January 2025
King’s fight for justice is a universal struggle
By Aria Binns-Zager Staff Writer
n 1967, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered “Beyond Vietnam: A Time to Break Silence,” a speech that condemned not just the Vietnam War but also the moral failings of a nation consumed by militarism, racism and materialism. His message challenged Americans to prioritize justice and humanity over profit and power. Today, as Black Minnesotans
speak out about the ongoing violence in Gaza and the persistent killing of Black Americans by police, King’s words resonate with renewed urgency.
Dr. King’s critique of the Vietnam War was rooted in his belief in the interconnectedness of struggles across borders and communities. “I speak for those whose land is being laid waste, whose homes are being destroyed, whose culture is being subverted.” These
■ See MLK on page 5
City, DOJ agree to police reforms
By Cynthia Moothart Managing Editor
he Minneapolis City Council voted unanimously on Jan. 6 to enter into a sweeping agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice to overhaul longstanding racist policing practices that culminated in the murder of George Floyd. The deal’s final terms, known as a consent decree, resulted from a DOJ investigation into the Minneapolis Police Department concluded in June 2023.
when President-elect Donald Trump takes office.
In the deal struck, the MPD agrees to better track and investigate police misconduct, rein in the use of force, and improve officer training.
Following November’s presidential election, the goal was to get the document filed in federal court and signed off by a judge no later than Jan. 20
During Trump’s first term, his administration sought to end DOJ investigations into police violence cases across the nation, including in Chicago where an officer shot Laquan McDonald 16 times while the teen walked away from police. The Chicago Police Department concluded the incident was a justifiable homicide; activist demands for dash-cam footage, released a year later, led to a first-degree murder conviction. Once approved by the court, the agreement is binding and enforceable by law without the possibility of interference by the DOJ or any other entity.
Mayor Jacob Frey, Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, and Police Chief Brian O’Hara announce the agreement. Clint Combs
Council members spent most of Monday behind closed doors reviewing the 171-page document before voting 12-0 to approve the agreement.
Councilmember Michael Rainville was absent. In the deal
struck, the MPD agreed to better track and investigate police misconduct, rein in the use of force, and improve officer training.
“I gave very clear direction
■ See DECREE on page 5
By Margaret Sullivan Contributing Writer
artin Luther King Jr. Day is the only federal holiday designated as a national day of service. The reason is self-evident: Service to others is the most important and profound way communities and individuals can honor his legacy.
The King Holiday and Service Act, co-authored by Sen. Harris Wofford (D-Penn.) and Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.), was signed into law by President Bill Clinton in 1994 and encourages all Americans to honor King through service and community engagement. This year, organizations are serving their communities through education, fellowship, and King’s most important value, love.
“Our goal is to not only serve the community but create solutions with them and inspire them to create a better village for our youth,” says
Racism in Minnesota Cries for
help are ‘coming from everywhere’
Love First Executive Director Satara Strong-Allen. Love First focuses on building a schoolto-success pipeline by providing educational programming, resources, and mentorship for youth ages 16-24 to dismantle barriers experienced by many Minnesota youth.
A few miles north in Waconia, an organization of educators and community members are volunteering their time to teach their communities’ youngest learners about the legacy of Dr. King. ROAR (Residents Organized Against Racism) Waconia is hosting its annual MLK event featuring a story walk and multiple educational stations that give learners an innovative look into the activist and humanitarian’s life — including lessons he learned along the way.
“The interactive stations designed to show Martin Luther King in his many facets were set for people to expand their
By Vickie Evans-Nash
Contributing Writer
f you call a Minnesota NAACP branch you will probably speak with Patrica James. Though she answers the phone for the St. Paul branch, only about a third of the roughly 100 calls the office receives each month are from St. Paul residents.
“It’s coming from everywhere,” she says of the calls. “Sioux Falls, Red Falls, Rochester, Mankato, Duluth,” and some cities James has never heard of. “I have a map where I mark it.”
She hears the caller’s relief that someone is listening, and it’s not uncommon for callers to cry. “People are crying out
for help, and I want to make sure that we address these complaints,” James says. On James’ desk are numerous brightly colored Post-It Notes derived from calls. She distributes the messages to the appropriate NAACP chair member. If your call is not returned, “I will call them to make sure that you are connected, and you get heard.”
Before James, Yusef Mgeni and other St. Paul NAACP members would answer voicemails. The concerns range from complaints against law enforcement to child protection services. Education concerns include K-12 and post-secondary systems. In health care, “Black women working within health care, they are feeling discrimination,” says James. She keeps her composure,
staying professional as she records information, but admits, “Some of these calls and the things that you hear, it touches my heart.”
Pastor Richard Pittman Sr., current president of the St. Paul NAACP, wanted an office presence, so besides answering calls, James accepts walk-in visits. Among the many complaints she’s heard, here are two examples from Mankato and Belle Plaine.
Racism in Mankato
Roger Wesley was a caller who moved from the Twin Cities because there were few job opportunities. He moved to Mankato, completed his GED, and found two jobs. “I was doing well for myself for a while,” he says.
One day a few hours before
he had to work, he went to the hospital because of pain from what he believed was a hernia.
After a long wait, he received no treatment.
“I got up and I just said, ‘Forget it,’” he says. “I raised hell a little bit, you know, I cussed and fussed a little bit.” He continued complaining to his wife while they were in the parking lot.
A couple of days later he received a letter in the mail stating that he was charged with a terroristic threat. “I was disorderly because I was in excruciating pain,” he explains. “I couldn’t get medical assistance.”
According to Sec. 609.713
Subd. 2, a person who makes a terroristic threat “communicates to another with purpose
King challenged Americans to speak out against universal injustice. Getty
King warned of a nation approaching “spiritual doom” if it continued to prioritize militarism and oppression over social uplift. Getty
Sister Spokesman attendees encouraged to reclaim their powers Metro
By Jasmine McBride Staff Writer
January’s Sister Spokesman event invited women seeking self-development to make their mark in 2025. Facilitated by longtime life coach MsEllaInspires, attendees were invited to kick off a fulfilling year with courageous self-reflection. The multigenerational space brought desires, truth and dreams to the surface through vision boarding, guided questions, and collaboration. Themes of self-love and expanding potential were a center focus, with testimonies of loss, struggle and resilience. There was a recurring recognition
of the need to prioritize the care of oneself, first expressed by those who volunteered to share their intentions.
MsEllaInspires shared her own story of being diagnosed with lupus and Sjogren’s disease in her 40s and facing what she anticipated as the end of her life at the time. Her message concluded with an ask to persist. Walking through the crowd, she concluded: “I invite you to answer how you can reclaim your power. Reclaim the truth that truly sets you free.”
Spoken word artist Lenora Magee graced the stage with raw conviction around the stance of being a Black woman. She introduced her piece “I
Know We Know” by exclaiming, “This is for us!” The piece rejoices, “I know God exists ’cause here we are.”
The showcasing of local vendors was a tone-setter. Tables of food, apparel, financial resources, herbal products, and more surrounded the room with offerings from individuals who took their leap of faith. To add to the excitement, games and raffles sent attendees home with various gifts from merchandise to consultations and entertainment admission.
Mark your calendars: The next Sister Spokesman event will take place from noon to 3 p.m. on Feb. 1 at 2225 West River Road N. The topic is Love Connections, and relationship coach Ericka Mitchell-Okatah will facilitate the event. For more information, visit the MSR events tab.
Jasmine McBride welcomes reader responses to jmcbride@ spokesman-recorder.com.
Visit the MSR events tab at www.spokesman-recorder.com.
“Reclaim the truth that truly sets you free.”
Ella Chapman of MsEllaInspires LLC
Blue ticket winner Tracey welcomes the crowd to Sister Spokesman.
Julien Jean-Pierre of Earth Alchemy Tea
A blue ticket winner celebrates her gift.
Attendees made vision boards for 2025.
Arlene B. Davis and Tracey Williams-Dillard
Attendees made vision boards for the New Year.
Ms. Lola Thomas and friends celebrate the day.
Health
By Jennifer Porter Gore
When word got out that Oscar-winning entertainer Jamie Foxx was hospitalized for a “mystery illness” in April 2023, it made national headlines and set rumor mills ablaze. Word on social media was that Foxx had gone blind, or was paralyzed, or suffered some other terrible affliction that threatened to end his brilliant career.
In reality Foxx had suffered, in his words, “a brain bleed that led to a stroke” — a serious, potentially deadly illness that’s far too common in the Black community.
As he tells it in his Netflix special, “Jamie Foxx: What Had Happened Was…” released in December, what began with a bad headache while working on a film in Atlanta ended in emergency brain surgery. Foxx says he regained consciousness in a wheelchair 20 days later, with no memory of what happened. His recovery, while complete, was long, grueling, and far from guaranteed.
“I cannot even begin to tell you how far it took me and how it brought me back,” Foxx said in an emotional social media video message to his fans.
“I went through something that I thought I would never ever
go through.”
On the Netflix stage, Foxx also thanks his fans and talks about his difficult recuperation. But a quick look at the numbers reveals the multi-talented entertainment superstar was very lucky to survive.
The fifth leading cause of death in the U.S., more than 795,000 people in the United States suffer from a stroke each year, killing about 140,000 of them. Roughly three-quarters of those strokes are first-time events.
Black Americans are 50% more likely to have a stroke than whites, and 7 in 10 Black men are more likely to die from it. Black women are nearly as vulnerable: They are twice as likely to have a stroke as white women.
Called “the silent killer” because it often arrives without warning, a stroke is typically defined as the disruption or blockage of blood flow through the brain, much like the brain bleed that led to Foxx’s stroke. It isn’t always related to a person’s age, physical fitness, or socioeconomic status.
The term itself describes just how sudden and dramatic a stroke can be: It stems from the Greek word “apoplexia,” defined as “being struck with a
overweight. More bad news: Tobacco use is another risk factor, and more than 14% of Black adults smoke, which increases the risk of a stroke between two to four times.
His sister’s quick action undoubtedly saved Foxx when she realized something was “off” and sought immediate help. The first emergency department doctor they visited, however, only gave Foxx medication for his headache and sent him on his way.
Unconvinced, Foxx’s sister took her brother to another hospital’s emergency department nearby, where the doctor immediately recognized the warning signs. He told her Foxx needed immediate brain surgery or he’d die.
blood pressure, along with increased exercise, weight loss, and quitting tobacco. The American Stroke Association also has an easy reference tool — the acronym F.A.S.T. — to help quickly recognize signs of stroke:
• F = Face Drooping – Does one side of the face droop or is it numb? Ask the person to smile. Is the person’s smile uneven?
• A = Arm Weakness – Is one arm weak or numb? Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
• S = Speech Difficulty – Is speech slurred?
• T = Time to call 911 – Stroke is an emergency. Every minute counts. Call 911 immediately. Note the time when any of the symptoms first appear.
deadly blow.”
Without blood flow, brain cells are starved of oxygen, become damaged and eventually die. Research is showing that in some cases the brain can regenerate new cells, but the healing process takes time, developing much slower in older adults than younger ones.
When it isn’t fatal, stroke is the leading cause of serious, long-term disability, especially in
adults over age 65. Roughly 75% of all stroke victims suffer from high blood pressure, a chronic disease found in 41% of Black people in the United States.
While socioeconomic status isn’t necessarily a determinant for stroke risk, researchers have found obesity, another condition endemic to the Black community, is a factor. Almost 70% of Black men and 80% of Black women are
“I’ve been sick, man. But now, I’ve got my legs under me, so you’re going to see me out.”
To lower stroke risks, physicians typically recommend people regularly monitor their
Back onstage for the first time in more than a year, Foxx said he is full of gratitude for his recovery.
“If you see me out from now on and every once in a while, I just burst into tears, it’s because it’s been tough, man,” he said. “I’ve been sick, man. But now, I’ve got my legs under me, so you’re going to see me out.”
Jennifer Porter Gore is a writer living in the Washington, D.C. area.
Autoimmune research could help millions
Jennifer Porter Gore
It’s an unheralded fact: Of the 24 to 50 million Americans with an autoimmune disease, like lupus or multiple sclerosis, 80% are women. And a disproportionate number of them are Black.
Now, scientists at Stanford University have found that a faulty genetic molecule could be responsible for the immune system misidentifying healthy tissue as a threat. The breakthrough study, published earlier this year, could lead to better treatments for the millions who battle these chronic diseases.
“Our study shows that you do not need female sex hormones. You don’t even need a second X-chromosome” to develop an autoimmune disease, says Howard Chang, a dermatologist and molecular geneticist at Stanford University School of Medicine in California. The molecule, called Xist, “could have a major role in developing some autoimmune diseases” by itself, he said.
Researchers are also investigating how socioeconomic, environmental, and epigenetic factors may play a role in these diseases.
“The disproportionate rates at which some autoimmune diseases strike African American women are among the most glaring disparities in medicine,” says Paula S. Ra-
mos, a geneticist and associate professor at the Medical University of South Carolina.
“About 90% of people with lupus and 60% of those with scleroderma are women, and the majority identify as African American or Hispanic.
“Many studies analyze biospecimens but not social factors, or they collect social data but not biological samples,” Ramos adds.
Autoimmune diseases occur when the body’s immune system attacks its own healthy tissues and cells, mistaking them for harmful invaders.
Severe cases like lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and Type I diabetes can lead to chronic inflammation, pain, and damage to organs or systems.
While the exact causes remain unclear, autoimmune diseases are believed to arise from a mix of genetic predisposition, environmental triggers, and immune system dysregulation.
The research suggests women are affected more often because the Xist (pronounced exist) molecule fails to turn off critical functions in a woman’s two X chromosomes.
The Xist molecule can trigger an unwanted immune response. Since most autoimmune diseases are most often diagnosed in adults, the sex hormones that show up after puberty — chiefly testosterone and estrogen — are believed to
play roles. But some researchers suspect socioeconomic factors could also be a factor.
The breakthrough raises hope that better medicines could be developed to treat these diseases by targeting the specific molecule. Current treatments and medications affect the entire immune system, which causes an intense range of side effects.
Women are 10 times more likely to contract lupus than men and 20 times more likely to develop Sjögren’s syndrome, an illness that causes extreme dryness of glands in the eyes and mouth.
Although autoimmune diseases affect Black women at alarmingly disparate rates, and often advance more quickly than in patients from the overall population, very little research into these diseases includes Black people.
Ramos and Dr. Diane Kamen have researched the causes of stark inequities in these diseases and investigated how social factors might influence lupus in African American women.
African American women with lupus have more severe cases and worse outcomes than women in other demographics. Lupus provides the perfect example of how all autoimmune diseases function.
“It’s the mother of all autoimmune diseases,” Kamen says.
“The disproportionate rates at which some autoimmune diseases strike African American women are among the most glaring disparities in medicine.”
“The basis of autoimmune disease is that the immune system attacks healthy cells and tissues, and many are focused on one area of the body.”
“For example, MS (multiple sclerosis) attacks the nervous system, and RA (rheumatoid arthritis) attacks the joints,” she says. “But antibodies from lupus attack many different types of cells in many different parts of the body. Patients can have
multiple different organ systems affected at the same time.”
Ramos says each participant in her research will submit genetic data from blood samples
“as well as social exposure data, including sociodemographic, behavioral, racial discrimination, and social support data.”
Ramos and Kamen believe understanding how social factors affect gene regulation and how the resulting gene ex-
pression patterns affect lupus, could lead to new methods for helping patients.
“We hope to see some positive effects of things like social support that may offset detriments like racial discrimination or low socio-economic status,” Ramos says.
Jennifer Porter Gore is a writer living in the Washington, DC area.
In a new Netflix special, Jamie Foxx describes how a headache led to emergency surgery for a brain bleed that led to a stroke. His full recovery beat the odds. Getty Images
immune system attacks its own healthy tissues
Jacob Wackerhausen
By Bria Overs
Personal Finance
The importance of getting professional financial advice
It’s hard to know where to turn when seeking guidance on budgets, investments, purchasing a home, or even starting a business. The internet is a great and vast resource, but it has one major flaw — it’s unable to get a complete view of your finances.
Passing down financial knowledge is common in the Black community, yet there’s a potential danger in sharing incorrect financial advice that could put someone on the wrong path. Certified financial professionals have the education, training, guidelines and standards needed to give reasonable financial advice on various financial topics.
“When we think about that educational component, being able to instill the knowledge, tools and habits that may not have come from prior generations allows us to change the trajectory of where we’re going,” says Gerald Grant III, a CFP professional at G Financial Group in alliance with Equitable Advisors.
With this in mind, the apparent differences between professionals, financial influencers, or “finfluencers” and financial coaches become clearer. And it’s an important distinction: Influencers and coaches are not required to have credentials or the subsequent knowledge that comes with it.
“The reason there are licenses and regulations to get into
this industry, as well as certain tests and designations, is because you’re governed [as a financial professional],” Grant says. “And there are rules you must follow when you’re on this side of the playing field.”
The consequences are severe if they don’t follow the rules and laws. Proper financial advice is vital for increasing financial literacy, boosting generational wealth, and being more prepared for retirement.
CFPs, CPAs, and CFAs
Certified Financial Planners (CFP) can get a “holistic” view and are meant to “bring all the pieces of your financial life together,” according to the CFP Board, which upholds the standards for planners.
Certified Public Accountants (CPA) can help individuals or business owners with all things related to taxes. Chartered Financial Analysts (CFA) are advanced investing and wealth management experts.
“Normally, people look for a CPA when they want tax advice or if they want something, like their nonprofit, audited,” she says. Davis notes
that CPAs are an excellent option for small-business owners looking for assistance with accounting and taxes. Clients could be partnerships, sole proprietorships, C and S corporations, estates and trusts. It’s possible to find a professional with all these designations, but deciding who to work with depends on your individual financial needs.
Financial coaching
Relying on financial influencers and financial coaches is tricky because many don’t have the certifications and professional expertise that a CFP has. However, CFPs occasionally recommend them for folks who don’t meet the
firm’s client requirements or can’t afford their services.
Coaches have limitations in what they can do and provide because of the regulations and licensing requirements. However, some Accredited Financial Counselors have a certification through the Association for Financial Counseling and Planning Education.
Davis says there are scammers on TikTok and Instagram who offer bad financial advice and encourage their audience to engage in illegal practices. Earlier this year, ABC News reported France became the first country to regulate influencer marketing, making it unlawful to create paid content promoting financial products,
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Researching what “finfluencers” recommend before acting on it, or speaking with a certified finance expert can combat taking lousy advice.
What to look for
Finding a financial planner or professional to work with is easy. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the United States has about 327,600 personal financial advisors. Their services often come at a price, and as such, many offer free consultations or introductory calls to see if your needs are a good fit for their services. Grant and Davis recommend asking the potential financial planner or coach
some of these questions when considering working with one.
• Who is your typical client?
• How and why did you get into this field?
• What are your personal finances like?
• What is your money story?
• What is the mission and purpose of your firm or business?
• What are things we’re not thinking about or doing that we should be?
Grant also has things he recommends looking out for:
• Are they asking you questions about your household?
• Are they asking you questions about your particular financial landscape?
• Are they recommending different strategies without proper information?
• Is this somebody who will have my best interest in mind? Or are they telling me what I want to hear?
• Are they going to educate me on the options available?
“I would say it’s like going to the doctor,” Grant says. “I can’t give you a full prescription if I don’t know your needs.” There needs to be a process for your financial professional to get to know you, where your finances stand, and where you want to go.
Bria Overs covers small business and consumer and economic trends, with a special interest in minority- and women-owned businesses, technology and labor.
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Passing down financial knowledge is common in the Black community, yet there’s a potential danger in sharing incorrect financial advice that could put someone on the wrong path. Fizkes
Continued from page 1
words remind us that the fight for justice is not bound by geography — it is a universal struggle.
Rashad Campbell, a community organizer in Minneapolis, reflected on King’s legacy and its relevance to modern issues. “Dr. King wasn’t afraid to speak out against war because he knew silence would mean complicity. That same courage is needed now, not only to condemn the violence in Gaza but also to demand justice here in Minnesota,” Campbell said.
The conflict in Gaza has sparked heated debates about human rights, militarism and colonialism. For Black Minnesotans, the violence underscores
LEGACY
Continued from page 1
understanding of his actions throughout his life, how he chooses words for different audiences and honor who he was as a person,” says event
DECREE
Continued from page 1
to our entire administration to not just get an agreement done with urgency, but to get an agreement done right, to get something that set a standard that everybody understands, a standard that is not going to shift with political wins or changes of administration at the city or federal level,” Mayor Jacob Frey said in announcing the agreement. “This agreement is rock solid, and our commitment to it, regardless of the circumstances, is also rock solid.”
The agreement is the second consent decree mandating change within the MPD since Floyd’s murder. Following a separate investigation, the Minnesota Department of Human Rights (MNDHR) and the City agreed in 2023 to a list of transformational changes. Despite well-documented abuses dating back generations, it was the first state civil rights investigation into the MPD in history. Minneapolis also is now the country’s first city to operate under federal and state consent decrees.
The MNDHR released its report in April 2022 after considering 10 years of practices,
RACISM
Continued from page 1
to terrorize another…that explosives or an explosive device or any incendiary device is present at a named place or location.”
A woman in the parking lot said he had threatened to blow something up, he was later told.
“I didn’t say anything to anybody like that,” he says. “And I wasn’t even in the facility.”
Wesley had to appear in court for the charges and was assigned a public defender.
“I’m asking him can [he] at least get them to drop it to a disorderly conduct, because that’s exactly what it was.”
His public defender told him he could face jail time if he didn’t plead guilty to the charge. Wesley was ending an existing probation and didn’t
the interconnected nature of global and local struggles. Ayanna Moore, a St. Paul resident, linked the billions of dollars spent on international conflicts to the systemic neglect of Black communities in America. “How can we call for peace abroad when we don’t have it at home?” Moore asked. “The same systems that justify violence in Gaza are the ones that justify the killing of Black people by police.”
Dr. King’s speech warned of a nation approaching “spiritual doom” if it continued to prioritize militarism and oppression over social uplift. This warning feels especially prescient in Minneapolis, where the killing of George Floyd by police in 2020 ignited a global reckoning on racial justice. Floyd’s death became a symbol of po-
lice violence and systemic racism, issues that remain at the forefront of conversations in Minnesota.
“Dr. King’s call for a revolution of values wasn’t just about foreign policy; it was about how we treat each other in our own neighborhoods,” said Jamal Owens, a youth mentor in North Minneapolis. “The murder of George Floyd was a stark reminder that America still hasn’t addressed its foundational issues of racism and violence. We’re demanding that the same moral clarity Dr. King spoke about be applied to policing in this country.”
Local residents have drawn parallels between King’s antiwar stance and the fight for justice in policing. Black individuals see the connection. “King said, ‘Injustice anywhere
The King Holiday and Service Act encourages all Americans to honor King through service and community engagement.
organizer and Minnetonka Special Ed teacher Tricia Heldt. “The story of who people
policies, and procedures within the MPD. The DOJ Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office District of Minnesota followed on June 16, 2023, issuing a scathing report tracking a years-long pattern of racial animus within the department.
The federal consent decree outlines multiple changes that must be made within MPD. Officers are required to intervene if they see another officer violating the rights of a person regardless of the violator’s rank. It bans chokeholds, neck restraints, and limits the use of chemical sprays as part of a larger use-of-force policy that requires officers to “promote the sanctity of life as the highest priority in their activities.”
It also limits pretextual stops — where police use a minor equipment or traffic violation to pull over someone they want to investigate.
“We are not going to just comply with its terms, but we will exceed expectations, and we will make change real for people on the street, saving lives and keeping people safe,”
said Police Chief Brian O’Hara, who previously led the Newark Police Department through a consent decree.
The Minneapolis-based nonprofit Effective Law Enforcement for All will oversee changes within the depart-
want to add more probation time. He had recently avoided jail time and probation for a previous offense — voting.
“I was about to be released from probation, but [my parole officer] said, ‘You voted, and you’re on probation.” I did not know I was not eligible to vote.”
As of Sept. 20, 2024, in the state of Minnesota, a criminal record does not prevent any person from voting unless they’re incarcerated. That was not the case for Wesley.
“I had to drop out of school because I didn’t know if I was going to have to go to jail.”
The judge dismissed the case. However, with a family and small children, a low-paying job means working more hours to pay the bills.
After pleading guilty to the terrorist threat charge, Wesley is again on probation, which includes community service.
“Since I’ve been here, that’s
is a threat to justice everywhere,’” Campbell noted.
“We cannot stay silent about what’s happening in Gaza, and we cannot stay silent about police killing Black people in our communities. Both are rooted in the same disregard for human life.”
“We’re tired of the talk,” said Campbell. “We need action — real changes in how police operate. It’s not enough to promise reform. We need to see lives protected, not taken.”
“Dr. King’s call for a revolution of values wasn’t just about foreign policy; it was about how we treat each other in our own neighborhoods.”
The killing of Floyd brought Black Minnesotans’ demands for accountability to the forefront, but many feel progress has been too slow. Despite calls for sweeping reform, incidents of police violence persist.
For many, the lessons of Beyond Vietnam are clear: Silence is not an option. Dr. King’s courage to denounce injustice, even when it meant alienating allies, is a powerful example for those speaking out today.
“A nation that continues year after year to spend more mon-
ey on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual doom,” King warned — a statement as relevant in the context of police budgets as it is in discussions about military spending.
As Minnesotans reflect on Dr. King’s words, they are reminded of the remaining work. The dual fight for justice — against militarism abroad and systemic racism at home — requires persistence, solidarity and courage.
“King’s message was about ending wars overseas,” Campbell said. “And it was about ending the war on Black lives right here in America. And the war in yourself.”
Aria Binns-Zager welcomes reader responses to abinns@spokesman-recorder.com.
think MLK was is often different depending on who is teaching about him,” says
Heldt. “Choosing to discuss aspects of his history allows him to be honored for who was. The story walks provide opportunities for families to engage with the information on their own while having conversations as a family and allowing the adults to explain information.”
ment as an independent evaluator of both consent decrees.
The City allocated a total of $27 million in its 2024 and 2025 budgets to implement reforms required by the two consent decrees, the same amount previously paid by the City to settle a wrongful death suit brought by Floyd’s family.
“The news of an agreement with the DOJ is very encouraging,” said Justin Terrell, executive director of the nonprofit Minnesota Justice Research Center. “Community members have both the DOJ and MNDHR going beyond calling attention to a longtime confirmed problem but offering a tool for the city and its residents to address proven constitutional violations
all they’ve been doing is trying to keep me on probation. … This is their racist tactics, the intimidating tactics they use toward people of color like me.”
Racism in Belle Plaine
Just south of Shakopee is the city of Belle Plaine. Its population is approximately 7,000. There are 30 police officers and they are in the process of building a second police station.
Thirty years ago, Samuel Er-
and race-based policing practices in MPD.”
The Justice Department has
Love First Community Engagement’s January community dinner and MLK event will take place 3-6 p.m. on Jan. 26 at Indigenous Roots Cultural Arts Center in St. Paul. For more information, go to lovefirsttc.org.
ROAR Waconia’s MLK Family Event will take place 2-3:30 p.m.
tices over the next four years are all but guaranteed to end.
Trump has consistently expressed hostility toward attempts to rein in abuses, calling such efforts a “war on police.” He went further at a campaign rally last year, imagining “one really violent day” in which police could operate without restraint.
Councilmember Robin Wonsley has no faith that the Trump administration will support implementation of the agreement. “Having a federal consent decree signed and in place is valuable to police reform efforts, but we need to be sober about the fact that it will take local political will to hold the city and the Frey
“I don’t think we’ll be proud until the day all residents in our city feel an equitable justice system.”
opened a dozen similar investigations into state and local law enforcement agencies since 2021, reaching agreements with Seattle, New Orleans, Baltimore, Chicago, and Ferguson, Missouri. But DOJ investigations into racist prac-
ickson moved to the city as a teen. He says racist incidents have been par for the course the whole time he’s lived there.
There are just a few Hispanics and even fewer Blacks. Until early this year, most of the racism he witnessed came from police and council members.
“Don’t get it twisted; it’s a small corn-fed town,” says Erickson. “But the citizens of the city, most of them are nice and friendly and open-armed.”
City officials are not open to subsidized housing though it would benefit their constituents. “They don’t want that element in their town because it’s going to bring all the minorities,” says Erickson. “They are going to come in with their drugs and their problems. This is what’s being argued at city council meetings.”
Erickson, part Native American with tattoos on his face, says he is partly protected be-
administration accountable to implementing and enforcing the terms of the consent decree,” she said in a statement.
Trump’s planned nomination of Harmeet K. Dhillon as assistant attorney general in charge of the DOJ’s Civil
cause it’s hard for people to determine his ethnicity. People of color and openly GLBTQ community members are subjected to blatant discrimination.
What happened in February prompted Erickson to call the NAACP: “A gay Black kid was beaten, left for dead in the streets,” says Erickson. “It took the cops three days to open an investigation.”
The victim is a young man who lives in Belle Plaine. He was assaulted by a white young man who also lives in the city.
“He laid there for hours after the bars closed,” explains Erickson. “The cops are always up there, so there is no reason why the cops didn’t see him lying there. We have video of a white dude from town getting in his truck and driving around this kid’s body, lying in the street bleeding from his ears.”
The young man who was arrested is now serving 14 years
on Jan. 20 at the Safari Island Community Center in Waconia.
For more information visit the ROAR Waconia Facebook page www.facebook.com/ROARWaconia.
For more events celebrating Dr. King and his legacy, go to the MSR website: www.spokesmanrecorder.com.
Rights Division raises further alarms. Dhillon built her career championing conservative causes, among them attacking corporate diversity programs and defending “the civil liberties of Americans left behind by civil rights legacy organizations.” She is expected to oversee a tectonic shift in enforcement priorities from previous administrations.
“Dhillon has focused her career on diminishing civil rights, rather than enforcing or protecting them,” Maya Wiley, president of the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, said in a statement.
While recognizing the historic moment of finally holding the MPD accountable for its longstanding history of abuses, City Council President Elliott Payne isn’t ready to claim victory. “This is just words on paper,” he said. Change “has to happen on the ground and has to happen in the real world. And the results of that work we are still waiting for.
“I don’t think we’ll be proud until the day all residents in our city feel an equitable justice system.”
Clint Combs contributed to this report. Cynthia Moothart welcomes reader responses at cmoothart@spokesman-recorder.com.
for a hate crime. Erickson says members of the police department are now patrolling the city. “I think the city realized that they almost had a Black death on their hands, and they were about to get sued.”
The young man’s life has now been permanently changed. “He’s a horse trainer. He can’t go to work anymore because of the brain damage,” says Erickson.
Asked why he remains in the city after witnessing the racism, Erickson says, “I’m not moving for nobody. I’ve been telling Black people if you want to shake up a community, move to Belle Plaine. The next time something like this happens — and it’s going to — I would like to see 10,000 people standing up for [people of color in] their community.”
Vickie Evans-Nash welcomes reader responses to vnash@ spokesman-recorder.com.
City Council President Elliott Payne
Patrica James
Arts & Culture
The Sound of Gospel a ‘transformative experience’
By Aria Binns-Zager Staff Writer
This February, Minnesotans can experience a musical journey like no other with The Sound of Gospel, a production honoring the profound legacy of gospel music and its impact on the African American experience. Hosted by 2nd Chance Outreach, the uplifting performances are Feb. 8 and 9 at the historic Fitzgerald Theater in downtown St. Paul.
Produced by playwright and executive director William Pierce and directed by Academy Award-nominated actress and vocalist Jevetta Steele, The Sound of Gospel weaves together history, music and storytelling to create an unforgettable celebration of Black History Month. Musical direction comes from Grammy Awardwinning artist Billy Steele, ensuring a performance that is as musically rich as it is emotionally moving.
“Spirituals were born of resistance — providing humani-
ty during inhuman times,” said Peirce. “These songs helped African Americans through challenging, desperate moments. Today they continue to provide inspiration, hope and encouragement.”
The show traces the evolution of gospel music, beginning in Africa with the beat of a drum. From there, audiences are taken on a journey through time, featuring work and freedom songs, Negro spirituals, choirs, quartets, and today’s contemporary and urban gospel.
The production is deeply personal for Pierce, who grew up in Sallis, Mississippi, in a family rich with musical talent. “My dad was a great singer, and his mother and three sisters were singers as well,” Pierce said.
“Spirituals were born of resistance — providing humanity during inhuman times. These songs helped African Americans through challenging, desperate moments. Today, they continue to provide inspiration, hope, and encouragement.”
“I grew up surrounded by gospel music, especially on Sunday mornings. It resonated with me — the suffering, the joy, the liberation in those songs. They established a foundation in me about who I am in this life.”
When Pierce moved to Minneapolis, he brought this foundation with him, determined to share the impact gospel music had on his life. This passion led to the creation of The Sound of Gospel, which premiered in 2018 at the National Baptist Convention in Minneapolis. The production returned in 2020 before the pandemic, then resumed in 2022, growing in popularity each year. Last year’s sold-out performances at the Cowles Center set the stage for its highly anticipated debut at the Fitzgerald.
The power of The Sound of Gospel lies in its ability to connect people through music, which Pierce describes as a “universal language.” The show is both educational and inspiring, offering audiences a deeper understanding of gospel music’s historical significance while celebrating its power to unite.
The production’s twohour runtime features 14 songs, each carefully selected to represent distinct eras, from West African history and slavery to the Civil Rights and Black Power movements and urban gospel heard today. Transitions between eras are narrated by cast members, allowing the audience to understand not just the music but the context and composers behind it.
Steele emphasized the immersive experience awaiting attendees. “The audience will be surrounded by some
of the best Twin Cities performing artists. I try to enhance the performances by incorporating new elements each year. This production opens with the beat of the drum, symbolizing the journey that carries through the entire show.”
Beyond the music, The Sound of Gospel offers an opportunity to share stories that foster understanding and connection. “If you can share your story with someone, they have a better understanding of your life history,” said Pierce. “The music helps transform them. We want people to leave loving each other more, respecting each other more, and coming together more.”
The show also reflects the teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., whose words remain a guiding force for the production. “I am convinced that people hate each other because they fear
each other,” King said. “They fear each other because they don’t know each other. And they don’t know each other because they don’t communicate with each other.” Pierce believes music is a vital way to bridge these divides. “It’s hard to hate when you’re listening to spirituals,” he said. “Music brings us together and allows us to communicate universally.”
While The Sound of Gospel honors the African American experience, its message of hope, peace and inspiration transcends cultural and ethnic boundaries. Regardless of one’s background, attending the show promises to be a transformative experience.
The production provides an opportunity to explore the African American story through a historical lens, reflecting on the profound impact gospel music has had on both the community and individuals while envisioning its continued role in bringing hope to the world. Proceeds from The Sound of Gospel will benefit 2nd Chance Outreach, furthering its mission of using art to transform lives and communities.
Tickets for the performances are available at the Fitzgerald Theater box office or online. For more information, visit First Avenue online or contact 2nd Chance Outreach at 651-600-4087.
Aria Binns-Zager welcomes reader responses to abinns@ spokesman-recorder.com.
Nine new books for Black students in 2025
With the arrival of the new year comes a fresh lineup of soon-to-be-published books that will inspire and educate Black K-12 students. These titles offer diverse narratives that celebrate culture, history, and personal growth, empowering students to see themselves reflected and represented in literature.
Here are nine upcoming books for Black students at every K-12 level to look for in 2025.
By Quintessa Williams
Elementary school students
“Little Troublemaker Defends Her Name” by Luvvie Ajayi Jones: In this picture book, Little Luvvie embarks on her first day at a new school, confronting challenges and teasing about her unique name. Through her journey, she learns the importance of self-love, confidence, and embracing her individuality. Release date: May 6
“Imani’s New Dog” by Cicely Lewis: Imani, a vibrant
and curious young girl, finds her life transformed when her family adopts a playful puppy. Through adventures with her new pet, she discovers important lessons about responsibility, teamwork and compassion.
Release date: Jan. 1
“On Our Way! What a Day!” by JaNay Brown-Wood: This picture book follows a group of children as they embark on a fun-filled day of exploration and adventure, highlighting the joy of discovery and the beauty of the natural world.
Release date: Jan. 7
Middle school students “Bo and the Talent Show Trouble” by Elliott Smith: Bo is a middle schooler preparing for his school’s talent show, but he soon finds himself facing stage fright, self-doubt, and unexpected mishaps. The story takes readers through his struggles, triumphs, and the support he receives from friends and family. It also explores the jour-
ney of finding confidence and embracing challenges. Release date: Jan. 1.
“Letters to Misty: How to Move Through Life with Confidence and Grace” by Misty Copeland: Drawing from personal experiences and letters from fans, Misty Copeland offers guidance on body confidence, balancing commitments, and stepping out of comfort zones. Co-written with children’s author Nikki Shannon Smith, this book, appropriate for ages 8-12, provides insights into overcoming challenges and embracing one’s identity. Release date: May 6
“Stories of the Spirit of Justice” by Jemar Tisby: This collection presents true, impactful stories of historical figures from the well-known to the often overlooked who resisted racism and created a legacy of hope and perseverance. Each short biography is paired with an illustration to inspire young readers to continue working toward justice. Release date: Jan. 7
High school students
“
Soul School” by Amber O’Neal Johnston: This collection chronicles the rich cultural heritage of Black music, from its African roots to its influence on genres like jazz, hip hop, and R&B. The book features historical context, personal insight, and creative prompts, an engaging way for high schoolers to connect with their cultural heritage while fostering an appreciation for music’s role in shaping identity and history. Release date: Jan. 2
by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson: As school begins in 1963, Cooper Dale wrestles with what it means to “shine” for a Black girl in a predominantly white community near Pittsburgh. Set against the historical backdrop of the Birmingham church bombing, the Kennedy assassination, and Beatlemania, this book encourages students to pursue their dreams and understand the impact of Black leaders.
Release date: Jan. 7
Quintessa Williams is an activist and a journalist who writes on multiple topics geared toward popular culture and the socio-political lifestyles of African Americans.
“Bones at the Crossroads” by LaDarrion Williams: In this sequel to “Blood at the Root,” Malik is now a freshman at a historically Black university for magic students. As he navigates academic and social life, he unearths deeper secrets about his family and the mystical legacy he’s inherited. The novel blends magical fantasy with coming-of-age themes, tackling issues of identity and belonging. Release date: July 29.
These titles offer diverse narratives that celebrate culture, history, and personal growth, empowering students to see themselves reflected and represented in literature.
“Radiant”
The show traces the evolution of gospel music, beginning in Africa with the beat of a drum.
From there, audiences are taken on a journey through time, featuring work and freedom songs, Negro spirituals, choirs, quartets, and today’s contemporary and urban gospel.
Scene of the Sound of Gospel
All photos courtesy 2nd Chance Outreach
Education
20 inspirational quotes to start Black students strong in 2025
By Quintessa Williams
2024 was a challenging year for Black students, teachers and language. Some school districts banned books, others restricted how classrooms discussed Black history, and others tried to curb
“Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today.” — Malcolm X, activist and educator.
“When you control a man’s thinking, you do not have to worry about his actions.” — Dr. Carter G. Woodson, scholar, historian, and the father of Black History Month.
“Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome.” — Booker T. Washington, educator and founder of Tuskegee Institute
“Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die, life is a brokenwinged bird that cannot fly.” — Langston Hughes, poet and educator.
“The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character — that is the goal of true education.” — Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., civil rights leader.
“You are your best thing.” — Toni Morrison, Nobel Prize-winning author and educator.
“You have to act as if it were possible to radically transform the world. And you have to do it all the time.” — Angela Davis, civil rights activist and educator.
“We may encounter many defeats, but we must not be defeated.” — Maya Angelou, author and educator
“Knowledge is the pathway from slavery to freedom.” — Frederick Douglass, abolitionist and educator.
“Learning to stand in somebody else’s shoes, to see through their eyes,
Black kids from using cultural slang. Outside of the classroom, many young Black people were and still are discouraged by the return of President-elect Donald Trump, a candidate who openly used racist language in his defeat of Vice President Kamala Harris, the first Black woman
to lead a major party’s presidential ticket. It has all shown that words still matter. But the start of a new year brings a clean slate, a fresh opportunity to use words for inspiration and goal-setting. For Black students, messages of encouragement and wisdom — especially
from educators and leaders who share their cultural heritage — can foster an empowering sense of identity and pride.
As students return to school in 2025, here are some inspirational quotes that aim to uplift and start Black students off strong:
— former President Barack Obama.
“I did what my conscience told me to do, and you can’t fail if you do that.” — Anita Hill, attorney and educator.
“To bring about change, you must not be afraid to take the first step. We will fail when we fail to try.” — civil rights activist
Rosa Parks.
“Freedom is never given; it is won.” — A. Philip Randolph, labor leader and civil rights activist.
“Education is the key to unlock the golden door of freedom.” — scientist and educator George Washington Carver.
“If they don’t give you a seat at the table, bring in a folding chair.” — Rep. Shirley Chisholm, a New York Democrat and the first Black woman to run for president.
“Children are not things to be molded, but are people to be unfolded.” — Jess Lair, educator and philosopher.
“History has shown us that courage can be contagious and hope can take on a life of its own.” — former First Lady Michelle Obama.
“The whole world opened to me when I learned to read.” — Mary McLeod Bethune, founder of BethuneCookman University.
“I believe a child going
“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” — South African President
for
Malcolm X
Booker T. Washington
Shirley Chilsolm
without an education is a crime.” — Vice President Kamala Harris.
Nelson Mandela.
Quintessa Williams is an education reporter
Word in Black.
Langston Hughes Maya Angelou
George Washington Carver Nelson Mandela
Toni Morrison
Opinion
Let’s give self-determination a try
Begging MAGA for acceptance does not look promising
By Aswad Walker
If there is any good to come out of the results of Election 2024, it will be that Blackfolk have finally awakened to the only viable path forward for our well-being — self-determination.
Lord, have mercy, we’ve had this centuries-old debate about which route would best serve our collective needs. Should we fully commit to seeking entrance and acceptance into the larger U.S. society — a path some reduce to the term integration? Or should we “go hard in the paint” building our own path — a route referred to as nation building, self-reliance, and/or self-determination?
Blackfolk have been engaged in this discussion forever. It can be summarized as “Which way is freedom?” But we can see both sides of the debate in one person: David Walker.
In 1828, Walker published a book that, at the time, could get you beaten, tortured, jailed, and/or killed if found in your possession. Today you can purchase it for a couple of bucks online. The book: “David Walker’s Appeal” (the actual title is nearly as long as this article).
Walker makes a fourpronged argument why enslaved and “freed” Blacks need to fight for their collective freedom “by any means necessary.” He advocated for selfdetermination.
This was a radical shift from Walker’s previous position as an abolitionist. Abolitionists stood against the institution of slavery but believed the only way to tear it down was within the confines of the law. The only problem: Slavery was the law.
Walker wrote about ending slavery and gave speeches on the topic from that abolitionist position. Then he realized we’d be begging others for acceptance for the next 400 years. God did not create us to be enslaved, so we need to stop acting like it and take what is ours — the freedom God birthed in all human beings.
internal debate about which way freedom. We invested the lion’s share of our time, effort and dollars into accessing our piece of the American pie. We Blackfolk have time and again shown ourselves to believe in the Constitution, Bill of Rights, and American democracy far more than whites. This last presidential election was a tripling down on that position.
End is near for EPA’s ‘full force’ environmental justice
By Willy Blackmore
While President Biden’s lone term in office will run through Jan. 19, the resignation of Environmental Protection Agency administrator Michael S. Regan marks the end of a too-short and ultimately failed experiment in seeking environmental justice through regulation.
As the first Black man to head the EPA, Regan put the agency’s focus on Americans who have for generations experienced wildly disproportionate exposures to toxic chemicals and the most dramatic effects of climate change. Regan acknowledged this in the resignation letter, noting that the agency took environmental justice and “placed it at the center of our decision-making.”
That is both true and historic, but the more systemic change that Regan’s EPA tried to bring about was stonewalled by legal challenges that threatened to undermine the agency’s strongest tool for righting environmental injustices.
Before the Regan era, the EPA was notorious for taking ages with Title XI investigations and rarely withheld federal funds. The EPA has only twice said that local agencies were being discriminatory.
Earlier in 2024, 23 Republican state attorneys general wrote a letter to the EPA calling for the end of Title XI environmental injustice investigations, which they referred to as “racial engineering.”
nearby before approving new pollution permits.
That agreement was never finalized — the investigation was dropped after then-Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry (who is now governor) sued the EPA early in 2023 over the disparate impact standard.
The suit argues that the federal government should be able to withhold funds only if it can prove that there was an intent to discriminate; in August, a district court judge nominated by President Donald Trump sided with Louisiana in the case. Earlier in 2024, 23 Republican state attorneys general wrote a letter to the EPA calling for the end of Title XI investigations, which they referred to as “racial engineering.”
One Black theologian, Bishop D. Kimathi Nelson, recently described Donald Trump’s 2024 election as the official end to America’s second Reconstruction.
That’s how slavery came to an end — spurred on by enslaved Blacks who weren’t waiting around for acceptance into a slave society. Every generation since has faced the question of how we improve our lot. And every time, most of us chose to fight for entrance into U.S. society over building our own. The only times we “chose” to build our own (Rosewood, Seneca Village, the multiple Black Wall Streets) were when we were kept out of the “larger society” by the force of law and white violence.
But each time we had this
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One Black theologian, Bishop D. Kimathi Nelson, described Donald Trump’s 2024 win as the official end to America’s second Reconstruction. He argued that the first reconstruction immediately after slavery was a period of expanding rights for Black people. He further suggested that the second reconstruction, which started in 1965 and ended in 2024, was another era of possibilities for Black people.
As with the end of the first Reconstruction, which brought a halt to Black progress, a rollback of rights, and an exponential rise in violence against Blacks, this second Reconstruction’s end will be as jarring.
Blackfolk were never considered members of the “We” in “We the People.” However, because we thought we were, we invested heavily in shoring up our positions in a society that never fully embraced us. Now that society is openly rejecting us, many are feeling shocked, hurt, angry, confused and grief-stricken.
The only viable approach to forward movement is via giving self-determination a try. Self-determination involves a hard, dangerous, challenging collective effort to build the institutional network needed for people to feed, clothe, house, educate and employ themselves. Though such a reality may seem daunting, it stands more of a chance of succeeding than Black people collectively begging to be included in a MAGA universe.
For 400 years we’ve chosen the other route. Why not give self-determination a try?
Aswad Walker is an associate pastor for the Shrine of Black Madonna in Houston, an adjunct professor in the University of Houston Main Campus’ African American Studies Department, and the author of five books.
That tool is Title XI of the Civil Rights Act, which says, “No person in the United States shall, on the ground of race, color, or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.”
That means that no state or local agency receiving federal funds can engage in discrimination. Specifically, the federal government can withhold funds over discrimination even if that discrimination is unintentional or cannot be proved.
That was all supposed to change under Regan, who the Biden administration empowered to use the full force of Title XI to investigate environmental injustice in a way never before done. The agency started with what is arguably the most dramatic case of environmental injustice anywhere in the country, the River Parishes in Louisiana, where high concentrations of chemical plants and refineries have made it so the nearby Black communities have a 95% greater chance of developing cancer than the average American. There was real potential for change: a draft agreement that the EPA and state regulators reached as a result of the investigation into the area known as Cancer Alley, which included a provision requiring regulators to consider how emissions affect people of different socioeconomic backgrounds living
The legal challenge to Title XI and the risk that the Louisiana case could potentially go before a decidedly unfriendly Supreme Court all but ended investigations into discrimination by Regan’s EPA. Reporting by The Intercept showed that Title XI cases were widely dropped in states run by Republicans.
With Trump heading back to the White House, the EPA is one of the agencies on the chopping block. Former New York Rep. Lee Zeldin, a Long Island Republican, is Trump’s pick to lead the EPA. If confirmed, Zeldin will, in Trump’s words, be empowered to “ensure fair and swift deregulatory decisions that will be enacted in a way to unleash the power of American businesses.”
Willy Blackmore is a freelance writer and editor covering food, culture, and the environment. He lives in Brooklyn.
Finding community amid isolation and polarization
By José Luis Vilson
Building community feels harder to accomplish these days. It’s more than just listening to one another. It’s the multiple forces vying for people’s ears and eyes and which messages land.
The United States reached an apex during the 2020 uprisings because ideas of eliminating institutional harm toward a shared humanity replaced the status quo. Now, and in retaliation, we’re inundated with anti-heroes not only repeating nonsense about people they despise but parading unapologetic dispositions in the worst ways.
The repetition is working well for too many of our neighbors. Educators at the school level have tried to sound the alarms, but those calls have fallen on ignorant ears.
We can discuss the role of social media, but the videos and memes fill holes in logic that society hasn’t filled. Our students watch videos that engage them in ways that the rest of us don’t. International reporters and testimonials explain ongoing inhumanity here and abroad to some.
Evangelists also explain alpha and beta men and the connections between Christ and the incoming president. Conspiracy theories of varying degrees abound. Students turn to their phones because their in-person community isn’t pouring back into them.
We watch adults struggle with facts and beliefs even more so. Some pundits have repeated lies that teachers
specialize in gender-affirming care, the latest attack on public education. Behind the scenes, some powerful people have sought to concretize this caste system. Few have sought to stop the calamity.
So many variables contribute to the isolation and polarization conversation. But it isn’t just people isolating and polarizing themselves. It’s people in power doing the isolating and polarizing.
pire to a community outside of our comforts.
Forcing folks to silence crucial parts of themselves keeps us further away as well. There’s a difference between community and audience, too. An audience is one-directional, and there’s room for that. But we need community to help more of us step up to the moment.
So many variables contribute to the isolation and polarization conversation. But it isn’t just people isolating and polarizing themselves. It’s people in power doing the isolating and polarizing.
But as an educator, I believe providing spaces for people to feel whole creates permission to feel like they belong. Right now, we’re getting signals that belonging to a larger, empathetic community doesn’t matter. People are writing inclusive histories further out of our textbooks. People are passing laws to further marginalize folks based on who they love, how they were born, and what part of their being they’d like to control. We’re already seeing large corporations, philanthropists and politicians scale back some of the commitments they made only four years ago toward a shared humanity.
But I’m a believer that giving in to the whims of people trying to shove already marginalized people doesn’t help us get any closer to a loving community. This is a good time to look around to build and as-
Luckily, I have a few communities I’m a part of that consistently step up and out (including one I helped build 10 years ago when I had none like it). I, and so many others, are working towards a world where our different gifts can come together in authentic unison. We get to be both ourselves and together with others in our expressions. As human beings, all of us crave that level of community, but we can’t get it if we don’t even recognize the same notes. Let’s get to work.
José Luis Vilson is a veteran educator, writer, speaker, and activist in New York City. He is the author of “This Is Not A Test: A New Narrative on Race, Class, and Education.” He’s a National Board Certified Teacher, a Math for America Master Teacher, and the executive director of EduColor, an organization dedicated to race and social justice issues in education.
SOE
Continued from page 10
Jade is Brown’s only Black player. At her game last week, there was only one Black reporter who didn’t see too many other Blacks, if any at all. This lack of diversity at hockey games, in my decades-long experience as a hockey fan and reporter, isn’t unusual. “I think diversity in the game is growing in a lot of
PREP
Continued from page 10
As a senior at Roseville High School, Ugass averaged 18.3 points per game, including a career-high 38, while named the second-ranked center in the state. She originally signed with Louisiana State University, but a coaching change led
ways,” surmised Iginla. “It’s really cool to see more and more Black girls specifically playing, and to look up to people like [PWHL’s] Sarah Nurse, Mikyla Grant-Mentis, and Laila Edwards [who plays at Wisconsin]. It’s always special to see little girls at the games.”
Finally…
The PWHL last week announced the December SupraStars of the Month, which recognizes three forwards, two defenders and one goal-
her to transfer to UMKC. Contreras, a junior guard, finished with 18 points for UMKC. She played a supporting role during her varsity career at Hopkins High School that included a Class 4A state championship (2019). Her patience and perseverance has contributed to her emergence as one the country’s top guards.
tender at the conclusion of each month.
Toronto’s Sarah Nurse is one of the league’s three Black players this season. She finished December as one of the league’s top 3 scorers (6 points — 3 goals, 3 assists) in seven games and leads the PWHL with 141 faceoffs, 21 more than the next closest player.
Charles Hallman welcomes reader comments to challman@ spokesman-recorder.com.
The brilliant careers of Hill and Ugass will conclude at the end of the season, while Contreras will return for her final campaign next year.
Three of the metro area’s finest represented. This columnist is sorry he missed it.
Dr. Mitchell Palmer McDonald welcomes reader comments to mcdeezy05@gmail.com.
BRODUS
Continued from page 10
said, he often listened to the elder Thompson. “I remember Big John said to me, ‘Boy, I don’t think you want to be a head coach.’ I said, ‘Coach, I watched you a long time, and I wanted to be like you.’”
recruiter, a historic tag often placed on Black coaches rather than highlight their on-court coaching acumen in game situations. He has also shown that he can indeed lead a club. He led the Bears to the MEAC Tournament championship game in 2021, a couple of years after his arrival. In 2021-22 the school reached the league semifinals.
average [playing] lifespan is three to five years.
“You got to take the shorts off, put on long pants, and be productive in life, save your money, make a lot of money, whatever,” surmised Broadus. “That’s my job, to prepare them to be ready for this cosmopolitan world, prepare them for what’s ahead.
31 Black males, but without Black colleges those numbers decrease to 69 females and 20 males.
There are 1,003 Black HCs in all sports, but when you take out the HBCU coaches, it’s 710 total.
“The Summit League is underrated,” declared Denver WBB Coach Doshia Woods, one of three Black female HCs. She is in her fifth year, hired in 2020 after 10 seasons on the Tulane coaching staff.
Woods also serves on various committees including the DU Athletics DEI and the Black Community Advisory Board, as well as in the WBCA where she serves on several committees.
Carrie Banks also is in her fifth season at Nebraska Omaha, hired in 2020. She has led the Mavericks to two Summit League Tournament championship games. Before she was hired at Omaha, Banks was an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for
four seasons at Ohio State (2016-2020), then at Northwestern (2010-2013).
Banks and Chris Crutchfield (MBB) and UMKC’s Dionnah Jackson-Durrett and Marvin Menzies are the only Black WBB-MBB head coaching duos in the Summit League — the latter both were hired by Kansas City in 2022.
Crutchfield, who was featured in the MSR’s recurring Coaching While Black series (November 16), was hired in 2022 and has 20 years of coaching experience.
Jackson-Durrett is in her third season. She held coaching positions at Mississippi State (assistant 2015-19, and associate head coach 201920), George Mason (assistant, 2013-15), Southeast Missouri State (assistant, 201013) and Texas associate head coach (2020-22).
Menzies also is in his third season at Kansas City.
He has over 30 years of college coaching experience and over 240 wins as a head coach at New Mexico State and UNLV. During Summit League me-
dia day last fall, Woods told the MSR, “Being in the Summit League the last four years, we’ve had a [women’s] head coaches support group. We meet on Zoom… I think we often understate the toll we go through, and how lonely we feel at the top. I think we are able to push each other up.”
Finally…
Either Notre Dame’s Marcus Freeman or Penn State’s James Franklin will coach in the January 20 FBS national championship after their two teams meet this week on January 9. It will be the first time a Black head coach will be in the National Championship game.
There are only 16 Black head coaches in college football, including Freeman and Franklin, in 134 FBS programs.
Franklin is Penn State’s first Black head coach, and Freeman is Notre Dame’s second-ever Black HC.
Charles Hallman welcomes reader comments to challman@ spokesman-recorder.com.
So when a head coaching opportunity did materialize at Binghamton, an upstate New York school, Broadus took it. He was head coach there for two seasons (2007-09), winning both a regular season and conference title in the same year that he won the 2009 America East Coach of the Year.
After a two-year hiatus, Broadus returned to Georgetown, then went to Maryland before Morgan State offered him his second HC opportunity in 2019.
Broadus rightly earned his reputation as a top-notch
Asked to comment about him and Minnesota’s Ben Johnson, two Black head coaches in action at a game that was attended by many young Black people, Broadus said, “Yeah, it’s important. … I played for two Black coaches. They have similar backgrounds as most of these kids that are playing [today]. It’s good to have Black coaches mentoring them, not just coaching them [but] mentoring them to the next level of life, and that’s the main thing because in basketball the
“I’ve been through it,” concluded the Morgan State coach. “I’m just making sure they know the importance that we [as Black people] got to be better — 2, 3, 5, 10 times better than those others that we’re competing against in life. I learned from Big John that hard work don’t guarantee you’ll be successful. It just gives you a better chance.
“You’d rather have a better chance than no chance at all.”
Charles Hallman welcomes reader comments to challman@ spokesman-recorder.com.
Jade Iginla
Photo by Charles Hallman Sarah Nurse Courtesy of PWHL
Sports
Like father like daughter in this hockey family
Iginla on the ice Courtesy
of Brown Athletics
ast week Jade Hill (Minneapolis South), Tamia Ugass (Roseville), and Alayna Contreras (Hopkins), three former metro area girls basketball standouts, were set to compete at the NCAA Division I level.
Hill, a senior guard for the University of St. Thomas (UST), was leading the Tommies against the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC) Kangaroos featuring Ugass, a senior center, and Contreras, a junior backcourt rival.
This columnist was looking forward to this contest, having covered them — in one way or another — during
ports odds and If you watch your father, a Hockey Hall of Famer, play, and your siblings also are players, it might be expected that Jade Iginla more than likely would also pick up the family mantra.
“Of course, you grow up going to the games,” admitted the British Columbia native after her game last Friday. “I have two younger brothers that play and are doing really well. It’s definitely a family thing.”
The 5’7” Iginla is a junior center on the Brown University hockey team. The Bears lost 9-1 to host Minnesota in the second game of the twonight, East-West Showcase
January 3 at Ridder Arena. She didn’t score, but got two shots on goal.
“It’s a tough one to let up a few [goals],” noted Iginla. The Gophers scored their first goal barely a minute into the game and three more tallies to be up 4-0 after one period.
Jade’s father, Jerome Iginla, played 21 years in the NHL (1996-2017), the 11th overall
“I
the
ways.
It’s
a
pick by Dallas in 1995. He was a two-time Canadian Olympian, 2001-02 NHL MVP, and only the fourth Black player inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame (2020). The elder Iginla finished as a six-time All-Star, one of 20 players to score over 600 goals, and one of 34 players to record 1,300 points.
Jerome’s daughter grew up playing ringette, softball, and figure skating before finally adopting hockey as her main choice of sport as a high school freshman. Jade joined Brown in 2022-23 and finished with 23 points and 17 goals, the most among ECAC freshmen and third among rookies nationally. She also was named
the team’s MVP and conference co-rookie of the year.
Jade followed up with 16 goals and 27 points in her sophomore year, and made second team all-Ivy League as the team leader with 99 shots and second on the team with 11 assists.
Iginla also made the ECAC All-Academic Team in 202223 and played on Team Canada that won a gold medal in the IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship.
“The belief that my family instilled in me [was] that if I work hard, I have all the resources to accomplish [her goals] and do the work,” said Iginla.
Hill, Ugass and Contreras represent Former metro stars shine
their prep careers. However, a scheduling conflict caused the columnist to miss St. Thomas’ 76-69 Summit League victory in game in which all three had outstanding performances with significant contributions.
Hill scored 15 points for UST, while Ugass and Contreras led UMKC with 26 and 18 points, respectively. Not only did each have an outstanding game, but they all have had interesting journeys to playing at the collegiate level.
Hill, who will leave UST as one of the school’s most decorated players, dominated the high school scene during her time at South. She was a twotime Minneapolis City Conference Player of the Year, scored a career-high 52 points in a game, and finished with over 2,700 points for her career.
■ See PREP on page 9
Underrated Summit League shows impressive coaching diversity
really cool to see more and more Black girls playing.” “I think we often understate the toll we go through, and how lonely we feel at the top.”
When St. Thomas left the DIII MIAC for DI in 2019, the St. Paul school joined the Summit League, a mid-major conference.
An overlooked fact: The 9-team Summit League has five Black head basketball coaches (three females and two males). This is more than the Big Ten (4), and equals the Big East (5). Only the ACC (13), Big 12 (6) and SEC
he NCAA “neither acknowledges nor uses the terms ‘major’ and ‘mid-major’ when referring to college athletic conferences,” says Wikipedia. The mid-major moniker first was coined in 1977. As a result, it is mainly used by media, fans, and other folk to differentiate between the Power 5 conferences (Big Ten, Big 12, ACC, SEC, and Big East) and the 26 smaller conferences, which include two HBCU conferences (MEAC and SWAC).
Morgan State coach sees his main job as preparing players for what comes next
By Charles Hallman
evin Broadus readily admits he did not take the traditional route to coaching, which usually is from active player to the sidelines.
“I didn’t go to college to be a coach,” stressed the sixthyear Morgan State head men’s basketball coach. During a postseason chat with him after his Bears played Minnesota on Dec. 29 — a 90-68 defeat in the final non-conference matchup for both squads before fully entering their respective league play — Broa-
dus briefly took us on a tour of his journey, which began as a native of the Washington, D.C. suburbs.
Broadus played high school ball at the famed Dunbar High School, where Carter G. Woodson once was on the faculty. The late Reggie Lewis, Muggsy Bogues, Reggie Williams, and David Wingate also played on the same hardwood before going on to college and the NBA. Broadus began his collegiate career at Grambling State but redshirted there his freshman year, then transferred to Bowie State, where he lettered three years and got his business administration
degree in 1990.
“My wife and I went into business,” continued Broadus. But soon his love of the game and wanting to work with young people, especially Black males, was too much of a lure to avoid.
“You got to take the shorts off, put on long pants, and be productive in life.”
“I love the game. I love people,” he pointed out. As a result, Broadus began his now-almost-30 year
coaching journey when he returned to Bowie State as an assistant coach until 1993. Then he moved to the University of the District of Columbia, where he earned a master’s in counseling (1996) while an assistant coach.
Then Broadus had coaching stints at American University (1998-2001), George Washington (2001), Maryland (2017-19) and two separate stints at Georgetown (200407; 2011-17), where he got to work with John Thompson III and spend time with his father, the late John Thompson.
At Georgetown, Broadus
■ See BRODUS on page 9 Kevin
Los Alayna Contreras (University of Missouri-Kansas City)
Jade Hill (University of St. Thomas) All photos by Kylie Macziewski
Tamia Ugass (University of Missouri-Kansas City)
■ See VIEW on page 9 Marvin Menzies Courtesy of Kansas City Athletics Dionnah Jackson-Durrett
Sports Columnist
Broadus
Photo by Charles Hallman