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Insight News

Year-end Edition December 24 - January 6, 2019

Vol. 45 No. 52 • The Journal For Community News, Business & The Arts • insightnews.com

LOOKING

BACK

MOVING

FORWARD

Credit: Sunny Yang TU RN TUR N TO 3

Page 2 • Year-end Edition December 24 - January 6, 2019 • Insight News

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Insight News • Year-end Edition December 24 - January 6, 2019 • Page 3

aesthetically speaking

Aesthetically It!: Events, concerts, venues in the Twin Cities WINNER: 2018 NNPA MERIT AWARDS: 3RD PLACE BES T COLUMN WRITING

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Insight News

Vol. 45 No. 52 • The Journal For Community News, Business & The Arts • insightnews.com

Year-end Edition December 24 - January 6, 2019

Village Financial Cooperative gets state approval

By Harry Colbert, Jr. Managing Editor harry@insightnews.com Village Financial Cooperative cleared a major hurdle, becoming the first credit union in the past 15 years to be approved by the state.

The Dec. 12 approval from the Minnesota Department of Commerce clears the way for the North Minneapolis-based credit union to have its deposits insured by the National Credit Union Administration. Once insured, the credit union, which is already servicing the community, offering low to no interest micro-loans, plans to be in full operation at its 227 Colfax Ave. N. location, with a grand opening set for around the time of Juneteenth.

Village was born out of the Blexit movement, which began in Minneapolis following the police killing of Philando Castile.

The term Blexit is a take on the word Brexit and originated more

than a year prior to ultra-conservative commentator Canace Owens attempted to co-opt it for the purposes advocating Blacks exit to the Democratic Party.

The credit union was the community’s answer to questions of how Black people can elevate in a system that seems designed against them.

The mission and message of Village has resonated with the community to the tune of 1,600 pledged members totaling $4.2 million in assets, said Village representative Samantha PreeStinson.

“A majority of those pledges are by Black people who are Northsiders,” said Pree-Stinson, who oversees Village’s organizational alignment.

Prior to Village, area residents in need of a short-term loan and with limited incomes were subject to becoming prey from a variety of payday lending companies charging as much as 300 percent (and more) in interest. With Village’s New Day micro-loans Pree-Stinson said members can borrow up to $500 at zero to eight percent interest.

Uchechukwu Iroegbu

Village Financial Cooperative’s Samantha Pree-Stinson (left) and Me’Lea Connelly.

To date, the credit union has lent $13,000 to borrowers. Of those on the receiving end, she said 57 percent are Northside residents.

Seventy-eight percent are women … 96 percent are Black.

“The loans are not given by credit score. We look at the borrower’s two most recent pay stubs and credit-to-debt ratio to determine if a person is qualified and at what percent,” said PreeStinson. “So, you can see how it’s closed the gap created by predatory lenders.”

Pree-Stinson said Village Borrower’s have a 100 percent repayment rate; meaning they have either fully repaid their loans or are paying on time according to the terms of their loans. Those payments are also reported to credit bureaus, thus offering the opportunity to improve credit scores.

“And we’re offering classes … free classes … on financial planning and paying off debt. We’re making sure our members have the tools they need to take control of their finances,” said PreeStinson.

McClaurin: Saying “I am Starbound. I know that there is greatness in me,” is important

By Al McFarlane Editor-In-Chief al@insightnews.com His name is Ricky Collins. He goes by his artistic name of “Starbound612.” He’s an artist, a businessman, a marketing executive, and a 26-year-old with global experience that is nothing short of phenomenal.

Al McFarlane: Are our children responsive to your message?

Ricky Collins: Yes. It shocks me every time I walk into a classroom. ... I went into an elementary classroom at Harvest Prep and kids are screaming, going crazy, falling out on the ground and crying.

Ricky “Starbound612” Collins

Dr. Irma McClaurin

I’m like, “What?” I’m not Chris Brown or somebody like that. What I’m doing is positive,

and it really shows me that these kids are looking for somebody to ... they want to look up to

something, and they will look up to whatever is in their faces.

So, if we can put these type of role models in front of them, they will grasp it.

I’m 26, but I still kind of dress like them. I’ve got a certain type of way I carry myself that’s like them. I make music that they like. So, they’re really drawn to me. I appreciate it so much because of my brand. I need to be able to connect with the demographic, and I’m so glad for these kids, because they need a role model like me to really show them what’s possible.

I promise you that I’m never going to stop, I’m never going to waver. I’m going to continue to grow and give to my community as much as I can no matter

STARBOUND612 9

2018: The year in review

Looking back, Karen Bass elected chairperson of moving forward

Congressional Black Caucus

By Brandon I. Brooks Managing Editor Los Angeles Sentinel Kimgerlee Buck contributed to this article In 2008, Rep. Karen Bass (DCA) made history after being elected as the first ever AfricanAmerican woman to become speaker of any state legislature Since then, Bass has continued to represent the 37th congressional district of California by being an active voice for criminal justice reform, fighting

Courtesy photo

Congresswoman Karen Bass speaks at the Africa Policy Forum on famine.

News

Applying racial bias during jury selection is an American tradition

PAGE 4

By Harry Colbert, Jr. Managing Editor

for America’s foster care system, and strengthening the United States ties with Africa. Now she will have the opportunity to continue making change in her new role as the chair of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC).

Bass’ colleagues from the DNC, CBC as well as local and religious leaders extended their warmest congratulations on her latest feat. “(I am) truly excited to see the energy and determination Karen Bass will bring to her role as chair of the Congressional Black Cau-

BASS 9

harry@insightnews.com As we progress forward into the new year let us look back at 2018 … the year that was.

Twenty-eighteen was a year of both turmoil and triumph. It was a year of upheaval and uprising. Most importantly, it was a year of lessons, light and love.

Let us look back at 2018 … the year that was.

It took almost all of 2018 for Minnesota – and the nation – to witness the most impactful events. With the his-

Commentary

I2H

AARP Poll: Majority of caregivers with family suffering from dementia, spend less time with friends

PAGE 6

The return of ‘Nobody asked me’

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toric midterm elections Minnesota voters continued to show their propensity for progressive change with the election of the state’s first Black attorney general, Keith Ellison, the nation’s first Somali-American representative, Ilhan Omar (D-5th) and the nation’s first NativeAmerican elected lieutenant governor, Peggy Flanagan (elected as the running mate to Tim Walz). With the election of Ellison, he became one of four Black state attorney generals – Letitia James (D-N.Y.), Aaron Ford, (D-Nev.) and Kwame Raoul (D-Ill.) – to .pre-

YEAR IN REVIEW 8

AS

Listening sessions, Black understudy program for the No Territory Band

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Page 4 • Year-end Edition December 24 - January 6, 2019 • Insight News

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Applying racial bias during jury selection is an American tradition

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Contributor @StacyBrownMedia “One of the most pernicious forms of racial discrimination and injustice in the United States criminal justice system is the racially-motivated use of prosecutorial peremptory challenges during the jury selection process,” said the Rev. Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr., the president and CEO of the National Newspaper Publishers Association.

“Black Americans and other people of color are systematically removed from juries by prosecutors because of their race and skin color. I define this prosecutorial behavior as judicial preemptory racism,” Chavis said.

And, as one of the legendary Wilmington 10, Chavis has unique insight.

In 1972, Chavis, who is an icon in the civil rights movement, and nine others were falsely accused and convicted of arson in Wilmington, N.C., after a white-owned grocery store was set ablaze during race riots that followed a police officer’s fatal shooting of a Black teenager. Three of the state’s main witnesses later changed their testimony and, in 1980 — eight years after their sentencing — Chavis and the others were freed when the

4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Virginia threw out their convictions. In overturning the convictions, the court noted that perjury and prosecutorial misconduct were factors in the original verdicts. The Rev. Dr. William Barber, president of the North Carolina Chapter of the NAACP, and the founder of the Moral Mondays Movement, told reporters that notes taken by former Pender County prosecutor Jay Stroud showed that Stroud lied to a judge to get a mistrial so he could pick another jury in the Wilmington case. He then used a race-based strategy during jury selection.

While the Wilmington 10 defendants were eventually exonerated, their case is just the exception and not the rule when it comes to addressing outcomes resulting from commonly practiced (and currently legal) race-based strategies associated with the use of peremptory challenges to strike jurors.

“For an individual defendant or anyone going to trial, who is on their particular jury and who is their particular judge is more important than who is on the Supreme Court,” said Nora Demleitner, a professor of Law at Washington and Lee University School of Law in Virginia.

Demleitner’s colleague and law professor, Ronald Wright, recently wrote an opinion column headlined, “Yes, Jury Selection is as Racist as You Think, Now We Have Proof.”

“Sadly, this re-

The Rev. Benjamin Chavis gives a clenched fist salute on December 14, 1979, after being paroled by then-North Carolina governor Jim Hunt. search finding confirms what we feared. The ‘jury of one’s peers’ isn’t real,” Demleitner told NNPA Newswire. “Racism, couched in neutral language, renders it impossible.”

The only cure for replacing the veiled racism associated with “colorblind” juror selection practices is to remove the blinders, said Dr. Lorenzo Morris, a professor of Political Science at Howard University.

“The assertion that there is no substantial differential racial impact in jury selection, however well intended,

has been largely discredited by research and diminished by detached observation,” said Morris. “Still, the probable remedies are not easy to implement. Removing the blinders effectively means becoming somewhat color-conscious in the evaluation of jury selection practices. Preemptive removal of jurors based on latent or disguised racial bias leaves telling trace elements in its impact that can be measured.

“One can look for the creation of judicial standards in the courtroom that would compel a second look at juror elimi-

nations that substantially distort the demographic composition of the remaining jurors, making their composition much less like any typical group of their peers in the larger community,” Morris continued. Once prosecutors have eliminated Black jury prospects, fearing for example that they might be too sympathetic to the accused, there is no likely return to balanced perspectives by choosing from the remaining, and disproportionately white, prospects.”

It’s no wonder that the accused suffer greatly, as is obvious from their loss of not just their educations and careers, but they often become isolated from friends and sometimes family as well, said Cynthia Garrett, the co-president of Families Advocating for Campus Equality, a group fighting for those wrongly accused of rape and sexual assault on college campuses.

“In the campus context we have seen over a thousand accused students mostly devastated, despondent and some suicidal. The majority admit to having considered suicide and a few have been successful,” Garrett said. “I found it both interesting, eye opening, and very sad that regarding her son’s false accusation, a Black mother told me ‘It’s just more of the same for us.’ I also was alarmed that the Black caucus in Congress refused to get involved with the railroading of Black and other minority students on campus, because they are aligned with the women’s movement. These

issues are not mutually exclusive. What I see happening in the U.S today is the abandonment of men and men’s issues in general, and Black men and minorities in particular. Other countries like the UK and Australia have developed men’s initiatives because they see how men and boys are falling behind at all levels of education. Meanwhile, the U.S has done absolutely nothing to resolve what is becoming a national crisis.”

The trials of the Wilmington 10, Bill Cosby and even George Zimmerman, are but a few examples that are leading many legal experts to question the use of racial peremptory challenges.

“In 2013, the potential biases of juries were writ large for some of us as we saw interviews with Juror B37 in the aftermath of George Zimmerman’s trial for killing the Black teen, Trayvon Martin – a trial that was discussed prominently in the media,” said Dr. Riché Richardson, a Public Voices and Mellon Diversity Fellow and associate professor of Africana Studies and Research Center at Cornell University. Her references to him as ‘Georgie,’ along with her claims that she believed that his ‘heart was in the right place,’ were a sobering and shocking indicator of how much the politics of race can shadow juries. Justice is often presumed to be blind, but many people know better. In this area, it will be increasingly important to do better.”

NAACP poll reveals how Black voters cast their ballots NNPA Newswire Staff Reports With voter fraud and voter suppression the talk of the midterms, the Advancement Project at the NAACP national office joined with the African American Research Collaborative to provide the first comprehensive analysis of how Black vot-

ers voted this cycle and why.

Released in November, the poll of midterm voters, conducted by the African American Research Collaborative – in collaboration with Latino Decisions and Asian American Decisions – examined African-American voters across various competitive elections to determine how this electorate engaged in 2018 and how those findings might

shape the future of elections.

The key takeaway of this poll is clear – Democrats’ 2018 wins across the country were dependent on voters of color, particularly Black voters, as a majority of white voters supported Republicans.

A whopping 90 percent of Black voters supported Democratic House candidates, compared to just 53 percent of all voters; 45 percent of white

voters; 73 percent of Latinos; percent of Black voters were and 72 percent of Asian voters contacted from a campaign, The midterms were political party, or community a referendum on President organization about voting in the Trump, NAACP officials said months prior to Election Day. “There is one thing in a news release. Black voters see the President and the cur- unequivocally clear about the rent GOP as divisive, racist, data from this recent poll – if and a step back for the nation. America is to become a deApproximately 72 mocracy reflective of its idepercent of Black voters believe als of liberty, opportunity and the Democrats are doing a good justice for all – it cannot do job with regards to the Black so without embracing, engagconstituency; but 21 percent ing and valuing the Black voter feel the Democrats don’t care and voters of color, particularly too much about Blacks. Only Black women,” said NAACP 12 percent of Black voters be- President and CEO Derrick lieve the Republicans are do- Johnson. “This poll confirms ing a good job with regards to that Black voters and the issues the Black constituency; and 55 which motivate them can only percent feel the GOP doesn’t be ignored at your own peril.”

Henry Fernandez, care too much about Blacks.

Voters of color are poised to seize our power and Advancement Project’s national office and our allies are readying for the next big thing – 2020 – to make sure our vote is protected; to ensure our elections are free, fair and accessible. This polling suggests that people want action, change as it relates to racial profiling, immigrant justice and, really, respect,” Dianis said. “We are making sure this happens by working with partners on the ground and using this research to inform our collective strategies and work toward a more diverse and just democracy.”

Also, the 2018 American Election Eve Poll provided further evidence that America is anything but post-racial, said Ray

“People of color turned out and were engaged. Voters of color are poised to seize our power and Advancement Project’s national office and our allies are readying for the next big thing – 2020 – to make sure our vote is protected; to ensure our elections are free, fair and accessible,” Judith Browne Dianis, executive director of the Advancement Project at the NAACP’s national office.

Eighty-five percent of Black women and 81 percent of Black men have felt disrespected by Donald Trump. Only 8 percent of Black voters believe Trump has a positive impact on Blacks, and 29 percent believe he has a negative impact. Eightynine percent of Black women, 83 percent of Black men, and 50 percent of white voters believe Trump’s statements and policies will cause a major setback for racial progress. A total of 91 percent of Black women, 86 percent of Black men, and 50 percent of white voters believe Trump and the GOP are using toxic rhetoric to divide the nation.

The NAACP poll revealed that 82 percent of Black women, 76 percent of Black men and 45 percent of white voters believe Trump and the Republicans are normalizing sexism and sexual harassment against women.

According to the NAACP, to have similar or greater wins in 2020, Democrats must invest in and engage communities of color and the issues that matter most to these constituents. Only 57

principal, African American Research Collaborative, said, African-American voters “are the backbone of the progressive vote in America and were essential to the blue wave that transformed American politics. In particular, Black women are a powerful political force with high turnout and unified vote choice that consistently and overwhelmingly supports progressive change. Black voters and other voters of color have reacted strongly against Trump but also against the Republican party as it embraces Trumpism. This was demonstrated in the 2018 midterms, as a majority of white voters supported Republican candidates, but Democrats won across the country as voters of color turned out in record numbers.”

Further, the past midterm election cycle has shown the power of communities of color in particular, and their desire to engage when people think they are apathetic, said Judith Browne Dianis, the executive director of the Advancement Project at the NAACP’s national office.

“People of color turned out and were engaged.

Block, Jr., a professor of University of Kentucky’s African American Research Collaborative.

“Identity-group considerations continue to shape the political landscape and guide the thoughts and actions of voters,” Block said. “The outcomes of the 2018 midterms confirm that African-Americans turned out in strong numbers to support candidates who backed progressive issues, and candidates who seek (re)election in 2020 should remember the lessons learned from this past election.”

Also, what the latest poll and previous research underscores is that, in order to reach Black voters, “we must be explicit about our issues and specific in communicating directly with Black voters,” said Jamal Watkins, the NAACP vice president of Civic Engagement.

“The NAACP recognized that in order to reach the infrequent Black voter, we must be specific in our language, issues and our relational organizing strategies,” Watkins said. “No longer can the Black vote be ignored or disrespected or taken for granted.”

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Insight News • Year-end Edition December 24 - January 6, 2019 • Page 5

Two new public artworks debut at North Minneapolis parks

Minneapolis Parks & Recreation

“Aqurbane” at Theodore Wirth Park.

Two new public artworks have been installed at North Minneapolis parks along 26th Avenue North; Christopher Harrison’s “Aqurbane” at Theodore Wirth Parkway and Esther Osayande’s “Purple Raindrop” at Farview Park.

Harrison’s “Aqurbane” is a 15-foot-high Corten archway with over 65 patinated bronze and steel attachments.

It was inspired by natural and urban forms he observed on trips along 26th Avenue to the Mississippi River. The arch serves as a northern gateway to Theodore Wirth Regional Park.

Osayande’s “Purple

Raindrop” is a metal sculpture and seating area that stands just over 15 feet tall and is painted in a shade of purple called Purple Reign.

The sculpture honors Prince, his signature song “Purple Rain” and his major contributions to the music industry.

Harrison and Osayande are well-known Minneapolis artists who created their first three-dimensional outdoor artworks for this project. The new artworks were part of a public art project that engaged emerging artists to diversify and enlarge the pool of public artists in the Twin Cities.

The two new sculptures pair with another new artwork, Christopheraaron Deanes’s “Big Book” at Nellie Stone Johnson Community School, also recently installed along 26th Avenue North. The public art on 26th Avenue North was developed in connection with the reconstruction of the street, which includes a new off-street bike trail connecting Theodore Regional Wirth Park and the Mississippi River.

This project was created through the City of Minneapolis’ Art in Public Places Program.

Minneapolis Parks & Recreation

“Purple Raindrop” at Farview Park.

Restorative Court promotes assistance over incarceration, probation related offenses are eligible.

At the pretrial calendar, the clients will meet a social worker for a full screening. If a client is eligible and agrees to participate, the next court date will be set a few months later. The participant will then meet in the community with the social worker and specific providers to address social service needs. If the participant cooperates with these services before returning to court, the criminal case will be resolved favorably and without probation resources being added.

Restorative Court will continue the work of programs in HOMES and Community Court. Those two court programs will end on Jan. 31.

The current participants will complete HOMES before that date or be moved into Restorative Court to continue working with the appropriate service providers. Community Court participants who are active as of that date will

be transferred to Restorative Court. It will include some defendants charged by the Minneapolis City Attorney.

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A new court at Hennepin County District Court will begin on Feb. 1 and will be known as Restorative Court.

With the new court, Hennepin County social workers will assist participants by connecting them with mental health services, addiction services, health care, housing supports and other services, such as helping a participant obtain an ID. If a participant already receives social services, they are reconnected to those services and workers.

The process for the new court involves minimal judicial and probationary resources. Attorneys will refer their clients from their first court appearances to the Restorative Court pretrial calendar if they met eligibility requirements. Charges other than domestic assault or domestic-related offenses, firearm offenses, driving while intoxicated offenses, indecent exposure offenses, or prostitution-

Page 6 • Year-end Edition December 24 - January 6, 2019 • Insight News

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Insight 2 Health AARP Poll

Majority of caregivers with family suffering from dementia, spend less time with friends

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Contributor @StacyBrownMedia For family caregivers, the holidays can be a joyful time when spirits are lighter and it feels good to care for loved ones and enjoy time together, celebrating with family traditions.

But for most family caregivers, the holidays also bring stress, according to Amy Goyer, a family and caregiver expert at AARP, the nation’s largest nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering people 50 and older to choose how they live as they age.

“We’re already very busy with caregiving, and there’s even more to do during the holidays,” said Goyer.

A major concern is for those caring for sufferers of dementia.

A new AARP poll on dementia care has taken a closer look at the experiences of caregivers for family members with dementia and found more than half say their social life has suffered and nearly 45 percent say they feel alone. In addition, they are more likely to grow further apart from the ones they care for and other family members

because of their caregiving responsibilities. Social isolation and loneliness are linked to poorer physical and mental health outcomes, health experts said.

“Family caregivers take on big responsibilities that can be physically, emotionally and financially challenging. AARP’s new research shows that this can be particularly true for those caring for loved ones with dementia,” said Nancy LeaMond, AARP chief advocacy and engagement officer. “That’s why AARP has developed resources to help family caregivers balance their own needs with the needs of their loved one.”

Not only are the millions of family caregivers for those with dementia less socially connected, they are significantly more likely to put off medical care – over half (55 percent) have done so, compared to just 38 percent among the total caregiver population. However, there were positive health behaviors identified in the poll as well – 79 percent took steps to maintain or improve their brain health and 47 percent exercised more.

Still, when caring for those living with dementia, everyday stress is even higher, and holiday celebrations may be limited, Goyer said.

“Caregivers may feel particularly isolated or lonely

“It’s important to acknowledge and validate dementia caregivers’ feelings and needs, and to connect them with resources that can help, especially during the holiday season.”

– especially if their loved ones aren’t able to understand or take part in holiday traditions and if caregivers are unable to get out to be with friends or other family members,” she said. “It’s important to acknowledge and validate dementia caregivers’ feelings and needs, and to connect them with resources that can help, especially during the holiday season.”

Many family caregivers feel alone in their situation, but there are others who under-

stand as they are going through similar experiences, Goyer said.

“I recommend connecting with other caregivers in an in-person support group, at a caregiving event, or online. The Alzheimer’s Association offers support for dementia caregivers, and AARP has teamed with them to offer the online Community Resource Finder, where caregivers can find local events and support groups,” she said.

AARP also offers a

free online Caregiving Community where caregivers can post questions, comments and topics as well as get advice from Goyer and other caregiving experts. Many caregivers also join closed social media groups, such as Facebook.

Other family members, friends or neighbors can help as well.

A previous AARP poll found that almost eight in 10 family caregivers say it would be helpful to have someone to talk with during the holidays.

“If you are long-distance, you can call those you know who are caring for someone and really take the time to listen to them,” Goyer said. “For those nearby, offer to come by with a meal or a cup of hot cocoa and let them know they can confide in you, or offer to care for their loved one so they can enjoy some holiday activities.”

Meanwhile caregivers should be mindful of such things as prolonged social isolation and feelings of loneliness which have serious health effects that make it important to monitor and take care of themselves before they suffer a health crisis, Goyer said.

“It can be difficult to evaluate the stress levels and vulnerability of ourselves or another person. Isolation and stress can build up over time, so it’s important to make ongoing effort

to prevent burnout,” she said.

The AARP Foundation has an assessment tool at www.Connect2Affect.org to help people better understand the signs of social isolation and offers solutions and ways to help others who are isolated.

“I advise people to watch for signs of burnout, like being short-tempered, changes in sleep patterns – sleeping too much or too little or waking up a lot, for example – crying a lot, severe mental, emotional or physical exhaustion, prolonged overwhelming sadness, loss of motivation – just not caring anymore, feeling hopeless and ineffective, letting paperwork pile up and bills go unpaid, allowing a vast change in our living environment or longing to run away,” Goyer said. “These are red flags that tell us it’s time to put more effort into taking care of ourselves.

I view it like my car – it can’t run on empty and neither can I.” For the holidays, Goyer said caregivers should try to focus on the simple things like holiday music, movies, stories or food.

“Above all, fully experience the most meaningful things during the holidays and enjoy those treasured moments with your loved ones,” said Goyer.

Some Minnesotans have more time to make decisions

Minnesota’s Senior LinkAge Line can help during Medicare special enrollment periods Although the annual Medicare open enrollment period ended Dec. 7, some Minnesotans have more time to make Medicare decisions.

Special enrollment periods remain for most benefi-

ciaries who live in one of the 66 Minnesota counties that are losing their Cost Plans as of Dec. 31 due a change in federal law.

As of Jan. 1 Medicare beneficiaries whose Cost Plan ended Dec. 31 and who did not enroll in a

new plan will return to Original Medicare (Parts A and B only).

Returning to Original Medicare could be costly so these beneficiaries should know that through Feb. 28 they can enroll in a Medicare Advantage Plan

and a Part D prescription drug plan or through March 4 they can purchase a Medigap policy without a health screening.

Choices must be made by the end of the month to be in effect for the first

day of the following month.

New in 2019 is the Medicare Advantage Enrollment Period from Jan. 1 to March 31.

During this time any Medicare beneficiary who begins 2019 enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan can switch to a different Medicare Advantage plan that includes Part D, drop their Medicare Advantage plan and return to Original Medicare or enroll in a Part D prescription drug plan.

“It’s important for consumers to review their Medicare coverage and make sure the plan is both affordable and provides access to doctors, clinics, hospitals and pharmacies they want and need,” said Kari Benson, executive director of the Minnesota Board on Aging, which operates the Senior LinkAge Line. “Line specialists can help by providing comprehensive,

unbiased Medicare counseling.”

More information about plans is available at www.

Me d i c are. gov / f i n d - a - pl an .

More information about Medicare open enrollment in Minnesota can be found at www.

SeniorLinkAgeLine.com.

Senior LinkAge Line, at (800) 333-2433, is a free statewide service of the Minnesota Board on Aging in partnership with Minnesota’s Area Agencies on Aging. Senior LinkAge Line provides help to older Minnesotans, their families and friends, helping them connect to local services, find answers and get the help they need. The Senior LinkAge Line does not sell or market any Medicare or insurance product.

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Insight News • Year-end Edition December 24 - January 6, 2019 • Page 7

Page 8 • Year-end Edition December 24 - January 6, 2019 • Insight News

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Afrodescendientes Editor’s note: Victor Martinez, a Henry High School student leader a little over a decade ago, shares a lifechanging message of life lessons he learned as he searched for the love of his life. He reveals a framework for getting everything you want out of life and more. Martinez now pastors a bilingual congregation at North Minneapolis’ New Generation Church. His book is available on Amazon.

Life Lessons

By 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

INSIGHT NEWS www.insightnews.com

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

Editor-In-Chief Al McFarlane Publisher Batala-Ra McFarlane Associate Editor & Associate Publisher B.P. Ford Managing Editor Harry Colbert, Jr. Culture and Education Editor Dr. Irma McClaurin Associate Editor Afrodescendientes Carmen Robles Associate Editor Nigeria & West Africa Chief Folarin Ero-Phillips Director of Content & Production Patricia Weaver Content & Production Coordinator Sunny Thongthi Yang Distribution/Facilities Manager Jamal Mohamed Receptionist Lue B. Lampley Intern Kelvin Kuria Contributing Writers Nadvia Davis Fred Easter Abeni Hill Timothy Houston Michelle Mitchum Latisha Townsend Artika Tyner Toki Wright Photography David Bradley V. Rivera Garcia Uchechukwu Iroegbu Rebecca Rabb Artist Donald Walker Contact Us: Insight News, Inc. Marcus Garvey House 1815 Bryant Ave. N. Minneapolis., MN 55411 Ph.: (612) 588-1313 Fax: (612) 588-2031 Member: Minnesota Multicultural Media Consortium (MMMC), Midwest Black Publishers Coalition, Inc. (MBPCI), National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) Postmaster: Send address changes to McFarlane Media Interests, Marcus Garvey House 1815 Bryant Avenue North, Minneapolis,

such wonder and awe in her eyes and to be honest, it felt amazing).

She then told me, “You are amazing, you know.” And that statement, coupled with the adorable accent and look was what it took to push me over the

edge. I started to fall in love with her again. That is what interest in a person can do. It can make them feel loved and good about themselves, almost invincible.

A man can accomplish anything, go any number of miles to achieve something, even conquer the world when he has the respect and belief of his woman, a woman that deeply loves her man and supports him greatly.

That support is setting him up to achieve great things because this does a great deal for the man’s self-confidence and belief in himself and his abilities. Support for a man by his woman fills him with almost superhuman strength. This belief in him then translates to determination to achieve whatever it is he sets out to do.

The next two days that I spent there in Lima, Peru were some of the best days of my life up to that particular point. I fell in love

with Cecilia with every part of my being; it was like a fairy tale come to life.

By the 3rd day of being there, I had succeeded in convincing myself that she was God’s gift to me. I convinced myself that she had been handed over to me by him, to marry.

But I knew deep down that she did not fit my list. There were many red flags that I was ignoring, but those red flags would soon reveal their true face. There were plenty of warning signs but I chose to ignore them. I was completely in love and utterly infatuated with her.

I could have heeded the warning signs and gone on my way; stopped the direction things were going and kept to my plan but no: I was too stubborn and fixed with myself to take note of anything, I just pressed on like a blind fool going into traffic with no guide.

eran pobres. Luego caminamos un poco más adentro y descubrí que si tenían techos y el edificio afuera era solo el patio.

Entré en la habitación que me dieron, cerré la puerta y me dejé caer pensando en que ahora estaba allí, en Lima Perú, después de haber recorrido muchas millas para visitar a una mujer que nunca antes había visto en mi vida.

Cuando salí de la habitación, vi a Cecilia sentada sola en la mesa. Me acerqué a donde ella estaba y me senté. Todo lo que deseaba en este punto era simplemente construir una amistad con ella; ya no pensaba en que ella fuera mi mujer. Entonces me di cuenta de que ella todavía estaba bastante nerviosa.

Ella abrió la boca y con su acento exótico me dijo: “No puedo creer esto”.

La miré a los ojos y luego saqué mi teléfono celular. Fingí llamarla y conversar con ella como lo habíamos estado haciendo durante los últimos seis meses.

Mientras fingía hablar con ella por teléfono, pude disminuir su tensión y que estuviera menos nerviosa. Cecilia me miró con

asombro (era la primera vez que una chica me había mirado con asombro y admiración en sus ojos y para ser sincero, me pareció increíble).

Luego me dijo: “Eres in-

rando para lograr grandes cosas porque esto hace que el hombre tenga mucha más confianza en sí mismo, crea en sí mismo y en sus habilidades. El apoyo que una mujer le dé a un hombre lo llena

creíble, ya sabes”. Y esa declaración, junto con el acento y la apariencia de admiración, fue lo que se necesitó para llevarme al límite. Empecé a enamorarme de ella otra vez. Eso es Un hombre puede lograr cualquier cosa, recorrer cualquier número de millas para lograr algo, incluso conquistar el mundo cuando tiene a una mujer que crea en él y lo respete, una mujer que ame profundamente a su hombre y lo apoye en gran medida. Ese apoyo lo está prepa-

de una fuerza casi sobrehumana.

Esta creencia en él se traduce en determinación para lograr lo que sea que se proponga hacer.

Los siguientes dos días que pasé allí en Lima Perú, fueron algunos de los mejores días de mi vida. Me enamoré de Cecilia con toda mi alma; era como si un cuento de hadas hubiera cobrado vida.

Al tercer día de estar allí, logré convencerme de que ella era un regalo de Dios para mí. Me había convencido de que Dios la había

puesto en mi vida para casarme con ella.

Pero en el fondo yo sabía que ella no encajaba en mi lista.

Había muchas banderas rojas que yo estaba ignorando, pero esas banderas rojas pronto revelarían su verdadero rostro. Hubo muchas señales de advertencia, pero opté por ignorarlas. Estaba completamente enamorado y encaprichado con ella.

Yo podría haber seguido las señales de advertencia y seguir mi camino; haber detenido la dirección en que iban las cosas y mantenerme en mi plan pero no: era demasiado terco y estaba con mi mente tan puesta en mí mismo que no podía ver nada, simplemente seguía adelante como un tonto ciego entrando en el tráfico sin un guía.

Continué en mi ilusión y rebelión hacia Dios, convenciéndome de que esa era Su deseo; la forma en que Él quería que sucedieran las cosas; que las cosas progresaban de acuerdo con Su plan. Hay una lección

spite what many consider “dirty tricks” employed by their opposition during the campaign.

Following Gillam’s valiant run the Tallahassee mayor met with former president, Barack Obama, leading to speculation of a future run on a 2020 ticket for president or vice president.

Locally, Hennepin County saw the election of its first two people of color to the Hennepin County board – Angela Conley, African-America, elected to serve in District 1 and Irene Fernando, Filipino-American, elected in District 4.

mous than that of “Barbecue Becky.”

The woman dubbed “Barbecue Becky” became an internet meme when a video of her emerged calling the police on a group of African-Americans for lawfully barbecuing in a public park in Oakland.

The woman was later outed as 41-year-old Jennifer Schulte.

Incidents such as that plagued 2018. There was the manager at a Philadelphia Starbucks who had two Black men arrested for sitting in one of the chain’s stores. There were multiple incidents where Black students and staff on college campuses had police called on them for simply occupying space.

Children were not spared from the living while Black experience with a young California girl selling lemonade having had police called on

her for not having a permit and a 9-year-old boy in New York was accused of inappropriately touching an adult white woman. Like the case of Emmitt Till, the claim was erroneous, but thankfully for the child there was video evidence to show the tale was made up.

Here in North Minneapolis living while Black saw young Jaequan Faulkner having the authorities called on him for selling hot dogs on his front porch without a permit. The call led to a fortuitous outcome for the 13-year-old. Instead of being shut down, Minneapolis officials worked to get Faulkner licensed. The notoriety from the incident led to national news coverage, appearances on syndicated talk shows and a generous donation of hot dogs from Oscar Meyer.

Daylight had given way to darkness as we approached her home. I can remember driving through dirt roads and catching a glimpse of a small stucco entrance. I could not see much as it was really dark and there was no light-post on the streets. I remember walking into her house, looking up and noticing that there was no roof and assuming that they were poor. Then we walked a bit further in and I discovered that they had roofs and the building outside was just the courtyard.

I walked into the room I was given, closed the door and let it all sink in, the fact that I was there, in Lima, Peru having travelled over so many miles to visit a lady I had never before seen in my life.

When I came out of the room, I saw Cecilia sitting by herself at the table. I walked over to where she sat and took my seat. All I

desired at this point was just to build a friendship with her; I had already taken my mind off her being my woman. I then realized that she was still quite nervous.

She opened her mouth and with

her exotic accent told me, “I can’t believe this.”

I looked into her eyes and then took out my cell phone. I pretended to call her and converse with her the way we had been doing for the past six months.

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

Las Lecciones

Por Victor Armando Martinez www.AllYouWantBook.com

La luz del día había dado paso a la oscuridad cuando nos acercamos a su casa. Recuerdo haber sido conducido por caminos de tierra y vislumbrar una pequeña entrada de estuco. No pude ver mucho ya que estaba muy oscuro y no había luz en las calles.

Recuerdo que entré a su casa, al levantar la vista y darme cuenta de que no había techo asumí que

Year in review From 3 vail in 2018. James is already making her mark, announcing she will investigate the business dealings of President Donald Trump’s organization for possible illegal activities that may have occurred under New York jurisdiction.

Two up-and-coming political figures – Stacey Abrams of Georgia and Andrew Gillum of Florida – captured the nation’s attention in their bids to become governors of their southern states. While neither was able be named victor, both came close despite the history of the South and de-

As I pretended to talk to her on the phone, I was able to lessen her tension and make her less nervous. Cecilia looked at me with amazement (the first time that a girl had looked at me with

Chapter 6.2

CECILIA

Living while Black Living while Black has always been a thing but never was it more apparent than in 2018. A string of incidents punctuated 2018, maybe none more infa-

Capítulo 6.2

CECILIA

Super Bowl comes to

Minnesota Come the first week of April 2019, Minneapolis will welcome upwards of 100,000 sports fans to the region for the NCAA Men’s Basketball Final Four. The city – and US Bank Stadium – proved its metal in 2018 with its successful hosting of the NFL Super Bowl. Despite subzero temperatures, visitors from throughout the nation descended upon the Twin Cities this past February pumping more than $450 million into the local economy.

The 68,000-plus seats fans filled at the Super Bowl were put in by workers from Thor Construction – one of the nation’s most profitable Blackowned businesses. Thor again made news this past summer when its parent company, Thor Companies, opened its Regional Acceleration Center at the corners of Penn and Plymouth Avenues in North Minneapolis.

The construction of the center, which houses Thor and several other companies including workers from Target Corporation, MEDA and Hennepin County, is the largest development in North Minneapolis in more than 25 years. Across the street, Estes Funeral Home and Cremation Chapel opened the doors to its new state-of-the-art facility, thus transforming the once barren intersection.

Another of the bigger stories of 2018 came near the end of the year when a Christmas tree inside the lobby of the Minneapolis Police Department’s Fourth Precinct was defiled – by two police officers – with racist “decorations” of Newport cigarettes, malt liquor cans, a Popeye’s container and most disturbingly, yellow crime scene tape. The Nov. 30 incident is still under internal investigation while the unnamed officers in question are on paid leave. In wake of the incident the head of the Fourth Precinct, Inspector Aaron Biard, was removed and replaced by Assistant Chief Mike Kjos.

Show stoppers The Twin Cities was the beneficiary of several phenomenal

YEAR IN REVIEW 12

insightnews.com

Insight News • Year-end Edition December 24 - January 6, 2019 • Page 9

Musings on Trump, Russia, ‘The Wall,’ Twins and Timberwolves

The return of ‘Nobody asked me’ Nobody asked me

By Fred Easter Nobody asked me anything while I was healing and rehabbing my injuries.

It’s been a long road back, but, happily, it included a lot of time to watch the country and think … when I wasn’t averting my eyes.

Here’s some of what I thought.

We don’t need a wall along our southern border. No invading army wears flip flops and hitchhikes to the battle site with babes in arms. It isn’t as if our neighbors to the south can slip into the country, sit back and watch the welfare checks roll in.

They work multiple jobs, without healthcare, at pitiful salaries, and send U.S. dollars home to countries our economy continues to impoverish. The rise of drug trafficking in those countries is a response to the scarcity of real opportunity there. Not unlike the scarcity of opportunity available in communities of color here.

The wall that needs to be built is a firewall to protect this “democracy” from Russian social media cyber interference. How does Mike Flynn get his way paid by Russia, sit next to Putin at a State dinner there and return to get a job here as National Security Advisor? How does Paul Manafort do work for a Ukrainian oligarch and return to run Trump’s campaign?

How does Rex Tillerson get a medal in Russia and return to be named secretary of state?

Would anyone who doesn’t think Trump picked these folks at Putin’s direction smack themselves upside the head for me.

For a drug running business to succeed, mules must be moving freely back and forth across borders. The Honduran flip flop army intends to stay.

All white folks in America are themselves immigrants and asylum seekers unless their name is Running Bear (English translation) or some such.

The craven spinelessness of Republican Congresspeople is stupefying. I find myself yearning for the time when l just couldn’t stomach Republican policies. They couldn’t be as blind and stupid as they appear.

So, they must think we are blind and stupid, or they wouldn’t

think they could urinate down our backs and tell us it’s raining. I predict that, one way or the other, Trump will not run for reelection and may well leave the White House in shame, as Tricky Dick Nixon did. Young folk may have to google Tricky Dick.

Have Republican lawmakers ever admitted who would benefit if ObamaCare went away? If not, why not? Because insurance companies know who benefits. The devil himself shouldn’t even vote Republican.

I won’t miss Brian Dozier or Joe Mauer as Twins this spring and summer. The absence of Mauer’s salary should leave

room for pitching upgrades. The owners seem to be colluding to keep free agent salaries down. I’ll miss Eduardo Escobar. I think the clubhouse will, too. Let’s hope the new Twin brain-trust is waiting to pounce on pitching nearer to the start of spring training.

I cannot fathom what was on Jimmy Butler’s or Tom Thibodeau’s mind. The Wolves’ summer was a slow-motion train wreck. Josh Okogie was a steal. He will help me forget Zach Levine.

Where’s Title IX when I want to watch Lindsey Whalen’s Gopher women play? They’re the best kept secret in town.

Grambling State University to Host 2019 and 2020 NAIA Championships

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Contributor @StacyBrownMedia The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) has announced that Grambling State University will host the 2019 and 2020 Football National Championships at the historic Eddie G. Robinson Memorial Stadium.

Historically, the event draws student-athletes, fans and media personnel to host cities; and includes broadcasts to ESPN3 and regional networks throughout the country, according to a news release on Dec. 3.

“The Grambling State University campus is synonymous with both football and academic achievement,” Jim Carr, NAIA President and CEO, said in the news release.

“We are grateful to add a host city with this incredibly rich legacy to our list of partners.”

Formerly held in Daytona Beach, Fla., the mid-

Bass From 3 cus,” said soon-to-be leader of the House, Nancy Pelosi.

DNC chair Tom Perez says he “couldn’t be happier to call Congresswoman Karen Bass the next chair” of the CBC. “From fighting for criminal justice reform and child welfare to affordable health care and a stronger economy for all, Karen has devoted her life to serving California families and African American communities across the country,” said Perez.

Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, II referred to Bass a “trailblazer.”

“I am delighted that Congresswoman Karen Bass

Starbound612 From 3 where I go, no matter how big I get. The bigger I get, the more money I get, the more resources I get, I’m bringing it back here.

That’s my word.

Al McFarlane: Joining me in the conversation with Ricky Collins, with Starbound612, is my friend and colleague Dr. Irma McClaurin. Dr. McClaurin is an award-winning columnist for Insight News and other publications as well. She’s an activist anthropologist and consultant.

Dr. McClaurin was Associate Vice President and founding Executive Director of the University of Minnesota’s first Urban Research and OutreachEngagement Center (UROC).

UROC re-purposed the failing Penn-Plymouth Shopping Center and, along with Minneapolis Urban League, was precursor to the development explosion going on right now at Penn & Penn intersection, the nominal heart of Minnesota’s Black community. She led UROC from 2007 to 2010, and from there moved on to become President of Shaw University from 2010 through 2011. She resides in Raleigh, North Carolina, and visits Twin Cities regularly for business and family affairs.

Irma, what do you think?

Irma McClaurin: I think that the level of intentionality is so important. We know that there is a strong connection between kids learning effectively and

December game is expected to generate more than $1 million in economic impact to North Louisiana, officials said in the release.

“From homecoming to Bayou Classic, our team has proven time and again that we’re one of the best at delivering game and fan experiences,” said Marc Newman, vice president for Advancement, Research, and Economic Development at Grambling State. “We are working to leverage that reputation to move our University and City ahead and are excited to have NAIA join us as partners in that effort.”

The 2019 and 2020 host opportunities are a result of the work of the Ruston-Lincoln Convention and Visitors Bureau in partnership Grambling State University and the city of Grambling to better collaborate with local hotels, transportation providers, and businesses to drive growth.

“This selection is a major accomplishment for our area,” said Travis Napper, president and CEO of the RustonLincoln CVB. “Each major event adds value for the citizens,

businesses, and the students who call Lincoln Parish home.”

Edward Jones, who’s

mayor of the city of Grambling, said officials couldn’t be more excited about hosting NAIA

and the students and athletes.

“They will get to experience the town and culture that

has produced hundreds of football legends,” Jones said.

has been elected to lead the Congressional Black Caucus for the 116th Congress. Rep. Bass has been a trailblazer and a true advocate for issues concerning people of color. I am certain that her leadership will continue to move the CBC ahead and I look forward to working with her,” said Cleaver.

Bass, who is the eighth woman to hold this position, will replace outgoing chair, Rep. Cedric Richmond (D-LA).

“From her days in the California General Assembly where she became the first African-American woman in U.S. history to lead a state legislative body, to her work in Congress to address both domestic and international issues affecting people of African descent, Congresswoman Bass has

demonstrated tried and true leadership,” said Richmond in a statement. “There’s much work to be done next Congress to ensure equality and justice for African-Americans and other marginalized communities, and I am confident Congresswoman Bass will continue to provide strong leadership in this regard.”

Bass and the newly elected members of the CBC executive committee will take office on the first day of the 116th Congress. In the meantime, the LA Sentinel spoke with Bass to discuss her vision for the CBC as well as the things she hopes to tackle in this position.

“Well one of the main things that I hope to accomplish in the two years that I’ll be able to serve in this capacity is to really elevate the accomplishments

of individual members of the Congressional Black Caucus,” said Bass. “We have a president who is openly hostile and hateful when it comes to AfricanAmericans and immigrants and people of color in general.

What he has done behind the scenes in attempting to dismantle 60 to 70 years of gains that we have made in the Civil Rights Movement through various levels of activism through legislative accomplishments.

He is quietly dismantling a lot of those accomplishments and I want to see that stopped.”

Bass goes on to say the Trump administration is the most corrupt administration she has ever seen in her life and that the CBC will be at the “forefront of that fight” holding them accountable for their actions.

Aside from new role in the CBC, Bass will also be the chair of the subcommittee on Africa.

“What I really want to do there is begin to change the way the United States does foreign aid,” she said. “Too many times we give foreign aid to our own consulting firms. I think we need to spend more attention assisting Africans, build their capacity. This is something President Obama was doing with initiatives like ‘Feed the Future’ and ‘Power Africa.’

He was trying to address some of the capacities in Africa.”

Bass further explains her plans for aiding Africa by zeroing in on infrastructure.

“So, looking at ways that we can do partnerships with U.S. businesses and African

businesses for roads, bridges, ports and airports,” she said.

One of Bass’ other passions apart from her advocacy in Africa is her commitment to the Black Press.

During the interview, Bass announced that she will be convening with the National Black Publishers Association (NNPA) to discuss the ways in which the federal government can do business with the Black Press.

“It’s inexcusable that we spend millions and millions of dollars in advertising everywhere, but virtually zero in the Black community with Black Press. That should change, I hope I can make a dent in that,” said Bass.

having someone who looks like them in the classroom as teachers. So, we can extend that metaphor to say, “Well, what if they can see positive models of artists and things of that.” We always get the crazy artists. Everybody’s looking at Kanye, and it’s like, “Please. Really?” To have someone, and I love the name “Starbound612,” to have someone who is saying, “I am Starbound. I know that there is greatness in me,” is important.

My message is more for the parents. I’ve been a supporter of hip-hop. My son will be 39 in February, and I’ve been a supporter since he was in the sixth and seventh grade. People used to say, “You let your son do hiphop?” and I was like, “Let’s see.

He’s not on drugs. He’s not a babydaddy. He has no criminal record,” and the kind of music he was doing and the lyrics were about social consciousness, social justice. Yes, I’m going to support that.

I’m actually co-editor with Rachel Raimist, and Martha Diaz, who’s one of the founders of the Hip-Hop Association, H2A, of a book called “Fresh, Bold and So Def: Women in Hip-Hop.” We believe that most of what is viewed as hip-hop has been male-centric. What we want to do is focus on the contributions of women globally into hip-hop culture and music.

Often women were behind the scenes doing a lot of the legwork while the men were out front being the show.

So, being able to show the kind of respect that you have for women, for the fact that even though they’re young, it doesn’t mean that kids don’t think. Conversely, my message to parents

is how do you support the Black Excellence clothing line. Why should we give Nike any more money?

Let’s support that. And it has to be intentional. I remember the day that my daughter came home from school and I cornrowed her hair and kids were calling her Medusa. It was at that moment I thought, “I have to do something very intentional.” So, I sent a message out to all my family saying, “No more white Barbies in this house.” And every place I traveled, I brought her back a brown doll. I started subscribing to Essence and Ebony. The point was that we needed to have symbols that she could connect to, images that looked like her that she could connect to.

She has such a strong sense of self as an artist. She plays the kora, she paints. That moment was important to help shape that direction, and I would love to hear what you think your parents contributed to you being in this space.

non-successes, hardships and bad decisions. My mom has been there through it all and supported me, letting me know that I can be whoever I want to be. That is a huge reason why I believe it so much.

There’s a lot of hopelessness. Sitting and speaking with somebody, I can see in their eyes that they don’t have hope. They look at it as like, “No, that’s your life. That’s cool that you’re doing that. That’s okay. But that could never be me.” They’ve been stripped of hope so many times in their lives in different situations that they can’t even see past it right now. I think that’s one of the most sad things that I’ve been dealing with doing this, because I have so much belief and so much hope in each person that I speak to, and they don’t feel the same way all the time.

It’s up to parents and uncles, aunties, people in the community, to continue to put hope into our kids, because they need it. If they’re not getting it from home they need to get it from somewhere. And they are getting it from home, they still need to continue to receive it and keep feeling that hope that no matter where you come from, no matter who you are, what family you were born into, that you can change the direction of your life if you believe in yourself and you have hope that there’s more for you out there.

I really appreciate my mom from the beginning always giving me that confidence and that hope, because without it I probably would not be in the position that I am now.

Brother Starbound612, I want to thank your mom, and I want to thank your grandma and your grandma’s mom and the mom before that, and the one before that, and the one before that.

And then I want to thank your father and his father and the father before that and the father before that, because I think if I keep saying that as far back as can be said, I will end up at the Creator, and in that I’m saying I thank the presence of the Creator in you.

the closet or the box.

“America, do not despair at the rising tide of elitism, incivility, racial, national and religious intolerance, and good old-fashioned racism and white supremacy thinking that has taken hold of our country at this political moment. We’ve endured worse, and still we rose.

“America, do not despair.

We will right and write, as in writing, the wrongs currently being perpetrated in the name of conservative politics. We will endure the hyperbolic provocations, but we will not go quietly into the night.

“America, do not despair. We will lift every voice and challenge injustice wherever it rears its ugly head.

“America, do not despair. We will live true to the words engraved on the Statue of Liberty, ‘Give us your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shores.’

“America, do not despair, because when they call for Muslims to register, we will all appear, Jews, Gentiles, Baptists, Protestants, Catholics, SeventhDay Adventists, Jehovah’s Witnesses, atheists, and believers and nonbelievers, and sign our names in solidarity.

“America, do not despair.”

Because this was my 2017 New Year’s resolution. I resolve, and ask every person reading this to do the same, to be filled with hope and optimism, and the certainly that we will through the power of the people forge a better, civil and more inclusive America for all of us in the present and in the future. I hope.

Courtesy Grambling State University

Though Grambling State University competes in the NCAA, the school will play host to the NAIA football championship games in 2019 and 2020.

Ricky Collins: But that’s so important, because I always talk about people in our lives placing their fears on us because of their own failures. It’s not because they don’t like you or want you to fail. It’s because they love you, but that’s how they expressed it. They put their fears in front of you, “No, you can’t ... You need to go to school and do this and do this and do this.

You need to do things like this,” because that’s how they see you being successful.

My mom has always been supportive of my dreams, even though when I started I went through so many different things and levels of success, and then

Al McFarlane: Brother Ricky,

Ricky Collins: Yes, sir.

Al McFarlane: That’s who you are. That’s who we are. And I think you’re saying that that’s what we have to recognize in each other, and we have to speak from that strength and that power, and that is how we change ourselves and change the world.

As an anthropologist reflecting on culture, Irma McClaurin, how do we draw down the legacy, the antiquity, of being in ways that empower our moment-by-moment existence with the sense that this moment is in effect timeless and eternal? This is the future right now.

Irma McClaurin: Well, I’m going to try and answer that with lines from something I wrote. It was a piece after the election: “America, do not despair.”

We have seen the power of white space and white supremacist thinking before, and overcome them.

“America, do not despair.

We are braver and more resilient today than in the past, and of one thing I am certain. The genie of the Black genius will not go back into the night, the bottle,

Page 10 • Year-end Edition December 24 - January 6, 2019 • Insight News

insightnews.com

Prince

IRM Crew

21-plus $45 The Life of Ques presents its annual Black & White New Year’s Eve Ball at Muse Event Center.

There will be photographers, videographers, photo booth, special guests performers and multiple DJs.

Tuesday, Jan. 1 Monday, Dec. 31 – Sunday, Jan. 13

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, Dec. 31

NEW YEARS PARTY Annual Black & White New Year’s Eve Ball Muse Event Center 107 3rd Ave. N., Minneapolis 9 p.m. – 2 a.m.

FILM “Time for Ilhan” St. Anthony Main Theatre 115 S.E. Main St., Minneapolis 7 p.m.

A film about rising political star, Ilhan Omar, the film is “a fresh take on the old story of the American Dream.”

Wednesday, Jan. 2 OPEN MIC Fifth Element Open Mic Fifth Element 2411 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis 5 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Minnesota Orchestra 1111 Nicollet Ave., Minneapolis 7:30 p.m. – 10:30 p.m. $69-$125 Journey to a galaxy far, far away to relive the excitement of the original “Star Wars” movie as the Minnesota Orchestra performs a live accompaniment of the Oscar-winning score.

Friday, Jan. 4 HIP-HOP I.R.M Crew Reunion “80’s HipHop Theme Show” 7th St Entry 701 N 1st Ave., Minneapolis 9 p.m. – 1 a.m.

21-plus $15 advance, $20 door I.R.M. CREW will be on display with all new remixed music.

This show will have all the legendary artist from 80’s hip-hop in rotation.

Saturday, Jan. 5

FILM

Hosted by Christopher Michael Jensen, with DJ Logoz the Kritick on the turntables, any artist can come sign up and perform a song, spoken word piece, freestyle, or whatever.

Midnight Madness: “Purple Rain” Landmark’s Uptown Theatre 2906 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis Midnight – 2 a.m.

Thursday, Jan. 3

Prince stars as “The Kid” in the classic semi-autobiographical film, “Purple Rain,” filmed here in his hometown of Minneapolis.

SCI FI/ORCHESTRA “Star Wars” in Concert

Sunday, Jan. 6

BEAT BATTLE

BPM Beat Battle Mortimer’s 2001 Lyndale Ave. S., Minneapolis 9 p.m. – 1 a.m.

21-plus $6 The BPM Beat Battle is a beat battle held on the first Sunday of the month hosted by Dimitry Killstorm.

Monday, Jan. 7

NIGHTLIFE Chill Vibez: Reloaded Honey 205 E Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis 8 p.m. – midnight Ashley Mari hosts a night of performances and live painting with DJs Mixie DBest and DJ NanoByte, plus $kinny Hardaway, Kiya Karson Karson Blu, Hector Daniel Martinez Diaz, Phuture Hi Def, Osiris Lane, Toddi Rodriguez-Xiong, and more.

$42.50 - $114 The leader of A$AP Mob, A$AP Rocky, comes off a big year of releases and brings his Injured Generation Tour to The Armory in downtown Minneapolis.

Wednesday, Jan. 9 DANCEHALL Reggae Dancehall Wednesdays The Red Sea 320 Cedar Ave. S., Minneapolis 6 p.m. – 2 a.m.

18-plus No cover DJ Sound of Fujun plays a mix of the best in reggae, dancehall, soca, and hip-hop every week until 2 a.m.

Thursday, Jan. 10 FILM Pulp Fiction The Parkway Theater 4814 Chicago Ave, Minneapolis 7:30 p.m.

17-plus $9

Tuesday, Jan. 8

Quentin Tarantino’s 1994 masterpiece, “Pulp Fiction” plays at the Parkway in South Minneapolis.

HIP-HOP

Friday, Jan. 11

A$AP Rocky: Injured Generation Tour The Armory 500 6th St. S., Minneapolis 6:30 p.m.

21-plus

CAMP/KIDS

neapolis 12 p.m.

All ages UMOJA MN is a Black Heritage camp created to empower adoptive, kinship and foster families.

The event explores the history of African-American poets, spoken word artists and rappers.

This camp will feature local artists who will share their story of exploring Black identity.”

Saturday, Jan. 12

SALSA Malamanya – Second Saturday Salsa James Ballentine “Uptown” VFW 2916 Lyndale Ave. S., Minneapolis 9 p.m. – 2 a.m.

Enjoy a high-energy night of Afro-Cuban music and dancing at the Uptown VFW.

Sunday, Jan. 13

LECTURE

Racism in Minnesota: How We Got Here Hennepin History Museum 2303 3rd Ave. S., Minneapolis 2 p.m. – 4 p.m.

Dr. William (Bill) Green will discuss Minnesota’s reputation regarding race relations.

UMOJA MN Earle Brown Heritage Center 6155 Earle Brown Dr., Min-

Listening sessions, Black understudy program for the No Territory Band Jazz is Black music, but one finds very few Black players in the most prominent and innovative circles of the Twin Cities jazz scene.

To encourage the performing and composing of creative improvised music by a younger generation of Black musicians in the Twin Cities, composer and drummer Davu Seru is putting out a call for Black improvising musicians (between the ages of 18 and 30) who play any acoustic instrument (except drum set). Under-

studies will sit-in on monthly rehearsals where they will have the opportunity to learn the No Territory Band repertoire and to eventually sub for current “1st-call” players.

The listening sessions take place Jan. 20 at 11 a.m. at Moon Palace Books, 3032 Minnehaha Ave., Minneapolis and Jan. 21 at 3 p.m. at East Side Freedom Library, 1105 Greenbrier St., St. Paul.

Both events will feature a performance and discussion that are free and open to the public.

The No Territory Band.

Drummer, Seru, formed No Territory Band in February of 2016, principally for playing his original compositions in un-amplified settings.

In 2018, prior to the group’s premiere performance at festival Kind of Belou in Treignac, France, and with the support of the Jerome Foundation Composer/Sound Artist fellowship, the band released its debut record, “There’s a Hole in the Wall in the Bucket.”

Members of Congress introduce bill to award Aretha Franklin with Congressional Gold Medal

By Lauren Victoria Burke NNPA Newswire Contributor In the wake of the Aug. 16 death of the “Queen of Soul,” Aretha Franklin, Sens. Kamala Harris (D-CA) and Orrin Hatch (RUT), along with Reps. Brenda Lawrence (D-MI) and Doug Collins (R-GA) have introduced legislation to posthumously award Franklin the Congressional Gold Medal.

The legendary artist died of pancreatic cancer at the age of 76.

“Aretha was simply a legend. Her work and impact will be felt for generations to come, and it’s long past time Congress honor her with the Congressional Gold Medal,” said Harris in an Aug. 21 release.

The legislation will be called The Aretha Franklin Congressional Gold Medal Act, and should it become

law, it will honor Franklin’s role in “shaping the nation’s culturally and socially relevant discography and highlight how she was an example to all people in how one person’s talents can make a difference in the lives of millions of people across the globe.” Many of the tributes to Franklin since her passing have emphasized not only her musical talent but her role in shaping and empowering the role of women with songs that gave voice to life experiences from a decidedly female perspective.

Franklin’s involvement in civil rights is also noted in the legislation. Her music often served as a call to action that inspired thousands to join Civil Rights Movement and it still maintains a social context that resonates across events even in present day.

“I am proud to join Senator Harris in introducing a bill to award a Congressional Gold Medal to honor an

Many of the tributes to Franklin since her passing have emphasized not only her musical talent but her role in shaping and empowering the role of women with songs that gave voice to life experiences from a decidedly female perspective.

American music legend, Aretha Franklin, for her contributions to American music culture,” said Lawrence. “Aretha Franklin

was soul personified and she gave us the gift of her voice, her truth and her unapologetic passion to demand compassion,

love and R-E-S-P-E-C-T for women everywhere. An iconic entertainer, powerful civil rights leader, history maker and a

beautiful spirit I was privileged to call friend; we honor this Detroit native, the true Queen of Soul.

She will be dearly missed, never forgotten and always treasured.”

“Aretha Franklin’s legacy, like her voice, will sing through the generations,” said Hatch. “Through her talent, she touched the hearts of millions, lifting all of us with songs of hope and humanity. Aretha brought light, laughter, and love to all who would hear. I’m grateful to play a small role in honoring the life of this remarkable artist.”

The legislation is expected to pass and be signed into law.

Lauren Victoria Burke is an independent journalist and writer for NNPA as well as a political analyst and communications strategist. She may be contacted at LBurke007@gmail.com and on twitter at @LVBurke

insightnews.com

Insight News • Year-end Edition December 24 - January 6, 2019 • Page 11

‘Crime + Punishment’ to show at the Capri

The documentary, “Crime + Punishment” screens at the Capri Theater The Film Society of Minneapolis St. Paul, the Capri Theater and the Minnesota Historical Society, present “Crime + Punishment,” with a post-film con-

versation led by Minneapolis attorney James Selmer Jan. 3.

“Crime + Punishment” chronicles the real lives and struggles of 12 Black and Latino New York City whistle-

blower cops who risk their careers and safety to bring light to harmful policing practices that have plagued the precincts and streets of New York City for decades. These practices include

a strict system that requires police officers to meet a monthly quota of arrests and summons.

The film also follows the case of Pedro Hernandez, a victim of this quota practice who was

imprisoned in Rikers Island for more than a year for a crime he did not commit.

Director Stephen Maing had unprecedented access to the New York Police

Department (NYPD) and shot the film over a period of four years.

“Through sensitive portraiture and vigorous investigative reporting, (the film) tracks the struggle of minority police officers within the NYPD to reshape the culture of law enforcement itself,” wrote Alan Scherstuhl in The Village Voice.

Each First Thursday Films screening at the Capri is followed by a discussion of the movie. For “Crime + Punishment” James Selmer, president and managing partner at J. Selmer Law, P.A. in Minneapolis will lead the discussion.

This screening of “Crime + Punishment” is one of several First Thursday Films this season shown in conjunction with The “1968” exhibit at the Minnesota Historical Society. The movie begins at 7 p.m. at the Capri Theater, 2027 W. Broadway Ave., Minneapolis. Tickets to First Thursday Films are $5 and can be purchased in advance at www.mspfilm.org or at the door the night of the show.

The First Thursday series continues in February with “Grace Jones: Bloodlight and Bami,” on Feb. 7, “Black Panther” on March 7, and the Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival, with several screenings at the Capri during its April 4 – April 20 run.

Brighten winter months at the Walker in her family’s New York restaurant. She has published two memoirs, “Mumbai New York Scranton” and “Arbitrary Stupid Goal.”

Fulford is a photographer and cofounder of J&L Books.

Carina Lofgren, Walker Art Center

Kids’ Book Fair at the Walker Art Center.

The Walker Art Center is offering a way to brighten up the winter months with a colorful day of learning and creativity.

Artists Jason Fulford and Tamara Shopsin (authors of “Find Colors” and “This Equals That”) are presenting activities exploring colors and the stories they tell. Local author Bao Phi will read his awardwinning “A Different Pond.”

Free First Saturdays feature free gallery admission to the Walker, 725Vineland Pl., Minneapolis, on the first Saturday of every month, plus performances, games, art-making,

and kids’ films from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Family friendly food options are available or bring something from home to snack on in the museum’s public spaces.

Art-Making: Glasses Galore 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.

People always talk about rosecolored glasses … but what does that really look like?

Build your own using collage techniques and hole punchers in various shapes and see the world in a whole new light.

Story Time and Signing: ROYGBIV 11 a.m.

Does the color magenta remind you of something? What about mint green? Chartreuse? Colors tell stories.

Artists Fulford and Shopsin share personal memories associated with the colors of the rainbow. Following the presentation, the artists will sign their books, which can be purchased in the Walker Shop.

Shopsin is an illustrator, graphic designer, writer, and part-time cook

He and Shopsin created the children’s books, “This Equals That,” “Find Colors,” “These Colors are Bananas” and “A Pile of Leaves.”

In addition, short films in the Bentson Medi-

atheque run throughout the day and child-friendly music plays with the Douala Soul Collective. DJs Sankara and Dumont will be spinning funk, Afro, and international beats all day.

Page 12 • Year-end Edition December 24 - January 6, 2019 • Insight News

Best films of 2018

By Dwight Brown NNPA Newswire Film Critic

On film, in 2018, the stories told, talent on view, compelling characters, emotions expressed and genres stretched were just amazing.

It was more than enough to make viewers track films from the theaters to streaming services. Or vice versa. Here are my choices for the best of the best.

Best films “Ben Is Back” – The plague of drug addiction hits the tony suburbs and writer/director Peter Hedges takes his audience to the front door of a home that is bearing the brunt. Julia Roberts soars as the distraught mom trying to save the life of a duplicitous son, expertly played by Lucas Hedges. Courtney B. Vance co-stars in this compelling and cautionary family/drama.

“Black Panther” – The late Stan Lee left behind a key to the future. That key is “Black Panther,” as envisioned by the very intuitive director/writer Ryan Coogler. The African nation of Wakanda became the world’s No. 1 tourist destination ($1.3 billion at the box office). It’s heroes (Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan, Daniel Kaluuya) and heroines (Lupita Nyong’o, Danai Gurira, Letitia Wright) were artfully displayed (cinematographer Rachel Morrison) as they embodied Black power and pride.

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“Crazy Rich Asians” – This jolly film is the first AsianAmerican movie to get a major release in 25 years. A stellar cast – Constance Wu, Henry Golding, Michelle Yeoh and Awkwafina – turn a rags-to-riches love story into the best romantic comedy of 2018. Director Jon M. Chu with writers Peter Chiarelli and Adele Lim turn a golden opportunity into solid gold entertainment.

“The Favourite” – The stodgy English period genre gets whacked by this demented take on an 18th century triad of deceitful women – Queen Anne (Olivia Colman), Lady Sarah (Rachel Weisz) and a very ambitious and cunning palace interloper Abigail (Emma Stone). Eccentric director Yorgos Lanthimos finally gets a project that can withstand his very demented style of direction.

Evocative cinematography (Robbie Ryan) and production design (Fiona Crombie) paint an astonishing portrait of palace intrigue.

“Green Book” – A very unlikely story, based on true events, features the best acting duo of the year. The brilliant, scholarly actor, Mahershala Ali plays a concert pianist who is driven around the South, in 1962, by a burly Italian chauffeur/bodyguard played hysterically by Viggo Mortensen. The most unlikely director in the world, Peter Farrelly (“Dumb and Dumber”), tells the tale with a nod and a wink and peppers it with social and racial themes, real drama and historical facts. An organic crowd pleaser.

“Night Comes On” – Kids separated from their parents and relegated to foster homes and institutions should have their stories told. New actor-turned-director Jordana Spiro uses a script she co-wrote with Angelica Nwandu as a basis for her poignant ode to troubled youth. Dominique Fishback plays the train wreck of an 18-year-old older sibling in the process of leading her 10-year“Blindspotting” – Of all the old sister (Tatum Marilyn Hall) films that tackled racism and the down the wrong path.

PSTD a black man experiences as a result, this very grassroots “Private Life” – Every 10 years, indie captured that feeling the writer/director Tamara Jenkins best. Set in gentrifying Oakland, makes a feature film. It’s worth CA, the ambitious script by lead the wait. A neurotic couple, nearactors Daveed Diggs and Rafael ing middle age, tries to have a Casal chronicles a time and place child. Previously, they were so when inner city black neighbor- caught up in their lives that by hoods are disappearing and the the time they decided to have offinhabitants are stressed—every spring, they had to scramble and day. Wonderful direction by Car- hope invitro fertilization would pay off. Great laughs for the aulos López Estrada. dience. Kathryn Hahn plays the “BlacKkKlansman” – Leave it fretful wife with anxious humor to filmmaker Spike Lee to find and Paul Giamatti is the put-upon the hardest to believe but true husband. A sweet, delicious adult story about a Black cop (John comedy.

David Washington) who infiltrates the KKK with the aid of “A Quiet Place” – This is the a Jewish police officer (Adam absolute best use of sound effects Driver). The undercover brother ever devised for a horror film. A even hoodwinks David Duke. A very innovative but scary take on nervy and very informative look a post-apocalypse world where at the dimwits who joined the demons’ attacks are instigated by Klan and the brave policemen the slightest sound. Ingeniously who thwarted their moves. Con- concepted by actor/writer/direcsidering the times we live in, the tor John Krasinski who guides 1970s subject matter has a very his wife, Emily Blunt, into the performance of her career as the contemporary appeal. protective mom.

Ben is Back Julia Roberts and Lucas Hedges in Ben Is Back

The Favourite (Emma Stone) 2

Black Panther. Michael B Jordan and Chadwick Boseman

Green Book Viggo Mortensen and Mahershala Ali

BlacKkKlansman Adam Driver and John David Washington

Night Comes On Tatum Marilyn Hall and Dominique Fishback

Blindspotting Rafael Casal and Daveed Diggs in Blindspotting

Private Life Kathryn Hahn and Paul Giamatti

Crazy Rich Asians Constance Wu and Henry Golding

A Quiet Place Emily Blunt

Best directors Ryan Coogler – “Black Panther”

“Boom for Real: The Late Teenage Years of Jean-Michel Basquiat”

Peter Farrelly – “Green Book”

“Free Solo”

John Krasinski – “A Quiet Place”

“Minding the Gap”

Tamara Jenkins – “Private Life” Yorgos Lanthimos – “The Favourite”

Best documentaries “Amazing Grace”

Bradley Cooper – “A Star is Born”

Panther” David Zaldivar – “Ben Is Back”

Daveed Diggs – “Blindspotting”

Best actresses

Best supporting actresses

Emily Blunt – “A Quiet Place”

Awkwafina – “Crazy Rich Asians”

Kathryn Hahn – “Private Life”

Claire Foy – “First Man”

Regina Hall – “Support the Girls”

Danai Gurira – “Black Panther”

Christian Bale – “Vice” Chadwick Boseman – “Black Panther”

Rosamund Pike – “A Private War”

John Cho – “Searching”

Julia Roberts – “Ben Is Back”

“Studio 54”

Best actors

Regina King – “If Beale Street Could Talk” Michelle Rodriguez – “Widows”

Best supporting actors Mahershala Ali – “Green Book” Rafael Casal – “Blindspotting” Lucas Hedges – “Ben Is Back”

Worst movies The year’s worst films were “Acrimony,” “Loving Pablo,” “Red Sparrow,” “Robin Hood,” “Solo: A Star Wars Story,” “Suspiria,” “Tomb Raider” and “White Boy Rick.”

Michael B. Jordan – “Black

Year in review From 8 concerts. While the most anticipated was Jay Z and Beyoncé’s OTR II tour, arguably the best performance was the one delivered by rapper J Cole. His Sept.

19 performance at the Target Center was a masterful delivery of poignant rhymes backed by a high energy band and intricate stage display. Cole powerfully connected with his adoring audience in a show that set him apart from his hip-hop contemporaries.

Other shows to grace the Twin Cities included Avery*Sunshine (The Dakota), Bruno Mars (Xcel Center), PJ Morton (Dakota), Raphael Saadiq (First Avenue), Maxwell with Marsha Ambrosius (State Theatre) and Gregory Porter (Minnesota Orchestra).

In memoriam The year 2018 said goodbye to a slew of cultural icons. The biggest among them was the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin. Franklin passed away on Aug. 16 in her home city of Detroit. Her funeral was an

international event televised on most cable news networks with dignitaries such as Minister Louis Farrakhan, the Rev. Al Sharpton, former presidents Obama and Bill Clinton and Jesse Jackson all paying their respects to the queen during the more than eight-hour long celebration.

Others lost in 2018 included jazz legends Nancy Wilson and Hugh Masekala, former Temptation, Dennis Edwards, Joe Jackson – matriarch of the Jackson family, Ethel Ayler (“Cosby Show”), model and actress Kim Porter, “Flava in Ya Ear” rapper Craig Mack, Ensa Cosby, daughter to Bill and Camille Cosby and “House of Cards” actor Reg E. Cathey.

Looking forward into 2019, we at Insight News promise to continue to be your trusted source for news affecting and impacting our community.

With a revamped website, in addition to our award-winning print publication, Insight will be offering a more robust web presence including original video blog content.

To all our readers, we thank you for your readership and continued support. We wish you all a joyous and prosperous 2019.