WINNER: 2018 NNPA MERIT AWARDS: 3RD PLACE BES T COLUMN WRITING
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Insight News July 30 - August 5, 2018
Vol. 45 No. 31• The Journal For Community News, Business & The Arts • insightnews.com
Jeff Martin seeks Ramsey judge post MA M A R TI TIN 5
Uzoma Obasi, Creative Mind Studios
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Insight News • July 30 - August 5, 2018 • 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 July 30 - August 5, 2018
Vol. 45 No. 31• The Journal For Community News, Business & The Arts • insightnews.com
DEED not acting in good faith; community not being served, Senator Champion says By Harry Colbert, Jr. Managing Editor harry@insightnews.com Remone Wagner is changing his life for the better. Describing himself as once “lost,” Wagner is changing his life path. But he said he could not have done it with the assistance from Emerge, a community nonprofit serving the residents of North Minneapolis. “Without Emerge I’d probably be sitting in a cell somewhere,” said Wagner. “I was lost before Emerge. I needed a job and they helped me get one. I didn’t want to make money the wrong way (alluding to dealing in narcotics).” And while Wagner is making money the “right way,” others may not be as fortunate. That is because a large portion of Emerge’s funding has been halted. Same for the Minneapolis Urban League, Sabathani
Walker Art Center
Minneapolis Sculpture Garden will soon be home to artwork curated by NativeAmerican artists.
Harry Colbert, Jr.
Sen. Bobby Joe Champion (DFL-59) addresses an audience at Greater Mount Vernon Missionary Baptist Church during a June meeting discussing the halt in funding of the Unity Opportunity Collaborative. Community Center, Stairstep Foundation and Minneapolis Public Schools – all a part of the
Unity Opportunity Collaborative (UOC). In 2016 $4.2 million
was appropriated to the UOC by the Minnesota State Legislature to address income and employ-
ment disparities among Blacks
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Painter makes his case for Senate By Latisha Townsend Contributing Writer
Sen. Tina Smith has a DFL challenger in the form of an anti-President Trump former Republican. Richard Painter is a law professor at the University of Minnesota and an alum of Harvard University. Previously an avid Republican, he has decided to run for U.S. Senate under the DFL. Regarding his party change, he cites the recent administration as the “straw that broke the camel's back.” A rally was held on July 17 at Metropolitan State University in support of his candidacy. What sets Painter apart from his opponents? “I believe I am more emphatic about beginning the process of removing the current president and vice president” said Painter.
If he is not chosen to represent Minnesota, Painter wants voters to know how important it is that they choose a Democrat for the seat. He feels a Republican candidate is surely to be “someone in the back pocket of the president.” Painter’s main platform is an extension of his concerns about the current administration's hostility towards large segments of the American population based on race and religion as well as the president’s overall mental suitability for office. He also wants the people to start talking about solutions to the growing economic inequality we have here in this country. As for the economic issues, Painter is focused on improving issues that unite everyone, such as healthcare, an issue he describes as the number one domestic crisis in this country. Painter feels the most efficient solution for improving healthcare is a through a single payer system. Additionally, he
suggests the prices of drugs and the costs of medical devices be reduced. Supporters enthusiastically agreed to his stance on increased minimum wage and providing Americans with more educational opportunities such as trade schools. Most importantly, “we need to clear out the influence of money in politics” said Painter before suggesting that the taxes of the wealthy be increased. Painter and his supporters expressed interest in bringing attention to environmental protection as well. He said people should be more concerned about the destruction caused by sulfide mining near major waterways. In an interview with reporters, a question was posed about his opinion on the president’s choice for supreme court replacement of Justice Anthony Kennedy. “He (Trump) shouldn't be able to pick a justice. The last thing we need is a president
Latisha Townsend
Senatorial candidate Richard Painter sits for an interview with Insight News reporter Latisha Townsend. choosing his own candidate for justice (as he may be facing impeachment and/or criminal prosecution),” said Painter. “(Judge Brett) Kavanaugh was a good choice for the president, but bad for the people. We can expect Kavanaugh to fend off any investigation of the president’s conduct.” During the rally, a supporter
who described himself as an immigrant stood up and asked the candidate what he thinks of the recent issues arising from illegal immigrants. “They (immigrants) have been contributing to this country. They make this country and economy strong,” said Painter.
PAINTER 7
Uchechukwu Iroegbu
March the vote: Students from the Children’s Defense Fund Freedom School participated in a July 18 St. Paul march to promote social change through the ballot box. The march was a part of the National Day of Social Action.
Business
Transformation: New neighbors
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Insight 2 Health Eyes on the prize
PAGE 6
Lifestyle
Raising bi-racial Black children to embrace being Black
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Indigenous Public Art Selection Committee to nominate works by Native artist
Walker teams with Native community to right a wrong In cooperation with a group of Native curators, knowledge keepers, artists and arts professionals including individuals of Dakota descent and enrollment, the Walker Art Center announced the establishment of an Indigenous Public Art Selection Committee. The committee is currently working with the Walker to shape a process and ultimately select a Native artist who will be commissioned to create a new work to be located in the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden or on the Walker campus. The selection committee and upcoming project grew out of commitments made by the Walker and artist Sam Durant to a group of Dakota elders during last summer’s mediation regarding “Scaffold,” a controversial outdoor sculpture by Durant. Under the agreement, “Scaffold” was removed from the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden and the artist transferred intellectual property rights to the Dakota Oyate. An open call for artists will be announced this summer. The public artwork will be installed in spring of 2020. “We are extremely fortunate to be working with the expertise, knowledge, and creative thinking of this committee, who collectively will help bring an important new work of art to the Walker Art Center collection and to the Twin Cities,” said Siri Engberg, the Walker’s senior curator and director of exhibitions management.
AI
Minnesota Orchestra celebrated Nelson Mandela centennial and International Day of Music
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Business
Transformation: New neighbors By Randall Bradley Architect Thor Construction Company’s new Regional Acceleration Center is nearing completion and a grand day is descending upon all of us. Celebrations are going to be visited upon all of us. Great joy is at hand. We have witnessed the transformation of this empty lot into this brand new architecturally designed, professionally constructed, contemporary mixed-use office and retail building. This is a seriously pro-
found development project for North Minneapolis. There were enormous obstacles, both obvious and hidden, that had to be overcome by the development team for this building to be sitting as magnificently as it is among us today. The “transformation” of this empty lot into a private sector asset for our community is nothing less than phenomenal. Transformation ... change, has come to our community and this is what it looks like. Very handsome, indeed. And just think, it’s going to be that good looking for a long time. The previous single occupant
on this site, employed a maximum of 12 employees at any shift. There will be seven new tenants in this facility – Thor Companies, Hennepin County, Target Corporation, Metropolitan Economic Development Association (Meda), Build Wealth MN, Sammy’s Avenue Eatery and Me &. I (fitness center). The new occupants will support a minimum of 300 employees. Opportunities for employee growth will be available within these business entities. All of these businesses sit on top of or directly next to a 625 stall, multi-level parking garage. Patients and staff of North Point
Clinic will also utilize this garage. The entire dynamics of this intersection will change. Keep your eyes open; new realities for this area are coming. Transformation ... change, is presenting us with unknowns that we are unlikely to completely imagine. Transformation ...change, is also challenging us to pursue solutions that we are unable to completely envision. Is this project going to be the beginning of more economic development? All of these businesses, departments, agencies, consultants, and individuals will become our new neighbors. Are you ready for their presence to become a part of your everyday reality? While it may take you some time to get comfortable with the new faces that are coming into reality for this community, they too, along with the new building, shall be a visual indicator of the
Harry Colbert, Jr.
The new Thor Companies’ Regional Acceleration Center at the corner of Penn and Plymouth Avenues in North Minneapolis. “transformation” that has begun here. Since July of 2017, architect Randall Bradley has been writing a multi-part series on the
construction of the new development at the corners of Penn Avenue North and Plymouth Avenue North in Minneapolis.
Walmart supports future leaders through $2 million in funding (Black PR Wire) BENTONVILLE, Ark. – Walmart announced $2 million in grants to organizations working to expand internship opportunities for diverse youth populations, the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Inc. (CBCF) and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI). The grants build on previous Walmart funding to the two nonprofits, bringing the company’s total investment to more than $6 million over the last several years. The funding will help provide career pathways
on Capitol Hill for students and young professionals through education and hands-on experience in the nation’s capital. “At Walmart, our commitment to diversity and inclusion spreads beyond our stores and out into the communities where our associates and customers live,” said Julie Gehrki, vice president of programs at Walmart. “Through relationships with organizations like CHCI and CBCF that reflect the diversity of American society, we can open the door to help more young people build
a career in public service and expand the pipeline of talent on Capitol Hill and beyond by providing our future leaders with the tools needed for success.” At a time when people of color currently make up less than 20 percent of U.S. lawmakers (Pew Research Center), these grants come at a critical moment. Although diverse populations represent approximately 36 percent of the population, only 7.1 percent are senior staffers in the Senate, accord-
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Insight News • July 30 - August 5, 2018 • Page 5
Jeffry Martin makes case to become Ramsey County judge The former head of the St. Paul branch of the NAACP is making a run to become a Ramsey County judge. Jeffry Martin, who will face three other candidates in the Aug. 14 primary, is seeking to become judge of Court 11 in the 2nd District of Minnesota (Ramsey County). If elected, Martin would be one of just a handful of African-American judges
in the county. Of the current bench in Ramsey County four of 32 judges are AfricanAmerican. Martin enters the race impressively qualified to serve as a judge. The current deputy director of Human Rights and Economic Opportunity for St. Paul, Martin has served as both a prosecutor and public defender and has practiced
Jeffry Martin
in the areas of employment, criminal defense, bankruptcy and family law. The attorney received his juris doctor from William Mitchell College of Law in 2003. He has also worked in criminal justice as a juvenile rehabilitation officer, and adult probation and parole officer. An ordained minister, Martin serves as an associate minister at Progressive Baptist
Church in St. Paul, where he has been a member since 1992. Also on the ballot are Gregory Egan, IV, Scott Flaherty and Adam Yang. Although the primary in Minnesota is Aug. 14, voters have already begun casting ballots in open absentee and early voting, which will run up until the day of the election.
Justice Department reopens Emmett Till murder case By Lauren Victoria Burke NNPA Newswire Contributor The U.S. Department of Justice has once again reopened the infamous Emmett Till case. The 1955 murder case was a major turning point in the Civil Rights Movement and one of the most notorious murders in United States history. On Aug. 28, 1955, Emmett Till, who was 14, was murdered in the town of Money, Miss. by Roy Bryant and his half-brother J.W. Milam after Bryant’s wife, Carolyn Bryant, alleged Till whistled at her and groped her. That allegation was recanted years later by Carolyn Bryant. Roy Bryant and Milam abducted Emmett Till from the home of his great-uncle, beat him, shot him in the head and dumped his body in the Tallahatchie River. Till’s body was weighted down by a cast iron cotton gin pulley. Three days later his corpse was recovered from the river. Till’s body was sent to his mother, Mamie Till-Mobley, in Chicago. She demanded that her son have an open casket funeral. The decision would lead to worldwide press attention after hundreds of attendees
Wikimedia Commons
The Justice Department recently reopened the 1955 Emmett Till case. were given full view of Till’s mutilated corpse. The Black Press, led by Jet Magazine, widely covered Till’s murder, featuring several jarring photos. In a Justice Department statement on July 13, the reason given for reopening the Till investigation was related to, “receiving new information.” However, the Justice Department did not detail exactly what the new information was. According to USA Today, the decision was revealed to Congress in a February report, but it is unclear what the Justice Department is prepared to act on. According to Deborah Watts, cousin of Till and co-founder of the Emmett Till Legacy Foundation, the Till case was never officially closed.
“What we have is a 63-yearold cold case,” said Watts. “It’s not being reopened, it’s being revisited.” Watts said with renewed attention on the brutal murder she hopes a case of justice delayed is not one of justice denied. “I want those responsible for Emmett’s murder to be held accountable,” said Watts. “And I want to set the record straight regarding Emmett’s actions that day. Carolyn Bryant is still alive and she holds the key to these answers.” In September 1955, Roy Bryant and Milam were acquitted by an all-white jury after less than 90 minutes of deliberation. Till’s murderers later admitted to the crime in a 1956 interview for Look Magazine.
Roy Bryant died in 1994 and Milam died in 1980. CNN.com reported, “Several interested parties asked the Justice Department in 2004 whether any surviving suspects could be prosecuted.” At the time the Justice Department determined that the statute of limitations prevented any federal prosecution, according to CNN.com. Three years later, a Mississippi grand jury declined to issue new charges, CNN.com reported. Many have speculated that the reopening of Emmett Till’s death by the Justice Department is related to last year’s publication of the book “The Blood of Emmett Till,” by author Tim Tyson. Tyson’s book revealed that Roy Bryant’s ex-wife, Carolyn Bryant admitted in 2008 that she lied when she claimed Till whistled at her, a tale she would later tell her husband that set off a chain of events leading to Till’s murder. In 1955 Carolyn Bryant was a 21-year-old former beauty queen; now, she’s more than 80 year-old and living in North Carolina. The original casket of Emmett Till was donated to the Smithsonian Institution and is now displayed at the National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC). “The story of
Emmett Till is one of the most important of the last half of the 20th century. And an important element was the casket,” said Lonnie Bunch, the director of NMAAHC, in a 2009 interview with the Washington Post. “It is an object that
allows us to tell the story, to feel the pain and understand loss. I want people to feel like I did. I want people to feel the complexity of emotions.” This article was originally published at BlackPressUSA.com.
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Insight 2 Health
Eyes on the prize Afrodescendientes
By Carmen Robles Entering week nine of the Insight2Health Fitness Challenge Round XII I could clearly see the light at the end of the tunnel. I could see the grand prize. Ah yes, the grand prize gleaming, radiating, calling me. “Vente mija vente. Soy tuja” (come my dear, come. I am yours.) As I huff and I puff in front of the mirror that lines the wall of the gym at the Cora McCorvey YMCA, in North Minneapolis I am amazed to see this strong, svelte hot mama, or rather abuela (grandmother) clearly coming into view. I am pumped. The grand prize is mine. The countdown begins every Monday morning for me. “‘X’ number of weeks to go and the prize will be yours,” I telepathically tell my image in the mirror at the beginning of each workout session. “The prize is yours.” I repeat over and over
for the 45 torturous minutes of workout. “Can you see it?” I ask myself. “Can you feel it? Do you want it? Well, do you?” the voice in my head getting louder as my body tries to keep up with each grueling circuit. “Ah yes” I tell myself; the sweat coming down my face like a rainstorm seeping into my ears. But I don’t care. “I’m committed and I will not quit,” I chant with Noir Elite fitness instructors. “You betcha I’m committed. I want
me to tackle head-on and beat a devastating diagnoses of breast cancer stage III. After 10-weeks of grueling physical workouts and nutritional coaching, structural changes took hold within me. Just in time. I was ready in body and mind for the 16 chemotherapy sessions and 30 radiation cooking of the skin treatments I had to endure. Had it not been for Insight2Health Fitness Challenge I shudder to think how I would have handle the news
“Can you see it?” I ask myself. “Can you feel it? Do you want it? Well, do you?” that grand prize,” my inside voice whispers to me. “The grand prize is what I want. It’s within my reach. The ‘I am champion’ grand prize. It’s mine.” I repeat over and over in my head “mine, mine, mine” (sounding more like a threeyear toddler or a mad scientist than the seasoned, accomplished, sophisticated woman that I am). “So, what’s this grand prize?” you may ask. “Gold medals? A trip? A car? A mirror ball?” Better. The grand prize is priceless. Drum roll please … the grand prize is a healthy, quality life. This is my fourth round and I continue winning the grand prize at the end of each round. “What were your priceless grand prizes?” you ask. Glad you asked. My first round prepared
of my declining health. To me, it’s divine intervention. What started out as an assignment to document an idea of creating a community-based health initiative saved my life. Simple. My grand prize? Stamina, strength, endurance. My second and third rounds gave me the courage to build my body back up, from scratch. To shake off the debilitating disaster left by the invasive, intrusive, destructive treatments. The rounds helped me keep off the weight I was losing; helped me shed inches and gave me a bunch of new friends. The grand prize at the end was a 5 percent bone density increase, when a decrease is the norm; confirming exercise does a body good. This my fourth round. So far, I’ve lost and kept off the 40plus pounds that’s held me hos-
tage to the “obesity” category displayed in my doctor’s office. I’m no longer on that chart. Wait, there’s more. The grand prize of prizes has got to be the lowering of my A1C level from 5.7 to 5.3 knocking me out of the prediabetes category. Mayo Clinic reports “the A1C test is used to diagnose diabetes, an A1C level of 6.5 percent or higher on two separate occasions indicates you have diabetes. A result between 5.7 and 6.4 percent is considered prediabetes, which indicates a high risk of developing diabetes.” Never in a million years would I have guessed I would continue participating in these challenging rounds of 10-week kick culito (butt) fitness regimen. The Insight2Health Fitness Challenge is about challenging myself to walk through those doors. Everyone is surprised I’m still at it. Duh. The “it” I’m still at, is life altering. We take our cars in to the garage, the computer to the Geek Squad, call in the plumber for a leaky faucet. No difference here. Let’s call in the experts for our precious bodies, emotional and social wellbeing. That’s what the Insight2Health Fitness Challenge is doing, bringing in experts in the fitness and health fields within the community. Building healthy transitions from the inside out. Yep, I keep winning the grand prize of the Insight 2 Health Fitness Challenges – a better quality life. The next round of the Insight2Health Fitness Challenge begins August 11. Call (612) 588-1313 for information and registration or visit www. insight2healthchallenge.com.
Cautious optimism for early results of new Alzheimer’s drug By Ian Roth Mayo Clinic Staff
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With roughly one in 10 Americans over 65 living with Alzheimer’s, any progress in the effort to fight the disease would be a welcome advancement for millions of people. Researchers at Mayo Clinic are cautiously optimistic that a new antibody known as BAN2401 will continue to show an ability to delay progression of Alzheimer’s reducing amyloid accumulation in the brain as it has during early-phase clinical trials. “It’s the most costly disease to our society right now,” said Dr. Ronald Petersen, director of the Mayo Clinic Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center. “It exceeds cancer. It exceeds heart disease with regards to costs to society.” That’s why Petersen is hopeful BAN2401 will live up to its early promise after so many other attempts at effective Alzheimer’s treatments have failed. There is no cure for Alzheimer’s, and all currently available drugs can do is treat symptoms. But BAN2401’s purpose is to slow the progression of the disease. Petersen says BAN2401’s approach to Alzheimer’s treatment is based on the amyloid hypothesis. “Alzheimer’s is biologically defined as the presence of plaques and tangles in the brain,” said Petersen. “The plaques are made of the protein called ‘amyloid,’ and the tangles are made of the protein called ‘tau.’ So, if that’s Alzheimer’s disease, then the amyloid hypothesis implies
that amyloid, the one protein, gets laid down in the brain – meaning it gets misprocessed in the brain – and forms this sticky clump of toxic material.” The hypothesis contends that, once the amyloid is misprocessed – laid down in the brain – it begins a sequence of events, like the subsequent misprocessing of the tau protein, which causes the tangles. That leads to the death of nerve cells, and, eventually, clinical symptoms arise from that sequence of events.” Peterson said people usually won’t show symptoms of Alzheimer’s for 10 to 20 years after the initiating event of the amyloid misprocessing. He explained that BAN2401, an antibody against the amyloid protein, is believed to be capable of removing some amyloid protein from the brain. During the clinical trial, patients who had mild cognitive impairment or very mild dementia underwent positron emission tomography scans to confirm the presence of the amyloid protein in the brain. They were then given the antibody in one of five possible doses, or a placebo. “They followed the people for up to 18 months, and those individuals who received the highest dose of the drug actually had less amyloid in the brain at 18 months than they had at the beginning of the trial,” said Petersen. “And they were clinically stable, or they declined only a little bit, compared to the placebo participants who did not have any (significant) reduction in the amyloid amount in the brain. And (those who received the placebo) declined more rapidly than the people who got the (highest) dose of the drug.”
Even though it was an early, phase two trial, the results suggest the drug may remove one of the toxic proteins from the brain that causes Alzheimer’s. If the results continue to hold up through continued testing and trials, it may eventually be possible to offer BAN2401 to people in whom amyloid protein is detected to prevent or delay the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease from developing. Petersen said it was a complicated trial design, but he remains cautiously optimistic about the results. “It gives us a shot in the arm because there have been so many failures of major drug trials in the Alzheimer’s field in the last 10 years that, when we see a positive signal like this moving in the right direction clinically and biologically, it’s encouraging,” said Petersen But Petersen warns a potential breakthrough that benefits patients and their families still could be a long way off. In the meantime, in addition to drug interventions to treat symptoms of Alzheimer’s, he says people can make lifestyle modifications to lower their risk of the disease. “There is a fair amount of evidence that exercise, aerobic exercise – maybe some resistance training, as well – can actually slow the progression or delay the onset of clinical symptoms,” said Petersen. “We recommend people stay intellectually active, stay involved in their social networks. And from a dietary perspective ... perhaps a hearthealthy diet, a Mediterranean diet, may be useful again in delaying the onset and slowing the progression of the disease.”
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Insight News • July 30 - August 5, 2018 • Page 7
William (Bill) Murray, Sr. remembered William (Bill) James Thomas Murray, Sr., 60, accidently drowned on Sunday July 8 while vacationing at the family cabin at Adney Lake. Murray had been a vocalist and keyboard player with The Not Guilty Band that performed at Arnellia’s, Minnesota Music Café and other venues around Minnesota. He often performed solo or with other musicians for various programs and events in the Twin Cities. Murray founded Window Man, a window washing business, in 1998. He included his three sons in the business, which helped them to branch out into their own businesses. Murray enjoyed being outdoors and loved to fish. He was known to take friends to the family cabin to de-stress and heal in nature. He also loved to cook and feed people. He passed this love of nature, fishing and cooking on to his children and grandchildren. Murray was a mem-
ber of Pilgrim Baptist Church where he sang in the William O. White chorus. Murray is the son of James (Jim) T. Murray and Lavinia Murray (deceased). He is survived by his wife Beth Murray, children, William Murray, Jr., Matthew (Courtney) Murray, David Murray, Sr., grandchildren Alexus Ann Murray, William Murray lll, David Murray, Jr., sisters Mary K. Murray Boyd and Sherrill Mosley; nieces, Sherrillyn Mosley and Laury Boyd; nephews, Tony Mosley (Deanna) and Jeff Boyd (Racara); godparents, Vanne Owens Hayes and William H. Payne, Jr. A celebration of life service for Murray will be held Saturday (Aug. 4) at Inwood Oaks, (formerly Envision), 484 Inwood Ave. N., Oakdale. Visitation begins at 3 p.m. with the memorial service at 4 p.m. Repast and a celebration of life with music from the band will follow.
St. Peter’s AME Church
Workers prepare to install a new air conditioner at St. Peter’s AME Church in Minneapolis.
St. Peter’s AME church replaces 65-year-old air conditioning system
Bill Murray
Hawthorne and Jordan neighborhoods join for annual Back to School Community Give-a-Way The Hawthorne Neighborhood Council and Jordan Area Community Council are hosting their 2nd annual Back to School Community Give-a-Way. The event takes place Saturday, Aug. 11 from noon –
UOC From 3 and whites in Minnesota. The money was not given directly to the UOC, but disbursed through the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Opportunity (DEED). Since Sept. 1 of last year those disbursements have been suspended do to what DEED is calling malfeasance and mismanagement. The member organizations of the UOC say they have done nothing wrong and contend that with each passing day citizens
Walmart From 4 ing to the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies. The CBCF will receive a three-year, $1 million grant to help prepare college students and young professionals for careers in public policy and advocacy. The funding will provide exposure to the development and implementation of national
Painter From 3
Last winter officials at St. Peter’s AME Church, 401 E 41st St, Minneapolis, were informed that the church’s 65-year-old air conditioning system was on its last leg. This spring it was discovered that the system was inoperable and would need to be replaced at a cost of more than $45,000. Not to be thwarted, the 119-member congregation set out to raise the needed funds in a capital campaign. Church members contributed to a 10-week effort that started on April 1. By mid-June the church had raised more than $30,000. Then, the church’s air conditioning contractor, came forward and donated a five-ton rooftop air conditioning unit, saving the church many thousands of dollars. With prayers and supplications, the congregation moved forward; however, they still need-
ed to raise more than $11,000 to complete the entire project. After conducting a wedding, a funeral and several Sunday services this summer in their sweltering sanctuary, the congregation has been conducting services in its basement where the temperature and humidity have been more bearable. On July 15, just 14 weeks from kicking off its capital campaign, the church received a gift from one of its families that brought the total raised to more than $46,000. Now this small congregation will soon enjoy an air-conditioned sanctuary and offices once again. “God is doing a new thing at St. Peter’s. We are blessed to have members who pray and believe,” said the Rev. Carla M. Mitchell, St. Peter’s AME Church’s senior pastor.
faith.
nomic Development (DEED) is committed to building a successful economy for individuals, businesses, and communities by working to improve opportunities for growth throughout the state. DEED takes very seriously its responsibility to ensure outcomes and accountability of public dollars on behalf of Minnesota taxpayers. DEED has an obligation to ensure that grantee organizations are in full compliance with state laws and grants management policy. Due to the ongoing litigation on this matter DEED will not provide further comments.”
3 p.m. at the Hawthorne Neighborhood Council office, 2944 Emerson Ave. N, Minneapolis. The two associations are collecting new school supplies for grades K-12 between until Aug. 9 to give to families
in need of a little extra support. The goal is to make sure every child has a backpack, pencils, paper, pens, rulers, crayons, etc. when they go back to school. Drop-off sites include
the Hawthorne Neighborhood Council office, Discount Steel, 216 N. 27th Ave. and Jordan Area Community Council, 2900 Emerson Ave. N., all in Minneapolis.
are not receiving the resources owed in accordance with the Legislature’s intent. “We have had to let go 27 people because of this,” said Mike Wynne, president and CEO of Emerge. “In my 30 years of community work I’ve never seen anything like this.” Wynne said while all UOC accounting was above board, he could understand if DEED had questions, but any and all questions asked of the collaborative have been addressed. “DEED brought up 28 issues and we felt we answered all DEED’s questions with six issues requiring advisement from DEED,” said Wynne. “The
findings (by auditor Mark Felton) were minor in nature. We’re talking about minor administrative issues, but again and again, the state agency is being intractable. This has put our reputations in question. Our (accounting) books are open. We have nothing to hide.” According to members of the UOC, issues in question were as minuet as printer and toner usage at Sabathani. “And then they (DEED) tell us we (Sabathani) can’t serve Laotian people,” said Bill English, vice chair of the Sabathani Board. “How can you as a state agency say that? That’s discrimination.”
With funds in limbo, UOC took DEED to court this past February, earning a March verdict of $568,000 for reimbursement of funds but DEED appealed the ruling and both sides entered into mediation. On May 23 DEED requested a 49 percent reimbursement of already incurred expenses. “If DEED wins this fight Sabathani will have to pay back $500,000,” said English. “We don’t have that kind of money.” Sen. Bobby Joe Champion, who was one of the architects of the legislation that called for funding of programs to serve disadvantaged communities, said DEED is not acting in good
“Accountability is always important, and these organizations have been clear they want to be held accountable; that’s not the issue. All should be held accountable, including our state agencies.” said Champion. “But when you hear that issues revolve around toner people say, ‘No, it has to be more than that.’ They can’t believe these are the issues coming up. And the overall impact is the community is not being served.” Insight News reached out to DEED for comment and received an email statement reading, “The Minnesota Department of Employment and Eco-
policies – from Capitol Hill to federal field offices – as well as support intern housing, monthly stipends, professional development and leadership training. A three-year, $1 million grant to the CHCI will provide Latino undergraduates with paid summer or spring Congressional internships. Through Walmart’s support, students will gain work experience, benefit from a leadership development curriculum, participate in a community service project and interact with professionals and industry
leaders in Washington, D.C. “The CBCF is committed to increasing diversity on Capitol Hill and in the public sector by creating a new generation of informed and engaged citizens and leaders,” said Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas), chair, CBCF Board of Directors. “Internships are a critical component toward building a career in public policy. Through Walmart’s continued support and dedicated partnership, the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation has successfully increased the num-
ber of scholars who have access to the intern-to-staffer pipeline.” “Walmart has led the way as the Founding Partner for CHCI’s Congressional Internship Program by significantly investing in our nation’s future leaders, “said Rep. Joaquín Castro (D-Texas), chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute. We value Walmart’s support of CHCI’s mission to address underrepresenta-
tion of Latinos on Capitol Hill by providing transformative experiences and the critical skills needed to embark on careers in public service.” Recently, Walmart and the Walmart Foundation granted nearly $4 million to organizations helping to promote access, equity and inclusion among diverse populations. The funding was part of the Foundation’s Diversity and Inclusion competi-
“Just make these people citizens.” This statement earned an uproar of applause from listeners. Painter had one overriding message for voters. “Don’t pay attention to the
magical ‘R’ or the magical ‘D.” Pay attention to the issues,” advised Painter. The official day to vote in the primary election is Aug. 14, although Minnesotans can vote now until the 14th.
tive grant competition, which provides support to initiatives with measurable impact on and demonstrated reach into diverse communities including African-Americans, Hispanic/Latino, Native-American, AsianAmerican and Pacific Islander, women and girls, the LGBTQ community and individuals with disabilities.
Page 8 •July July 30 - August 5, 2018 • Insight News
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Lifestyle
Raising bi-racial Black children to embrace being Black By Rebecca Rabb and Rene Holiday I met Rebecca Rabb about a month ago. We met on Instagram after she had sent me a beautiful picture of her daughter Keani wearing one of several headwraps she had purchased from my online boutique www.sunflowershoneypots.com. I saw the picture of Keani in the headwrap, and immediately wanted to know more about her. I thanked Rebecca for the picture, for supporting my business and asked her a few questions about Keani. Picture this – an 8-yearold little girl, rocking an African print headwrap, along with a Sankofa pin; all by her choice. This is just not something you see every day. Rebecca explained that Keani embraces being a young girl of color and she enjoys watching documentaries on
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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. Associate Editor Afrodescendientes Carmen Robles Associate Editor Nigeria & West Africa Chief Folarin Ero-Phillips Associate Editor Culture and Education Dr. Irma McClaurin Rebecca Rabb
Director of Content & Production Patricia Weaver
Rebecca Rabb (center) with daughters Keani Rabb, 9, (left) and Kennedy Rabb, 6.
Content & Production Coordinator Sunny Thongthi Yang Distribution/Facilities Manager Jamal Mohamed Receptionist Lue B. Lampley Staff Writer Abeni Hill Contributing Writers Nadvia Davis Fred Easter Timothy Houston Michelle Mitchum Latisha Townsend Artika Tyner Toki Wright
Rebecca Rabb
Four-year-old Kierce Rabb’s parents are raising him and his siblings to celebrate their Black roots.
African-American history. My interest peaked even more. Rebecca is of mixed heritage and elaborated that she and her husband felt it was important for their children to embrace their Black heritage and they fully support Keani’s love for her Black heritage. Of course, I immediately followed Rebecca on Instagram @rabbuniverse and her love for her kids and her love for photography came through. Her pictures were absolutely beautiful, Seriously, go check out her Instagram page. I reached out to Rebecca and asked if she would like to co-blog and write a post for my blog. I told her how much happiness her pictures brought
me, and how Keani was stealing hearts every time she was posted wearing one of my headwraps. I was so excited when she agreed to do it. We tossed some ideas around and
Let me begin by framing for you who I am in the context of “raising bi-racial children.” I have five children from two relationships. Two children (boys) with my first husband – who
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, Minnesota, 55411.
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Rebecca Rabb
Celebrating her Blackness, Keani Rabb.
she wrote a beautiful post about raising bi-racial Black children to embrace and be proud of their Black heritage. The following is her post, in her words.
was a white man from Belgium – and subsequently, I remarried
BLACK 10
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Insight News • July 30 - August 5, 2018 • Page 9
Tour offered of Dred Scott and Harriet Scott living quarters
The Slave Dwelling Project comes to Fort Snelling The Minnesota Historical Society (MNHS) is hosting a Saturday (Aug. 4) presentation at Fort Snelling by historian Joseph McGill on The Slave Dwelling Project, which works to identify, preserve and share the stories of buildings used as homes by enslaved people throughout the country. To date, McGill has visited 90 sites in more than 18 states. As part of his work, McGill stays overnight in slavery spaces to raise awareness, and he will stay overnight at Fort Snelling in the Dred and Harriet Scott space. This trip to Fort Snelling marks McGill’s ďŹ rst visit to Minnesota, and he and MNHS sta will explore Minnesota’s complicated history with slavery, where despite Minnesota technically being free territory, slavery persisted at Fort Snelling. In the 1820s and 1830s, an esti-
Minnesota Historical Society
Artist portrait of Dred Scott (left) and Harriet Scott, who resided at Fort Snelling.
mated 15-30 enslaved people lived and worked at the military fort at any one time, including Dred Scott and Harriet Scott. Slavery continued here until statehood in 1858. The presentation takes place from 2 p.m. – 3 p.m. Later that evening (7 p.m. – 9 p.m.) visitors can take a tour and discover the stories of men, women, and children who were enslaved at Fort Snelling by visiting the spaces where they lived and labored. Sta guides will lead visitors through restored historic spaces and discuss the importance of preserving these spaces and stories that tell this important history. Following the tour, a conversation will be held with McGill. The afternoon tour is free. There is a $25 cost for the evening tour and discussion. This program is appropriate for ages 14 and up.
How to learn – and even photograph – the night sky By Deborah Locke MN DNR Information Officer When you look into a clear night sky away from the lights of a city, how much do you recognize? With a at surface to look from, minimal equipment and a clear night, you can learn the basics of astronomy and eventually may even take pictures of the night sky. Since the early 1990s, Travis Novitsky, manager of Grand Portage State Park in the northeastern corner of Minnesota, has captured the night sky through the lens of his camera. On a 2018 spring night when the Milky Way was at its most brilliant, he stood on a dock at a public boat access in the Grand Portage State Forest. A bull moose came to the edge of the water, 20 feet away. “It made my heart race,â€? he said. “But the moose never sensed enough of me to get spooked.â€? Another memorable moment, this in 2014, Novitsky was at what’s now Lake VermilionSoudan Underground Mine State Park in search of the northern lights that “dancedâ€? across the sky. From several points on the lake he heard loons calling back and forth over the remarkably still water. The impact of the sound and light was “ethereal,â€? he said. The newly opened park on Lake Vermilion is ideal for northern light gazing from the ďŹ shing pier on Armstrong Bay, said Travis. A at location in
Stars of the Milky Way captured by Minnesota Department of Natural Resource’s Travis Novitsky. clear weather at the right time of the year oers spectacular night sky images, and you don’t need a degree in astronomy to appreciate them. What you do need is to get away from urban lighting. Novitsky works at Grand Portage State Park, which is a stone’s throw from Canada. You, however, only need to travel as far north as Hinckley to see the night sky at its ďŹ nest. He knows of northern light seekers who drive from Iowa and Illinois to Duluth to see what Lake Superior skies have to oer. For the best time to go, know what you want to see, Novitsky said. The Milky Way is especially clear from March through September or October. Any meadow or farm ďŹ eld that oers at, open space works; looking over a lake can be ideal. For the
ClassiÀeds
Milky Way, you’d look south to see its core, with the northern lights you’d look, well, north. There’s a misconception that the northern lights can only be seen in the winter months, but that is not true, Novitsky said. “You can see them any time of the year,â€? he said, especially near the winter and summer solstice. What you see depends on the presence of solar ares, a phenomenon that ebbs and ows. The solar cycle uctuates every eight to 10 years, with periods of maximum and minimum viewing. Northern lights were at their peak in about 2012-2015, he said. For a heads up on space conditions, he goes to the www. spaceweather.com, which can predict weather in space two or three days ahead. Novitsky started sky watching at about age 10. He liked
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+$9,1* 7528%/( :,7+ 7+( $33/,&$7,21 :(%6,7(" &RQWDFW WKH KHOSGHVN DW RU FDUHHUV#VWDWH PQ XV <RX FDQ DOVR YLVLW KWWS ZZZ PQ JRY PPE FDUHHUV DSSOLFDQW KHOS Our mission as an employer is to actively recruit, welcome and support a workforce, which is diverse and inclusive of people who are underrepresented in the development of state policies, programs and practices, so that we can support the success and growth of all people who call Minnesota home.
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being outside at night, noting the constellations and lightning from thunderstorms. In 2004 he started taking photos of the night sky and worked up to a Nikon D750 camera and Nikon 14-24 mm f/2.8 lens, which are ideal for night photography. Know this, however. The tools used to know the night sky better are as simple as your own eyes, or binoculars or a telescope. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Learn Astronomy in 10 Easy Lessons,â&#x20AC;? the online Sky at Night magazine states that eyes and binoculars could keep you busy for a lifetime of star gazing. Eyes detect meteors and meteor showers, the northern lights, comets, entire constellations and the Milky Way. Binoculars bring much more into focus: moon craters, double and multiple stars, globular star clusters, nebulae and galaxies.
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The writer instructs the novice on how to locate the Plough constellation in the north that is visible year-round, and how Plough is a start point to other areas of interest. You should go to the darkest place you can ďŹ nd without artiďŹ cial light, dress for the night weather, and bring a chair and binoculars. Another good source â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Sky at Nightâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;Star-Hopping Guide: Find Your Way Around the Skies.â&#x20AC;? The article shows how to ďŹ nd Plough and then Polaris and also recommends bringing a chair along, as well as a ďŹ&#x201A;ask of tea and biscuits (it is the BBC, after all). The writer promises that the night sky viewer will ďŹ nd â&#x20AC;&#x153;an amazing mixture of space, time, history, science and world cultures. It leads you oďŹ&#x20AC; on all sorts of paths and youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll learn things that will amaze others. Not to mention the basic reason â&#x20AC;&#x201C; youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll know what youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re looking at.â&#x20AC;? If you eventually advance to photography, Novitsky recommends Lake Superior as a ďŹ rst destination. Also, use a head lamp rather than fumble with a handheld ďŹ&#x201A;ashlight. Invest in a quality tripod. He often gets great shots in the early evening, but the best ones are taken between midnight and 2 a.m. In addition, he always tells a family member where he is shooting at night, as a safety precaution. For more remote locations, someone accompanies him. With time, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll learn your way around the night sky from any point in the world. You can see night sky photography by Travis Novitsky at travisnovitsky.com.
August is perfect for night sky gazing. Your Minnesota state park and trail staďŹ&#x20AC; have put together a wide list of night sky gazing opportunities. Check out details for each program at the parkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s website, or start with mndnr.gov/ptcalendar. Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll see if registration is necessary, and when programs start. Nearly all programs in Minnesota state parks are free, but you need to purchase a $7 day pass per vehicle when you enter the park. Consider an August picnic with the family and then a couple hours of nighttime intrigue as you become acquainted with the world at night. The programs are: Aug. 3 â&#x20AC;&#x153;Stargazingâ&#x20AC;? Upper Sioux Agency State Park Aug. 3 â&#x20AC;&#x153;Star Storiesâ&#x20AC;? Wild River State Park Aug. 4 â&#x20AC;&#x153;Universe in the Parkâ&#x20AC;? Afton State Park Aug. 10 â&#x20AC;&#x153;Star Partyâ&#x20AC;? Minnesota State Regional Science Center Aug. 10 â&#x20AC;&#x153;Universe in the Parkâ&#x20AC;? Lake Maria State Park Aug. 11 â&#x20AC;&#x153;Second Annual Dark Sky Festivalâ&#x20AC;? McCarthy Beach State Park Aug. 11 â&#x20AC;&#x153;Universe in the Parkâ&#x20AC;? William Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Brien State Park Aug. 11 â&#x20AC;&#x153;Astronomy and Stargazingâ&#x20AC;? Glacial Lakes State Park Aug. 11 â&#x20AC;&#x153; P e r s e i d Meteor Showerâ&#x20AC;? Whitewater State Park Aug. 12 â&#x20AC;&#x153; D a r k Sky Caravan â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Astronomyâ&#x20AC;? Tettegouche State Park Aug. 18 â&#x20AC;&#x153;Night Sky of the Northwoodsâ&#x20AC;? Lake Vermilion-Soudan Underground Mine State Park
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Page 10 •July July 30 - August 5, 2018 • Insight News
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Femi Kuti
Vie Boheme
Vie Boheme presents her new open mic series on Lake Street with features from Sarah White, Mmyykk, Theo Brown and more.
Tuesday, July 31 AFROBEAT
July 30 August 12 2018 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, July 30
OPEN MIC
Lake Street Speaks Open Mic Series El Nuevo Miramar 501 Lake St., Minneapolis 7 p.m. – 10:30 p.m. $5
Femi Kuti & The Positive Force with 26 Bats The Cedar Cultural Center 416 Cedar Ave. S., Minneapolis 8 p.m $50-$125 Femi Kuti is one of the world’s most recognized artists fighting for people’s rights. The son of Fela is in town with opening act 26 Bats
Wednesday, Aug. 1 HIP-HOP Aceyalone Summer Tour The Pourhouse 10 5th St. S., Minneapolis 8 p.m. 21-plus $8-$12 One of the best from the West, underground hip-hop legend Aceyalone returns to Minneapolis at The Pourhouse.
7th St Entry 701 N 1st Ave., Minneapolis 7:30 p.m 18-plus $10
FOOD Taco Tour on Lake Street K-Mart (Starting) 10 W. Lake St., Minneapolis 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
One of the best beatmakers in the business debuts new tracks from his project with wordsmith Chance York. Additional performances by Dua, Student 1 and DJ Rowsheen.
Quite possibly the greatest idea of all time will take you on a tour of the best taco joints in the city. Ride the shuttle for tacos, elotes, and much more. Come prepared to eat … a lot.
Friday, Aug. 3 SOUL/R&B Sexy Summer Soul with LoKey? Bunkers Music Bar & Grill 761 Washington Ave. N., Minneapolis 9:30 p.m. 21-plus $20-$25 R&B sensation from the ‘90s, Lo-Key? returns with a special set at Bunkers
Saturday, Aug. 4 FILM/ANIME Midnight Madness: “Spirited Away” (Subtitled) Landmark’s Uptown Theatre 2906 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis 11:55 p.m.
Monday, Aug. 6 DANCE Theater Jazz Workshops with Tovi Wayne and Jocelyn Rajkumar Zenon Dance Company and School 528 Hennepin Ave., Ste. 400, Minneapolis 6 p.m. Participate in jazz dance workshops at Zenon in downtown Minneapolis with dancers Tovi Wayne and Jocelyn Rajkumar.
Tuesday, Aug. 7 HAPPY HOUR
HIP-HOP
The Studio Gibli classic, “Spirited Away” is back in theaters for one night at the Landmark. Expect cosplay.
Summer of Sound DJ Night: Chastity Brown Surly Brewing Company 520 Malcolm Ave SE, Minneapolis 7 p.m. – 10 p.m. 21-plus Free
Chance York and Big Cats
Sunday, Aug. 5
Surly Brewing and Copycats
Thursday, Aug. 2
Media present a night curated by Lazerbeak with blues artist Chastity Brown spinning.
Wednesday, Aug. 8 HIP-HOP/R&B
6 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. Catch live reggae music in Pimento’s back “yaad” with Innocent.
Saturday, Aug. 11 DAY PARTY
Jay-Z and Beyoncé - OTR II US Bank Stadium 401 Chicago Ave., Minneapolis 7:30 p.m. $49-$1,993 The most powerful couple in music takes over US Bank Stadium for the On The Run II tour.
Thursday, Aug. 9 JAZZ Victor Wooten Trio featuring Dennis Chambers and Bob Franceschini Dakota Jazz Club 1010 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. $15-$40 One of the best bassists on the planet plays the Dakota with Dennis Chambers and Bob Franceshini. A must see.
Friday, Aug. 10 REGGAE Back Yaad Happy Hour with Innocent Pimento Jamaican Kitchen 2524 Nicollet Ave. S., Minneapolis
Bowties & Sundresses Day Party New Rules 2015 N Lowry Ave, Minneapolis 4 p.m. – 8 p.m. Head down to New Rules for the Bowties and Sundresses Day Party hosted by H. White Men’s Room, Bowtie Billionaire and Beautiful Classy Driven.
Sunday, Aug. 12 HAIR/BEAUTY Second Annual Twin Cities Natural Hair & Beauty Expo Graduate Minneapolis 615 Washington Ave. S.E., Minneapolis 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. $10 The Twin Cities Natural Hair & Beauty Expo will feature nationally renowned educators, vendors and brands. The platform is designed to support, share information, techniques, inspiration and products; aiding individuals in their natural hair journey.
Lifelong friendship tested by police shooting in ‘Blindspotting’ By Kam Williams
Collin (Daveed Diggs) and Miles (Rafael Casal), who are Black and white, respectively, have been best friends since they were kids. Now in their 20s, they both still live in the rough Oakland “hood” where they grew up, although they›ve been watching it gentrify in recent years. The changing demographics have made it hard for the two to get along with their new yuppie neighbors. After all, Collin is a convicted felon on probation, while Miles has ghetto written all over him, from the grill in his mouth to the tattoos all over his body. When Collin was paroled, Miles got him a dead-end job with the moving company where he works. So, by day, they get to share the cab of a
Black From 8 in 2010 to my husband (who is African-American). From this union, we have been blessed with three more children (two girls and one boy). With my last three children I recognized their journey in this society would be different than my first two sons, who are white. The nuclear family I was born into is a blended family. It did not matter if we only shared the same mother, or the same father. My sister was my sister and my brother was my brother – regardless of race. My experience was unique, in that I watched my white mother
truck. After hours, immature Miles reluctantly goes home to his girlfriend (Jasmine Cephas Jones) and young son (Ziggy Baitinger), though he’d really rather roam the streets with his gun. By contrast, Collin has a strict curfew and needs to keep his nose clean, given that he’s finishing up his sentence at a local halfway house. The plot thickens one fateful evening as Collin sits in his car at a stoplight. He becomes the sole witness when a white police officer (Ethan Embry) shoots an unarmed Black man in the back. Collin just drives away from the scene as ordered by the police, but the incident continues to haunt him for days. And when he tries to talk about it with Miles, racial tensions surprisingly surface, which test their tight relationship. Thus, unfolds “Blindspot-
ting,” an in-your-face buddy drama/comedy co-written by co-stars Daveed Diggs and Rafael Casal, who reportedly worked on the timely script for more than a decade. The movie marks the impressive directorial debut of Carlos Lopez Estrada, who is previously known for shooting music videos for bands like Reptar, Passion Pit and Goo Goo Dolls. “Blindspotting›s” searing exploration of hot-button issues as race, class and police brutality in such confrontational fashion makes for a thought-provoking experience guaranteed to affect you long after leaving the theater.
raise her Black “bi-racial” twin daughters as Black women. Let me give some history and context. I am from Minnesota; the land of 10,000 lakes, Prince, Jimmy Jam, Terry Lewis and the Mall of America. More specifically, I was born and raised in North Minneapolis. Although Minnesota is predominately white, there are pockets of culture within the metro where whites are the minority (North Minneapolis being the epicenter of Blackness). Many friends or family who come to visit Minnesota often notice immediately or comment on the number of bi-racial children and/or interracial couples that are here. Just because mixed race couples are common here does not mean Minnesotans are living in a post racism era. That’s quite the contrary. We have
been on the national news for recent police murders. Jamar Clark was murdered in 2015, Philando Castile murdered in 2016 and just a couple weeks ago Thurman Blevins was gunned down by police officers. Minnesota is also known for being a “blue” state. That being said, it’s important to look at the numbers. In the most recent presidential election, Hillary Clinton won the state with 1,367, 825 votes. Although Trump lost here, he had 1,323,232 votes. The state is seeming more purple these days than ever. Recognizing where we are in society, I took my mother’s approach with my three younger children. Since the beginning, I have taught them to be proud Black children. Regardless of how light or dark my children may be; society will always
Excellent (4 stars) Rated R for sexual references, drug use, brutal violence, ethnic slurs and pervasive profanity Running time: 95 minutes
Ariel Nava
Collin (Daveed Diggs) and Miles (Rafael Casal) in ‘Blindspotting’.
see them as Black (you want to argue this? Make sure you understand that the one drop rule was real at one point not so long ago). Having pride and confidence in what it means to be Black means making sure they are educated on critical aspects of Black history and being prepared for when they inevitably encounter racism. The importance of being proud of who they are and their history is extremely important in understanding who they are. They will consistently see positive images of their white side … mainstream media ensures of that. Representation with positive Black and Brown images is much harder to find, but it does exist. The biggest pushback I have received on the approach with my children has come from a white mother of mixed race
children. She saw my son in a Black Excellence shirt and argued that I should teach my children love … not color. My children are taught love daily, and part of loving them is teaching them their culture and their history. I also think some white women struggle with the world they are now in. When we look at history, Black women have been having mixed race children in America since slavery. Now that white women are having babies of mixed race, and their children are encountering racism, it’s an issue. President Barack Obama one of the most prominent faces of our time, never denied he was of mixed race, yet he identifies as a Black. He once stated, “I identify as African-American – that’s how I’m treated and that’s how I am viewed. I’m
proud of it.” I am grateful my own children see themselves the same way. When they have encountered scenarios where white children have tried to make them feel inferior for being Black, they have been able to respond and maintain their pride in who they are. If anything, it has driven them to learn more about Black history in America, and they know it’s something I will always support. My approach may not be for everyone, but it is what works for our family. My older boys have become their younger sibling’s biggest advocates, and they recognize how their privilege can be leveraged to be an ally in this world. My younger three are aware of who they are and have a foundation for them to thrive and achieve … excellence.
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Insight News • July 30 - August 5, 2018 • Page 11
Aesthetically Speaking
CTC
Alejandro Vega
CTC
Ansa Akyea
CTC
Greta Oglesby
Children’s Theatre Company premiers ‘Last Stop on Market Street’ Children’s Theatre Company (CTC), 2400 3rd Ave. S., Minneapolis, will present “Last Stop on Market Street,” Sept. 15 through Oct. 21. Based on the Newbery Award-winning book by Matt de la Peña, “Last Stop on Market Street” directed by Henry Godinez and adapted for the stage by Cheryl L. West features music and lyrics by Paris Ray Dozier and Lamont Dozier. Dozier, who has penned and produced 14 No.1 hits on the Billboard charts (“Baby I Need Your Loving,” “How Sweet It
Is,” “Reach Out, I’ll Be There,” “You Can’t Hurry Love”). The cast includes Alejandro Vega as CJ, Greta Oglesby as Nana, Ansa Akyea as Mr. Dennis and Dwight Leslie, Autumn Ness, Calvin Zimmerman and Kennedy Lucas playing a variety of roles. Six-year-old CJ is (reluctantly) staying with his (extremely over-the-top) Nana, in a world considerably different from the one he’s used to. The disagreeable and whiny child is dragged on a bus ride that’s loud and gritty and weird. Guided
by his veritable force-of-nature Nana, CJ travels a little closer to his roots and sees that things are not always what they seem. “Adapting the delightful ‘Last Stop on Market Street’ has been a pure joy,” said playwright West. “Of course, we had to expand the story for stage, but the aim was to always stay true to the joyous magic and beauty of CJ and his Nana’s journey. I’m hoping the audience will ‘get on the bus’ with us and ride along as we experience Nana’s nuggets of wisdom and CJ’s evolution from a rather shel-
tered boy to one who discovers another world, while simultaneously learning different doesn’t always mean bad. Plus, we get to enjoy wonderful foot stomping, body-wiggling music along the way.” CTC Artistic Director Peter Brosius said, “What drew us to this book was the powerful way that the story shows a young child leaving their comfort zone. In this case, CJ leaves a comfortable, middle class situation and goes to visit his grandmother who lives in a poorer part of a large city. He is
a stranger to this world, a world of density and noise and goes on a big adventure on public transportation to a homeless shelter, where Nana brings kindness and joy each week. I love that this musical asks the audience to go on a ride like CJ does – to go to a neighborhood they may not normally go to, to meet people they may not see or might initially be uncomfortable with – the butter-
fly lady who talks to herself, the guy who is covered in tattoos. And to be with his grandmother, who inspires with the respect she shows to all. All of this is done to the music of Lamont and Paris Dozier, which is a mix of hip-hop, soul and gospel that is so fun, smart and alive you will leave singing the songs.”
The original soul man who co-wrote “Born Under a Bad Sign” has returned to Stax Records and the limelight!
Minnesota Orchestra celebrated Nelson Mandela centennial and International Day of Music It was a day of music July 21 on Nicollet Mall thanks to a host of talented musicians and the Minnesota Orchestra. As a part of the orchestra’s Sommerfest and in celebration of what would have been Nelson Mandela’s 100 birthday and International Day of Music, Nicollet Mall in downtown Minneapolis played host to 12 hours of music (noon to midnight) that featured everything
from bucket drummers and dance troupes to hip-hop DJs, jazz quartets, to members of the orchestra itself all performing during the free outdoor event. The program was part of the orchestra’s “Music for Mandela” initiative, which will conclude with an orchestra fivecity tour of South Africa. Photos Dante Davison
LEGENDARY SOUL TITAN
WILLIAM BELL AUG 12 • 6 & 8:30 PM
612.332.5299 • dakotacooks.com
Page 12 •July July 30 - August 5, 2018 • Insight News
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Dutch Rugar
Hip-hop royalty descended upon the Twin Cities when iconic Houston rapper Scarface … Mr. Scarface … blessed the stage at the Cabooze in Minneapolis. An original member of the Geto Boys, who put southern rap on the map, Scarface has been making hits for parts of four decades. Aside from making his own hits as part of the Geto Boys, solo, or collaborations with artists such as Tupac, Ice Cube, Too Short, Devin the Dude and more, the man born Brad Jordan is responsible for
Incomparable NOLA Brass
launching the career of Ludacris and others as the first president of Def Jam South. Face’s July 25 performance at the Cabooze was a wonderful trip down memory lane for true hip-hop heads, who got to hear verses from “Smile,” “Mary Jane,” “Sex Faces,” and the ultraclassics, “My Block.” “My Mind Playing Tricks on Me.” Rounding out the bill were vets Minnesota Fats and OG Grip, Dutch Rugar (featuring Jazzy Red) and the energetic Modern Hippies.
Scarface
Minnesota Fats
Jazzy Red
AUG 19 • 7 & 9 PM
612.332.5299 • dakotacooks.com 1010 NIC OL L E T M A L L , MINNE A P OL I S
OG Grip