March 17, 2022 - Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder

Read about Diana Ross at the State Fair on pg. 6.

THE VOICE OF BLACK MINNESOTA SINCE 1934

March 17-23, 2022

Vol. 88

PRST STD U.S.POSTAGE PAID TWIN CITIES MN PERMIT NO. 6391

Inside this Edition...

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No. 33

MPS teachers’ strike stretches into a second week

Picket lines converged on Broadway Avenue in North Minneapolis at the start of the MPS teachers’ strike on March 8. As of press time, educators and the district continue to negotiate increased teacher pay, smaller class sizes, better mental health support for students, and more. Find the latest developments on spokesman-recorder.com.

Photo by Travis Lee

Blackface, ‘excited delirium’ revelations test WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH SALUTE Hennepin Healthcare’s anti-racism commitments Harriet Tubman’s legacy inspires local advocates

By Feven Gerezgiher Contributing Writer Last week, Governor Tim Walz signed a proclamation declaring Thursday, March 10, 2022 as Harriet Tubman Bicentennial Day in observance of the 200th anniversary of her birth this month. In a tweet Thursday, Walz wrote the declaration is “to honor her legacy and commitment to freedom and rededicate ourselves to the

By Charles Hallman Contributing Writer

A

fter racist photos of Hennepin Healthcare White employees in blackface recently surfaced and became public, officials at the Twin Cities’ largest safety-net hospital system say they have completed their investigation and taken corrective action.

Two photos showing three White women in blackface makeup dressed as singers and a second photo showing two people in dreadlock-style wigs and dark makeup—both taken at a Hennepin EMS event—were sent via email to

Hennepin Health leadership in February.

After the photos were made public, hospital management was questioned about its commitment to changing the culture of the hospital system. The union that represents Hennepin Healthcare EMS also called the hospital to take action, and a group of doctors issued a letter asking leadership to make good on its anti-racist commitments.

Chief Executive Officer Jennifer DeCubellis last week told the MSR that due to privacy laws, she cannot publicly disclose their identities, but at least three individuals have been disciplined. “We have

Per reports, this photo shows Hennepin Healthcare EMS Deputy Chief Amber Brown, left, wearing blackface makeup along with a current and former paramedic. taken action related to the blackface photos, in particular,” she announced. “We’ve taken personnel action up to and including termination.”

“There’s been a lot of pushback of ‘Did we move fast enough’…,” continued DeCubellis. “We followed our policies and practices, our state laws, and our union contracts.”

Asked if the email was sent by a current Hennepin employee or a disgruntled ex, the CEO replied, “It doesn’t matter how it comes in. We

Biden’s speech gave lip service to environmental justice, but will it deliver for MN?

Photo by Nicole Geri via Unsplash

By Benjamin Velani Contributing Writer “We’ll create good jobs for millions of Americans, modernizing roads, airports, ports and waterways all across America,” President Biden said during his first State of the Union address on March 1. “And we’ll do it all to withstand the devastating effects of the climate crisis and promote environmental justice.” It was the first time a U.S. president has spoken explicitly of using environmental justice as a guiding ideology for their policy goals.

The new infrastructure improvements will be funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which claims to address the large-scale degradation our natural world is seeing because of human consumption of throw-away plastics and fossil fuels, while also advancing environmental justice.

But what does it mean to be advancing environmental justice, and why is it significant that the president is talking about it in the State of the Union?

Recognizing the harm Advocates of environmental

timeless principles she upheld.”

“After escaping from slavery herself in 1849, Harriet Tubman led hundreds of enslaved people to freedom through the Underground Railroad. She became known as the “Moses of her People” through her social and political activism to help ensure that our nation always honored its promise of liberty and opportunity for all,” reads the proclamation.

■ See TUBMAN on page 5

justice have roots going back to Cesar Chavez in the 1960s, who sought better working conditions for Latino farmhands by limiting their exposure to harmful pesticides, and other civil rights-era protests against the historically disproportionate amount of pollution poisoning low-income communities of color.

These actions represent BIPOC communities putting their foot down and refusing to continue to be used as national dumping sites.

■ See BIDEN on page 5

take that very seriously.”

The ‘excited delirium’ flap The photos came on the heels of a published report in February that a Hennepin Healthcare doctor was still training Minneapolis police on “excited delirium,” a controversial diagnosis of a severe form of agitation that a national physicians’ association has condemned as racist.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said he told his staff to cease such training in 2021 ■ See BLACKFACE on page 5

Toshira Garraway speaking at the Capitol on March 10 Photo by Feven Gerezgiher

Pandemic, Trump meddling caused ‘troubling’ 2020 Census undercount

By Stacy M. Brown

for Civil Rights Under Law. “In addition, the undercount exacerbates underfunding of The COVID-19 pandemic our communities because Cenand an administration that appeared to sabotage accuracy sus data is used as the basis for led to a consequential under- hundreds of billions of dollars of count in the number of Black, federal, state and local approHispanic and Native American priations each year,” Hewitt said.

U.S. residents during the 2020 Census.

Further, Census officials have admitted that they overcounted White and Asian residents. The bureau reported the overall population as 323.2 million.

“The undercounting of Black, Latino, Indigenous and other Communities of Color rob us of the opportunity to be the directors of our fate, reducing our representation and limiting our power while depriving policymakers of the information they need to make informed The Census population decisions about where the next hospital will be built or where count determines how many the next school should be locat- representatives each state has ed,” said Damon Hewitt, the in Congress for the next decade. president and executive direc- It also decides how much federtor of the Lawyer’s Committee al funding communities receive

for roads, schools, housing and social programs. Hundreds of billions of dollars are at stake each time the Census occurs.

Robert L. Santos, the bureau’s director, displayed little regard for the undercount of minorities. He said the 2020

results were consistent with recent Censuses. “This is notable, given the unprecedented challenges of 2020,” Santos said in a statement. “But the results ■ See CENSUS on page 5

2 March 17-23, 2022

Metro

MSR’s Charles Hallman honored by Women’s Basketball Coaches Association He and ESPN’s Holly Rowe both receive prestigious media awards Paige Elliott Digital Editor Fresh off his U.S. Basketball Writers Association Hall of Fame honor, Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder (MSR) sportswriter Charles Hallman has garnered yet another national award.

On March 7, the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) announced that the local MSR reporter, along with ESPN commentator Holly Rowe, are the recipients of the 2022 WBCA Mel Greenberg

displayed a commitment to women’s basketball and to advancing the role of the media in the women’s game.

Selected by past recipients of the award, the candidate must have made a positive impact on the growth and public exposure—regional or national— of the sport, been involved in the media exposure of women’s basketball for a minimum of five years, and should be a media ambassador for the women’s game.

A tireless supporter of girls and women in sports,

“I was there when no other local media were.”

Media Awards.

“Holly Rowe and Charles Hallman have dedicated their professional careers to promoting women’s and girls’ basketball on the national and community levels respectively. Both have worked tirelessly to preserve, promote and protect the priceless stories that make up our game’s historical record,” said WBCA Executive Director Danielle Donehew in a statement.

“The WBCA is honored to present each of them the prestigious Mel Greenberg Media Award.”

Named after the Philadelphia Inquirer sportswriter who founded the Associated Press Top 25 women’s basketball poll, the Mel Greenberg Media Award is presented annually to a member of the media or a sports communications professional who has best

Hallman frequently writes about overlooked and underrated Black female athletes. In 2021, the Tucker Center for Research on Girls & Women in Sport included him in a Title IX honor roll list that highlights individuals’ contributions to women’s athletics in Minnesota.

Still savoring his recent USBWA honor, Hallman expressed gratitude over his latest recognition. “I am still in awe and shock over being named to the USBWA Hall of Fame. Now this award—which I was informed of last week by the legendary Mel Greenberg himself—has only added to the awe and shock feeling,” he said.

He added, “Also sharing this year’s WBCA award with ESPN’s Holly Rowe, a trailblazer, as well as joining the list of past winners including LaChina Robinson,

Robin Roberts and the late St. Paul Pioneer Press’ Mike Augustin, [with] whom I shared many sports coverage events during his legendary career, is both awesome and humbling.”

Rowe, who has covered women’s basketball for over 30 years and will work her 17th-straight NCAA Women’s Final Four this year, is receiving the National Award, which has been presented annually since 1991. She joined ESPN full time in August 1998 after appearing on select ESPN telecasts in 1997 and ABC Sports in 1995-96.

Rowe also covers the WNBA for the network.

Recently having completed treatment for stage IV metastatic melanoma, Rowe has become a tireless advocate for cancer research and prevention.

Hallman is receiving a new Community Award that will be presented on a recurring basis to an individual who is a media ambassador for women’s and girls’ basketball on a local level in cities where the WBCA Convention, which is held in conjunction with the NCAA Women’s Final Four, takes place.

“What a joy to honor Charles in his community with the new award twofold as a Hall of Fame inductee from the USBWA and from the WBCA for his being your personal ambassador to years of coverage in the Twin Cities,” said Greenberg. “He certainly fits the definition of what this tribute is meant to be.”

Hallman is a longtime re-

MSR file photo porter for the MSR, the oldest Black newspaper in the state of Minnesota. A prolific writer, Hallman’s coverage of women’s basketball spans several decades from the prep level to college to the pros. He is the longesttenured beat writer for the Minnesota Gophers, while also covering the Minnesota Lynx since the team’s inception in the WNBA. He shared with the MSR a few of his most cherished memories as a sports columnist: “First, seeing St. Paul native and Gopher legend Linda Roberts’ jersey raised in Williams Arena as the first Black woman basketball player to have such an honor.

“The late Kwame McDonald and I conducted a years-

long writing campaign to get her honored, and school officials told us that it was our efforts that convinced them to finally do the right thing. Roberts made me take a photo of her and I with her framed jersey, which proudly hangs in my home office.”

He added, “Secondly, covering seven WNBA finals, four of which were won by the Minnesota Lynx, and being in the winning locker room during their post-game celebrations— I have a champagne cork from one of those events on my bookcase. Those are proud moments because in both cases I was there when no other local media were.”

Hallman is humbled by

the recognition of his work and the pioneering legacy he continues to build. “As with the USBWA honor, I am the first member of the Black Press to be so honored. And with the latter, I am the first Black male to be named by the WBCA. “I am thankful to the WBCA and to those folk who saw fit to nominate me and argue on my unknowing behalf. I sincerely hope that I didn’t disappoint and pray not to betray their belief in my work,” said Hallman.

Visit www.wbca.org/recognize to see a list of past recipients.

Paige Elliott welcomes reader responses to pelliott@ spokesman-recorder.com.

Sheletta Brundidge named one of USA Today’s ‘Women of the Year’ MSR News Service

Sheletta Brundidge

Submitted photo

Minnesota media personality, author, activist and former MSR columnist Sheletta Brundidge adds to her growing list of honors as USA Today recently named her its Minnesota Woman of the Year.

The annual award by the national news organization recognizes female honorees in every state who have made significant contributions to their community.

Brundidge, 50, of Cottage Grove, was chosen for numerous activities and accomplishments.

In 2020, she founded her own podcasting platform, S h e l e t t a M a ke s M e L a u g h . com to expand opportunities to showcase the expertise of Black show hosts who are often left out by traditional media outlets.

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The awards committee noted her work on behalf of families with children with special needs.

Three of Brundidge’s four children have been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder and her experience with her family inspired her to become an advocate.

She worked with the Minnesota legislature to pass a bill establishing autism training for police officers to prepare them for encounters with nonverbal citizens. She collaborated with the NFL to establish sensory-friendly rooms in stadiums.

She also partnered with the Minnesota Health Department to promote early testing for autism among families of color.

When her own kindergartner mentioned that

she couldn’t find a picture book about Black children on the autism spectrum, Brundidge went to work.

She wrote a book based on her daughter’s real-life experiences.

A second picture book followed and a third is in the works, providing families, teachers, and libraries with stories about children previously neglected by the publishing industry.

Earlier this month, Brundidge was awarded the Anthem Award Leader of the Year on behalf of her Black-owned podcasting platform and hosts. The Anthem Awards honor outstanding mission-driven work by change makers.

Other 2022 Anthem Award winners include Trevor Noah, Naomi Osaka, and the New York Times 1619 Project.

by going to spokesman-recorder.com or call 612-827-4021.

March 17-23, 2022

Health & Wellness

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Pain doesn’t care what you look like But providers do ache, or if a bone is broken.

Pain can occur immediately after an event, then referred to as acute pain, or persist long after the event when it is known as chronic pain.

Blunting of pain and anxiety after a traumatic event is essential during most surgeries, labor, or diagnostic studies if one is to tolerate the event. Some provider options for blunting include anesthetics, analgesics, and sedatives.

The most invasive technique includes application of general anesthetics. They are inhaled fluorinated hydrocarbon gasses that create loss of

By Sean J. Ennevor, MD sensation and awareness durGuest Contributor ing their administration.

Most general anesthetics Racial and ethnic minorities are administered in a hospihave historically received in- tal, clinic, or office setting as adequate treatment for acute anesthetics require the close or chronic pain. Some of this monitoring of vital functions inadequacy is secondary to during their administration. individual underreporting of It is essential for patients to pain severity, but oftentimes share with a provider what it’s due to provider bias. medications or compounds

No human needs to suffer when there are valid options.

Stated bias may be a result of false stereotypes or flawed beliefs. Sadly, some providers believe that there are biological differences between races in regards to pain management. These beliefs include the incorrect assumption that people of differing color or cultures have thicker skin, higher pain tolerances, or less sensitive nerve endings.

All are untrue and alter the assessment and management of a person’s pain in a negative way. The eventual poor pain management may cause long-term sleep disturbances, depression, anxiety, or the overuse of some medications as compensation.

We define pain as essentially an unpleasant sensory or emotional experience sometimes associated with actual or possible tissue damage—for instance, the excruciating sensations felt during a burn, tooth-

they have taken recently as well as any preexisting medical conditions.

The choice of pain relief will be suited to the individual based on their responses in order to maximize safety, but also on the severity and type of pain.

Acute pain relief options 1. Sedation or unconsciousness achieved via inhaled gasses or intravenous medications given orally or intravenously. These include hypnotics, sedatives, anxiolytics, or fluorinated hydrocarbons (general anesthetics).

2. Regional blocks done with local anesthetics can make the whole arm, leg, or other areas numb (pins and needles sensation). Regional blocks include peripheral nerve blocks of specific nerves such as axillary, femoral, or popliteal blocks to name a few.

3. Spinal or epidural blocks are procedures performed with local anesthetics in specific areas of the body.

4. Local anesthetic blocks are given at the site of interest via direct injection or application to the site by spraying on or placing the anesthetic directly on the area.

5. Oral pain relievers (aka analgesics) include opioids, non-steroidal medications (NSAIDS), and the alternative use of antiseizure or antidepressant medications.

Medications in the above classes (trade name with generic name given): • Opioids (aka narcotics): Fentanyl, Morphine, Methadone, Dilaudid, Oxycodone • NSAIDS: Motrin (Ibuprofen), Tylenol (Acetaminophen), Toradol (Ketorolac), Celebrex (Celecoxib) • Alternatives: Gabapentin (Neurontin), Ketamine (Ketalar) Chronic pain relief options 1. Hot and cold therapy 2. Massage 3. Acupuncture 4. Relaxation techniques, yoga, tai chi, breathing exercises 5. Medication options: Opioids, Antidepressants, NSAIDS, other classes of medications 6. Electrical stimulation The above in no way includes all the block names or procedures that may be offered, but the list is given to include many commonly used techniques.

Having pain and anxiety treated fully is essential and a right. Many long-term options include coping strategies, which may be used in the setting of acute or chronic pain.

At the time of initial encounter with medical services, factors such as gender, age, race, or even insurance status may influence how pain management proceeds.

It is essential that one advocates for adequate pain management. Having knowledge that there are a multitude of

Photo by Kindel Media on Pexels.com options for pain management is useful knowledge for yourself or a family member. Pain is a very complex process and none of the above solutions are perfect, but many can help provide more than adequate relief if done in a timely manner.

Be aware that providers may have biases, cultural beliefs, or stereotypes that may be flawed and impact proper pain management. These biases can impact pain treatment and recommendations.

and economics from Stanford University, and as a Dean’s Scholar from UCLA School of Medicine where he received his MD. He completed his medical residency and fellowship in anesthesiology at Yale University, where he was chief resident and on staff. He practiced medicine in the Twin Cities for over 14 years, and presently serves as an advisor and investor for medical techSean J. Ennevor, M.D. grad- nology companies throughout uated with a B.A.S. in biology the country.

Combine those with underreporting of pain severity by an individual and you have a setup for poor outcomes.

Pain is not a social construct like race or religion. It is a biological consequence felt by all humans. No human need suffer when there are valid options, but many times someone needs to advocate for their offering.

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4 March 17-23, 2022

Tommie’s Pizza Black Business SPOTLIGHT

By Ashley Lauren Contributing Writer The MSR caught up with Tommie Day, owner of Tommie’s Pizza, to see how the business has fared since our profile in 2018 when the shop had just opened. Located on Selby Ave. in St. Paul, the Black-owned pizza shop offers a variety of New Yorkstyle pizza and their signature “Selby’’ chicken wings.

The hard-working and optimistic Daye is originally from Racine, Wisconsin and came to Minnesota in 1984, right

“To be honest, I don’t have much to complain about—I feel blessed.” after high school, he said.

“My wife Dana inspired me to get it going,” Daye said. “I was the culinary director at a nursing home for a while. I would have to credit her with pushing me in that direction.”

She also discovered the location for the pizzeria.

Although Daye enjoyed his culinary job, he shifted his focus to becoming an in-

dependent business owner.

“We opened October 2018, started working on it a couple of months before, and we’ve been operating ever since,” he explained.

Daye has a wealth of experience and expertise in the restaurant business. “It’s hard work, working in different restaurants. I started out in 1988 at a place called T. Wright’s in Minnetonka—I actually was in a band at the time and that kind of didn’t work out,” he said. So, he decided to focus on restaurant management.

He elaborated, “I was having my first son and I had to get a job, and that’s kind of how I got into the restaurant business [in 1988].” The majority of his time had been spent in the restaurant industry.

Daye recalled, “So, when this opportunity came about with Tommie’s Pizza, I had already been doing that for 30 years, so I knew how to do management.” Due to his work experience, he chose to invest time in living his dream.

According to Daye, “Mentally, it took a lot of work—just had to overcome the naysayers and the fact that I didn’t have any other Black pizza places to influence me.” He experienced some resistance as a Black business owner, but

Business Black-owned pizza shop has overcome start-up obstacles

Popular offerings include New York-style pizza, Selby wings

The Tommie’s Pizza crew

he never gave up.

Finding necessary funding is a challenge for many Blackowned businesses. Daye explained, “Financially, I had to overcome the startup struggles where banks don’t really

Submitted photo want to deal with startups.”

Fortunately, he did receive support, especially from his family. He mentioned that he has seven wonderful kids.

“I’ve done a lot of the basic work myself to overcome that

[lack of capital],” he said.

“Spiritually, I just kept the faith—believed in myself and what I could do, and just recognizing the blessings when they come, because I think it was a blessing just finding that place.” He feels everything was meant to be. “It all worked out.”

Daye shared the mission and purpose of the business: “We provide very high-quality products to the neighborhood, to our customers. We provide excellent customer service.”

The owner is focused on consumer centricity to maximize productivity.

He added, “As far as the purpose, to just grow what we’re doing and to create something that I can leave behind, a legacy.” Daye aspires to open more stores in the future. Tommie’s Pizza will be opening for lunch soon and offering delivery.

Daye emphasized, “We make sure we do everything that we do very well. We have our specialty pizzas, our classic pizzas, our wings, our salads, a couple of desserts, snacks, drinks, that’s about it,” he said. “The pizza is very good, everything is fresh.

We’ve got hand-tossed crust,” he said. The sauce is also made from scratch.

Although every item on

the menu is in high demand, Daye shared the most popular products: “It would be between the Selby Wings and Tommie’s Special Pizza—those two items would probably be our top sellers.”

Running a business has its ups and downs. Daye explained the most rewarding aspect as “Being able to directly impact and reap the benefits of what I’m doing,” he said. He added, “Being able to employ my family—I feel really blessed to be in a position to have an operation to do that.”

There were challenges along the way. The pandemic negatively impacted business, but they remained focused and resilient. “To be honest, I don’t have much to complain about—I feel blessed,” he said.

Daye shared advice for budding entrepreneurs: “Believe in yourself and what you’re trying to do and don’t let other people tell you that you can’t do it.”

Tommie’s Pizza is located at 1556 Selby Avenue in St. Paul.

For more information visit www. tommiespizza.com or call (651) 432-4743.

Ashley Lauren welcomes reader responses to alauren@ spokesman-recorder.com.

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March 17-23, 2022

Blackface Continued from page 1

because it is often misused by police against Black men.

The MSR obtained a copy of a Feb. 14 letter from DeCubellis, Chief Medical Officer Dr. Daniel Hoody, and Chief Health Equity Officer Dr. Nneka Sederstrom in which they apologized to the community for the MPD training.

The letter introduced next steps, including a revised training, an immediate review to either amend or terminate the medical directorship contract with MPD, and ramping up its internal education on systemic racism at Hennepin.

“It’s easy to point fingers,” noted DeCubellis. “Our commitment is to figure this out, get it right, get it right with and for our community and

the patients we serve and the team members who serve them.”

Hennepin Healthcare, which includes Hennepin County Medical Center (HCMC) in downtown Minneapolis, largely serves Blacks and other People of Color. The hospital’s 202022 Community Health Needs Survey states that 34% of its patients are Black, 19% Latino, 4% Asian, 3% Native American or Alaskan Native, and 38% White.

Making good on anti-racism pledge After the death of George Floyd in 2020, Hennepin Healthcare pledged a commitment to anti-racism: “Our board back in 2020 did declare racism as a public health emergency,” recalled DeCubellis. “Dr. Sederstrom was hired in January of 2021, reporting directly to me. One of the first

Tubman Continued from page 1

Tubman also served as a scout, spy and nurse to African American soldiers during the U.S. Civil War. After the war, she purchased a 25-acre farm to establish the Harriet Tubman Home for Aged & Indigent Negroes to care for those in need.

Tubman fought for women’s suffrage and human rights until her death on March 10, 1912.

She was buried with military honors in Fort Hill Cemetery in New York.

Anika Bowie, founder, and CEO of Run like Harriet, which consults and coaches Black women to run for political office, pushed for the proclamation with the help of Toshira Garraway, founder of Families Supporting Families Against Police Violence. Other civil rights organizations supporting the recognition include the Minneapolis NAACP, Black Civic Network, Sweet Potato Comfort Pie, and the Planting Seeds Growing Justice Institute.

Lasting impact Supporters rallied at the State Capitol on March 10 to urge others to take up Tubman’s work. “[Tubman] would’ve been great if she made

Nneka Sederstrom things we did was create a health equity team, and in that first year, we charged them with putting together a plan of how do we really eliminate racism in health care on an ongoing basis. “[Team members] have launched an incredible amount of work in the first year, but we know we have a long way

which eight individuals have completed. “They’re mostly People of Color from various parts of our institution. I think we [also] have one White ally,” she reported, adding the importance of being “accountable to and transparent to not only our community but to our team members as well, because they are counting on us to be better, and we have been more intentional in the last few weeks.”

DeCubellis reiterated, “We need to be intentional. We Jennifer DeCubellis can’t just say it; it can’t be a hashtag. It can’t be a soft inito go,” stated DeCubellis. “We tiative. We truly need to invest can’t just focus on patient care in realizing that anti-racism when we have racism within and changing our culture both our walls. We need to call it from patients and community out; we need to address it and we serve to the people who we need to go even deeper serve them.”

“I was talking with a friend based on what we’ve seen.”

Sederstrom last week told who said, ‘You have to rememthe MSR that her team’s plan ber that cultural change takes includes the Health Equity something like 10 to 15 years,” Ambassador training program, said Sederstrom. “I don’t have

5

that kind of time. So, we’re gonna have to hit this and hit as hard as we can and get it done now. I think that the plan that we have in place will do that.”

The blackface photos issue reaffirmed that their anti-racism work is very important and sorely needed, said the two Hennepin Healthcare officials.

“What the recent events have taught us is we can’t be there for our community until we’ve done the work inside our walls that we need to do,” stated DeCubellis. “This is not just another health care organization, but [Hennepin Healthcare] is also representative of our community.”

“We need [the greater community] to keep us accountable and to keep us on the right path,” concluded Sederstrom.

Charles Hallman welcomes reader responses to challman@ spokesman-recorder.com.

proclamations and resolutions since the 1800s.

“We want some work to be done to remove systemic racism,” he continued, “and to honor our brothers and sisters who were captured and brought here to slavery. Honor them by first admitting, then apologizing, then repairing the harm that is caused over and over and over again to African American communities throughout this state.”

Thompson authored Bill HF3850 to establish the Minnesota Migration Act, which would provide funding to study and develop reparation proposals for descendants of chattel slavery who reside in Minnesota.

Garraway, whose fiancé Justin Teigan died following an encounter with St. Paul police in 2009, is also pushing for the passage of HF717. The bill would extend to five years the statute of limitations for seeking redress to police officer actions. “[Harriet’s] spirit is so much in my heart,” Garraway said, reiterating the historic abolitionist’s 19 trips. Likewise, Garraway has become the voice for a tragic cohort, lending her support to Supporters rallied at the State Capitol to urge people to work in the spirit of Harriet Tubman.

Photo by Feven Gerezgiher other relatives of police violence as they navigate their grief, being under the public eye, and Beyond the proclamation, community and dealing with the justice system. one trip on the Underground Railroad. But she “It keeps us going to know that we can follow went back 19 times. She went back to get those political leaders introduced legislation they hope that were left behind. We, as a community, have will get passed in the upcoming legislative ses- in her footsteps,” she said. got to stop leaving our brothers and sisters sion. “I want to make sure that we not only honor behind,” said Reverend Darryl Spence with New Harriet Tubman with a proclamation,” said Rep. Feven Gerezgiher welcomes reader responses to John Thompson (D-67A). “We’ve been getting fgerezgiher@spokesman-recorder.com.

Hope Baptist church.

Biden

threat that air pollution poses for Min- of the environment—a shift from White nesotans, contributing to nearly 10% of environmental organizations that solely all deaths (1,600 people) in the metro emphasized the protection of wilderness.

Continued from page 1 Not only were social determinants area. Further, the report confirms that such life-threatening impacts dispro- of health, such as having access to eduportionately affect communities of cation and good housing, finally being color with low incomes, where people considered in the broader environmenHeavily polluted Superfund sites, tal movement, but the sacred relationbrownfield sites, abandoned mines and are also less likely to be insured.

To combat this reality, the environ- ship between communities of color and oil wells, chemical and hazardous waste dumps, even nuclear testing sites have all historically been placed near commuHow and when local advocates of environmental nities of color for the lack of concern for justice will see the impacts of these federal policy those communities’ welfare. Living close initiatives in Minnesota remains unclear. to such high levels of pollution has led, in large part, to historically disproportionate rates of ailments such as cancer. mental justice movement catalyzed in the Earth was being affirmed.

This shift in thinking and strongSuch sites, of which there are many 1991, when leaders from every state, in Minnesota, require years of invest- Puerto Rico, Chile, Mexico and the Mar- willed advocacy made visible the ineqment to detoxify. But, progress is being shall Islands came together for The First uitable way that the costs of industry made nationally and at home, where National People of Color Environmen- were being borne among America’s Superfund sites in South Minneapolis, tal Leadership Summit. Together they citizens. That this way of thinking has the former grounds of a factory that laid out 17 Principles of Environmental reached the highest office in the land produced arsenic-based pesticides, are Justice, which fundamentally changed and was laid as a guiding principle for just now beginning to heal. Even still, which spaces are included when talk- current and future policy in one of the ing about “the environment” in a public most important speeches in American there is work to be done. policy context. They demanded that politics is a huge accomplishment for communities of color have an equal environmental justice advocates.

Disproportionate impacts The Minnesota Pollution Control voice in determining the health outExecutive Order calls for action Agency and the Minnesota Depart- comes of their populations.

Changing thinking demands Lived spaces, both rural and urban, ment of Health released the Life and Breath report detailing the continued would now be seen as integral aspects changing action, and Biden’s

administration has been promoting environmental justice since their seventh day in office. On Jan. 27, 2021, Biden signed Executive Order (EO) 14008, “Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad,” which details an impressive amount of substantive actions being taken by the federal government to address the disproportionate health impacts of pollution and climate change on disadvantaged communities.

EO 14008 provides for the creation of a White House Environmental Justice Interagency Council, whose members include such powerful figures as the Secretary of Defense, the Attorney General, and much of the sitting president’s cabinet.

Additionally, the order asks that “all federal agencies develop programs, policies and activities to address the disproportionately high and adverse health, environmental, economic, climate and other cumulative impacts on communities that are marginalized, underserved and overburdened by pollution.” These actions will be recorded and released in an annual fact sheet.

EO 14008 is part of Biden’s broader Justice40 Initiatives that seek to deliver

to historically disadvantaged communities 40% of benefits from investments in social climate solutions, such as the development of affordable and sustainable housing currently being funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. How and when local advocates of environmental justice will see the impacts of these federal policy initiatives in Minnesota remains unclear, as providing exact implementation details is not a strength of America’s policy process. But the fact that such steps have already been taken and that so many powerful political figures are advocating for environmental justice is a huge step for the movement.

Until such effects are felt, concerned Minnesotans can support the local environmental justice organizations, such as MN350. On March 23 from 6:30 to 8:30 pm, MN350’s policy action team will be unveiling at a virtual event their new climate action plan for Minneapolis—a plan that is part of a broader, resident-led movement to make the city a healthy and sustainable place for all to live.

totals made public last year—are based on an examination of federal records and an extensive survey in which the bureau interviewed residents in some 10,000 Census blocks— the smallest unit used in Census tabulations. Bureau experts then

enabled the bureau to estimate how many residents it missed entirely in the 2020 count, how many people were counted twice, and how many people—such as deceased persons or short-term visitors to the United States—were counted mistakenly.

Officials began the count after the pandemic shut down operations in April 2020. After other starts and stops, the Trump administration pressured Census takers by inexplicably moving up the deadline to finish the count.

Trump also attempted to add a citizenship question to the Census, further muddying attempts at an accurate count. Many experts com-

plained that more time was required and called the count unreliable. Some called on then-incoming President Joe Biden to order a recount.

“This is the worst Census undercount I’ve seen in my 30 years working on Census issues,” Arturo Vargas, CEO of the National Association of Latino Elected Officials Education Fund, said during a news conference.

“I can’t even find the right word.

I’m just upset about the extent of the undercount that has been confirmed by the post-enumeration survey,” Vargas said.

Census

Continued from page 1

also include some limitations—the 2020 Census undercounted many of the same population groups we have historically undercounted, and it overcounted others.”

“We remain proud of the job we accomplished in the face of immense challenges,” Santos said. “And we are ready to work with the stakeholders and the public to leverage this enormously valuable resource fully.”

Terri Ann Lowenthal, a leading

expert on the Census and consultant to governments and others with a stake in the count, told the New York Times that the results were “troubling but not entirely surprising. Overall, the results are less accurate than in 2010,” she said.

The bureau estimated that the 2020 Census incorrectly counted 18.8 million residents, doublecounting some, wrongly including others, and missing others entirely, even as it came extremely close to reaching an accurate count of the overall population.

The Times reported that the “estimates released on Thursday—in essence, a statistical adjustment of

“This is the worst Census undercount I’ve seen in my 30 years working on Census issues.” compared their answers to the actual Census results for those blocks.”

Officials claimed that the survey

Benjamin Velani welcomes reader responses to bvelani@cornellsun.com.

Stacy M. Brown is the NNPA Newswire senior national correspondent.

6 March 17-23, 2022

Arts & Culture

Diana Ross to grace MN State Fair Grandstand stage Minnesota State Fair music lovers can expect to be turned upside down and around and round as it was announced last week that the iconic Diana Ross is coming to town this summer.

Joining her on Sept. 3 will be the acapella vocal ensemble Naturally 7.

With a remarkable career spanning more than 50 years, Ross is considered the most successful recording artist and entertainer of all time. Her accolades include a Presidential Medal of Freedom presented by former President Obama and being

celebrated at the Kennedy Center Honors in 2007 for her storied career in music, film, television and theater, as well as her humanitarian work and contributions to American culture.

The National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences celebrated her remarkable career in 2012 with its highest honor, the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.

From her roots in Detroit, where she helped to create the Motown cultural movement of racial integration and popular music, to her string of hits as leader of Diana Ross

The Supremes, to her landmark solo career, Ross has shaped the sound of popular music.

She has 14 Top 10 albums, 18 No. 1 songs, a career total of 70 hit singles, and music sales exceeding 100 million units around the world. Her portrayal of Billie Holliday in the classic film “Lady Sings the Blues” resulted in an Oscar nomination.

As a stage actress, she won a Tony Award for her one-woman show, “An Evening with Diana Ross.” Other career milestones include inMN State Fair duction into the Rock & Roll

Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame, National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences Heroes Award, NAACP Image Award for Entertainer of the Year, Billboard’s Female Entertainer of the Century award, Soul Train Lifetime Achievement Award, and the American Music Award Lifetime Achievement Award, among countless others.

Tickets range from $34$60. Find more show details and ticket info at www.mns t a t e fa i r. o r g /g ra n d s t a n d / diana-ross.

M OV I E R E V I E W

‘The Batman’ almost reaches perfection

By Dwight Brown (***1/2) Crime is rampant in Gotham City. Murders. Manslaughter.

Blood soaks the streets. Citizens live in terror and the police are stumped. On desperate nights, a Batman signal lights up the sky and the caped man jumps into action, but even he can’t stem the tide: “It’s a big city. I can’t be everywhere.”

“The Dark Night” is the pinnacle of superhero movies. That “Batman” saga set a very high standard for style, content, acting and production values. It drew you into its dark world with strong visuals and plenty of balletic action that pulled you into Batman’s orb, from spectacular fight scenes to gliding magically in air.

Arguably, this new chapter is the only other “Batman” close to that caliber, a stature set by actors Christian Bale and Heath Ledger, director/writer Christopher Nolan, and an incomparable cast and crew.

In this incarnation, “The Batman,” a string of highprofile and sadistic slayings confounds the police.

Lt. James Gordon (Jeffrey Wright, “Angels in America”), works tirelessly with his ally Batman (Robert Pattinson) to solve the homicides.

As the killings ensnare mayoral candidates and city officials, pressure grows to find the serial killer (Paul Dano, “12 Years a Slave”), who leaves behind cryptic riddles. A trail of clues leads to an underworld club and key figures: Selina Kyle (Zoë Kravitz), a cocktail waitress; Oswald “Oz” Cobblepot (Colin Farrell), the nightclub owner; and Carmine Falcone (John Turturro), a crime lord.

All know more than they’ll admit. A clandestine world of payoffs, informants and corruption is revealed.

The primary characters are courtesy of DC Comics. Director/writer Matt Reeves (“Planet of the Apes”) and screenwriter Peter Craig (“The Town”) add in additional people

who are vital to the central crime plotline.

They are well developed, three-dimensional, and indelible characters. All spew tone-setting dialogue, the kind that resonates from scene to scene. E.g., as the enigmatic Batman assesses how others perceive him, he defines his own persona: “They think I’m hiding in the shadows. But I am the shadow.” Add in a very timely premise about out-of-control big city crimewaves and viewers will be hooked for

compellingly show Batman’s viewpoint, a perspective that would make audiences gravitate even further into the masked vigilante’s aura and make an IMAX viewing mandatory.

The footage’s very dark look (color palette by art director Grant Armstrong, “Gravity”) sets an ominous mood. Elaborate sets—from Bruce Wayne’s mansion to Oz’s glamorous club scene— draw you into a netherworld. Batman’s armor, Catwoman’s skintight outfits,

The chemistry is rich between Zoë Kravitz (l) and Robert Patterson in “The Batman”.

Photos courtesy of Warner Bros.

Zoë Kravitz draws an alluring figure in the latest “Batman” saga. the duration.

Reeves’s directorial style emphasizes pageantry over motion. A series of stunning set pieces are peppered with movement, though genre fans may prefer movement seasoned with drama. This is why, as this whodunit nears the threehour mark, younger audiences may get a bit rambunctious.

But if they wait, and they’ll have to, Reeves rewards them with bursts of kinetic energy (car chases, fistfights, aerial displays).

It’s almost enough to make up for any lapses in pacing (editors William Hoy, “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes” and Tyler Nelson, “Mindhunter”).

The filmmaker’s other blemishes include an inability to bring the footage to an evocative ending.

The climax swells perfectly, the final moments do not.

Also, when Batman glides through the air, he fails to

and The Penguin’s suits fit like a glove (costume designers David Crossman, Glyn Dillon, and Jacqueline Durran).

Props, clothes, locations, and people are all well-lit and lensed (cinematographer Greig Fraser (“Dune: Part One”). And, if the visuals won’t astound viewers, the eerie audio track will.

Michael Giacchino’s musical score intensifies the gloomy, soul-searching, and fearful atmosphere. Creepy sounds (and editor Bobbi Banks, “When They See Us”) fray nerves. This is the kind of tech team directors/ producers gleefully take into battle. The kind that wins Oscars.

Pattison has been prepping for this iconic role for 14 years. First, he built a fan base with the teen heartthrob “Twilight” franchise, which started in 2008. The dual role of furtive Bruce Wayne and brooding Batman is his destiny. He com-

mands attention.

Supporting cast members work their spells too.

A scene in which Batman and Lt. Gordon furiously interrogate Oz features acting so fiery and accomplished it underlines Pattison, Wright, and Farrell’s brilliance. That heaviness is nicely balanced by Kravitz’s lighter, coquettish, downtown vibe that she displays as the plucky young lady who becomes a feline crusader. FYI, Bat and Cat have chemistry.

Andy Serkis as Batman’s valet Alfred is stately. Barry Keogan’s interpretation of Officer Stanley Merkel exhibits an in-your-face, badass New Yorker attitude

that’s so apropos. Farrell hides within the Oz/The Penguin character, shielded by makeup (Kat Ali), a fat suit, and prosthetics that make him invisible.

Dano, as the film’s chief villain, lacks the screen time it takes to build a lasting impression. Ledger as Joker had more scenes, which helped him sear that villain’s image into pop culture history. Turturro’s sociopathic Carmine Falcone works the screen in a way only DeNiro or Brando could duplicate.

Expect “The Batman” to stun mature audiences. It’s not so easy to judge whether this very adult approach, complex storyline, and lack

of moment-to-moment action scenes will hook teens and 20-somethings enough to make repeated screenings an addiction—a prerequisite for boosting box office grosses into the billion-dollar stratosphere.

Reeves, Pattison, and the talented cast and crew have created a crime/action/drama extraordinaire, a close to perfect superhero film that nips at the heels of the untouchable “The Dark Night.”

In theaters now. Check local listings for showtimes.

Visit NNPA News Wire Film Critic Dwight Brown at DwightBrownInk.com and BlackPressUSA.com.

March 17-23, 2022

Opinion

7

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Trump suck-ups drawn to dictators With that Russian Punk Putin invading the neighboring country of Ukraine, do we really need to reconsider the lack of morality of such leaders like Putin and Hitler?

Wilfred Owen wrote some of the best British poetry during that “War to end all wars.”

He composed nearly all of his poems from August 1917 to September 1918. In November 1918, they killed him at age 25, one week before the Armistice.

‘Dulce et Decorum et’ is Owens’ WWI time-bottle poem that questions our own morality in allowing Putin and Hitler leader types.

After describing the scene before and during a gas atwhen and how whataboutism tack that kills a soldier, the should be practiced. Not men- poem ends with: tioning the U.S. relationship— or rather lack of relationship— with the ICC would be an indication of agreement with exceptionalist doctrine.

If Vladimir Putin is described as a war criminal, thug, dictator, and a modern-day Hitler, it is appropriate and By Vincent L. Hall indeed necessary to ask about Black History comes in American presidents. For brevity’s sake consider only chapters, but the best of it is those American presidents unwritten and cultural. It has always been how we do what who served since 2001.

U.S. invasions and interven- we do when forced to do it tions in western Asia, North Af- that makes the Black experirica, central Asia and the Horn of ence unique.

Long sentence, but you get Africa have displaced more than 37 million people since the “war the message!

During and before the on terror” began. Why shouldn’t George W. Bush, Barack Obama, “Modern Age,” we as a people Donald Trump and Joe Biden be had a footprint in two worlds. called war criminals too? Silence One was urban; the other was in the face of their criminal- rural or agricultural. The Modity gives license and approval to ern Age ushered in technological innovations, scientific U.S. aggressions.

American exceptional- discoveries, and the like. Opism is an illness which infects portunities in the city drew us most of the population of this from the farm.

One advantage of havcountry. Unfortunately, most people need little prompting ing a presence in two worlds to defend their nation’s mis- was that our children were deeds. George W. Bush is now exposed to the best of everythought of as a kindly old man thing. “Student or Foreign Exwho paints pictures of puppies. change” programs were prevaThere is little inclination to lent among privileged children, acknowledge the one million but we had our own low-buddead from the Iraq invasion. get exchange program.

We called it “Going to the Doing so would create great country for the summer,” and discomfort.

Every news story about mi- it worked. That transfer progrants attempting a perilous gram also worked for rural crossing from North Africa to kids who got a chance to go to Europe should mention the the city. The unofficial Black destruction of Libya which Exchange Program made us took place under the direction better. Much better.

This idea came to mind of Barack Obama.

But Obama is the first Black lately when I talked to a friend, president, and he is still con- Deacon Charles Johnson. He sidered a model of rectitude, hipped me to some history I a man who brought hope and was clueless about. He told change. Pointing out his re- me that he had been a memsponsibility for an ongoing hu- ber of the New Farmers of manitarian crisis is too much America. The Indiana Univerfor people propagandized into sity Library records lend an believing in his goodness and enlightening synopsis.

According to the Commuthe nation’s.

Even Donald Trump, who is nities of Practice website: “The New Farmers of ordinarily disparaged and reviled, is not called out for con- America (NFA) began as a tinuing his predecessors’ wars national organization for Afor for killing at least 40,000 rican American farm youth in Venezuelans through his sanc- 1935 to promote agricultural leadership, character, thrift, tions regime.

Trump derangement syn- scholarship, cooperation, and drome doesn’t extend to his crimes against people of the global south. The power of to justify themselves. In fact the White Supremacist ex- they should proudly own the ceptionalist myth has a very word and double down on prostrong hold. viding whatever information is That myth can’t be rooted causing cognitive dissonance. out and destroyed unless inThe world needs to know convenient facts are brought about America’s crimes and to light. If the clueless and those of its allies too. When compromised want to shout, the same European nations “Whataboutism!” at the top of that turn away African and their lungs, by all means they Middle Eastern refugees anshould do so. nounce that they will accept However, the targets of their any and all Ukrainians, surely scorn should not feel the need whataboutism is in order.

Accusations of ‘whataboutism’ must not silence dissent

By Margaret Kimberly The word “whataboutism” is being used to silence and insult opponents of U.S. imperialism. It should instead be embraced as a means of revealing what is too often kept hidden.

Anyone who speaks out against imperialism, capitalism or racism with concrete examples of the terrible harm they do can expect to be charged with the dreaded term “whataboutism.” Like clockwork, the act of revealing American crimes will result in an accusation that is used to silence dissent.

When war propaganda prevails regarding Ukraine or any other place where the hegemon is doing its dirty work, it is reasonable to ask prob-

sor the speaker, excuse U.S. actions, and defend its human rights violations. The denials and apologies are exactly why whataboutism should be defended. It is terrible when lies and crimes are not countered with verifiable information exposing them.

The term has gained popularity in part because there is so much hypocrisy to point out and there are so many adherents to American exceptionalism who defend what they should condemn.

When the International Criminal Court (ICC) announced that it would begin investigating “the Situation in Ukraine,” corporate media and their political partners gloated and pointed fingers at Russia.

They didn’t point out that the

The power of the White Supremacist exceptionalist myth has a very strong hold. ing questions. Why are the deaths of 14,000 people killed

by Ukraine’s civil war swept under the rug?

Why is it forbidden to ask about the U.S. destruction of Libya? But once having asked a good question, one will be told that raising the topic is proof of the whataboutism sin.

The word “whataboutism” is in the dictionary and is defined as “the act or practice of responding to an accusation of wrongdoing by claiming that an offense committed by another is similar or worse.”

That meaning is accurate and also completely defensible.

The charge is meant to cen-

U.S., like Russia, is not a signatory of the Treaty of Rome that brought the ICC into existence.

Not only is the U.S. not a member state, but in 2002 Congress passed the American Service Members Protection Act, popularly known as the Hague Invasion Act. It gives the U.S. the right to extract any American held at the court in the Hague. The removal part isn’t even necessary because the act prohibits the extradition of Americans to the ICC. The chest thumping about the investigation into Ukraine should surely be followed by a discussion of U.S. hostility to the ICC. It is a clear example of

“Obscene as cancer, bitter as the cud Of vile, incurable sores on innocent tongues,— My friend, you would not tell with such high zest To children ardent for some desperate glory, The old Lie: ‘It is sweet, and proper, to die for one’s country.’”

During his February 22 Fox News show, looking like a constipated parrot, Tucker Carlson said, “It may be worth asking yourself, why do I hate Putin?” That same day on another radio show, Trump said, “I went in yesterday and there was a television screen, and I said, ‘This is genius.’ Putin declares a big portion of the Ukraine—of Ukraine—Putin declares it as an independent.

Oh, that’s wonderful.”

Republicans either want no government or a Trump dictatorship like Putin’s. Minnesota Republican Representatives 6th District Tom Emmer, 7th District Michelle Fischbach, and 8th District Pete Stauber supported Trump in his January 6, 2021 attempt to overthrow our elected government.

It failed only by Trump’s lack of “genius.” But Trump suck-ups have since taken away basic rights to vote in key states to give Trump a second chance.

Any person who supports any of this is an immoral damned fool!

Erwin R. Rud Fosston, MN

Black city kids need some time in the country citizenship. This organization served its members for 30 years providing experience in leadership and education in the agricultural field.

“Programs and contests designed for the organization awarded youth for achievement within the NFA and their community. In 1965 the NFA merged with the National FFA Organization.

“At the time of the merger, the NFA consisted of 1,004 chapters in 12 states and over 50,000 members. George Washington Owens, a professor at Virginia State College, and H.O. Sargent, Federal Agent for Special Populations (Negro, Hispanic, NativeAmericans) provided the leadership for establishing the NFA. Owens was Black, and Sargent was white.

“Owens was the first Black person to graduate from Kansas State University. His personal and professional papers are in

life” for at least a few weeks each year.

It irks me that too many children in this community have an outlook on life limited to a five-square-mile area near their residence. We could reduce crime and a lot of depression by broadening horizons.

Yes, lots of our kids have not been diagnosed but live with depression. Caring for farm animals, planting crops, and learning to appreciate creation would help immeasurably. Likewise, touching diversity, visiting recreational venues and being exposed to urban realities would help the small-town kid.

You can’t be on social media all day, dreaming about life, when you got chores and fishing to do. And nowadays, no one depends on technology as much as farmers. Rural residents learn to become their own veterinarians and mechanics. They do their own

Caring for farm animals, planting crops, and learning to appreciate creation would help immeasurably. the KSU library archives. Sargent was a graduate of Auburn University. He was killed in a car accident in 1936 in Louisiana.”

Interestingly enough, instead of sporting the crosssection of an ear of corn, like the FFA badge, the NFA used the outline of a cotton boll.

Their colors were black and gold with NFA on the emblem.

Although picking cotton is now seen as a duty of drudgery and discrimination, the NFA held it out as an aegis of pride.

This newfound nugget bolstered an idea that came to me 20 years ago. We need an active and viable program that encourages the exchange of 10-15-year-olds and swaps the city life for the “country

plumbing, masonry and electricity, and so much more.

The Black Exchange system I want to see would expand our knowledge base. The more we know about people, places and possibilities, the more we enhance our outlooks, opinions and opportunities.

We used to have a natural exchange system in place, but we have lost our sense of community, strong family ties, and a sense of adventurism.

We gotta get back to our cotton-picking minds. Recreate the New Farmers of America culture or join the FFA!

When Biden presumes to lecture Russia, his decision to steal $7 billion in Afghanistan’s assets should be brought to light. Afghans are in such a desperate state that many of them resort to selling their kidneys in order to feed themselves.

The crisis in Ukraine is just the latest example of an opportunity to point out the wrongs committed by the U.S. and its partners. No one should shrink

from doing so, not even when whataboutism is used as a pejorative instead of as the badge of honor that it is.

Vincent L. Hall is an author, activist, and an award-winning columnist.

Margaret Kimberley’is the author of “Prejudential: Black America and the Presidents.” Her work can also be found at patreon.com/margaretkimberley and on Twitter @freedomrideblog.

Kimberley can be reached via email at Margaret.Kimberley(at) BlackAgendaReport.com.

8 March 17-23, 2022

BULLETIN

Get do-it-yourself tax help Forget the groundhog— the sure signs of spring are the sweet return of Shamrock shakes, Girl Scout cookies and tax season. This season, because of the lingering effects of COVID-19, Prepare + Prosper (P+P) has bolstered its ability to help qualified individuals get their taxes prepared for free, by helping them do it themselves.

P+P is the largest IRS-authorized Volunteer Income Tax Assistance, or VITA tax prep site in Minnesota. In pre-pandemic years, the organization would organize hundreds of trained volunteers at a dozen metro

locations to help thousands of taxpayers with preparing and submitting their returns to the IRS, all at no cost to the customer.

To build capacity and help even more Minnesotans with filing their taxes, P+P has expanded this program with greater resources. “DIY Tax Prep offers three main things,” said David Langley, the engagement manager at P+P. “First, we provide access to free tax preparation software; then a tax guide and virtual training available either live during online scheduled webinars or pre-recorded to be watched

at the customer’s convenience; and third, we have expert support available to answer questions through phone or email.”

Lula, a DIY customer, stated in 2021, “The whole P+P team [was] so helpful, patient and kind with me and my family as we navigated our taxes. The online TaxSlayer software was super easy and accessible, and they answered our questions about self-employment and dependents. I’m so grateful for their services.”

The service is limited to filers with a total household income of $73,000 or less

Free meals available during teachers strike During the teachers’ strike, students can stop in at local community sites (most Minneapolis Park sites, Hennepin County Libraries, etc.) for healthy snacks and meals. Some sites will be offering extended hours during the strike.

As always, check in with the park or library directly for the latest information and for what is on the menu.

For a list of locations and hours visit: cws.mpls.k12.mn.us/community_park_ menus

Courtesy of Pexels during the 2021 tax year, and the staff and volunteers have some limitations to assist with complex tax situations, such as income from driving

a cab, rental property, cryp- prior to 2021. tocurrency, or if any type of Learn more and access DIY bankruptcy was filed in 2021.

This software and service Tax Prep at prepareandprosper. is not available for tax years org/do-it-yourself-tax-prep.

NAMI Minnesota offers free mental health classes NAMI Minnesota (National Alliance on Mental Illness) has set up a wide variety of free online mental health classes for March and April 2022, along with some in-person classes.

They include classes such as Hope for Recovery, Family to Family, In Our Own Voice, Creating Caring Communities, Ending the Silence, and Understanding Early Episode Psychosis for Families. Also available is a suicide prevention class called QPR—Question, Persuade and Refer, a special QPR class for Agricultural Communities, and more.

The classes are designed for family members and caregivers, persons living

View

Contunued from page 10

Harris against UCLA suffered a separated shoulder, which hampered his play the rest of the way. “I missed a bunny [layup] that would have put us closer,” recalled Harris.

“That game was a struggle.”

The MSR watched that game, as well as other contests in person in our firstever Final Four trip and our first time in Indianapolis that all ended that night in late March 1997.

A quarter-century later, Harris’ memories are still

with a mental illness, service providers, and also the general public.

Find a complete listing of these classes and how to join in by going to namimn.org and clicking on “Classes” or go straight to namimn.org/ education-public-awareness/classes/scheduled.

fresh, as well as ours, despite the NCAA several years afterwards stripping Minnesota’s Final Four appearance from its books due to academic violations.

The 1997 Big Ten title and Haskins’ and Jackson’s conference honors also were stripped or “vacated.”

But some things about that 1997 Gophers team still remain . We recently found a sporting apparel website selling Harris’ No. 33 Gopher replica jersey “in various size(s)...only available for a limited time!”

“Anytime you have a team like that that reaches a level

Greater Friendship Missionary Baptist Church

Worship

Courtesy of Pexels

Bethesda Baptist Church

Rev. Dr. Billy G. Russell, Sr. Pastor

Rev. Arthur Agnew, Pastor

At the Old Landmark 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"

1118 So. 8th Street Mpls., MN 55404 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

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

Rev. Doctor Charles Gill 732 W. Central Ave., St. Paul, MN 55104 Sunday Worship Service: 9:45 AM Sunday School: 8:45 AM

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Black coaches still in play Among the 136 total men’s and women’s teams that are still alive and competing in this week’s NCAA field are several qualifiers coached by Blacks. They include Howard (MEAC women), Norfolk State (MEAC men), and Alcorn State (SWAC men).

MINNESOTA SPOKESMAN-RECORDER CECIL E. NEWMAN

Mount Olivet Missionary Baptist Church

of success,” concluded Harris, now a basketball skills specialist in his home state, “everybody’s such a joy being around each other.”

Administrative Assistant Anne Jones

Chris Juhn Travis Lee

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Employment & Legals State of Minnesota

Case Type: Personal Injury

County of Hennepin

District Court

State of Minnesota

Case Type: Personal Injury

County of Hennepin

District Court Fourth Judicial District

Fourth Judicial District

Court File Number: 27-CV-22-2428

Court File Number: 27-CV-22-2625

The Honorable: Susan Robiner

The Honorable: Kristin Siegesmund

LITIGATION PARALEGAL Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid. For details, go to https:// mylegalaid.org/employment

Plaintiff, v.

Plaintiff,

Filed in District Court State of Minnesota Mar 14 2022

Salah Khalil,

v.

Defendant.

Sheldrick Elie, Defendant.

THIS SUMMONS IS DIRECTED TO the above-named Defendant:

THIS SUMMONS IS DIRECTED TO the above-named Defendant: 1. YOU ARE BEING SUED. The Plaintiff has started a lawsuit against you.

these papers away. They are official papers that affect your rights. You must

these papers away. They are official papers that affect your rights. You must

there may be no court file number on this summons.

2. YOU MUST REPLY WITHIN 20 DAYS TO PROTECT YOUR RIGHTS. You must give or mail to the person who signed this summons a written response called an Answer within 20 days of the date on which you received this Summons. You must send a copy of your Answer to the person who signed this summons located at: Brantingham Law Office

District Court

Ramsey County

Second Judicial District Court File Number: 62-HR-CV-21-953

The Plaintiffs Complaint against you is attached to this summons. Do not throw respond to this lawsuit even though it may not yet be filed with the Court and

there may be no court file number on this summons.

State of Minnesota

1. YOU ARE BEING SUED. The Plaintiff has started a lawsuit against you.

The Plaintiffs Complaint against you is attached to this summons. Do not throw respond to this lawsuit even though it may not yet be filed with the Court and

2. YOU MUST REPLY WITHIN 20 DAYS TO PROTECT YOUR RIGHTS. You must give or mail to the person who signed this summons a written response called an Answer within 20 days of the date on which you received this Summons. You must send a copy of your Answer to the person who signed this summons located at:

Case Type: Harassment MARQUITTA LASHAY SEPHUS

Notice of Issuance of

and OBO

Harassment Restraining Order

Minor Child vs Tashonda

by Publication

Catrice Johnson To Petitioner: YOU ARE NOTIFIED that a Notice of Motion and Motion to Change Harassment Restraining Order was filed on 01/31/2022.  A hearing is scheduled for the following date, time, and location:

Brantingham Law Office 2200 E Franklin Avenue, Suite 202

Date:

April 01, 2022

Minneapolis, MN 55404

Time:

8:15 AM

Location:

Ramsey County Juvenile and Family Justice Center

3. YOU MUST RESPOND TO EACH CLAIM. The Answer is your written

2200 E Franklin Avenue, Suite 202

response to the Plaintiff’s Complaint. In your Answer you must state whether

25 W. 7th Street Room B122

Minneapolis, MN 55404

you agree or disagree with each paragraph of the Complaint. If you believe the

Saint Paul, MN 55102

3. YOU MUST RESPOND TO EACH CLAIM. The Answer is your written response to the Plaintiff’s Complaint. In your Answer you must state whether you agree or disagree with each paragraph of the Complaint. If you believe the Plaintiff should not be given everything asked for in the Complaint, you must say so in your Answer.

Plaintiff should not be given everything asked for in the Complaint, you must say so in your Answer.

4. YOU WILL LOSE YOUR CASE IF YOU DO NOT SEND A WRITTEN RESPONSE TO THE COMPLAINT TO THE PERSON WHO SIGNED THIS SUMMONS. If you do not Answer within 20 days, you will lose this case.

You will not get to tell your side of the story, and the Court may decide against

4. YOU WILL LOSE YOUR CASE IF YOU DO NOT SEND A WRITTEN RESPONSE TO THE COMPLAINT TO THE PERSON WHO SIGNED THIS SUMMONS. If you do not Answer within 20 days, you will lose this case.

You will not get to tell your side of the story, and the Court may decide against you and award the Plaintiff everything asked for in the complaint. If you do not want to contest the claims stated in the complaint, you do not need to respond.

A default judgment can then be entered against you for the relief requested in the complaint.

5. LEGAL ASSISTANCE. You may wish to get legal help from a lawyer. If you where you can get legal assistance. Even if you cannot get legal help, you must

the complaint.

5. LEGAL ASSISTANCE. You may wish to get legal help from a lawyer. If you do not have a lawyer, the Court Administrator may have information about places where you can get legal assistance. Even if you cannot get legal help, you must still provide a written Answer to protect your rights or you may lose the case.

ordered to participate in an alternative dispute resolution process under Rule 114 of the Minnesota General Rules of Practice. You must still send your written response the Complaint even if you expect to use alternative means of resolving this dispute.

6. ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION. The parties may agree to or be the Minnesota General Rules of Practice. You must still send your written response the Complaint even if you expect to use alternative means of resolving this dispute.

Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder March 10, 17, 2022

Prep

State of Minnesota

District Court

In The Matter Of

Notice of Hearing by Publication

Natalie Maivtxhais Xyooj

(Minn. Stat. § 518B.01, subd. 8)

Case: Ramsey County Jackson V Elie 27-CV-22-2625 Second Judicial District Size: 3.4167 x 10 Court File Number: 62-DA-FA-22-167 Ad Run: 3/17/22 - 3/31/22 Case Type: Domestic Abuse Ad Options: -And Obo Minor Children Vs Koua Yang To Respondent named above: An order has been issued directing you to appear at the Ramsey County Juvenile and Family Justice Center, 25 W 7th St, St. Paul MN 55102 on March 31, 2022 at 8:15AM and explain why the relief sought in the Petition for the Order for Protection should not be granted.

You may obtain a copy of the Petition and any order issued from the court from the Ramsey County Court Administrator’s Office.

If you do not appear at the scheduled hearing, the Petitioner’s request may be granted as a default matter. Failure to appear will not be a defense to prosecution for violation of the Court’s Order.

Court Administrator Ramsey County District Court Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder March 17, 2022

SOE

Contunued from page 10

championship—the players, coaches and support staff.

“And you’ll be a part of that,” she emphasized.

Before the two games scheduled for Friday, April 1 and the title game on Sunday, April 3, the NCAA’s eighth

Case: Size:

“dream court” will be unveiled March 30 at Elizabeth Hall STEM Academy, 1603 Aldrich Avenue North. The new outdoor court “will be available to the community during non-school hours,” said Minnesota Local Organizing Committee Co-Director Debbie Estes.

Also, the top “Final Four” schools that competed in

Xyooj vs Yang 62-DA-FA-22-167 3.4167 x 4.5

Court’s order.

Donald W. Harper Juvenile and Family Court Administrator Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder March 17, 2022

A default judgment can then be entered against you for the relief requested in

ordered to participate in an alternative dispute resolution process under Rule 114 of

Filed in District Court State of Minnesota Mar 10 2022

Restraining Order will not be a defense to prosecution for violation of the

want to contest the claims stated in the complaint, you do not need to respond.

still provide a written Answer to protect your rights or you may lose the case.

Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder March 17, 24, 31, 2022

Failure to appear at a scheduled hearing or to get a copy of the Harassment

you and award the Plaintiff everything asked for in the complaint. If you do not

6. ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION. The parties may agree to or be

do not have a lawyer, the Court Administrator may have information about places

9

SUMMONS

Fathi Sheikh,

SUMMONS

Kenneth Jackson,

March 17-23, 2022

Southwest for the Twin City championship, finishing the Contunued from page 10 regular season with a 22-6 record.

Case: Sheik Vgoing Khalilto 27-CV-22-2248 Against DeLaSalle, Porwork ethic. “We’re Size: 3.4167 x 10 go to state because we’ve ter led the way with 27 Ad Run: 3/10/22 - 3/17/22 been working Ad Options: -- hard,” she points while Asberry added said. “We have been in so 18. University of Wisconsin many tough situations. Be- commit Savannah White cause of this we are better led the Islanders with 16 points while teammates prepared.”

Dmytruk, a 5’11” wing Aneisha Scott and I’Tianna player, expressed no doubt Salaam each chipped in 13.

So now Como Park, who about her team’s state tournament chances. “I know has lost section championwe’re going to state.” she ship games the past two said. “I’m very confident. seasons, is the No. 2 seed We’ve learned a lot from in the Class 3A tournament what we’ve been through.” hoping to bring home a Porter, a 5’3” shooting state title. That is someguard, made it known that thing, Asberry expressed her team was going to still while paying tribute to the be competing in late March. coaching staff as the inter“I’m confident that we’re go- view concluded.

“We appreciate [Assising to go to state.

“We’re all sick of going tant] Coach Ronnie [Smith], home crying bad tears,” she [Assistant] Coach Vera [Lacontinued, referring to the Vera Jeffrie], and [Head] Cougar’s section losses the Coach Londa [Yolonda past three years. “We want England],” she said. “We to come back crying good want to win it for them as tears. We want to go out well.” with a bang.”

Dr. Mitchell Palmer McIt has been quite the season for Como Park. The Donald welcomes reader Cougars won the City Con- responses to mcdeezy05@ ference crown and defeated gmail.com.

the NCAA’s Read to the Final Four reading program will win a field trip to Tourney Town, a three-day free event at the Minneapolis Convention Center April 1, 2 and 3. Over 1,000 schools and 1,600 third graders from around the state signed up for the reading challenge/ competition, Estes reported.

Wendy Blackshaw, the

co-director along with Estes, told the MSR the number of visitors expected here later this month would be “somewhere in the neighborhood of probably 30-35,000 in downtown. But when you start adding in people going out to [the scheduled free-to-the-public ancillary events],” she estimates it could reach upwards of

Twins

lationship with the Twins is greatly appreciated: “More Contunued from page 10 than anything, it means that this relationship is something PIFBS’ commitment to re-Legal Client: Mid-Minnesota Aid - Litigation Paralegal by that benefits the students duce barriers3.4167 to play Size: x 1 and providing them some equippromotes Run Date: youth 3/10/22 develop- ment where they may not ment by providing equip- have had the opportunity to Ad Options: For an additional $300.00 you can get online ment directly to leagues, Case: Marquitta Lashay Sephus vs top-of-the-line. And advertisingCatrice as well. get the 62‐HR‐CV‐21‐953 schools andTashonda organizations Johnson also helps the schools with Size: 3.4167 x 5 around the world. respect of defraying the cost Ad“It Run: 3/17/22 would be very difficult that the schools incur in the Ad Options: -[for some to play] because district for purchasing equipmany girls in our program ment for them. We’re gratedon’t have access and other ful for that.” equipment is expensive,” “We are in a time [when] Minneapolis Southwest we don’t have the money and senior softball player Anya the resources,” said MinneLondon told the MSR after apolis Washburn AD Giovan the new equipment was Jenkins. “I think it’s one of handed out. those things where the kids Southwest and the six don’t understand it right now, other MPS high schools, four but it allows them to have an St. Paul high schools and equal playing field in terms of three middle schools were equipment use…to get them represented March 10 as off on the right foot.” the new bats, balls and othMinneapolis Public er related equipment were Schools Middle School AD packed up and carried away Torrance Hill pointed out, to their respective schools. “Assisting us in providing op“We have helped more portunity to be this competthan 6,000 student athletes itive is crucial.” in Minneapolis and St. Paul Yet, at least in the Cities, school districts and nearly baseball and softball par200 teams,” said Meredith ticipation among Blacks and Kim, PIFBS CEO. other people of color re“We are absolutely thrilled mains low. “I want increased and so proud to be a part- participation,” said Jenkins, nership with [PIFBS] again pointing out that there this year to try to help pro- are four students of color vide equipment to all the among three school teams. schools across Minneapolis “I would say [the] majorand St. Paul,” added Twins ity is White, but there are a President Dave St. Peter. couple of POCs in our proSt. Paul Public Schools gram,” added London, who Athletic Administrator Mon- plays shortstop. “It’s really roe Denarvise Thornton, Jr., good to see other young who recently became the dis- POCs come into the protrict AD after over 25 years’ gram to play. experience in similar roles “I’m very, very proud to in several school districts in be a part of this team,” said Florida, stressed, “Athletic London, “and happy that we directors and the students got all this new equipment.” really get excited about the opportunity to come here Charles Hallman welcomes and get the equipment.” reader responses to challman@ He said that St. Paul’s re- spokesman-recorder.com.

50,000. “It’s spring break week, and we have tons of events going on.”

“It is more than three games,” said Estes.

Gullickson said of Final Four volunteers, “There’s still room.”

Those interested can go to volunteers@mnsportsandevents. org for more details.

Anderson concluded that local community folk should

sign up as well as attend the various Final Four events, especially the youth. “It’s really important that we expose our children to as many opportunities as possible, so that later on in their life they have many memories.”

Charles Hallman welcomes reader responses to challman@ spokesman-recorder.com.

10 March 17-23, 2022

Sports

Como Park makes it to state ago as the team prepared to represent St. Paul in the Twin City game against Minneapolis Southwest.

Asberry, a 5’7” point guard, proclaimed her team’s experience and desire as factors contributing to a state tournament run. “We are a veteran team,” she said. “We’re hungry.

It’s our last chance.” ith a 75-72 victory Walker, a 5’6” guard, highover DeLaSalle in lighted the team’s closeness, the Section 3AAA their multiple years playing girls’ basketball championship together, and city pride. game last Thursday evening, St. “I think we will make it to Paul Como Park’s goal of quali- state because we have been fying for the Class 3A state playing with each other for a tournament became a reality. long time,” she said with cer-

Final Four volunteers brace for visiting multitudes People of Color in short supply

housands of visitors are expected to be in town in a couple of weeks for the 2002 NCAA Women’s Final Four. It is the first large-scale sporting event held here since the pandemic.

A two-hour volunteer orientation session was held Sunday at Williams Arena.

Between 350-400 persons were expected to attend, Minnesota Local Operating Committee Volunteer Director Kathy Gullickson told the (l-r) Minnesota Coach Lindsay MSR beforehand. “This is Whalen, Minnesota Deputy great,” she exclaimed. “Over- AD Julie Manning all, we believe we will have about 600-700 volunteers.”

Volunteer Director Kathy Gullickson

(l-r) DonEsther (Donna) Anderson, Monique Flowers

“A lot of dreams will come true, and you’ll be a part of that.”

However, we only saw a small handful of Blacks who attended the session: “We (l-r) St. Paul Como Park girls’ basketball players Cloey worked very hard to try to Dmytruk, Ronnie Porter, Kaylynn Asberry, Shakyla get that community out here,” Walker and Jada James Photo by Dr. Mitchell Palmer McDonald admitted Gullickson. “We are working hard.”

Two Black women who In fact, seniors Kaylynn As- tainty. “We want to win it [the were there, DonEsther (Donberry, Cloey Dmytruk, Jada section title] for the city of St. na) Anderson and Monique James, Ronnie Porter and Paul.”

Flowers, talked to us after Shakyla Walker predicted a Jones, a 5’10” post player, the event. Both were chosen 2022 state tournament ap- talked about the Cougar’s ex- to model the Final Four Volpearance for the Cougars dur- periences as a team and their unteer uniforms that will be ing an interview two weeks ■ See Prep on page 9 worn during the weekend.

(l-r) Debbie Estes, Wendy Blackshaw, MN Local Organizing Committee co-director All photos by Charles Hallman Both also noticed the few persons of color in attendance.

“I chose to volunteer just to be around the people coming in and out of town, and directly in our community,” stated Flowers.

“I’m excited about the Final Four being here in Minnesota,” added Anderson.

Volunteers often are the first faces visitors see as they arrive at such events as the Final Four. “The NCAA recognizes volunteers,” Minnesota Deputy Athletics Director Julie Manning told them. During the successful bid process several years ago, Manning reported, “We pitched them

a lot of different things. One of them is a volunteer force.”

Gopher WBB Coach Lindsay Whalen advised the group to work hard, work together and have fun. “A lot of dreams will come true” for the four teams in town to compete for the national

■ See SOE on page 9

Gopher men’s Final Four run under Haskins a magical ride

t’s been 25 years since the Minnesota men’s basketball team was the toast of the state, an unexpected splash on the national college basketball landscape when they made their Final Four run which began in Kansas City and ended in Indianapolis during a three-week trek.

The 1996-97 Gophers were the last school team to win a Big Ten title without a tournament needed to get the NCAA automatic bid.

Clem Haskins was coach of the year. Bobby Jackson was the league’s best player. Eric Harris, John Thomas, Sam Jacobson and Courtney James along with Jackson comprised one of America’s best starting units that year.

It was a hard-working, bluecollar type of team made up mostly of low-profiled players.

They started the season ranked 22nd in the national preseason poll but reached an all-time high of third in the final poll as winners of 22 of their final 24

membered Harris, then a junior guard from New York, “stood out because we mirrored each other,” he told us in a recent MSR phone interview. The team’s overall success that season, he continued, didn’t surprise him or his “Anytime you have a mates. “We knew how hard we worked… We were confiteam like that that dent,” he said. reaches a level of However, the magical ride success, everybody’s ran into Kentucky’s pressure such a joy being defense, which forced the unaround each other.” derdog Gophers into turning the ball over 20 times. They six-point win over UCLA in couldn’t gain any sustained a 48-hour span that carried momentum before falling to Minnesota to its first-ever Fi- the Wildcats by nine points in Former Gophers Eric Harris (l) and Isaiah Washington the national semifinals. nal Four berth in Indy.

The Clemson game, re■ See View on page 8 Courtesy of Twitter

games to finish the year.

Temple’s vaunted matchup zone couldn’t stop these Gophers. Neither could Cincinnati. And the hometown Gophs survived a double overtime thriller over Clemson and a

New bats and balls welcomed by cash-strapped public schools Twins and national partner sponsor equipment giveaway

By Charles Hallman Sports Columnist early 50 softball and baseball teams from 14 Twin Cities schools will begin their 2022 seasons with new equipment, thanks to the Minnesota Twins.

at the visitors’ clubhouse at the Twins ballpark. With the team’s Community Fund and Pitch In’s financial support, over 700 kids from 47 Minneapolis and St. Paul high school and middle school baseball and softball teams got new equipment and uniform re-

“Assisting us in providing opportunity to be this competitive is crucial.”

The Twins, along with Pitch In For Baseball & Softball, a national organization, last week provided new baseball and softball equipment

SPPS AD Monroe Thornton, Jr.

Southwest softball player Anya London

PIFBS CEO Meredith Kim

Washburn AD Giovan Jenkins

sources this year.

All photos by Charles Hallman Pitch In For Baseball & Softball (PIFBS) has two head- in 2005 just after Hurricane and softball around the world, ing teams or are wishing to quarters in Pennsylvania and Katrina as a nonprofit organi- especially in underserved start new ones.

Los Angeles. It was founded zation that promotes baseball communities that have existThey claim that nearly one

MPS Asst AD Torrance Hill

million kids in over 110 countries have benefited from

■ See Twins on page 9