with features from Sarah White, Mmyykk, Theo Brown and more.

WEALTH African American Leadership Forum 2018 Annual Dinner African American Leadership Forum 222 South 9th St., Minneapolis 6 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. $150

MUSICAL

Wee Willie Walker Crooners Lounge and Supper Club 6161 Highway 65 N.E., Minneapolis 7:30 p.m. 21-plus $10

North High

FLOW: Northside Arts Crawl West Broadway Avenue, Minneapolis 11 a.m. – 9 p.m. All ages No cover FLOW is an annual event showcasing some of the best visual and performance art North Minneapolis has to oﬀer.

Sunday, July 29 R&B/COMEDY Flynt Flossy and Turquoise Jeep 7th Street Entry 701 N 1st Ave, Minneapolis 7:30 p.m. 18-plus $15 advance, $17 door Viral video sensations Flynt Flossy and Turquoise Jeep hit the 7th Street for a special blend of music and comedy.

Monday, July 30 Presented by

2018-19 Season at North High - Opening Film

OPEN MIC Lake Street Speaks Open Mic Series El Nuevo Miramar 501 Lake St., Minneapolis

AFROBEAT Femi Kuti & The Positive Force with 26 Bats The Cedar Cultural Center 416 Cedar Ave. S., Minneapolis 8 p.m $50-$125 Femi Kuti is one of the world’s most recognized artists ﬁghting for people’s rights. The son of Fela is in town with opening act 26 Bats Wednesday, Aug. 1 HIP-HOP Aceyalone Summer Tour The Pourhouse 10 5th St. S., Minneapolis 8 p.m. 21-plus $8-$12 One of the best from the West, underground hip-hop legend Aceyalone returns to Minneapolis at The Pourhouse.

Thursday, Aug. 2 HIP-HOP Chance York and Big Cats 7th St Entry 701 N 1st Ave., Minneapolis 7:30 p.m 18-plus $10 One of the best beatmakers in the business debuts new

tracks from his project with wordsmith Chance York. Additional performances by Dua, Student 1 and DJ Rowsheen.

Friday, Aug. 3 SOUL/R&B Sexy Summer Soul with Lo-Key? Bunkers Music Bar & Grill 761 Washington Ave. N., Minneapolis 9:30 p.m. 21-plus $20-$25 R&B sensation from the ‘90s, Lo-Key? returns with a special set at Bunkers

Saturday, Aug. 4 FILM/ANIME Midnight Madness: “Spirited Away” (Subtitled) Landmark’s Uptown Theatre 2906 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis 11:55 p.m. The Studio Gibli classic, “Spirited Away” is back in theaters for one night at the Landmark. Expect cosplay.

Sunday, Aug. 5 FOOD Taco Tour on Lake Street K-Mart (Starting) 10 W. Lake St., Minneapolis 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Quite possibly the greatest idea of all time will take you on a tour of the best taco joints in the city. Ride the shuttle for tacos, elotes, and much more. Come prepared to eat … a lot.

Tuskegee University’s dynamic pitcher-catcher duo participate in MLB’s All-Star Futures Game By Daja E. Henry and Ila Wilborn NNPA DTU Journalism Fellows

In the Heat of the Night 7pm Thursday, September 6 Discussion Leader: Craig Rice $5 tickets: mspfilm.org or at the door +++Theater

North High School • 1500 Irving Ave. N., Mpls. 55411 www.thecapritheater.org

More than 38,000 people watched from the stands in Washington D.C.’s Nationals Park as Tuskegee University pitcher Christian Marshall stepped up to the plate to throw the ceremonial ﬁrst pitch of the 2018 SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game July 15. Elgin Woodside, a catcher for Tuskegee’s baseball team, assisted. Although the two were not yet prospects for the “Majors,” they both have a stake in the future of baseball. “Growing up as kids, playing baseball, everyone has that dream of going to the (pros),” said Marshall, as he explained the feeling of pitching in a game with Minor League Baseball’s top prospects. “Even though we never thought that moment would come to us, whenever we got in the moment, it didn’t feel like we were out of place,” said Woodside. “It felt like we were meant to be there, and all our hard work was paying oﬀ and God just gave us our blessing.” As a part of the Major League Baseball’s All-Star Week, the Futures game is meant to shine

Christian Marshall

Christian Marshall (left) and Elgin Woodside are baseball teammates at Tuskegee University. Marshall and Woodside participated in the 2018 SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game. a spotlight on budding baseball stars. At the 20-year mark, the exhibition game “features the top Minor League prospects competing in a nine-inning contest as part of All-Star Sunday.” Marshall and Woodside are pitcher and catcher at Tuskegee University. The two bonded over baseball, however, long before they entered Tuskegee, in their hometown of New Orleans both participated in the MLB Urban Youth Academy. “A lot of kids (in New Orleans) don’t get the opportunities we got,” said Marshall. Since 2005 Louisiana has deemed the incarceration capital of the world, ﬁnally losing the title this past month. According to EdWeek, the state ranks 46th in K-12 achievement.

The two are beginning their senior year at Tuskegee, both studying mechanical engineering. Marshall is interning this summer, testing parts for NASA in Pasadena, Calif. Woodside is assessing aerodynamics at Lockheed Martin in Stamford, Conn. Thus, the two student athletes do not have much idle time. “In the fall, even though we’re not in season, we’re still practicing,” said Marshall, as he described their daily schedules that begin with workouts as early as 5 a.m. The rigorous coursework and hectic baseball schedules keep the two utilizing the work ethic at the MLB Youth Academy they acquired

MLB 11

insightnews.com

Insight News • July 23 - July 29, 2018 • Page 11

Aesthetically Speaking Documentary chronicles unlikely bond between Mary Johnson and O’shea Israel, the man who killed her son

‘Risking Light’ screens during FLOW The documentary “Risking Light” will be screened at the Capri Theater, 2027 W. Broadway Ave. in North Minneapolis, during the FLOW Northside Arts Crawl. The free screening takes place July 27 at 7 p.m. “Risking Light” tells the story of how Mary Johnson, a longtime Northsider, moved from her experience of unimaginable grief over the murder of her only child when he was 21, to a place of profound compassion and forgiveness that today includes a powerful bond and friendship with O’shea Israel, the man who murdered her son. The film was produced, directed and written by local filmmaker and Emmy Award-winner, Dawn Mikkelson. It includes two other stories of people who went through inconceivable loss and trauma and chose forgiveness as their path to healing. “The ripple effect of forgiveness is clear in all of

these stories,” said Mikkelson. Audience members are encouraged to stay for the conversation after the film, led by Johnson and Mikkelson. “Risking Light” played to sold-out audiences and was a Best of the Fest selection this year at the Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival. In addition to more screenings across the U.S. this summer, the movie made its international premier at the Melbourne Documentary Film Festival in July. Donations will be accepted at the screening for From Death to Life, a nonprofit organization dedicated to ending violence through the facilitation of healing and reconciliation between families of victims and perpetrators. Johnson is the founder of this non-profit. The FLOW Northside Arts Crawl is a three-day event occurring July 26 – July 28.

O’shea Israel and Mary Johnson

Momentum: New Dance Works awards four early career choreographer commissions Momentum: Works, a

New Dance platform for

Aniell Ducat

Jonathan Van Arneman

Ari Newman

Judith Holo Lue Choy

MLB From 10 back home. Though they have a lot on their plate, there is a driving force pushing them to reach for further success. “Whenever you get tired, you’ve got to have something in the back of your mind that you can tap into,” said Woodside. “The things that I’m doing, it’s a reflection of me, but it’s also a reflection of something bigger.” Marshall and Woodside exist in a rare intersection for young, Black men. As of 2017, the MLB reported 7.7 percent Black American or Black Canadian players. According to 2010 Census data, African-American men made up just 3 percent of scientists and engineers working in the field. While many African-Americans get into basketball and football, it’s just not as easy to get into baseball. The lack of equipment, facilities and role models make it difficult for young, Black men to expose themselves to the sport. While in football and basketball, children can just pick up a ball and practice, baseball requires highly specialized equipment such as gloves, bats and balls, which puts children from low-income

commissioning and presenting original contemporary dance

Tim Rummelhoﬀ

Herbert Johnson, III

Courtesy Leslie Parker

Leslie Parker

families at a disadvantage. Marshall’s mother exposed him to baseball around 6 years old. Woodside’s father put him into tee-ball at 3 years of age. While participating in the Urban Youth Academy, they both gained a baseball role model in Eddie Davis, a Black resident of New Orleans, who played minor league baseball in the Los Angeles Dodgers’ system. On the ﬁeld the teammates rely on their lifetime connection to help win games. “The closeness that we have is like unspoken communication,” said Marshall. “Every game that I’ve pitched really well, he’s (Woodside) been the one catching for me the whole time.” Woodside expressed equal admiration for Marshall. “If it wasn’t for Christian Marshall, Elgin Woodside would not be the person that he is today,” said Woodside. “Christian was always there to pick me up.” “When I’m on the mound and he’s on the plate, especially when we catch our groove, it feels like we’re unstoppable … almost.” said Marshall Daja E. Henry (Howard University) and Ila Wilborn (Florida A&M University) are 2018 NNPA Discover the Unexpected (DTU) Journalism Fellows. Follow their stories this summer at nnpa.org/dtu.

of all genres, selected four artists from a record number of applications for the 2018-2019 program. This year’s emerging/ early career choreographers/ choreographic collaborations based in Minnesota

are Jonathan Van Arneman, Herbert Johnson, III, Judith Holo Lue Choy and Leslie Parker. They will participate in the 14-month program that combines professional development and creative process exchanges to

strengthen their artistic and professional futures. The program culminates in a twoweek performance festival on July 11 – July13 and July 18 – July 20, 2019. Starting this summer, Momentum: New Dance

Works will be hosted by The O’Shaughnessy at St. Catherine University in St. Paul, with support from the Walker Art Center (Minneapolis) and Movement Research (New York).

Page 12 •July July 23 - July 29, 2018 • Insight News

insightnews.com

Vieux Carré jazz club is St. Paul’s hidden gem Some of life’s greatest treasures are found on the roads less traveled. And while St. Peter Street in St. Paul is well-traveled, just by looks, most would never know that one of the coolest little jazz clubs is situated within their midst. That jazz club is Vieux Carré. But don’t look for it at street level. You’ve got to retreat a bit, to the bowels of the building at 408 St. Peter St. that houses several commercial businesses and oﬃces. Travel down a ﬂight of stairs and down a long hall way, turn right and you’ve arrived … in New Orleans. Vieux Carré, which translates in French as “old quarter,” is an homage to both the Crescent City (New Orleans original name was Vieux Carré) and to the venue’s former life, the once popular Artists Quarter. Tucked away and quaint, the setting provides music lovers a wonderful opportunity to expe-

rience some great area artists in the genres of jazz, blues, soul, funk, folk, spoken word and more. A recent Saturday featured the alternative soul stylings of Mayyadda and the blues/rock of area favorite, Alex Rossi. Soulful and introspective, Mayyadda, back and forth from grand piano to acoustic guitar, made a powerful, personal connection with each patron, while Rossi presented a more up-tempo set full of his unique bluesy vocals and signature guitar riﬀs. The performers were the perfect accompaniment for the “Nawlins-styled cuisine that includes raw oysters, dry rub wings and brandy old fashions. Vieux Carré features live music nightly, with a couple of shows that should deﬁnitely be on your radar, including jazz/ improvisational pianist Kevin Gastonguay, July 24, and area blues legend Wee Willie Walker July 28.

Denzel reprises role in ‘The Equalizer 2’

SWEET BAYOU SOUL SOUL RISING STAR

WILLIE WEST SOUL SURVIVOR JULY 31 • 7pm

Film review by Kam Williams Although Denzel Washington has made about four dozen movies over the course of his legendary career, he’s never reprised a role until now. In “The Equalizer 2,” the two-time Oscar-winner returns to play Robert McCall, a retired CIA agent who turns vigilante to dole out street justice on behalf of the downtrodden. At the sequel’s point of departure, we ﬁnd McCall undercover on a train bound

sisting that the creep give him a ﬁve-star rating before exiting the taxi. The storyline sobers considerably, however, when McCall’s close friend and former colleague, Susan Plummer (Melissa Leo), is murdered under mysterious circumstances. He eventually ﬁgures out that the hit was performed by a cell of rogue CIA agents, and vows to track down and exact vengeance on each and every one of them. What ensues is a gruesome splatter-fest designed to satiate the bloodlust of fans of the revenge genre. Director Antoine Fuqua does not disappoint

SHELBY J

AUGUST 3-4 • 7 PM thereelword.net

Denzel Washington reprises his role as vigilantly Robert McCall in “The Equalizer 2.”

Eat. Drink. Listen.

1010 NIC OL L E T M A L L , MINNE A P OL I S

Eat. Drink. Listen.

1010 NIC OL L E T M A L L , MINNE A P OL I S

for Turkey, successfully concluding an international Amber Alert operation on behalf of a young girl kidnapped by her father. The setting soon shifts to Boston, where McCall works nights as a Lyft cab driver. An encounter with a mugger proves humorous when he beats the perp to a bloody pulp before in-

in this regard, for “The Equalizer 2” ups the ante on the original in terms of both body count and gratuitous gore. Washington again delivers as a relentless killing machine eager to execute any evildoers dumb enough to cross his path