Insight News ::: 4.22.19

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Insight News April 22, 2019 - April 28, 2019

Vol. 46 No. 16• The Journal For Community News, Business & The Arts • insightnews.com

PRINCE

REMEMBERED ‘Sometimes it Snows in April’

Sculpture by Esther Osayande Photo, Harry Colbert, Jr. TTEEA AR 3

Page 2 • April 22, 2019 - April 28, 2019 • Insight News

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Insight News • April 22, 2019 - April 28, 2019 • Page 3

Insight News

WINNER: 2019 GENERAL EXCELLENCE, 3RD PLACE, COLUMN WRITING, 2ND PLACE

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April 22, 2019 - April 28, 2019

Vol. 46 No. 16• The Journal For Community News, Business & The Arts • insightnews.com

Tarek Tomes named MNIT commissioner

Harry Colbert, Jr.

Rep. Ilhan Omar

Commentary: Omar death threats

Race baiters turn American politics into blood sport

By Harry Colbert, Jr. Managing Editor harry@insightnews.com Politics is certainly a contact sport, but for Rep. Ilhan Omar it’s turning into a blood sport and we must speak out in support of Minnesota’s Fifth District representative.

When we say support, we don’t have to necessarily support her every stance – though she is bringing several critical issues to the forefront – but we must support her right to speak out – and ultimately, to legislate. Most importantly, we must call out these white nationalists and other Islamophobic hate mongers, whose vitriol has led to a bombarding of the freshman congresswoman with credible death threats. Equally, we must call out those on both sides of the isle who have either remained silent or haven’t spoken out in the most vociferous tone to condemn the sources of this animus. And sadly, yet not surprisingly, a great deal of this venom comes from our nation’s president, Donald Trump.

The latest round of death threats comes following a Trump April 12 tweet. Yes, the latest round; a man, Patrick W. Carlineo, 55, was charged with threatening to “put a (expletive) bullet in her head” during a March 21 call answered by an Omar staffer. Trump’s tweet is a video montage that begins with Omar, who is Muslim and Somali-born, speaking during an event sponsored by the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) saying, “CAIR was founded after 9/11 because they recognize that some people did something.” Then the video goes to show images from 9/11 including one of the planes used to carry-out the terror at-

tack crashing into the World Trade Center and clips of the towers collapsing. The video flashes back to Omar saying, “some people did something” and is followed by text reading, “Some people did something?”

The video – viewed more than 10 million times – ends with the words, “September 11, 2001, we remember.”

Yes, indeed, we do remember.

While Omar was incorrect in the founding of CAIR– CAIR was founded prior to 9/11, as some on the far right have been pointing out, attempting to cutdown the congresswoman at any turn – CAIR refocused its energies to further combat Islamophobia following several violent incidents upon Muslims. But Omar was more than correct in stating that “some people did something.” Again, we remember. We remember those “some people” were identified as Saudi nationals, and as you know, Trump is closely (maybe too closely) aligned with the Saudis. And if your argument for Trump’s buddy-buddy relationship with the rich Saudis is, “Well it wasn’t all Saudis,” I totally agree. The same way it was “some people” when these racists and xenophobes holler, “Muslims were behind 9/11.”

Oh, it’s not the “some people” that has you all hot and bothered? It’s the “did something?” To quote Jules from “Pulp Fiction,” “Well allow me to retort.”

What happened on Sept. 11, 2001 was horrific … the greatest single-day tragedy on American soil. We also remember the many atrocities committed by Americans during the era of slavery and Jim Crow.

OMAR 7

Tarek Tomes is the incoming commissioner of Minnesota IT Services (MNIT) and the state’s chief information officer.

Tomes brings both public and private-sector experience to the role, having most recently served as the first chief innovation officer for the City of St. Paul. Tomes will be succeeding Acting Commissioner William Poirier, who withdrew his name from consideration.

“I am thrilled to have Tarek Tomes joining our team as MNIT commissioner,” said Gov. Tim Walz. “Meeting the needs of an increasingly complicated technology era requires innovative and inclusive solutions from responsive leadership. As a recognized industry leader and experienced public servant, Tarek brings over 25 years of experience in managing technology and operations systems and building effective partnerships to provide Minnesota with the systems and solutions we need.”

“Technology has presented the business of government with exciting opportunities and serious challenges,” said Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan. “We were

Tarek Tomes committed to selecting a commissioner who was prepared to take on both opportunities and challenges with a thoughtful and innovative approach. Tarek has demonstrated his ability in transition and change management and the use of technol-

ogy to improve the lives of Minnesotans across the state.”

“I am tremendously excited to join the Governor and Lieutenant Governor in building One Minnesota,” said Tomes. “The continual evolution of technology innovation

opportunities has raised expectations for how government delivers services. Supporting a culture that embraces reliable and secure delivery of digital services that improves the lives of Minnesotans is essential to support the One Minnesota vision. Strengthening relationships and keeping people at the center of solutions will be critical in the work we do.”

Tomes will begin in his new role April 29 and Acting Commissioner Poirier will resume his previous role as chief technology officer until May 10 to support a smooth transition.

Before joining the City of St. Paul, Tomes served as assistant commissioner at Minnesota IT Services for six years and British Telecom for 13. He received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Maryland and attended Graduate School for Business Management at Boston University.

Minnesota IT Services is responsible for the design and delivery of IT across all entities in the executive branch of the State of MN.

Artist Esther Osayande’s tribute to Prince stands tall at the entrance to Farview Park

Sometimes it snows in April

By Harry Colbert, Jr. Managing Editor harry@insightnews.com “Sometimes it snows in April Sometimes I feel so bad, so bad Sometimes I wish that life was never ending But all good things, they say, never last All good things they say, never last And love, it isn’t love until it’s past” – Prince, “Sometimes it Snows in April” Indeed, sometimes it snows in April and sometimes coincidence isn’t coincidence.

Maybe it was coincidence that the now iconic Prince song, “Sometimes it Snows in April” – a song about longing to be reunited in death with a loved one – was recorded on April 21.

Maybe it was coincidence that on that same date in 2016 the author himself, Prince Rogers Nelson, transitioned from his earthly being to the hereafter. And maybe it was coincidence that artist Esther Osayande stumbled onto an impromptu celebration of life for Prince near First Avenue – the club made famous by Prince – when she left a workshop after being named an artist as a part of the 26th Avenue North/Assemble art project … maybe coincidence.

The artists, Osayande, along with Christopheraaron Deanes and Christopher Harrison were tasked with creating

Harry Colbert, Jr.

Sometimes it snows in April. Esther Osayande’s tribute to Prince, “Purple Raindrop,” on a recent snowy April 11 in North Minneapolis. any type art at any point along the selected bike rout extending from Theodore Wirth Park to the Mississippi River. Coincidentally, all of the artist chose sculpture art, but it was Osayande who was hit with a spirit to honor Prince.

“After I left the workshop, standing on the corner of Hennepin (Avenue) and 7th (Street in downtown Minneapolis) all of a sudden all these people were singing “Purple Rain.” The music was coming from around the corner at First

Ave. and all these people were there celebrating Prince. At that moment all I could see was a purple raindrop,” said Osayande. “There were all these parties and pop-up celebrations honoring Prince, but he needed something more permanent.”

That something more permanent is a 15-foot-tall sculpture, “Purple Raindrop,” at the Lyndale and 26th Avenues entrance at Farview Park in North Minneapolis. Conceived shortly after Prince’s passing, “Purple Raindrop” was installed this past December.

There was snow on the ground when the tribute was installed, and as Prince prophetically understood, there was snow on the ground and in the air this April … as it was this past April … as it most likely will be for many Aprils to come.

And while the snow won’t last, Osayande’s tribute to Prince shall.

“The sculpture isn’t mine, it’s the city’s; it belongs to the people,” said Osayande, who overseeing the art activities during the upcoming Juneteenth celebration.

“Purple Raindrop” was conceived and designed

by Osayande and was welded by welder, Denise Bailey with the assistance of Heather Doyle and was constructed at Chicago Avenue Fire Arts Center. In a bit more of “coincidence” the color chosen to adorn the sculpture is called “Purple Reign.”

So yes, sometimes it snows is April. And so too does the sun shine bright.

United Way awards $14 million in grants to nonprofits Greater Twin Cities United Way (United Way) announced it is awarding $14 million in grants.

Operating grants, available July 1, will fund 95 local nonprofit organizations with aim to disrupt inequity in the areas of educational success, household stability and economic opportunity for people experiencing poverty in the Twin Cities region.

“The difference in how people fare in our region depending on one’s income, race or zip code is well docu-

mented,” said Acooa Ellis, senior vice president of Community Impact at Greater Twin Cities United Way. “These disparities are not inevitable.

United Way’s approach to equity includes a focused, intentional effort to move our region beyond what we’ve always done. We’re looking forward to building on what we’ve learned through our more than 100-year history of service and expertise, working in close partnership with nonprofit leaders who have a

I2H

Breastfeeding matters to Black health

PAGE 4

Acooa Ellis

deep understanding of community needs and a strong track record of success.”

The new grants focus on ending homelessness and hunger, ensuring children meet critical developmental milestones which prepare them for kindergarten and to direct their futures and helping adults earn family-sustaining wages and increase their wealth. Grants to the 95 organizations will be renewed annually for two additional years (three years total) based on the availability of un-

News

Carter launches community engagement to develop St. Paul climate action & resilience plan

PAGE 6

restricted funds and each organization’s performance against certain goals.

Community collaboration United Way invited the community to participate in the grantmaking process through its Community Advisors Council.

The council, comprised of 23 subject matter experts, donors and nonprofit leaders with relevant knowledge and personal experience, scored proposals and conducted site visits.

“United Way is intentionally inclusive, partnering with community leaders to help make these funding decisions,” said Pamela Russell, a member of United Way’s Community Advisors Council and independent development consultant in the Twin Cities area. “I was honored to recommend so many fine organizations to be a part of United Way’s portfolio of resources to help stabilize and empower the lives of families here in the Twin Cities.”

Afrodcendientes I’m A Rican!

PAGE 7

Page 4 • April 22, 2019 - April 28, 2019 • Insight News

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Insight 2 Health Breastfeeding matters to Black health Commentary by Dr. LaVonne Moore Good health starts with breastfeeding.

It’s natural but not always easy.

Breastfeeding requires patience and commitment.

These are all phrases that are true, and I use them often because of their relevance to the health of African-Americans. Diabetes, hypertension and coronary heart disease all disproportionately affect African-Americans. Although heart disease kills more women than breast cancer, we know that African-American women often have a more aggressive form of breast cancer that is often detected (diagnosed) at later stages than women of other ethnicities.

The good news is breastfeeding is a protective factor against breast cancer and according to a recent article in OBG Management, breastfeeding for

longer than 12 months reduces the risk of breast cancer by 26 percent. Breastfeeding decreases the risk of type 2 diabetes by 15 percent compared to women who do not breastfeed, women who breastfed for 12 months or more have a 12 percent decreased risk for hypertension. Women who breastfed for more than 2 years had a 37 percent decreased risk of heart attack compared with women who never breastfeed.

These are numbers that are too significant to ignore, which is why I believe that breastfeeding is imperative for good health.

Black women are two to six times more likely to die from complications in pregnancy than white women. The infant health benefits are plentiful and well known by most women, but there’s less known about the maternal health benefits from this healthful practice. And often what is not discussed is the resistance by African-American women to breastfeeding due to historical trauma. The control relegated over African-American women and their bodies in

2017 “Chocolate Milk Day” celebrating Black breastfeeding families in the community. slavery included forced breeding and wet nursing. This oppressive experience had a negative impact on attitudes towards voluntarily breastfeeding their own

children, an attitude which carried through generations. Today, this view impacts breastfeeding rates among African-American women who continue to lag be-

hind all other ethnic groups in the U.S. And according to the Centers for Disease Control, the African-American infant mortality rate is twice the rate of white

infants, but breastfeeding could decrease this rate by as much as 50 percent which makes increasing their breastfeeding rates even more imperative.

So, breastfeeding’s potential impact on infant mortality should not be ignored.

According to Futures without Violence, a health and social justice nonprofit, factors related to systemic, institutional and historical racism perpetuate poor maternal health and birth outcomes for Black women. Racism is believed to contribute to low birth weight infants, high maternal morbidity and high infant mortality rates. Because of this Black Women’s Maternal Health Week, which took place April 11 – April 17, was developed to draw special attention to infant mortality and maternal morbidity rates as an important public health and social justice issue that we all need to be concerned about as we work toward eliminating health disparities and birth inequities in this country.

Coconut oil for weight loss: Does it work? benefits have been conducted with manufactured oils – derived in part from coconut oil or other plant oils – that don’t contain lauric acid. Therefore, it’s important not to draw conclusions about the benefits of coconut oil based on studies with oils called medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) oils.

By Mayo Clinic Staff

Coconut oil is widely promoted for weight-loss, but while the promises of coconut oil’s benefit sound great, the research is less clear.

A few studies have looked at the benefit of coconut oil on weight loss, and results have been mixed. Though some studies have reported a decrease in participants’ body mass index (BMI) and waist size, others have not. All of the studies have been short-term.

And it’s important to note that the better designed studies have evaluated coconut oil as part of a reduced-calorie diet and exercise plan. There is no evidence that coconut oil will have a beneficial effect on weight loss if you simply add it to your diet.

Coconut oil is from the dried fruit (nut) of the coconut palm tree. Although it’s called an oil, it’s essentially solid at room temperature, more like the texture and consistency of vegetable shortening. Coconut oil is nearly 100 percent fat, and 82 to 92 percent of that is saturated fat. One tablespoon of

Other research findings

coconut oil contains 11 grams of saturated fat.

All fats are not the same Fats can be characterized as saturated or unsaturated. Saturated fats can be further divided into short-, medium- and longchain fatty acids. These types of fats have different effects in the

body. Unlike long-chain fatty acids, medium-chain fatty acids are absorbed directly into the bloodstream. They don’t raise blood cholesterol as much as long-chain fatty acids do, and they don’t appear to be stored in the body’s fat tissue as readily as long-chain fatty acids are.

Coconut oil has been of interest because it contains

both medium-chain and longchain fatty acids. The primary component, however, is lauric acid. Based on its structure and function, lauric acid lands in the middle, behaving in some ways like a mediumchain fatty acid and in others like a long-chain fatty acid.

Many studies of medium-chain fatty acids and health

Researchers have also looked at the effect of coconut oil on blood cholesterol levels. Coconut oil appears to raise low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol – the “bad” cholesterol – but not as much as foods that contain longchain fatty acids, such as meat or full-fat dairy products. Some studies show that coconut oil may increase high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol – the “good” cholesterol – but whether this has a beneficial effect on heart disease is not known.

The entire body of evidence regarding dietary fats still supports the use of unsaturated oils, such as olive, canola, safflower or sunflower oil, instead of saturated fats or coconut oil for the management of cardiovascular risk factors.

Coconut oil also adds

calories to your diet, about 120 calories per tablespoon of coconut oil, which is why it will likely not aid weight loss if it’s not used with a calorie-controlled diet and physical activity.

The bottom line Research about the potential benefits of coconut oil asks important questions, but it’s too soon to draw clear conclusions. More research is needed with larger study groups and long-term follow-up to understand the impact of coconut oil on weight loss, blood cholesterol, and cardiovascular risk factors. And those results will need to be compared with the overall body of information about nutrition and health.

Although eating coconut oil in moderation isn’t going to result in great harm to your health, it’s not likely to help you lose weight either. If you enjoy the flavor of coconut oil, use it sparingly as part of an overall healthy dietary pattern. For successful, long-term weight loss, stick to the basics – regular physical activity and an overall calorie-controlled, healthy-eating plan rich in fruits, vegetables and other plant products.

Sharing kindness can boost your health increased feelings of social connection and positive feelings toward others.

By Mayo Clinic Staff

Acts of kindness

You’ve heard the uplifting stories; passersby dropping scads of cash into charity collection buckets or anonymous donors paying off hospital bills for strangers and people helping victims during storms and natural disasters. These acts of kindness make everybody feel good and there’s a science behind that phenomenon called “loving kindness.” Research shows that learning and practicing loving kindness can profoundly affect your attitude, outlook and even your health. Better yet, you can rewire your brain to be more present and kinder to others, giving your mood a daily boost.

These three simple practices will help get you started.

Loving-kindness meditation Loving-kindness meditation (LKM) is a quiet, contemplative practice that focuses thought on your heart region and encourages warm, tender thoughts, possibly about a loved one. In one study, people who practiced LKM an hour a week felt greater positive emo-

tions – love, contentment, joy – while interacting with others.

Documented health benefits of practicing LKM include reduced pain and tension from migraines, reduced symp-

toms of depression and possibly slowing the aging process.

Studies have found that women who practice LKM have longer telomeres, which are like little end-caps on your DNA.

Shorter telomeres have been associated with faster aging.

Maybe the best news is that even small doses of LKM can help. One study found that a 10-minute session of LKM

This one’s so simple. Intentionally set a goal to be kinder to others. Express sincerely felt kindness to a co-worker.

Make a special effort to extend kind words to a neighbor. Hold the elevator for someone or take time to help a loved one.

As you spread your kindness, you might just experience what research has confirmed; generosity can be contagious. Why? The act of helping others actually activates the part of your brain that makes you feel pleasure. It also releases a hormone called oxytocin that helps modulate social interactions and emotion – the higher your oxytocin levels, the more generous you may be.

Food for thought; reportedly, one person in Winnipeg, Manitoba, picked up the tab for the next car in line at a coffee-and-sandwich drivethrough. This inspired the next person to do to the same.

The chain continued for an astonishing 226 customers.

Seems like research

supports the Golden Rule; do unto others as you would have them do unto you. The kinder you act toward others, the better you will feel.

Focus on gratitude Do you feel grateful for the good things in your life?

If not, it’s time to start.

Researchers have found that feelings of thankfulness can help improve sleep, diminish fatigue, increase confidence and even lessen depression. One way to increase your feelings of gratitude is to start journaling.

Keeping a gratitude journal – just writing down things you’re grateful for – has been found to actually improve biological markers that indicate heart health. Don’t want to carry a notebook? There are plenty of phone apps that can help you express gratitude or share happy moments.

Like anything else, engaging in loving kindness gets easier with practice. Try thinking positive thoughts about people in your life. Write down the things you’re grateful for this week. Set aside 10 minutes to meditate. You may just find a happier, healthier you.

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Insight News • April 22, 2019 - April 28, 2019 • Page 5

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Page 6 • April 22, 2019 - April 28, 2019 • Insight News

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Carter, St. Paul focus on climate action and resilience St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter announced engagement opportunities for community members to learn about and provide feedback on the city’s Climate Action & Resilience Draft Plan.

The city aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 and cut emissions in half by 2030. Residents and businesses are encouraged to attend three public forums and provide comments online in

response to the draft plan. “Preparing St. Paul for the negative impacts of climate change will require urgent collective action,� said Carter. “We have laid out ambitious goals in St. Paul’s Climate Action and Resilience Plan. Every member of our community is invited to help shape the plan and ensure we are building a sustainable and thriving city for us all.�

Attendees at the com-

munity forums can expect an overview of the draft plan, small group discussions, and an exercise simulating carbon emission reduction. Residents will have opportunities to ask questions and share climate issues that are important to them.

Times and locations for community forums are Tuesday (April 23), 6:30 p.m. – 8 p.m. at St. Paul City School, 643 Virginia St., St Paul,

April 29, 6:30 p.m. – 8 p.m. at Eastside Freedom Library, 1105 Greenbrier St., St. Paul and May 13, 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. at Neighborhood House, 179 Robie St. E., St. Paul.

To view the draft plan and give feedback online, www.stpaul.gov/climateaction.

In addition to citysponsored events and online engagement, Russ Stark, chief resilience oďŹƒcer, will also present

INSIGHT NEWS

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 Maya Beecham 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)

St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter

Under 5% have transit access to 100,000 jobs

Need for equitable transit options present, growing

www.insightnews.com

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

the draft plan at district council meetings, congregations, business groups and community organizations over the next several months. Feedback collected from in-person meetings and online will inform a ďŹ nal draft of the Climate Action & Resilience Plan, which is expected to be presented to the St. Paul City Council later this year.

TRAVEL BEHAVIOR INVENTORY

Tell us about your travel and help us plan for the future.

Every day, people travel across the greater Twin Cities region – to and from work, school, GRFWRU¡V DSSRLQWPHQWV DQG WKH JURFHU\ VWRUH How we get where we need to go is essential to RXU OLYHV Check your mail! Look for a survey about how people travel that will help us build a better, PRUH HIILFLHQW WUDQVSRUWDWLRQ V\VWHP :H¡UH mailing invitations to take the survey to randomly selected households across the UHJLRQ RYHU WKH QH[W \HDU Complete the survey! If you receive an invitation, follow the instructions and start the VXUYH\ ULJKW DZD\ 7DNLQJ SDUW LQ WKH VXUYH\ means that households like yours are UHSUHVHQWHG LQ RXU UHJLRQDO WUDQVSRUWDWLRQ SODQV

Postmaster: Send address changes to McFarlane Media Interests, Marcus Garvey House 1815 Bryant Avenue North, Minneapolis,

To learn more, visit MSPtravelstudy.org or call 1-888-476-6157

Commentary by Darci Rose Every day, I take the bus from the Best Buy Park and Ride in RichďŹ eld into work in downtown Minneapolis. I choose to ride public transportation for the convenience, cost savings, environmental beneďŹ ts, and the time it allows me to get centered before and after work. However, not every professional that commutes into work has access to reliable transit options.

Many commuters are forced to drive and sit in traďŹƒc for hours each week. The beneďŹ t of taking transit is that I can choose to be productive and answer emails, or I can meditate and get ready for the day. The lack of transit options is also an equity problem. There are many professionals that rely on transit because they don’t own a vehicle, for various reasons.

Several local organizations developed a set of regional dashboard indicators comparing our region to similar regions around the country. This year’s indicators show that less than 5 percent of the population has access to 100,000 jobs by transit. That’s a huge number of people that can’t easily access jobs in the metro area.

The need for transit is present and growing.

Millennials now comprise

the largest generation in the workforce. Access to transit options and the ability to live a car-free life ranks highly for Millennials when deciding where to live. To remain attractive as a destination and place to live, we must invest in amenities that support the lifestyle of this generation.

Although, transit is not only about the desires of the younger generation.

Baby Boomers are beginning to exit the workforce and transit options will allow them to age in place and easily move about to doctor’s appointments, entertainment, and other destinations.

Transit is also about creating more economic opportunity. A recent study from Harvard found that transportation and commute time is the single strongest factor when it comes to the odds of escaping poverty.

These ďŹ ndings illuminate a looming structural inequality in our region. Investing in equitable transit options is a concrete solution to putting these communities on the road to economic prosperity.

Options like the Bottineau LRT, Southwest LRT, and the C Line BRT on Penn Avenue will directly impact the livelihoods of

TRANSIT 7

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Insight News • April 22, 2019 - April 28, 2019 • Page 7

Afrodcendientes I’m A Rican!

Afrodescendientes

By Carmen Robles Associate Editor “I’m A Rican” my brother Luis Mario Robles, Jr. use to say with his strong Brooklyn accent and a bit of swagger and attitude for effect.

We came from a household of hang-man and Scrabble gaming and recognized early on that there is a Rican in every American. We discovered the word Rican is engrained into the very core of the name of this nation’s citizen, the American. My brother, a Vietnam veteran who never received the respect he deserved for serving his country, loved coining the phrase “I’m

Omar From 3 According to the United Nations, some 17 million human beings were enslaved during the 400-year period of slavery and according to the “Encyclopedia Britannica” it’s estimated that 25 percent died during the transatlantic slave trade. That’s just during the period of slavery. It’s estimated that some 4,500 Blacks were lynched in America from 1877

Transit From 6

a Rican. I’m an Ame-rican.”

Until the very end, my brother, Luis Robles, was proud of his military service. A Nany man, his ashes are in the Veterans War Memorial in California. His spirit and sense of humor guides my hand as I write my collection of “I’m A Rican” stories.

Based on my life, journals and imagination American is about a first-generation girl’s assimilation into the fabric of main stream America. It’s about my childhood. My American and Puerto Rican families. My award-winning contributions to the nation. My successful battle against breast cancer. My finding love while facing disillusioned circumstances only to realize the love was just my imagination.

My character began life in two worlds. The world outside my door was one. The four walls within my home, held another world. A world oftentimes violent, void of fam-

Luis Mario Robles, Jr. June 26, 1950-January 25, 2016

ily love. I recant my journey of balancing my bilingual, bicultural world through humor and a fierce sense of Rican pride.

My parents hailed from the mountain regions in the middle of an island in the middle of the ocean. And even though the island was thousands of miles away from my life in the concrete island of my 1950’s New York home, Puerto Rico oozed out of every corner of my life.

Worlds colliding.

Languages and cultures to maneuver through. Secrets to unveil. I knew early on I would someday unveil the true story of my birth mother’s life.

Redeeming my mother’s honor. Exposing all who were party to the family sabotage that plagued my life become my mission early on. To uncover the secret that impacted my sibling’s lives, fragmented generations and derailed endless possibilities, became my obsession.

A lifelong journey that took me to the edge of crazy in my quest to uncover the truth, bringing me full circle face to face with my ancestral roots.

It took weaving through an en-

tanglement of lies, half-truths, untold misunderstood hardships and a walk in my mother’s shoes to understand my intertwined, fractured foundation.

Join me as I recant childhood memories of abduction, religious cults, resistance to assimilation, abandonment, exile and my fight against breast cancer through humor, optimism, reflection and imagination. There’s also love, sex and rice and beans.

My collection of short stories holds moments captured in real time through journaling.

Combined with creativity, ingenuity and sprinkled with a healthy dose of wishful thinking.

Dancing between two worlds, two cultures, two languages. I intermingle them to create yet another societal pose, a third world culture where I embrace salsa, the Beatles and Motown; fusing them together and always marching to the beat of my own timbales (drums).

These stories pay homage to my ancestors and are dedicated to my beloved brother Luis Mario Robles, Jr. the original “I’m A Rican.”

to 1950. That’s just lynching … not death by beatings (see Emmett Till), death by bombing (see 16th Street Baptist Church), death by bullet (see the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., et al.) and death by a combination of lynching, beating, bullet and bomb (see Black Wall Street/ Tulsa, Okla. massacre). Let us also remember the wiping out of some entire indigenous nations, with more than 150 massacres documented.

So yeah, “some people did something.” And it was horrific.

And again, we remember. We remember right-wing

darling Alex Jones said 9/11 was an inside job. And remember, Jones is a man who Trump has lauded with praise. So, who are these “some people?” Is it “the Muslims” or the American Government? You can’t have it both ways.

Well according to at least one Trump supporter who spoke to a Unicorn Riot reporter at an April 15 Trump rally in Burnsville (the video is posted on the Insight News Facebook page), “the truth is 9/11 was Muslims … Muslims did that.

You know it and I know it.

And Ilhan Omar, she wants to infiltrate our government just

like (Attorney General) Keith Ellison (who is also Muslim).

But you wanna know who did this? (former president Barack) Obama. Obama did this to us.

He brought 80,000 Muslims to Minnesota against our will … against our will.”

To a rational thinking person that’s “crazy talk.” But unfortunately there are a lot of crazy talkers out there. The person known as Individual One in a criminal indictment is one of them. And he provides cover for all the others who espouse hate cloaked as patriotism.

Seriously folks, doesn’t this scare the mess out

of you? It does me. I’m sure it does the congresswoman too.

Since taking office Omar has yet to hold a town hall or community meeting in her district … with her constituents.

I can’t say what are her exact reasons for not being in public spaces with her constituents, but I can hypothesize. I’m sure she, an affable and gregarious woman, would love to be out in her district, talking to the people she was elected to serve, but instead she’s having to talk to the FBI about her security detail.

I am a resident of Minnesota’s Fifth Congressional District. Omar is my representa-

tive. I want my representative to be able to speak directly to me and the 677,000-plus other residents of the district. We deserve that. And we deserve to do so knowing our representative and those who want to dialogue with her directly are not in harms way.

As I said at the onset, politics is a contact sport and we want to be able to have contact with the person elected to serve our district. Politics should never be a blood sport. Enough blood has been shed to last a thousand lifetimes.

Rep. Omar, we support you.

many residents. Bottineau and Southwest LRT, for example, will connect downtown Minneapolis and North Minneapolis to the surrounding suburbs, where job growth has

been greatest in recent years.

It’s important to invest in greater and better transit options. The Penn Avenue C Line will bring bus rapid transit to the northside. Bus

rapid transit has been shown to increase ridership by providing a faster, more reliable, and safer experience. The MSP region has also seen nearly $8 billion in economic development along

fixed transit corridors. Providing diverse transit options in North Minneapolis will change lives and stimulate economic growth.

It’s unfortunate that transit has been framed as a

political and geographic divide.

We don’t need partisanship and party politics, we need real, sustainable solutions that meet the transit needs of all Minnesotans.

Two by Deux w/ Molly Maher:

dĈƷŸĈƪ GŕƍûÝƍńƇ ɺ

MAY 7

MAY 9

Keiko Matsui

Thornetta (Ýƣĭžɺ

Todd Clouser & Tina ¤ûĩńĭĈžŀĈɕ ŸĭÝōōÝ fŕýŀÝ & Adam Wozniak

Octavia E. Butler’s Parable of the Sower

Kevin Yatarola

‘Octavia E. Butler’s Parable of the Sower: The Concert Version’ plays The O’Shaughnessy A new folk opera created by Toshi Reagon and Bernice Johnson Reagon will be on stage at The O’Shaughnessy, 2004 Randolph Ave., St. Paul.

“Octavia E. Butler’s Parable of the Sower: The Concert Version” will run April 26 at 7:30 p.m.

A genre-defying work featuring an ensemble of 20 singers and musicians, “Octavia E. Butler’s Parable of the Sower” presents two centuries of Black music to give musical life to the late Afro-futurist and science fiction author’s postapocalyptic science fiction novel of the same name.

Written by Toshi Reagon, in collaboration with Bernice Johnson Reagon, (founder of Sweet Honey in the Rock), “Parable” seeks to reveal deep insights on gender, race and the future of human civilization.

The musical chronicles the spiritual awakening of young Lauren Olamina amidst a dystopian America wracked by the violence brought on by climate change, unrelenting greed, and systemic injustice.

Exploding the form of an opera, “Parable” fuses science fiction, AfricanAmerican spiritualism, insights into gender and race and climate activism to construct mesmerizing meditation on the future of human civilization.

“For my mother and me, the essential thing in our

pieces is the singing. All of the musical arrangements center around the voice,” said Toshi Reagon. “To us, when you are taken from your land and stripped of rights, your name, your people, your religion and assaulted relentlessly – your home is the sound your body can

make. Your dignity rescues itself in the shelves of your instrument.”

Tickets are $27-$57 with discounts for students, seniors and military. Tickets can be purchased online www.theoshaughnessy.com or by calling (651) 690-6700.

Free-spirited Contemporary Jazz

Poetic Americana Troubadour

Queen of Detroit Blues

MAY 9

MAY 11

Della Mae

66: Talkin’ Bout My Generation

EP Release Show All-women Americana All-stars

feat. Prudence Johnson, Bradley Greenwald, Diana Grasselli & Dan Chouinard

MAY 12

MAY 13

Lizz Wright Divinely Layered Soul & Jazz

David Bromberg ƍĭōƇĈƇɺ

MAY 15

MAY 16-17

Patty & Ricky Peterson

Joan Osborne Sings the Songs of Bob Dylan

MAY 18

MAY 21-22

Patricia Barber

Elvin Bishop’s Big Fun Trio

feat. Paul Peterson & Sean Turner

Postmodern Jazz Diva

Six String Superman

Blues Guitar Legend

MAY 23

612.332.5299 dakotacooks.com

MAY 29

1010 Nicollet Mall Minneapolis, MN

Page 8 • April 22, 2019 - April 28, 2019 • Insight News

Aye Win

insightnews.com

Israel Glenn

Isabella Brown

Jasmine Salter

Kenija Wallace

Five Twin Cities area high school seniors selected to receive scholarships; achieve academic excellence while overcoming adversity

Children’s Defense Fund-Minnesota announces Beat the Odds scholarships Aye Win and Isabella Brown from Como Park Senior High School in St. Paul, Israel Glenn and Kenija Wallace from North Community High School in Minneapolis and Jasmine Salter from Patrick Henry High School in Minneapolis were recently announced as the 2019 Beat the Odds scholarship recipients.

Children’s Defense Fund- Minnesota (CDF-MN) sponsors the awards to recog-

nize students who have demonstrated academic achievement, leadership in their communities and college aspirations in spite of facing often overwhelming obstacles such as poverty, abuse, health challenges, homelessness and family tragedy. The students were honored April 18 at the CDF-MN’s 27th annual Beat the Odds Awards Celebration held at St. Thomas University.

Since 1993 CDF-MN has honored nearly 300 Beat the Odds scholarship recipients and finalists. This year’s award winners were chosen out of 273 applicants. The five honorees will each receive a $5,000 scholarship, a computer and an array of college supplies to help them pursue their dreams of higher education.

The Beat the Odds awards celebration is an eve-

ning of fun, inspiration and celebration that highlights the difference that community support can make in the lives of young people. It also serves as a fundraiser for the work of CDF-MN, which is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that seeks to improve the lives of Minnesota children and their families through advocacy, education, outreach and youth development.

Jerome Benton of The Time to host PRN Alumni Foundation cocktail party and panel The Time’s Jerome Benton will host the PRN Alumni Foundation and MidAmerica Talent Purple Paisley Cocktail Party & Panel.

The event features an author’s panel and a live performance

by Ingrid Chavez and takes place Saturday (April 27) inside UMBRA Bites & Pours at Canopy

by Hilton, 708 3rd St. S. in Minneapolis. The panel begins at 4 p.m. with the cocktail party following at 5:30 p.m. Chavez’s performance begins at 7 p.m.

Benton is Minneapolis music legend. He is an original member of The Time, co-star of “Purple Rain” and “Under the Cherry Moon,” and often toured with Prince’s band.

Chavez became a surro-

Jerome Benton gate “Minneapolitan” when she co-starred with Prince in the movie “Graffiti Bridge.” She is currently touring in support of her third album, “Memories of Flying” features collaborations with Charles Webster, Ganga,

Mashti, Deep Dive Corp., Marco Valentin and David Hurn.

The author’s panel will bring together writers and photographers knowledgeable about Prince and the Minneapolis Sound. Featured panelists include Chris Riemenschneider (“First Avenue: Minnesota’s Mainroom”), Jim Walsh (“Gold Experience: Following Prince in the ’90s”) and Allen Beaulieu (“Prince: Before the Rain”).

There will also be a Silent Auction of Prince and Minneapolis music related items to raise money for the PRN Alumni Foundation. All events are open to the public and free of charge. Valet parking is available. For more information call Canopy by Hilton at (612) 332-0696.

Dr. Barbara Cole

Minister and counselor, Dr. Barbara Cole releases new book, ‘God Morning’ Area author, Dr. Barbara Cole, will host a launch event for her

The night’s keynote address was delivered by Marian Wright Edelman, founder and president emerita of the national Children’s Defense Fund. Under Edelman’s 45-year leadership, CDF has grown into one of the nation’s strongest voices for children and families In addition, advertising and marketing company, Fallon, received the Champion of Children Award for its sup-

port of Minnesota children through its nearly 30-year partnership with CDF-MN. Fallon has donated an estimated 2,000 hours annually in staff support, student video production, invitation and program design and other advertising and marketing materials for the Beat the Odds event since the program’s inception 27 years ago.

upcoming book, “God Morning.”

The event takes place this Saturday (April 27) at 11:30 a.m. at CrossRoads Panorama, 80 W. 66th St., Richfield.

Cole said the purpose of “God Morning” is to inspire, uplift, rejuvenate and assist readers in life’s most difficult challenges.

“I want to encourage readers to press onward to victory through developing their personal time with God by applying His word to their everyday lives,” said Cole. “This will allow the Holy Spirit to do His work in assisting the individual in to becoming the new creation Christ intended.”

Cole said her writings encourage the reader to be mindful of the words they put in the atmosphere.

“It is important for us to understand that the power of our words and how we approach life does play a major

role in whether or not we can obtain victory in our lives,” said Cole.

Cole is an ordained minister, holding a doctorate in Ministry with emphasis in nonprofit management. She also has a master’s degree in Family Counseling, and a bachelor’s in Christian Counseling.

Cole has more than 25 years working with both primary and secondary victims of domestic violence and her experience extends beyond 30 years working with the underserved populations and families in crisis, child protection services, court advocacy, life coaching, conference presenter and couples counseling.

“As a faith-based family counselor, life coach and trainer, I enjoy motivating people to live life to the fullest, to champion them on in achieving their goals through seemingly impossible and difficult challenges and situations,” said Cole.

BILLIONS GENERATED TO KEEP OUR STATE GREAT. Since 1990, the Minnesota Lottery has generated over $3 billion for our state. That money helps support our nature, roads, education and more.

It’s how we play our part. It’s how you can too.

So if you’re game for helping your state, say I’MN.

An evening of Broadway songs about passion and protest.

Featuring music from Hair, The Color Purple, Fun Home, Hamilton, and more.

MAY 2 This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a Minnesota State Arts Board Operating Support grant, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.

651.224.4222