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Insight News August 14 - August 20, 2017
Vol. 44 No. 33• The Journal For Community News, Business & The Arts • insightnews.com
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Two-year-old Leonardo Walker learns to play piano at BSOMA. Mixed Hype Photography
Page 2 • August 14 - August 20, 2017 • Insight News
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Leading with art:
BSOMA: Empowering through arts education By Abeni Hill Billingsley School of Music and Art (BSOMA) strives to give its students access to arts education and selfexpression. “It really empowers them,” said BSOMA executive director, David Billingsley. “You put something like an instrument or a piece of art in a student’s hands it really allows them to dream and see their potential.” Billingsley said practicing and selfexpression helps students become more empowered. “That expression and practicing it (the arts) let’s kids know they matter; that they can do and achieve if they believe it,” said Billingsley. One of the ways the school makes the arts accessible is its “pay-whatyou-can” payment plan. “I’m just tired of shutting the door on people and saying, ‘You don’t have so you can’t,’” said Billingsley. The licensed music teacher said he encourages parents or legal guardians to pay what they are able to give no matter the amount. “There has been a lot of shame around not being able to provide for your kids,” said Billingsley. “We want to be able to eliminate all of those barriers.” Billingsley is a classically trained pianist with a bachelor of arts in music. He said one of the main things that motivates him to be an active participant in arts education is his upbringing. “Being raised in Racine, Wisc., a place where kids of color didn’t have access to arts education, I noticed it right away that kids like me weren’t doing art,” said the founder of BSOMA. “It
bothered me enough to do something.” The musician and educator said many schools don’t make the arts a significant priority. He said most schools focus on reading and science and standardized testing and are “throwing away the arts for it” by cutting funding for arts programs. He said even if students get it in school, arts education should still be an extracurricular priority. “I went to lessons once a week for 18 years,” said Billingsley. “I needed that place, I needed that mentor every week.” During the school year, BSOMA has after-school programming at a handful of schools around the Twin Cities including Roosevelt High School and Friendship Academy in Minneapolis. The arts school offers a variety of programs such a theater, dance, singing, a variety of musical instrument classes such as piano, violin, guitar, and DJing. “We really want to supply things that aren’t being done as much in the city,” said Billingsley. “If you want to learn classical piano there are a million places for that. If you want to learn beginning hip-hop piano, we’ll be that resource.” Billingsley said BSOMA invites professional artists of color, such as ballet dancer Darwin Black to offer classes at the school. Members of the community are encouraged to volunteer or donate to BSOMA. The non-profit school will host a public performance in December. Fall registration is open and classes will start Oct. 24. BSOMA provides classes for pre-K to adults. For more information, visit www. bsoma.org.
Mixed Hype Photography
BSOMA founder, David Billingsley
BSOMA founder, David Billingsley, teaching song technique to 2-year-old Leonardo Walker.
Tonique Ayler brings voice of healing in powerful testimony about overcoming drug abuse, sex trade Part one in a series By Tonique Ayler
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My name is Tonique. I am a proud and grateful client of Resource. I would like to share my story with you. I grew up in a middle class suburb, single parent home with two brothers. My mother was a survivor of domestic abuse and my father was in prison at the time for robbing banks. Growing up I was happy and popular. I was on the student council committee, a peer mediator, I ran track, played basketball, volleyball and was a cheerleader. At age 14 I was raped by three men, which ended very violently for them, by the hands of boyfriend, who ended up serving 15 years in prison. This is when I began to drinking to cover my pain with alcohol. Liquor was my best friend to comfort and help ease my pain. My mother worked a lot and knew I was depressed because those men stole my innocence. My father was released from prison and I moved in with him to get a new start. Living with my dad was totally different. I had three “stepmoms” and they were what my dad called, “ladies of the night.” My dad was my best friend who allowed me to smoke weed to numb my emotional state and drink brandy whenever I had cramps. Unfortunately, I was exposed to a lot of violence in the home due to my father being a pimp and a career criminal, who himself struggled with addiction. I dropped out of high school because I lived in a household full of aggression. I witnessed my stepmoms being beaten. I saw my dad punch one of the women so hard in the face, she fell into the tub and was knocked out for a long time. My dad would close the bathroom door and told me not to go in
there. He poured a pot of boiling hot water and rice on another woman’s back. I can still see the image of her body flopping to the floor in agony. My dad would simply step over her body and ask me if I was hungry so he could cook me something to eat. Liquor was able to suppress these memories but only temporally. Physical force and emotional destruction was now the norm in my household. I was my dad’s princess, but he unknowingly planted a seed in me with reality of what women are supposed to do and what not to say. I viewed my future as being obedient to men. When I turned 18, one of my stepmothers killed my dad by overdosing him. My core belief at this time was, “It’s just me against the world.” I moved in with my older cousin and went back to school to get my GED. I met my oldest son’s father who was 17 years older than me. I was desperately trying to find someone to fulfill that void in my life that I was missing from the loss of my dad. I was pregnant within months with my oldest son. All throughout my pregnancy I smoked weed. One day I thought I was going into labor and my cousin rushed me to the hospital. Although it was a false alarm I tested positive for marijuana. The hospital threatened to take my son if I didn’t stop and my levels didn’t go down. So I did. But “drug use” remained on my hospital record at and still does to this day. I was able to keep my son but after his birth I chose not to breast feed so I could still turn to my old friend liquor as much as I wanted. My alcohol consumption became too much for my son’s father and my mother to bear. My son’s father left me and he and my mother took my son from me until I became stable enough in their eyes to raise him. For two years I made numerous
Tonique Ayler attempts to manage my alcohol use. But without a support system I struggled with several relapses. Then I connected with an old childhood friend. This relationship was extremely toxic because he was very abusive and an alcoholic like me. I became pregnant with my second son. I managed to graduate and get my G.E.D., and went onto college. I was able to stay sober the entire pregnancy only because the hospital constantly tested me for drugs and alcohol. I graduated from college with an associate of science degree, another baby and no job. My best friend told me about giving massages for quick money until I got my career going. She introduced me to her boyfriend and he introduced me to a new addiction called cocaine. It was love at first sniff. The tremendous high I experienced made me seem on top of the world. No worries. No problems. No damaging thoughts. No drowning in disgrace and embarrassment from my childhood rape. For once in my life I felt empowered. This is when I became “Savannah” and my life became involved deeply with drugs and illegal activities. Part two in the series follows in next week’s edition of Insight News. Full article online @www.insightnews.com.
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Insight News • August 14 - August 20, 2017 • Page 3
aesthetically speaking
Aesthetically It!: Events, concerts, venues in the Twin Cities
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Insight News August 14 - August 20, 2017
Vol. 44 No. 33• The Journal For Community News, Business & The Arts • insightnews.com
Terror attack on Bloomington mosque By Harry Colbert, Jr. Managing Editor Twitter @HarryColbertJr The veil of “Minnesota Nice” was lifted this past Saturday (Aug. 5) when a bomb was detonated inside the Dar Al Farooq Islamic Center in Bloomington. The bombing, which caused significant damage to the office of the center’s imam, was detonated early Saturday as worshipers were preparing for morning prayer. No one was injured in the attack. The bombing comes less than a week after an Islamic cemetery in Dakota County was vandalized and desecrated. Both crimes are being investigated by the FBI. As of publication date, no arrests have been made. The bombing was five years to the day that six people were killed
at a Sikh temple in Oak Creek, Wisc. While incidents of antiIslamic hate have been occurring in Minnesota for the past few years, incidents this past July could have served as another flashpoint. On July 15 Justine Damond, an Australian immigrant living in Minneapolis, was killed by Minneapolis Police Officer Mohamed Noor after Damond called police to report a possible sexual assault. Noor is Somali and Damond is white. That killing led former Minnesota congressperson Michele Bachmann to spout incendiary remarks during a Carver County GOP event on July 19. During the event, Bachmann, who represented the 6th Congressional District and who serves as a special advisor to President
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Najma Abdirahman
A view of the aftermath of the bombing of the imam’s office at the Dar Al Farooq Islamic Center in Bloomington.
Author Duchess Harris examines ethnicity, class and gender “I consider the move a watershed moment of my career,” said Harris. “ABDO had never done this before, but they wanted me to be their first author to develop a series. The topics would focus on minority and women’s issues, specifically African-American, as well as historic issues focusing on minorities.” The first books in the series will launch in January of 2018. The books are broken down into two categories – core library imprint for grades 3-6, and the essential library imprint, grades 6-12. “We wanted to expand on the level of content in our books and really add value to
By Sonya Goins Duchess Harris comes from a long line of history makers. Her grandmother, Miriam D. Mann became one of the first human computers for NASA in 1943. Her grandfather was a professor at Hampton Institute (now Hampton University), and her father was one of the first African-American air traffic controllers in the country. Now, the Vadnais Heights resident, Macalester College professor and chair of American Studies, attorney, and book author, is adding to her family’s legacy. Harris was recently awarded an exclusive book series by Edinabased ABDO Publishing.
Author and educator, Duchess Harris
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Part four in a series on the new Thor headquarters at Penn and Plymouth Avenues North
Transformation: New construction By Randall Bradley Architect The single most important concept to remember about new construction is the first three letters of the phrase . . . new. This is most closely related to the excitement of a child opening birthday presents; filled with anticipation and excitement. It’s hope realized; expectations achieved. All of these are the psychological foundation of the new. Of all things new … of new construction. Once excavation is finished and the bottom of the hole is reached, all subsequent efforts are completely wrapped up in the new. New concrete, new steel, new connections, new formwork, new floor slabs, new columns, new beams and
new floor levels. This new construction shall result in a four-story building with four and a half levels of internal parking for a total of 632 vehicles. There will be 12,000 square feet of retail shops along Plymouth Avenue North. There will be a two-story corner entrance lobby for the upper floor offices of Thor Construction as well as, Target Corporation and the Metropolitan Economic Development Agency. The most critical community components of this development are the retail spaces at street level. Patronize these businesses heavily. The success of this project for this community shall require constant community economic participation. The site has been surveyed and measured to confirm all dimensions as noted on the
Business
Despite unequal Unequal Treatment, Black treatment, Women will women Willrise Rise
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Plans for level B1 of the new Thor Companies corporate headquarters. architectural drawings. The site is dimensioned, or “laidout” in bays on both the X and Y axis. Simply put, there is a line of dimensions on the plans along the east-west
axis (Plymouth) that indicates where they intersect with the line of dimensions along the
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Kevin Warren
Vikings’ Kevin Warren gives rousing keynote
African American Leadership Forum honors Target’s Laysha Ward, raises more than $57,000 By Harry Colbert, Jr. Managing Editor Twitter @HarryColbertJr The African American Leadership Forum (AALF) honored Target’s Laysha Ward for her community service during its Aug. 3 Community Awards and Fundraising Dinner. The sold-out event took place inside U.S. Bank Stadium – home to the Minnesota Vikings. An annual fundraising event in its third year, more than $57,000 was raised by the group – money used to support programming in the areas of education, health, community partnerships, policy and advocacy. It was Vikings chief operating officer, Kevin Warren, who gave the evening’s keynote address. Warren, who was a key player in the sale of the Vikings to the Wilf family, told the capacity crowd to be proud of what they have achieved, but be mindful of remembering and embracing humble beginnings. “I grew up in a house that
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Laysha Ward
War on opioids hurts sickle cell disease patients
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was 1,200 square feet and I slept on a trundle bed in a room with my brothers,” said Warren, who is the first African-American COO in NFL history. “But I grew up in a household where education was paramount. If you didn’t do well in school you didn’t miss a game or a couple of games, you didn’t play the entire season.” Speaking on education, Warren said Minnesota must do better in educating students of color. “You can’t have Black kids in Minneapolis who are kindergarten ready 67 percent of the time and white kids 90 percent of the time; you can’t have that,” said Warren to thunderous applause. “And in St. Paul people who look like us are 42 percent of the time kindergarten ready and people who are white 70 percent more prepared. We start behind the eight ball.” Warren told a story of determination, recounting a
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Commentary
Lawyer The Chronicles & Freedom of Miss Freedom Fighter: Activate Fighter, Esquire: inner superhero Ending mass incarceration
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Despite unequal treatment, Black women will rise NNPA Newswire Columnist By Julianne Malveaux Many women’s organizations commemorate Equal Pay Day, which this year was April 5. It meant that women, in general, would have had to work all of 2016, and until April 5, 2017, to earn the same amount of money that a white man earned in 2016. But few recognized July 31, the day that the pay for African-American women caught up to the 2016 earnings of white men – seven
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Insight News is published weekly, every Monday by McFarlane Media Interests. Editor-In-Chief Al McFarlane Publisher Batala-Ra McFarlane Assistant to the Publisher Shumira Cunningham Associate Editor & Associate Publisher B.P. Ford Managing Editor Harry Colbert, Jr. Associate Editor Afrodescendientes Carmen Robles Associate Editor Nigeria & West Africa Chief Folarin Ero-Phillips
extra months. Hispanic women will have to work until October, or nearly 10 extra months, to earn the same money white men earned last year. I wonder about our “women’s coalitions” when majority women’s organizations, like the National Organization for Women, are basically silent on Black Women’s Equal Pay Day. I wonder how much Black women’s issues really matter to majority women’s organizations. It matters when they want to present a multiracial, multicultural “united front” at a Women’s March, but less so at other times. The lesson, Black women, is a lesson some sisters remember from 1991, when Anita Hill testified during the Clarence Thomas confirmation hearings. People had all kind of explanations for Hill’s testimony, most of them woefully wrong and viewed through a lens, darkly. Led by feminists Elsa Barkley Brown, Deborah King and Barbara Ransby, more than 1,500 women raised enough money to pay for an ad in the New York Times on Nov. 17,
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1991. The ad, titled “AfricanAmerican Women in Defense of Ourselves” (AAWIDO), reminded Black women that no one should speak for us, except us. No one can be relied on to defend us, except us. And no one can be depended on to celebrate us, but us. No one can lead advocacy for our equal pay, but us. I’m not dismissing our allies – “woke” men of color, especially Black men, “woke” white women and other women of color – I’m just saying we can’t count on everybody to be woke. Evidence? How much noise did majority group’s make on Black Women’s Equal Pay Day? And in the “Reign of Ignorance,” there is likely to be even less noise, as the House Appropriations Committee has actually proposed defunding a program that collects salary data from employers. Without the data, we won’t know the extent of pay discrimination. We know plenty now. We know that Black women earn 63 cents for every dollar paid to white men; white women earn 80 cents for every
dollar white men make. We know that Black women in Louisiana earn the least compared to white men, about 48 cents on the dollar. In comparison, Black women in Missouri, Tennessee, Maryland and Pennsylvania earn 68 cents for every dollar a white man earns. Whatever we earn, it ain’t equal. What we don’t know is how women fare inside some organizations and you can’t dismantle pay discrimination without having the details of it. Under President Barack Obama, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission established requirements to provide pay transparency. Businesses with more than 100 employees were required to start releasing salary data in March 2018. Of course, those who want to sweep pay discrimination under the rug argued that it would cost too much to collect the data. And now, the Republican Congress says that no resources may be used to collect this very necessary data. It reminds me of the old folks who used to say, “you don’t miss what you can’t measure.” But we can measure
the pay inequity, and we can see it in the quality of women’s lives. We might not be able to point a finger at one company or another (Republicans are also likely to make class action lawsuits more challenging), but we have enough aggregate data to know that there is pervasive gender discrimination in the workplace, and that Black women shoulder an extra burden, because of the intersection between race and gender. Not only do AfricanAmerican women earn less, but we also catch more shade because of our skin color, because of who we are and what we represent. Former First Lady Michelle Obama has spoken out, though very gently, about the racism she experienced while in office. At a recent gathering in Colorado, she spoke about the many “cuts” she experienced, and told the Denver Post, “The shards that cut me the deepest were the ones that intended to cut,” referring to comments about her looks, and especially those that referred to her as “an ape.” She said she was dismayed in “knowing that after
eight years of working really hard for this country, there are still people who won’t see me for what I am because of my skin color.” When I read Michelle Obama’s comment, I thought about Dr. Maya Angelou and her classic poem, “Still I Rise.” One stanza reads, “You may shoot me with your words, you may cut me with your eyes, you may kill me with your hatefulness, but still, like air, I’ll rise.” Black women endure unequal pay, disrespectful treatment (consider the treatment of Sen. Kamala Harris or Rep. Maxine Waters), police brutality and more. And yet we are still here. And yet, “when they go low, we go high.” And yet, like air, we rise. Julianne Malveaux is an author, economist and founder of Economic Education. Her podcast, “It’s Personal with Dr. J” is available on iTunes. Her latest book “Are We Better Off? Race, Obama and Public Policy” is available to order at www.juliannemalveaux.com at Amazon.com.
our offerings explained ABDO editor-in chief, Paul Abdo, in a recent press release. “Duchess has worked on several other
books for ABDO and we felt like she was the perfect fit for this project.” Harris believes the books will be an effective tool for African-American students to learn about their history, something she says, is not always taught in the classroom. “One of reasons AfricanAmerican children do poorly in school is because they do not see positive images of themselves,” said Harris. “When I discovered Toni Morrison and Zora Neale Hurston in high school, it created a ‘politics of possibility’ for my future as an adult.” Harris has spent the whole summer writing about topics that are pertinent to what’s going on in today’s society. Some of the titles include, “Growing up a Girl,” “Male Privilege Sexism” and “Race, Governmental Checks and Balances, the Right
to Vote.” Harris has her work cut out for her – she’s agreed to write 48 books between now and 2019. But the mother of three is up for the challenge. She’s already written several books. She’s the co-author of “Black Lives Matter” and “Hidden Human Computers: The Black Women of NASA.” And as if she didn’t have enough on her plate, Harris has a new book due to be released September 2017 called “Race and Policing.” “I think this book is important because everyone’s daily lives are affected by race and racism in America,” said Harris. “‘Race and Policing’ examines recent incidents of minorities being mistreated or dying in police custody, delving into the historical institutions and laws that underpin today’s system and exploring what
police departments and the communities they serve are doing to improve communication and relationships.” Harris is also considering adding a curriculum to support the book series. She will also hold speaking engagements at local schools. The remarkable history maker in her own right hopes her books will uplift and remind young adults that they are not alone in their struggles. “Many people are discouraged now that Obama is no longer president,” said Harris. “But we need to assume the mantle of citizenship, and take our rightful place.” Harris’ books are available on Amazon, www.bkstr.com/ macalesterstore or www. abdopublishing.com.
Associate Editor Culture and Education Dr. Irma McClaurin Associate Editor Leadership and Social Enterprise Dr. Anita Davis-DeFoe Director of Content & Production Patricia Weaver Content & Production Coordinator Sunny Thongthi Yang Distribution/Facilities Manager Jamal Mohamed Receptionist Lue B. Lampley Contributing Writers Melvin Carter, Jr. Julie Desmond Fred Easter Gloria Freeman Timothy Houston Penny Jones-Richardson Michelle Mitchum Darren Moore Artika Tyner Toki Wright Photography David Bradley Rebecca Rabb Contact Us: Insight News, Inc. Marcus Garvey House 1815 Bryant Ave. N. Minneapolis., MN 55411 Ph.: (612) 588-1313 Fax: (612) 588-2031 Member: Minnesota Multicultural Media Consortium (MMMC), Midwest Black Publishers Coalition, Inc. (MBPCI), National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) Postmaster: Send address changes to McFarlane Media Interests, Marcus Garvey House 1815 Bryant Avenue North, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55411.
is partnering with Medtronic to fill 20-30 medical assembly positions • Med dtronic, a global medical tech hnologyy, ƐĞƌǀŝĐĞƐ ĂŶĚ ƐŽ ŽůƵƟŽ ŽŶƐ ĐĐŽŵƉĂŶLJ͕ ŝƐ ŚŝƌŝŶŐ mediccall assemb blers from North h Minneapolis and the Cedar Riverside e neighb borhoo od • ϮϬͲϯϬ ŵĞĚŝĐĂů ĂĂƐƐĞŵďůLJLJ ƉŽ ŽƐŝƟŽ ŽŶƐ ĂĂǀĂŝůĂĂďůĞ at Brookklyn Center faacility • WĞĞŽƉůĞ Ž ŽĨ ĨƌŝĐĂŶ ĚĞƐĐĞŶƚ ĂƌĞ ĞĞŶĐŽƵƌĂŐĞĚ Ě ƚƚŽ ĂƉ ƉƉůLJ
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Area artist combine art and activism
Don’t complain, activate David McCoy Insight News Intern Last week on “Conversations with Al McFarlane,” three young geniuses were in the studio to talk about the importance of sharing artistic gifts and the second annual celebration of art, artists and culture, Its Fest, presented by Philli Irivin with Win Back the Community. “When I first came to Minnesota I didn’t know too many Black people or where the Black community was,” said Leslie Redmond. Vice president of Minneapolis branch of the NAACP, Redmond is a first-generation college
student studying law at University of St. Thomas. Born and raised in Washington D.C., she has found a network working alongside Minneapolis businesses in a Northside partnership, Win Back the Community. “When I found North Minneapolis, I was immediately attracted to it. It was reflective of neighborhoods around the country,” said Redmond. “I met Steven Johnson, whose stage name is Philli Irvin and he ran Its Fest last year. I saw his struggles and wanted to collaborate.” Each year Its Fest seeks to push art beyond the physical space and provide a unique viewing experience. This year’s theme was “Home” in the physical, emotional and mental sense of the word. “Each event I run has the same
Leslie Redmond because I saw a lack of exposure and support in the community. But like Leslie says, ‘Don’t complain, activate.’” Cameron Downey, an artist, is curating the art space at New
mission, which is to provide artist with resources and opportunity in their field of work,” said Irvin, a 20-year-old Minneapolis native majoring illustration at Columbia College in Chicago. “I started this
Rules, 2015 Lowry Ave. N. “By curating, you give art its due justice. My definition of curation is arranging objects and art in a way to shed light on the beauty of each object,” said Downey. She and others displayed artists’ work in a variety of ways: on ceilings, on coat racks viewed through mirrors; all to bring out that beauty in unique ways. Bringing out the beauty and positivity of the Northside and promoting the area youth is the lead mission of the 10-partner, Redmond included, project Win Back the Community. The project presented its first summer festival last year at Harrison Park and through scholarship and partnership has helped upcoming artists get their start.
“It’s important that (these young people) get to speak for themselves on the air,” said Redmond. “It’s not always about giving money; it also about giving your time, opportunity and your network; giving them a platform.” “Like with Papa (an area artist), he’s 18, recent high school graduate He was the art director for the first gallery at New Rules and at the summer festival last year. He’s gotten our Kirk Washington and Philli Irvin Artist Grant,” said Redmond. “(The $1,000 scholarship) recognizes both legends and the greatness of upcoming talent.” “Conversations with Al McFarlane” airs Tuesdays at 1 p.m. on KFAI Radio, 90.3 FM and online at wwwkfai.org.
Free counseling programs seek to repair credit to help potential buyers qualify
Workshops aim to increase homeownership NeighborWorks Home Partners (NWHP) has launched a new program to help more buyers prepare to purchase a home. HomeOwnership Pathways is a homebuyer readiness program that includes financial education and one-on-one advising sessions with HUDcertified counselors. The services
are offered free of charge at the NeighborWorks Home Partners office, 533 Dale St. N., St. Paul. The classes are presented in a two-and-a-half-hour workshop format and cover topics related to credit, budgeting and credit repair. Potential homeowners may take any combination of courses and may also opt for
advising sessions that will give a more personalized look at their own credit situation. Workshops are held from 6 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Available courses are the Aug. 24 credit builder programs and Aug. 31 money management program. Registration for classes and counseling sessions is online at www.
nwhomepartners.org/readiness. “Buying a home is a major milestone in many people’s lives, and is a step that can provide an opportunity to stabilize living expenses and build wealth, along with many other benefits of homeownership,” said Tasha Merritt, a housing counselor with NWHP. “Qualifying for a mortgage
often takes preparation and we are here to help buyers understand the process and take the steps they need to improve their credit and savings. Sometimes the thought of buying a home seems out of reach. But having knowledge and someone in your corner makes it easier to achieve. We’re not only helping buyers improve their
credit and get access to resources like down payment assistance – we help them build the confidence they need to take that next step.” There is no cost for the workshops or counseling sessions. Participants receiving counseling will be offered the opportunity to receive a “soft pull” credit report for a fee.
Blood donations urgently needed in the final weeks of summer The American Red Cross urges blood donors to give in the final weeks of summer to help overcome a chronic summer blood shortage. In August, regular donors
Bombing From 3 Donald Trump, said Noor shot Damond possibly because of “cultural” reasons and Noor was an “affirmative-action hire by the hijab-wearing mayor of Minneapolis,” referring to Mayor Betsy Hodges, who once wore the head covering during a meeting with elders of the Somali community. The far-fetched cultural reason later cited by Bachmann was Noor was angered that Damond was wearing pajamas at the time of the shooting. “Everybody knows that’s not true,” said Amir Malik, attorney and civil rights director for the Minnesota chapter of
Transformation From 3 north-south axis (Penn). The Plymouth axis is designated numerically from one – 12. The Penn axis is designated alphabetically from A – G. The spacing between these grid lines can be variable. Four of these intersections form an invisible “box.” This invisible box is called a bay. The construction of
AALF From 3 serious bike accident after being hit by a car. The now COO said he was in a body cast and suffered a broken femur as a result of the accident. “I hear people say they were flat on their back; well I know what it’s like to be flat on your back,” said Warren. According to the graduate of Arizona State University and Notre Dame School of Law, Warren’s doctor told him he may not ever walk again but if he were to make a full recovery the best method would be to swim daily. Warren said with a portion of the settlement money from his accident, with his parents’ blessings, he had a pool built in the family’s back yard. Warren not only made a full recovery, but went on to earn a Division I basketball scholarship. Mindful of the theme of the event and mission of AALF
may delay giving as final summer vacations are planned and backto-school activities ramp up. To fully meet the needs of hospital patients in the coming days and
weeks, donations are urgently needed from new and current donors. Those who donated blood earlier this summer may be eligible to donate again. Blood
can be safely donated every 56 days, and “Power Red” cells can be donated every 112 days. As a special thank you, those who come out to give blood
or platelets with the Red Cross now through Aug. 31 will be emailed a $5 Target eGiftCard. Appointments can be scheduled by visiting www.
redcrossblood.org or calling (800) RED CROSS (800-733-2767). The area Red Cross blood center is located at 505 W. 98th St., Bloomington.
the Council on AmericanIslamic Relations (CAIR), of Bachmann’s proclamation. “When people throw out these lies it emboldens these hate groups.” Malik said he is not surprised by the bombing and cemetery desecration. “Unfortunately (extremists) are feeling more comfortable in hating Muslims,” said Malik. “Talk (from political figures) leads to people feeling more comfortable in expressing their hate.” The Minnesota head of the GOP says different. Jennifer Carnahan, the chair of the Minnesota GOP, said Bachmann’s words should be given no weight when it comes to acts of hate and said the media took Bachmann’s words out of context.
“Unfortunately, there are bad people in the world who do bad things,” said Carnahan of those responsible for the bombing. “Michele Bachmann was talking about the need for assimilation and respecting our values and the Constitution and what America stands for. To try and say what Michele Bachmann said led to what happened (with the bombing and cemetery desecration) is a bridge too far to leap.” Carnahan offered the analogy of when she travels overseas she observes the traditions of the culture abroad and respect for “American culture” is what Bachmann was asserting regarding “assimilating” Muslims in Minnesota. When asked if Hodges’ wearing of a hajib could have been out of respect
for Somali traditions she said, “I don’t know what she was thinking, I just know a lot of people who live in Minneapolis were frustrated that the mayor always panders to a certain group rather than being a mayor for all of the citizens.” Carnahan would not say what group to whom Hodges was pandering. Malik said because the vast majority of Muslims in Minnesota are Somali and Black it compounds the problem, as there is anti-Somali and antiBlack sentiment with some residents of the state. “You have a place where you have a state representative who before he got elected to the state House said it was ‘lynching time’ when President Barack Obama was first elected,” said Malik, referring to Rep. Nolan West (R-37B). “When you
have people like this in office it normalizes hate.” Rep. Ilhan Omar (DFL60B), the nation’s first Somali state elected official, said the bombing grieves her. “It saddens me beyond words to know that someone in our state would set an explosion in a place where children gather every day to learn and play,” said Omar on her Facebook page. Rep. Keith Ellison (DMN), the nation’s first Muslim elected to Congress, attended a rally outside of the Bloomington mosque to support those affected by the Aug. 5 bombing. He said in a statement, “Hate is becoming too prevalent in our society. It spreads on social media and infects our discourse. We must counter it with love and the values we hold so dear.” While condemning the
bombers, Ellison said he sees more good than evil in the residents of the state. “What makes Minnesota unlike no other is how we accept and love members of our community, no matter the religion they practice, the language they speak, or where they come from. All are welcome. Those are Minnesota values,” said Ellison. Malik agreed. “When I showed up at the center after the bombing the first thing I saw was non-Muslims holding up signs in support of their neighbors. It just reminded me that the vast majority of Americans are good,” said Malik. Insight News reached out to Bachmann for this story, but efforts were unsuccessful.
these dimension lines then form grids, or bays. The invisible lines also project vertically on every floor throughout the building. This allows for the immediate identification of any location on any floor. The grid locations, the bays, keep everyone on the same page. The construction of a building is in a constant state of movement from the start of construction until the last worker has left the project. The smooth coordination of the workers, materials, equipment and systems has to be directed
by an on-site project manager. The better and more experienced that person is, the more successful the project will be. Every item that arrives on the site, from a box of nails to a truck full of wet concrete or the roof top air-handling equipment, must be managed thoroughly, properly and succinctly. This work effort makes the on-site field superintendent as much a choreographer as they are a composer. There are lots of complexities that need a lot of coordination. The building going up at
Penn and Plymouth is a posttensioned concrete building. Because concrete is a “plastic” material meaning it can be poured as a thick material into virtually any shape or mold, and can accept the interior steel needed to achieve its desired shape. Concrete has steel bars or cables in it to make it stronger. These components are used to create the flat surface that you walk or drive on; the slab. Slabson-grade typically include rebar. Concrete “T’s” are pre-stressed by pulling and stretching steel cables prior to pouring the
concrete into a mold. Concrete T’s are often used in bridge construction. Post-tensioning, while similar to pre-stressing, occurs after the concrete is poured. Sixteen hours after the pour, hydraulic stressing jacks are used to complete this task. The post-tensioning stressing jacks pull the cable as if stretching a rubber band from each end. As the concrete hardens, this prevents the snapback of the cables. But the kinetic energy of the cables remains and adds forces that are expressed as strength of the concrete. For
this project, the post-tensioned slabs shall be poured first and shall continue until all levels are completed. Level B2, lower floor and finally, slab-on-grade pour will then be poured last. Construction will continue and utilize materials such as masonry, stone, metal panels, and glazing (windows). Subsequent articles will describe additional new construction work.
– community service – Warren said it was his service to an ailing sister that got him into law school at Notre Dame. Now able to donate, along with his wife, Greta Warren, $1 million to the Minnesota Masonic Children’s Hospital, Warren said he was given the gift of admissions by the then dean of the law school. “I had a decent GPA but I scored low on the LSAT (the standardized law school admissions test), and a couple of months ago I had dinner with the dean and he told me then that based on criteria I didn’t qualify to get into Notre Dame, but every year he selects five students who do not qualify but deserved an opportunity,” said Warren. “He said, ‘You were one of those students in 1987.’ He said, ‘When I looked at your application and you said you were coming to the area to take care of your sister, I knew you deserved an opportunity.’” Ward, Target’s executive vice president and chief external engagement officer, was honored for her work with groups
such as The Links, the Aspen Institute and the Stanford Center for Longevity. She was also appointed by President George W. Bush to serve on the board of the Corporation for National and Community Service. That service continued through the Obama Administration, where she served as the board chair. Ward said when it comes to service she is reminded of the words of her mentor, the late Coretta Scott King. “I used to say to Mrs. King, ‘I wonder what I would have done if I were alive during the Civil Rights Movement’ and Mrs. King would say, ‘It doesn’t matter what you would have done then, what matters is what you do right now,” said Ward. “Civil rights is fought and won in each generation. This is our moment, this is our time.” During the dinner, a pledge auction took place raising more than $57,000 for AALF, including a $10,000 donation from Warren.
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Page 6 • August 14 - August 20, 2017 • Insight News
Insight 2 Health
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Sickle cell disease sufferers trapped in fight against opioid scourge
War on opioids hurts sickle cell disease patients By Leonard E. Colvin New Journal and Guide/ NNPA Member For the thousands of individuals who suffer from the effects of sickle cell anemia, pain is a common part of their lives. The inherited disease causes red blood cells of mostly people of African descent to deform into a sickle shape. This inhibits the red blood cells from carrying oxygen throughout the body, which can cause severe pain and organic damage. So, many of those suffering from sickle cell anemia are prescribed a variety of powerful pain killer
derivatives. Their desire to receive relief may be viewed through the biased lens of racism and criminalization as a result of the opioid epidemic, and deter them from receiving care for their pain. Many of these painkillers are equal in strength to oxycontin and oxycodone, which many people with sickle cell anemia have been taking since they were children. They are also the same drugs at the center of the nation’s current opioid addiction epidemic that has been causing thousands of individuals addicted to these and other strong painkillers to overdose and die. Thus, federal and state governments
are seeking to pressure doctors to limit their prescriptions of such drugs to patients to curb the deadly trend. According to Judy Anderson, the executive director of the Sickle Cell Anemia Association of Hampton Roads, a growing number of people who are suffering from sickle cell anemia may be severely impacted by the government’s effort to curb opioid addiction. During a recent interview on the issue, Anderson told the Guide that doctors are being ordered to screen and review the prescriptions of people with sickle cell anemia, to determine the necessity of their use of the strong pain killers. “These people are not addicted to these drugs,” said Anderson. “They are dependent on them because of the pain they are experiencing throughout their lives. One lady who called the office told me she took her last pain pill the previous Friday, Her doctor is reviewing her case and has not written her a new prescription. Unable to get her pain meds, I am sure she will end up in a hospital, because she went to the emergency room to have her pain treated.” Anderson said that the woman is bedridden and has other ailments along with sickle cell anemia. Recently, Anderson has devoted more attention to helping people like this woman and others who may be caught up in the government’s effort to curb opiate addiction, by curbing the number of pain killer prescriptions doctors can administer. Anderson said doctors have been telling sickle cell anemia patients to buy 880 milligrams Tylenol or other over-the-counter pain killers to thwart their discomfort. “But that is just like taking a baby aspirin,” said Anderson. “It does nothing for these
The New Journal and Guide
Judy Anderson is the executive director of the Sickle Cell Anemia Association of Hampton Roads, the leading advocacy group in southeastern Virginia for people suffering from the disease. people.” Anderson said in April 2016, in the wake of the growing opioid addiction and related deaths due to overdoses, hospital emergency departments in Virginia received guidelines aimed at curbing opioid misuse and addictions. There were 14 new guidelines issued by the state which directed doctors to avoid prescribing painkillers and to give patients no more than a three-day supply in extreme cases. These guidelines were endorsed by the Virginia Hospital and Health Care Associations and the Virginia College of Emergency Physicians. According to the Virginia Department of Health, the state saw 822 opioid overdose deaths in the first nine months
of 2016, compared with 811 in all of 2015. “Almost three people a day are dying in Virginia from an opioid overdose, either prescription or illegal,” said David Brown, director of the state’s Department of Health Professions. For the first time, the regulations apply specific guidelines to Virginia providers, dictating how many opioids can be prescribed depending on the situation and stipulating that other pain treatments should be considered before opioids are prescribed. Before prescribing opioids, providers must do a thorough physical examination and determine the patient’s history. The patient also must be given Naloxone – a lifesaving drug that can reverse
the effects of an overdose. Part of the effort by the new guidelines, according to Anderson, was to limit the number of people using opioid-based pain killers in the long run. But, according to Anderson and other advocates, in the short term, addicts seeking relief for their pain may go to street vendors and secure heroin or the more deadly pain killers, such as Fentanyl. Fentanyl is a potent, synthetic opioid pain medication with a rapid onset and short duration of action and is 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine. Some Fentanyl derivatives may be as much as 10,000 times more potent than morphine. Anderson said that people who are suffering pain episodes due to sickle cell anemia and have had prescriptions for pain meds delayed because their physicians are “reviewing their cases,” should go to the emergency room anyway. She said ER physicians may hospitalize them and administer pain-relieving medicines. However, the patients will not be released with a prescription of pain killers, due to new state regulations. If that happens, Anderson said the patients should go back until their prescriptions have been filled. Anderson said that a medicine called Hydroxyurea, which has been used in chemotherapy for cancer has been found to be effective in bolstering the body’s resistance to problems associated with sickle cell anemia and relieving pain. “It’s the only option they have,” said Anderson. The New Journal and Guide is a member publication of the National Newspaper Publishers Association. Learn more about becoming a member at www. nnpa.org.
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Insight News • August 14 - August 20, 2017 • Page 7
Commentary Lawyer & Freedom Fighter: Activate inner superhero Contributing Columnist
By Dr. Artika Tyner For me, I had no choice but to take a stand for justice and join in the struggle to end mass incarceration. Injustice was my reality. I saw firsthand the impact of the tangled web of mass incarceration with far too many entry points and far fewer exit points. There are more than two million people incarcerated in the U.S. America has the highest rate of incarceration in the world with 5 percent of the world’s
population and 21 percent of the world’s prison population. When compared to other industrialized nations our incarceration rates are 478 percent higher than the U.K.’s and almost 912 percent higher than Germany. And when we look at the fact the majority of those incarcerated are people of color with more Black men under the control of the criminal justice system in America today than who were enslaved in the 1800s – it is clear race matters. Gender also matters. Women in jail are the fastest growing correctional population in the country – between 1980 and 2014 the population of incarcerated women grew more than 700 percent. There are nearly one million women incarcerated
and under some type of supervised release, 60 percent of women incarcerated in state prisons are mothers with children under the age of 18. And when we look at the fact Black women are incarcerated more than twice the rate of white women – it is clear once again that race matters. I grew up as a child witness to the “War on Drugs” during which I saw my community being destroyed as our moms, dads, sisters, brothers, aunts and uncles entered the prison gates for nonviolent drug offenses. They were locked up and locked out. Locked out of society – when they returned to their communities with a permanent scarlet letter (F for felon), which
restricted their access to jobs, voting and even housing. Our community is broken. It became clear to me we are at the intersection of race and poverty and our policies are broken. I had a choice to make, I could stand on the sidelines while reading the headlines and observe the social justice challenges of our time and simply say, “Isn’t that too bad” or I could be a part of the solution. I decided to take action. I recognized that law is a language of power so I needed to become well-versed in this language in order to ensure my community could exercise their rights and had a voice to shape their destiny. That’s when Miss Freedom Fighter, Esquire stepped on the scene. Miss
Freedom Fighter, Esquire is my inner superhero who seeks to advance the cause of justice by ending mass incarceration. Her sword is her legal training and her shield is unshakable faith. The eight strategies that Miss Freedom Fighter, Esquire is using to end mass incarceration – in partnership with community leaders across the United States – are redefining leadership,
creating jobs to end poverty, promoting educational opportunities, disrupting the school to prison pipeline, addressing implicit bias, engaging in policy reform taking a comprehensive approach and building restorative communities. Dr. Artika Tyner is the diversity and inclusion officer at the University of St. Thomas.
The eight strategies that Miss Freedom Fighter, Esquire is using to end mass incarceration – in partnership with community leaders across the United States – are redefining leadership, creating jobs to end poverty, promoting educational opportunities, disrupting the school to prison pipeline, addressing implicit bias, engaging in policy reform taking a comprehensive approach and building restorative communities.
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Page 8 • August 14 - August 20, 2017 • Insight News
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Insight News • August 14 - August 20, 2017 • Page 9
Dr. Katrice Albert: Diversifying the University of Minnesota Meet Opportunity
By Meredith Moore Crosby Dr. Katrice Albert is a purposeful servant leader, role model and transformational change agent. Albert is vice president of Equity and Diversity at the University of Minnesota, responsible for its ambitious diversity goals across ďŹ ve statewide campuses. Before joining the University of
Minnesota, she served as chief diversity oďŹƒcer at Louisiana State University. As the vice provost for Equity, Diversity and Community Outreach at LSU, she led strategic initiatives for cultivating a campus environment for sustaining inclusion and enhancing institutional access and equity. Albert is committed to all students because she understands learning is limitless. A believer in education and mentoring, she understands the importance of creating space for the next generation of highperforming leaders. She holds her students, colleagues and community to lofty standards; platinum standards. As a product of mentoring, her purpose is
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Dr. Katrice Albert to support leaders in positions of power and authority to understand their responsibilities to advocate and drive inclusive excellence strategies, while helping the next generation to chart and navigate their own
courses so that they might achieve their wildest dreams. As a writer, speaker and consultant with Third Eye Consulting, LLC, Albert understands solutions must incorporate the communities of corporations, educational institutions and individual leaders. She knows it is critical for leaders across education and corporations to manage our cultures so that our students enter an accepting environment. The community must be willing to listen and be agile, nimble and adaptive to reduce attrition of top diverse talent being attracted outside of Minnesota. Albert completed her doctoral degree in counseling psychology at Auburn
Phone: 612.588.1313
Fax: 612.588.2031
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we must commit to including all voices in the conversation, especially ones that don’t sound like ours. Her experience has taught her the importance of understanding her role in each situation, and succession planning for the future. She is committed to providing solutions and to helping others see the opportunity in overcoming dierences. It is an important mission and a theme of all the individuals we’ve featured in this column. Meredith Moore Crosby is an entrepreneur and writer working and living in the Twin Cities. Connect on Twitter @ MeredithMCrosby or email info@LeveretteWeekes.com.
Email: info@insightnews.com
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University and multicultural training in psychology at Boston University School of Medicine. Her national perspective brings an important competitive advantage to growing talent who will stay in our state and contribute to our community. Her message is the same. When and where she enters, Albert makes room to discuss how to help leaders overcome â&#x20AC;&#x153;battle fatigueâ&#x20AC;? and thrive. She is also a connector, building communities and coaching leaders to push beyond their comfort zone to embrace new thinking and backgrounds. Embracing diďŹ&#x20AC;erence allows innovation to thrive and extend beyond the classroom or corporations. She believes
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Page 10 • August 14 - August 20, 2017 • Insight News
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Ruthie Foster Vetta
Finding Novyon Shed G
Monday, Aug. 14 BLUES/JAZZ Ruthie Foster Dakota Jazz Club 1010 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis 7 p.m. $35-$45 Rolling Stone calls Ruthie Foster a “pure magic to watch and hear.” Check out the guitar playing songwriter Aug. 14 and Aug. 15 at the Dakota.
Tuesday, Aug. 15 August 14 August 27, 2017
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
40th birthday at the Parkway with Louisiana’s D’Lai.
include Finding Novyon, B Dot Croc, Eric Mayson and more.
Thursday, Aug. 17
Sunday, Aug. 20
DANCE
GOSPEL
Rhythmically Speaking 2017 Illusion Theater 528 Hennepin Ave., 8th floor, Minneapolis 7:30 p.m.
«We Are Better Together” Concert Shiloh Temple International Ministries 1201 W. Broadway Ave., Minneapolis 5 p.m. – 7 p.m. $50
Twin Cities and national choreographers come together for a night of dance in this ninth year of Rhythmically Speaking, which runs through Aug. 19.
HIP-HOP
Friday, Aug. 18
YO! MNtv Raps Honey 205 E. Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis 9:30 p.m. 21-plus Free
NEO-SOUL
DJ Adatrak spins at a new night in Minneapolis where he mixes music videos from hometown artists. Have a video you want included? Email DJadatrak@ gmail.com to get on the playlist.
Wednesday, Aug. 16 COMEDY Shed G›s Comedy Birthday Bash The Parkway Theater 4814 Chicago Ave., Minneapolis 7:30 p.m. 21-plus $10-$25 Celebrate comedian Shed G’s
Pourhouse Live ft. Traiveon and Candi Pourhouse 10 5th St. S., Minneapolis 7 p.m. – 10 p.m. All ages $10-$15 Neo-soul band Traiveon and Candi headline with Niibox.
Saturday, Aug. 19 FOOD/FESTIVAL Appetite for Change: Summer Block Party Appetite for Change 1200 W. Broadway Ave., # 180, Minneapolis 12 p.m. – 5 p.m. All ages Free Food trucks and music will be on the Northside for youth farming organization, Appetiite for Change. Performances
2nd Chance Outreach and the Minnesota State Baptist Convention present this concert featuring Dottie Peoples, Alexis Spight, saxophonist Antonio Allen and the Minnesota State Baptist Convention Choir. The concert is hosted by Shed G.
Free The Twin Cities Black Film Festival has a movie in the park with performance by singer Ray Covington.
Crave 825 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis 9:30 p.m. 21-plus $10
Wednesday, Aug. 23
The popular ode to all things Beyoncé returns to the Crave in downtown Minneapolis.
HIP-HOP
Saturday, Aug. 26
Summer Send Off Driftwood Char Bar 4415 Nicollet Ave., Minneapolis 9 p.m. 21-plus $5 Summer is coming to an end but the music keeps going all year long. Hear sounds from Malaci, Dee Bomb and more at Driftwood.
Monday, Aug. 21
Thursday, Aug. 24
JAZZ
HIP-HOP/R&B
Steven Hobert Quartet Icehouse 2825 Nicollet Ave., Minneapolis 9:30 p.m. 21-plus $8
ILLism – “Love & Loyalty” Release Party First Avenue 701 N. 1st Ave., Minneapolis 8 p.m. – 1:30 a.m. 18-plus $7
JT›s Jazz Implosion series welcomes the Steven Hobert Quartet with special guest John Penny on guitar.
Tuesday, Aug. 22 FILM/R&B TCBFF Selection featuring Ray Covington Father Hennepin Bluffs Park 500 S.E. Main St., Minneapolis 7 p.m. – 11 p.m. All ages
ILLism has been steadily making noise this year and is set to release its project ,“Love & Loyalty” at First Ave with with DJ Huh?? What??, Jay Hollywood and Destiny Roberts.
Friday, Aug. 25 DANCE NIGHT Love on Top: Beyoncé Rooftop Party
PRODUCTION Dubb Scientist and Heptress Sativa Triple Rock Social Club 629 Cedar Ave. S., Minneapolis 8 p.m. 21-plus $5 advance Kingston’s Dubb Scientist headlines a night of production at Triple Rock curated by Totally Gross National Product and Red Bull.
Sunday, Aug. 27 GOSPEL «We Are Better Together” Concert Shiloh Temple International Ministries 1201 W. Broadway Ave., Minneapolis 5 p.m. – 7 p.m. $50 2nd Chance Outreach and the Minnesota State Baptist Convention bring present this event featuring Dottie Peoples, Alexis Spight, saxophonist, Antonio Allen and the Minnesota State Baptist Convention Choir. The concert is hosted by Shed G.
‘Mr. Personality,’ recorded hits ‘Restless Heart,’ ‘Ain’t It a Shame,’ ‘Stagger Lee’ and ‘Lawdy Miss Clawdy’
R&B great, Lloyd Price’s hits inspire tribute songbook Masahiro Sumori/Wikimedia Commons
Famed R&B singer Lloyd Price, also known as “Mr. Personality,” performs at the New Orleans Jazz Fest in 1996.
By Dorothy Rowley The Washington Informer/NNPA Famed R&B crooner Lloyd
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Price, known in his heyday as “Mr. Personality,” has long enjoyed what few of his peers can claim – a nearly 70-year career as a shining star in the
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entertainment business. The Kenner, La., singer-songwriter, who’s toured the world with the likes of Little Richard and Jerry Lee Lewis, reflected upon his longevity during a recent interview with fellow Louisiana-based artist, Rudiger, who has written and recorded a tribute songbook based on nine of Price’s original song titles. Price, 84, whose list of hits includes “Restless Heart,” “Ain’t It a Shame,” “Stagger Lee” and his first chart-topping single, “Lawdy Miss Clawdy,” said the inspiration for his iconic 1952 hit came out of the blue. “I was in my mother’s shop one day helping her, and I heard this voice from a Black man named Okey Dokey Smith shout out, ‘Lawdy Miss Clawdy, get your homemade pies and drink Maxwell House coffee,’” said Price during an interview with Richard Ricks, CEO of Kingdom of Camelot Publishing, which is putting out the Rudiger project. Price said he then went to work on the song, which came together very quickly. The song has since been re-recorded 168 times, he said. “It’s been recorded by the biggest rock stars in the world, and, as a matter of fact, it was the first record to ever sell one million copies,” said Price, telling Rudiger that, “besides Joe Cocker,” his version is “better than any of the people I’ve heard do it.” Rudiger said he did the
songbook project to show his appreciation for Price, who was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998. Price is featured in the songbook on a duet with Rudiger for a newlywritten song inspired by his classic, “I’m Gonna Get Married,” in which Price plays the preacher. “As I was writing the song, I was searching the internet and (Kingdom of Camelot executive ‘Dollar’ Bill Waller) sent me a beautiful book on (Price’s) history and what he’d accomplished,” said Rudiger. Price playfully recounted how he left his hometown after listening to raindrops on the tin roof of his family’s home, where he could see the moon shine through a nail hole. “I used to look up at the ceiling at night, and when it rained you could hear the bang, bang,” said Price. “And there was a little nail hole in the tin and there was this one little drip with no way you could turn, because it just dripped on you. So, when the moon was out, you could see it from the little light (streaming down) and there’s dust in the room, so you really see it. And I said one night, ‘Lord, I don’t know much about prayer, but you’ve got to get me up out of here.” The Washington Informer is a member publication of the National Newspaper Publishers Association. Learn more at www.nnpa.org.
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Insight News • August 14 - August 20, 2017 • Page 11
Hip-hop legend and VH-1 Honors honoree, Grand Master D of Whodini, was in town this past Friday (Aug. 4) to DJ First Friday at Rouge. Still one of the
best at his craft, Grand Master D had the crowd singing almost every word of each song he put on, as the monthly gathering brought out several lovers
of classic hip-hop and R&B. Here are a few of the sights Insight News captured.
Harry Colbert, Jr.
First Friday Male Face of the Month, Dennis Cherry (center) with friends Jodie Carroll (left) and Tyrone Terrill.
Whodini’s Grand Master D
Kristina Urvina (left) and Trelisha Neely hanging out at First Friday.
DJ Reies Romero
Kathryn Mayfield strikes a pose.
Denise Mazone (center), hanging out with her fiancé, Robert Scott (right) and soon-tobe brother-in-law, Richard Scott.
“Besties,” Alisha Randle (left) and Devonda Scott.
r o f s k n Tha ting kids c e t o pr from
! l o h t n e m MINNEAPOLIS CITY COUNCIL Thank you for protecting kids from the harms of menthol tobacco. Together we can help achieve a healthier future for our city.
For more information on the dangers of menthol tobacco, visit BeautifulLieUglyTruth.org
Page 12 • August 14 - August 20, 2017 • Insight News
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