ECLIPSED Danai Gurira’s award-winning play about five women thrown together by the Liberian civil war opens Sept. 17 at the Playwright’s Center Waring Jones Theatre, 2301 East Franklin Ave, Minneapolis. Visit www.franktheatre.org or call (612) 724-3760 for more information.
INSIGHT NEWS August 30 - September 5, 2010 • MN Metro Vol. 36 No. 35 • The Journal For Community News, Business & The Arts • www.insightnews.com
Grand opening set for Eddie’s Barbershop
In the tradition By Al McFarlane and B.P. Ford, The Editors Eddies’ Barbershop is an institution that grew out of an institution. It is a legacy enterprise that builds on a heritage of self reliance, entrepreneurship, selfconfidence, business-savvy, and the unshakable belief that our people possess the gifts and understand the responsibility of building community. The venerable institution is preparing for a Grand
Opening of its newly restored business location, following two hiatuses that resulted from a demolishing fire that ravished the establishment. “That fire was the lowest point in my life,” said master barber and entrepreneur, Eddie Withers, Jr.. “It seemed like the end, but out of it has come a new beginning that is bigger and better. Looking back now, what was a low point has transformed itself into a high-point in my business career.”
EDDIE’S TURN TO 2
Eddie’s Barbershop
Suluki Fardan
Eddie Withers
Obama signs job bill
CBC: Target Black joblessness By Hazel Trice Edney NNPA Editor-in-Chief
Courtesy Jeremiah Ellis
Joseph and Gwen Ellis
The Ellis family: Legacy of leadership By Maya Beecham Contributing Writer In 1974, a young woman attended a dance at St. Thomas University in Saint Paul. At the dance she met a young man. Six months later they were married. Thirtyfive years later the married couple, Joseph Ellis, a union electrician, and Gwen Ellis, an educator, are an institution representing long-standing Black love, a strong marriage and faith in God. Their legacy is carried on through their five children, Joseph Ellis, senior vice president at Wells Fargo Wealth Management; Jeshua Ellis, concrete
finisher; Josiah Ellis, certified flight instructor; Jeremiah Ellis, recent DFL-endorsed candidate for Minnesota House of Representatives and an advocate for family and community involvement at Maxfield Elementary School in Saint Paul; and Jessica (Ellis) Brooks, audience development coordinator at the Ordway. Beyond their personal and professional accomplishments the Ellis’s are a closely knit familial unit hard wired to serve their community at work, home and in life. Service began with character building in the fundamental stages of the children’s lives by instilling integrity, responsibility,
Business: Advocates restore Flamingo Restaurant
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Courtesy Jeremiah Ellis
Siblings: Josiah, Joseph, Jessica, Jeshua and Jeremiah discipline and Christian values. For Joseph and Gwen, parenthood was a reciprocal
Aesthetics:
Idris Elba: The only barriers are ones we create
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ELLIS TURN TO 6
WASHINGTON (NNPA) – As the Black unemployment rate rose slightly last month, President Obama has signed the long-awaited jobs bill with hopes of turning around employment rates, which for African-Americans still nearly doubles the national average of 9.5 percent. “The Manufacturing Enhancement Act of 2010 will create jobs, help American companies compete, and strengthen manufacturing as a key driver of our economic recovery,” Obama said during a bill signing ceremony at the White House last week. “And that will boost output, support good jobs here at home, and lower prices for American consumers.” Unemployment among Black males – though dropped significantly from its high of 19 percent in March of this year - is still at 16.7 percent, nearly twice the average White rate of 8.6 and White male rate of 8.8 percent. There is contention among some that Obama may need to take specific actions to help quell the disparate economic suffering in the Black community. “Unemployment rates for African-Americans and Latinos remain unacceptably high at 15.6 percent and 12.1 percent, respectively, and highlighting the disproportionate impact the recession has had and the need for targeted efforts to address chronic unemployment,” said Congressional Black Caucus Chair Barbara Lee (D-Calif). in a statement. In the President’s bill-
Lifestyle:
Simple and cheap ways to update your décor
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signing statement, there was no specific mention of the Black unemployment rate at the bill signing Aug. 11. However, earlier this month, Obama acknowledged to thousands at the National Urban League Convention that Black communities had already been hit substantially by the economy before he ever took office. “The African-American unemployment rate was already much higher, the incomes and wealth of African-American families already lower,” he said. “There was less of a cushion. Many minority communities -- whether in big cities or rural towns -- had seen businesses and opportunities vanish for years, stores boarded up, young people hanging out on the street corners without prospects for the future.” He added, “So when we came in to office, we focused not just on rescuing our economy in the short run, but rebuilding our economy for the long run -- creating an economy that lifts up all Americans.” He also told the NUL crowd that certain actions by his administration have been intended to at least respond to the Black unemployment rate, including “making sure civil rights and anti-discrimination laws are enforced.” Meanwhile, the issue that was predicted to be his toughest is measuring up to its expectations, Obama said: “Now, we knew from the beginning that reversing the damage done by the worst financial crisis and the deepest recession in generations would take some time - more time than anyone would like. And we knew that it would require an ongoing effort across all fronts.”
Sports Report:
College football preview
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Page 2 • August 30 - September 5, 2010 • Insight News
Eddie’s From 1 Withers talked about his history in the barbershop business last week in an interview with us on KFAI’s Conversations with Al McFarlane. He said his business follows the tradition of ownership established by his father and mother, Eddie Sr., and Geraldine Withers. A native of Duluth, MN, Eddie Withers Sr., married Geraldine and into the expansive, pioneering Davis clan, headed by boxing legend, businessman and education advocate, Danny Davis. “My parents built an office and retail building that took up half a city block, on Concordia Avenue between Kent and Mackubin in the heart of St. Paul’s historic Rondo Neighborhood. The building was home to the original Eddie’s Barbershop, and housed the leading professional businesses that served our community,” Withers said. Ted Allen Insurance Company, Dr. Clayborne Hill, Dr. Harry Crump, Field’s Drug Store, and Paul Ray, who had a Black law firm, had offices in the building, he said. The building was a landmark, recalled St. Paul native Yusef Mgeni, whose family lived on the block in back of the Withers’ building. “It was a blond stone one-story building with a modern glass front. The major tenant was the Field’s Drugstore and Soda Fountain. I walked by the building on the way to school for years,” he said, reflecting on the vibrant Rondo community. Eddie Withers Jr., said that same spirit of building and owning your own continues to guide his investment in and service to our community. He said before he decided to launch his own business some 40 years ago, he had worked for other companies in various jobs. “I decided I had a choice of making employee’s pay or making owner’s pay. I chose to be an owner,” he said. Eddie’s Barbershop will celebrate the Grand Opening of its new facility at 4301 4th Avenue South in Minneapolis on Saturday, September 18th. The Grand Opening events will
show off the swank, upscale professional look of the Barber Shop and the companion Ebony Images Beauty Salon. “The Barber Shop has four chairs and the Ebony Images Salon has four stations as well. Of course, we continue the tradition of exploring, inspecting, analyzing, dissecting, and challenging each other on the issue of the day, whatever that may be,” Withers said. “My role is to be the instigator. I like to get things started. I throw something out and step back and let people go at it. A person may come in with a fixed attitude about an idea or issue, but they have to have their positions well thoughtout, because they will be challenged,” he said, smiling. “You’ve got to know what you are talking about. Sometimes the conversations get heated. We calm things back down. We have a good time. It’s all in fun.” What are the most talked about issues of the day? “Women, sports, and politics in that order,” Withers said. “Some guys will say Black women have a chip on their shoulder, that they are upset about this or that. But I say a lot of our women have grown up in bad situations and you have to work with them and ask them why they feel the way they feel.” “I have daughters and my life has changed since I have daughters. To protect your daughter means you want to protect women. So I talk to the young men and help them rethink how they relate to women. Does the conversation get into interracial dating? “Things have changed a lot. Not only do Black men date white women, but Black women are comfortable dating white men, these days. But for Black men who won’t even look at a sister, it’s often a problem of the Black man not feeling good about himself,” Withers said. “Sisters are tougher. They know the brothers more. They can read you. They see through you. So for some, it’s easier to jump with a white lady, who can’t read you, than with a sister,” he said. What about the relationship between African immigrants and African Americans?
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Tuesday Glover and Jennifer Emmons of Ebony Images Beauty Salon
“I have a lot of African customers,” Withers said. “And they tell me that before they get to this country, U.
S. Immigration officials tell them to steer clear of African Americans. So they come here suspicious of Black people.
Then, we get told we should not trust Africans, and that they are coming here to take our jobs. It’s the classic ‘divide and conquer’
Suluki Fardan
strategy that colonizers have used effectively against us. We just have to be better and smarter.”
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Insight News • August 30 - September 5, 2010 • Page 3
BUSINESS Advocates restore Flamingo Restaurant Flamingo Restaurant, an eatery that serves traditional East African fare, specifically Ethiopian, Eritrean, and Somali, in St. Paul’s Midway, recently underwent new ownership. The restaurant, which originally opened in 2006, is now under the guidance of East African women’s activist and community leaders, Shegitu Kebede and Frewoini Haile. “Fre and I are very excited about entering the restaurant business,” said Kebede. “It’s truly our passion...we love serving people. We also need to become self-sufficient so that we can make a difference in our lives as well as the lives of others, especially East
African women. Running a successful business can get us to this goal.” The new owners are setting out to provide their guests with a great East African dining experience. “All of our traditional dishes are based on family recipes that have been passed on from generation to generation,” said Kebede. “It’s through our recipes that we create a family atmosphere where people can feel at home.” Both Kebede and Haile have built their careers on advocating for women and East African communities in Minnesota. Kebede, a McKnight Foundation’s Virginia McKnight Award
in Human Service recipient, began her career as a community activist with St. Paul-based CommonBond Communities where regularly she met suffering immigrant women who lacked sufficient training to find successful job placement. In their shared experiences, she found her call to action. In 2003, she founded Going Home, Inc.—a program that provides cleaning jobs for immigrant mothers and other new immigrants. Haile arrived in the United States from Eritrea in 1986. She also works for Ethiopians in Minnesota Inc., providing Amharic and Tigerna translations and document interpretation services for
Flamingo Restaurant newly arrived East African immigrants. “After we get them a bit acclimated to life in the Twin Cities, we also seek out employment for these individuals as well as provide
basic personal skills training,” she explained. Haile has over 15 years in the hospitality and restaurant industry and has a BA in Hospitality Sales and Business Management. “We want to educate the public as to the healthiness of East African food. It’s freshly prepared, tasty and very good for you. Also, our meat entrees feature Halal meat from area butchers which supports the local economy,” she said. Being engaged with the St. Paul East African community is another objective of the owners. “Our goal is to
Suluki Fardan
connect our restaurant with our community to make an impact on their lives. Our story can speak to other East African women about the opportunities that exist within this county, despite the barriers we often faced,” said Kebede. Flamingo Restaurant is located at 490 Syndicate Street North (Syndicate at University). The restaurant is open Monday - Saturday from 10 am to 9 pm and Sunday from 1 pm to 9 pm. For more information and directions, interested parties can call (651) 917-9332.
Making change Plan Your Career By Julie Desmond julie@insightnews.com Back to school. This is when shorts turn into jeans, sweatshirts turn into ski jackets and thoughts turn to making the life changes we’ve been putting off all summer. Making significant, real change is never easy, but the payoff can be incredible and well worth the effort. Start making change now by committing to the change you’ve been kicking around. Create a reminder and put it where you will see it often throughout the day. A word, picture or symbol is enough to keep you mindful. Put it in the bathroom (you can write on the mirror with soap or eyeliner), in your car, or tattoo it to your belly. Anywhere you go pretty regularly is a good place to post your commitment. My latest commitment is to ride my bike every day. I put the bike in the front hall, instead of out in the shed, and although it’s in the way, it’s hard to forget that promise to myself. Making changes means some days will be harder than others. Don’t go it alone. Select support systems that make sense based on what you want to see happen. If you plan to give something up, it is usually helpful to tell absolutely everyone. You will be reluctant to light up if everyone around you knows you want to quit smoking. You won’t want to get “caught” breaking your commitment. On the other hand, if you are committing to do something – ride your bike, for example – at first, tell no
one. Just start doing your new thing. As people notice, they will offer their support and encouragement, but a commitment to DO something has to come first from your own inner drive. No one can start it for you. Real change means changing old habits. Years ago, my friend Kayze was a competitive dancer, often traveling to Chicago for contests. As we crawled along the Kennedy Expressway recently, she remarked, “Whenever I am in Chicago, I feel like I should be dancing.” Chicago, for Kayze, is a trigger. She is so used to behaving in a certain way in that place that it pulls her in, even long after her dancing days are over. Triggers are the main obstacle between commitment and success. Try to uncover the triggers attached to past behavior that pull you away from your commitment. If you know that being around certain people or walking a specific route will trigger old behaviors, you can quickly help yourself by actively avoiding those people and those places. Establish new habits that push you toward your goal. To make real life change, you might have to leave people behind; perhaps even family. When people see that you’re serious they can choose either to let you go or they’ll come along for the new ride. Keep your commitment, eliminate old triggers, develop new habits and reach out for support. You can do this, starting now. Julie Desmond has fifteen years’ experience in recruiting and career counseling. She currently leads Job Search and Career Planning workshops in Minneapolis. Write to julie@ insightnews.com.
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TECHNOLOGY MicroGrants: Giving a bump up the ladder By Christopher Toliver MMMC Technology Reporter Did you get a chance to read my article on the Project for Pride in Living? My piece talked about an organization that has been compassionately making provisions of necessity for low-income individuals in the community. I was blessed to have had the opportunity to sit down with the Executive Director, Steve Cramer, and just recently, that blessing became a gift when I met the retired founder of the Project for Pride in Living, Joe Selvaggio. I didn’t know what to expect as I sat and waited in the backyard gazebo, the birds’ serenade keeping me company. Selvaggio entered. His swagger was calm and gracious, and when our hands and eyes locked, I felt an instant connection – internal notification that this was an assignment I would enjoy immensely. Although now inactive with the PPL, Selvaggio still dabbles in the business of helping low-income people, and why wouldn’t he? In his forty-year career, he has pursued multiple avenues of servitude, including Catholic priest, founder of Project for Pride in Living, and founder of the One Percent Club, a philanthropic organization for people of means. These days, Selvaggio is heading the MicroGrants program. “The program is designed to help low-income people become self-sufficient and to make a stride towards sufficiency with a thousand dollar bump of cash,” says Selvaggio. Selvaggio has taken a different tack than the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize winner, Muhammad Yunus. Yunus created a program to give people one hundred dollar loans to help get their
businesses started. Selvaggio feels another loan would only create another burden and a bill to pay back, so he gives out microgrants. Selvaggio stressed, “If properly coached to use it well and to invest in their future and be accountable, it could be a positive bump in their direction.” In order to help grant qualifiers succeed in a positive direction, several agencies have been chosen to oversee the progress of the applicants so that they don’t knowingly or unknowingly misuse the funds. According to Selvaggio, the money is not to be used for partying or other miscellaneous activities that are contrary to the intended use of the funds, and this is where the partnering
Courtesy of MicroGrants
Joe Selvaggio
community organizations come in. Jeremiah Program, Twin Cities RISE!, Summit Academy OIC, African Development Center, Project for Pride in Living, PRISM, Daily Work, Midtown Global Market, Wilder Foundation, and WomenVenture are
the agencies that potential applicants can tap into for assistance. Selvaggio made his point clearer by quoting an old Chinese proverb, “Gimme a fish, and I eat for a day, but teach me to fish, and I eat for a lifetime.” He said it even better this way, “Gimme a fish, and I eat for a day, but gimme a microgrant, and I’ll open a bait shop.” Simply profound!!! After our sit-down, Selvaggio gave me a tour of his home. I was exposed to art and its hidden meaning, pieces of antiquity, pictures of him in the motherland, and his “hit list,” a list of philanthropists who aid him in raising a half a million a year in order to provide the grants. MicroGrants works like
this: Selvaggio utilizes the “hit list,” partners with the agencies, and the agencies send the applicants. If you have faith in self, a plan of action, and your income doesn’t exceed $36,000 dollars, then you qualify. Why not take advantage of this opportunity to better self and community? Why not take a chance on your hidden dreams? Why not acquire the grant so you are able to purchase a quality computer to assist with your studies? Why not finish up
your trade and embrace that grant to help with your tools? Why not use the money to start that landscaping business? Why not get those business cards made so that you are professional in your business endeavors? Why not utilize the lighter fluid that will get the coals to sizzling and your life burning? It might be liver for dinner now, but to those who really want to do it, I see prosperity, success, self-gratification, and oh yeah, a little filet mignon!!!
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Insight News • August 30 - September 5, 2010 • Page 5
AESTHETICS Idris Elba: The only barriers are ones we create creating a range of different characters, rather than letting any character define his range. In this high suspense thriller about a group of bank robbers who experience an impeding threat to the success of their final bank job, we get to see Elba, along with co-stars Tip “T.I.” Harris, Chris Brown, and Michael Ealy take a turn under
Idris Elba
By Alaina Lewis Contributing Writer It isn’t everyday that we run into a Black actor whose caliber as an artist and adeptness for creating unparalleled roles in a motion picture is exulted by a universal audience. The idea of “getting in where you fit in,” has at times, been a silent tradition for many brown skinned thespians in the
entertainment industry. But according to Idris Elba, the only barriers that exist are the ones created within our own minds. Elba, who’s appearing in this summer’s Takers, is at a point in his career where his ascent to the top of Hollywood makes a trip up Mount Everest look like a stroll through Martha’s Vineyard; as easy as breathing. For this 37 year old, actor and DJ, hailing from London, a 20-year career of spinning music and bringing to life
Courtesy Sony
screenplays as an actor, has garnered him a resume a mile long, and enough highlights to emit himself a Batman-like spotlight over the Hollywood skyline. From roles in features like This Christmas, Tyler Perry’s Daddy’s Little Girls, American Gangsta, Obsessed, The Losers, and now stepping into the role of a bank robber named Gordon Jennings, in the film Takers, we’re getting another taste of Elba’s unbridled talent for
the veil of action superstars. Elba spoke with Insight News, to talk about his new role, the film, and what we can expect from this seasoned genius down the line as he continues on his path as one of films hottest commodities. Insight News: Comment on the availability of quality work for black actors in the U.S.
versus globally, given that you are British? Idris Elba: I sort of turn my nose up at the title of black actor. I think we are all actors, black or white. We’re just actors. Obviously, in America there is a much bigger marketplace for actors and there is a bigger
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HEALTH Free training for people with chronic health conditions
www.tchpeducation.com
Pathways to Better Health: Managing Ongoing Health Conditions is a training program offered by HealthEast Care System for people who are living with chronic health conditions such as arthritis, diabetes, lung disease, heart disease, obesity, cancer, to name just a few. The program also provides training for caregivers and medical professionals. The program is a series of six weekly workshops that run for 2
to 2.5 hours. The workshops are informal and include a break and healthy snacks. Participants also receive the 380-page reference book Living a Healthy Life with Chronic Conditions. These workshops are provided free of charge. The workshops themselves are very engaging and cover topics including: • how to deal with symptoms like pain and fatigue, • coping with the frustration, anger and/or depression of having a chronic health condition, • using the mind to manage problem symptoms, • improving communications with
family, medical professionals and others in our lives, eat better and stick to a healthy diet, • how to make and accomplish short term action plans, and much more. Workshop series scheduled at • HealthEast’s Cottage Grove Clinic • 6936 Pine Arbor Dr. S., Conference Room • Cottage Grove, MN 55016 • Wednesdays September 15, 22, 29 and October 6, 13, 20 9:00 AM to 11:30 AM And • 10 W. Exchange High-rise
• 10 W. Exchange St., Community Room • St. Paul, MN 55102 • Tuesdays September 21, 28, and October 5, 19, 26 and November 2 • (Please Note: No workshop on Oct. 12) • 1:30 PM to 4:00 PM And • No. St. Paul Community Center 2290 No. 1st St., Polar Meeting Room • No. St. Paul, MN 55109 • Fridays September 24 and October 1, 8, 15, 29 and November 5 • (Please Note: No workshop on October 22) • 4:30 PM to 7:00 PM
Congregations unite to promote health and wellness Four St. Paul congregations are joining forces, for the second year, to raise awareness around the importance of health and wellness. The “Know Your Numbers” health fair will take place at Mt. Olivet Baptist Church, 451 Central Avenue W, St. Paul, on Saturday, Sept. 18, 10 am to 1 pm. The goal is to promote healthy lifestyles by empowering people through education and screenings, while creating increased awareness of community resources that are available to individuals and families. This is an interdenominational
activity involving: Camphor Memorial United Methodist Church, Mt. Olivet Baptist Church, Pilgrim Baptist Church, and Resurrection Temple. The congregations are part of a larger health initiative under the auspices of the Stairstep Foundation called “There Is A Balm”. The 2008 edition of America’s Health Rankings identified Minnesota as the fourth healthiest state in the nation. Despite the overall health status of our state, populations of color (African Americans, Asians, Hispanics)
and American Indians continue to experience poorer health and disproportionately higher rates of illness and death. (Populations of Color Health Status Report, Spring, 2009) “In almost every indicator of disparate health outcomes African Americans are at greatest disadvantage. That the African American church can lead in the fight to eliminate the gap is a matter of great hope and is entirely consistent with our history” said Alfred BabingtonJohnson, Founder, President & CEO of The Stairstep Initiative Companies.
Ellis
as a gift they would eventually give to society. Gwen said, “I was not raising children but I was raising adults --what you plant is what you harvest. So my end goal was to work myself out of a job. I feel like I was accountable to God. He would not have given them to me if I wasn’t responsible, and He would hold me accountable for what I did not do.” Joseph and Gwen believed one way of developing
productive individuals, was to tap into the individual talents of each child, and hone their natural skills and abilities. As a young boy Josiah loved aviation. It was a passion that occupied his imagination. His bedroom ceiling was painted as a sky with clouds, and mobile airplanes hung from the ceiling at different levels. Gwen said she committed to
From 1 learning process that involved a lot of sacrifice. Joseph said, “I became very responsible very fast. We took parenting seriously. It was like you gave up your life somewhat.” As they welcomed each new infant to the family, the Ellis’s received the new life
ELLIS TURN TO 7
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Insight News • August 30 - September 5, 2010 • Page 7
Mass marches across the nation to expose racial inequities
rising violence and closing schools are leading to low [voter] turnout. We want a focus on the need for a renewed commitment to an urban policy. It’s a key to November and beyond,” he said. • Saturday, Aug. 28, Washington, D.C. “Reclaim the Dream” March, sponsored by the National Action Network, led by the Rev. Al Sharpton. Sharpton told the NNPA News Service that the march is intended to expose the issues still disparately plaguing Black communities and then “lay out legislative actions we want to see enacted. “Marching is not designed to solve the problems. Marching is designed to expose
the problem. But, if you don’t expose the problems, no one is going to solve it because no one’s going to be forced to,” Sharpton said. “We want to expose that there is double unemployment, Black to White in this country. We want to expose the education gap that is clearly in this country… Also, we want to expose the criminal justice system from police brutality to the question of high incarceration and fourthly we want to say that we want to expose the health disparities. We want to say that we’ve made a lot of progress in 47 years but we’re still not equal and that life for Blacks in this country is still qualitatively different that life for Whites,”
said Sharpton. • Sunday, Aug. 29, New Orleans, LA: Fifth Anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, sponsored by the Black Leadership Forum and the Hip Hop Caucus. Protestors will reveal obvious racial bias in the lack of reconstruction in the predominately Black Ninth Ward; a 75 percent reduction in public housing apartments which were 98 percent African American; and a 50 percent dropped in the 90 percent Black public schools population. For more information visit www. HipHopCaucus.org or email Darryl Perkins at Darry@ HipHopCaucus.org. • Saturday, Oct. 2, Washington, D.C. Mall: “One
Nation, Working Together for Jobs, Justice and Education for All”, sponsored by the NAACP and more than 200 social and civil rights organizations around the nation of multiple races and socio-economic statuses. NAACP President and CEO Ben Jealous said the march is aimed to push for progress in the U.S. Senate by encouraging people to vote on Nov. 2. “We have made tremendous progress in this country over the last two years. We have seen this progress destroyed by obstructionists in the Senate, including on job creation, justice for Black farmers, and urgently needed funding for schools,” Jealous said.
“Where we’ve made progress, we’ve made progress because Blacks, Latinos, organized labor, students and small business people found a way to work together and put our shoulders to the wheel together. We saw that with health care, for instance, which was pronounced DOA and then revived by us coming back together and working hard together.” The October march, nicknamed the “10-2-10 March”, will have a three step goal, Jealous said. “Step one will get people to Washington on October 2 so we are reenergized and refocused. Step two is to return to our communities to re-energize, refocus and reconnect our neighbors, get them committed to vote and turnout. Step three is to return to Washington next spring with the agenda of the march and work with Congress to get bills passed and assure that progress is made.” The fact that America has its first Black president has not slowed the need to press for change in racial inequities. Anyone who thought marching and rallies would be over due to the Obama presidency had a “foolish thought,” said Jackson. “There’s always been a competition for the attention of the president. Whoever has the most activity and strength gets on the priority list. … Marching empowers the president.” President Obama himself, during his historic campaign, repeatedly quoted Frederick Douglass’, “Power concedes nothing without a demand.” Said Jackson, “In 2010, nobody has to get arrested in order to make an impact, but people who feel they can’t do it alone feel courage when they do it together. Marches involve action. Moses marched when Egypt crossed the Red Sea to Cannon. Jesus marched on Palm Sunday. Ghandi marched. Dr. King Marched…We’re encouraging people to march wherever you are.”
pushing was to do unto others as you would have them do unto you. So it doesn’t surprise me to see Josiah giving back to our program as he does. They listen to their children, they understand what their dreams are and their passions, and they work with the children to cultivate their skills,” said Singelton. Gwen even went as far as sending her children to four different high schools, to receive the best instruction for their individual learning styles. At times this meant she would travel from Maplewood to St. Louis Park. Joseph said, “Part of the support was letting them know we are there for them. And we always instilled that in them.” Being there for them also meant giving the right discipline as needed. Gwen said, there were consequences for what they did that was
wrong. “Show them that they are wrong, tell them that they are wrong, but they are all individual so you have to deal with them individually,” she said. Sometimes if a wrong occurred at the hands of two or more siblings, they received their discipline as a team. Two siblings were racing for a ringing phone, when one fell into the wall forming a hole in the wall the size of a body silhouette. As a team they restored the wall with sheetrock and paint. Jessica said, “My parents balanced the discipline and love that was needed to make sure we were on the straight and narrow. They gave us the freedom to be who we were created to be, never comparing us to any other sibling.” The idea of teamwork was expressed in parents sharing traditional household roles, siblings sharing chores, and at
times the whole family readily accepting individuals moving into the home until they were financially stable. Jessica continued, “We all had different responsibilities that helped contribute to the overall function of the home; whether it was doing yard work, cleaning the inside of the house, or doing the dishes. Everyone was assigned something on a daily basis. Growing up we had a strict routine that helped us stay organized and in order” Joseph and Gwen not only learned how to parent effectively through experience, but they depended on help from family, friends and the community. Gwen said, “I do believe that it takes a whole village to raise a child, and my philosophy is that you are that village. So not only does it take somebody to help you, but you also need to help somebody
else.” Talaya Tolefree, Director of Bethel University King Family Foundation Child Development Center, and her husband Sean have known the Ellis family for 11 years, and consider them family. Joseph and Gwen Ellis are godparents to their daughter Nia. They knew they wanted the Ellis family to be a permanent part of their lives after witnessing their commitment to God, the results of their parenting skills, knowledge and respect for African American heritage and culture, and their heart for service. Talaya said, “Serving their community comes natural; it’s an innate responsibility for their entire family and when placed in a position to lead, they embrace the task and rise to the occasion with such care, excellence and accountability as though their lives depended upon it. The
Ellis family is very genuine in their interactions and service, it’s never about them or what they can get from someone, but it’s about how they can build others up and empower them to become the best at whatever God has given them.” Joseph Jr. summed up what he has learned from his parents that has guided him and his siblings to great heights. ”Really the value of working hard --Judeo Christian values. The values of determining what you want to do and finding ways to go about getting it. And also my parents taught us to be tolerant and accepting of other people. Knowing that there is not always one way or one set of circumstances that will get you to your goal but each person has to decide for themselves what they are going to do. I really think that was the core of what my parents taught us,” he said.
By Hazel Trice Edney NNPA Editor-in-Chief WASHINGTON (NNPA) - According to civil rights veteran the Rev. Jesse Jackson, Sr., an estimated 23,000 people were arrested in civil rights protests across America between February 1, 1960 and August 28, 1963. On that day, 47 years ago, people not only marched on Washington, but in cities and towns around the nation. “That day a thousand marches took place around the country at the same time, marches for justice and jobs,” Jackson recalled in a recent interview with the NNPA News Service. As a result of those marches and the publicity they got, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 were passed by a U. S. Congress that was hard-pressed to say no to hundreds of thousands of voters chanting in the streets. This appears to be the strategy being employed once again as at least four major marches and rallies will hit sidewalks and parks across the nation for the purposes of calling attention to social ills and prevailing inequities mainly in America’s Black and Latino communities. “We’ve never lost a battle we’ve had mass marches for,” said Jackson. “Mass marches laid the ground work for mass registration. And forces immediately respond to the cry of the masses.” Details for the four marches are as follows: • Saturday, Aug. 28, Detroit, MI: “Rebuild America: Jobs, Justice, Peace” march, led by Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr.’s Rainbow/PUSH Coalition. According to Jackson, the march aims to focus on the void in urban policy. “Dry roots do not produce fruit. People are disengaging in politics because their needs are not being addressed. In Detroit, Chicago, Memphis, vacant lots, boarded houses, rising unemployment,
Ellis
From 6 helping her children explore their options and gain exposure to careers that suited them. At times that meant taking on an unexpected role like becoming a flight student. “I went to ground school, too,” said Gwen. “Was that an interest of mine? No, but that helped him a lot, so therefore he was able to achieve his goal as a pilot. I have learned a lot about the world through their eyes.” Retired Saint Paul Police Sgt. Mamie Lanford Singleton, who is also Executive Director and Founder of Youth Initiative Aviation Academy, met Josiah in 1994 when he joined the academy. She was always impressed with the way Joseph and Gwen raised their children. “The golden rule I saw her
March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, 1963
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Page 8 • August 30 - September 5, 2010 • Insight News
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LIFESTYLE Simple and cheap ways to update your décor sofa in the center of the room. Make sure that the seating arrangement invites intimate communication without having to yell across the room.
addition, a rug is a great way to add interest to the room-the use of large patterns or bold colors can revive an otherwise subdued area.
Are you ready for a change in your home décor? With autumn around the corner, that’s always my cue to do something new. Play around with simple, lowcost ideas and you can breathe new life into your home.
Display your very favorite items. What good does it do for you to keep your favorite vacation or heirloom treasures wrapped in plastic and tucked away in the closet? Take them out and proudly show off the things that you really like. Whether it’s a special vase or a dainty dish, simply select a safe display spot, and you will be guaranteed to smile each time you pass by it.
Add various textures to a limited color-scheme. If your colors are green and cream, make it pop and create interest by incorporating a variety of vibes; green glass vases, green matte ceramic pieces, green plants, and green suede pillows.
Change the flow of your home by rearranging the furniture. Take the furniture off the wall and don’t be afraid to float your
Create a focal point with an area rug. Think about the new indoor/ outdoor rugs, which are durable and often less expensive. In
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is Africaribbean or American. In England, it’s a smaller marketplace and there isn’t so much of a scope for it, but it’s a healthy marketplace. It’s a place that is definitely growing. So I hope that answers your question.
Style on a Dime By Marcia Humphrey marcia@insightnews.com
From 5 market for urban, cultural films that have Black people and Black culture whether it
very little watering on your part. Swap out the sofa pillows for new ones or go shopping in another room in your home. Maybe the decorative pillows on your bed would look great in the living room! Cover your dining table with a beautiful tablecloth. It will instantly dress up the room. Furthermore, it can also disguise a table that has seen better days.
Utilize plants as a scenechanger. Not only do they revitalize a space, some even act as air filters. Don’t have a green thumb? Consider trying the succulents; they are the type that have thick leaves and stems that can store water, so they require
As you can see, there are endless possibilities when it comes to updating your space. You don’t have to have a big budget to make a big impact. Use what you have from other rooms, shop for items that are on the clearance racks, and don’t be
I’ve been asked this question quite often and I guess because I’m sort of a journeyman actor; I’ve been traveling as an actor since I was almost 26 years old and I’ve seen many different countries. I never walk into a room and say, “Hey, I’m a Black actor.” I just say I’m an actor. IN: In your past films, you played the good guy or the hero, sort of types. I was just wondering if you had any challenges going over to the
dark side, especially with the modern day bad boys like Chris Brown and T.I. IE: I was really just a small part of a big picture where my character, even though he’s the leader, he’s not so much the bad guy. Yes, it’s bad to steal. Yes, what these guys are doing is illegal. But my character wasn’t so much viewed a bad guy. He was just a criminal. A professional thief. I’ve played worst characters in my past that have a real mean streak. I do
homedecoration.net
afraid of-or overwhelmed bythrift stores. Strive to make your home your family’s sanctuary; Keep the things you love and get rid of the rest, keep it clutter-free and most important; keep the family members as the number one priority. Enjoy!
Marcia Humphrey is an interior decorator and home stager who specializes in achieving high style at low costs. A native of Michigan, she and her husband, Lonnie, have three children.
that pretty easily. IN: What brings that about? IE: I’m just a good person at heart, but it’s more fun being the bad guy. IN: Can you talk a little bit about your character Gordon’s background and his relationship with Ghost and his sister Naomi? IE: I’m going to speculate— not speculate, I’m going to answer this question based on conversations the writers and I had and the director. Originally, Gordon was an American character, born and bred in L.A. and was just a small time thief
turned into a big time thief. I wanted to change that a little bit and make him a little bit more international, which is why I chose to play him as a Brit or Africaribbean. Gordon was raised in the Caribbean, moved to England, moved to Europe where I suspect that even though he’s got an education, he certainly used the education to sort of do crime. Then he moved to America where, I guess, he started to really reach his life ambitions, which is
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Insight News • August 30 - September 5, 2010 • Page 9
Camden Bridge restoration complete, opens to traffic The Camden Bridge, closed since April 12 for extensive rehabilitation work, recently opened to traffic, re-connecting traffic routes between North and Northeast Minneapolis. The bridge work, made possible through $10 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding, included improvements that drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians will all enjoy. “We’ve created a better bridge for this critical crossing of the Mississippi River,” said City Council President Barbara Johnson, who represents the Fourth Ward, on the west end of the bridge. “Thousands of commuters were inconvenienced by this construction over the past fourand-a-half months. They’ll see that it was worth the wait to get the bridge we have now. The new Camden Bridge will do a better job serving our drivers, cyclists and walkers for decades to come.” “Maintaining our roads and bridges is one of the most fundamental responsibilities of municipal government,” said City Council Member Kevin Reich, who represents the First
Elba From 8 to steal a lot of money from very, very hard to steal places. His sister is a big part of his storyline and Gordon’s only family. And when you meet her, you realize that she has a substance abuse problem and this is a real, real cloud over
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Ward, on the east end of the bridge. “This project has made the Camden Bridge stronger and safer for everyone who uses it. Some of the improvements, like the wider sidewalks, are easy to see. Others go into the structure of the bridge itself, so it holds up better over time.” The Camden Bridge spans both the Mississippi River and Interstate 94, connecting 42nd Avenue North on the west and 37th Avenue Northeast on the east. Opening to traffic in 1975, the bridge had deteriorated over the years to the point where repairs were needed every year to maintain public safety. Planning for these rehabilitations began in 2004, but had been on hold because funding was not available. By using Recovery funding to complete the bridge work now, the City was able to make these improvements before the bridge deteriorated further. Had the deterioration become more extensive, a new bridge would be needed at a cost well over $100 million. “We couldn’t have done this work without the leadership of President Obama and those
in Congress who voted for the Recovery Act,” said Mayor R.T. Rybak. “This bridge needed to be fixed, but the City couldn’t do it by itself. Now, because of President Obama’s leadership, we were able to put people to work in good jobs and make sure that the residents of North and Northeast Minneapolis are served by a safe, updated
bridge that will last long into the future.” One of the major components of the rehabilitation work involved replacing the bridge deck, giving it a new driving surface, new sidewalks and railings, and attractive new lighting. Beneath that deck, “fracture critical” pin and hanger connections were
replaced. Other improvements include the replacement of traffic rails that had decayed over the past decades, replacement of expansion joints and the creation of a new storm water drainage system. Public Works opted to completely close the Camden Bridge to traffic instead of a partial closure. A complete
Gordon’s life, something that he would love to help his sister overcome. This is a very complex guy. In this film, we really don’t delve into how complex he is. The Ghost character and he met in L.A. prior to this film or where we meet them in this film, and I suspect their history is just climbing up the ladder of crime. IN: Because you were able to create the international character as opposed to what they were going to do in the beginning, how much closer did that bring you in connection with your character? IE: I guess because I’m using my own accent, that’s the closest point. Also, I get an opportunity to sort of show what it is like to be an international in America. Between myself and Marianne Jean-Baptiste, we show a moment of British culture --Africaribbean culture in a mainstream American film, which is quite rare. So for Idris, that was quite an achievement.
I’m excited about that and I’m eager to find out what my European audience thinks about that storyline. IN: Can you tell me which character complimented Gordon’s character the most in the movie? IE: Honestly, I think it’s Michael Ealy’s character, Michael, who plays the sort of businessman …. Although it seems that Gordon and Michael’s character don’t get on, I think those two are the ones that actually really think hard about these jobs. Paul Walker is sort of like my right hand man in the film, but Michael Ealy is the one guy that can stand up to Gordon and say, “I don’t think that’s right” because he’s a business man and he’s a thinker. Gordon is also a thinker. So you see a couple of scenes where Gordon and—I’ve forgotten his character’s name now—they sort of challenge each other. Oh, his name is Jake. They challenge each other a little bit. So I think Michael’s character is the one
that compliments my character the most. IN: Do you have a memorable moment from doing the filming? IE: Yes, walking away from that helicopter. I don’t know if you’ve seen the trailers, but most of you have seen the film. IN: I’ve seen the movie, yes. IE: We did that in one take and I’m the only one that gets slightly shifted when the explosion happens. Everyone else stands still. But my body and my arms are like a little … that gets blown away. I remember thinking, “I want to do that again so I can toughen up my walk a little bit.” But no one said anything so we kept it moving. IN: So you’ve worked with some pretty big names. I mean, T.I., Denzel, you’re working with T.I. again. Can you tell me about that and about your feelings on the film, and also what is the toughest part about nailing an American accent, even though you don’t do one in
this film? IE: Okay, yes. It’s nice to work with big names. Tip is a great guy to work with, very charismatic and very focused. I didn’t really get to know Denzel when working with him on the set, but again, it was a good experience. IN: What do you want the audience to get from your portrayal in this film and the overall message of the film? IE: It’s a heist film and it’s an entertaining film and I want people to be entertained. I want people to enjoy it. I want people to hold on to their seats and get really engaged with the characters. Hopefully we not only gave the audience something spectacular just to look at, but we want something for them to feel. So each one of our characters has a storyline that takes you in a certain direction and I hope that works for the audience. As far as American accents are concerned, the most challenging part for me as an actor is understanding the culture from where the accent comes from. So if I was to play a character that was from Mississippi, I probably wouldn’t be able to do it very good off the cuff without being in Mississippi, understanding that cadence, understanding the culture and sort of emerging myself in it. Without doing that, it just becomes a sort of imitation, it becomes a mimic. IN: I remember listening to Jamie Foxx on the radio station and he was asked a question who would he want to most work with in a film, side by side. Jamie flipped the question and said, “I’ll tell you who I won’t work with.” That individual he named was you. His reason for not wanting to work with you is, he said you are the truth and you’re going to take away any scene from anybody. He felt that you did the strongest acting in the movie American Gangster and I believe that is high praise. A lot of people, when they see hip hop artists—Chris
Camden Bridge pre-renovation
For over 80 years, Hallie Q. Brown has been the Lighthouse of the Community...
Vice President of Sales & Marketing Selene White Director of Content & Production Patricia Weaver Sr. Content & Production Coordinator Ben Williams Production Intern Andrew Notsch Distribution/Facilities Manager Jamal Mohamed Receptionist Lue B. Lampley Technology Reporters Shanice Brown Ivan B. Phifer Christopher Toliver Contributing Writers Maya Beecham Brenda Colston Julie Desmond S. Himie Marcia Humphrey Alaina L. Lewis Rashida McKenzie Ryan T. Scott Lydia Schwartz Stacey Taylor
...this is why we shine so bright.
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The Hallie Q. Brown Early Learning Center is currently accepting applications for enrollment. We are a licensed daycare and preschool program with a 4 Star Parent Aware rating. We feature licensed and trained staff, Project Early Kindergarten (PEK) curriculum and a sliding fee scale. We gladly accept Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) Contact us today for a tour and more information. Hallie Q. Brown Community Center 270 N. Kent Street St. Paul, MN 55102 651-224-4601 www.hallieqbrown.org
Tim Kiser
closure of the bridge allowed for a shorter construction period. As a result, this renovation work took less than five months, as opposed to the two years that would’ve been needed if the bridge were intermittently opened and closed during work. The rehabilitation work on Camden Bridge is not totally complete. Next year, it will undergo a full repainting. However, the bridge will remain open to traffic during that work. For more information on the project, and for updates as the work progresses, visit www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/cip/ camden. The City’s application for federal Recovery dollars for the Camden Bridge is part of the Minneapolis Economic Recovery Strategy. City leaders developed the strategy to seek federal funding that preserves and creates jobs and makes public investments that translate into a more competitive future for the people of Minneapolis and this entire region. For more information on the Minneapolis Economic Recovery Strategy, visit www.minneapolisrecovery. us. Brown, T.I.—in the movies, they feel like they haven’t paid their dues. They feel like they didn’t go to acting school and that these things were given to them and they’re not true actors and they kind of shun away from the movie. What can you tell [readers] about the acting inside of this movie that they are able to go see acting of quality and not just you outshining everyone with that presence that you are so well known for. IE: The short answer to that question is it is definitely an ensemble piece. Inevitably, if there are two people in a scene, we’re typically as an audience going to say, “He killed it” or “He killed it.” Or hopefully, the scene is fantastic and we both brought the drama. In Takers, that is the case. There were seven or eight actors, all of which for various reasons have über amounts of screen presence and charisma. T.I. and Chris Brown, although they may not have any experience, have über amounts of what we like to call star quality, which makes them stand out in their industry. I beg to ask the question, if you’re playing basketball but you’re good at baseball, are you not allowed to play in another major league? We know at the end of the day, if you’re a good sportsman, you’re a good sportsman. So in this film, we get an opportunity to see both Chris and T.I. show their talents. Now with T.I., he’s a very charismatic kind of guy and so is his character. So what you’re seeing is TI bringing himself to the role. I’ll tell you an insight. When he would talk to me about these scenes when he and I had scenes, I would encourage him to forget about acting but bring himself to the scenes. The exercise I would use was let’s throwaway the lines for a second and just improvise. What would you say to me right now, Clifford Harris, and I’ll tell you what I’d
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Page 10 •August 30 - September 5, 2010 • Insight News
Events Calendar Sample Night - Sept 1 Preview a dozen performing arts events the first Wednesday of every month. At History Theatre 30 E. 10th St. St. Paul. Act I (G-rated): 7pm. Act II (Unrated): 8:15pm.
Off-leash dog park at King Park is focus of public meeting - Sept. 2 A public meeting on the proposed off-leash dog area at Martin Luther King, Jr. Park will be held at 6:30pm Thur. Sept. 2, at the park’s recreation center, 4055 Nicollet Ave. S.
Zeta Phi Deta 3rd Annual Health Fair - Sept 11 This free event will take place at the Harriet Tubman Center located at 3111 First Ave. S, Mpls, From 10am-1pm. Vendors Include: UCare, Food Drug Administration, The Minneapolis Fire Department, Doula services and more.
workshop for parents of children with disabilities and professionals. It is on Mon., Sept. 13, 2010, from 6:309:30pm, at PACER Center, 8161 Normandale Blvd., Bloomington, MN. Advance registration is requested. To register, call 952-838-9000.
PACER Center workshop addresses special education Sept 14 “Special Education: What Do I Need to Know”, a free workshop for parents of children with disabilities. It is on Tuesday, Sept. 14, from 6:30-8:30pm, at Bloomington Education Center, 1350 West 106th St., Bloomington, MN. Advance registration is requested. To register, call 952-838-9000. PACER Center workshop addresses early childhood special education services Sept 16
“IDEA: Blueprint for Understanding the Special Education Process”, a free
“Talk the Talk”, a free workshop for parents of children with disabilities from birth to age 7. It is on Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2010, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., at PACER Center, 8161 Normandale Blvd., Bloomington,
ABA Minnesota Blizzards Basketball
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PACER Center workshop addresses special education process - Sept 13
The Minnesota Blizzards ABA Basketball Team is announcing a program for college Internships for the fall and winter. The program will consist of five teams of 5 interns each in the following areas: (1) Sales, (2) Basketball Operations. (3) Marketing (4) Public Relations (5) Business administration. Each team will have a leader and be given challenging assignments. We are looking for college students majoring in Sports Management, Business, Public Relations, Marketing Sales, Broadcasting and Event Planning. We need 20 or 25 interns working with us for a (minimum of 8 hours a week) on a part-time basis. Interns will gain valuable experience, and in most cases college credits. Interested Parties please send resume to: The Minnesota ABA Team Attn: Internship Program 10125 Crosstown Circle #200 Eden Prairie, MN 55344 952-829-1250 Fax: 952-829-1040 www.minnesotablizzards.com
Hallie Q. Brown Community Center Substitute Teacher DEPT: Early Learning Center SUPERVISED BY: Youth Program Manager TITLES SUPERVISED: N/A FLSA: Non-Exempt SALARY GRADE: $10-13/hour POSITION SUMMARY: This is a substitute position designed to fill in as needed on a short or long term basis for permanent teaching staff. Substitute Teacher participates in long and short range activities for students in accordance with curriculum objectives and engages students in developmentally appropriate activities. Assists with ensuring that the classroom is appropriately staffed and maintained to provide a safe and secure environment for each child. POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES: 1. Works with teaching staff to implement program curriculum and coordinate students activities. 2. Plans and supervises the arrangement of the classroom environment in accordance to program goals and philosophy. 3. Maintains a safe and healthy environment, including safely managing developmental activities for the participants. 4. Keeps all appropriate records such as records, attendance, time sheets and accident reports. 5. Maintains open communication with parents/guardians of the program participants regarding the developmental needs of the participants. QUALIFICATIONS: Education: Associates degree or equivalent in early childhood development. B.S. in Early childhood Development preferred. Licensing and Certifications: CPR and Meet all applicable licensing regulations. Valid Driver’s License and proof of insurance. Minnesota Teachers’ License (preferred). Work Experience: 5 years of Child Care Center or related experience required. Other Requirements: • Dealing with confidential information. • Tight deadlines. • Dealing with unfavorable weather conditions. • Excellent verbal and written communication skills. • Ability to work effectively with employees, colleagues and manager. • Agree to mandated child abuse reporting guidelines. • Ability to relate to children from diverse socio-economic and cultural backgrounds. To apply, send a cover letter, resume, salary requirements and references to: Hallie Q. Brown Community Center ATTN: Human Resources 270 N. Kent Street Saint Paul, MN 55102 651-224-7074-Fax hr@hallieqbrown.org
PHONE: 612.588.1313 Mn. Advance registration is requested. To register, call 952838-9000. Grand Puba Performance Sept 17 Grand Puba of Brand Nubian to Perform Live @ Suburban World Theatre (Uptown) 3022
insightnews.com FAX: 612.588.2031 Hennepin Avenue Mpls, MN Fri. Sept. 17th. Also Performing: DJ Mixwell / Blade Brown (The African Prince); DJ Stage 1 / OSP & Callous; Big Wiz / Dot Ten; Mally / Truth Maze; Mujah Messiah. Call for times: 952-
EMAIL: andrew@insightnews.com 270-6700. Know Your Numbers Health Fair - Sept 18 Promoting healthy lifestyles by empowering people through
education and screenings, while creating increased awareness of community resources that are available to individuals and families. At Mt. Olivet Baptist Church, 451 Central Ave. W, St. Paul Sat., Sept. 18, 10am-1pm.
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Insight News • August 30 - September 5, 2010 • Page 11
SPORTS College football preview: Gophers deserve a break Mr. T’s Sports Report By Ryan T. Scott ryan@insightnews.com Minnesota sports. I tell ya. It’s a good thing that hope springs eternal and that new stadiums provide for lovely distractions to team results that leave fans yearning for much more. For all the people, and Gopher Alumni, that struggled through those years of watching ant fights in the Grand Canyon --a.k.a. Gopher football games in the Metrodome-who gives a darn if the team is delivering Earth-shattering victories over some of the greatest college football programs in history. It just feels good to see goofy kids and proud old folks able to take in the darn game like it’s supposed to be taken. Getting some pancakes and coffee in the morning, and strolling to the Gopher game at TCF Bank Stadium on a crisp, but not cold Fall morning, might be my vote for the purest good time going for Minnesota sports fans. Or maybe its just that college is a beautiful thing period. Kids, go
Elba From 9 say. We got into these dialogs where, this guy has got a lot of passion, he’s got a lot of anger. He’s got words for days, he’s an eloquent cat. So we would use that exercise to then strip it all back down to the words and what tends to happen is he would bring himself to these scenes. Chris Brown is a ball of energy. He does exactly the same thing. His character is a ball of energy so again, it’s a matter of Chris channeling that energy that is natural to him onto the screen. I’m not one of these actors that is going to say, “Hey, because you haven’t had experience, I’m not going to work with you.” I’ve worked with people who are not famous and are very, very talented and it’s because of opportunity that they’re not world-known. I am one of those actors. If it wasn’t for me knocking at the door of big actors, big directors, I would never be where I am today. Listen, in this day and age, the marketplace has changed. This is a big entertainment film. It’s not designed to sort of politically leave any messages. It’s designed to entertain. I think there is a unique combination of things in this film that will make audiences just enjoy it. IN: I’m actually going to switch it because we’ve been talking quite a bit about Takers. I wanted to see what your take on your role as, forgive me if I’m not pronouncing this correct, Heimdall from Thor. And if you could tell us about the possibility of you playing Alex Cross in the James Patterson franchise. IE: So Heimdall is a huge, huge Marvel property and is part of Thor, of course. I play a very small part in it. Actually, I’m
to college. Adults, take a group of kids down to the game, even if you can’t get in. There’s just good stuff in the air down there for old and young to find some inspiration. Plus chicken wings at Big Ten restaurant, or Chinese food at Village Wok is worth the trip alone. Public service and travel channel messages aside, the former athlete in me always hopes for the best in college competition – for the sake of the experience of the athletes and fans – and the Gopher Football team has their work cut out for them this year (as usual). Naturally my California upbringing requires me to begin by mentioning that the USC Trojans are coming to town on September 18 and fortunately for the Gophers, the Trojans come limping into this season with less confidence than at any time in this decade. Unfortunately for the Gophers, the first two games of the season are against pesky small time programs Middle Tennessee State and South Dakota, and the Gophers haven’t dealt with their kind very well the last few years, this includes a loss to North Dakota State University in 2007 – which was slightly forgivable because it was Coach Tim Brewster’s first year. However, it was most memorable (in my book) for the advertisement taken a little embarrassed that I get asked to talk about Heimdall because he’s a small part. The film is called Thor. However, Heimdall is a very historically important character in the legacy of the comics. But in the film, it’s a quite small part. However, I’m interested in seeing the reaction. When I got the film, I was cast in the film, there was a huge reaction from the purists who said, “Hey, wait a second. Heimdall is not Black. He’s white. How could you cast him? This is modern day casting gone absolutely crazy.” I had to laugh at that, there were many shots taken at me and the filmmakers. I thought to myself, “Wait a second. We are talking about a man in a cape and horns and a flying hammer, and you are going at me about me being Black.” I was like okay, for me, these sorts of reactions to this sort of media is just too much. It’s like, give me a break. So hey, I can’t wait for Heimdall to come out, I mean Thor, and I hope people enjoy it. As far as Alex Cross is concerned, there is no official word that I’m actually doing it. There has been interest from the James Patterson camp to sort of bring that role back to life. I am one of the actors that they have discussed and have been in talks with, and if it should come my way, I think I’d be very excited to do it. The great Morgan Freeman would be an incredible act to follow. But if they give it a modern spin and perhaps revitalize the character a little bit, I would love to play it. IN: Do you think you’re well on your way to playing the next Bond IE: I’ve never said that I’m on the way to playing the next James Bond. It’s been a crazy rumor, and of course my name has been in the mix. Again, it’s one of those fantasy roles that a lot of actors, Black or white,
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out in the Star Tribune thanking Gopher Fans for their hospitality. That was funny...VERY funny. I’m not sure whether it’s good or bad that 3 of the 4 most difficult conference home games for the Gophers are against the most dominant teams the conference has to offer. So either everyone
in attendance will be in for a massive treat of an upset special, or a massive treat watching future Heisman Trophy hopefuls like quarterback Terrell Pryor of Ohio State march up an down the field. The one thing we do know is that no matter the sport, Minnesota teams are usually good
“It’s rodent season” would love to play. IN: How is the sex symbol thing is playing out with your career. How are you handling that? IE: I have to tell you, it’s quite third party to me. I’m told more than I actually experience it that I’m a sex symbol. But when I walk down the street, ain’t nobody chasing me so I don’t know how true that is. That said, I was just in a big scene with Laura Linney and I was sort of cast as her lover. This character was described as a sexy man and she wanted me to play it. I think that’s great. I’ve said this in the press many times that Black men in film are not often times described as sexy, and if we are it’s not in the right sort of connotation, it’s just about the size of our members or what not, or we’re either very intimidating in a sexy way, or we are scary in a sexy way. But just to be a Black man that is sexy, that is a rare thing. So hey, if that’s the moniker that goes above the title, hey, I’m in for it and I thank you. IN: You mentioned something about Takers not having any political statement. Are you doing any works that do make a political statement? What would that statement be? What is the burning issue you wish to address? IE: I’m not sure if I had a burning issue, which I do have some, that I would use my medium as an actor to portray those or to combat those issues. But I did sometime in April, which shed light on a political situation that was ignored, I’d probably do films that sort of highlight history that has been ignored. This is not political
per say, not in our modern day politics, but I have interest in playing and bringing the Moors story, the African Moors, to life. There is a big chunk of history that has been completely forgotten in place of all sorts of other stuff, and that is something that I’d be interested to do. As far as my personal politics in certain situations, I’d rather just sit down and work with a group, an active group to air my situations rather than make a film about it. If there was a script that came along that sort of highlighted some issues I had with certain things, I would certainly consider it. But I don’t like actors dealing with politics in their films. To me, that doesn’t always work. I think if you’ve got an opinion as an actor, then you should just say it as who you are, as opposed to your character. IN: Do you have an organization that you work with, or are you looking to start one? IE: In England, I work with the Prince’s Trust, which is more of a foundation for the youth. In that, we battle crime, we battle the idea that there are kids as young as eight-yearsold being drafted into gangs to fight for their zip codes. I have an issue with that. I work closely with the Prince’s Trust. I’m working closely with Oona King, who is a former MP and is running for London mayor at the moment, and she has very similar issues about how our youth in England have been sort of ignored. So I don’t want to make a film about—well, I say I don’t want to make a film about it. I’m actually going to direct a film about it, but it’s more of a journalistic film. But
for some excitement, good or bad, that seems to come right out of a movie script. Now as for the rest of college football, this is one of the most interesting years in decades considering the teams that have transferred to new conferences and smaller programs like Boise State that are now getting enough respect to be ranked high in the pre-season polls, to where they may have a large stone’s throw at I won’t make a film as an actor if I can actually just say my real feelings, you know? IN: Can you give our readers a little insight on the things they can look forward to seeing from you in the future? IE: The next thing that you may see is my television show Luther, which will be on BBC America. That comes on some time in October. I’d be interested for audiences to see that. I also have an independent film that some of you may have seen. It’s called Legacy. I premiered it at the Tribeca Film Festival and also at the ABIA Fair. I’m going to the Chicago Film Festival next. It’s a film that I’m very proud of. It’s quite a small film. It didn’t cost us very much money to make, but it’s very deep. In a weird way, it’s a political film, but it’s about politics. It’s about a character that believes his brother, who is a senator, is in dirty politics. By the end of the film, you realize that my character has paranoid schizophrenia, and you’re not sure what’s true from what’s not true. It’s certainly one of my favorite parts that I’ve ever played because it really, really, really demanded a lot from me. I think my audiences will be surprised at where I go in that film. IN: How does [your role in Takers] play into your lifestyle and how does that make the character feel? That’s just glam. IE: My personal lifestyle is nowhere near as glamorous as that. But I would say, if I was going to steal, I would steal like that character because think big, do big. I think by design, the film makers wanted a film
landing themselves in the annual BCS National Championship game. That’s right, Boise State might be the new Notre Dame, USC, or Michigan of college football. Parity is at an all time high in college football, and one of these coming years there is going to be a mess like never seen before that turns the past history of college football on its head. I say it’s a great thing because: 1) It seems to spell more opportunity for young athletes to get expanded opportunities for interest by colleges that may not have even bothered to scour the nation for hidden talent before (perhaps your own son or daughter can benefit), and 2) President Obama will have all the ammo he needs to throw his weight around to create a National Championship Tournament like there is in college basketball. Of course in the President’s case, he’s got so much on his plate it seems like he’s losing weight… or that could be a result of too many people literally sitting on the man’s plate. I hate to say it, but Gopher fans may want to pray for early snow and cold so they can use some of that Minnesota home field advantage. Thank God for hot cocoa in the press box. Best of luck to the rodents, Sept. 18 not included. that was sexy to look at. They wanted a good looking piece of celluloid to put out there and sort of like heighten the urban sheik genre, so to speak. This film is skewed toward an urban audience, if you like. But it doesn’t look like a typical urban film, if there is such a thing. It tries to be a little bit more sophisticated. I personally think this film is a cross between Ocean’s Eleven and Heat in terms it has all this really beautiful cinematography, but it also has quite a complex storyline going on. All be it, you might know what’s going to happen at the end, or you might know which characters are going to be shady or not. You definitely are taken on a ride with this film. IN: I read that you were going to be coming out with a mix tape because I know you have the DJ thing going on. Can you just speak a little bit about the mix tape that you plan on releasing? IE: New mix tape coming soon! Grab your music from T.I.! There you go. IN: That’s all we’re going to get on that? IE: I’m going to get on it. I asked some of the guys that were in the film to give me music for the tape and then also I gave an opportunity for my social network, Twitter, … Elba on Twitter and my Facebook to submit music for the tape. There is some great music out there, and try to put some on this tape. A lot of people are going to say, “Listen to this tape” just because it’s associated with the film, so it’s an opportunity to maybe discover some new talent.
Page 12 • August 30 - September 5, 2010 • Insight News
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