January 13, 2022 - MN Spokesman-Recorder

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Read more about the legacy of Sidney Poitier on page 3.

THE VOICE OF BLACK MINNESOTA SINCE 1934

January 13-19, 2022

Vol. 88

www.spokesman-recorder.com

No. 24

MLK in 2022 Has the hour yet come

FIGHTER WITH A BIG HEART

to get rid of racism?

By Charles Hallman Contributing Writer

T

he Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday, the third Monday in January, became an annual observance in 1986, three years after it was approved as a federal holiday. One of the holiday’s annual gifts is the opportunity it allows for reflection on Dr. King’s life and legacy, his continued relevance to our own times, and the guidance he still offers to help us navigate the ever-changing landscape of our world.

Activist, journalist, MSR stalwart Mel Reeves passes at age 64

Dr. King spent most of his adult life speaking boldly, demanding in a nonviolent fashion the need for societal change domestically and worldwide. In his last Sunday sermon, “Remaining Awake Through a Great Revolution,” at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. on March 31, 1968, he preached, “It is an unhappy truth that racism is a way of life for the vast majority of White Americans, spoken and unspoken; acknowledged and denied; subtle and sometimes not so subtle.

By MSR Staff

I

“The hour has come for everybody, for all institutions of the public sector and the private sector, to work to get rid of racism,” said King, whose pulpit appearance came a couple of weeks before his death in Memphis.

■ See MLK on page 5

REVITALIZING

a historical Black presence Imagine a ‘resiliency hub’ for healing and health

SECOND OF A THREE-PART STORY

By Abdi Mohamed Contributing Writer Last week we introduced the eight Minneapolis cultural districts that city leaders hope can help restore what was lost in the destruction following the police murder of George Floyd.

This week continues a close look at one of these districts, the 38th Street Corridor.

Anthony Taylor has been a part of discussions with city leaders to help restore the 38th Street Corridor’s history through new development. His mother is Atum Azzahir, chief executive officer of the Cultural Wellness Center.

The Cultural Wellness Center plays a significant role in the district’s future as its leaders and City representatives plan to create a business hub called Dreamland on 38th to “provide cultural healing through culinary heritage.” It’s named in honor of the

T IS WITH DEEP SADNESS that we announce that Mel Reeves, MSR community editor, passed away on Jan. 6, 2022 due to complications from COVID-19. He was 64.

Reeves described himself as a political and human rights activist, journalist, commentary writer and organizer.

A native of Miami, Florida, Reeves arrived in Minneapolis after attending college in Iowa. He was a presence on the Twin Cities journalism scene for more than 20 years, covering the news with an activist’s passion and perspective.

“Mel was a true champion for justice. Thinking about his life and his legacy brings a smile to my face even in the midst of mourning his loss of life. I considered him a friend, a brother, and a comrade in the fight for justice,” said his fellow activist and civil rights attorney Nekima Levy Armstrong.

Even after he was hospitalized at HCMC in December, Reeves continued to write and report on topics ranging from new COVID-19 protocols to coverage of the inaugural George Floyd Memorial Classic. His timely end-of-the-year roundup appeared on Dec. 30.

“Mel was a writing machine; it just poured out of him,” said Jerry Freeman, MSR’s senior editor and a colleague since the mid-1990s. “He always had an intelligent, conscientious, well-thought-out understanding of what was happening. And a passion to express it as best he could.

“He was a fighter for justice who cared about the underdog, always thinking about who we need to stand up for. He had ■ See REEVES on page 5

Photo courtesy of Google Street View Dreamland Café, one of the first businesses house the administrative offices of the Culin the neighborhood, owned and operated tural Wellness Center and include a space by serial entrepreneur Anthony B. Cassius, for community meetings and events.

Cassius created a space on the South For Taylor, Dreamland on 38th is just one Side that welcomed outside travelers and part of the development needed along the entertainers who weren’t able to stay, eat or corridor. “We believe all of this has to be perform in downtown Minneapolis. Taylor tied together,” Taylor said. “It is all a part and other stakeholders hope to continue of a collaborative development effort to use that legacy at this proposed property on culture and particularly focus on African 38th and 3rd by developing the Dreamland American culture as a legacy culture and Co-Café as a space for food entrepreneurs developing the corridor with a commitment to work and serve customers. It will also ■ See DISTRICTS on page 5

Mel Reeves writing in his office at the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder back in the mid-1990s.

Photos by Travis Lee

Minneapolis hospitals juggle rising cases, staff shortages amid omicron wave

By Niara Savage Contributing Writer Minneapolis hospitals are managing an onslaught of coronavirus cases while juggling staff shortages as the omicron variant rampages across the U.S. In Hennepin County, the 14-day case rate—number of residents per 10,000 people testing positive for COVID-19 in a two-week period—is the highest it’s been since July of 2020.

John Smyrski, physician and vice president of medical affairs at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis, said the current spike is partly fueled by holiday gettogethers.

He said case numbers typically start trending upward 10 days to two weeks after large gatherings.

While data show that the omicron variant may be less likely to cause severe illness than other versions of the virus, Smyrski warns that

increased transmissibility of the new variant could make it just as dangerous on a large scale.

“Even if a smaller percentage of the total cases are severe, the absolute number of cases that are severe is going up,” he said.

Lorena Garcia, epidemiologist and professor at the Department of Public Health Sciences at the University of California, Davis, said omicron’s high transmissibility may be a result of its viral load.

“The viral load is much higher in omicron, which means that someone infected with the omicron variant is more infectious than someone infected with the delta variant,” Garcia said.

The Centers for Disease Control estimated in early January that the omicron variant now accounts for about 95% of all coronavirus cases across the country.

But vaccines, although less effective against the omicron variant, are

“As soon as a patient discharges, another one is ready to go into that bed as soon as we can clean it.”

Photo courtesy of MGN largely keeping Minnesotans who we can clean it,” he said.

Hospitals in the healthcare system got the jab out of intensive care units.

By late December, about 85% of are combating staff shortages while those in intensive care and positive facing the wave of cases. “We’ve for coronavirus across Allina Health’s got staff that are working additional hours. They’re pulling second shifts.

12 hospitals were unvaccinated.

Most patients on ventilators dur- They’re coming in on their days off to ing that time were also unvaccinated. work,” Smyrski said.

Some staff members are frusStatewide, 67% of Minnesotans aged five and up are fully vaccinated. trated to see unvaccinated patients The demand for care is so high, become critically ill or die of a Smyrski said patients are waiting in “potentially preventable” coronavirus emergency departments for inpa- infection, he said.

Finding trained nurses and respitient beds to open up. “As soon as a patient discharges, another one is ratory therapists, and other health ready to go into that bed as soon as care workers to help fill the gap in

need isn’t easy, Smyrski said. The shortage of nurses is a national issue.

The American Association of International Healthcare Recruitment reported in September that more than 5,000 international nurses are awaiting final visa approval to work in the U.S. Cases in children are also on the rise in Minneapolis, said Joe Kurland, vaccine specialist and infection preventionist at Children’s Minnesota.

The hospital couldn’t provide data about the share of cases caused by the omicron variant, but Kurland predicts the rate is likely in line with the CDC’s nationwide estimate.

Most kids are still faring pretty well amid the latest wave, Kurland said, but “there is still the occasional child that will come in and require oxygen support and other levels of care.” He said he’s seen the age of kids impacted by the virus trend younger. “What this might be is, as we have more older kids getting vaccinated, the ages of susceptible kids are a little younger,” Kurland said.

Children aged five and older are eligible to receive Pfizer-BioNTech’s ■ See HOSPITALS on page 5

2 January 13-19, 2022

Opinion Martin Luther King Jr., a union man

By Peter Cole

The Big Truth The big problem is the Big Lie

By Ben Jealous It’s been more than a year since a mob of Trumpists violently attacked the U.S. Capitol. They wanted to stop Congress from affirming President Joe Biden’s victory. Some of them were out for blood. All of them were motivated by the former president’s Big Lie that he won the election but his victory was stolen from him and his supporters.

That lie has been debunked by journalists and election officials—both Republicans and Democrats. It has been rejected by courts. But it has never been abandoned by Trump or his right-wing allies.

will give them the power to oversee future elections.

Donald Trump would love to go into the 2024 elections knowing that he has loyal Trumpists in place to reject or “find” as many votes as he needs to declare victory. That’s why Trump has endorsed the effort by Rep. Jody Hice to replace Georgia’s Republican secretary of state Brad Raffensperger.

Raffensperger refused to embrace the Big Lie, stood up to Trump’s bullying, and respected the will of the voters.

Hice has promoted the Big Lie. That’s the kind of guy Trump wants deciding which votes to count—and not count—in 2024.

“Our democracy is in peril and time is running out.”

And so, one year after it fueled an attack on Congress and the Constitution, the Big Lie is still a big threat to our democracy. The Big Lie causes big harm in lots of ways by fueling anger and mistrust about our elections among Trump’s base.

Many if not most Republican officials know that Trump’s Big Lie is not true. But they are cynical and corrupt enough to use it to justify new voter suppression laws and other schemes to overturn the will of the voters. Far-right activists have harassed and threatened election officials across the country. And they are trying to get elected to state and local positions that

Trump has endorsed other secretary of state candidates, and his political henchman Steve Bannon is encouraging Trumpists to try to replace election officials at the local level. Meanwhile, state legislators are making it easier for partisan Republicans in state legislatures to mess with vote counting by taking control from local officials—and even to simply override the will of the voters.

That is why we urgently need new federal voting rights legislation—and why we need senators and President Biden to work together to overcome “states’ rights” Republicans and their use of filibuster

rules to block the Freedom to Vote Act and John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. Both pieces of legislation take on both voter suppression and election subversion.

The John Lewis Act would make it illegal for a public official to “willfully fail or refuse to certify” an election victory by the candidate who gets the most votes. The Freedom to Vote Act only allows local election administrators to be removed by the state if they have a legitimate cause to do so.

As Sen. Raphael Warnock said on Jan. 4, “Our democracy is in peril and time is running out. This is a moral moment,” Sen. Warnock said. Indeed it is.

There’s also another moral duty facing our elected leaders. And that’s finding out the truth about the Capitol insurrection and those who incited it, planned it, facilitated it, and have since tried to downplay or cover-up that assault on our democracy. Criminals need to be held accountable for their crimes—and not just those who smashed windows and attacked Capitol police.

Republicans love to talk tough about the rule of law, but now many of them are resisting the rule of law by trying to undermine and obstruct the House committee investigating the insurrection.

And they’re trying to rewrite history, downplaying the violence and portraying its perpetrators as patriots.

The problem for them is that the violent reality of that day has been well documented.

The same is true for other casualties of the Big Lie, including harassment and threats against election officials.

The Big Lie and all those who have spread it have created a dangerous reality in which millions of Americans falsely believe that President Joe Biden’s election was illegitimate and that Donald Trump should still be our president. And that makes them more willing to determine the outcome of elections through violence or the raw exercise of power.

In the year ahead, we need to defend democracy by answering the Big Lie with the truth, and by acting to defend our democracy at the ballot box.

Ben Jealous serves as president of People For the American Way and professor of practice in the Africana Studies Department at the University of Pennsylvania where he teaches leadership. In 2008 he was chosen as the youngest-ever president and CEO of the NAACP. He is a graduate of Columbia University and Oxford, where he was a Rhodes Scholar, and he has taught at Princeton and the University of Pennsylvania.

If Martin Luther King Jr. still lived, he’d probably tell people to join unions.

King understood racial equality was inextricably linked to economics. He asked, “What good does it do to be able to eat at a lunch counter if you can’t buy a hamburger?”

Those disadvantages have persisted. Today, for instance, the wealth of the average White family is more than 20 times that of a Black one.

King’s solution was unionism.

Convergence of needs In 1961, King spoke before the AFL-CIO, the nation’s largest and most powerful labor organization, to explain why he felt unions were essential to civil rights progress. “Negroes are almost entirely a working people,” he said.

“Our needs are identical with labor’s needs—decent wages, fair working conditions, livable housing, old age security, health and welfare measures, conditions in which families can grow, have education for their children and respect in the community.”

ILWU Local 10 represented workers who loaded and unloaded cargo from ships throughout San Francisco Bay’s waterfront. Its members’ commitment to racial equality may be as surprising as it is unknown.

In 1967, the year before his murder, King visited ILWU Local 10 to see what interracial unionism looked like.

King met with these unionists at their hall in a then-thriving, portside neighborhood—now a gentrified tourist area best known for Fisherman’s Wharf, Pier 39.

Civil rights on the waterfront Dockworkers had suffered for decades from a hiring system compared to a “slave auction.” Once hired, they routinely worked 24 to 36 hour shifts, experienced among the highest rates of injury and death of any job, and endured abusive bosses. And they did so for incredibly low wages.

In 1934, San Francisco longshoremen—who were non-union since employers had crushed their union in 1919—reorganized and led a coast-wide “Big Strike.” In the throes of the Great Depression, these increasingly militant and radicalized dock workers walked off the job.

After 83 days on strike, they won a huge victory: wage increases, a coast-wide contract, and union-controlled hiring

the Bay Area, and made sure the handful of Black dockworkers would not cross picket lines as replacement workers.

Bridges promised they would get a fair deal in the new union.

One of the union’s first moves after the strike was integrating work gangs that previously had been segregated.

Overcoming pervasive discrimination Cleophas Williams, a Black man originally from Arkansas, was among those who got into Local 10 in 1944. He belonged to a wave of African Americans who, due to the massive labor shortage caused by World War II, fled the racism and discriminatory laws of the Jim Crow South for better lives—and better jobs—outside of it.

Hundreds of thousands of

“We’ve learned from labor the meaning of power.” halls. Soon, these “wharf rats,” among the region’s poorest and most exploited workers, became “lords of the docks,” commanding the highest wages and best conditions of any blue-collar worker in the region.

At its inception, Local 10’s membership was 99% White.

But Harry Bridges, the union’s charismatic leader, joined with fellow union radicals to commit to racial equality in its ranks. Originally from Australia, Bridges started working on the San Francisco waterfront in the early 1920s. It was during the Big Strike that he emerged as a leader.

Bridges coordinated during the strike with C.L. Dellums, the leading Black unionist in

Blacks moved to the Bay Area, and tens of thousands found jobs in the booming shipbuilding industry. Black workers in shipbuilding experienced pervasive discrimination. Employers shunted them off into less attractive jobs and paid them less. Similarly, the main shipbuilders’ union proved hostile to Black workers who, when allowed in, were placed in segregated locals.

A few thousand Black men, including Williams, were hired as longshoremen during the war. He later recalled to historian Harvey Schwartz: “When I first came on the waterfront, many Black workers felt that Local 10 was a utopia.”

■ See MLK Jr. on page 4

Support Nikole Hannah-Jones and the 1619 Project

By Oscar H. Blayton Most folks in Black and Brown communities have heard of The 1619 Project that was published by the New York Times Magazine in 2019. This important and ambitious project, led by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones, pulled back the curtain of euphemistic rhetoric composing American historiography that points only to the good in our history and sweeps under the rug the evil deeds perpetrated against people of color for more than 400 years.

The 1619 Project sought only to do one thing—start an honest conversation about how toxic attitudes about race have shaped this nation’s past and made America the country it is today. For her effort and her scholarship and her truth-telling, Hannah-Jones has been subjected to foaming-at-the-mouth attacks by conservative politicians and right-wing pundits.

These racially motivated jingoists have stirred The 1619 Project into the witches’ brew of grievance politics and created a screaming mob of frightened White people who fear that an open discussion of America’s history will take something away from them. They want to wage war against anyone who dares to reveal America’s true history.

This is a battle for the truth, and Hannah-Jones and the people who developed The

1619 Project should not be left to fight this battle alone. We all must arm ourselves with the knowledge of the truth and enter the fray. It is our duty. And I would like to play my part by pointing out some truth about American history.

Some of the loudest howling from the American White Supremacists against The 1619 Project has been to denounce the statement that one of the principal factors driving the American Revolution was the fear that Britain would bring an end to slavery in the colonies. With wildeyed frenzy, conservative commentators argue, “How could such noblemen as our founding fathers be motivated by such a low-down motive?”

But given the fact that Washington, Jefferson, Madison, and Monroe—four of the first presidents of the United States and participants in the Revolution—were slaveholders, it is clear that these screeching conservatives are attempting to obfuscate historical facts to prevent an open and critical examination of the issue.

There are numerous historical data points that can be examined regarding the causes of the American Revolution, enough to fill books comprising a large library. But the examination and consideration of a few facts will corroborate what the project has said about the relationship between slavery and the Ameri-

can Revolution. It was clear from these events that Britain would not long abide slavery in its possessions overseas.

The repugnancy clause in colonial charters, coupled with the Declaratory Act and the decision in the Somerset case, threatened economic doom for the colonists, especially southerners. Almost all the wealth in the southern colonies was created by slave labor. The only reason White enslavers had so much wealth was because enslaved Blacks had none.

The handwriting was on the wall. Southern planters, as well as northern slaveholders, would not be able to hold onto their slaves for more than a generation or two. America would become a very different place without slavery. Rather than have that happen, the colonists went to war.

These are facts White Supremacists and their rightwing pundits do not want you to know. But these facts are not hard to confirm. Books that speak to these facts are in libraries and online. We must arm ourselves with the facts and use them to battle for truth. We cannot let Nikole Hannah-Jones and The 1619 Project fight this fight alone.

Oscar H. Blayton is a former Marine Corps combat pilot and human rights activist who practices law in Virginia. His earlier commentaries may be found at oblayton1.medium.com.

January 13-19, 2022

Arts & Culture

3

MN Black museum’s artists-in-residence show their works The Minnesota African American Heritage Museum and Gallery (MAAHMG) opened its 2022 exhibit schedule with new works from artists Kehayr Brown-Ransaw and seangarrison. The artwork was created during their artistin-residency with MAAHMG. The exhibits will be on display from January 4 to June 30, 2022 at the museum located at 1256 Penn Avenue N., Minneapolis.

Brown-Ransaw’s exhibit “to have never known” is a presentation of quilts created by Brown-Ransaw based on his research about the trans-Atlantic slave trade that revealed the names of 43,191 children abducted and illegally sold into slavery from 1807-1870.

During enslavement, Black and African communities in the U.S. largely documented themselves through quilting and various folk-art crafts. As communities assimilated to Whiteness, these traditions

American existence and experience in America. The paintings and prose created by seangarrison reflect pain, anger, joy and love with the intent to both agitate and allow us to breathe from the “heaviness” of it all.

Hartman and Noah LawrenceHolder, whose exhibits will be shown July 5 to December 30, 2022. The artist residents each received a $14,000 stipend to be used for supplies, materials, research, design and other activities or items necessary to create new works during the residency.

The Artist-In-Residence program is designed to give support, opportunity and exposure to Black artists working in Minnesota to create new works exploring Black history, art and culture. Funding for the Artist-In-Residence program was provided by a grant from the Transformative Black-Led Movement Fund by Nexus Community Partners and Black Visions Collective, a donation from the Eulysses and Janet Aiken Fund (Ta’coumba Aiken), and a donation from Seitu Jones.

View and post-view There are two ways to view the exhibit to get a full meaning. The “view” is what you initially see and have a visceral reaction to. The “post-view” occurs after you decode the iconography embedded prose within the artwork.

The intent is to encourage people to listen to the art by bringing the viewer deeper into the works beyond a visual Visuals from seangarrison’s “Abstracproseality: Visual Notations from Dark to Light” exhibit and understanding, and to “aggraKehayr Brown-Ransaw’s “to have never known.”

Photos courtesy of MAAHMG vate to motivate” people to action or to simply allow their seangarrison’s exhibit “Ab- soul to smile in agreement. transformed into necessary its historical context, both Brown-Ransaw and seanfrom its use as currency by stracproseality: Visual Notameans for survival.

Interpreting census re- enslaved women to gain ac- tions from Dark to Light” is an garrison are two of the four Artist-In-Resisearch into visual language, cess to White society, and its exhibit of acrylic paintings and MAAHMG —Information this work uses the life cycle use as a shroud for children in mixed media that documents dence. The other artists in various aspects of the African the program are Maiya Lea MAAHMG. of a quilt as a meditation on both life and death.

provided

by

Sidney Poitier represented the Civil Rights Movement on screen

By Aram Goudsouzia Contributing Writer

symbolism. In many ways, his screen life intertwined with that of the Civil Rights MoveIn the summer of 1967, ment—and King himself.

Martin Luther King Jr. introduced the keynote speaker for An age of protests In three separate columns the 10th-anniversary convention banquet of the Southern in 1957, 1961 and 1962, a Christian Leadership Confer- New York Daily News columence. Their guest, he said, was nist named Dorothy Masters marveled that Poitier had the his “soul brother.”

“He has carved for himself warmth and charisma of a minan imperishable niche in the ister. Poitier lent his name and annals of our nation’s his- resources to King’s causes, and tory,” King told the audience he participated in demonstraof 2,000 delegates. “I consider tions such as the 1957 Prayer him a friend. I consider him a Pilgrimage and the 1963 March on Washington. great friend of humanity.”

In this era of sit-ins, FreeThat man was Sidney Poitier.

Poitier, who died at 94 on dom Rides and mass marches, Jan. 7, 2021, broke the mold activists engaged in nonvioof what a Black actor could lent sacrifice not only to highbe in Hollywood. Before the light racist oppression, but 1950s, Black movie characters also to win broader sympathy generally reflected racist ste- for the cause of civil rights.

In that same vein, Poitier reotypes such as lazy servants and beefy mammies. Then deliberately chose to porcame Poitier, the only Black tray characters who radiated man to consistently win lead- goodness. They had decent ing roles in major films from values and helped White charthe late 1950s through the acters, and they often sacrificed themselves. He earned late 1960s.

President Barack Obama presents Academy Award-winning actor Sidney Poitier with the Medal of Freedom in 2009.

Photos Getty Images

Sidney Poitier Baldwin reported seeing the film on Broadway, where White audiences clapped with reassurance, their racial guilt alleviated. When he saw it again in Harlem, members of the predominantly Black audience yelled, “Get back on the train, you fool!”

King won the Nobel Peace

as he was the only Black leading man, he insisted on playing the same kind of hero. But in the era of Black Power, had Poitier’s saintly hero become another stereotype? His rage was repressed, his sexuality stifled. A Black critic, writing in The New York Times, asked, A better man By the time of the actor’s “Why Does White America Southern Christian Leader- Love Sidney Poitier So?” That critic had a point: As ship Conference speech, both King and Poitier seemed to have a slipping grip on the American public. Bloody and destructive riots plagued the nation’s cities, reflecting the enduring discontent of many poor African Americans. The swelling calls for “Black Power” challenged the ideals of nonviolence and racial brotherhood—ideals associated with both King and Poitier.

When Poitier stepped to the lectern that evening, he lamented the “greed, selfish- Poitier himself knew, his films ness, indifference to the suf- created too-perfect characfering of others, corruption of ters. Although the films alour value system, and a moral lowed White audiences to deterioration that has already appreciate a Black man, they scarred our souls irrevocably… also implied that racial equalOn my bad days,” he said, “I ity depends on such excepam guilty of suspecting that tional characters, stripped of there is a national death wish.” any racial baggage.

From late 1967 into early By the late 1960s, both King and Poitier had reached 1968, three of Poitier’s movies a crossroads. Federal legis- owned the top spot at the box lation was dismantling Jim office, and a poll ranked him Crow in the South, but African the most bankable star in HolAmericans still suffered from lywood. Each film provided a hero who soothed the liberal limited opportunity. center. “I try to make movies about the dignity, nobility, the Exceptional characters Poitier tried to adhere to magnificence of human life,” his own convictions. As long he insisted. movie was a surprise hit. In its own way, like the horrifying footage of water hoses and police dogs attacking civil rights activists, it fostered swelling support for racial integration.

“On my bad days I am guilty of suspecting that there is a national death wish.”

Sidney Poitier, Katherine Houghton and Spencer Tracy in the 1967 film “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner.”

Like King, Poitier projected ideals of respectability and integrity. He attracted not only the loyalty of African Americans, but also the goodwill of White liberals.

The most fascinating aspect of Poitier’s career, to me, was his political and racial

his first star billing in 1958, in Prize in 1964. In that same “The Defiant Ones,” in which year, Poitier won the Oscar he played an escaped prisoner for Best Actor for “Lilies of handcuffed to a racist played the Field,” in which he played

by Tony Curtis.

Homer Smith, a traveling At the end, with the chain handyman who builds a chaunbound, Poitier jumps off pel for German nuns out of a train to stick with his new the goodness of his heart.

White friend. Writer James The sweet, low-budget

Intertwined lives And then, the lives of Martin Luther King Jr. and Sidney Poitier intersected one final time. After King’s assassination on April 4, 1968, Poitier was a stand-in for the ideal that King embodied.

When he presented at the Academy Awards years earlier, Poitier won a massive ovation.

“In the Heat of the Night” and “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner” captured most of the major awards. Hollywood again dealt with the nation’s racial upheaval through Poitier movies.

But after King’s violent murder, the Poitier icon no longer captured the national mood.

In the 1970s, a generation of “Blaxploitation” films featured violent, sexually charged heroes.

They were a reaction against the image of a Black leading man associated with Poitier. Although his career evolved, Poitier was no longer a superstar, and he no longer bore the burden of representing the Black freedom movement.

Yet for a generation he had served as popular culture’s preeminent expression of the ideals of Martin Luther King.

Aram Goudsouzian is the Bizot Family professor of history at the University of Memphis.

This article is republished with permission from The Conversation and was edited for space in print.

4 January 13-19, 2022

Health & Wellness

Cultivating a year filled with better tomorrows

Dr. Dionne Hart Guest Contributor

months the number of people at the gym dwindles.

The gym dropouts are not alone. Historically, only 30% of individuals achieve or partially achieve their resolutions.

Why? Oftentimes, the resolutions require drastic or unsustainable changes. For years, I made annual resolutions that I never kept. At one point, I just began striking out the old calendar year and replacing it with the new year.

So, why am I among the almost 75% of Americans who continue this annual tradition?

Is there a way to make lofty goals more attainable and, more importantly, add meaning to our lives?

New Year’s weekend is a time of year for both reflections and planning. Often, we find ourselves making promises, pledges, goals or resolutions to make changes, particularly with regards to our health.

An estimated 74.2% of Americans made resolutions in 2021. The top six categories were related to money, career, family, love, health and self-improvement.

Healthrelated resolutions were at the top of the list. This is not a surprising fact given the world is currently living with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Resolutions are regularly made and broken. In fact, anyone who has visited a gym during the month of January is a witness to the increased number of patrons, yet by spring in just a couple of

Tips for achieving goals First, why make resolutions?

Resolutions reflect hope and a desire to improve our lives, most frequently our health status. Resolutions are a tool meant to motivate. So, this column will give the reader a few tips to achieve your goals.

To begin, resist repeating goals that you’ve failed to achieve in the past. Do not make vague resolutions such as getting healthy or drastic goals like fitting into the outfit I wore to prom 20 years ago.

From the start it is important to set yourself up for success.

Second, how do you plan for success? I challenge readers to reflect on the last year. For some MSR readers, 2021 was the best year of your life, for others the worst, and for most it was somewhere in between.

Look at your journal, diary, or a calendar. Review your activities for each month. Take a few notes, then write down at least three of your achievements or best moments. What about these moments brought you joy? What about these moments improved your health, lifestyle, or daily function?

When making your list, avoid the temptation to make it based on others’ perspectives. It should be about your joy. For example, your list may include getting dressed and showering regularly when you were isolated, unemployed, or telecommuting. This exercise is only about your self-care journey and your definition of joy.

Next, complete the same exercise but this time focus on your three lowest points.

How did these events or changes challenge you? What were the lessons learned?

How can what you learned assist you in avoiding similar challenges? Were these challenges representative of your complete growth, or are they areas where you should continue to focus your energy?

Finally, use this information to make small specific goals that build upon last year’s gains. After making your goals, write down your strategy. Next, consider how you will track your progress and respond to unexpected barriers to success.

Then, mull over who will assist you in being accountable.

You and your accountability partner should review your

Physicians support mask mandates in Mpls., St. Paul The Minnesota Medical Association, on behalf of its 11,000 physician, resident, and medical student members, fully supports the decisions by Minneapolis and St. Paul to re-institute mandatory mask use while indoors.

We urge other communities to consider similar actions.

Wearing well-fitted masks is a

valuable strategy in our ongoing fight to slow the spread of COVID-19 and the highly contagious omicron variant.

The best defense against COVID-19 and serious complications remains vaccination and boosters. Well-fitted masks, social distancing, washing your hands, staying home when you’re sick, and

getting tested if you have symptoms offer additional protection.

These are all ways that Minnesotans can practice good health and demonstrate support for the thousands of the state’s healthcare workers who continue to selflessly care for patients on the front lines.

Health insurance for every Minnesota story

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progress at regular intervals.

Finally, take time to celebrate your gains throughout the year.

Share this news with others who will aid you in staying motivated; it will give you an opportunity to inspire others.

To say the least, the last two-plus years brought unprecedented challenges in all aspects of our lives. These challenges have led to division, unrest, and loss, but they are also opportunities for healing, growth and resilience.

MLK Jr.

Medical Association’s Minority Affairs Section and the first Black woman elected to the Minnesota Medical Association’s Board of Trustees. She is a past Minnesota Psychiatrist of the Year. In 2020, the Minnesota Physician journal named her one of the 100 most influential healthcare leaders in Minnesota. She is the president Dr. Dionne Hart special- of the Minnesota Association izes in psychiatry and addic- of African American Physicians tion medicine. She was the in- and Region 4 chairperson of the augural chair of the American National Medical Association.

Maya Angelou said, “I’ve learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life goes on, and it will be better tomorrow.” Dr. Angelou’s words embrace optimism and hope. In that spirit, I wish all Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder readers a year filled with better tomorrows.

broken strikes and destroyed unions by playing workers of different ethnicities, genders, Continued from page 2 nationalities and races against During the war, when each other.

White foremen and military For instance, when officers hurled racist epithets 350,000 workers went out at Black longshoremen, this during the mammoth Steel union defended them. Black Strike of 1919, employers members received equal pay brought in tens of thousands and were dispatched the of African Americans to work same as all others. as replacements.

For Williams, this union Some Black dock workers was a revelation. Literally the also were socialists. Paul Robefirst White people he ever son, the globally famous singer, met who opposed White actor and left-wing activist, Supremacy belonged to Lo- had several friends, fellow socal 10. These longshoremen cialists, in Local 10. Robeson were not simply anti-racists, was made an honorary ILWU they were communists and member during WWII. socialists as well.

Leftist unions like the ILWU Martin Luther King, union embraced Black workers be- member cause, reflecting their ideolIn 1967, King walked in ogy, they contended workers Robeson’s footsteps when were stronger when united. he was inducted into Local They also knew that, count- 10 as an honorary member, less times, employers had the same year Williams

became the first Black person elected president of Local 10. By that year, roughly half of its members were African American.

King addressed these dockworkers, declaring, “I don’t feel like a stranger here in the midst of the ILWU. We have been strengthened and energized by the support you have given to our struggles… We’ve learned from labor the meaning of power.”

Many years later, Williams discussed King’s speech with me: “He talked about the economics of discrimination…

What he said is what Bridges had been saying all along,” about workers benefiting by attacking racism and forming interracial unions.

Eight months later, in Memphis to organize a union, King was assassinated.

The day after his death, longshoremen shut down the ports of San Francisco and Oakland, as they still do when one of their own dies on the job. Nine ILWU members attended King’s funeral in Atlanta, including Bridges and Williams, honoring the man who called unions “the first anti-poverty program.”

Peter Cole is a professor of history at the Western Illinois University.

This story was republished with permission from The Conversation.

January 13-19, 2022

MLK

disparities. They’re the same them and take lessons from disparities and inequalities Dr. what they experienced.”

King was speaking about more Meka Morris, Minnesota Twins than a half-century ago.”

Continued from page 1 executive vice president and chief revenue officer: Tru Pettigrew, Minnesota “Dr. King stood firm on nonNow, several decades later, Timberwolves and Lynx chief the killings of Ahmaud Albury, diversity and inclusion officer: violent protests. The global “I believe Dr. King understood pandemic has given us all the George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and other Black Americans became the center point of the “We ought to prioritize learning and teaching 2020 racial justice protests in the aspects of Dr. King’s philosophy that the midst of a global pandemic made people who were comfortable with the that has now gone on for over two years. The weeks of racial status quo uncomfortable.” reckoning have seemed to bring this country no closer to that change itself is inevitable opportunity to slow down, be Dr. King’s ultimate vision than but the change that we seek is still, and really think about our when he first presented it over not. Whether it has been social, personal fulfillment, balance, political, environmental, societal and the communities we serve.

50 years ago.

Do his words, life and leg- or otherwise… Those changes, This stillness, juxtaposed with acy have any relevance to our however, will not simply roll in the widespread social unrest, current times, especially when on the wheels of inevitability. has brought forth a culture of we are facing widespread We need to all be intentional activism in new and exciting social unrest in the midst of about influencing the change ways, and has inspired our youth to take action and recognize the a still-raging pandemic? The that we seek.” impact each one of us can make.

MSR asked several individuals This speaks to the very spirit of of various walks of life to help American University Law what Dr. King was all about.”

Professor Angi Porter: us reflect on this question.

“In this age of disinformation and limited attention span, we Brandi A. Hodge, HR professional, Minnesota Lt. Governor really need to focus on and Daytona Beach, Fla.: Peggy Flanagan: “With the pandemic and “The work that Dr. King calls study the lives, thinking and us to do is still ahead of us. strategies of people like Dr. King, social unrest, some Americans The COVID-19 pandemic has who contributed to various are questioning if the efforts of exposed and exacerbated the movements that cared about Dr. King have been forgotten deep racial and economic dis- these very old but very enduring or simply in vain. With the outparities that many of our Black, issues that we are still fighting cry for justice, Dr. King’s spirit Native and neighbors of color today. Instead of reinventing was in full effect during 2020 face, but it did not create these the wheel, we should learn from with the COVID-19 pandemic

Reeves

former colleague Larry Fitzgersome remarkable things.”

Reeves was known among ald, sports journalist and MSR readers for his popular president of the National Pro“Mellaneous” blog and column, gramming Network. Fitzgerald Continued from page 1 which was his take on the urgent praised Reeves for digging public policies, politics, and com- into stories that were “missed munity matters of the day. The or ignored” by other media a fine-tuned sense of fairness.” commentary allowed Reeves sources.

Mel Reeves Photo by Travis Lee Freeman holds Reeves in to blend his reporting, analysis, high esteem for his personal knowledge, and opinions and sacrifice in service to his values, gave readers the feeling that they his “huge heart,” and the way were getting their own personal he used his platform to shake download from a well-connectthings up. “He was the living ed and fearless source.

Governor Tim Walz offered embodiment of the expression condolences on Twitter: “Mel ‘No justice, no peace.’

“Mel had a nose for what “Decades before the George Reeves left a remarkable legFloyd tragedy, Mel was work- acy. As a journalist, civil rights was unfair, and he was able ing on police violence against activist, and community leader, to expose things that weren’t Black people,” recalled Free- he informed and inspired right. There were many cases man. “And he spent years generations of Minnesotans,” where individuals of color had working on integrating con- tweeted Walz. “I’m terribly been wronged and there was struction trades, pushing to sorry to hear of his passing. no one to stand up for them. get more people of color into Gwen and I will keep his loved He found out what happened and got their stories out there,” these jobs. He made a differ- ones in our prayers.”

“This is a terrible loss. He is Fitzgerald said. ence and used his verbal skills, During the aftermath of the spoken and written, to achieve going to be missed,” said his

and the killing of George Floyd.

America had time to reflect and witness through social media the injustice of a person of color.”

Minnesota Lynx forward Natalie Achonwa: “MLK’s activism and impact continue to inspire and guide the civil rights movements of today. His legacy didn’t stop.

One of my favorite quotes that inspires and motivates me in my own social justice work is, “Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed.”

Our second question was, “What guidance would Dr. King provide in these troubled times?

Dr. Bernadeia Johnson, Minnesota State Mankato assistant educational leadership professor: “His most significant piece of writing was written in a small jail cell in a Birmingham jail 59 years ago. “Letter from a Birmingham Jail” still holds great significance today. I have heard people utter the words, ‘If Dr. King was alive, he would not be (fill in the blanks).’ I say that to understand what Dr. King would think today, read and listen to his words.”

Brandi A. Hodge: “Dr. King was an intelligent George Floyd murder and the Derek Chauvin verdict, national and international journalists and commentators sought Reeves out for his insight. He was also a mentor to young journalists and set a powerful example for them.

“He took a stand and took some hits and blazed a trail for other people to be bold and brave.”

Districts Continued from page 1

to equitable outcomes for all community members.”

As one of the stakeholders on this project, Azzahir shared her belief that the location will serve as a place that would restore the belief that people have in themselves. “I’d like us to have the space that people can talk together, strategize together, eat together, learn together, and teach together,” she said.

Azzahir also hopes to disprove the negative stereotype that Black people face economic disparity because they don’t have the skills and resources within their community to thrive on their own.

“This sense is prevalent that [the reason] Black people don’t have jobs is because they don’t have talented skills that are marketable and valuable enough to sell. Do we know that that’s a lie?”

Kente Circle is another development that is part of the 38th St. Thrive plan. Located on 38th and 4th, Kente Circle is a mental health agency that specializes in individual, couple, family and group therapy.

Roughly three-fourths of their clients are people of color, a

majority of whom reside in Hennepin County and are under the age of 18.

LJ Tucker is a mental health practitioner at Kente Circle who has been involved with the plans to expand their current facility. “Kente’s goal is really to get the community involved and to have healing be a priority,” he said. “We’re expanding our partnerships and also expanding our work outside of talk therapy.”

The proposed space is set to expand by 8,000 square feet to accommodate 25% more staff and nearly double the number of clients served. Kente’s leaders also hope to host internal and external training for 75 to 100 people in the years to come. According to Larry Tucker, CEO of Kente Circle, this effort to grow Kente’s location is a part of the organization’s mission to help meet the increased demand for mental health services.

Kente Circle’s expansion project is a part of the 38th St. Thrive plan to develop a ‘resilience hub’ that will help the local Southside community navigate preventative health and emergency needs along with transportation options.

The Sabathani Community Center, also within the Resilience Hub, has been a part of the development projects along the corridor with a focus

on housing.

Staving off gentrification Sabthani Senior Housing is a 48-unit development on 37th and 3rd Ave. and was developed to meet the needs of seniors to find affordable housing that wasn’t outside of the community. Councilmember Andrea Jenkins said that Sabathani has brought on a property management team and that units are still up for grabs.

One of the major ways of passing down wealth in the United States is through homeownership. According to Minnesota Compass, only 24% of Black households own a home compared to 77% of White households in Minnesota. Though this gap is very large, it wasn’t always so.

“Homeownership in that community by Black families in 1977 was higher than it is today,” Taylor said. As city and community leaders work on solutions, Taylor hopes that the community along the corridor is presented with options that focus on quality housing and not just on affordability.

He said the option to choose a location is important.

“They need to be able to afford to live where they want to, which is different than affordable housing.”

Having recently purchased a home along the corridor,

“Mel wasn’t afraid of the power structure,” said Sheletta Brudgidge, former MSR columnist and founder/owner of the podcast platform ShelettaMakesMeLaugh.com. “He was not a person who went along to get along. He took a stand and took some hits and blazed a trail for other people to be bold and brave.”

Tucker agreed with the sentiment that people want to stay on the South Side so long as they can afford it. “I think it’s even more of a need for this project because there are a lot of long-term residents in this neighborhood who value it and want to see it continue to thrive.

“They don’t want it to be gentrified and have them thrown out,” he said. “I was fortunate, but I think if I were to do that in this time, it would be a lot more difficult.”

The concept of equitable development, a development strategy that ensures that every community member participates and benefits from the economic transformation, is guiding the cultural district’s planning with an anti-displacement strategy in mind. Councilmember Jenkins expressed her desire to stave off gentrification while providing quality housing options to residents in her ward.

“We have to be extremely thoughtful and mindful about gentrification and take every measure that we can to avoid it,” she said, “even in terms of helping people stay in their homes. We want to make sure that we are creating solutions so that we can help homeowners with alternative energy sources to bring down their energy cost.”

5

and thoughtful leader who believed in equal rights for all humans. He would encourage us to keep fighting for the rights of all people and learn to love your neighbor. Dr. King provided us the blueprint. Now it is up to this generation and generations to come to use that and build a better future for all.”

able. I think he’d advise us to follow that trajectory.”

The final on-camera interview with Reeves was from his hospital bed when he talked to WCCO’s Reg Chapman and urged folks to get vaccinated.

While he was hospitalized, he talked to George Hoffman, his friend of 38 years, every day.

“The last time I talked to him, two days before he died, he thought he had beaten it. He thought he was going to get out, but then he was diagnosed with pneumonia,” Hoffman said, his voice breaking with emotion. “He was a person who cared about people. He wanted people to be treated fair. I will miss him.”

Last October, the Racial Justice Network, a grassroots civil rights organization founded by Levy Armstrong, honored Reeves and several other community journalists for their work. “The contributions of community journalists often

go unrecognized,” she said.

“I’m thankful we were able to uplift him, never knowing that would be our last opportunity to do so.”

On January 1, 2022, Reeves shared his gratitude on Facebook for making it to another year. He noted from his hospital bed that he was “overwhelmed” with the outpouring of love shown to him while he was sick.

“I tried to love folks, and it turns out I am here today because folks loved me back,” he wrote. “I never ever want any credit for anything I ever do for anybody else, but I guess I too wanted to be appreciated. I wanted to get my flowers while I could appreciate them. Turns out you all gave them to me.”

Tru Pettigrew: “I believe the guidance and direction that Dr. King would provide us with today…would remind us that although we may have different backgrounds, lived experiences, skin colors, orientations and political views, Meka Morris: we’re all in this thing together. I “I would never assume to believe Dr. King would emphaknow how Dr. King would react size the power and importance to recent events, but what I do of purpose and unity.” know is he would encourage us to all to use our voice, stand up Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan: for what is right, be bullish in our “In my heart, I believe that convictions, and do it all nonvio- Dr. King would still be focused lently.” on the very issue he was working on when he was murdered: Angi Porter: the Poor People’s Campaign.

“I think Dr. King would be There’s so much more to do struck by how sanitized his after two years of some indistory has become. Dominant viduals and big corporations narratives have subsumed him making exorbitant profits during and made him into this Disney a global pandemic. character. Toward the end of There are too many “leaders” his life, Dr. King was starting who pervert Dr. King’s words to think more and more glob- and legacy to fit their own ally. He understood that an even agenda. I think he would be saywider collective was needed to ing the exact same things, and combat the racism and hate that I’m not sure today’s world is one was hurting our people here in that wants to hear it. We must the U.S. keep speaking uncomfortable We ought to prioritize learn- truths.” ing and teaching the aspects of Dr. King’s philosophy that made Charles Hallman welcomes people who were comfortable reader responses to challman@ with the status quo uncomfort- spokesman-recorder.com.

In establishing a cultural district, the City of Minneapolis would work to lessen the racial housing disparity by providing different models of homeownership and wealthbuilding with the help of nonprofit organizations, private foundations, and financial institutions.

The 38th St. Thrive plan details this effort of supporting homeownership through initiatives like the Clarissa Walker’s Homebuyer Club, which would help low- to moderate-income residents navigate the homebuying process in the district and guide them on maintaining the home in the long term.

The Black Heritage Land Trust would help both residents and business owners purchase and preserve their homes and commercial spaces with the goal of “increasing economic security.” Renters are also incorporated in this effort for stabilizing housing through the development of the Tenant Protection Policies in the next two years, which would provide tenants with legal representation and enforce current city ordinances relating to tenants.

Abdi Mohamed welcomes reader responses to amohamed@spokesmanrecorder.com.

Find family and community reflections on Mel Reeves on page 8.

Hospitals Continued from page 1

COVID-19 vaccine. Kurland predicts cases in kids will spike even more in the weeks after students return from winter break. As cases continue to rise, schools across the country pivoted back to online learning at the start of the new year.

Minneapolis Public Schools Superintendent Ed Graff recently wrote a letter to parents urging them to keep children with symptoms home and warning that some schools in the district may switch to online learning if cases rise.

Hennepin Healthcare wrote in a statement to the MSR that some services may be delayed or have longer wait times over the next several weeks. “Like other health care organizations, Hennepin Healthcare is managing operations during a difficult period of staffing challenges due to a variety of reasons, including COVID-19 (exposures, caring for children with the virus, etc.) as well as other influenza-like illnesses,” the statement said.

“We will not speculate on the months ahead, but we will stay apprised of the situation to ensure that we are able to continue to respond to the healthcare needs of our community as efficiently as possible.”

Niara Savage welcomes reader responses to niaraalexandra@gmail.com.

6 January 13-19, 2022

Business

2022 MLK Event Highlights Community Reading: “Letter From A Birmingham Jail” 4 – 5 pm | virtual Enjoy a live community reading of Dr. King’s “Letter from a Birmingham Jail.” Community members will be able to participate in a moderated discussion during the reading using the comments in Facebook. Visit the link below to sign up to be a reader. This event is sponsored by the Duluth Branch of the NAACP and Peace Church and organized by Reverend Jim Mitulski. For more info, go to duluthnaacp.org/mlk

Like last year, many of this year’s events in honor of the enduring legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. will be held virtually due to the ongoing pandemic.

Below, find just a few of the virtual, in-person, and hybrid events to explore and celebrate Dr. King’s legacy and how it still resonates today.

January 15 MLK Everyday 2022 Trust & Healing in the Beloved Community January 15-17 | in-person and virtual 8:30 am – 12 pm St. Cloud State University’s three-day celebration continues this year with multi-day, multigenerational, and hybrid events that raise up the theme “Trust & Healing in the Beloved Community.” All activities take place January 15-17, 2022.

This year’s theme is aimed at providing attendees with tools to create and maintain meaningful relationships even through times when things are uncertain.

The keynote address will be delivered by Dr. Artika Tyner, a passionate educator, author, speaker, and advocate for justice. She is currently at the University of St. Thomas School of Law and is the founding director of the Center on Race, Leadership, and Social Justice. Free. For more info, visit bit.ly/MLKEveryday MLK NOW 2022 10 am - 8 pm @ Minneapolis Convention Center, 1301 2nd Ave. S., Mpls.

Featuring numerous notable local speakers, this event came into fruition after the uprising of George Floyd and a long history of racial disparities for Blacks in Minnesota.

With the goal of changing the socio-economic status of Blacks, BOB Rewards Clubs, which helps Black-owned businesses become more sustainable through business development, is offering forums on topics pertinent to the Black community Free. For more info, go to www.mlknow2022.com

January 16 Sweet Potato Comfort Pie: 8th Annual MLK Holiday Weekend of Service 2 – 4:30 pm | in-person and virtual With the theme of “Character Values: Upholding Our Beloved Community,” the Sweet Potato Comfort Pie program returns once again to demonstrate love through the sharing of pies.

A Zoom event will feature DJ Freesia Towle, the procession of pies, and facilitated story circles to discuss issues of race in America and talk about who the 93 pies will be gifted to.

The 2022 “Batter That Matters Award” recipients are mother/daughter activists Jewelean Jackson and Thandisizwe Jackson-Nisan, Kate Towle, and Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison.

A special story circle dialogue with Alice White, Golden Valley Police Commander; Angela Rose Myers Morales, former president of the NAACP, Minneapolis Branch; Roslyn Harmon, executive director of the Dispute Resolution Center in St. Paul; and students from Breck, Roosevelt and Osseo High Schools.

Registrants will pick up pies at Breck School, 123 Ottawa Ave. N., Golden Valley, MN to be distributed to honorees. Register and find more info at bit.ly/SweetPotatoZoom 41st Annual Concert: “Messengers of Peace” 4 pm | virtual This virtual MLK tribute will be live streamed from Ted Mann Concert Hall. Intermixing the words of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with musical performances from U of M students and the greater Twin Cities community, the concert will be hosted and curated by U of M School of Music alumnus G. Phillip Shoultz, III of VocalEssence. This is a free event. Registration is not required. For more info, visit z.umn. edu/MLK22

Robert Robinson Presents “A Celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.” 5 pm @ Crooners Supper Club, The Dunsmore Jazz Room, 6161 Hwy 65 N.E., Mpls.

Savor the soulful and stirring sounds of one of Minnesota’s premier voices to celebrate MLK Day. This is an all-ages show. Dinner and cocktail seating and service begins 60 minutes before showtimes. $35. For more info, visit bit.ly/RRobinsonMLK

January 17 2022 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Breakfast 8:45 – 10:30 am | virtual CNN host and Senior Legal Analyst Laura Coates will headline this year’s annual breakfast. A former federal prosecutor, Coates served as assistant U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, as well as a trial attorney in the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice.

Spoken word artist H. Adam Harris will perform, as well Twin Cities youth choir Known. MPR’s Angela Davis will serve as host.

Individual tickets are $25. Proceeds go towards the UNCF Twin Cities MLK Legacy Scholarship Fund, which helps local students go to college. For more info, visit www.mlkbreakfast.com 24th Annual Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration 9 am – 1 pm | in-person and virtual Powderhorn Park, 3400 15th Ave. S., Minneapolis Join with community members in-person or virtually for this all-ages event. The two-hour gathering showcases local visual and performing artists. Limited seats are available for those who’d like to attend in person. The celebration will also be streamed on Facebook and YouTube.

Register to attend at www.ppna.org/mlkcelebration 2022 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Celebration 11 am | virtual Minnesotans of all ages are invited to join Gov. Tim Walz and Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan for the 36th Annual State of Minnesota Celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. This year’s theme is “Beloved Community in Action,” in reference to Dr. King’s 1957 quote, “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’”

Throughout the celebration, you’ll hear Minnesotans reflect on what Dr. King means to them and how they’re building a thriving society that embodies love and justice and works to end racism and poverty.

The celebration is a 25-minute recorded video and premieres on the governor’s YouTube channel. For more info, visit mn.gov/mdhr/mlk

January 13-19, 2022

Business

Screening: “Dr. King’s Words into Action: Black Empowerment Across Generations” 11 am –12 pm | virtual The Duluth NAACP invites viewers to a Facebook screening of a 20-minute documentary that features conversations between two generations of Duluth residents. Perspectives are shared about quotes from Dr. King that range from voting rights and economic justice to criminal justice, and health and environmental equity.

The viewing will be followed immediately by a call to action from committee chairs of the Duluth Branch of the NAACP. For more info and the Facebook link, go to duluthnaacp. org/MLK MPRB Annual King Holiday Celebration 6:30 – 8 pm @ Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Recreation Center, 4055 Nicollet Ave. S., Mpls.

This year’s Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) free event will once again be emceed by Chad Jackson, manager of corporate partner sales with the Minnesota Twins.

Adair Mosley, president and CEO of Pillsbury United Communities, will serve as the keynote speaker. Sandra Richardson, MLK Legacy Council member, will also speak, with entertainment from Vocal Essence Singers of This Age. The MPRB will present its “Living the Dream” award to Willie B. Jasper. For more info, visit www.minneapolisparks.org/ MLK or call 612-230-6400.

January 19 3rd Annual Celebration, Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. 5 – 7 pm | virtual With the theme of “Building CommUNITY: Urging Action, Racial Equity and Justice for the Beloved Community,” this university-wide annual event features a keynote address by attorney and activist Nekima Levy Armstrong, J.D., as well as select student creative expressions. St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter is among the invitees. This is a free virtual event but registration is requested. For more info, go to bit.ly/METROMLK

January 20 Amplifying Beloved Community 11:30 am | virtual Minneapolis College President Sharon Pierce and Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon will be featured at this virtual event to reflect on Dr. King’s life’s work to press for equality and the mid-century Civil Rights Movement he led.

This virtual event showcases winning scholarship entries from students’ essays on King’s legacy and how it paved the way for overcoming today’s barriers to equity and justice. A town hall meeting will take place at 3 pm.

Find more info and register at minneapolis.edu/mlk

January 22 Screening: “39 Seconds” 7 – 10 pm @ Capri Theater, 2027 W Broadway Ave., Mpls.

The feature-length documentary/live action film “39 seconds” explores a forgotten piece of American history. With a cast composed of top Minnesota talent, original score by Jim Oestereich, and narration by Payton Woodsno, viewers will witness the true-life story of one of the greatest baseball players in the world, John Wesley Donaldson.

The Minnesota Historical Society presents this film in conjunction with 612IM Film Productions. $10. For more info, visit ​www.mnhs.org/event/8974

For more MLK events, visit spokesman-recorder.com.

Honoring Martin Luther King Jr. Day

We are all

MLK

For more information on COVID-19 please visit: www.northpointhealth.org/coronavirus-updates

7

8 January 13-19, 2022

Metropolis

the loving grandpa Mel,

By Kellen Reeves

The day was clear and bright.

Rays of sunshine beamed through the windows looking out upon the front porch of my home. The shades were pulled back as they always were during the day, giving us a wide view of the normally tranquil street extending from our end of the cul-de-sac.

Busy with whatever was distracting me at the moment, likely some symptom of the insatiable energy of our twins, Zavier and Zaire, I almost missed the figure that crossed the corner of my eye. Something was off, though, and I paused as my brain tried to interpret the oddity my eyes had taken in.

A man was walking down the middle of the street. Not an odd sight in Minneapolis where I’d grown up, or Chicago, where I’d lived too, but a certified “thing” in this suburban enclave.

Even stranger was that I recognized him.

But that couldn’t be the case. It’s an overused cliché, but I actually wondered if I was dreaming. There was no way that it was who I thought it was walking down the middle of my street midday like a scene from a romantic comedy.

spent with those who needed nothing and wanted nothing from him beyond his presence, his grandchildren.

I loved my dad and he loved me. Still, something about being a grandfather brought a new type of joy out of him.

Mel with grandkids Still, the walk, the headphones clipped to his shirt, the duffle bag and laptop bag slung over his shoulder—it was unmistakably my dad.

Mel Reeves. I opened the front door and stood in shock and confusion. “I told you I was gonna pop up on you more!” he said, laughing.

After a hug, I called the cavalry. “Boys! Someone’s here!”

Small feet pounded up the stairs immediately. The twins popped their heads around the basement door, curious to see who’d entered. “GRANDPA!” their little voices shouted as they fell over each other sprinting to their grandfather.

Immediately, as they always did when they saw him, they jumped into his arms and began peppering him with requests to play and race and wrestle. Pops laughed and soaked it all in, his smile beaming brighter than any of the rays of light shining through the windows.

Mel Reeves was a man of the people. He didn’t care about rewards, accolades or money. He wanted his community to flourish. The work was his life. The work took his time and his energy. It took and took and took and rarely gave back as there was always more to be done.

He accepted that. That is why he so valued the time he

We have nothing to lose but our chains: a tribute to Mel Reeves

By Nekima Levy Armstrong, Esq. who were involved. Although the officers have still not been On January 6 of this year, held accountable, the Henneour community suffered a dev- pin County Attorney recently astating loss when Mel Reeves, acknowledged that the case beloved activist, organizer, should be investigated.

As an elder in the Movement and MSR editor and journalist, passed away suddenly from for Black Lives, Mel took the time to engage younger activists, COVID-19 complications.

Mel was a champion for ra- to show up whenever he could, cial justice who was unwaver- and to lead by example. As an ing in his commitment to fight editor at MSR, Mel went to great for equality on the frontlines of lengths to recruit and help train protests and demonstrations young journalists and to encourdemanding an end to police vi- age them to dive into stories that olence in Minnesota and across impacted the Black community.

He always spoke highly of the nation.

Mel helped organize pro- MSR and put his all into protests and rallies long before ducing high-quality stories there was a Black Lives Matter that provided an alternative Movement to call attention to perspective from White, mainthe day-to-day injustices that stream publications. Mel also Black folks experience while befriended and even helped trying to breathe, live and work school journalists from those in a society built upon the deni- mainstream publications, engration and dehumanization of couraging them to identify and check their biases and to look our people.

Rather than lose hope in the through a racial justice lens face of hypocrisy and oppres- when telling stories that persion, Mel made the decision tain to our community.

To that end, his impact will to use the power of his pen to continue to be felt within our tell our stories and to set the community of activists across record straight about who we multiple generations, journalare as a people, our culture, ists near and far, and commuour fight, and our resistance to White Supremacy and racism nity members here and around in all its forms. Mel wrote fer- the country.

Even as Mel was in the vently about the Minneapolis hospital battling COVID-19, police murder of George Floyd he continued writing stories, and the protests in our commupublishing articles, seeking nity, with his articles garnering quotes, and analyzing current national and international atevents.

He was especially glad tention and accolades. to see the jury in the Kim Potter Mel also wrote about the push to demand Myon Burrell’s case, the White female former release from prison and orga- Brooklyn Center officer who nized a public forum that in- killed Daunte Wright during a cluded Myon’s family and local traffic stop in April 2021, return activists and organizers to raise a guilty verdict.

Mel had gotten to know the awareness of the case in the family of Daunte Wright and Black community. wanted to see justice served in When Terrance Franklin was that case.

While he expressed killed by Minneapolis police relief at the guilty verdict, he in 2013 under suspicious and simultaneously lamented the troubling circumstances, Mel police killing of a Black man in was the first to help organize Austin, Minnesota, and the poprotests to call attention to the lice killing of a 14-year-old girl horrors of the situation and in Los Angeles that both hapaccountability for the officers

malls. He’d send them home with shoes and gifts and clothes.

More than that, he would play on the floor with them, chase them, and generally get them “riled up.” When my wife or I would fuss at him about bedtime getting close, he’d just shrug

Cameron was the grandson most like him. Cameron was the one he just knew was going to follow in his footsteps. Because Cameron loved people with a pure heart.

He would give anyone the shirt off of his back and the socks off of his feet. He shared his grandpa’s heart for anyone in need. My father never recovered from losing Cam. But he continued the work. It was who he was.

He continued to pour everything into his community, his people. And he continued to cherish the moments spent with his grandchildren.

From playing with the twins to talking Miami Hurricane football with Quentin, he loved nothing more than Mel surrounded by all six of his grandkids and son Kellen seeing their faces and hear(background, blue shirt) ing their voices.

Mel Reeves never let his pain Each of them expanded his and say, “What can I say? When stop him from loving those he heart. Our firstborn Quentin grandpa’s here it’s time to play.” cared about. He never let any We’d roll our eyes and leave obstacle prevent him from doand then Cameron. Then our oldest twins David and Chris- him to it. He was having too ing what he believed mattered. topher, who moved in with us much fun to put an end to it. His So despite his busyness, depermanently during high school. grandkids brought him constant spite his grief, he did what good Finally the youngest twins, joy. Even just talking about them grandparents do: He showed Zavier and Zaire. He’d spend ev- would make him smile. up. He was present. And he Then Cameron passed. Two loved on them constantly. ery dime he had to show them a good time, often despite my days shy of his 10th birthday.

Minneapolis will miss Mel pleas not to spoil them. He’d My father was devastated. He Reeves. My sons will mourn take them to games, movies and would regularly tell me how Grandpa.

My first: Mel Reeves

By Amudalat Ajasa

pened on the same day as the Potter jury returned its verdict.

The dichotomy of celebrating progress while lamenting stagnation is at the heart of Black folks’ struggle in this country. Mel understood that we should take time to celebrate the “wins,” while not taking our eyes off the prize of pushing for systemic change and the promise of full freedom, justice and equality.

One of the best ways that we can honor Mel’s legacy is to press forward in the pursuit of justice.

We must find the strength, courage, and resolve to continue to use our voices to speak truth-topower and to not settle for anything less than our full freedom from oppression.

We must continue to demand the justice we deserve, and to protect rather than harm one another. For as Assata Shakur reminds us, “We have nothing to lose but our chains.”

Rest in power, Mel Reeves.

Thank you for your service to our community and to humanity. You will be missed, but never forgotten.

There are a lot of firsts in our lives that we will never forget.

Even before we have the capacity to remember, our firsts are being documented by our loved ones around us. In my case, one first I will never forget was my first editor: Mel Reeves.

When the pandemic took the world by storm and sent me and other college students around the country retreating to our childhood rooms, I was concluding my sophomore year. Sprinkle in a social justice uprising that emulated the Civil Rights Movement that started in my hometown, and you have a solid picture of what the conclusion of my year looked like.

My junior year came before I could blink, after a summer of protest and documenting the activity on the ground, yet I hadn’t found an internship.

As journalism students we are taught that internships are arguably the most important part of starting a career. You can imagine my panic at the start of junior year as I thought

about my fleeting college time.

After months of reaching out to news outlets across the Twin Cities, with virtually no professional news clippings, someone took a chance on me. I was awarded the Twin Cities Black Journalist internship and was finally given a chance to work professionally.

All of my panic subsided when I had my first Zoom meeting with Reeves and Tracey Williams-Dillard of the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder. After a (hilarious) first 10 minutes of watching both Reeves and Williams-Dillard struggle to understand Zoom, we were on our way.

Immediately, I could feel Reeves’ passion for community journalism and activism as he spoke about the importance of telling stories “from the People by the People.”

His voice was animated as he talked about the job we had to tell the stories no other news outlet in Minnesota was telling. After 40 minutes, we had a schedule of the stories I would be writing that month.

■ See My First on page 9

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My First Continued from page 8 I turned in my first story about a week later and anxiously awaited feedback. So many “what ifs” ran through my mind: What if he hates it?

What if he thinks it’s so terrible that he asks for a different intern? What if he thinks I’m not good enough?

I got the file back with his feedback and my heart immediately sank when I saw all of the highlighted and underlined words. But it immediately began beating again as I read his feedback: Much of the highlighted words weren’t criticism but rather praise. At the parts that could be clearer, instead of changing my words or crossing them out, he said, “Try this.”

And that’s what he did: he let me try.

Throughout the course of my internship, Reeves gave me the freedom to explore the topics I was interested in covering while offering a steady hand. I began my professional journalism career with his safety blanket. I worked knowing that if I fell off the deep end, his guidance, in-depth knowledge and expertise would be my life vest.

When the time came to write about COVID-19 in Minnesota prisons—the

most challenging story I had pitched at the time—Reeves sat and talked strategy with me. We talked about access, sources, and how I wanted to tell the story. He sent me on my way and I came back a week later with a future award-winning piece.

“Very good work! I am impressed that you chose this topic but also in how diligently you pursued it,” Reeves told me over email. “Also a big part of being a journalist-reporter is asking questions and not accepting easy answers to questions and always following up.”

I didn’t realize it then but I wanted him to be proud of me and the work that I did.

He pushed me, sometimes to the point of annoyance, because he wanted me to excel as a journalist.

Reeves saw something in me before I could see it; he saw that I had the “it.” When we weren’t talking about stories impacting Minneapolis’ Black community, we were talking about my future career ambitions.

I always assumed I would go off and write for other publications when I graduated—and potentially become an editor if I was lucky. It was Mel that challenged why I limited myself to being an editor somewhere else when I had the talent to make my own news outlet.

As if he foreshadowed it, my journalism career blos-

somed following my first internship. Within that year I became an award-winning journalist for my story on COVID-19 in Minnesota’s prisons, freelanced with the Star Tribune, was chosen to participate in a prestigious national investigative journalism fellowship, began freelancing for The Guardian, and more. But I will always remember my first.

Today I am a senior in college, a semester away from graduating. When I saw news of Reeves’s passing, it shook my core.

“I tried to love folks and it turns out I am here today because folks loved me back,” he wrote. “I never ever want any credit for anything I ever do for anybody else but I guess I too wanted to be appreciated. I wanted to get my flowers while I could appreciate them. Turns out you all gave them to me.”

I reflected on the year that rooted my career in ways I couldn’t imagine, and at the center is: Mel Reeves. The editor that believed in my abilities before I confidently did. The editor that watered a starving journalism plant. My first.

Reeves may no longer be with us, but the seeds he planted in all of us will continue to blossom.

Amudalat Ajasa welcomes reader responses to aajasa@ spokesman-recorder.com.

Needed: many Mel Reeves

By Shawn Lewis

munity issues. They are willing to speak up when others can’t Mel Reeves was one of or are afraid to do so.

In order to address our many people within the African American community who racial disparities within Minfought for justice. These peo- nesota, we need many indiple give their full self to com- viduals like Mel Reeves who

understand that it takes commitment, vigilance, and pushing against the current system to change the status quo so racial disparities and injustice can be addressed and resolved.

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BULLETIN

Celebrating a rare milestone: 70 years of marriage

By Pam Russell Warder and Cheryl Reeves As wedding anniversaries go, 25 years is silver, 50 is gold, but 70 is platinum, a metal even more durable than gold.

The family and friends of Bill and Velma Warder of Minneapolis came together in November to celebrate the couple’s own story of durability. Bill and Velma Warder marked 70 years of life together since they were married on a snowy Thanksgiving Day on November 22, 1951.

Seventy years of marriage is a milestone that fewer than 0.1 percent of married couples reach, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

The couple met and were married at Zion Baptist Church, Minneapolis, at the location on Lyndale Avenue North before the freeway was built. The Rev. H.W. Botts, Sr., officiated the wedding. Bill and Velma raised three children—Paul Warder, Cheryl Warder Reeves, and Julie Warder.

The couple has one grandchild, Kellen Reeves, and four great-grandchildren: Quinten, Cameron (who is in heaven), twins Zavier and Zaire; daughter-in-law Pamela Warder; granddaughter-in-law Michelle Reeves; and great grandsons-in-law Christopher and David Johnson.

Bill Warder, originally from Ellsworth, Kansas, arrived in Minneapolis on Au-

Bill and Velma, September 2021

gust 31, 1948, after serving in the Army. He received a G.E.D. while in the Army, but Kansas did not accept it.

Bill planned to go to college and came to Minnesota to get his high school diploma.

He later enrolled in Bethel Theological Seminary and received the Master of Divinity degree. In 1955, Bill was ordained as a deacon, and later he was ordained as a Baptist minister in 1999.

Bill started working at Northwest Airlines as a mechanic for five years and later as an aircraft inspector for 20 years. He served as secretary-treasurer of the union for four years. He retired in 1993.

In the later years of Bill’s career at Northwest Airlines, he decided to study speech communications at Augsburg College and graduated with a B.A. degree in 1992.

Bill is also a vocalist with a rich baritone voice and studied at MacPhail Center for Music. He was an active member of the Apollo Club Male Chorus and in the church choir.

Velma was born in Minneapolis and raised on

the city’s North Side. She received a B.A. degree in Journalism and a B.S. degree in education from the University of Minnesota. She studied piano and organ at MacPhail. For private piano study, one of her teachers was the late Esther Roach of South Minneapolis. She also studied organ with Harvey Gustafson of Minneapolis.

Bill and Velma both graduated from North High School. After graduating from high school in 1949, Velma was employed as a secretary at the New England Furniture Company in downtown Minneapolis.

Later, she worked at the University of Minnesota and also as a secretary and editorial assistant at the Minnesota Council of Churches.

In 1968, she was employed as an elementary school teacher in the Minneapolis Public School District and worked in that capacity for 26 years.

She was a church organist and pianist for more than 60 years at Baptist churches in Minneapolis including Zion Baptist Church, Temple Baptist Church, Greater Sa-

bathani Baptist Church, and River Hills United Methodist Church in Burnsville.

Many of Bill and Velma’s activities centered around church, especially with a group called the Friendship Club and also with Phyllis Wheatley Settlement House.

Bill, Velma and the children often gave recitals of voice, organ and piano, often emphasizing African American music. Bill and Velma still use their musical gifts, accompanying choirs and singing. Both have been active volunteers in church and schools.

Velma also accompanied various choral groups ranging from the Norwegian Women’s Group (Nina Grieg Singers) to musical theater ensembles (The Accents) to church and school choir productions.

Velma was an active member of the Black Music Educators of the Twin Cities and the Minneapolis Retired Teachers, Inc. As a freelance writer, Velma has published more than 200 stories, articles, and poems in religious and educational periodicals.

They say one of the keys to a long-lasting marriage is

Bill and Velma Warder on their wedding day. to have a close relationship with the Lord. Velma says to follow what He says to do and to rely on His grace to help you through the hard things and to give Him praise and thanks for everything.

Pam Russell Warder welcomes reader responses to pamyoung44@yahoo.com.

Western Governors University to award $100K in scholarships in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. In celebration of the life and legacy of late civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Western Governors University has launched a new scholarship for Minnesota residents who have always dreamed of completing their college degrees and advancing their careers but faced challenges along the way that prevented them from moving forward.

The fully online, nonprofit university will award up to $100,000 in scholarships to new and returning students in an effort to help support them and encourage them to fulfill their educational goals.

The “I Have a Dream” scholarships are open to students enrolling in any of Western Governors University’s 60-plus undergraduate

and graduate degree programs in information technology, business, teacher education and health professions, including nursing.

Each scholarship is valued at up to $4,000 and will be credited to students’ accounts at a rate of $1,000 per six-month term, renewable for up to four terms. The scholarship will be applied to the university’s already low, flat-rate tuition of about $3,800 per six-month term.

“More than half a century ago, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., laid out his vision for a future where people of all races and backgrounds were afforded the same rights, opportunities and privileges,” said Dr. Angie Besendorfer, regional vice president of Western Governors University.

“His activism opened minds and inspired people to strive for a more equitable society, and his words and actions continue to challenge us today,” continued Dr. Besendorfer. “In that spirit, we are proud to offer this scholarship in his honor in hopes that those who have consistently faced challenges that prevented them from moving forward with their ed-

ucation plans can be inspired to go back to school and complete their degrees.”

Western Governors University is committed to providing equal opportunities in higher education for working adults who are interested in furthering their education.

The university, which is fully accredited and nationally recognized, offers an industry-

leading, competency-based structure that allows students to leverage previous education, training and work experience—instead of time spent in the classroom—to graduate faster.

Students complete their programs by studying, completing coursework and taking tests on schedules that fit their lives, advancing as soon as they demonstrated they’ve mastered the subject matter.

The non-traditional model allows students to take as many courses as possible each term without any added fees and is perfect for students who need a flexible, affordable option in higher education. While the university’s degree programs are rigorous and challenging, competencybased learning makes it possi-

Worship Bethesda Baptist Church

Rev. James C. Thomas, Pastor

451 West Central

St. Paul, MN 55103 651-227-4444

Church School 9:30 am Morning Worship 8:00 & 10:45 am Prayer Service:

Wednesday 7 pm "Welcome to

Mt. Olivet Baptist Church"

612-332-5904 www.bethesdamnonline.com bethesdamn@prodigy.net Sunday Service Times: Early Morning Service 9 am Sunday School 10 am Sunday Worship 11:30 am Wednesday

Prayer Meeting, 6 pm Adult Bible Class 7 pm Children's Bible Class 7 pm

Information and photo provided by Western Governors University.

3744 4th Ave. South • Minneapolis, MN 55409 Phone: 612-827-4021 • Fax: 612-827-0577

TRACEY WILLIAMS-DILLARD

Greater Friendship Missionary Baptist Church

Rev. Arthur Agnew, Pastor

At the Old Landmark 1118 So. 8th Street Mpls., MN 55404

For more information about Western Governors University and the “I Have a Dream” scholarship, visit wgu.edu/ dream or call 866-225-5948.

MINNESOTA SPOKESMAN-RECORDER CECIL E. NEWMAN

Mount Olivet Missionary Baptist Church

ble for students to accelerate their programs, saving them both time and money.

Applications for Western Governors University’s “I Have a Dream” scholarships will be accepted online at wgu.edu/dream through June 30, 2022. Scholarships will be awarded based on the students’ academic record, previous college experience, readiness for online study, current competency, as well as other considerations.

IN PRINT & ONLINE! CALL 612-827-4021 • Employment

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2600 E. 38th Street Minneapolis, MN 55408 www.greatfriend.org Phone: 612.827.7928 Fax: 612.827.3587 info@greatfriend.org Sundays 8:00am Sunday School 9:30am Worship Service The Friendly Church Where Everybody Is Somebody

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Charles Hallman

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Minneapolis Parks Foundation, a nonprofit with a mission to align community vision and philanthropic investment toward parks and public spaces in Minneapolis, is seeking Program Coordinator. This fulltime position will support the implementation of city Client: Explore Minnesota park projects through coordination, administration, Size: 3.4167 x 1 research, and communication.

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ASSUMED NAME:

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PRINCIPAL PLACE OF BUSINESS:

615 East 28th Street

NAMEHOLDER(S): Name:

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615 East 28th Street Minneapolis MN 55407 USA

attachment conflicts with the information specifically set forth in this document, this document supersedes the data referenced in the attachment.

By typing my name, I, the undersigned, certify that I am signing this document as the person whose signature is required, or as agent of the person(s) whose signature would be required who has authorized me to sign this document on his/her behalf, or in both capacities. I further certify that I have completed all

AUTOMATION QUALITY ANALYST Co. seeks professional to document and manage test plans, test cases for web applications by using JSON, Client: Ledelsea XML and basic data Size: 3.4167 x 3 structures. Analyze log to identify Run Date: defect areas1/13/22 in the quality system by using Java, Ad Options: For an SQL, additional $150 with print, you canand get online JavaScript, PHP, Splunk query.

Identify Without print $300 implement different types of test cases and scenarios (Unit, Integration, Load, UI Functional and Regression tests, UI Acceptance tests). Use defect tracking systems and document problems with program function, output and content. Send resumes to: HRD, Maritz Consulting (d/b/a Ledelsea), 12800 Whitewater Drive, Suite 40, Minnetonka, MN 55343

realized until quite frankly I became an adult that girls didn’t always have an Continued from page 12 opportunity to compete or play the games of their Client: Ledelsea choice. student awards.

Size: 3.4167 x 2.75 “There were recreation “I Date: have thoroughly enRun 1/13/22 centers that by joyed creating recogni-$150 Ad Options: Forthe an additional with print, youwere can getrun online tion programs, something Without print $300 people that wanted to prothat I would hang my hat vide us with opportunities to participate and to learn on,” said Lissimore.

Her duties also included other things. I learned tournament director for photography when I was boys’ and girls’ cross coun- 13 years old at Inner City try, swimming and diving, Youth League.

“There were just so many synchronized swimming, badminton, softball, and opportunities afforded to girls’ basketball. Lissimore us at a very, very young admitted that she was age that I didn’t know any more familiar with hoops different.”

As her time eventually than the other assigned winds down at the League, sports.

“I had to learn so much,” Lissimore looks forward she said. “I’ve had the to her next chapter in her pleasure of working with life—retirement. “I look some incredible people forward to watching my that have accepted me for son play college basketball [next year at St. Thomas]. I who I am.”

Lissimore, a St. Paul look forward to spending Central graduate, played more time with my huson the school’s first girls’ band doing things that we state basketball champi- really do have in common. onship squad in 1976 and We both like to play golf.

“There will be other played a season at Minnesota before transferring things that will pop up, and completing her hoo- that will come my way that pin’ and academic career I will continue to do, so I at Grand View College in don’t think I will be bored in retirement at all.

Des Moines, Iowa.

“I’m so happy that I’ve She also is a proud product of the Rondo been able to combine my community, a village-like love of sports with a career, environment for its nur- because honestly it never turing of its mostly Black has felt like a job,” concluded Lissimore. “It has always young people.

Lissimore said she really been a labor of love.” thought growing up that Charles Hallman welall young girls, especially Black girls, got to play comes reader responses to sports and other extracur- challman@spokesman-rericular activities. “I never corder.com.

Lissamore

A Pre-Bid Conference will be held in conjunction with a tour of the building on January 13, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. at the Valley Hi Rise Community Room, 261 East University Avenue, St. Paul, MN. Immediately following the conference there will be a PreBid Tour of the building. All questions arising from this pre-bid conference will be addressed by addendum, if necessary.

required fields, and that the information in this document is true and correct and in compliance with the applicable chapter of Minnesota Statutes. I understand that Section 609.48 as if I had signed this document under oath.

Co. seeks qualified Systems Engineer to utilize business and functional resources to design efficient systems processes and determine appropriate technical solutions.

Review test plans and testing methodologies to mitigate Client: Parks Foundation risks and to Minneapolis ensure the company meets functional and Size: 3.4167 x 2.25 performance requirements. Gather, analyze, and Run Dates: 12/30/21 - 1/13/2022 document data, practices, workflow and business needs Ad Options: For an additional $150 with print, you can get online and systemsWithout capabilities to troubleshoot and solve print $300 business systems problems. Perform validation and testing of models and conduct QA phase planning and coordinate and implement QA strategy as part of PLM (project life cycle management). Send resumes to: HRD, Maritz Consulting (d/b/a Ledelsea), 12800 Whitewater Drive, Suite 40, Minnetonka, MN 55343

Sealed bids will be received by the Public Housing Agency of the City of Saint Paul at 200 East Arch Street St. Paul, Minnesota 55130 for ELECTRICAL SYSTEM MODERNIZATION AT VALLEY HI-RISE, Contract No. 22-095, 261 E. University Ave., St. Paul, MN 55130, until January 27, 2022, 2:00 p.m. Local Time at which time they will be publicly opened and read aloud via the Zoom App. Bids must be submitted electronically, in a pdf format, to Northstar Imaging, www.northstarplanroom.com

If you submit an attachment, it will be incorporated into this document. If the

by signing this document I am subject to the penalties of perjury as set forth in

SYSTEMS ENGINEER

11

A/1 Contract # 22-095

Certificate of Assumed Name

Minneapolis MN 55407 USA

PROGRAM COORDINATOR

January 13-19, 2022

SIGNED BY: Robert Rampi MAILING ADDRESS: None Provided EMAIL FOR OFFICIAL NOTICES: keithmn@aol.com

Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder January 13, 20, 2022

women. Nikki Fargas, Chelsea Gray and Aja Ellison have joined as analysts and Continued from page 12 Angel Gray as a play-by-play commentator.

Fargas currently is presisuccess, the 6’-3” forward dent of the WNBA’s Las has declaredOpen forDoor theHouse 2022 Client: of Prayer WNBA Draft3.4167 later this year. Vegas Aces. Before she took Size: x 4.75 International-born play- on her current role with the Ad Run: 1/13/22 and 1/20/22 Ad ersOptions: can apply-- for draft eligi- club, she was the head coach bility if they are at least 20 at LSU for 10 seasons, and years old during the calen- previously the HC at UCLA. Chelsea Gray joins the dar year of the draft. Kone ACC Network as an in-game will turn age 20 in July.

Kone this season is av- analyst and will be a weekly eraging 14 points and 12 contributor for the ACCN’s rebounds for her Span- “Ladies Night” coverage. ish League club—she has Gray, a 2014 first-round played in the league since pick, played for Las Vegas 2019. She also helped her last season, for Connecticut Mali national team reach (one season), and for Los the FIBA U19 world semi- Angeles (five seasons).

Ellison just finished her finals last summer, the first African team to qualify for college career at Texas A&M and played three seasons at the semifinals.

Following are excerpts Maryland. She primarily will from an interview with call games as an analyst on Kone by AK Sports’ Fred- ESPNU and SEC Network.

Angel Gray, in addition to eric Lesmayoux: “I am very happy to see that the fruit doing play-by-play for ESPN, of my efforts is playing off. does the same for the AtIt’s years of hard work,” ad- lanta Dream for Bally Sports mitted Kone. “Playing in the Network. She previously WNBA is a childhood dream. has worked as a sideline I will continue to work as reporter for Cleveland Cavaliers telecasts and was a usual to stand out.” play-by-play announcer for Los Angeles of the WNBA. New Black voices Four of ESPN’s “new Charles Hallman welcomes voices” added to its 202122 women’s college bas- reader responses to challman@ ketball coverage are Black spokesman-recorder.com.

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A complete set of bid documents are available by contacting Northstar Imaging at 651-686-0477 or www.northstarplanroom. com, under public plan room, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM MODERNIZATION AT VALLEY HI-RISE, Contract No. 22-095. Digital downloads are no charge, contact Northstar for hard copy pricing.

Bids must be accompanied by a 5% bid guarantee, non-collusive affidavit, EEO form and Minnesota Responsible Contractor Compliance Affidavit. The successful bidder will be required to furnish both a performance bond and a separate payment bond.

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us, and they did, on our winning and losses, then they would have a hard time Continued from page 12 beating me.

“It was all about opportu“They were two of the nity,” surmised Richardson.

Case: AST Maintenance Contracts most brilliant men I’ve ever “Give us the opportunity to Size: 3.4167 x 6.5 been around in life,” said prove ourselves… if you Ad Options: For an additional $150 with print, you canBut get online Richardson. Without “Theyprint were $300 got to judge us on what one from the East Coast, and did, I’ve got to be as good as I was the only one [from] I possibly can. I’m going to ‘East South’—El Paso.” create something that other Like the two Johns, Rich- guys will have the opportuardson understood and em- nity to get.” braced the only-one status.

Richardson won over “There will be a lot of times 500 games as a college when you will be the only coach. He won conference one,” he said. “I was the only championships, including Black junior college coach. three in a row (1989 to I was the only [Black] high 1991) when Arkansas won school coach in El Paso. I both the league regular seawas the only one in Tulsa. I son and tournament titles. was the only one to get to But his success at the Arkansas. I was always the school came at a price. only one.”

“The only reason was that Next: Richardson’s often there wasn’t enough of us overlooked legacy to participate and to get the opportunity to do that,” said Charles Hallman welthe retired coach on being comes reader responses to a trailblazer. “I did my best challman@spokesman-reso, if they are going to judge corder.com.

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12 January 13-19, 2022

Sports

Lissimore leaves the State High School League

By Charles Hallman Sports Columnist innesota State High School League (MSHSL) Associate Director Lisa Lissimore will retire effective April 30. Now in her 34th year, the St. Paul native joined the League in 1988 after serving on its board as a delegate of the Minnesota State Board of Education.

“I have just totally enjoyed the work that God has placed in my life,” said Lissimore last week in an MSR phone interview.

She easily remembers when several community

Lisa Lissimore

Courtesy of Twitter

to twist my arm a bit to convince me that this is something that I should do.”

“I came out of the first round of interviews, I thought I did well,” contin“I’m so happy that ued Lissimore. “[But] the second round of interviews I’ve been able I didn’t think I did as well. I really felt like I bombed that to combine my interview.” She later met with McDonald, who kept love of sports encouraging her to hang in with a career.” there because it would turn out all right. folks had to convince her McDonald was right in to apply for the opening at this regard: As the only the MSHSL. “I was 26 at the Black associate director, time,” recalled Lissimore. “I Lissimore has been instruwas working full time for mental in developing the the [Minnesota] legislature League’s Diversity, Equity in their public information and Inclusion committee, office as a writer, and I also corporate sponsorships, and was coaching. I was quite recognition programs such happy.” as the MSHSL Hall of Fame Among those who “had to and the Triple “A” ExCel and convince me” was the late Spotlight on Scholarship Kwame McDonald: “He had ■ See LISSIMORE on page 11

Fab Five pics of 2021

he five pictures I’ve picked for 2021 include a new collegiate head coach who has his team off to a great start (Ben Johnson), one of the NBA’s top players (KarlAnthony Towns), a promising college volleyball player (Natalie Glenn), one of the state’s top high school wide receivers (Mario Sanders), and one of the top collegiate volleyball players in the country (Stephanie Samedy).

Check out the pics!

Dr. Mitchell Palmer McDonald welcomes reader responses to mcdeezy05@gmail.com.

University of Minnesota volleyball player Natalie Glenn.

University of Minnesota men’s basketball coach Ben Johnson.

University of Minnesota volleyball and Big Ten Player of Minneapolis North wide receiver Mario Sanders. the Year Stephanie Samedy.

All photos by Dr. Mitchell Palmer McDonald

Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns.

The origin of ‘Forty Minutes of Hell’

Second in a multi-part series olan Richardson’s Arkansas teams’ trademark playing style was christened “40 Minutes of Hell.” This curious reporter, during our phone interview, wanted to know where the name came from.

Richardson explained, “It

Nolan Richardson celebrates winning the national championship, only the second Black coach to do this at a PWI. Courtesy of Twitter was not an offense or a de- tices.” He preferred a frantic, fense. Forty Minutes of Hell up-tempo style. “I ran it at was the name of my prac- Tulsa and in high school, but it

didn’t have a name [then].

“One of the news guys [after a game] asked [an Arkansas player] what made them play so well.

‘We put 40 Minutes of Hell on them,” the player said proudly.

But the HOF coach corrected me and said the player unfortunately got it all wrong. He wanted his players in top shape, and conditioning at practices was all but a daily staple.

Once a player asked him during a session why they were working so hard. “Teams might out-play us, but they won’t out-work us,” responded the coach. “Work is an attitude, so 40 Minutes of Hell is what it will be, what you will get, until I feel you are ready to play.”

As a result, “40 Minutes of Hell” stuck like glue, which

Richardson didn’t really mind after all. “It wasn’t based on what we are going to do. You have to live up to the expectation of the name,” he pointed out. “40 Minutes of Hell—you didn’t have to live up to the

48 (1986) and Proposition 42 (1990), originally intended to improve academic standards.

Instead they became disproportionately another barrier for Black student-athletes.

Over the past two years

“There will be a lot of times when you will be the only Black.” expectation. We were going to do that anyway.”

Richardson is among the surviving members of legendary Black coaches who roamed the college sidelines and fought like heck against the NCAA-imposed Proposition

he has seen two compatriots as well as close friends pass away: John Thompson and John Chaney. The three legends stood tall and spoke loud against the two now-defunct NCAA rules.

■ See VIEW on page 11

It’s open season for WNBA free agents he WNBA earlier this month released its official free agent (FA) list.

Beginning January 1 to Friday January 14, teams can send out qualifying offers to restricted or reserved free agents.

The four FA categories are: • Unrestricted free agent (UFA) – players must have at least five years of service.

• Restricted free agent – players with four years of service or players who completed their rookie scale contract.

• Reserved – three or fewer years of service and can only negotiate with their current team.

• Suspended or expired contract – these players cannot talk to or sign with another team as their current team retains their rights.

If the reserved or restricted FA haven’t been offered by their current team by January 14, they become unrestricted and talk to other teams beginning January 15 but cannot sign until February 1.

Minnesota Lynx center Sylvia Fowles leads the impressive big names of UFAs— teammates Rachel Banham and Laysha Clarendon also are on the list of 57 UFAs. There are 10 restricted FAs—Las Vegas’ A’ja Wilson is among the top names in this category, 21 reserved players and seven suspended players.

The Lynx for the 2022 season have $947,002 in total salaries and seven of eight players under contract: Kayla McBride, Aerial Powers, Nata- Sika Kone

lie Achonwa, Damiris Dantas, Napheesa Collier, Crystal Dangerfield and Rennia Davis are Black. With $432,198 in cap room and three to four open roster slots available, Minnesota’s top priority apparently is to find enough money to sign both Fowles and Clarendon, or only one of them.

“Playing in the WNBA is a childhood dream. I will continue to work as usual to stand out.”

Courtesy of AK Sports Management

Kone goes pro Sika Kone left her native Mali at age 14 to play basketball and attend school in Spain.

After several years of on-court

■ See SOE on page 11