Insight News ::: 3.4.19 and Insight News ::: 3.11.19

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Insight News March 4, 2019 - March 17, 2019

Vol. 46 No. 9• The Journal For Community News, Business & The Arts • insightnews.com

Growing up hearing

Mahalia

By Toki Wright

Celebrating Woman’s History Month:

Mahalia Jackson, ‘Queen of Gospel’

DAVE BRINKMAN - WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

MA M A H A LI LIA 6

Page 2 • March 4, 2019 - March 17, 2019 • Insight News

insightnews.com MNHS.ORG

Open letter to Jussie Smollett: Crying wolf hurts the oppressed Culture and Education Editor

By Dr. Irma McClaurin http://irmamcclaurin.com/ @mcclaurintweets Dear Jussie: Left: Green Card Voices exhibit at the History Center. Right: Somalis + Minnesota exhibit at the History Center.

MNHS: HISTORY FOR ALL The Minnesota History Center is proud to welcome Green Card Voices: Immigrants Telling Their Life Stories to the Irvine Community Gallery, opening March 12. This new exhibit features immigrants and their stories of coming to Minnesota from 22 different countries—from Bangladesh and Cameroon to Bosnia and Herzegovina. These immigrants represent a diverse range of professions and ages and arrived in Minnesota through many immigration routes, including as refugees, DACA recipients, and through family reunification. But they all share one important trait: they now call the Twin Cities home.

The exhibit was created by the Twin Cities nonprofit Green Card Voices. In 2013, Green Card Voices produced its first touring photo exhibit as part of its mission to share personal narratives of America’s immigrants to foster tolerance create a better understanding between the immigrant and nonimmigrant residents. Since 2013, the exhibit has traveled to more than 35 locations around Minnesota.

Because of the success of the Twin Cities exhibit, other exhibits were created to focus on immigration in St. Cloud, Wilmar, and even across state lines in Fargo, North Dakota.

The Green Card Voices exhibit builds upon MNHS’s efforts to tell the stories of all communities that call Minnesota home—and it is the perfect complement to the Somalis + Minnesota exhibit, on view now through June 9 at the History Center. Both exhibits celebrate the diversity of these new Americans, recognize the contributions of immigrants to American life, and put a human face on the current immigration narrative in our country.

And each of these individual stories contributes to the larger historical story of women, men, and children leaving their home countries for a better future. The Green Card Voices organization puts it best when they say, “Simply, we hope to introduce immigrants to their neighbors.”

Green Card Voices will be on view at the Minnesota History Center through May 27. Admission is free.

MELANIE ADAMS Melanie Adams, PhD, is the senior director of Guest Experience and Educational Services at the Minnesota Historical Society. In this role she oversees MNHS programs, exhibits, and historic sites located throughout the state, which serve one million people per year.

If what they are saying is true, and you actually orchestrated your own racial and homophobic attack, then you have hurt every oppressed person yesterday, today and tomorrow.

You see Jussie, racism is never just about you personally.

It acts upon your personhood and constrains your individual achievements, but systemic racism is structural violence against a group of people.

It is sly and deceptive and can fool you into a false sense of security. You see, some individuals from oppressed groups actually may believe they have gone through life without experiencing racism, sexism, homophobia (and any other kind of oppression), but structurally the isms (which intersect to form multiple oppressions) have created an invisible fence that surrounds us and sets boundaries on our achievements and opportunities within a framework of limitations usually embodied within the unspoken, “for a Black person” e.g., “You write well for a …,” “You are so articulate for a …,” “You are a great leader for a ...,” “You know so much for a ...”

For me, ageism is now intersecting with my gender and race to constrain me as a high achieving Black woman, over the age of 65, who cannot find employment commensurate with my experience. And I watch how old white men and women up through the age of 90-plus are hired over and over again. Their experience is valued, mine is deemed irrelevant. Sad, but true.

In the world of structural violence caused by racism, you must know our accomplishments are viewed as individualistic and exceptional – what

A renewed focus: you.

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Jussie Smollett radio show host Rachel DeGuzman of Rochester’s “Up Close and Cultural” calls “the onliest” syndrome and I describe as “the cult of the exceptional.”

We are made to believe we are the “only one” (onliest) like us and that we are not like every other Black, Brown, LGBTQ, person with talent who will rise high, if given the opportunity.

We are “exceptional” individuals. Following this logic, onliest/ exceptional people become invested in their own self advancement; often to the detriment of the group. Catch my drift?

Onliest are narcissistic in their motivation; out for themselves only. They fail to understand that the flip side of onliestism or being viewed as “exceptional” is collective failure.

When the onliest and exceptional Black, Brown, LGBTQ person makes a mistake, the result is collective downfall.

Every person from your identity group(s) becomes suspect. And we are all held in disregard, treated with disbelief, and scorned with disrespect because of the actions of a few. We must then prove ourselves over and over and over again. And after each of these individual acts of spiraling down, what it takes for the group to rise above their actions is an enormous task and a tremendous collective burden. We didn’t do anything, but we are treated as if we were the perpetrator.

White people do not live with the everyday burden of collective guilt and being blamed for the actions of transgressive white individuals. Although, perhaps they should in view of

the atrocities perpetrated in the name of whiteness. But those who identify with whiteness as a group identity have adapted and adopted a collective form of onliest-ism – their individual successes confirm that all white people are exceptional while failure is viewed as the aberrant actions of individuals acting alone.

And so, Jussie, if it is true and you cried wolf around hate crimes and racism; if it is true that you risked your health and well-being in order to leverage your pain for some extra Hollywood trinkets and Benjamins; if there is an ounce of truth in any of the accusations, then you have perpetrated a collective harm of the greatest magnitude against Black, Brown and LGBTQ people.

The one occurrence I can recall on this scale was back in 1979 when Amherst College was almost shutdown because of a cross burning at the Black dormitory. In the end, this act of historical structural violence was traced to a Black student on campus. Those of us enrolled or working at other colleges in the area suffered the collective shame of this individual’s transgressive act.

And shame on you Jussie for placing all of your people (Black and LGBTQ), united by our oppression, in jeopardy and subject to chronic disbelief.

If true – and the evidence is not complete and the jury is still out – but if it is true that you cried wolf to increase your Hollywood profile, then you have set

DEAR JUSSIE 4

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Insight News • March 4, 2019 - March 17, 2019 • Page 3

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Insight News March 4, 2019 - March 17, 2019

Vol. 46 No. 9• The Journal For Community News, Business & The Arts • insightnews.com

Metropolitan Council appointments reflect diversity priority Gov. Tim Walz has appointed 16 area residents to serve on the Metropolitan Council including seven people of color.

Seated this month, the appointees now represent the most diverse council in its more than 50-year history.

“These 16 individuals reflect the people of our metropolitan region,” said Walz. “They bring with them deep experience in the council’s core work areas, a history of public service, robust business experience, and strong connections to community. I am confident in their commitment to servant leadership and public engagement.”

“I can’t wait to get to work with this group,” said Metropolitan Council Chair Nora Slawik. “I know we all have a lot to learn from one another, and that our region will benefit from their many areas of experience and passion. By re-appointing two current council members, we will have a level of continuity to help guide the many new

L to R: Reva Chamblis, Lynnea Atlas-Ingebretson and Abdirahman Muse were all named to Metropolitan Council by Gov. Tim Walz. voices and channel their energy to the benefit of the region.”

The appointees include seven people of color

or indigenous people, seven women, two incumbents, and

two immigrants. Appointees are Judy Johnson (District 1),

Reva Chamblis (District 2), Christopher Ferguson (District 3), Deb Barber (District 4), Molly Cummings (District 5), Lynnea Atlas-Ingebretson (District 6), Robert Lilligren (District 7), Abdirahman Muse (District 8), Raymond Zeran (District 9), Peter Lindstrom (District 10), Susan Vento (District 11), Francisco Gonzalez (District 12), Chai Lee (District 13), Kris Fredson (District 14), Phillip Sterner (District 15) and Wendy Wulff (District 16).

Metropolitan Council is the regional policy-making body and planning agency. The 17-member council (chaired

by Nora Slawik) also provides services and infrastructure such as Metro Transit’s bus and rail system, Metro Mobility, Transit Link, wastewater treatment services, regional parks, planning, affordable housing, and more.

The 2019 operating budget for Metropolitan Council is $1.1 billion.

Jack and Jill’s Rites of Passage celebrates 21 years of transforming boys to men

By Maya Beecham Contributing Writer Donovan Jones-Myers was 15-years-old when his aunt invited him to attend his first Rites of Passage ceremony.

He enjoyed watching initiates as they symbolically crossed over into manhood.

“There was a rich history and culture there. The initiates came out with their stepping. There was the relationship between their mentors and their parents. I just felt a strong bond and camaraderie in the community in general, it felt nice,” said Jones-Myers. “It was a cool thing to experience for me. And I thought I want to do that for myself as well.”

Two years later Jones-Myers, a senior at Waconia High School, is preparing to cross that same threshold

RITES OF PASSAGE 4

Ahijah Adams

Alan Rosier

Donovan Jones-Meyers

Hilton Patterson

Jacob Johnson

Jaden Morton

Julian Wright

Julian Cavin

Kamau Kokayo-Taylor

Keemarr McKinney-VanBuren

Stairstep Initiative, His Works United advance values-driven leadership

Empowering the Black church to address community needs

By Harry Colbert, Jr. Managing Editor harry@insightnews.com This past summer, without notice, the Burger King at 818 W. Broadway Ave. in North Minneapolis unexpectedly closed its doors.

To a person new to the area it may not have been seen as a big deal, but to those who have been around long enough the know the history, the closure was reminiscent of what was … and what could again be.

Before the building at 818 W. Broadway Ave. was a Burger King it was a Dairy Queen. Before it was a Dairy Queen it was a grand idea … an idea of a community-owned en-

Alfred Babington-Johnson tity providing jobs, opportunity and hope … a hope that still remains.

I2H

Research finds ethnoracial differences in Alzheimer’s disease

PAGE 4

The Dairy Queen, which opened its doors in 1993, was imagined and brought forth by the Rev. Alfred Babington-Johnson and the Stairstep Foundation. So too was the former Tires Plus across the street, which opened doors in 1996. But both paled in comparison to the Glory Foods facility that was located at 1000 Humboldt Ave. N. in North Minneapolis. The facility, known as the Siyeza facility (siyeza means “we’re coming”) manufactured family size frozen entrees for the soul food giant. It came together through Babington-Johnson’s determination, ability to have others see the vision and by circumstance.

“I had this idea of how to bring economic stability to North Minneapolis and I talked to the people at General Mills

about investing and they wanted to partner with a manufacturer,” said Babington-Johnson.

“I took a trip to Knoxville (Tennessee) to visit my mom and she made these greens that were so good; and she told me it came from a can and I couldn’t believe it.”

The reverend knew he had his manufacturer.

Babington-Johnson reached out to Glory founder William “Bill” Williams and made the connection to the people at General Mills. In 1998 the facility opened, employing 400 people paying out more than $12 million in payroll. It operated until 2006. Sadly, Williams died in 2001, thus stunting the facility’s potential and leading to its eventual closing. Had Williams, who Babington-Johnson said was very hands-on with

News

Growing up hearing Mahalia

PAGE 6

the Siyeza facility, lived, the economic driver might still be providing stability to its workers and to North Minneapolis.

“If Siyeza realized its full potential it would have been a model of how to build community,” said Babington-Johnson.

Babington-Johnson is still working on ways to build community. He, along with several other faith leaders, created His Works United, a cross-denominational collective addressing housing, health, education and other community needs. The group won an Emmy for its TPT “Discovered Truth” documentary, on the Affordable Care Act. A Howard University graduate, Babington-Johnson and Stairstep champion education through its Belief Bowl, a competition of church youth

who match wits in a gameshow type format.

A constant of Stairstep is to reach beyond the boundaries of a church building and do work outside of parish doors.

Recently Babington-Johnson and Stairstep hosted a multi-day event to address trauma in the Black community. The workshop offered training to pastors on how to counsel and minister to those dealing with various traumas and other mental health issues.

“We need to talk about violence. It’s a symptom.

It’s a symptom of the need for education and jobs; but it’s also a symptom of trauma,” said Babington-Johnson. “Our great opportunity is to empower and equip the Black church to fully address the needs of our community,” said Babington-Johnson.

AS

‘Cuba’ now playing at the Omnitheater

PAGE 7

Page 4 • March 4, 2019 - March 17, 2019 • Insight News

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Insight 2 Health Research finds ethnoracial differences in Alzheimer’s disease

By Kevin Punsky Mayo Clinic JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A team of Mayo Clinic researchers found Hispanic-American patients with Alzheimer’s tend to survive significantly longer with the disease than other ethnoracial groups, according to a study in Alzheimer’s & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association.

Hispanic-Americans were found to live an average of 12 years with the disease from the time of the onset of symptoms.

“This study utilized one of the largest series of donated brain tissue to date, looking at demographic and clinicopathologic features of Alzheimer’s

New research shows Hispanic-Americans live, on average, 12 years longer with Alzheimer’s than do other American ethnicities.

disease across an ethnoracially diverse group of cases,” said Melissa Murray, Ph.D., a Mayo Clinic translational neuropathologist and principal investigator on Mayo’s Florida campus.

The research team examined 1,625 brain tissue samples and compared the disease progression and duration in individuals who had self-identified as Hispanic, non-Hispanic white, or African-American. HispanicAmerican patients had dementia symptoms characteristic of Alzheimer’s at an average age of 70, a year or more earlier than the other groups. They were more likely to have family history of dementia. And they had lower cognitive scores at the end of life. However, the average duration of Alzheimer’s – how long patients lived once

they had symptoms – was 12 years for Hispanic-Americans, compared to nine years for non-Hispanic whites, and eight years for African-Americans.

The Mayo Clinic study compared the presence, location and composition of Alzheimer’srelated protein clumps, known as tangles, in tissue samples from the Florida Autopsied Multi-Ethnic cohort. Researchers found subtle differences among the ethnoracial groups in the severity of the tangles, but no differences in brain weight were found. Hispanic-Americans were slightly less likely to have the genetic variant, known as APOE ε4, which is thought to increase Alzheimer’s risk. The study also found distinctions in the distribution throughout the brain of specific Alzheimer’s

proteins and the presence of concurrent neurodegenerative processes, which may be relevant to research looking for biomarkers to diagnose the disease.

The study also explored demographic details, such as patients’ education and employment, which are considered to have protective effects against cognitive decline. Compared to non-Hispanic whites, HispanicAmericans and African-Americans were found to have fewer years of education, which coincides with other risk factors for Alzheimer’s, such as lower socio-economic advantage and increased cardiovascular disease.

“As the field works toward Alzheimer’s therapies, ethnoracial differences should be taken into consideration,” said Murray.

Study: Wellness confusion, lack of support can impact weight loss If you are like many Americans, you probably read advice about health and wellness everywhere, from news feeds to social media.

But, despite the abundance of information, many are still struggling to reach their weight loss goals. So, what is the cause of this disconnect?

While many Americans are no longer in the dark about healthy eating – as 92 percent believe they know the right foods to eat – more than half still knowingly make poor food choices daily, and two-thirds are currently looking to lose weight,

structured plan as well as ongoing support increases the likelihood people can find success on their weight loss journey,” said Dr. Pamela Peeke, chair of the Jenny Craig Science Advisory Board.

One important area of support, Peeke points out, is in meal planning. Nearly three in five people spend seven to 14 hours planning and preparing meals each week. A program that offers nutritionally-balanced, chef-crafted meals can not only help reduce stress (the top cited reason for weight loss struggles)

according to a new report commissioned by Jenny Craig.

One challenge contributing to this disconnect is confusing buzzwords that many weight loss programs and products use in their marketing. Today, “wellness” products are popping up everywhere, though 42 percent of Americans say they are unsure how to even define the term.

But experts say that making the leap from knowing what to do, to actually doing it, can be made easier with the right tools and support.

“Having a science-based

but also free up valuable hours to get more sleep or focus on another area of your overall health.

What’s more, the report found that nearly nine in 10 Americans (88 percent) believe that having healthy, prepared meals would help them reach their weightrelated goals.

Another critical tool for sustainable weight loss is guidance and motivation. Unfortunately, less than half of those surveyed say they have adequate support to be at a healthy weight. That is why science-driven, structured weight loss programs like Jenny

Craig and others can be good options, as they offer ongoing, one-on-one support from a personal consultant that can help people stay focused on their goals while learning about portion control and other ways to develop healthy eating habits.

The support from a dedicated consultant allows you to personalize your weight loss plan, talk through challenges, track your progress and get the encouragement and guidance you need to help you reach your goal.

Source: StatePoint

Health care quality report highlights improvements needed for better health MN Community Measurement (MNCM), an independent nonprofit organization has released a report highlighting quality measures for health care provided by medical groups across Minnesota.

The “2018 Minnesota Health Care Quality Report,” presents data collected

by MNCM, including an online appendix with comparisons by medical group and clinic. Several medical groups are recognized for achieving high performance on at least 50 percent of the measures for which they were eligible.

MNCM added a new statewide analysis showing that substantial gains could be achieved if performance on quality measures was raised to a benchmark level defined by current high performers. An exam-

Dear Jussie From 2 the Black struggle, the equality struggle, and the LGBTQ rights struggle backwards for decades.

We will have to triple our efforts to be believed when we encounter acts of microaggres-

Rites of Passage From 3 as one of 10 African-American initiates in the 2019 Rites of Passage (ROP) Community Celebration hosted March 9 by Jack and Jill, Inc., Minneapolis Chapter at Hyatt Regency Minneapolis, 1300 Nicollet Mall.

Upon entering the ROP program six months ago, Jones-Myers recalled being curious, determined, and multifaceted. He will be introduced to society by family, mentors, elders, program officials and community members, as a man that is curious, yet fulfilled, more guided in his goals, successful and ready. He will be joined by his co-initiates, Ahijah Adams (St. Paul Central), Julian Cavin (Maranatha Christian Academy), Jacob Johnson (Champlin Park), Kamau Kokayi-Taylor (Minnehaha Academy), Keemarr McKinney-VanBuren (Park

ple of this is illustrated with the average rate for colorectal cancer screening. The current statewide average rate for colorectal cancer screening is 71 percent; however, the benchmark is at 75 percent. Another example is outlined in optimal asthma control for children. The statewide average is 58 percent, with the benchmark at 71 percent. For these examples, if all medical groups achieved the benchmark levels, over 54,000 more patients would be screened for colorectal cancer and over 9,000 more children would have their asthma under control.

“The benchmark analysis illustrates the potential impact of raising statewide performance to the current level of groups with highest performance,” said MN Community Measurement President Julie

Sonier. “However, for some measures – such as the measures for depression care – the current benchmarks are low, which calls attention to the need for improvement across the board to get better health outcomes for Minnesotans.”

The report recognizes eight primary care or multi-specialty medical groups that have achieved high performance on at least 50 percent of the measures for which they were eligible. Those receiving high marks are Allina Health, Entira Family Clinics, Essentia Health, HealthPartners Clinics, Mankato Clinic, Mayo Clinic, Park Nicollet Health Services and Stillwater Medical Group.

The report also recognizes four pediatric groups that achieved high performance on at least 50 percent of the pediatric

measures for which they were eligible. These pediatric groups are Central Pediatrics, Fridley Children’s and Teenagers’ Medical Center, South Lake Pediatrics and Wayzata Children’s Clinic.

“We have seen steady and consistent improvement and have continued to make small changes along the way, as new suggestions or best practices have surfaced,” said South Lake Pediatrics chief medical director, Dr. Michael Garvis. “This has resulted in excellent vaccination rates, as well as low emergency room and hospitalization rates for asthma and mental health patients. We have also been able to intervene with our chronic patients with the consistency of our care coordinators who focus on our mental health, chronic asthma, developmentally chal-

lenged, and medically complex patients.”

Showing consistent improvement Ten medical groups demonstrated consistent improvement on multiple measures over time. Consistent improvement is defined as having at least a two-percentage point increase each year since 2016.

According to the report, medical groups showing consistent improvement are Cuyuna Regional Medical Center, Entira Family Clinics, Fairview Mesaba Clinics, HealthEast Clinics, Hutchinson Health, Lakewood Health System, Mayo Clinic, Park Nicollet Health Services, Ridgeview Sibley Medical Center and Sanford Health – Sioux Falls Region.

Lakewood Health System, located in central Min-

nesota, and Park Nicollet Health Services, achieved consistent improvement on five measures since 2016.

“At Lakewood, we use all available resources including our internal data, state, county, and even our local schools to help improve the health of the communities we serve,” said Lakewood chief medical officer, John Halfen. “Having this information is crucial and allows us to put strategies in place through our care teams, education, and systems changes, which can directly impact those areas needing improvement. In doing this, we have seen an immediate benefit to our population health which the long-term viability of our system is dependent on.”

sion, overt white supremacy act, and the ongoing and persistent structural violence of racism, sexism, and homophobia.

When we rise to strike a blow and dismantle these intersecting systems of oppression, the question will be raised about our outcry, “Is this a Jussie Smollett?” Is the particular “ism” and structural violence we are calling out real or fabricated? You have torpedoed and sunk our collective credibility.

Because if you, our collective motives will always be called into question and challenged.

And so, my dear brother Jussie, it is my hope that you will ‘fess up, if true, and suffer the consequences of losing some of your fan base, your current job that may have fueled your personal “ego tripping,” and definitely your acting career (though you get props for this role, if true). Your once sacred reputation will be in the sewer along-

side Bill Cosby and R. Kelly.

Until the truth is known, no healing is possible of your individual pain and our collective pain and embarrassment, if the accusations are proven true.

If they are false, then the Chicago Police Department and the world, will owe you the biggest apology ever, and perhaps Ellen DeGeneres will bring you on her show, and give you some love in front of millions of television viewers, and that will

capture you a major Hollywood starring role and in the future perhaps an #OhSoWhiteOscar.

The moral of the story about little boy who untruthfully cried wolf once too often is that when he truly needed help, no one came to his rescue and he was eventually devoured. He died lonely and alone. So sad. I pray this does not describe your fate.

For now, I remain yours in the struggle.

(c)2019 McClaurin Solutions

Center), Jaden Morton (Maranatha Christian Academy), Hilton Patterson (Champlin Park), Alan Rosier (Coon Rapids) and Julian Wright (DeLaSalle).

ROP is an annual sixmonth leadership experience for African-American high school seniors in the Twin Cities. The program is based on the seven principles of Nguzu Saba (African heritage), Umoja (unity), Kujichagulia (self-determination), Ujima (collective work and responsibility), Ujamaa (cooperative economics), Nia (purpose), Kuumba (creativity) and Imani (faith). These principles are relayed to the initiates through a curriculum focused on leadership development, personal brand building, entrepreneurship and financial management.

Initiates engaged in community service by volunteering at the Greater Minneapolis Crisis Nursery and serving as ushers at the annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Breakfast. They also participated in fundraising efforts of which part of the proceeds will go to a charity of initiate’s

choice.

how to prepare for success and holds the Initiates accountable for results.”

Jones-Myers is familiar with accountability. He holds a 3.97 GPA, is a member of the National Honor Society, and he is also a member of his school’s robotics team, marching band, jazz band, regular band and art club. However, ROP program filled a gap for him that helped him aspire to new levels of achievement.

“I haven’t necessarily had a lot of male role models; African-American role models,” said Jones-Myers. “I felt very fulfilled. I felt a swarm of strong momentum from all the different mentors and chair people. It feels very welcoming and that’s something I enjoyed.

Also, (the program showed) the importance of working with community. You help yourself out by preparing for things and being successful in your life.

And (you) carry on that success in your own home life and community life.”

The hope is that initi-

ates will carry lessons they have learned from ROP in their various paths, and the journey will be more informed and enlightened. They have already passed the test of commitment and dedication to building a future of promise.

“This is a very eclectic group of young men,” said Vincent. “We have artists, multi-sport athletes, musicians, STEM-focused kids and future entrepreneurs. They worked well together and took the experience seriously. They did all of this while in the midst of participating in very busy senior years.”

The longevity of ROP program and the success of its participants is a testament to its effectiveness. This year marks the program’s 21st year, and more than 300 men have participated over the years and gone on to succeed in various occupations in business, academia, science, professional sports and the arts.

Myers-Jones strongly encourages other African-American males to consider becoming

In the final stage of the curriculum, initiates complete a project that includes pitching business ideas to a panel of entrepreneurs. Mentors from the area guide and direct initiates through the curriculum and passage process.

Anton Vincent, ROP activities co-chair, has served as a leader in the program for the past 10 years in different capacities. He deems the program’s work as critical in transforming lives.

“It is important for the young men to participate for a variety of reasons. First, self-knowledge is power,” said Vincent. “Our very first engagement with the initiates begins with a 360 survey. Most kids have very little perception and appreciation of how others view them. Second, the ability to have a mentor you can reach out to, learn from and confide in can create lifelong bonds and great networking. Lastly, the precepts we teach broadens the Initiates perspective, offers real skills on

Dr. Irma McClaurin is the Culture and Education Editor for Insight News. She is an awardwinning writer, anthropologist and a past president of Shaw University and former University of Minnesota associate vice president and founding executive director of UROC.

an initiate.

“They should definitely join this program mainly because it is very helpful for developing you as a person, as a community leader, and as a leader in general in your life with other people,” said Myers-Jones.

“It can help you work with different kinds of executives, mentors, and leaders to guide you in different paths you would be interested in. You get to explore by interacting with these different people what it means to be in these positions. You get guidance and help to get to these desired positions that you would want to do. It’s very beneficial.”

To learn more about the Rites of Passage Program visit www.jackandjillmpls. org/rites-of-passage-ceremony. Tickets for the March 9 event can be purchased here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ minneapolis-chapter-rites-ofpassage-ceremony-2019-tickets-54743933579?ref=eios

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Insight News • March 4, 2019 - March 17, 2019 • Page 5

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Page 6 • March 4, 2019 - March 17, 2019 • Insight News

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Celebrating Woman’s History Month: Mahalia Jackson, ‘Queen of Gospel’

Growing up hearing Mahalia

By Toki Wright Any Black child that stepped into the home of their sanctified grandparent has found key items of definition … the familiar smells of Southern cooking accompanied by very particular sounds emanating from the stereo.

For me, Grandma Doris’ speakers would only play one of three artists; Shirley Caesar, the Rev. James Cleveland, or the “Queen of Gospel,” Mahalia Jackson. Jackson’s presence was a symbol of dignity that forever changed society and music.

Mahala Jackson (later adding the “i” to her first name) was born Oct. 26, 1911 in the birthplace of jazz, New Orleans. She grew up in poverty in a shack on Pitt Street. She was born with a handicap that prevented her from walking for much of her young life. Her grandfather

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

was enslaved on a plantation, her father worked the docks and cut hair. Though Jackson began singing in church at the age of 4, she was struck with the devastating loss of her mother at the age of 5. This pathos speaks volumes to the source of her passionate singing and stage presence.

Jackson had several influences for her unique sound. She was Influenced by the day laborers, dock workers and the forbidden records of blues greats Bessie Smith and Ma Rainey.

Jackson was also intrigued by and the new movement of the loud and expressive Pentecostal Church. When she brought these influences into her Baptist home church elders would tell her to leave.

Mahala dropped out of elementary school to become a laborer. Growing up during the Great Depression she felt that even educated people ended up working domestic jobs for whites. There were few op-

portunities for Black people to excel. Jackson’s voice gave her an opportunity to bring herself and her people out of destitute.

She moved to Chicago at the age of 15 with the aim of studying nursing while continuing as day worker. Coming from the cruel South, she was surprised to find unthinkable interactions like catching a cab from a white driver.

In Chicago, Jackson joined the Greater Salem Baptist Church, and with her impressive voice and style soon became a member of the Johnson Gospel Singers. The “Father of Black Gospel Music” Thomas Dorsey discovered Jackson and soon became her accompanist playing piano. Dorsey had played with Ma Rainey and wrote for Bessie Smith and now made a conversion to Gospel music. He wrote “Precious Lord Take My Hand,” which Jackson recorded for Columbia Records. The two traveled together for five years.

Pintrest

Mahalia Jackson during the historic 1963 March on Washington.

“I think Mahalia Jackson is one of the great singers of these times. She had a voice second to none. The way she handled the trills and turns in that voice put her into a class by herself,” stated Doresy in a 1971 interview.

In the early days Mahalia Jacksons concert tickets would sell for 15 to 50 cents. She would sing songs on street corners as promotion. Her voice would bring people to tears.

Even in the early days of her career she showed great compassion for her people. She regularly held revivals to raise money for churches and would regularly feed people who were without money. She stated, “I’ve been able to take that 50 cents from people that had nothing and cook up food and help people. That’s the first thing Christ did, he didn’t tell man to be born again. He started feeding ‘em first. Then he started talking about the spiritual part. Get a man full first and then you can start talking about salvation.”

Though many of her contemporaries were finding success converting from gospel to jazz and the blues, Jackson vowed to only sing gospel music. Decca Records (home of Louis Armstrong, Bing Crosby and Billie Holiday) was amazed

by her singing and released her single, “God’s Gonna Separate the Wheat from the Tares” along with a few other songs. Surprisingly, the record flopped and the label suggested that she switch to secular music. When she refused, she was dropped and spent seven years away from the studio in the prime of her life. This put a strain on her new marriage, ultimately ending in divorce.

Though not overnight Jackson’s life made a significant change. In the late 1940s she signed on to the small Apollo Records label and recorded the smash hit, “Move On Up a Little Higher.” The song would go on to sell more than 8 million copies. Jackson would later sing at the White House, Buckingham Palace and Carnegie Hall. She also played alongside Duke Ellington at the Newport Jazz Festival. At one point she turned down a $25,000 offer to play in Las Vegas. For someone who once sang for pennies this proves her conviction to her faith.

In 1962 Mahalia Jackson was awarded the first Grammy for Gospel, a category created specifically to honor her work.

Jackson’s humble spirit gave her a higher calling in the Civil Rights Movement. It

started when the Rev. Ralph Abernathy asked her to sing to help jailed civil rights activists including Rosa Parks and his mentee the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. King would call Jackson directly for song, planning and prayer. She was personally invited to sing at the 1963 March on Washington by King and was asked to encore.

Though Jackson was wealthy and could have stayed on tour, she rather chose to raise money throughout the South for the cause of civil rights, regularly singing for free. King asked Mahalia to sing at his funeral if he was to be taken away before her, and unfortunately. she had to make good on her agreement in 1968 upon his assassination.

Though Mahalia Jackson amassed great wealth, with an estate worth of $4 million dollars upon her death in 1972, she always kept her faith and her people first.

“What can we do but help each other, help humanity?

God don’t need nothing but for us to love each other and help each other. If I see a wino in the street, I’m not too proud to speak. You’ve got to learn to show kindness to those that feel that nobody cares about ‘em.”

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Insight News • March 4, 2019 - March 17, 2019 • Page 7

‘Cuba’ now playing at the Omnitheater

CONTR ATIEMPO: “Cuba”

Cubans cherish the American cars from before the famous trade embargo of the 1960s. They can’t get the original parts, so they rely on ingenuity. Somehow they keep sixty-thousand old cars running in Havana alone.

The Omnitheater, 120 W. Kellogg Blvd., St. Paul, has been taking viewers to places they’ve never seen before more than 40 years.

That tradition continues with “Cuba” at the Science Museum of Minnesota. In this giant screen journey to our once-mysterious southern neighbor, viewers will see the resilience and determination of a remarkable island nation through the eyes of a historian, a ballerina and a team of scientists.

Head south to meet the people who are committed to restoring Cuba’s rich architectural heritage, which dates back to the 16th century. Meet a student at the Cuban National Ballet School, the largest ballet school in the world. And dive deep into Cuba’s coral reefs, which are the healthiest of any Caribbean nation, with a team of marine biologists. What is it about the island’s history that contributes to this environmental success story?

Through historic photography and modernday giant screen footage, this new film will lift the veil on this world unto itself – a rarely-seen nation of history, art, and science.

Admission to “Cuba” is $9.95 for adults and $8.95 for kids ages 4 to 12 and seniors (combination exhibit gallery and Omnitheater admission is also available).

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Page 8 • March 4, 2019 - March 17, 2019 • Insight News

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