Insight News ::: 08.20.18

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Insight News August 20 - August 26, 2018

Vol. 45 No. 34• The Journal For Community News, Business & The Arts • insightnews.com

God bless the QUEEN

Aretha Franklin

March 25, 1942 – Aug. 16, 2018

Aretha Franklin sings “My Country ‘Tis Of Thee’” at the U.S. Capitol during President Barack Obama’s inauguration in Washington, D.C., Jan. 20, 2009.

Cecilio Ricardo/U.S. Air Force/Wikimedia Commons FR A NKL I N 3

Page 2 •August August 20 - August 26, 2018 • Insight News

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Major Taylor Bicycling Club

Members of the Major Taylor Bicycling Club during a trip to Duluth.

Ride takes place this weekend

Bicycling through history: Black women to the rescue

By David McCoy Contributing Writer “This is not a ride designed as a biking challenge, it’s a ride designed to challenge what we have learned, to challenge our understanding of history and the oppression we’ve faced.”

Those are the words of Anthony Taylor, founder of Major Taylor Bicycling Club. On Aug. 25 the club presents Dark2Dawn 6: Bicycling Through History: Black Women to the Rescue.

Tickets for the sixth annual night ride are on sale now.

The ride is put on inpart by the Cultural Wellness Center, cycling organization Slow Roll Twin Cities and is directed by Taylor. The night of cycling begins with an 8 p.m. kickoff dinner at the Cultural Wellness Center, 2025 Portland Ave., Minneapolis, and a tribute to activist and abolitionist Sojourner Truth performed by Joanne Marie before venturing off through history to embody this year’s theme.

“We wanted to do something symbolic,” Taylor said about the event’s 2013 cre-

ation. “like how the buses drove through the night for the March on Washington in 1963. We would ride overnight that same distance.” On the 50th anniversary of the historic march and each year since, Dark2Dawn has let riders experience the history and culture of Black America and Minnesota through music and the performing arts.

“Art is an emotional expression and elicits an emotional response,” Taylor said.

“In times of cultural upheaval, artists use their work to raise issues about racism, sexism,

consumerism, injustice and oppressive institutions or political leaders.”

Last year’s theme, Beyond Rondo, covered the thriving Black neighborhood in St. Paul and Interstate 94’s impact on the neighborhood.

Dark2Dawn 6: Bicycling Through History will honor the social justice work of Black women that often gets overlooked throughout the Civil War, Civil Rights and Women’s Rights movements.

The theme, Black Women to the Rescue, pays tribute to the strong women who have

shaped this state, this country, and history.

“We will start the ride with a performance of Sojourner Truths’, ‘Ain’t I a woman,’ speech,” said Taylor of the first stop on the Dark2Dawn 6 tour. “Everyone will be in full costumes, embodying these ancestors. So at Fort Snelling you will meet Harriet Scott.”

Scott’s case, one that is rarely talked about, is a legal battle for his freedom that escalated to the 1857 Supreme Court and directly led into the Civil War. Black Minnesotans who

Earbud-related hearing loss

will be honored on this ride include Katie McWatt, St. Paul’s first Black candidate for city council, Ermine Hall Allen, the first Black singer to sing in the St. Paul Civic Opera, and Toni “Tomboy” Stone, the first woman to play baseball in the Negro League. The music and performances will conclude with a breakfast and a tribute to honor women at 7 a.m. Sunday.

Tickets are available by email at bicyclingthroughhistory@gmail.com or by phone at (612) 875-7803.

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Insight News • August 20 - August 26, 2018 • Page 3

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Insight News August 20 - August 26, 2018

Vol. 45 No. 34• The Journal For Community News, Business & The Arts • insightnews.com

Following Tuesday’s primary elections

DFL looking for big wins in November

By Harry Colbert, Jr. Managing Editor harry@insightnews.com More than 900,000 registered voters cast ballots in the Aug. 14 primary, showing Minnesotans are not taking off in what is supposedly an “off year” election cycle.

With contested races up and down the ballot, voters foreshadowed where the state is heading politically. Tuesday’s results seem to indicate the state is becoming more tolerant and diverse with one notable exception.

In the race for governor and lieutenant governor it was the ticket of U.S. Rep. Tim Walz and Minnesota Rep. Peggy Flanagan with a convincing win over their closest competitors, Rep. Erin Murphy and Rep. Erin Maye Quade and Attorney General Lori Swanson and Rep. Rick Nolan. Walz and Flanagan walked away with 41 percent of

Courtesy Hollis Winston

Hollis Winston (center back) addresses a room of supporters at the 19th Hole in Brooklyn Park. Winston will advance to the November general election, seeking to become Brooklyn Park’s first Black mayor.

the vote to Murphy and MayeQuade’s 32 percent and Swanson and Nolan’s 24.5 percent.

While not a “shock” that Walz and Flanagan prevailed – even without the DFL endorsement, which went to Murphy and Maye-Quade – what happened on the Republican side is certainly sending shockwaves through the state. Former governor Tim Pawlenty – the favorite on the Republican side and the one who Democrats were campaigning against in the run-up to the primary – was upset by Hennepin County Commissioner Jeff Johnson. Johnson and his running mate, Laura Bergstrom, who ran far right of the already right Pawlenty and his running mate, Lieutenant Governor Michelle Fischbach, captured 168,400 votes (52.6 percent) to Pawlenty’s 140,375 (43.9 percent). If Tuesday’s results are an indicator, Johnson’s 168,400 pail compared to Walz’ 242,488.

DFL 9

All hail Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul

By Dr. Irma McClaurin “Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul, is dead.”

That line plays in my mind like a badly scratched record, hiccupping at one point – “is dead, is dead, is dead” – over and over again.

Aretha’s death marks the passing of a generation of Boomers who grew up singing “Respect” – a song that celebrated women’s independence and became the secular theme song for the Civil Rights Movement, and crying to “Natural Woman,” “Never Loved a Man,” and “Until You Come Back to Me.” And in the age of Beyoncé and Nikki Minaj, Aretha didn’t disappoint. Her lyrics and melodies were a respite

from run-on sentences that didn’t rhyme or words with no cadence or imagery. Aretha reclaimed me with “Forgive but Can’t Forget” and “Wonderful.”

No more nostalgia. If Aretha can die, so can we. Facing mortality something else. As long as Aretha was alive and crooning, I could ride the rhythms of her lyrics through memory lane, and let it take me back to places of hallway grinds and sweet young boy kisses, men who didn’t do right and people/ places/spaces that tried to disrespect me. For every event or encounter, there was an Aretha song. She was my/our “Bridge Over Troubled Water.”

Seeing Aretha waste away was the first sign that all was not well with the Queen. She’d battled obesity for decades,

FRANKLIN 11

Aretha Franklin passed away Aug. 16 at the age of 76.

Diversity Day with the Twins The Minnesota Twins are celebrating diversity.

This week marks the eighth annual celebration culminating in Thursday’s (Aug. 23) game against the Oakland A’s. As part of Diversity Week celebrations, a Wednesday reception will be held from 5:30 p.m. – 9 p.m. at the Carew Atrium inside Target Field. Commissioner of Major League Baseball, Robert Manfred, Jr., will be present and participating in a discussion moderated by Susan Bass-Roberts, vice president and executive

Miguel Ramos, Minnesota Twins director of Diversity and Inclusion Strategies

Business

Fed ad purchases from Black media only 1% of $5b spend

PAGE 4

director of the Pohlad Family Foundation. There will also be a performance by Grammy award-winning Sounds of Blackness and speeches from key figures from the Twins including Miguel Ramos, director of Diversity and Inclusion Strategies for the Twins.

Thursday’s game at Target Field features free t-shirts for the first 10,000 fans, a pregame parade and a variety of performances highlighting the region’s diverse talent.

“We are committed to pro-

Insight 2 Health Start the school year with a healthy diet

PAGE 6

viding an opportunity for everyone to enjoy the great game of baseball and be part of Twins Territory,” said Dave St. Peter, Minnesota Twins president.

Those interested in Wednesday’s event can RSVP by contacting William Nadal at williamnadal@twinsbaseball.com or (612) 659-3547. Tickets for Thursday’s 7:10 p.m. game are available at the stadium or online at www.mlb.com/twins/ tickets/single-game-tickets.

‘Justice Makes a Difference’ takes first place in 2018 Purple Dragonfly Book Awards “Justice Makes a Difference: The Story of Miss Freedom Fighter, Esquire,” has been named the first-place winner of the 2018 Purple Dragonfly Book Award in the charity/making a difference category.

The prestigious award honors excellence in children’s books.

“Justice Makes a Difference is inspiring young people to make a difference,” said Tyner.

Written by St. Paul’s Dr. Artika Tyner and Jacklyn Milton, both of whom are educators and community advocates, and illustrated by Jeremy Norton, “Justice Makes a Difference” is the story of one little girl’s

TYNER 9

Education

Tazel Institute young men interact with Black executives

PAGE 7

Dr. Artika Tyner

AS

Young entrepreneur scores big with state fair booth

PAGE 12

Page 4 •August August 20 - August 26, 2018 • Insight News

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Business

Norton, Chavis vow to seek legislation after GAO report

Fed ad purchases from Black media only 1% of $5b spend

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Contributor In a blistering response to a new report by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) that revealed federal agencies spend very little advertising dollars with minority-owned businesses, D.C. Democratic Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton said that she would work with minority publishers to press her colleagues in Congress “to demand greater spending on minority-owned outlets … to reach

minority audiences that most traditional outlets do not.”

Holmes Norton said that she requested the GAO report to learn more about the disparities in federal advertising contracts. “(The GAO report) showed, as we expected, that the federal government has a long way to go to ensure equal opportunities for minority-owned news outlets,” said Holmes Norton. “As the nation’s largest advertiser, the federal government has an obligation to provide advertising opportunities to news outlets and media companies owned or published by people of color.”

The 41-page report revealed

that over the past five fiscal years, federal government agencies spent $5 billion in advertising, but just $327 million of that went to minority-owned businesses.

Black-owned businesses netted just $51 million – about $10 million per year over the five years covered in the new report.

Dr. Benjamin Chavis, Jr., the president and CEO of the National Newspaper Publishers Association President (NNPA), thanked Holmes Norton for her support. The NNPA is a trade group that represents more than 200 Black-owned media companies and newspapers that reach 20 million readers, combined, in print and online, every week.

More than two years ago, Holmes Norton joined members of the NNPA and the National Association of Hispanic Publications (NAHP) for a press

Freddie Allen/AMG/NNPA

Longtime D.C. delegate Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D) said she would work with the NNPA and the NAHP to pressure Congress to demand greater federal adverting spending with minority-owned publishers. This photo was taken during a congressional panel discussion on judicial diversity. conference on Capitol Hill, to demand the report, which was issued in mid-July.

Dorothy Leavell, the chairman of the NNPA and publisher of the Crusader newspapers in Chicago and Gary, Ind., called

the results of the report shameful. Leavell added that she would call for legislation to address the disparities. She also said she plans on requesting meetings with members of Congress to further explore the matter.

Chavis called on Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) chairman, Rep. Cedric Richmond (DLa.), and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus “to forcefully raise their voices of discontent and reaffirmation of the demands for equity, for justice, for fairness and end to this kind of systemic refusal to treat African-American-owned and Latino-owned businesses along with others in a just, fair and equitable manner.”

Chavis added that the report exposed the consequences of systemic racial discrimination in both Republican and Democratic administrations when it comes to federal advertising spending.

“It’s time for all of us to respond and to act. There should be legislation introduced in Congress immediately to rectify this gross systemic inequity,” said Chavis.

This article was originally published at BlackPressUSA. com.

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Insight News • August 20 - August 26, 2018 • Page 5

Smarts, drive and ambition: the entrepreneurial path

By Dan Holly Urban News Service When Earnest Parker, Jr. wanted to go to college, his parents did not have the money.

Now he is earning more money than many college graduates – by owning and driving trucks.

After five years of steady work and savings, Parker had amassed enough money in his 401(k) – with the help of his employer, who matched his contributions – to buy his first truck.

He put down $3,000 on a W900 Kenworth for $110,000.

Parker bought a second truck, a Freightliner Century, for $30,000 in November 2017.

With unmistakable pride, he jokes that his fleet “grew by 100 percent.”

Working near Statesville, N.C., just north of Charlotte, Parker does not believe his lack of a degree has held him back.

“For the money that I’m making, I probably wouldn’t be doing too much better even if I did go to college,” he said.

After paying all expenses, Parker takes home about $750 per week (roughly $39,000 per year). “I’m pretty happy,” he said. “Everybody always feels they could get a little more, but

UNS

Earnest Parker, Jr. in front of one of his two rigs.

I look at what I can provide for my family and I’m really not in need.”

Parker can provide hope to the growing number of Americans who cannot afford to attend college, but do have smarts, drive and ambition. He is playing his cards right, said Dr. Michael Walden, a professor of economics at North Carolina University.

While many young people stress out about college debt and struggle to find jobs, many industries – like trucking – have good-paying jobs and are begging for workers. There are some 50,000 open positions for truck drivers, according to the American Trucking Association.

It projects the driver shortage to

grow to more than 174,000 unfilled jobs by 2026.

Not every young person needs to go to college, Walden said.

“Skilled craft jobs – particularly in construction, as well as jobs in transportation – are expected to increase by 600,000 to 700,000 positions in the next decade,” Walden told the Urban News Service. “On top of that, many of the current (job) holders are older and will be retiring.

Many of these jobs can pay a ‘middle class salary’ – $40,000 and over – and require two-year community college training or on-the-job training.”

The average truck driver in the U.S. earns $79,565, according to Indeed.com. Its salary

estimates, the website said, “are based on 1,113,184 salaries, submitted anonymously to Indeed by truck driver employees, users, and collected from past and present job advertisements on Indeed in the past 36 months.”

By contrast, recent college graduates who major in education earn $34,981 and those who studied communications earn $47,047, according to a recent study by National Association of Colleges and Employers. Those who studied engineering earned the most right out of college: $64,981 – still almost $15,000 less than truck drivers. Over time, college graduates eventually out earn non-graduates, studies show. Still, those studies measure gross pre-tax income and, generally, do not adjust for repayment of college and graduate-school debt.

The hiring projection for college grads has decreased for the first time in eight years in 2018, according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers. And the average outstanding balance on student loans rose from $9,400 in 1993 to $28,950 in 2014, according to The Institute for College Access & Success, a national nonprofit that works to make college more affordable.

Struggling to find good drivers is a fact of life for trucking compa-

nies, said Lewis Guignard, owner of Gray Rock, the company that employs Parker. Guignard does not think industry is quite as desperate for drivers as the trucking organization makes it out to be, and he thinks government overregulation artificially inflates the shortage.

But Guignard – whose duties include contracting for the cargo moved by 35 drivers, including Parker – wonders why more people do not pursue careers as truck drivers rather than piling up student loan debt. All it takes to work for Gray Rock is to be 21 years old, have a commercial drivers’ license, one-year experience as a truck driver and a clean driving record, he said.

Pay is based on number of miles driven but the average non-owner driver can expect to earn almost $1,000 per week. He said he doesn’t know if any of his drivers have college degrees because he doesn’t ask.

“There’s a lot of blue collar jobs that, honestly, pay a lot better than a lot of college jobs

these days,” said Guignard. “If the purpose of going to college is to get a good job and support your family, you can do that with a career in trucking.”

Driving a truck has its disadvantages. Parker, who has four kids, acknowledged that he has missed a lot of their basketball games and other events while on the road. But drivers can avoid even that if they play their cards right. Tyris Bailey started out as a driver at age 24, became an owner-operator at 33, and now, at 44, owns three trucks. He also works out of Gray Rock’s office as the company’s safety director.

Bailey attended community college for two years but never got a four-year degree. He seems conflicted about college. Asked if he regrets not finishing, Bailey said, “In hindsight I wish I did. I look at things and think I probably could have been more advanced. But I might be alright.

I have friends who have master’s degrees and they’re doing the same I’m doing – owning trucks.”

Sisters from AARP digital newsletter addresses African-American women WASHINGTON, D.C. – AARP is launching “Sisters from AARP,” a new digital newsletter celebrating Gen-X and Baby Boomer African-American women.

The weekly newsletter, reaching subscribers every Tuesday, features content created for Black women by Black women.

“Sisters from AARP is created specifically for Gen X and Boomer Black women to offer fashion, health, career, and relationship advice in a fun,

relatable voice that speaks to them,” said Myrna Blyth, senior vice president and editorial director, AARP Media.

“Our writers and social media team members are opening a space where we black women can share real talk and advice about what matters to us,” said Editor in Chief Claire McIntosh.

“This is a meaningful milestone in AARP’s continuing commitment to authentically, intentionally engage and support diverse audiences,” said Edna

Kane Williams, senior vice president, Multicultural Leadership.

“African-American women are thirsting for information about how to live our best lives. AARP is committed to being that go-to resource.”

The Sisters from AARP newsletter will include culture, beauty and health information such as featured stories cover everything from strategies to maintain the ageless allure Black women pride themselves on; to a writer’s triumph over stubborn

pounds after she uncovered reasons midlife weight loss is harder; to a surprisingly personal look at the connection between sisterhood and mental health. It will also feature articles on current trends/travel highlighting upcoming events, festivals and shows, a music playlist and career/money advice.

For more information, visit www.sistersletter.com.

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Insight 2 Health Start the school year with a healthy diet

By North Memorial Staff As fall approaches and children head back to school, get your kitchen ready with nutritious foods to better your child’s school performance, development and overall health.

Start the day off right Almost half of American families regularly skip breakfast according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. Eating a nutritious breakfast consisting of a protein, whole grain and fruit/vegetable can enhance your child’s memory, test scores and attention span.

Easy options like whole grain cereal with low-fat milk and fruit, hard boiled eggs with whole grain toast and fruit or a fruit and yogurt smoothie with whole grain toast can help get your family’s day off to a healthy start. When preparing breakfast, choose whole grain breads and cereals made with at least 3 grams of fiber per serving and no more than 10 grams of sugar per serving. You can sweeten cereal naturally by adding fruit.

at school. Lunch should include a protein, a whole grain, at least one fruit and veggie, and a calcium-rich food or beverage. As an alternative to traditional sandwiches, try wraps, whole-grain cracker sandwiches, or simply wrap a slice of turkey around a cheese stick and a slice of a sweet bell pepper. Small salads with cheese, nuts and beans are also a great alternative. Variety is key to a healthy diet, so mix things up whenever possible.

Healthy, satisfying snacks After school snacks should be nutritious and satisfy hunger; but should not spoil your child’s appetite for dinner. Try an apple with a tablespoon of peanut butter, a cup of yogurt with whole grain granola or whole grain crackers with a cheese stick or fresh fruit with a yogurt dip. For convenience and planning when your child is snacking at school, check out all the food options his/her school offers.

This includes vending machines, school stores and snack carts. You should find healthy choices like fresh fruit, low-fat dairy products, water and 100 percent fruit juice.

Plan lunch together

Hydrate throughout the day

Kids are more likely to eat meals if they’re part of the planning process. Review school menus together and pack a lunch on the days when your child prefers not to eat what’s being served

Encourage your child to drink plenty of water and send them to school with a water bottle. Add some sliced citrus or berries for added flavor and interest. Skip the sugary energy drinks and sodas.

Rich with sugar and calories, a daily soda can increase a child‘s risk of obesity by 60 percent.

North Memorial Health offers everything your family needs to stay healthy this school year including primary care, urgent care, specialty clinics, and registered dietitians for nutrition counseling.

You and your family don’t have to travel far to get head-to-toe care.

Schedule at www.northmemorial. com.

NMH

Eating the right foods can assist in a child’s ability to focus and learn during the school day.

Strive for these daily goals as a family.

• Enjoy five servings of vegetables and fruits.

• Have three servings of low-fat dairy foods.

• Eat together routinely.

• Limit screen (television phone and video games) time to two hours.

• Inspire your child (and yourself!) to be active for at least one hour.

Fighting for every heart

By Rhonda E. Moore Incoming Board Chairelect, WomenHeart

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WomenHeart’s – a leading voice for the 48 million American women living with or at risk of heart disease – story begins in February of 1999, when three women, united by heart disease, formed an organization that was destined to become a lifeline for other women across this nation.

And at the same time, in February of 1999, a young mother in Charlotte, N.C. suffered a stroke while she was pregnant with her second child. Fortunately, she suffered no long-term deficits, but was horrified by her temporary left side paralysis.

Five years later, this size six, 36-year-old woman would suffer the first of three heart attacks just five days after giving birth to her third child. It was May of 2004. She was misdiagnosed for an entire week despite an EKG showing an acute myocardial infarction. She sought treatment six of seven days before someone finally listened.

On that sixth night, she laid on her bed with one foot on the ground for the entire night, afraid to relinquish her physical attachment to earth, because she felt her body shutting down.

She prayed. And she vowed that if she lived, she would raise her voice so that no other woman suffered her fate.

After this week-long heart attack, she returned to the emergency room. She was rushed by ambulance to another hospital and taken to emergency bypass surgery. She had five coronary artery dissections, and she underwent an emergency quadruple bypass. Her heart was so remarkable that the surgeon literally held it in his hand and had someone capture a photograph.

WomenHeart

Rhonda E. Monroe Eight months later, that same young mother learned that her bypass grafts had shut down.

Her rejection fraction was only 21 percent. She was advised to call a family meeting, get her affairs in order. Her prognosis was grim.

It was then that I became intimately acquainted with her. I marveled at her strength and resolve as we walked this journey together. She became a force of nature, moving heaven and earth in her fight for life. She underwent a repeat bypass, had part of her heart cut off, 15 laser holes drilled in her heart, a pericardial window cut in the sac around her heart, three defibrillator implants, stents, angioplasty and then some.

She’s flatlined four times and suffered from congestive heart failure. She’s experienced more heart issues than generations of a family. But I am happy to share with you that she is still with us. This is my story, and WomenHeart has been a lifeline for me.

I became a WomenHeart Champion in 2007 and it changed my life. The sense of sisterhood and friendship are truly priceless. WomenHeart is the nation’s only patient-cen-

tered organization solely dedicated to advancing women’s heart health through education, advocacy and patient support. At its core are WomenHeart Champions – women living with heart disease – who are trained to be community educators, support network leaders and advocates for women’s heart health in the communities in which they live.

WomenHeart is a friend to many WomenHeart Champions like me. Today, I speak to audiences of women living with heart disease and medical professionals. I’m a little scarred and battle tested, I am no longer 36, I am no longer a size six, but I am still here. And I am determined more than ever now, to keep the vow that I made 14 years ago in May of 2004, so that not another woman suffers my fate. I, along with WomenHeart, am fighting for every heart with the same tenacity and vigor that saved my own.

As an African-American woman, I know that this disease impacts women differently than men, especially minority women. Heart disease claims the lives of nearly 48,000 AfricanAmerican and 21,000 Hispanic women annually, which is why I am asking other women of color who are heart disease survivors to join the fight and become a WomenHeart Champion at the 2018 WomenHeart Science & Leadership Symposium. It’s the nation’s only free volunteer program that trains women with heart disease to be community educators and support network coordinators in their communities. They are real women living with heart disease, who share their stories and important messages about heart health – all in the mission to save lives. Join me.

To learn more or to sign up, visit www.WomenHeart.org/ empower.

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Insight News • August 20 - August 26, 2018 • Page 7

Inspiring through access

Tazel Institute young men interact with Black executives

By Harry Colbert, Jr. Managing Editor harry@insightnews.com

Access and exposure.

The words are simple enough but the deeds of gaining access and offering exposure to many African-American teen males have been lacking. Leon Tazel has set out to change that.

Founded in 2015, the Tazel Institute provides Black male teens in school districts 196 and 833 – districts that include Apple Valley High School and Park High School in Cottage Grove – an opportunity to interact with area business and industry leaders in the Twin Cities.

By providing such opportunities Tazel’s hope is it will inspire the young men and provide the needed spark to maintain a positive course. Tazel, a first-generation college graduate who holds a master’s in management and is a human resources executive, said he was inspired to start the program after a memorable trip to a juvenile detention center.

“My daughter was called into court because she was a witness to a fight at school and what I saw blew my mind,” said Tazel.

“The way they were holding these kids was like an animal

pen. And there were kids there bragging about how many hours of community service to which they were being sentenced.

That night I decided to create a program offering exposure for young men.”

Hoping to expand to other districts throughout the metro, the Tazel Institute offers Black male high school students the opportunity to interact with executives at companies around town including those with the Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx, the law firm of Dorsey & Whitney, Thor Companies, American Family Insurance and more. With each interaction the students hear from Black male executives, thus showing the attainability of such professions.

“I want kids to see themselves in these executives. I want them to see themselves doing something positive,” said Tazel. “This isn’t mentoring; it’s about exposure and self-help.”

Tazel said a goal of the program is to have the students both college and work ready.

The program runs concurrent with the school year and is available to students with a 2.0 grade point average or above.

For more information about the program interested parties can go to www.tazelinstitute.org.

Leon Tazel

(Above) Students of the Tazel Institute pose for a photo. (Below) Leon Tazel (standing) talks with students of the Tazel Institute.

Trump distorts NFL players’ message

By Jessie L. Jackson, Sr. NNPA Newswire Contributor As teams gear up for the NFL season, President Trump is reviving his destructive and diversionary attacks aimed at turning fans against players.

The league office stepped in it, by unilaterally declaring that players who do not wish to stand during the national anthem, should stay in the locker room. The NFL players association had little choice but to force negotiations over that insult.

Jerry Jones, the owner of the Dallas Cowboys, is a decent guy.

But he stuck his foot in it as well, when he recently announced that the Cowboys had to stand for the anthem and couldn’t stay in the locker room – or else.

The league wisely told him to zip it, while the policy was under negotiation and so it goes.

So much of this is a false narrative. Fake news.

Trump dishonestly insists that the players are disrespecting the flag. In fact, the players kneeling during the anthem were expressing a silent protest not against the flag, but against police brutality and the reality of structural racial inequality.

Kneeling before the flag in silent, nonviolent protest is not disrespectful to the “Stars and Stripes.” In fact, it’s just the opposite. It is a sign of deference and respect, a call to honor what the flag is truly supposed to represent.

Burning the flag is constitutionally protected, but is a desecration. Burning a cross is a desecration. It is violent. Kneeling before the cross, or during the anthem, on the other hand, isn’t a desecration; it is a call for help.

Colin Kaepernick was and is concerned about Blacks being beaten and killed by police.

He kneeled during the anthem to highlight how the values of the flag were being ignored on the streets. He wasn’t disrespecting the flag – he was pro-

The Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. says that the only way to fight hate is with self-perseverance and love. testing those who trample its values. He was being a patriot.

Now Trump wants to light the dynamite again. His politics prey and thrive on division. He hopes to divide us one against

the other, while his administration rolls back protections of consumers, workers and the environment, allowing corporate lobbyists to rig the rules, with lards of more and more tax cuts

and subsidies on entrenched interests and the wealthy.

So, he purposefully peddles the false narrative that the players are disrespecting the flag.

Jones, who is a Trump supporter, isn’t a bad man. Beyond the playing field, beyond contracts, he has been a decent guy. He paid for the funeral of Cowboy great Bob Hayes. But Jones has allowed himself to be turned into Trump’s pawn in this diversion. The reality is that we would not have the Dallas Cowboys in Dallas, were it not for those protesting for their rights.

The victory of the Civil Rights Movement opened the way to a new South. The nonviolent protests and resistance pulled down the old barriers and walls in the South, clearing the way for the Cowboys and the Spurs and the Rockets of the new South,

where Blacks and whites could play on the same team and wear the same colors – where fans root for the colors of their team, not the color of the players’ skin.

Successful protests – at the cost of far too many lives – finally ended slavery and apartheid in this society. We should be honoring the protesters, not distorting their message.

Kaepernick was right to protest what is going on in our streets. He has paid a heavy penalty for expressing his views in a nonviolent and dignified fashion. One of the best quarterbacks in the league, he has effectively been banned, a blatant conspiracy that ought to constitute a clear violation of anti-trust laws.

Kaepernick stands among giants. Curt Flood in baseball and Muhammad Ali during the prime years of his boxing life

were also banned, but in the process, they changed sports and the country for the better.

There have always been politicians who profit by appealing to our fears. There have always been politicians who seek to divide us for political gain.

We’ve come a long way, but we still have a long way to go to fulfill the flag’s values of liberty and justice for all. The players expressing their views in nonviolent and dignified fashion aren’t disgracing the flag, they are expressing its values.

Let us turn against those who would divide us and join together to make America better.

The Rev. Jesse Jackson, Sr., is one of America’s foremost civil rights, religious, and political figures and the founder of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition.

Page 8 •August August 20 - August 26, 2018 • Insight News

insightnews.com

My personal contract with God Life Lessons

By Victor Armando Martinez www.AllYouWantBook.com

Editor’s note: Victor Martinez, a Henry High School student leader a little over a decade ago, shares a life-changing message of life lessons he learned as he searched for the love of his life. He reveals a framework for getting everything you

want out of life and more.

Martinez now pastors a bilingual congregation at North Minneapolis’ New Generation Church. Available on Amazon.

“I believe God’s word. He is my heavenly father,” I said to myself.

Eventually, I wrote a contract with God in my favorite Bible. it was a contract to make me focus on Him and serve Him better; a vision that would help me keep my eyes on Him. The contract went something like this.

“Lord If you give me all your blessings in your word I will give you all my strength,

mind and talents.”

And so, it began ... over the next year, I compiled- and made a list of everything I wanted in life. I told God I wanted to prosper and grow in influence.

(1 Chronicles 4:10) As time passed, my list became more and more specific.

I made it less vague, and I clearly defined what I wanted; the kind of house I wanted and the things in it; the attributes that I desired in the woman that would be my wife.

I took time and asked myself, “What is it that I really want?”

I made a game plan for what I wanted in my future wife.

I divided my desires for her

attributes into three sections – physical, mental and spiritual.

For physical attributes, I noted down the height I wanted, the skin color and even the location that I wanted her to have been born in.

For mental attributes, I asked for a peaceful phlegmatic (stolidly calm disposition) wife.

I needed someone who could cope with me and handle my temper without worsening whatever situation we were in.

For spiritual attributes, I noted down in my list that I wanted a mature Christian woman who was not afraid of a potential call to ministry. By the time the list was complete, I had

written down over 30 specific attributes that I wished for – and desired in her.

I had made a mold of my future wife; an exact image of what she would be like.

The mold helped me sort through my youthful passions and helped me to stay focused.

The list helped me to navigate the waves of different ladies that came my way through my journey. Anytime I would meet a girl whom I felt attracted to, I would observe whether she fit the criteria that I had set and had the attributes that I desired.

The easiest and fastest way to do this was to determine whether she fit into the physical

mold I had created … if she was not 5’ 4” tall and had thick curvy black hair and a strong Spanish accent, I would move on and not try to pursue her.

This strategy assisted me in avoiding quite a number of toxic and unstable people that the rest of my peers would constantly and ignorantly pursue, and which usually led to heartbreaks and frustrations for them. I had decided to wait on the Lord and not settle for anything less than my dream woman. This would require some discipline on my part, and so the waiting game began.

I believed that God could give me all I wanted.

Mi contrato personal con Dios Las Lecciones Por Victor Armando Martinez www.AllYouWantBook.com

Nota del editor: Víctor Martínez, un dirigente estudiantil de secundaria

Henry un poco más hace una década, comparte un mensaje de cambio de vida de las lecciones que aprendió como buscaba el amor de su vida. Revela un marco para todo lo que quieres de la vida y mucho más obtener. Martinez ahora pastorea una congregación bilingüe en Nueva Generación Iglesia de North Minneapolis. Disponible en Amazon

Por Víctor Armando Martínez: www.AllYouWantBook.com El contrato era algo como esto: “Señor, si me das todas tus bendiciones en tu palabra, te daré toda mi fuerza, mente y talentos”.

Y así comenzó... durante el año siguiente, compilé e hice una lista de todo lo que quería en la vida. Le dije a Dios que quería prosperar y crecer en influencia. Esta

parte del contrato la había copiado de lo que Jabés hizo en 1 Crónicas 4:10.

También comencé a escribir que yo quería que Él me encontrara una esposa con determinadas características.

Seguí el desafío del programa de radio.

En la medida en que pasaba el tiempo, mi lista se volvía más y más específica. La hice menos imprecisa y definí claramente lo que quería, el tipo de casa

que quería y las cosas en ella, los atributos que deseaba en la mujer que sería mi esposa.

Me tomé el tiempo y me pregunté: “¿Qué es lo que realmente quiero?”

Hice un plan con respecto a lo que quería en mi futura esposa.

Dividí mis deseos según los atributos en 3 secciones: física, mental y espiritual.

Para cuando la lista estaba completa, había anotado más de 30 atributos específicos que deseaba y anhelaba en ella.

Hice un molde de mi futura esposa, una imagen exacta de cómo sería ella. El molde me ayudó a ordenar mis pasiones juveniles y me ayudó a mantenerme enfocado. La lista me ayudó a navegar por las olas de diferentes damas que se cruzaron en mi camino. Cada vez que me encontraba con una chica que me atraía, observaba si ella se ajustaba a los criterios que yo había establecido y tenía los atributos que deseaba.

La manera más fácil y rápida de hacer esto era determinar si ella encajaba en el molde físico que yo había creado: si ella no medía 5’ 4” de estatura, y tenía un cabello ondulado, grueso y negro y un fuerte acento español, yo continuaría buscando y no trataría de perseguirla Esta estrategia me ayudó a evitar un gran número de personas tóxicas e inestables que el resto de mis compañeros perseguían de manera constante e ignorante, y que generalmente les provocaron

desamor y frustraciones. Había decidido esperar al Señor y no conformarme con nada menos que la mujer de mis sueños. Esto requeriría algo de disciplina de mi parte, y así comenzó el juego de espera. Creía que Dios podría darme todo lo que quería.

Este es el tipo de preguntas y cosas en las que usted debe pensar cuando hace su lista de lo que realmente quiere de Dios. No se afane, el tiempo y la madurez con frecuencia revelarán lo que realmente queremos en nuestra vida.

Algunas veces nuestras necesidades y deseos se desarrollan y cambian; no se frustre, pida a Dios sabiduría para elegir las cosas que serán una bendición en su vida Usted tiene que confiar en Él; ponga su fe en Él sin reservas; usted tiene que estar convencido de que él puede hacer exactamente lo que usted desea que él haga; usted necesita tener una fe y confianza completa en el amor que Él le tiene, y debe estar listo para cumplir sus deseos; seguir Su camino; deleitarse en Él y en Sus palabras.

Usted también debe permanecer enfocado y ser capaz de ignorar todas las distracciones que surjan en su camino, porque ellas VENDRÁN... y para que usted pueda lograr su objetivo y no descarriarse, necesita mantenerse en el camino y mantener su mirada en sus objetivos.

INSIGHT NEWS www.insightnews.com

Insight News is published weekly, every Monday by McFarlane Media Interests.

Editor-In-Chief Al McFarlane Publisher Batala-Ra McFarlane Publisher’s Assistant Kelvin Kuria

Abeni Hill Contributing Writers Nadvia Davis Fred Easter Timothy Houston Michelle Mitchum Latisha Townsend Artika Tyner Toki Wright

Associate Editor & Associate Publisher B.P. Ford

Photography David Bradley V. Rivera Garcia Uchechukwu Iroegbu Rebecca Rabb

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Associate Editor Afrodescendientes Carmen Robles

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Insight News • August 20 - August 26, 2018 • Page 9

NABJ selects Drew Berry as executive director WASHINGTON, D.C. – Drew Berry is the new executive director of the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ).

The NABJ Board of Directors recently selected Berry, who has been serving as a consultant tasked with executing this year’s Convention and Career Fair, which ran Aug. 1 – Aug. 5 in Detroit. “NABJ is excited that Drew Berry is joining our sta as executive director. His executive experience and media industry knowledge, coupled with his knack for fundraising and member relations, are some of the signiďŹ cant skills he brings to this vital position,Âť said NABJ President Sarah Glover. ÂŤOur members and partners will be well served with Drew at the helm.â€?

Berry served in a sta leadership role from 2015 to 2017 and worked with Glover, the board and sta with overseeing a million-dollar ďŹ nancial turnaround of the organization. He has also previously served as interim executive director in 2010. “I am very excited about the opportunities for engagement

with NABJ leadership, members and partners to further build on a very solid ďŹ nancial and programmatic foundation. We are already discussing new partnerships, NABJ enterprises and organizational efďŹ ciencies to beneďŹ t all NABJ stakeholders,â€? said Berry.

A former television news executive and presently head of Drew Berry & Associates, LLC, Berry said he is more than ready for the new challenge.

Berry worked with Glover and the board to develop the industry-recognized NABJ Strategic Plan 2017-2020. The association has begun implementing many of the plan initiatives, including a revamped convention site selection process. “We are grateful for the role Drew Berry has played through this transition and are excited to support his leadership as executive director,â€? said Paul Waters, senior associate at Democracy Fund. ÂŤWe are encouraged by the important role NABJ continues to play in supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion in journalism.â€?

NABJ Region II Director

Students join new leadership program, Ciresi Walburn Foundation for Children

Drew Berry Vickie Thomas, a reporter at WWJ Newsradio 950 AM in Detroit, said Berry›s guidance has helped solidify a strong convention. Berry also played a pivotal role when NABJ ďŹ rst met with potential convention sponsors in Detroit last year, and many of those sponsors have since signed on, she said. “I am extremely delighted that Drew Berry is NABJ’s new executive director,â€? said Thomas. “He will continue helping NABJ grow in terms of ďŹ scal responsibility and focusing on the needs of our members. I have full faith and conďŹ dence that Drew Berry is the person, at the right time for NABJ.â€?

This summer a dozen AfricanAmerican men who are starting their junior year at Augsburg University and the University of St. Thomas were named Ciresi Walburn Scholars.

The new scholarship and leadership program involve career experiences, ďŹ nancial support and mentoring that will help the selected young men graduate ready to launch their post-baccalaureate careers. The men are enrolled in a 12-week leadership class that concludes this month with presentations of research ďŹ ndings for nonproďŹ t clients they supported. During the next two years, their experiences will include a paid summer internship, a retreat, a trip to a national leadership conference, regular cohort meetings, a writing course and networking sessions with prominent African-American businessmen. “Our board feels strongly that a highly educated and inclusive workforce is essential to ensure Minnesota remains competitive globally,â€? said Michael Ciresi, president and chairman of the Ciresi Walburn Foundation for Children. “We were impressed by the fund’s approach and decided to invest in their eorts to ensure African-American men build relationships, thrive on campus and have access to aca-

demic and career resources.�

The Ciresi Walburn Foundation for Children funded the new program with a $361,000 gift over two years. The Ciresi Walburn Scholars program supports 12 young AfricanAmerican men who graduated

faced with numerous barriers on a given day,â€? said Omari. “Success requires a level of personal commitment and hard work coupled with external support. This program requires the ďŹ rst from scholars and assists with the second.â€?

Success requires a level of personal commitment and hard work coupled with external support. This program requires the first from scholars and assists with the second.

from Minnesota high schools.

It is managed by the Minnesota Private College Fund, which also supports a similar cohort-oriented student support program — the Eddie Phillips Scholarship for African-American Men. Both programs are facilitated by Dr. Abdul Omari, a local consultant in leadership and mentoring. “Young college students are

Ciresi Walburn Scholars connect frequently with campus coordinators at their institutions as well as the other student program participants. The program is intentionally designed with a exible framework that can focus on each student’s educational journey and complement the services and support provided by campus professionals.

Anti-war veterans meet in St. Paul The Veterans for Peace (VFP) 2018 International Convention will be held in downtown St. Paul Aug. 22 – Aug. 26 at the Intercontinental Riverfront Hotel 11 Kellogg Blvd. E. With a theme of End All Wars and Reclaim Armistice Day, about 300 vets and associates from over than 140 chapters worldwide are expected to attend. The public is invited.

Veterans for Peace, an international organization of military veterans, will host workshops, panels, present speakers, host a banquet, present ďŹ lm screenings and provide musical entertainment. The mission since 1985 is to build a new culture of peace,

DFL From 3 In Pawlenty’s loss he told supporters his brand of politics “didn’t ďŹ t wellâ€? in the GOP in the Trump era. Johnson has fully embraced President Trump and him anti-immigrant (including legal immigration) stand.

In the race for U.S. Senate, Sen. Tina Smith eased past her opponents in the DFL primary, garnering more than 432,000 votes – or 76 percent of the votes cast in her race. Her nearest competitor, Richard Painter, who is a converted Democrat who ran on an anti-Trump platform but did not fully adopt a liberal stance, was only able to muster up 13.7 percent of the vote. Smith will faceo against Karin Housley

Tyner From 3 realization that her name is her destiny.

The book is a mirror of Tyner’s

Rev. Daniel Romero

Tonia Hughes

Jayanthi Kyle

Larry Long

expose the costs of war, heal the wounds of war, seek justice for veterans and victims of war and

end the arms race, reduce and eventually end nuclear weapons.

A presentation is planned by a

group of local Native youth who recently traveled to Rome and voiced their concerns to Vatican

oďŹƒcials about harm caused to First Nation People by the “The Doctrine of Discovery,â€? a papal

come November. Housley won the Republican primary with just north of 185,000 votes. “Every day in the Senate I work for the people of Minnesota – to be your voices in Washington, to ďŹ nd common ground and solve problems, so people have the opportunity – to build the life they want,â€? said Smith in a statement. “I’ll work with anyone who wants to work with me to help Minnesotans, and that’s what I’m doing in the Senate – whether it’s taking on the big drug companies to lower the cost of prescription medicine, passing a bipartisan farm bill that beneďŹ ts Minnesota farmers and strengthens our agricultural economy, or making sure young people have the skills, education, and training to build a career.â€?

Sen. Amy Klobuchar walked

away with an easy win on the DFL side in her bid for reelection. She will face Jim Newberger come November.

In the race for Minnesota Attorney General, Rep. Keith Ellison cruised to victory on the DFL side in the face of a weekend allegation of domestic abuse made by a former girlfriend. Ellison has categorically denied the allegation and it seems the story of his ex is unraveling, as she claimed to have video of the alleged abuse, but now, when pressed, cannot produce the supposed video.

Ellison will face Republican Doug Wardlow in November.

Ellison said come time, Minnesotans have a clear choice. “Republicans nominated someone who wants to repeal the Aordable Care Act and revoke a woman’s right to choose,

supports so-called right to work laws and has proudly worked for an anti-LGBTQ hate group,â€? said Ellison of Wardlow. “As the people’s lawyer, I will be on the front lines to defend the rights and freedoms of all Minnesotans. As your attorney general, I will ďŹ ght every day to put Minnesota families ahead of powerful special interests, to increase access to aordable health care, make our economy more fair, and expand opportunity for all.â€?

Ellison’s 280,000-plus votes far outpace Wardlow’s 135,666.

In the race for Ellison’s current seat, Rep. Ilhan Omar is again poised to make history becoming the nation’s ďŹ rst SomaliAmerican elected to the U.S. House. Omar breezed through the DFL primary in the race for the 5th District House seat. The voters of the solidly Democratic

district that encompasses Minneapolis and its northern suburbs will almost assuredly elect Omar in November over her Republican opponent Jennifer Zielinski.

Somali-American candidates Hodan Hassan and Mohamud Noor both won their DFL primaries in districts 62A and 62B respectively. In 62A the seat is held by Rep. Karen Clark, who is retiring and the seat in 62B is held by Omar, who did not run, opting to run for the U.S. House.

Lisa Neal-Delgado fell just 400 votes short of unseating Rep. Ray Dehn in the DFL primary for the 59B seat.

In the nonpartisan races for Hennepin County Commissioner, in District 2 Irene Fernando and Blong Yang both advanced to the November general election and in the District 4

race it will be incumbent Peter McLaughlin facing o against Angela Conley. Less than 2,000 votes separated the two this past Tuesday with some 4,400 going to a third challenger, Megan Kuhl-Stennes. If Conley is able to pick up extra votes in the general she would become the ďŹ rst African-American elected commissioner in the county’s history.

In the race for mayor in Brooklyn Park, Hollis Winton advanced to face incumbent Jerey Lunde. Winston, who is Black, still has an uphill battle, but the race is not out of reach.

Brooklyn Park – the state’s third most populous city – is the second most diverse in the state, second to neighboring Brooklyn Center. Brooklyn Park has yet to elect a person of African heritage to any oďŹƒce within the city.

own childhood and the lessons she learned from her grandmother about the power of words, education and social responsibility.

Just as Tyner did, Justice grows up witnessing the many ways her grandmother served her community and wants to make her own dierence in the world.

Through conversations with her grandmother and their shared love of books, Justice learns about important men and women throughout history that have changed the world – Ella Baker, Shirley Chisholm, Charles Hamilton Houston, Dr. Wangari Maathai, Paul Robeson and Ida

B. Wells. “Justice learns how each leader was a champion for advancing justice and improving the world, and she dreams of becoming a change maker, too – ‘Miss Freedom Fighter, Esquire,’ a superhero with a law degree and an afro,� said Tyner.

The book was already an international best-seller, reaching audiences from India and Ghana to Australia and Cuba and endorsed by professionals ranging from educators to judges. It is available in hardcover or paperback (www.artikatyner.com) and on Amazon in a Kindle edition. Pro-

ceeds from the sale of the children’s book go toward education and furthering the goals and mission of Planting People Growing Justice Leadership Institute, a nonproďŹ t organization founded

by Tyner.

ClassiÀeds

Phone: 612.588.1313

Fax: 612.588.2031

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bull decreed by the Catholic Church in the 15th century. Native historian Chris Mato Nunpa will provide historical background about this doctrine.

On Aug. 24 a free public forum, The Poor Peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Campaign: Intersecting Perspectives, will be held at the Central Presbyterian Church located at 500 Cedar St. in St. Paul.

The Rev. Daniel Romero will speak on immigrant rights. Artists Tonia Hughes, Jayanthi Kyle and Larry Long will perform.

The conference is hosted by the Twin Cities based Veterans for Peace Chapter 27. For more information and to register go to www.veteransforpeace.org.

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Email: info@insightnews.com

Get Ready Curriculum & Instruction Specialist Salary Range: $25.20 - $34.46 hourly $52,618 - $71,952 annually The purpose of this position is to support the divisionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s efforts related to curriculum and instruction, assisting in the design, implementation, and ongoing evaluation of Get Readyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Postsecondary Pathways Curriculum for elementary, middle and high school audiences to ensure the fulďŹ lment of division goals and objectives for student learning related to college and career readiness.

To view the complete description, please visit https:// mn.gov/mmb/careers and search for Job ID #25576.

If you have questions about the position, contact Lynne Richard at lynne.richard@state.mn.us or 651-259-3941.

Closing Date: 08/27/2018.

AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Page 10 •August August 20 - August 26, 2018 • Insight News

insightnews.com

Lil Baby

Blackalicious liams presents a weekly night of Yoga. He is certified in vinyasa and kemetic yogi.

Tuesday, Aug. 21 HIP-HOP

Monday, Aug. 20 – Sunday, Sept. 2

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

Monday, Aug. 20

HEALTH/YOGA

Kemetic Yoga by Floyd Williams Arubah Presents the Healing Center 5201 Bryant Ave. N., Minneapolis 5 p.m. – 6 p.m.

Four-time author Floyd Wil-

Blackalicious 7th St Entry 701 N. 1st Ave., Minneapolis 7:30 p.m.

18-plus $25-$28 MC Gift of Gab and DJ Chief Xcel were kings of the mid 2000s resurgence of Afrocentric hip-hop. They return to Minneapolis in the 7th Street Entry.

Wednesday, Aug. 22 FILM MNTV 2018: On the Big Screen Walker Art Center 725 Vineland Pl., Minneapolis 7 p.m.

All ages No cover MNTV 2018 – two one-hour programs of short works – will premiere on TPT in September. Join many of the filmmakers in the Walker Cinema for a free preview of selected short films. A reception follows.

Thursday, Aug. 23 DANCE Afrobeats Technique Thurs-

days Ragamala Dance Company 711 W. Lake St., Minneapolis 7 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Learn West African Afrobeats dance techniques on Thursdays at Ragamala Dance Company in South Minneapolis.

Friday, Aug. 24 HIP-HOP Lil Baby - Harder Than Ever Tour Varsity Theater 1308 4th St. S.E., Minneapolis 7 p.m. $29-$40 Atlanta’s Lil Baby has had a monstrous rise over the past year with co-signs from Quality Control Music (home of Migos and Lil Yachty).

He’s in town at the Varsity.

Saturday, Aug. 25 DANCE NIGHT Pop Up! with Blowtorch, Keezy, AriAtari, Queen Duin and Adonia Icehouse 2528 Nicollet Ave., Minneapolis 10 p.m. – 2 a.m.

21-plus $8 Dubbed a “with some of the best female and gender nonbinary DJs in the Twin cities,” this will be a great night of sounds on Eat Street.

Sunday, Aug. 26 HIP-HOP Innocence Tour feat. JayteKz The Red Sea 320 Cedar Ave. S., Minneapolis 7 p.m. $10-$60 Chicago born rapper JayteKz has a substantial following on YouTube through stark discussion on suicide, depression and the struggles of young people. Catch him in the Riverside neighborhood at the Red Sea.

house playing all your favorite reggae, ‘90s hip-hop and R&B and more every second and fourth Tuesday.

DoubleTree 2200 Freeway Blvd., Minneapolis 6:30 p.m.

Wednesday, Aug. 29

This awards gala features “fine cuisine, live entertainment, cultural performances, community awards, a keynote message, a fashion show, spoken word, among others.”

THEATER “Hamilton” Orpheum Theatre 910 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis 7:30 p.m. $298-$500

Monday, Aug. 27

The award-winning Broadway musical hits Minneapolis for the first time at the Orpheum. The show runs through Oct. 7.

REGGAE

Thursday, Aug. 30

Steel Pulse with Tribal Seeds First Avenue 701 N 1st Ave., Minneapolis 7 p.m.

21-plus $30, $35 The legendary Grammy winning band from the U.K. returns to United States on tour with Tribal Seeds.

Tuesday, Aug. 28 REGGAE One Love Movement Pimento Jamaican Kitchen 2524 Nicollet Ave. S., Minneapolis 10 p.m. – 2 a.m.

21-plus $5 DJ Verb X will be in the

SOUL Roosevelt Collier Dakota Jazz Club 1010 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis 7 p.m. $30-$35 Collier’s debut album, “Exit 16” is a potent mix of blues, gospel, rock and, in his words, “dirty funk swampy grime,” as overseen by producer and bandmate Michael League (from the Grammywinning Snarky Puppy).

Friday, Aug. 31 AWARDS 2018 African Community Appreciation and Awards Gala

Saturday, Sept. 1 COSPLAY MetaCon Hyatt Regency Minneapolis 1300 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis 10 a.m. $30-$150 MetaCon is a three-day comic and sci-fi convention that includes every aspect of geek culture and nerd life.

Sunday, Sept. 2 SOUL “Back to Black” A Tribute to Amy Winehouse Dakota Jazz Club 1010 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis 7 p.m. $20-$30 In the 12 years since its release, “Back to Black” and Amy Winehouse have inspired musicians like singersongwriter Mina Moore and others. Catch Moore’s tribute at the famed jazz club.

Funky Grits will bring new school soul to South Minneapolis

Black in chef’s whites: Jared Brewington

By Mecca Bos Jared Brewington is bounding around 805 E. 38th St. with the enthusiastic, slightly unhinged energies of a new dad.

The tiles are repurposed from an old McDonald’s. This old record player was thrifted.

The light fixtures are being suspended with airplane wire.

Brewington insisted on taking on the general contractor duties of his newly opened restaurant, Funky Grits, a highly anticipated soul food – not soul food – restaurant in South Minneapolis (more on that later).

Brewington says he has “a lot of superstitions,” and he

wanted to make sure his heart and soul was in every nail, every floorboard. He’s so superstitious that he refuses to finish the office. The exposed walls and poured concrete floor will remind he and his staff that “we’re never done.”

The place is so anticipated because South Minneapolis is hungry for soul food, a curious conundrum for Brewington, because Funky Grits is not a soul food place. Not exactly. For example, he’ll never serve fried chicken, barbeque, or macaroni and cheese. He has his reasons, and he doesn’t want to be called out for it or debate the integrity of soul food.

Brewington was born and raised in this neighborhood,

where he and his brothers bought their penny candies at Cup Food, still dressed in suits from worship at the nearby Kingdom Hall.

He says his dad, Mark Brewington, and famed musician Larry Graham were the two responsible for bringing Prince to Jehovah’s Witness scripture, famously getting the musician baptized into the church. But with all that church, there was also a whole lot of music in the young Brewington’s upbringing, and his great uncle, Sonny Tillman of Sonny Tillman and the Orioles, made sure the boy had plenty of funk and soul in his life.

It’s the music that he thinks of as the umbilical cord be-

The much anticipated Funky Grits opened this past week in South Minneapolis. tween himself and this restaurant.

“This is the food that the people I grew up listening to were eating. The backbone of the food is the same as the basslines,” said Brewington.

By way of example he turns on some funk.

“This is definitely George Clinton food,” he says.

The menu is anchored by grits as its base; also not an accident. He’s a longtime board member of Compatible Technology International (CTI) a nonprofit that equips smallholder farmers in Africa with innovative tools and training to harvest and process food.

“Almost one hundred percent of the globe’s sustenance is grain based,” says Brewington. “Grains are life.”

So at Funky Grits expect plenty of … you know … grits.

But things like “perlo,” a southern cooking take on chicken and rice, with pickled peppers and onions, and a dish he expects to become a signature; as well as smoked walleye cakes with Cajun seasoning will also grace the menu. Brewington

grew up in a household where food was a crucial part of their lives, and his mom went from cooking Indonesian chicken, to miso tofu, to double decker Dagwood sandwiches. As a result, he doesn’t want to pen himself in. Even so, the number one inquiry he gets about his menu has an affirmative answer.

“I’m up and down these streets all day,” he says, pointing in the direction of Cup Foods. “And people always ask ‘Ya’ll got shrimp and grits?’”

Yes, they do.

But menu questions aside, Brewington’s concern is that Funky Grits will be thought of as a true community hub, where neighborhood kids get employment, the tunes are always funky, and a friendly face is a guarantee.

“I like to smile and I like making people smile,” was Brewington’s ready answer to why he wanted to go into the tricky world of restaurant entrepreneurship. A business consultant by trade, Brewington got “the bug” when he was going through a divorce and needed something to do with his eve-

nings. He got a job at a nearby bar as a bar-back, and never looked back. The camaraderie, the built-in family, the energy, it all just fit.

“I go through life at a barback pace,” he says.

His defiance of categorization puts him in position to take a strong place in the “Minnesota soul food” movement, one that has few clear rules or definitions. Minnesota soul doesn’t “have to” be “this” or “that” in order to maintain its authenticity. It just has to be good. In shirking clear definitions, Brewington is calling the cooking “urban southern fusion,” with a big side of “swagadociousness.”

The neighborhood is hungry for the restaurant not just because it’s hungry for grits, but because longtime residents miss the strong Black business district that once occupied the neighborhood.

A line above the offerings on a chalkboard menu at Funky Grits reads, “Everyone is Welcome, All the Time, Forever.” If that isn’t the definition of soul food, then what is?

insightnews.com

Insight News • August 20 - August 26, 2018 • Page 11

Aesthetically Speaking

‘Crazy Rich Asians’ is a delightful romantic ‘dramedy’ Excellent (4 stars) Rated PG-13 for profanity and suggestive content

By Kam Williams Even though Nick (Henry Golding) and Rachel (Constance Wu) have been dating for a few years, they don’t know much about each other’s background.

That’s because they live in New York City where he’s never bothered to reveal that he’s from one the wealthiest families in Singapore, and she’s never talked about her humble roots, having been raised by a singlemom immigrant (Kheng Hua Tan) to the U.S. from China.

The difference in social status never affected their relationship, since Nick is so unassuming, and ambitious Rachel beat the odds by getting a great education en route to becoming an economics professor at NYU. In fact, they’ve gotten along so well that he’s seriously considering proposing. He’s even picked out a diamond ring.

However, he’d first like to take her home to meet the folks, especially his domineering mother, Eleanor (Michelle Yeoh).

An opportunity arises when Nick is invited to Singapore for the impending wedding of his best friend, Colin (Chris Pang).

Rachel agrees to go and upon arriving finally learns that

Franklin From 3 along with smoking, and later complications from her illness reduced her to just a wisp of herself. Still, she garnered our “Respect.” Regardless of size, Aretha’s voice never faltered, and never failed her or us.

In English and Mandarin with subtitles Running time: 121 minutes

Michelle Yeoh, Constance Wu, and Henry Golding in Crazy Rich Asians (2018) her beau is one of the island’s most eligible bachelors. However, not only does she soon find herself unfairly accused of being a gold digger, but she’s warned “You will never be enough” by his disapproving mom.

Will class differences doom this fairytale romance? Or will Rachel win over Nick’s relatives and friends during her brief stay? That is the burning

question fueling the fires of “Crazy Rich Asians,” a delightful “dramedy” directed by Jon M. Chu (“Now You See Me 2”).

Based on Kevin Kwan’s semi-autobiographical novel of the same name, the film features a colorful cast of characters played by a talented ensemble of actors. Besides the love story at the heart of the tale, the picture features enough comic relief and

intriguing subplots to hold you in its thrall from beginning to end.

It’s hard to fathom why it has taken Hollywood a quartercentury to mount another Asiancentric, big budget production like this, given the success of “The Joy Luck Club” in 1993.

And don’t let the title fool you.

This engaging, cross-cultural saga is a surefire hit with universal appeal.

As Rep. John Lewis, an iconic civil rights activist, wrote upon hearing of her death, “... (Aretha) was like a muse whose songs whispered the strength to continue on. Her music gave us a greater sense of determination to never give up or give in, and to keep the faith.”

And now she’s gone. “The Weight” is now upon us. Yes, we have all the songs she wrote and/ or sang. Thank God. And all the albums she recorded. Hallelujah.

So FYI, anyone in hearing distance of my house or car is gonna have to suck it up and listen to my Aretha marathon … “Don’t Play that Song Again,” “Do Right Woman, Do Right Man,” especially “Respect” and so many more.

For now, just can’t get that scratch out of my head: Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul ... is dead ...is dead ... is dead.

Gone? Yes. Forgotten? Never.

(C) 2018 Irma McClaurin Irma McClaurin, PhD, (www. irmamcclaurin.com) is an anthropologist, consultant and freelance writer living in Raleigh, N.C. She is co-chair of the upcoming Seneca Falls Revisited: Women’s Equality Weekend, a prize-winning columnist and former Culture and Education editor for Insight News.

bonus Days

Park Superintendent Search Join the discussion!

This summer, join us in a real-life Australian walkabout where you can mix

The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) kicks off its Superintendent search with a listening tour and dedicated website.

Visit www.MPRBSuperSearch.com to: • • • • •

Share your thoughts about Minneapolis Parks Get the latest details on the search process RVSP for a community listening event Recommend others for the Superintendent position Submit your application (Applications open July 12, 2018)

Sept 4 Through October 14th

with kangaroos, wallabies, black swans and grazing sheep. Get an up-close look at the outback, with fun activities for kids and families. Hop on over to the Zoo and experience the land down under, up north.

PLAN YOUR VISIT TODAY AT MNZOO.ORG

Community listening events will take place now through August 1.

RSVP for an event near you at www.MPRBSuperSearch.com. #mprbsupersearch

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Page 12 •August August 20 - August 26, 2018 • Insight News

insightnews.com

Young entrepreneur scores big with state fair booth Let’s get one thing straight right off the bat … shave ice is not a snow cone.

And yes, it’s shave ice, not shaved ice. That was the lesson being taught by Jason Giandalia, proprietor of Minnesnowii Shave Ice, one of the food sensations at festivals throughout the state including the upcoming Minnesota State Fair.

Shave ice is a traditional dessert of Hawaii. It was there where Giandalia, 32, was introduced the icy treat.

“I spent a lot of time in Hawaii and on one trip I was hanging with a buddy of mine and he was saying let’s go get this shave ice thing,” said Giandalia. “I was like I didn’t spend eight hours on a plane just for a snow cone.”

Giandalia relented and spent an additional two hours in line for the “snow cone” but clearly it was worth the wait.

“You can truly say it was love at first bite. I was blown away,” said Giandalia.

As the owner of Minnesnowii explained, shave ice differs from mainland snow cones in the way the ice is

prepared. Shave ice starts with a large block of ice that is finely shaved with a razor blade.

“The ice is so finely shaved and so soft that the flavors of the juice absorb into every piece of snow,” said Giandalia. “It’s just light and fluffy and full of flavor.”

Twenty-four flavors to be exact. Minnesnowii offers the traditional cherry, grape, lime, watermelon, etc., but it also offers the exotic in the form of mango, dragon fruit, tiger blood (strawberry and coconut), lychee, guava, passionfruit and more. Exclusive for the fair are three new flavors – maple bacon, Pumpkin spice and Giandalia’s take on the Mexican favorite, mangonada.

Giandalia said he imports all his flavors from Hawaii and uses locally-sourced sugarcane to create his sweet icy treats.

In business since 2011, Minnesnowii has had a coveted spot at the State Fair for the past three years. This year his booth is in the new West End Market at the fair. Asked how he was able to get the

Jason Giandalia proverbial golden ticket into the fair, the shave ice maker said his efforts at other fairs and festivals throughout the state got him noticed.

“I just worked hard and I earned it,” said Giandalia.

“I’m glad they (state fair of-

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ficials) picked me and I’m blessed to be in business with the fair. It’s really like a dream come true.”

The Minnesota State Fair runs Aug. 23 – Sept. 3 in St. Paul.