WINNER: 2020 T YPOGRAPHY & DESIGN, 1ST PLACE, PHOTOGRAPHY (PORTRAIT & PERSONALIT Y), 1ST PLACE, WEBSITE, 3RD PLACE
Insight News
March 2, 2020 - March 8, 2020
Vol. 47 No. 9• The Journal For Community News, Business & The Arts • insightnews.com
POLICY, COMMUNITY & ADVOCACY AFRICAN HERITAGE DAY ON THE HILL ELEVATES BLACK AGENDA, INTERESTS
The Council of Minnesotans of African America Heritage (CMAH) held its annual African Heritage Day on the Hill. CMAH Executive Director Justin Terrell and Policy Director Jasmine Carey spoke of their work with the Day on the Hill at the Minnesota State Capitol Rotunda, which took place Feb. 26. According to Terrell, capitol events help to encourage further support on issues important to AfricanAmericans throughout the state. He said the CMAH is about policy, community and advocacy and they plan on meeting with legislators about community-driven issues. “Our mission is to help our constituents participate and benefit on our own terms. I want to have a vehicle for our people to navigate the process at the capitol. We want to hear from all the black leaders in state government,” Terrell explained. CMAH’s capitol effort
Minnesotans of African America Heritage Executive Director, Justin Terrell
Policy Director Jasmine Carey will kick off discussions on public safety, African American Family Preservation Act, which deals with child protection, the opioid epidemic, and introduction of a bill called The CROWN Act. CROWN is an acronym which stands for Creating a Respectful and OpenWorld for Natural Hair (CROWN). The CROWN act is a bill that has gotten national and international attention as well as passage in many major state governments. According to Carey, the Crown Act seeks to halt discrimination on the basis of Black hair textures and styles in the workplace and in education. Terrell said along with certain bills, he wants to see more resources and dollars put into the African-American community to address the longstanding issues like the opioid epidemic. According to McFarlane, the backstory is that opioid use was assigned as a “deficient” character trait of in the Black culture in the days of heroin and morphine addiction, along with alcohol and marijuana. “I look at it like changing the stickers on the bottle. It is like when you call it dope, then all of a sudden, it’s a black people problem,” Terrell said. “When you call it opioids, then all of a sudden, we can do a taskforce and find 20 million dollars to respond to this crisis.” According to Terrell law enforcement officials have confided in him that drugs come from outside the community but “marinate” in places like
On the Hill 6
Page 2 • March 2, 2020 - March 8, 2020 • Insight News
insightnews.com
WINNER: 2020 T YPOGRAPHY & DESIGN, 1ST PLACE, PHOTOGRAPHY (PORTRAIT & PERSONALIT Y), 1ST PLACE, WEBSITE, 3RD PLACE
Insight News March 2, 2020 - March 8, 2020
Vol. 47 No. 9• The Journal For Community News, Business & The Arts • insightnews.com
Reducing deadly force police encounters Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison and Commissioner of Public Safety John Harrington joined the members of the State of Minnesota Working Group on Police-Involved Deadly Force Encounters in releasing 28 recommendations and 33 action steps that they say if implemented will reduce deadly force encounters with law enforcement in Minnesota. The recommendations fall under the categories of community healing and engagement, prevention and training, investigations and accountability, policy and legal implications and officer wellness. The recommendations come after six months of testimony, study and deliberation at seven hearings and listening sessions held across Minnesota. The working group, composed of a variety of community, advocacy, academic, foundation, mentalhealth, law-enforcement and criminal-justice-system stakeholders, came to consensus on the recommendations and action steps. “Deadly force encounters are among the hardest moments a family, an officer, a law-enforcement agency, and a community can live through. There have been lots of opinions about why they happen. We wanted to get beyond opinion and polarization to concrete recommendations and action steps that, if we implement them, will reduce them,” Ellison said. “We’ve gotten there by bringing together a group of people from diverse backgrounds and experiences who aren’t usually invited to talk to each other about this hard topic and who stuck it out when the going got tough. And we’ve gotten there by doing the work in public and with the public, especially with family members who lost loved ones in deadly force encounters.”
“These recommendations, if implemented, will make Minnesota communities and the peace officers who serve them safer. The recommendations offer practical guidance and action steps to better prevent and respond to police-involved deadly force encounters,“ Harrington said. «We brought together a knowledgeable group of stakeholders representing diverse backgrounds and professions from around the state to have the tough conversations. We heard testimony from 50 experts, including families who lost loved ones. As a result, we now have a plan of action that will reduce many deadly force encounters with police and provide justice and support when a tragedy occurs.» Reducing policeinvolved deadly force encounters is as urgent in Minnesota as it is across the country. In 2019, 14 community members and one law-enforcement officer died in Minnesota in deadly force encounters. The executive summary of the work of the working group, with all 28 recommendations and 33 actions steps, is available on the Department of Public Safety website. The working group’s full report will be released in four to six weeks. Recommendations and action steps Notable recommendations among the 28 recommendations and 33 action steps on which working group members came to consensus include establishing a liaison position in the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA), establishing a permanent “peacemaker” office to work on dispute mediation and resolution, including after a deadly force encounter and adopting a co-responder model to improve outcomes for people
Damaris Hollingsworth
First-ever Minnesota-based Black woman architect to receive the award
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison
with disabilities or who are in mental-health crisis, and ensure that officers develop skills to recognize and respond appropriately to people with disabilities and refer them to appropriate resources. In addition, it is recommended to train all law-enforcement agencies in de-escalation skills and tactics to reduce use of force, create an independent, specialized unit within the BCA to investigate all officerinvolved shootings and uses of force that result in death or severe bodily injury and review law and policy on body-worn cameras to ensure transparency and accountability in deadly force encounters. The recommendations and action steps are informed by testimony from family members who lost loved ones in deadly force encounters, families of peace officers involved in deadly
force encounters, community members, local, state, and tribal law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, academics and researchers, the Minnesota Peace Officer Standards and Training Board, the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, mental health and disability advocates, Minnesota League of Cities, community-healing practitioners, the Minnesota Chapter of the National Association of Black Law Enforcement Executives, police union representatives and attorneys, providers of officer mental-health and wellness programs, other tribal, local, and state representatives, the general public, and national experts in reducing use of force, policing equity and data, innovation in prosecution, constitutional law, and community engagement before, during, and after deadly
DEADLY FORCE 4
Axtell: Remove slavery in state Constitution Minnesota lawmakers and St. Paul Police Chief Todd Axtell launched an effort to remove references to slavery and involuntary servitude from the Minnesota Constitution. Despite being banned since statehood was achieved in 1858, the Minnesota Constitution still contains outdated permissive language regarding slavery. Article I, Section 2 of the Minnesota Constitution reads, in part, “there shall be neither slavery nor involuntary servitude in the state otherwise than as punishment for a crime of which the party has been convicted.” The proposed amendment would remove the clause “otherwise than as punishment for a crime of which the party has been convicted.” “Our state constitution should reflect our values. In Minnesota, it’s inappropriate that language mentioning slavery still exists in our constitution, even if it’s narrowly constructed and obsolete,” said Rep. John Lesch (DFL – St. Paul), chief author of the amendment in the Minnesota House. “While we’ve undoubtedly made progress in expanding civil rights, racial bias remains persistent, and it’s unacceptable that people of color continue to face such significant disparities. By amending our constitution to remove this troublesome language, we have the opportunity to make Minnesota a more inclusive state.” Lesch was inspired to act by a New Year’s Eve
St. Paul Police Chief Todd Axtell Facebook post by Axtell, who shared a desire to have this language eliminated. “Slavery is not a Minnesota value, and I’ve been troubled by this clause for some time,” said Axtell. “It’s 2020 – beyond time for all Minnesotans to move forward together to ensure that our constitution reflects our shared values of equity, equality, freedom and respect for all people. I’m heartened by the effort of our elected leaders to amend the constitution and will do anything I can to support it.”
In the Minnesota Senate, the legislation is chief authored by Sen. Bobby Joe Champion (DFL – Minneapolis). “I’m convinced that our God given life has value and therefore, we must make certain that no one is devalued by our written or spoken words or deeds,” Champion said. “Our shared future should be based on correcting the past as we all strive for and build a bright and promising future for our children and grandchildren. So, we, the people, must make sure
I2H
Addressing Black maternal health in the upcoming election
PAGE 5
that the Minnesota Constitution reflects our shared belief in the value of all human life and delete any language to the contrary.” In 2018, Colorado voters removed a similar clause from that state’s constitution, with 65 percent approving the measure. The 13th amendment to the United States Constitution – which abolished slavery and involuntary servitude – contains similar language to that contained in the Minnesota Constitution which lawmakers are looking to remove. “The Emancipation Proclamation was issued 157 years ago, but Black Americans still carry multigenerational trauma from that dark period in our nation’s early history,” said Rep. Rena Moran (DFL – St. Paul), a great-great-granddaughter of slaves. “Our effort also affords us a chance to recognize the deep disparities that still exist in our state, especially within the criminal justice system. This language has no place in our constitution – period, and I’m committed to ensuring Minnesotans will get to weigh in on the ballot this November.” The legislation is designated HF 3008 in the House and SF 2974 in the Senate. If approved by both chambers this legislative session, the question would be submitted to voters in the 2020 General Election in November. The amendment would ultimately become effective if approved by a majority of those voting.
Twin Cities architect and business owner Damaris Hollingsworth named a Young Architect of 2020 As an architect, Damaris Hollingsworth uses her creative powers to make beautifully inclusive spaces and places for people to work, play and live in and around. As a Black woman and female business owner, born into a working-class family in her native Brazil, she knows first-hand what it’s like to be out on the margins of society, looking in. But that’s never stopped her from being herself, and as herself she is a changemaker who sees architecture – and architects – as having a critical role to play in producing a more equitable, inclusive – and prosperous – society. Her work both as an architect – she has her own firm, Design by MELO (www. designbymelo.com), based in St.
Louis Park – and as a contributor to the architectural field – has earned her the distinction of being named as a 2020 American Institute of Architects Young Architect award winner. Hollingsworth is the first Black woman architect in Minnesota to receive the National AIA Young Architect award. She will receive the award at the AIA’s annual conference held in Los Angeles, May 14-16. “I am so thrilled to be named one of the AIA’s Young Architects,” said Hollingsworth, who has been a practicing architect since 2013. “The award means so much coming as it does from my peers, who recognize that the work I do
HOLLINGSWORTH 4
Rep. Moran’s CROWN Act to prohibit discrimination based on hairstyle advances in Minn. House Legislation to outlaw discrimination on the basis of hairstyle is moving forward in the Minnesota House. On Feb. 13, the House Government Operations Committee approved the CROWN (Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair) Act, authored by Rep. Rena Moran (DFL – St. Paul), which would add a provision to the Minnesota Human Rights Act to explicitly prohibit discrimination on the basis of hair appearance and texture. “African-American Minnesotans should be able to fully embrace who they are, and hairstyle is a significant part of their heritage. Unfortunately, rather than being able to feel proud, they often feel fearful of their employer because of how their hair looks,” Moran said. “For me, it’s especially important that Black young people in our state can feel good about themselves. I’m hopeful this legislation will help end the implicit bias that too many Black Minnesotans face on a daily basis.” While the state’s Human Rights Act already prohibits discrimination based on race, discrimination of someone wearing their hair in a culturally-appropriate manner – like braids, dreadlocks, or twists – is not. The CROWN Act would extend this protection to many areas of law covered by the
Minnesota Human Rights Act, including public services and accommodations, education, housing and employment. The issue received increased attention when Matthew Cherry, director of the film “Hair Love,” urged all 50 states to adopt the measure during his acceptance speech following the film’s victory at this year’s Oscars. The film tells the story of a Houstonarea high school senior who was prohibited from walking in his graduation ceremony unless he cut his dreadlocks. According to Dove’s CROWN Coalition Research Study, 80 percent of African-Americans are likely to change their natural hair to meet employer expectations. Fifty percent of AfricanAmerican women feel likely to be dismissed from work – or know someone who has been – for not following their employer’s grooming policy. During the committee
CROWN ACT 4
News
Beasley could be key to transforming Wolves
PAGE 7
insightnews.com
Insight News • March 2, 2020 - March 8, 2020 • Page 3
MIKE GETS IT.
MIKE GETS IT DONE.
THE ENDURING LEGACY OF
MIKE’S GREENWOOD INITIATIVE IS A COMPREHENSIVE NATIONAL APPROACH TO CREATING GENERATIONAL WEALTH FOR BLACK AMERICANS. IT INCLUDES:
RACIAL DISCRIMINATION CONTINUES TO STAND IN THE WAY OF CREATING WEALTH IN BLACK COMMUNITIES.
CHILDREN WITH A GOOD EDUCATION ARE MORE LIKELY TO ACHIEVE THE AMERICAN
• • •
Creating 1 million new Black homeowners. Supporting the development of 100,000 new Black-owned businesses. Investing $70 billion in neighborhoods that need it most.
DURING HIS TIME AS MAYOR OF NEW YORK CITY, MIKE:
DREAM.
KEEPING KIDS OUT OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IS THE KEY TO A BRIGHT FUTURE.
• •
Increased teacher salaries by 43% and Black student graduation rates by 53%. Reduced crime to historic lows by cutting the murder rate in half and reducing juvenile detention by 36%.
MIKE BLOOMBERG IS THE ONLY DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE WITH A PLAN TO BUILD REAL WEALTH FOR BLACK AMERICA AND A TRACK RECORD FOR GETTING THINGS DONE. For more information visit
MikeForBlack America.com
Paid For by Mike Bloomberg 2020
Page 4 • March 2, 2020 - March 8, 2020 • Insight News
insightnews.com
Reps. Ilhan Omar, Karen Bass and Joe Neguse introduce ENSURE Act to stop mass deportation of Eritreans WASHINGTON, D.C. – Reps. Ilhan Omar (D-MN), Karen Bass (D-CA), Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee on Africa, and Joe Neguse (D-CO) introduced the Eritrean Nationals’ Safety from Unjust Removal or Expulsion (ENSURE) Act. The ENSURE Act would stop the United States from deporting Eritreans fleeing state oppression by placing a two-year stay on removals; prohibiting the detention of Eritrean nationals during removal procedures; and, requiring upto-date reporting on Eritreans facing imminent removal. “This administration will stop at nothing to make life painful for people of color seeking a better future. Not only has the President added Eritrea to its latest Muslim Ban, but he is also now threatening to deport Eritreans who have settled here. Rather than responding to human rights violations by the Eritrean government with compassion and decency, this administration has responded with cruel and reckless immigration policies that put many people in extreme danger,” Omar said. “Our country must live up to the values we hold dear as a nation and provide a refuge for those fleeing persecution and violence.” “Last year, I led a congressional delegation to Eritrea,” Bass said. “By adding Eritrea to the third iteration of his Muslim ban, the president is sending a message of abandonment to the Eritrean people. I’m proud to support this important piece of legislation to prevent the intentional deportations of Eritreans fleeing their country
Deadly Force From 2 force encounters. The working group did its work over a period of six months, ending in January.
Hollingsworth From 2 on behalf of the profession – much of it involved in building a more diverse community of architects – is of value to them.” The AIA underlined
Rep. Ilhan Omar
Rep. Karen Bass
Rep. Joe Neguse
and urge my colleagues to support this bill as well.” “For the president to target Eritrean refugees with deportation efforts, yet again shows this Administration’s commitment to denigrating the U.S.’s long held legacy in refugee resettlement,” said Neguse. “America has always played a leadership role in refugee resettlement, setting a legacy of compassion and shelter, and it is essential we continue to uphold this legacy and our American values.” In 2017, the Trump Administration began taking steps to remove approximately 700 Eritrean nationals from the United States. DHS has recently confirmed that some of these individuals are now being deported back to Eritrea. According to the representatives, deportees to Eritrea face severe human rights abuses upon returning, including prolonged detention, torture, and extra judicial killings. Earlier this month the Trump administration announced the third iteration of the Muslim Ban, expanding the discriminatory policy to nationals of Myanmar, Kyrgyzstan, and four African nations, including Eritrea.
This substantial increase in removals, along with the ban on travel, ignores the ongoing human rights crisis in Eritrea and subjects political dissidents, LGBTQ individuals, journalists, religious minorities and those escaping indefinite military service to great risk. The bill has been endorsed by the Advancement Project, African Communities Together, Alianza Americas, Black Alliance for Just Immigration, Black LGBTQIA+ Migrant Project, CASA, Center for Victims of Torture, Christian Reformed Church Office of Social Justice, and more. “Immigrant youth and families of United We Dream proudly support the ENSURE Act because we know that we must all stand together against attacks from Trump and his anti-immigrant administration,” said Sanaa Abrar, advocacy director at United We Dream. “We also know that deportation is never the answer. Immigrants from Eritrea are facing persecution, torture and even death if they are torn away from their communities by the deportation force of ICE and CBP. With bills like the ENSURE Act we are rejecting Trump’s immigration policies
of hate and division, and instead we are building a new national consensus focused on the humanity of immigrants.” “The deporting of Eritreans is aligned with the racist and xenophobic agenda of the Trump administration,” said Abraham Paulos, deputy director of Policy and Communications at the Black Alliance for Just Immigration. “The separation of Eritrean-American families is yet another recent attack in the long war on Black communities and families in the U.S. Eritreans have been migrating to the U.S. for decades and are interwoven in the fabric of American communities. As an Eritrean, I am proud of U.S. Congressman Joe Neguse, who comes from Eritrean parents who emigrated to the U.S. 35 years ago, fleeing the same conditions. The deportation of Eritreans is an insult to the American dream and what U.S. Congressman Joe Neguse represents. The ENSURE act is one step in the right direction to protect the rights and dignity of Black immigrants who are seeking refuge and to ensure that Eritrean American communities are not further traumatized.”
Richard Rothstein, a national voice on the impact of government-sponsored racial segregation, will come to the Twin Cities on Monday, March 23 for a discussion at Plymouth Congregational Church, 1900 Nicollet Ave., Minneapolis. Rothstein is the author of “The Color of Law: A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America,” which recovers a history of how federal, state, and local policy explicitly segregated metropolitan areas nationwide, creating racially homogenous neighborhoods in patterns that violate the Constitution and require remediation. In exposing institutional racism, Rothstein answers an important question; how did we arrive here and how do we move forward?
In addition, Rothstein is a distinguished fellow of the Economic Policy Institute and a senior fellow (emeritus) at the Thurgood Marshall Institute of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund. In addition to his most recent book, Rothstein is the author of many other articles and books on race and education, including “Class and Schools: Using Social, Economic and Educational Reform to Close the Black-White Achievement Gap” and “Grading Education: Getting Accountability Right.” He also was the national education columnist for the New York Times. Rothstein’s talk is scheduled for 7 p.m. – 9 p.m. Tickets are $5 and available at www.hennepinhistory.org/ event/the-color-of-law.
Keith Ellison and Harrington began discussing a working group to identify ways to reduce deadly force encounters with law enforcement in early 2019, shortly after each took office. The group was comprised of Minneapolis Police Chief Medaria Arradondo, Chanda
Smith Baker, senior vice president of Community Impact, The Minneapolis Foundation, Clarence Castile, community activist, uncle of Philando Castile, Elizer Darris, field organizer, ACLU of Minnesota, Matt Gottschalk, director of Public Safety, City of Corcoran,
Sen. Bill Ingebrigtsen (R – Alexandria), Hennepin County District Court Judge Mark Kappelhoff, Dr. Brittany Lewis, senior research associate for the Center for Urban and Regional Affairs at the University of Minnesota, Rep. Rena Moran (DFL – St. Paul), Justin Page,
staff attorney, Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid/Minnesota Disability Law Center, Patina Park, president/CEO, Minnesota Indian Women’s Resource Center, Brian Peters, executive director, Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association, Chief Sara Rice, Mille Lacs
Band of Ojibwe Tribal Police Department, St. Louis County Attorney Mark Rubin, Olmsted County Sheriff Kevin Torgerson and Dr. Artika Tyner, professor and director, Center on Race, Leadership, and Social Justice, University of St. Thomas School of Law.
Hollingsworth’s contributions to the profession, both as an AIA member and as a speaker, community leader and educator, marking her out as a rising star in the industry. The award honors individuals such as Hollingsworth who have shown exceptional leadership and made significant
contributions to the profession at an early stage in their careers, according to the AIA. Through her design projects, AIA advocacy, and founding new mentorship programs such as DesignSHOP, Hollingsworth builds crosscultural communication skills among architects practicing
today and greater diversity for the profession’s future. A few years after arriving in the Twin Cities in 2012, she cofounded the Minnesota chapter of the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA). Through NOMA, she helps the profession reach out in support of existing minority
architects, and also works to attract more talented minority youth to the profession. To that end, she also started (and runs) DesignSHOP, an after-school program aimed at helping innercity youth build up skills and knowledge in their chosen fields of architecture and design study. Hollingsworth herself advocates for an inclusive approach to architectural design that embraces the whole of humanity, while also creating buildings and physical spaces that are dynamic, flexible, sustainable – and beautiful. Born and raised in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Hollingsworth knew at an early age that she wanted to be an architect. But as the child of working-class parents, growing up in a teeming inner-city neighborhood, the odds were stacked against her ever achieving her professional dream. Despite being at the top of her graduating high school class, she found herself at a distinct disadvantage when applying to attend the school of architecture and design at the University of Sao Paulo. She failed the competitive entrance exam, which favored students whose more privileged backgrounds afforded them greater educational opportunities, three times. All the while, she followed a rigorous selfstudy program that eventually led to her passing the exam – and thereby gaining entrance into a world where she could pursue her dream of acquiring architectural credentials and then moving to the U.S. to live and practice architecture. After obtaining her architectural degree from the University of San Paulo, Hollingsworth moved to the U.S.
and studied architectural design at Arizona State University. From there, she went to work for RSP Architects in Phoenix, where she worked on design projects for higher education clients such as Northern Arizona University (NAU). For a new International Pavilion at NAU, she created a permanent, themed wall of “untranslatable words” culled from languages across the world as a means of setting an international tone to the building. For the Regional Acceleration Center building in North Minneapolis, she designed the interior building layout so that the building areas with the best views and natural amenities were common spaces available for use by all employees and visitors. Her inclusive design instincts also informed her decision to incorporate clear glass windows open to the street for the design of the ME & I Fitness Center in North Minneapolis. The interior lighting of the gym casts a warming glow at night that is visible to passersby; it can be a welcome sight in a neighborhood bereft of much in the way of positive visual cues.
INSIGHT NEWS www.insightnews.com
Insight News is published weekly, every Monday by McFarlane Media Interests. Editor-In-Chief Al McFarlane Publisher Batala-Ra McFarlane Associate Editor & Associate Publisher B.P. Ford Managing Editor Harry Colbert, Jr. Culture and Education Editor Dr. Irma McClaurin Associate Editor Afrodescendientes Carmen Robles Associate Editor Nigeria & West Africa Chief Folarin Ero-Phillips Director of Content & Production Patricia Weaver Content & Production Coordinator Sunny Thongthi Yang Distribution/Facilities Manager Jamal Mohamed Receptionist Lue B. Lampley Intern Kelvin Kuria
Contributing Writers Maya Beecham Nadvia Davis Fred Easter Abeni Hill Timothy Houston Michelle Mitchum Inell Rosario Latisha Townsend Artika Tyner Toki Wright Photography David Bradley V. Rivera Garcia Uchechukwu Iroegbu Rebecca Rabb Artist Donald Walker Contact Us: Insight News, Inc. Marcus Garvey House 1815 Bryant Ave. N. Minneapolis., MN 55411 Ph.: (612) 588-1313 Fax: (612) 588-2031 Member: Minnesota Multicultural Media Consortium (MMMC), Midwest Black Publishers Coalition, Inc. (MBPCI), National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) Postmaster: Send address changes to McFarlane Media Interests, Marcus Garvey House 1815 Bryant Avenue North, Minneapolis,
I Phone 7 pre-owned $19.99 I Phone 6s plus $49.99 Buy one Samsung A10e and get 3 free phones Add line and $5 only for the phone 4 line $100 unlimited everything Free Stylo 5 when you switch to Boost Mobile 1112 Lowry Ave N, Minneapolis MN 55411 612.345.4524
Richard Rothstein
Town talk: Dismantling, ending government-sponsored racism
Crown Act From 2 hearing, Minnesota Human Rights Commissioner Rebecca Lucero noted a recent case in Minnesota where an employer changed their hair policy, and then fired several workers who didn’t comply. A settlement which resulted in the workers
As she puts it in her AIA Young Architect nomination form, “From my journey into American architecture, I believe that, even though we work within a market system, architects can turn social disparities into opportunities. I’ve experienced this myself. From offices to student housing – I consider global connection, environmental health, and human inclusion in every project. For me, these values are more than add-ons for display, but essential for long-term wellbeing.”
regaining their jobs was later reached. Another notable incident occurred in 2018 when a New Jersey high school wrestler elected to cut his dreadlocks mat-side rather than forfeit a match due to his hairstyle. California, New Jersey and New York have already enacted similar measures. The next stop for the bill is the House Judiciary and Civil Law Division.
insightnews.com
Insight News • March 2, 2020 - March 8, 2020 • Page 5
Insight 2 Health
Addressing Black maternal health in the upcoming election By Brittany Lynch Wright Kira Johnson, 39, was a successful entrepreneur who spoke five languages. She was a mother of a little boy and was looking forward to welcoming her second son into the world with her husband. Sadly, during the delivery of her second child, a scheduled cesarean section, Johnson’s bladder was nicked and she suffered internal bleeding. Twelve hours after her son, Langston Johnson, was born Johnson passed away. During the 12 hours between when her son was born and when Johnson passed, she and her husband pleaded for help from the staff at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, but their concerns weren’t followed up with sufficient action. Blood was reported to be in her urine at 5 p.m., but an OBGYN wasn’t notified to help until after 11 p.m. Johnson’s husband, Charles Johnson IV, pleaded with staff noticing that the concerns of his wife were being ignored, to which he was told, “Sir, your wife is not a priority right now.” At 12:30 a.m. Kira Johnson was taken back into surgery, and by 2:22 a.m. she was pronounced dead. The internal bleeding caused her body to go into hemorrhagic shock. The bigger picture The heartbreaking story of the Johnson family is merely one of 700 that takes place every year in America. Despite this growing trend in the United States, the World Health Organization reports that the majority of birth-related deaths are preventable. For Black women, the chances of dying during childbirth are three to five times higher than any other group of people in the U.S. and
U.K. Black infants are two to three times more likely to die during childbirth or in the first year of life than any other group of people. America has more infant and maternal deaths of any industrialized country in the world, and it’s not due to a lack of qualified doctors, state of the art medical and birthing facilities, or a trend in health deficiencies of birth mothers. The primary factor that indicates how high a woman’s chances of passing away during childbirth is race, with non-Hispanic African-American women being the most at risk regardless of socioeconomic status and preexisting medical conditions. Black infant and maternal mortality is a public health crisis created by implicitly and explicitly biased medical professionals and institutions failing to listen to, understand, and acknowledge the concerns of their Black female patients in the same way that they treat nonblack patients. The American Public Health Association (APHA) declares this is a violation of several human rights including, “the mother’s right to life, the right to freedom from discrimination, and the right to health and quality health care.” APHA recommends these violations of human rights be addressed by federal, state and local government entities as well as their partners. How maternal health could be impacted by democratic presidential candidates Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) has pledged to address the maternal health crisis within the first 100 days of her possible presidency by tackling the shortage of health care professionals and by developing the “best models of care to address racial disparities in maternal and infant mortality.” Klobuchar is also a co-sponsor
Charles Johnson IV
Kira Johnson after giving birth to her son, Langston Johnson. Hours later, Kira Johnson was dead. of the Maternal CARE Act bill introduced by Rep. Alma Adams (D-NC) and Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA). This bill addresses racial bias in the medical system, introduces bias training to those coming into the medical field, and allocates over $125 million across 10 states to implement programs that reduce maternal health disparities. Senator Bernie Sanders is a co-sponsor of the Maternal CARE Act bill and the MOMMA Act created by Sens. Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Rep. Robin Kelly (D-IL). The MOMMA Act (Mothers and Offspring Mortality and Morbidity Awareness) has a five prong approach that establishes national obstetric procedures, standardizes reporting procedures for maternal death, improves culturally competent care, expands Medicare coverage to cover postpartum care up to a year, and shares best practices for mortality review boards. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) attended the She the People forum where she proposed financial incentives to hospitals that reduce Black maternal mortality rates and her plans to penalize those
who do not. After receiving criticism about the potential impact of financial penalties on low-quality hospitals that may already be under-resourced Warren reformed her plan to be reflective of her supporters’ concerns and penned an oped to Essence Magazine. Her op-ed included plans to diversify the medical field by pushing workforce diversity in hospitals to be reflective of the communities they serve, demanding more from lowperforming hospitals, investing more in high-performing hospitals, and providing space for families who have been directly impacted by infant and maternal mortality to have a seat at the table where they can “call the shots” on what’s happening to Black mothers and children in their communities. Warren has also expressed her support of the Maternal CARE Act proposed by Harris and the MOMMIES Act (Maximizing Outcomes for Moms through Medicaid Improvement and Enhancement of Services) proposed by Sen. Cory Booker to expand Medicaid support to cover a mother’s postpartum recovery for the first 365 days after giving birth.
The Bottom Line The Black infant and maternal health crisis has been on the rise for the pasts 60 years. The primary cause of this crisis in America is racial bias. Dr. Neel Shah, an assistant professor of obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive biology at Harvard Medical School shared with the Poynter Institute, “Clinicians are trained to profile people by race – nearly every exam question in medical school tells you the race of the patient and reinforces race-based associations.” While there are many politicians, interest groups, and community advocates doing the work to raise awareness and generate resources towards the growing crisis, it’s ultimately
going to take federal and state policy changes to overhaul a financially lucrative yet socially inept medical system. According to figures from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, maintenance of the status quo, and a failure to address this growing crisis over the next four years will lead to the death of more than 2,800 birth mothers and 88,000 babies, the majority of them Black. These figures are calculated under the assumption that the rates of Black infant and maternal mortality will not increase at the rate that was reported in 2017. Should these figures continue to rise there will inevitably be even more deaths that disproportionately impact the Black community.
fresh • local • organic Your neighborhood source for local and organic foods and wellness products
2823 E. Franklin Ave. | Minneapolis & 317 E. 38th St. | Minneapolis w w w. s e w a rd. co o p
Page 6 • March 2, 2020 - March 8, 2020 • Insight News
On the Hill From 1 North and South Minneapolis. Then the drugs get shipped to greater Minnesota suburbs and locations as far as Brainard. “The Black community is just a stop on the highway and our community gets demonized for it,” Terrell
insightnews.com
director said CMAH wants more resources for community training and safety focused on efforts like Minnesota Safe Streets. He gives credit to community activist such as Al Flowers for making inroads on the civic side of a safer community. He also gives Minneapolis Police Chief Medaria Arradondo. Rondo kudos for his active involvement from the law enforcement side, but Terrell
added. “No. This is not just a Black problem. But, as you assign resources, you are also not going to leave our people out of the solution.” Terrell said the belief that the political system does not belong to AfricanAmericans is a lie. Terrell believe when the state of Minnesota works better for Black residents it works better for everybody. The executive
Govenor Tim Walz spoke to Minnesotans of African heritage.
Stay Warm. Stay Safe. Stay Connected. Don’t Get Disconnected! Energy Assistance Can Help. p. CAP-HC’s Energy Assistance Program (EAP) provides financial
believes that resources for the community and police should be separated. “Organizations like MAD DADS give a lot of their time to help out the community and should be compensated for their efforts, “Terrell added. McFarlane posed the nature of resistance to AfricanAmerican efforts for freedom, equality, full citizenship and the acknowledgement of full humanity? “Where is the adversary? Why is this a struggle?” McFarlane asked. “White supremacy
Stay Warm. Stay Sa
assistance to Hennepin County residents, including the city of Minneapolis, to help with home energy costs and heat related repairs.
Text 4WARMTH to 555888
Stay Connected
has created a culture in America where people are married to an idea of what black people are, Terrell explained. “We held a funeral for Jim Crow years ago and he still ain’t dead.” Carey agreed white supremacy and some legislative and legal barriers exist, but she believes it may be even deeper. “I think the true adversary is being in a society where we’re not able to practice duality. Society is not accepting Black people being able to practice that duality and coexist in a wealth of ethnicity and culture,” Carrey added.
Minneapolis Public Schools Community Career Expo We’re Hiring!
Energy Assistance Program offices are now open in several locations, including: St. Louis Park, Minnesota Council of Churches, Sabathani Community Center, LSS and Minneapolis Urban League.
¾ Free to all Job Seekers ¾ Free Parking ¾ Free Haircuts & Giveaways ¾ Free Onsite Application & Resume Assistance ¾ Hiring Managers + YOU! = EMPLOYMENT
Dress Smart • Bring Your Resume and Smile
952-930-3541 Community Action Partnership of Hennepin County 8800 Highway 7, Suite 403 St. Louis Park, MN 55426 www.caphennepin.org eap@caphennepin.org
www.facebook.com/caphennepin
When: Time: Where:
www.twitter.com/caphennepin
Tuesday, March 3, 2020 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. 1250 West Broadway, Minneapolis Davis Center Assembly Room
Be a Change Maker and Earn Where Your Children Learn!
A program of Community Action Partnership of Hennepin County sponsored by: The Minnesota Department of Commerce & Department of Health and Human Services
Apply online: https://jobs.mpls.k12.mn.us/ Attend our free Resume Bootcamp and Application and Interview Clinics at 800 West Broadway Tuesday, February 25th from 2 – 4:30 p.m. Monday, March 2nd from 10 a.m. – 12 noon Questions? For more information, please contact Human Resources at here School logo staffing@mpls.k12.mn.us or 612.668.0500
Strengthening Community ∞ Eliminating Barriers ∞ Creating Opportunity
If I could do one thing, I’d tell the world she counts. Communities are as rich and diverse as their needs. That’s why completing the 2020 Census matters. It’s a safe and confidential step toward having an impact on how public funds flow through our communities. That could mean more resources in your area for special needs. It’s within your control.
Learn more at:
2020CENSUS.GOV Paid for by U.S. Census Bureau.
insightnews.com
Insight News • March 2, 2020 - March 8, 2020 • Page 7
Beasley could be key to transforming Wolves By Davion Moore The Minnesota Timberwolves arguably had one of the biggest trades of the NBA’s trade deadline. The T-Wolves traded one of their young, core players in Andrew Wiggins in exchange for another promising player (who is also a good friend of Karl Anthony-Towns) in D’Angelo Russell. However, the Timberwolves quietly made another trade the day before the trade deadline. And it has worked out well. On Feb. 5, the Timberwolves were involved in a four-team trade that included the Atlanta Hawks, the Denver Nuggets and the Houston Rockets. The trade involved 12 players (and assets like draft picks) changing teams and embarking on the next step in their careers. In this trade, the Timberwolves acquired four players and a 2020 first-round pick. The players Minnesota gained include forwards Juancho Hernangomez and Jarred Vanderbilt from the Nuggets, guard/forward Evan Turner from the Hawks and another Nuggets player in guard Malik Beasley, who has played well since coming to Minnesota. Before the trade, Beasley averaged 7.9 points, 1.9 rebounds and 1.2 assists while shooting 36.0 percent from beyond the arc. His performance this season comes after a season he averaged a career-best 11.3 points on 47.4 percent shooting from the field and 40.2 percent from the three-point line. Beasley started his career with the Nuggets, as Denver drafted him with the 19th pick in 2016. After three and a half seasons with the Nuggets (which included battling injuries in his first two seasons), Beasley has a fresh start with the Timberwolves. Since then, he has
A scene depicting the Civil Rights Movement from the Black History Month celebration concert, “The Sounds of Gospel: An Anthology Depicting the History and Evolution of Gospel Music,” recently held at Bethel University’s Benson Great Hall to a packed hall.
A riveting history lesson was told through powerful vocals, African drumming, dance and dynamic music Malik Beasley played well for Minnesota. In only six games, he has averaged 21.8 points, while playing 34 minutes per game. His careerbest in minutes in a season is 23.2, and before joining the Timberwolves, he averaged 18.2 minutes per game for the Nuggets this season. The fourteam trade has led to an increase in minutes, and Beasley has stepped up. While with the Timberwolves, Beasley has also shot nearly 45 percent from the field, as well as 42 percent from 3-point range. His first game with the T-Wolves included him making seven 3-pointers in a red-hot performance. The Timberwolves made a game record 26 threes, and Beasley played a significant part in that. Despite the Timberwolves being on a losing streak, Beasley has made an impact in his brief yet crucial stint with Minnesota. The
Timberwolves have lost five of their last six games, and are playing without Towns, who is out of action for at least two weeks with a fractured left wrist. The loss of Towns (at least for now) and their current losing streak has been tough, but Beasley’s recent performances are a bright spot during their struggles. Beasley is a player with untapped potential. He played well last season, but with the Nuggets and their deep bench, Beasley found himself lost in the rotation. So, he was unable to play to his best ability. The Wiggins/Russell trade was the most talked-about trade that the Timberwolves completed before the deadline, but the Beasley trade has paid off well. If he continues playing at this level, there is a great chance he’ll be a part of the Timberwolves’ future plans.
‘The Sounds of Gospel’ delights with uplifting anthology at Bethel University The sounds of African drumming, slave songs, and soul-stirring music filled Bethel University’s Benson Great Hall Feb. 22 as the audience went on a journey through time in the production of “The Sounds of Gospel: An Anthology Depicting the Rich History and Evolution of Gospel Music.” Produced by William Pierce of 2nd Chance Outreach, and directed by the renowned Jevetta Steele, the Black History Month concert gripped audiences from the opening rhythm of the drums. As dancers, attired in colorful African garb, gracefully took to the stage – the story began. An all-star lineup of local gospel music talent sang history. The artists included Tonia Hughes-Kendrick, Cornisha Garmon, Geoff Jones, J. Michelle Caldwell, Fred Steele, Jr., Ashley Commodore,
Jackson Hurst, Samia Butler and Jermaine Thomas. Organizers say Black History Month is a pivotal time to focus attention on oft-overlooked contributions by African-Americans to America and its cultural landscape – and to explore the evolution and richness of gospel music. The story came to life through dance, drama, instrumental and vocal music. Projected onto a large screen were powerful images of slaves working in fields, musical groups who defined the Gospel genre through various eras and marked pivotal points in the nation’s history and notable African American business, government and sports leaders. One of the most poignant moments occurred as the image of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was projected on the screen, the theater
went dark, as red liquid – representative of blood – rolled down his face. The gravity of that period was reflected through sounds of cries of screams. The scene and music then transitioned to marchers carrying protest signs while vocalists belted out the Staple Singers’ “I’ll Take You There. The concert featured music by male and female quartets, choirs, and legendary artists such as the Rev. James Cleveland. The production ended with the vibrant, hip-hop and smooth melodies of today’s gospel. Producer William Pierce said, “I envisioned using an artform, which in this case was the Sound of Gospel to transform the lives of our community. Music is the essence and the very thing that touches the heart and soul of all people.”
Flor De Toloache
Bob Schneider
Mariachi Girl Magic
2019 Austin Album of the Year
APR 18 • 7PM
APR 18 • 10PM
Robbie Fulks
Harold López-Nussa
Americana Songwriting Giant
Cuban Piano Phenom
APR 19
APR 20
Josh Rouse
New-romantic Folk
Benny Green Trio
APR 21
APR 22
Kandace Springs
Joanne Shaw Taylor
Hard Bop Modern Jazz
”The Women Who Raised Me” Album Release
British Blues Guitar Phenom
APR 24
APR 25
Daymé Arocena
Charles Lloyd & Kindred Spirits
Jazz Soul Rising Star
NPR Music 2019 “Best Album”
w/Julian Lage, Reuben Rogers & Eric Harland Jazz Saxophone Titan
APR 27
APR 28
“Secrets Are The Best Stories” Kurt
Peter Rowan &
feat. Danilo Pérez Dynamic Jazz Vocals
Grammy-winning Bluegrass Legend
APR 29
MAY 1
Elling Quartet
The Free Mexican Airforce
Page 8 • March 2, 2020 - March 8, 2020 • Insight News
We’re Hiring!
insightnews.com
Jill Scott dazzles at the newly christened The Fillmore
Question answered! We all know ‘Who is Jill Scott?’
Come Work With Us
By Harry Colbert, Jr. Managing Editor harry@insightnews.com
Community Career Expo March 3, 2020, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
1250 West Broadway Ave Davis Center, Assembly Room
Get Connected. Get Help. Find essential health and human services information when you need it.
DIAL 211, TEXT 898-211 OR VISIT 211UNITEDWAY.ORG A proud supporter of United Way 211
24/7 • FREE • CONFIDENTIAL • MULTILINGUAL
Aug. 26, 2000. One of journalism’s cardinal rules is never begin a story with the date unless … unless … the date itself is significant. Aug. 26, 2000 is that significant to me. That’s the date I asked the now rhetorical question: “Who is Jill Scott?” On Feb. 25, 2020 at The Fillmore in Minneapolis that question was answered. On Aug. 26, 2000 I hopped in my friend Carlton’s new red Volkswagen Golf as we headed to the wedding of our great friends, Anthony and Judy Love. “You hip to Jill Scott?” Carlton quizzed. “Naw, who’s that?” I replied. “She’s dope. She’s down with The Roots,” was Carlton’s retort, knowing that would get my interest peeked. I was a big fan of The Roots. Back then, they weren’t the juggernaut they have now become. Neither was Jill Scott. The Roots were emerging artists just starting to get a national buzz. But to have that Roots “stamp of approval” was enough for me. And, when I heard Carlton say “The Roots,” I immediately thought hip-hop, but then he popped in the CD. This wasn’t hip-hop at all … this was soul in its rawest, most pure form. This was a new kind of soul. This was neosoul. It was with that fond memory firmly implanted in my mind that I entered Minneapolis’ freshly minted concert venue, The Fillmore last night. But in case I, or anyone else, forgot “Who is Jill Scott?” we were quickly and wonderfully reminded.
S. Maggitt
Jill Scott all smiles on stage at The Fillmore in Minneapolis. Released in January 2000, “Who is Jill Scott? Words and Sounds Vol. 1” is now 20-years-old and it has aged like the finest of wines. Listening to Jilly from Philly’s debut album is a treat in itself. Having it sung to you track-by-track with added operatic improvisations and comedic adlibs by the virtuoso herself is almost indescribable. But allow me to offer this feeble attempt. With the accompaniment of an all-male band and background singers … one diva on stage was more than enough … Jill Scott reminded the packed house not only “Who is Jill Scott,” but she reminded us why we give a damn in the first place. I’m not sure what resonates more with the singer’s fans, her voice or her spirit. Most likely it’s a combination of the two. With Jill, there’s a connectedness … a familiarity. There’s the duality we love. It’s her sending out blessings and love to her fellow queens and in the same exact sentence saying a certain type woman (a name I will refrain from using), “Be doing too much and not enough at the same damn time.” It’s her singing the gritty and humorous lyrics of “Gettin’ in the Way” and transitioning into “He Loves
Me” and for a moment turning The Fillmore into an opera house, singing a beautifully crafted Spanish interlude akin to one in “La Vida Breve” then taking us to D.C. with the hard-driving go-go percussions behind “It’s Love.” It’s her (tactfully, and in song) admonishing everyone recording the performance with their cell phones and – without missing a beat – breaking into the now prophetic warning song, “Watching Me.” I once joked Frankie Beverly has the easiest job in music because he never has to sing in concert because the audience does it for him. Well, Jill could have the second easiest job, but she’s not ready to retire her vocals just yet. So, while the audience took over on “The Way,” Jilly from Philly did what a Philly woman does – she took over. No one voice can compete. On Feb. 25 at The Fillmore, not even a thousand voices could compete. “Who is Jill Scott?” The answer is within the question. Jill Scott has transitioned being a noun; she’s a verb. She is action. She is an occurrence. She is the main part of the sentence. For those who need it spelled out, her name is “J-ILL-S-C-O-T-Tee. Jill Scott reperesentin’ North Philly y’all.”
WAYS TO EXPLORE
HISTORY WITH
UPPER HARBOR TERMINAL
FILMS & CONVERSATION N
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT #9
Watch a thought-provoking film then join a conversation about topics in history that resonate today. First Thursday Films @ North High: We Are the Radical Monarchs (Mar 5) and Charm City (Apr 2), North High School, Minneapolis.
LEARNING TABLE
READ D THIS BOOK BO SS • MNHS PRE 4 pages $29.95 • 22
Be inspired by Minnesota’s Black Community in the 21st Century, a celebration of the contributions of contemporary African American individuals and organizations. Available May. Preorder now at mnhs.org/shop.
The Learning Table provides the “learning water”; a place to ask critical questions and develop the “learning glue”; a place to develop relationships, create partnerships, and make commitments to explore ideas for incorporation in the UHT development. Each Learning Table theme is directly related to development topics. · Learn together · Create shared approach · Coordinate efforts
MARCH 18, 2020 For more information on the project:
For more information or to RSVP: find us on Facebook- at PPPEJCC or on Eventbrite; http://publicpolicyprojectonline. Upper Harbor Terminal com/upper-harbor-terminal/ http://upperharbormpls.com/ Community Engagement Learning Table devonn@pillsburyunited.org 612.377.7000
RESEARCH YOUR FAMILY HISTORY Explore African American family history using newspapers, vital records, censuses, church records, oral histories, and more. Visit the Gale Family Library at the Minnesota History Center, or research online at libguides.mnhs.org/aaafh.
Light Meal Provided
Supported by:
Community Benefits Operationalized
4pm - 8pm Glover Sudduth Center
2100 Plymouth Ave N (Penn & Plymouth)
(Urban League) PLAN YOUR VISIT 1-844-MNSTORY MNHS.ORG
Free parking available in rear lot, UROC & 1256 Penn Ave garage