March 31, 2022 - MN Spokesman-Recorder by MN Spokesman Recorder

THE VOICE OF BLACK MINNESOTA SINCE 1934

Read more about Jazz Appreciation Month on page 6.

March 31 - April 6, 2022

No. 34

Vol. 88

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

Inside this Edition...

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Is a Black woman Supreme Court justice more symbol than substance? Some Blacks are unenthused by illusions of racial progress

By Jon Jeter Contributing Writer

tion hearings. She caught just enough of the testimony, however, to ernellia Randall glimpse GOP senators such is herself a Black as Lindsay Graham and Ted woman attorney and Cruz preposterously quizzing she simply couldn’t Brown Jackson—the first Afribear to watch the can American woman nomiSenate Judiciary Committee nated to the highest court in grill Supreme Court nominee the land—about her lenient Ketanji Brown Jackson during sentencing in a child pornogthis week’s historic confirma- raphy case, her defense of

Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson

BOOTS ON THE GROUND

Truce Center, a safe haven for youth in St. Paul

prisoners at Guantanamo Bay, and her views on Critical Race Theory. “I don’t typically watch these kinds of hearings because they don’t ask the questions I want to ask,” the retired University of Dayton law professor told the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder (MSR) in a phone interview. “Critical Race Theory has

nothing to do with the work of an associate justice of the Supreme Court. It was posturing [by the Republican lawmakers]; their questioning of her was blatantly racist. They asked her the most ridiculous questions.” And yet, Randall’s scathing reproach of the lawmakers sitting in judgment of Brown ■ See JACKSON on page 5

Pioneering engineer fights climate change through space technology

This is the first in an ongoing series featuring organizations working on the frontlines to de-escalate street violence and serve as a bridge between community members and law enforcement. By Abdi Mohamed Contributing Writer It might be hard for some to envision a community advocate, businessman, and political candidate as a past troublemaker, but St. Paul native Miki Frost will tell you himself that he didn’t always have his head on straight. “Coming up as a kid I bumped my head a few times,” he said. “I kind of got involved with the wrong crowd as a kid and did things that I wasn’t proud of.” At 25, Frost decided to turn his life around and become a positive force for change in his St. Paul community. He organized events such as back-to-school clothing drives, donated turkeys on Thanksgiving, and mentored youth for years to build on that sense of community. Now, nearly 25 years later, Frost has Miki Frost focused that momentum toward what he’s created at the Truce Center, a place where youth can learn about their culture; receive resolution skills. Roughly four years ago, Frost opened his help with homework; learn about mental health, including depression and suicide pre- first Truce Center on the corner of Lexington vention; and develop leadership and conflict ■ See TRUCE on page 5

A mural on the East Side Truce Center

Photos by Abdi Mohamed

Dr. Danielle Wood By Charles Hallman Contributing Writer Climate change is real and impacts all Americans, especially Black Americans and other communities of color. Environmental experts such as the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) note that many Black Americans are more vulnerable than others to severe weather and floods due to where they live. Climate change also makes air pollution worse, and polluted air is especially harmful for Blacks with breathing issues such as asthma. Counties with large Black populations are already exposed to extreme temperatures two to three more days per year than those counties with smaller Black populations. A 2021 Environmental Protection Agency report found that Black people were 40% more likely to live in areas that will experience the highest increases in extreme heat deaths. A team of U.S. and U.K.based researchers recently wrote in the journal Nature

Climate Change that “future predominantly Black communities will be the worst hit” as the U.S. faces a 26% increase in flood risk within the next 30 years. Dr. Danielle Wood directs M.I.T.’s Space Enabled Research Group and is the first Black woman to hold the position. Wood, who was recently in town, said that her laboratory is finding ways to use space-age technologies in combating climate change. A noted expert in her field,

Photo by Tom Northenscold countries can’t afford to have a space program. I’m here to tell you it’s not true. “These days, countries around the world have small satellite programs. I’ve been a part of teams that have learned about these programs, particularly in countries in Africa—Kenya and Ghana for example.” An assistant professor in media arts and sciences, Wood holds a joint appointment at MIT’s aeronautics and astronautics department as

“Space actually belongs to all humankind.” Wood has published extensive research on emerging space activity in Africa, Latin America and South East Asia and has advised U.S. government senior leaders on technology policy. Wood spoke at the Westminster Town Hall Forum’s Spring 2022 event on March 11. “I’ve traveled to many countries, particularly in Africa,” Wood told the audience. “There’s a myth that says some

well as being the faculty lead for Africa and African Diaspora Studies at her alma mater. She also has designed satellites and space technology applications that contribute to sustainable development. Before her talk, she told the MSR, “I have two classes that focus on the topic of how space plays a role in our society and how it can or should be used to help people around ■ See WOOD on page 5

Environmental justice a factor in choosing electric bus routes By Henry Pan Contributing Writer Transit on Penn Avenue in North Minneapolis became less polluting when Metro Transit opened the C Line one hot, sunny day in 2019. That’s because some of the buses running on the route are electric buses. Instead of being fueled by diesel, an electric bus is plugged in at their maintenance facility downtown, similar to how one might plug in one’s phone at the end of the night. Advocates and the transit agency say they release fewer harmful substances into the air, making it easier to breathe. And you might see more of them in the coming years. Metro Transit wants to buy more of them and submitted a plan to the state legislature in February.

ity communities, generally in parts of Columbia Heights, Brooklyn Center, the Phillips and Northside Minneapolis neighborhoods, and the Midway, North End, East Side, and West Side neighborhoods of St. Paul. The Minnesota chapter of 350.org, a worldwide climate advocacy organization based in Boston, believes the agency should pursue more electric buses as part of our collective effort to stave off climate change. “We’re very, very far from hitting the legally prescribed goals of emission production from the Next Generation Energy Act,” said MN350 organizer Madi Johnson. “[If] we Photo by Henry Pan want any hope of catching up at all, we need to electrify all vehicles that from South Carolina-based Pro- rates of asthma, according to the are possible to electrify, and transit buses [are a] part of that.” terra next year. They decided to buy transition plan. Indeed, transportation, from trucks When they are able to get more electric buses for the C Line in part because the corridor is historically electric buses, they hope to run to personal vehicles to buses, emit the ■ See ELECTRIC on page 5 transit-dependent and has higher them in environmental justice prior-

Metro Transit faces many obstacles to full electrification

The agency currently has eight accordion electric buses, which were built by Winnipeg-based New Flyer at their St. Cloud plant, with eight more standard-sized ones coming

2 March 31 - April 6, 2022

Metro

Mpls schools, teachers reach agreement to end strike By Cole Miska Contributing Writer Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS) held a press conference Friday morning March 25 to announce that a tentative agreement had been reached between MPS and the Minneapolis Federation of Teachers (MFT), which has been on strike since Mar. 8. Voting occured over the weekend at the MFT office and the contract was approved by educators on Sunday, March 27. Students were back in class Tuesday, following a one-day transition period for striking employees on Monday. “I do want to speak to our students and say that we’re really looking forward to welcom-

“The last few weeks have affirmed what many of us already knew, that Minneapolis is a place of passion and compassion,” Kim Ellison, chairperson for the Minneapolis School Board, said. “A place where people will do anything for our children.” Notable stipulations in the teacher’s agreement include added protections for educators of color; class capsizes; a memorandum of agreement on COVID-19 protocols; and a one-time bonus of $4,000. Notable stipulations in the Education Support Professionals (ESPs) agreement include paid professional deStrikers gathered on March 8 Photo by Travis Lee velopment days; a one-time $6,000 bonus; and the estabing you back into our schools staff, our administrators and ev- deeply about you,” MPS Super- lishment of an Anti-Bias AntiRacist Staff Development and with our teachers, our support eryone who cares so much and intendent Ed Graff said.

Support Council, the goal of which is to reduce inequitable practices in schools. The agreement also reduces the number of job classifications for ESPs from 18 to four, and all four classifications will get raises. Kaytie Kamphoff, an English teacher at Henry High School, was very satisfied with the terms MFT’s negotiating team secured. “They got a lot of good things—their team [were] rockstars,” Kamphoff said. “They worked as hard as they could against a capitalist leadership team doing everything they can to wield power.” Cole Miska welcomes reader responses to cmiska@spokesman-recorder.com.

DEED announces recipients of targeted community capital project grants Last week, the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) announced recipients of the Targeted Community Capital Project (TCCP) grants. A virtual press conference to explain the grant process and award decisions was held on March 25. In recognition of the statewide impact of COVID-19, natural disasters, and the civil unrest that occurred in the last two years, the 2021 Minnesota legislature authorized $18 million for DEED to administer this competitive grant program, providing much-needed funding for complex and costly

capital projects. Capital projects utilizing these funds must result in providing, increasing, and/ or expanding access to economic development, education, or workforce development programs or services to underserved communities or economically disadvantaged persons or groups. “We know the pandemic has had disproportionate impacts on Black, Indigenous and People of Color communities and on economically disadvantaged groups,” DEED Commissioner Steve Grove said. “This funding demonstrates the state’s com-

mitment to a new chapter of equitable economic growth.” Funding was made available for State Fiscal Year 2022-2023, and organizations were invited to apply for a maximum grant award of $1.5 million—with a legislative requirement that DEED equitably divide the total appropriation between the metropolitan areas and greater Minnesota. A total of 149 proposals were received for the TCCP grant, totaling $173,545,117 in requests. With limited resources, only 11% of organizations that applied were able to be funded.

expand the campus to Grand Rapids (Itasca County) accommodate increased TCCP funds will be comworkforce services and the bined with additional funds organization’s behavioral raised by IEDC to complete health services. In addition, “The Forge,” an innovation these funds will renovate an and maker space in North• Access North Center adjacent space to create an east Minnesota that will for Independent Living of early childcare center, trainprovide programming and NE MN: $123,071 ing family childcare providequipping space for innovaHibbing (St. Louis County) ers to become licensed, and tors and artists, as well as They will construct a increase space for the food education and training for carpentry shop at the Access pantry. residents from various and North existing location to • Ecolibrium: $843,250 diverse backgrounds. This provide training opportuniDuluth (St. Louis County) project will advance services ties and paid internships in A collaborative partnerto this low-income area with carpentry and handiwork ship with Duluth Housing work readiness skills training, for high school and college & Redevelopment Authorpre-apprenticeship training, students and individuals ity and Duluth Children’s and in-demand occupational with disabilities. The projects Museum, the SEE (Social, training. completed in training will Economic, and Educational) • Kootasca Community be provided free of charge Justice for Lincoln Park Action: $1,373,737 to seniors and people with project will renovate three Grand Rapids (Itasca County) disabilities needing home commercial properties in Creating an Early Childmodifications to support the Duluth area to provide hood Hub, these funds will accessibility and aging safely a neighborhood resource renovate a vacated elementawithin their homes. hub, a small footprint ry school to centralize space • African Center, Edugrocery, and an experienfor Early Childhood Educacation, & Resource, tial STEM lab serving the tion (ECE), increase access to Inc. (ACER): $921,486 low-income Lincoln Park social and workforce services Brooklyn Center (Hennepin Craft District and St. Louis to families, teen parents, and County) County residents. new fathers. The project will ACER will purchase the • EMERGE: $610,000 also increase availability of Shingle Creek Center in Minneapolis (Hennepin internships to ECE college partnership with COPAL, to County) students and provide onsite create a Futures EntrepreLocated in the North Minresources for residents of neurship & Career Center neapolis and Cedar Riverside Grand Rapids. in Brooklyn Center resultareas of Minneapolis, this • Latino Economic Deing in increased access to project will expand the velopment Center (LEDC): economic development and current Second Chance $1,500,000 workforce development Recycling facility to inSt. Paul (Ramsey County) services. In addition, the crease access to workforce Located on the Eastside project will work with existdevelopment services such of St. Paul, this project will ing store owners within the as employment preparation, purchase and develop the Shingle Creek Center to job skills, work experience, Plaza Del Sol building to update and improve their and placement for indiincrease economic developretail spaces. viduals who were previously ment, workforce training, and • CLUES: $1,500,000 incarcerated. offer additional commercial St. Paul (Ramsey County) • Itasca Economic and business opportunities Serving the Latino comDevelopment Corporation for Latino residents and busimunity on the Eastside of (IEDC): $1,080,000 ness owners. St. Paul, this project will

The 16 grantees, their locations and award amounts:

Potential reviewers were vetted by a team of DEED staff and selected based on their experience in Minnesota in community development, capital projects, public financing, economic development, and their relationships in underserved communities and economically disadvantaged areas (as defined in statute). The TCCP grant proposals were reviewed by teams composed of 67 individuals—25% of them were community members. Source: DEED. For more details about the agency and its services, visit the DEED website. Ventures: $536,900 • Lower Sioux Indian Onamia (Mille Lacs County) Community: $1,500,000 Renovating an existing Morton (Redwood County) building, the Mille Lacs Increasing the curBand of Ojibwe will open a rent space, these funds will childcare center in Onamia. help create a 20,000 squareThis project will increase foot campus to house Lower access for tribal and nonSioux Indian Community’s tribal parents to obtain continuum of hemp farming, safe and secure childcare processing, and home buildservices in the Onamia area ing facilities. This project will expand and provide the build- and provide opportunity for families to enter the working blocks for a diversified force, resulting in increased stable microeconomy to help sustain their tribal nation with economic self-sufficiency and stability. reliable revenue, job training, • Osseo Area Schools: and jobs for tribal members $190,000 and their families. • Masjed Abubakr Al-Sed- Brooklyn Center (Hennepin diq, Inc. (MAAS): $1,500,000 County) To meet the needs of this Rochester (Olmsted County) diverse community, Osseo Serving the East African Area Schools provides culturcommunity in Rochester, ally relevant and responsive MAAS will utilize these programming from English funds to increase access for individuals to their workforce classes and college preparation to meaningful training training and services. Renovating the second floor of the opportunities and work current space will expand bus readiness. This project will renovate the front space driving, childcare provider, at the Northwest Family home health aide, and IT/ Center; with the increased coding training opportunities space, services and training and increase job placement opportunities for Adult Basic assistance. Education students, individu• MIGIZI Communicaals, and access to workforce tions, Inc.: $921,486 service partner organizations Minneapolis (Hennepin will increase. County) • Parents in CommuIncreasing training and nity Action, Inc. (PICA): services to youth through $1,500,000 MIGIZI’s Indigenous PathMinneapolis (Hennepin ways program, this project County) will renovate and increase This project will renospace by building an addition vate PICA’s existing Trainto the current facility. With the additional space, trainings ing Center facility, located within the McKnight Center will expand to include comcampus, to expand the munications, media, green existing Lab School and jobs and IT. provide a dedicated space • Mille Lacs Corporate

DEED

for workforce development programs, community training space, and professional development activities. This expansion will train more early childhood teachers, drivers, advocates, and food service workers, enable lowincome families to acquire marketable job skills, and promote equity and diversity by training primarily people of color. • Ridgewater College: $1,500,000 Willmar (Kandiyohi County) An addition to the current infrastructure, this project will expand Ridgewater College’s Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) training by creating a 300’x200’ truck driving training range and gravel parking pad. This increased space will allow more students to gain the skills required and necessary licensures to obtain a CDL to meet the needs of employers in the area. • Somali Community Resettlement Services: $1,500,000 Minneapolis (Hennepin County) Expanding services to the South Minneapolis area, this project will purchase a building in the Minneapolis area to provide workforce development and economic development training opportunities for Somali and other diverse communities in the area. It will include work readiness programming, legal assistance, career counseling, a business incubator program, and an adult day and childcare center.

Health & Wellness

March 31 - April 6, 2022

What is radon and why should I care?

Winter and spring are excellent times to test radon levels the second-leading cause of lung cancer.

Sources for additional radon testing information

What causes radon? Radon is formed by the natural breakdown of uranium in soil, rocks and water.

Radon is a radioactive, tasteless, odorless and colorless gas that escapes from the ground. It can build up inside homes, especially in the winter when ventilation is limited. Almost all homes contain some radon. The amount of radon in a home depends on: • The type of rocks under and around a home. • The amount of soil around the home. • The local weather. • How well-insulated a home is. • How air-tight a home is. • The integrity of the home’s foundation. Why should I care about radon? When radon is mixed in with air and wind outdoors, it poses no health risk. When radon accumulates in an enclosed space, such as in a home, it can build up to dangerously high levels. Ongoing exposure to radon has been associated with an increased risk of lung cancer and, in fact, after smoking, is

How is radon diagnosed? The only way to know if your home has high levels of radon is to test for it. The most common test kits are called alpha track system kits. There are a variety of testing kits available online at such websites as Amazon.com. Most of the kits are used and mailed back in for analysis. The cost of the kit commonly includes the cost for the lab evaluation. The test kit detectors should be placed in the lowest level of a home where they are easily accessible but unlikely to be disturbed. Most detectors are left in place for three months, and then you will send the detector back to the laboratory for analysis. The highest levels of radon are most commonly found in basements, so that’s an especially important area to test as well as any other areas where you may have poor ventilation. Winter is an excellent time to test because it’s indicative of normal conditions in your home when your windows are closed.

ably high levels of radon, many times the fix can be as simple as ensuring that major entry routes are closed off. This includes covering any exposed soil in crawl spaces and ensuring that any foundation floor cracks are completely sealed. Sometimes a professional may be required to correct a high radon level problem, and most reputable contractors are experienced in correcting high radon home problems. Just make sure you hire someone with experience and a good reputation. Consumer resources such as Angie’s list, or some of the sources listed with this article, or even the good folks working at your Can radon exposure be pre- local hardware store can help with such references. vented or corrected? When purchasing a home, make sure you get a full radon Action steps The only way to know if your test report on that home. Radon reports are becoming re- home has high levels of radon is to test for it. We take safety quired by law in many states. If you have a home that has precautions every day. We wear tested positive for unaccept- seat belts, test our homes for

carbon monoxide, use smoke and fire detectors and alarms, and use security systems. It’s time for all Americans to add radon detection to our normal, regular safety checklist and take corrective action if the radon levels are found to be high. This is a revised and updated version of a previously published article. Charles E. Crutchfield III, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist and clinical professor of dermatology at the University of Minnesota Medical School and a Benedict Distinguished Visiting Professor of Biology at Carleton College. He also has a private practice, Crutchfield Dermatology, in Eagan, MN. He received his MD and master’s degree in molecular biology and genomics from the Mayo Clinic. He has been selected as one of the top 10 dermatologists in the United States by Black En-

terprise magazine. In addition, Minnesota Medicine recognized Dr. Crutchfield as one of the 100 Most Influential Healthcare Leaders in Minnesota. Dr. Crutchfield specializes in skinof-color and has been selected by physicians and nurses as one of the leading dermatologists in Minnesota for the past 20 years. He is the consulting team dermatologist for the Minnesota Twins, Vikings, Timberwolves, Wild and Lynx. Dr. Crutchfield is an active member of the American and National Medical Associations and past president of the Minnesota Association of Black Physicians. He is a founding member of “Minnesota’s Black Community Project” which recently published an award-winning book. Dr. Crutchfield has been recognized by NBC News/The Grio as one of the most influential African Americans in America. Dr. Crutchfield can be reached at CrutchfieldDermatology.com or by calling 651-209-3600.

• Low cost radon testing kits: https://mn.radon.com/ • 1-800-SOS-RADON (1-800-767-7236): National Radon Hotline. Purchase radon test kits by phone. • 1-800-55RADON (1800-557-2366): National Radon Helpline. Get live help for your radon questions. • 1-800-644-6999: National Radon Fix-It Line for general information on fixing or reducing the radon level in your home. • 1-800-426-4791: Safe Drinking Water Hotline, operated under contract to EPA. For information on testing, treatment, radon in water, and drinking water standards. • You can also go to www. epa.gov/radon/pubs/citguide. html or https://mn.radon.com • Minnesota Local Radon Contacts per County for Test Kits: https://www. health.state.mn.us/communities/environment/air/ radon/rncontacts.html • Washington County Residents (Free): https://www. co.washington.mn.us/2481/ Healthy-Homes • Ramsey County Residents ($2): https://www. r a m s e y c o u n t y. u s / r e s i dents/health-medical/ healthy-homes/radon • Hennepin County Residents ($9): https://www.hennepin.us/residents/healthmedical/radon-information

Blacks at high risk for glaucoma, the ‘silent thief of sight’

Missed exams during pandemic could increase risk of blindness By Pinkston News Services A leading cause of blindness in the world is a category of eye disease called glaucoma. The most common form results in increased eye pressure that damages the optic nerve. This can result in permanent vision loss as the disease progresses. For Black populations, glaucoma strikes up to a decade earlier and worsens faster than it does for White populations. Latinos are also at heightened risk. There is no cure for the disease, but the effects of glaucoma can be slowed or stopped if identified early through routine screenings.

Beginning as early as 40 years old, Black males especially are more likely to develop glaucoma. Black and Latino populations overall are four to five times more likely to develop glaucoma than others. More than 75% of Latinos are unaware of the increased risk of glaucoma associated with their ethnicity. It’s predicted that by 2050, half of Americans living with glaucoma will be of Latino origin. There are a host of other risk factors beyond race and age. Glaucoma tends to run in families. If someone in the family has it, there’s a good chance others do too. Having certain medical conditions, like diabetes, heart

If caught early enough, steps can be taken to avoid the progression of the disease. Glaucoma is often referred to as a “silent thief of sight” because there are no early symptoms, which is why 50% of people with glaucoma don’t know they have it. Over 76 million people suffer irreversible visual impairment as a result of the disease. An effect of strokes can cause the same condition affecting a further 33 million patients.

disease, high blood pressure, and sickle cell anemia—all illnesses seen at higher rates in the Black community—could increase the risk of glaucoma dramatically. Obesity and/or having a smoking habit are other factors to watch for, medical experts warn. Currently, glaucoma screenings are mostly con-

ducted on a machine called a Humphrey Field Analyzer (Zeiss). This, like other equipment common to an ophthalmologist’s office, is in a dark room, includes a chin rest, and requires a patient to be absolutely still while a staff technician instructs them through the exam. This method has been standard for decades, but new methods of comparable if not superior accuracy are available. Heru (www.seeheru.com) has developed a wearable diagnostic platform using commercially available AR/ VR head-mounted displays. Heru’s portable headset can conduct a screening test for glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, and other vision impairments anywhere, at any time—even in remote locations. Programmed with state-ofthe-art sensors and software, the tech removes the need for bulky, stationary, and expensive diagnostic equipment. Heru’s platform does not require a dedicated darkroom or testing space. An onboard virtual Heru personality is programmed to walk patients through the exam eliminating the need for a staff tech to administer the screening. Despite the advances in simplified screening technol-

Courtesy of iStock ogy and the enhanced risk of glaucoma for Black and Hispanic communities, disparities were found in eye care utilization compounding an often preventable condition for them. In a recent analysis, fewer Black and Hispanic people had their eyes routinely checked than did White people, and they also experienced more eye-related incidents requiring medical care than Whites. The COVID-19 pandemic also exacerbated glaucoma rates by preventing people from getting the recom-

mended annual checkups and exams. The effects of the pandemic made a bad condition worse by allowing the disease to quietly progress without giving especially vulnerable populations an opportunity to protect against it. Preventing blindness due to glaucoma requires identifying it before vision loss begins to occur. If caught early enough, steps can be taken to avoid the progression of the disease. The Centers for Disease Control recommends that people with diabetes should have

an eye exam every year and that people who are at higher risk for glaucoma—African Americans 40 years and older, all adults older than 60, especially Mexican Americans, and people with a family history of glaucoma—should have an eye exam every two years. To learn about the risk of glaucoma in African American communities, go to www. g l a u c o m a . o r g /g l a u c o m a / african-americans-and-glaucoma.php. Source: Pinkston News Services

4 March 31 - April 6, 2022

Business

InfusedLife

Black Business SPOTLIGHT By Cole Miska Contributing Writer Plant-based food options have been growing in popularity recently, and local entrepreneur Tabota Seyon’s business InfusedLife is one of the Twin Cities’ businesses which offer such vegan cuisines. Seyon took her 15-yearold catering business in a different direction and opened InfusedLife’s Plant Based Emporium when she looked into how the food she ate affected her own life and family. “In my business I have done meat and veggies and everything in-between for a long time,” Seyon said. “I found that when I was cooking plant-

around food and nutrition. She learned about nutrition in her days as a yoga instructor and a Herbalife saleswoman. “I recognized that a lot of the boxed foods that we were accustomed to seeing advertised, especially in low-income communities or communities of color, that were typically full of dyes and unnatural ingredients were really starting to take a toll and affect our dietary needs,” Seyon said. “Also, they take an effect on our physical health,” she said. “There were days I would wake up foggy and I didn’t understand why, and I started to realize that a lot of the foods I had been eating were really a

Plant-based eatery offers healthy options

The Black Mamba Collective ‘elevates’ the mission plant-based foods did not stop with her own business— she also founded The Black Mamba Collective, which the Infusedlife website describes as “a women-led cooperative with the goal to elevate BIPOC-owned, plant-based businesses and expand opportunities for all.” Striving against the odds “For me,” Seyon said, “the mission is to provide access to women like myself who may not have always been supported along the way to be able to communicate, congregate, have shared resources and shared experiences, and shared purchasing power when it comes products and

Tabota Seyon

based foods in my catering business, a lot of people were requesting it; it was the number-one thing that I sold often. “And I thought, ‘I really kind of like where this is going, it feels good,’” she continued. “But it was also intentional for me to have those things on the menu. It just happened to be the direction a lot of people were going, and it felt like it was a natural fit for me because I have the ability and the skillsets to create delicious food that happens to be good for you.” Seyon’s background was a natural fit for work based

huge part of that. I wasn’t being mindful of my mouthful, if you will.” She added, “A lot of times when I cooked in my private life it’d end up spilling over into my professional life. They always needed someone to prepare a healthy meal for the rest of the staff, and I’d be the one who always volunteered to do so. “It became a thing where I started to preach the good word of nutrition and micronutrients and recognizing that we need to become a part of our own healthcare system.” Seyon’s ambitions around

services that are meant to be healing for their communities.” The Black Mamba Collective emphasizes healing and economic justice. Seyon is trying to build the Collective into a strong BIPOC womenled community. She says that she hopes it can serve as a safe space for women who may not feel safe at home or elsewhere in the community. The Collective’s goals are intertwined with racial justice. Seyon hopes it can be used as a tool to build generational wealth for the families of the women participating, and says the project was inspired

by and named after the Black Mamba Group, a co-op of women in South Africa who fight to stop poaching of endangered species. “We as Black Americans oftentimes feel like an endangered species,” Seyon said. “We are constantly fighting for our right to have access to education, access to health care, access to building wealth, owning a home. So I felt that the Collective is a really good way of building on that energy and that solidarity that these

on due to the pandemic and has contracted COVID twice. Seyon says she has also experienced racism and sexism because of her work—eggs have been thrown at her windows, she said. Seyon said the most recent attack on her business is from her landlord: Her business is being threatened with eviction for one late rent payment due to Seyon being sick with COVID. Seyon said she had previously always been on time with payments and put over $150,000 into renovating the space they were in. “We’re being faced with only a one-year lease, where most people get a five-year lease,” Seyon said. “I was hoping to get a chance.” Despite the hurdles, Seyon is not giving up and will continue to run both projects. “God has a plan for me,” Submitted photos Seyon said. “I don’t know all of what it is, but I’m just trying to women are doing within Min- stand up to the call. Whatever nesota and hopefully beyond.” that’s been placed on my heart

“I have the ability and the skillsets to create delicious food that happens to be good for you.” The journey to establish InfusedLife and The Black Mamba Collective has not been an easy one for Seyon. She compares her experience to the Biblical story of Job. She had to move her storefront early

to do, I try to follow through with and keep pushing.” Cole Miska welcomes reader responses to cmiska@spokesman-recorder.com.

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March 31 - April 6, 2022

Jackson Continued from page 1

Jackson does not mean that she supports the 51-year-old federal judge, who is widely expected to win confirmation from the Senate next month on a straight party line vote. What Randall finds troubling is Brown Jackson’s tendency to rule against plaintiffs, mostly African American, in workplace discrimination suits. Of even more concern to her is Brown Jackson’s endorsement by the Fraternal Order of Police. That represents a huge red flag, Randall said, because it suggests that Brown Jackson supports the contested legal principle known as qualified immunity, which shields law enforcement officials from civil suits in cases where they kill or injure unarmed civilians who are disproportionately African American. “Qualified immunity should be the issue for Black people,” Randall said. “If we want to rid ourselves of this reign of terror against Black people, we need to get the police in court, that is the first step.” Continuing, she said: “We’re

Wood

interviewing [Brown Jackson] for a lifetime job, and so her views on qualified immunity and workplace discrimination are more important than her color. I am not so happy if she ends up supporting qualified immunity, which her record tends to suggest she will.” Randall’s concerns reflect African Americans’ growing disillusionment with “Black faces in high places” who have failed to materially improve their lives. Across the country, in

“What will this actually do for Black people?” social media posts, barber shops, beauty salons and dining room tables, African Americans have expressed an astonishing lack of enthusiasm for Brown Jackson’s nomination. “What will this actually do for Black people?” a Minneapolis firefighter, Vincent Jackson, said in an interview with the MSR. “It’s tangible for her but not tangible for Black people. Congratulations to her, but we’ve been here before and it seems we’re stuck here loving and celebrating symbolism without tangibles.” A veteran of the U.S. Army and

in what way are we [who are] living in inner cities experiencing some particularly harmful versions [of] climate change. Continued from page 1 In areas that are heavily populated with people in buildings the world. We’re interested in in urban areas, they experisustainability both on Earth as ence greater heat compared to a more rural area with lots well as beyond Earth.” Asked how climate change of trees. “There’s lots of science impacts Blacks here and around the world, Wood said, showing that some areas that “Part of the reason is heat are likely to have high popuand other forms of extreme lations of people of color or weather and other forms of low-income people…they’re undesirable environmental often sited near areas of poor waste management or water experiences. “We should ask the question management or poor air qual-

Truce

that Brown Jackson only ruled for the plaintiffs in three of the 25 race discrimination cases she heard as a U.S. District judge between 2013 and 2021. According to Reuters, Jackson ruled against a U.S. Park police officer, a Bureau of Land Management employee, and a pharmacist at a Washington hospital, all of whom alleged racial discrimination because they are Black. And in the most high-profile discrimination case, Brown Jackson ruled against a group of African American employees who sued the defense con-

ity,” she continued, Wood told the Westminster Town Hall audience that a high school teacher first got her involved in studying space: “I was a student with a lot of good grades in high school, and I wasn’t sure what direction I would go in,” she recalled. “My teacher asked me to apply for a program at NASA when I was 17. “If I hadn’t had that teacher suggest this idea, I probably would not be here today. I wasn’t thinking about a space career until someone suggested that I consider it.”

conversations between the youth on topics ranging from relationships to conflict resolution. Brown heard about the center’s work from Frost, Continued from page 1 who is his uncle. He expressed remorse for not and Selby. The space had been vacant having a place like the center growfor years, and after discussing his plans ing up, which could have helped with the building’s owner, Frost was him navigate some of the hurdles as a teen. “I didn’t have the skills, able to secure the spot. the knowledge, or anything to even think how to take a violent situation Boots on the ground Frost’s approach is to help those and take it to a nonviolent situation,” who are off track to get back on, Brown said. Outside of his work at the center, and those who are on track to continue their trajectory. He usually Brown coaches AAU basketball at starts each morning going through East Side Athletics. Many of the studowntown St. Paul with local law dents and others in the community enforcement to help monitor the refer to him as Coach Dre. skyways. In the early afternoon, he heads Expanding to meet the community’s over to a few local high schools to needs Frost decided it was time to open check in with administrators and see if there have been any fights or a second Truce Center location on conflicts he can help address. Once the corner of Case Avenue East and school is out by 3 pm, Frost is back at Payne Avenue in East St. Paul, since the center where he helps facilitate the area has come under a wave of breakout sessions and tutoring for violence in recent years. The new center provides the same programhomework help. Deandre Brown is a program direc- ming as the original. Asia Walker has been bringing her tor at the Truce Center and leads the after-school sessions. He facilitates son to the East Side Truce Center

Electric

a journalist, Scotty T. Reid, 55, said in a phone interview with the MSR that he hasn’t overheard a single conversation about Brown Jackson’s nomination in Gaston County, North Carolina, where he lives. “I don’t expect much from her, and I don’t think anyone else does either,” he said. Most concerning for Reid and other African Americans interviewed for this article is a study by the Reuters news agency that found

tractor, Lockheed Martin. She rejected a $22.8 million settlement proposal involving more than 5,500 current and former employees, all Black, on the grounds that there was no common pattern of discrimination. “She takes a real procedural approach to discrimination cases,” said Randall, “ and gets rid of the cases on procedural or technical grounds rather than ruling for or against.” In the Lockheed Martin case, for example, she could’ve directed the plaintiffs’ attorneys to return at a later date after they had identified a more concrete pattern of racial discrimination. “Although they did already have one fact in common,” Randall said. “They’re all Black.” Others have been more brutal, with one African American posting on Facebook Thursday that Brown Jackson was a “stooge for white supremacy.” Other legal scholars defended Brown Jackson. Kim Forde-Mazrui, director of the University of Virginia School of Law’s Center for the Study of Race and Law, told Reuters: “Plaintiffs in employment discrimination cases lose a lot, so this strikes me as consistent with the pattern I would expect because they are notoriously hard to win.”

Working towards a greener future “We can use satellites to track areas of higher heat” and other environmental factors on Earth, especially in urban areas, Wood said. She and her MIT students are also studying beeswax as a possible source for energy fuel. “Space actually belongs to all humankind,” Wood emphasized. But back to Earth, Wood pointed out that her travels around the world have convinced her that climate change is real. “There are some countries around the world that

since they attended its open house last year. She’s been happy to see her son become more active and productive with the help of the center. “When I pick my son up, his homework is done,” she said. “That’s something that we struggled with before. I guess you have to do your homework before you do the fun part, and that’s definitely huge for me.”

“If we can change a kid’s lifestyle, we can change their life.” “It’s not that school is hard. School sometimes is like a fashion show,” Brown said about his conversations with students. He works to convince students that their outer appearance and belongings don’t determine their worth though they might get bullied for not having the latest fashion. To cultivate a sense of self-worth in the students, the center has African sculptures at its entrance and photos of African American icons on its walls. Measuring success There are a few ways that Frost

charger issues that have since been resolved. The buses also need to be adequately charged during driver breaks at the terminal to be able to Continued from page 1 run for upwards of 20 hours a day. Metro Transit is currently not doing so because of its ongoing driver shortage. As a result, only as many as three greatest amount of pollution in the state, according to a 2018 report from the Minnesota of them are out at any given time, and each is out no more than eight hours a day. Pollution Control Agency. “We did make an adjustment to the C Line, Despite the dire straits, the transit agency is a very long way from being able to fully electrify their fleet. The agency will need to work with Xcel Energy to provide the infrastructure needed to deliver up to 16 megawatts per garage, a process that could take up to seven years. They will also need the buses and chargers. Ongoing supply chain issues caused by the pandemic will make it hard for them to keep the so that there’s [a] shorter layover at Brooklyn buses running, and with other agencies looking Center Transit Center, and that does help our to electrify, companies building new ones may operator situation,” said Metro Transit Director of Service Development Adam Harrington durhave trouble keeping up with demand. They also have trouble running their electric ing a late November interview. It’s also challenging to run the buses solely buses today. Since they entered service, they have been withdrawn several times, most on electric power in the winter. Because the recently for nine months in 2021 because of buses also need to provide onboard heat, they

In a letter to the White House dated February 4, however, Alabama’s first African American federal judge, U. W. Clemon, lauded President Biden’s decision to nominate a Black woman to the court, but said it should be someone other than Brown Jackson. “Based on her conduct in Ross v. Lockheed,” he wrote, “I strongly believe that Circuit Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson should not be appointed by you as the first black female justice of the Supreme Court of the United States.” Randall said that Brown Jackson is representative of a political system that protects itself by using tokenism—a kind of bait and switch strategy—to confuse or appease Black demands for racial justice. Both political parties have exploited class fissures in the African American community to create the illusion of racial progress when opportunities for most Blacks are actually declining. “I grew up during Jim Crow and that colors how I see ‘firsts,’” said Randall. “But I also understand that representation doesn’t produce change, representation produces representation, and that gets us nowhere.” Jon Jeter welcomes reader responses to jjeter@spokesman-recorder.com.

have asked if they need to actually relocate major cities or capitals because there’s been a concern about climate change.” Wood said, “A multifaceted approach involving all levels of government, as well as residents coming together to address climate change, is needed. She discovered that something as simple as planting more gardens in urban areas can be a good start. “One of the things I learned from the [National] Audubon Society is to support birds. Birds are a good example of weather,” Wood told the MSR.

likes to measure the impact of the center’s work. First, he works to get them off of law enforcement’s radar when it comes to criminal activity. He noted that the center was responsible for getting 10 guns off of the street last year. Frost also gauges success by the number of participants who receive certificates through his program and

how many of them go on to become instructors once they graduate from the program. The center awards diplomas of various levels to participants in courses related to leadership, hygiene, and community building. Once they complete the first level, youth can become teacher’s aides and then go on to lead a course. According to Brown, the aim is to impart long lasting lessons onto the youth. “Mostly when you have a center or a spot like this, children will come in to do their programming and they’ll go home and leave that

consume a lot of energy. All types of batteries, including those on your phone, generally don’t last as long during the winter owing to the cold weather. To supplement some of that energy, the buses are equipped with diesel heaters. The agency did consider, but ultimately ruled out, buses that are powered by overhead wires, like the region’s light rail vehicles. They were worried about speed restrictions and wanted

“We’re very, very far from hitting the legally prescribed goals of emission production.” to use zero emissions buses anywhere in the system without being limited to overhead wires. Only seven regions in North America employ this technology today; the eighth system in the Boston area was decommissioned on March 12. The report also rules out hydrogen buses because Minnesota does not have the infrastructure to support such a rollout. It also does

“As a result, [learn] what are the natural native plants [and] put some in the area, even if it’s in small pots or in a small park if possible, and that attracts birds that leads to a healthy cycle of plants and birds and other things,” she said. “I was really inspired by that idea.” Dr. Wood’s talk can be seen on www.westministerforum.org/ forum. Charles Hallman welcomes reader responses to challman@ spokesman-recorder.com.

stuff at the door,” Brown said. “If we can change a kid’s lifestyle, we can change their life.” Nearly all of the work that the organization does is self-funded aside from a few small grants. Through selling cars, Frost has been able to provide youth participants with the programming and resources they need to participate at no cost to their parents. This has been welcomed by parents like Walker, who have had to pay high costs for programming in the past. “I remember my son when he was a little younger, we had to pay for that. It was probably $200 a week. For them to keep them busy after school is a blessing,” Walker said. Though support has been limited, the center has gotten donations through their website. Frost encouraged anyone looking to fund their work to donate to their organization directly. To learn more about Truce Center, go to 8218trucecenter.org. Abdi Mohamed welcomes reader responses to abdi.mohamed2012@ gmail.com.

not address converting its existing diesel buses into battery-electric, something both Portland and Indianapolis are experimenting with. Although the astute rider may differentiate an electric bus from its diesel counterparts and praise it for the ride quality, it is hard to tell them apart. Aside from the electric buses not having a rear window, they look similar to the diesels, have the same paint-job, accordion section, free wi-fi and USB chargers. But at the end of the day, it appears many riders don’t care what type of bus picks them up. “As long as I get there,” said Raymond James, his main concern as he rode the C Line home from work. *Disclosure: The author was a founding member of the Twin Cities Transit Riders Union, which lobbied for electric buses with a coalition of organizations that includes MN350. The author is no longer involved and the organization is defunct. Henry Pan welcomes reader responses to hpan@ spsokesman-recorder.com.

6 March 31 - April 6, 2022

Arts & Culture

April is a time to celebrate jazz Many know that April is Jazz Appreciation Month. But did you know that International Jazz Day is on April 30? It’s the world’s largest celebration of jazz music, declared by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization in 2011. Its significance is that it highlights jazz and its diplomatic role of uniting people from all over the globe. Jazz musician James Morrison recently tweeted a great quote that explains the importance of the day quite well. He said, “Jazz contains something fundamental to the human experience. It speaks directly to our very being without the need for translation, without regard for age, gender, race or status.” Pianist Marcus Roberts is definitely someone who embodies what Jazz Day is all about and is helping to define where it’s headed. Roberts and the American Symphony Orchestra perform a Duke Ellington program at Carnegie Hall on Thursday, March 24. WBGO’s editorial director, veteran jazz critic and award winning author Nate Chinen, wrote about the big day. Go to wbgo.org for all the highlights and backstory on the concert. Hopefully, Roberts will be headed to the Twin Cities again in the near future. On Thursday, March 31

at 7:30 pm the 2022 NEA Jazz Masters Tribute Concert took place at SFJAZZ’s Miner Auditorium to honor Stanley Clarke, Donald Harrison, Jr., Billy Hart and Cassandra Wilson. The event was free and kicked off a year-long celebration of the 40th Anniversary of the program. 2018 NEA Jazz Master Dianne Reeves will host this year’s concert. 2022 honorees Clarke, Hart, and Harrison, Jr. will perform as well as other performers such as Ben Street, Mark Turner, the SFJAZZ Collective with Matt Brewer, Etienne Charles, Martin Luther McCoy, Gretchen Parlato, Chris Potter, David Sanchez, Kendrick Scott, Edward Simon and Warren Wolf. Plus Skylar Tang, who is 16 years old and a trumpeter and member of the SFJAZZ High School AllStars. A live webcast of the 2022 NEA Jazz Masters Tribute Concert will begin at 7:30 pm PT/10:30 pm ET at arts.gov and

sfjazz.org. Additionally, NPR Music, WBGO, National Endowment for the Humanities, and JazzTimes, among others, will share the live webcast. Vocalist Barbara Morrison passed away on March 16. She was 72. Some of Morrison’s most impressive work was with saxophonist Hous-

2021. Now there’s a new album out this March 25 honoring him and his enormous contribution to jazz. “Alternative Guitar Summit, Honoring Pat Martino, Volume 1” from HighNote Records features 14 jazz guitarists playing selections from his varied catalog of compositions.

“Jazz contains something fundamental to the human experience. It speaks directly to our very being without the need for translation, without regard for age, gender, race or status.” ton Person. I remember her singing at the original Dakota in St. Paul. Check out her album, “A Sunday Kind of Love” featuring Houston Person on the Savant Record label. Guitarist Pat Martino passed away in November

Among the 14 jazz guitarists featured on the album are Rez Abbasi, Peter Bernstein, Paul Bollenback, Ed Cherry, Fareed Haque, Joel Harrison, Russell Malone, Adam Rogers, Kurt Rosenwinkel and Dave Stryker, among others.

“Producer Joel Harrison is thrilled to have brought together this crew of great musicians to show their love for him while HighNote Records is proud to present this first volume of their recordings,” according to a HighNote Records press release about the album. Album liner notes writer Bill Milkowski wrote, “It is hard to overstate the profound influence that Pat Martino had on a generation of jazz guitarists. Back in the early ’60s, Martino and his friendly rival on the scene, guitarist George Benson, were being touted as heirs to Wes Montgomery’s throne.” Also released by HighNote Records this March 25 is trumpeter Jeremy Pelt’s album, “Soundtrack.” This one is cinematic, and he said, “I’ve certainly done plenty of concept albums, but in this case there’s nothing I’m on a soapbox about. It’s been a tough time for all of us, so let’s not

worry about sending messages for a minute. Here we are playing some songs and having some fun.” With Pelt on this latest album is Chien Chien Lu on vibraphone, Victor Gould on piano and Fender Rhodes, Vicente Archer on acoustic and electric bass, Allan Mednard on drums, Anne Drummond on flute, and Brittany Anjou on Mellotron and Moog Sub 37. One final note to remember: Modern music keyboardist Craig Taborn, originally from Golden Valley, will perform in his hometown on April 13 at the Dakota in Minneapolis. My favorite album of his music is the “Junk Magic” recording. Taborn has plenty of newer material out now from ECM Records, so let’s support him by showing up for this rare local appearance. Robin James welcomes reader responses to jamesonjazz@ spokesman-recorder.com.

KMOJ’s Freddie Bell among MN Broadcasting Hall of Fame honorees

Freddie Bell

Photo by Chris Juhn

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KMOJ Radio’s Freddie Bell has been selected as one of five new members inducted into the Minnesota Broadcasting 2022 Hall of Fame. The inductees are chosen based on their unique and outstanding contributions to broadcasting in Minnesota. Bell is the executive at KMOJ, the People’s Station, located in the heart of North Minneapolis. He manages two stations and is a host of three radio shows. Bell is also a speaker and author, having recently published a motivational book entitled, “Word to the Wise: Guide for

Daily Living.” Other honorees this year include KFAN’s Dan Barrerio, Dave Lee of WCCORadio, Steve Patterson of myTalk Radio, Lynn Ketelsen of Linder Farm Network, and Cathy Wurzer of TPT-TV. The induction ceremony will take place on Saturday, September 17, 2022 at the Pavek Museum in Saint Louis Park. The ceremony not only celebrates the careers of these distinguished broadcasters, but also raises operating funds for the Pavek Museum. Tickets go on sale April 5 and are $200 each. The Minnesota Broad-

casting Hall of Fame is a service of the Pavek Museum and has inducted 191 members beginning with the inaugural class of 2001. The Pavek Museum was established in 1988 to preserve and promote the history and science of electronic communication, as well as the values of Minnesota’s broadcast industry. The Pavek Museum and the Minnesota Broadcasting Hall of Fame are located at 3517 Raleigh Ave., Saint Louis Park, MN 55416. Source: The Pavek Museum

Opinion

My name ain’t Toby! We cannot let our oppressors define us in a way that erases our identities

By Oscar Blayton Almost everyone of a certain age has memories of watching “Roots,” the television adaption of Alex Haley’s epic novel that first aired in the 1970s. One of the most painful scenes in this drama is when the White plantation overseer demands that the enslaved Kunta Kinte accept the slavename “Toby,” and has him whipped to the point of near death until he does. The erasure of the identity of the people of Africa and its diaspora is a major contributing factor to the asymmetrical relationship between people of color and the ethnic European benefactors of global colonialism. If you are robbed of your identity, it is easier for an oppressor to ignore your humanity. This asymmetry can be clearly illustrated by two similar and distinct tragedies taking place in the world right now. The tragedy with which most Americans are familiar is the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which has forced refugees to flee to Poland and other nearby nations. The depiction of the human misery and loss suffered by the Ukrainian people is being broadcast on American news channels almost 24 hours every day, and the United States has opened its wallet to the tune of $13.6 billion to provide aid

to these people. On the other hand, there is little notice given to the refugees fleeing violence in the West African nation of Burkina Faso. According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, due to violence that has spread over the area just south of the Sahara Desert, known as the Sahel—as well as portions of central Africa— more than 1.7 million people have been displaced internally

in mid-2021 to run a commentary about the Burkina Faso refugee crisis written by Academy Award-winner Angelina Jolie. On the other hand, one cannot help but wonder if that commentary would ever have seen the light of day without the star power of the author. The Western press does not care about Burkina Faso. It is a faraway land whose capital city has a name, Ouagadougou (pronounced “Waagaa-doo-goo”), that is alien to European tongues.

There is little notice given to the refugees fleeing violence in the West African nation of Burkina Faso. in Burkina Faso. To learn about the tragedy in Burkina Faso, readers must seek out reports from organizations such as the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Refugees International, Norwegian Refugee Council or Deutsche Welle, which in its self-description states that it presents “off-beat stories” along with other news and analyses of German and international affairs. It should be noted, however, that TIME magazine saw fit

March 31 - April 6, 2022

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

I enjoyed reading the article dated March 17th, 2022, about the street being renamed and dedicated to a Black that referenced protection and care for the community. I grew up in Minneapolis and had never known the history behind the street’s former name, white man Charles Fremont Dight.

It is amazing the dark things that have been done in history by others and then washed over with some minimal good they had done. I so appreciate the opportunity to be introduced to a piece of our history that involves a Black man being acknowledged and celebrated. Thank you for the oppor-

tunity to place some Minnesota history of Black man that made a difference, b ecause as a firefighter each and every time he went out on a call he was showing his willingness to risk his life for another!

It’s no secret that Congress is polarized. Rarely does an issue receive strong bipartisan support. That’s why it’s so striking that four out of five voters agree that we must do more to safeguard our democracy from presidential corruption. No president, regardless of party, should be able to exploit weaknesses in our political system for their personal

gain. That’s where the Protecting Our Democracy Act comes in. If passed, it would prevent future abuse of presidential power and corruption, increase transparency, and ensure presidents of either party can be held accountable. If the average person used their office for personal gain, they’d go to jail. If the average person could pardon themselves, there would be no rule

of law. Therefore, no president should be above the law. It’s just common sense. I’m urging Congress to pass the Protecting Our Democracy Act. It’s time we put safeguards in place to prevent a corrupt president of any party from abusing the power of their office.

Eva Blaine-Burley Current master’s student in social work at Saint Mary’s MN

Sincerely, Lisa Marshall

GOP senators’ case against Ketanji Brown Jackson: She did her job By Thomas L. Knapp Facing questions during her confirmation hearing before the U.S. Senate on March 22, Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson caught what may be the strangest sort of flak I’ve seen in one of these circuses. “Do you support, then, the idea that indefinite detention of an enemy combatant is unlawful?” asked U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC), referring to Jackson’s representation of detainees held at the U.S. prison in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. In the course of that representation, Jackson signed an amicus brief asserting—correctly—that the detainees were entitled to challenge their indefinite detention without trial. Before storming out of the hearing like one of the kids in Animal House, saying, “You can do whatever you want to us, but we’re not going to sit here and listen to you badmouth the United States of America,” Graham informed Jackson that according to the brief, the government “would have to release these people or try them and some of them, the evidence we can’t disclose because it’s classified.” U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) didn’t have to go as far as the amicus brief in question to come up with an objection. His problem was with Jackson representing those particular clients at all. After doing so as a public defender, he noted, “[S] he volunteered to continue that representation in private practice, which I think is interesting,

But most importantly, it is a country populated by a group of people who are of little interest and no concern to the West. When the French invaded that land in 1896, forced it into compliance and made it a colony, they took away its name and gave it a new name—a French name— “Haute Volta,” which translates into “Upper Volta” and describes the upper region of the Volta River and its tributaries. But to add insult to injury, “Volta” is the name given to the river by Portuguese gold traders in Ghana. “Volta” is Portuguese for “twist” or “turn,” and the river may have been named thus because of its extremely curved course. In 1984, the nation shed its colonial name and adopted the name Burkina Faso, which means “Land of Incorruptible People.” This was a great step forward for a people whose identity had been stolen almost a century earlier. But there are lingering effects of the French colonial period. The spelling of the rican colonies. name of the country’s capital, The currency in use in “Ouagadougou” is based on those countries is the “Franc the conventional spelling sys- of the Financial Community tem of the French language, of Africa,” which was originot the language of the indig- nally termed the “Franc of enous people. In written form, the French Colonies in Africa.” Ouagadougou is still being Burkina Faso’s former colocalled outside its name. nizer is its current economic In addition to the partial “handler,” and it is difficult to erasure of its cultural identity, see around France’s involveBurkina Faso also is made ec- ment to get a clear view of onomically invisible to some this West African nation as an degree. France still controls economic entity. Burkina Faso’s currency, along Colonialism and post-cowith the currency of several lonialism have made Burkina other former French West Af- Faso all but invisible to the

and frankly, from my point of view, a little concerning.” As attorneys themselves, it’s reasonable to expect that Graham and Hawley understand what attorneys do— represent clients. But apparently not. As U.S. senators, one might also expect that they’d remember their oaths to support the Constitution of the United States. No dice there, either, when it comes to the Sixth Amendment:

speedy, or public, or before an impartial jury (the “trials” are secret affairs conducted by military tribunals). Graham is firmly on record as opposing even that last bit, “Assistance of Counsel”: “When they say, ‘I want my lawyer,’ you tell them, ‘Shut up. You don’t get a lawyer.” Hawley seems to agree. Their problem with Jackson is that she did her job— and that, above and beyond doing her job, she supports the Con-

Their problem with Jackson is that she did her job— and that, above and beyond doing her job, she supports the Constitution while they oppose it. “In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury…to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defense.” When the Gitmo detainees have received “trials” at all, those “trials” haven’t been

stitution while they oppose it. That position should disqualify them from holding their Senate seats, not her from taking the SCOTUS bench.

Western gaze. And it is extremely difficult to have empathy for something that is invisible to you. Burkina Faso is a part of the global community, but for so long it has been made invisible by cultural choices and economic policies of the West. As the land disappears from the minds of Westerners, so do the people who live there. People of color must work together and with our honest allies to assert our identity and our presence in the vari-

ous national communities, as well as in the global community as a whole. We cannot let our oppressors define us in a way that erases our identities. And no matter the economic, social and political lashes they bring down upon us, we must stand strong and confirm that we are not Toby.

Thomas L. Knapp (Twitter: @ thomaslknapp) is director and senior news analyst at the William Lloyd Garrison Center for Libertarian Advocacy Journalism (thegarrisoncenter.org). He lives and works in north central Florida.

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

8 March 31 - April 6, 2022

BULLETIN

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Contunued from page 10 see real time-enhanced stats,” said Lowry. “You’ll see player stats, team stats, along with the cameras and replays and the announcers. There will be a lot of different offerings this year.” Notable women leading the way This year’s Women’s Final Four in Minneapolis is being orchestrated by a significant number of women, especially Black females. Duke Athletics Director Nina King was the chair of

“I don’t think people realize the magnitude of the work.”

and Carolyn Peck in the studio. “We’re adding a sideline analyst, Andraya Carter [a former player], from the University of Tennessee,” said Lowry. Alystia Moore, ESPN’s director of programming and acquisitions, told the MSR that she expects viewership to be high: “Viewership trends [of WBB telecasts] have been really impressive,” up 45% from last year, she reported.

Communications and Marketing Manager West St. Paul-Mendota Heights-Eagan Area Schools (School District 197) is hiring a Communications and Marketing Manager Full Time, 12-Month Position Salary: 80,000-90,000/Year BA, with a minimum of 5 years of related experience Apply before April 8th, 2022 at www.isd197.org

State of Minnesota

Case Type: Personal Injury

County of Hennepin

District Court

Lighting up Minneapolis Starting Wednesday and running through Sunday’s national title game, buildings and landmarks throughout Minneapolis will be lit in the colors of the 2022 Women’s Final Four—blue and orange. These locations include the IDC Center, Minneapolis Convention Center, and the Nicollet Mall among others. Also, the I-35W and Lowry Avenue bridges will be lit in Final Four colors on Friday, April 1. Indigenizing the Women’s Final Four Bringing awareness of Native American people will be front and center throughout the Final Four this week, including an acknowledgment of their original possession of the land where the games are being played, to show the importance of the local Indigenous community to major sporting events. Over 200 tickets for both Friday’s semifinals and over 200 tickets for Sunday’s game have been distributed through local Native organizations.

the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Committee, the group that selected and seeded the 68-team field. “It’s so great to be a part of the women’s basketball community [and] the game,” she told the MSR last month during a visit to the Cities. “I don’t think people realize the magnitude of the work.” Five sistahs are on ESPN’s “A-Team” of studio analysts. “We have a new host for the tournament,” said Pat Lowry on Elle Duncan, Charles Hallman welcomes “and we’re adding Nikki Fargus this year.” Duncan and reader responses to challman@ Fargus join Monica McNutt spokesman-recorder.com.

The Honorable: Kristin Siegesmund

State of Minnesota

Case Type: Personal Injury

County of Hennepin

District Court Fourth Judicial District Court File Number: 27-CV-22-3554 The Honorable: Patrick D. Robben SUMMONS

Fatima Yusuf, Plaintiff, v.

SUMMONS

Kenneth Jackson, Plaintiff,

Christian Villanueva, Defendant.

v. THIS SUMMONS IS DIRECTED TO the above-named Defendant:

Sheldrick Elie,

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

Defendant.

The Plaintiffs Complaint against you is attached to this summons. Do not throw these papers

THIS SUMMONS IS DIRECTED TO the above-named Defendant: 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

away. They are official papers that affect your rights. You must 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. 2. YOU MUST REPLY WITHIN 20 DAYS TO PROTECT YOUR RIGHTS.

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

You must give or mail to the person who signed this summons a written response called

respond to this lawsuit even though it may not yet be filed with the Court and

an Answer within 20 days of the date on which you received this Summons. You must

there may be no court file number on this summons.

send a copy of your Answer to the person who signed this summons located at:

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

Client: School District who signed this summons located at:197 - Comm/Mktg Mgr Size: 3.4167 x 1.25 Brantingham Law Office Run Date: 3/31/22 2200 E Franklin Avenue, Suite 202 $300.00 you can get online Ad Options: For an additional Minneapolis, MNadvertising 55404 as well. 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.

Brantingham Law Office, P.A. 2200 E Franklin Avenue, Suite 202 Minneapolis, MN 55404 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

Client: MN DOT - Vacant with each paragraph of the Complaint. If you Land believe the Plaintiff should not be given Size: 1.5 you must say so in your Answer. everything asked3.4167 for in the x Complaint, Run Date: 3/24/22 - 4/7/22 4. YOU WILL LOSE YOUR CASE IF YOU DO NOT SEND A WRITTEN Ad Options: For an additional $300.00 you can get online RESPONSE TO THE COMPLAINT TO THE PERSON WHO SIGNED THIS advertising as well. 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 do not have a lawyer, the Court Administrator may have information about places where you can get

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.

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

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

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

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

General Rules of Practice. You must still send your written response the Complaint even if you

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

expect to use alternative means of resolving this dispute.

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 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.

Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder March 31, April 7, 14, 2022

6. ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION. The parties may agree to or be ordered to participate in an alternative dispute resolution process under Rule 114 of

A/1 Contract No. 23-001

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.

INVITATION TO BID

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Contunued from page 10

plan, $625.5 million is expected to go out this year – all due to the men’s games. The women? No such distribution system exists, which blatantly says the women aren’t worth it to the schools. As the Kaplan report noted, “This sends an obvious and loud message to student athletes about which sports matter and which sports do not.” Of course, not a dime goes to the men and women players, but that’s another story for another time. Arizona State Sports Historian Victoria Jackson told Front Office Sports that NCAA women’s basketball has always been ‘undervalued, underinvested, undersold.” Gibbs surmised in her lipstick criticism and analysis, “The fact that an NCAA official actually typed the words, ‘There are no more inequities

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

Nina King Photo by Charles Hallman women’s selection committee. When a reporter asked her to comment if the NCAA had addressed last year’s equity concerns this year, she responded, “We will continue to make sure that we enhance the women’s championship and make sure that it is the very best women’s sporting event in our country.”

Black moves Since March there have been 19 women’s basketball coaching changes—nine of them involving Blacks. Last weekend Tamika Williams-Jeter was named Dayton’s new coach after she coached Wittenberg to an NCAC tournament championship; Felisha Legette-Jack was named Syracuse’s new coach after 10 seasons at Buffalo, with five 20-win seasons and between the men and women four NCAA trips including tournaments that needs to be this season; and Arizona addressed,” which we all know State hired Natasha Adair, is UTTER [expletive deleted].” formerly of Delaware. “I think it’s really imporCharles Hallman welcomes tant to note that the work is not done,” stressed Nina reader responses to challman@ King, the chair of the NCAA spokesman-recorder.com.

“Sexism is built into every crevice of the NCAA’s framework.”

For Sale For Sale – MnDOT owned vacant land, located SW of TH61(7th Ave) and 12th St, Newport, Washington County. Approximately 15,887 sf to be sold by sealed bid on 5/10/2022 at 2:00 at Central Office, 395 John Ireland Blvd, St. Paul. Bid Form, http://www.dot. state.mn.us/row/propsales.html . Info LandSales. MN.DOT@state.mn.us

Fourth Judicial District Court File Number: 27-CV-22-2625

March 31 - April 6, 2022

Filed in District Court State of Minnesota Mar 25, 2022 State of Minnesota Ramsey County

District Court Second Judicial District Court File Number: 62-DA-FA-20-224 27-CV-22-2625 Case Type: Domestic Abuse

Case: Jackson V Elie Size: 3.4167 x 10 the Matter Of 3/17/22 - 3/31/22 AdIn Run: Abdikarim Ahmed AdMonisa Options: --

Notice of Hearing by Publication (Minn. Stat. § 518B.01, subd. 8)

Vs Liban Mohamed Idiris

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 April 18, 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 31, 2022

SOE

Contunued from page 10

nothing. Just make sure that you’re around, you’re seeing everything that you can see. You’re spending time with your teammates, your family. A time like this is the best thing and obviously [you] win together, and unfortunately we lose together. That is part of the process. “Just go out there and play Case:

Ahmed Vs Idiris

your hardest,” she advised. “If you’re going to play [and] you’re on the court, play your hardest. If you’re not on the court, cheer your hardest. Do everything that you possibly can in your capacity on your team to help your team win.” A community of coaches Joni Taylor will be among thousands of coaches in town for the annual WBCA convention this week at the Minneapolis Convention Center.

Sealed bids will be received by the Public Housing Agency of the City of Saint Paul at 200 East Arch Street St. Paul, Minnesota 55130 for CORNICE REPAIR AND WATERPROOFING AT 555 WABASHA Contract No. 23-001, until 2:00 p.m., Local Time, on April 14, 2022, at which time they will be publicly opened and read aloud via the Zoom App. Bids must be submitted electronically, in a pdf format, to Northstar Imaging, www.northstarplanroom.com Case: Yusuf V Villanueva 27-CV-22-3554 (1Pt Smaller) A Pre-Bid Conference Size: 3.4167 x will 8.75be held in conjunction with a tour of theRun: building April 5, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. at 555 Wabasha Street Ad 3/31/22 - 4/14/22 Ad Options: -- MN. Immediately following the conference North, St. Paul, there will be a Pre-Bid Tour of the building. All questions arising from this pre-bid conference will be addressed by addendum, if necessary. A complete set of bid documents are available by contacting Northstar Imaging at 651-686-0477 or www.northstarplanroom.com , under public plan room, CORNICE REPAIR AND WATERPROOFING AT 555 WABASHA Contract No. 23-001. Digital downloads are no charge, contact Northstar for hard copy pricing. Bids must be accompanied by a 5% bid guarantee, non-collusive affidavit, EEO form and Minnesota Responsible Contractor Compliance Affidavit. The successful bidder will be required to furnish both a performance bond and a separate payment bond. The PHA reserves the right to reject any or all bids or to waive any informalities in the bidding. AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY AGENCY

VICTOR FATUNSIN PROJECT LEADER (651) 775-9573 VICTOR.FATUNSIN@STPHA.ORG

Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder March 31, 2022

Taylor was named last ful for me in terms of reachweek as Texas A&M head ing out and giving support. women’s coach after eight [South Carolina’s] Dawn Stalseasons as Georgia HC ey is someone who I consider (2015-22). She was one of a mentor. I can always call her 12 Black female coaches who and get her on the phone. think that’s what’s really led their teamsAST in this year’s - St“IPaul Case: Maintenance PHA about #23-001 women’s basNCAA field of 68. Cornice Repair andspecial Waterproofing Size: 3.4167 Asked during thex 6.25 March ketball,” she said, “is that our Dates: 3/31/22 24Run introductory press confer- community of coaches really Ad Options: For an additional $300.00 you each can getother.” online ence about her mentors or supports advertising as well. coaches she models herself Charles Hallman welcomes after, the longtime college and pro coach said, “Pokey reader responses to challman@ Chatman has been wonder- spokesman-recorder.com.

10 March 31 - April 6, 2022

Sports

The Women’s Final Four has arrived—finally! Final Four Cosmetic gender equity TV viewers promised changes best described as ‘an immersive experience’ ‘lipstick on a pig’ Black women prominent as orchestrators By Charles Hallman Sports Columnist

is it shows you spacing. “We’re adding real cam again this year,” she continSPN since 1996 has ued. “We used it last year for been the Women’s Final the first time, and that camera Four exclusive television is the one that can show you home. Network officials are the speed of the game from bragging that this year’s cov- a viewer standpoint, because erage of Friday’s semifinals it’s moving along the sideline and Sunday’s championship at the same speed the student game will be “augmented with athletes are going.

he first Final Four since last year’s exposure of the longstanding inequity between MBB and WBB tournaments has arrived in town. Minneapolis is for the second time since 1995 hosting the annual crowning of the women’s national champion. After the NCAA-commissioned 118-page gender equity review by Kaplan and Hecker was released last August, at least five changes have comprised the NCAA’s first step in rectifying the inequities. They include: Both tournaments now have 68 teams and share the same March Madness logo; male and female players have ESPN Analyst Andraya Carter Courtesy of Twitter the same gift packages; there are more signings at WBB “We’re going to get some games; and there are increased data-driven visualizations and enhancements, bringing fans really interesting replays as cross-promotional initiatives closer to the live action.” They well” using high-speed cam- between the two tournaments. are pledging an “immersive eras that “don’t have to have Are these initial changes cables connected to [them],” good enough, at least as a experience” for the viewer. “We want to try new things,” noted Lowry. “Our hope is… positive first step? Some of us declared ESPN Coordinating we’re gonna bring some of longtime WBB followers easily see them as cosmetic gestures. Lindsay Gibbs of Power Plays last week wrote, “Sexism is built into every crevice of the NCAA’s framework.” She and I see this as akin to putting lipstick on a pig, or on a systemic sexist problem. Shall we dig a little deeper and briefly point out the ex-

Alystia Moore Producer Pat Lowry of the various bells and whistles employed in this year’s coverage. “We’ll have 40 cameras. We’ve got the super cam, the one that flies here and there and around [the arena] and makes everything look big and important. But also, what it does from a basketball perspective,

isting inequities between the Men’s Final Four and the Women’s Final Four? 1. “The Unit” is a complicated formula that rewards conferences on how many teams are in the tournament, how each team wins and advances. Each team gets one “unit” for each tournament game played. “Units are worth around $300,000,” Gibbs estimated. “The team’s conference is paid one unit each year for the next six years. That means each game in this year’s men’s tournament could be worth upwards of $2 million for the conference once it is all paid out.” But no such process exists with NCAA WBB. 2. The NCAA men’s final is still top priority. CBS, TBS, TNT, TruTV all show the men’s tourney games up to the Final Four, while ESPN and ESPN2 show only the women. 3. CBS pays the NCAA approximately $1 billion per year to show the men. ESPN pays approximately $34 million a year to broadcast 29 championships, including women’s basketball. Back to the Kaplan report, which noted that the women’s broadcast rights are worth $81-$112 million per year, and that’s a conservative estimate. 4. Revenue distribution remains unequal. Last year the NCAA distributed $613.4 million to Division I schools, up from $246.3 million in 2020. According to the 2022 NCAA Division I revenue distribution

■ See View on page 9

Photo by Charles Hallman the emotion you see and reactions and everything to the viewer experience.” The 2022 Women’s Final Four is expected to be distributed to over 200 countries around the world, ESPN announced. “Viewers will be able to 2022 NCAA WBB tourney bracket outside Minneapolis Courtesy of Meet Minneapolis ■ See F4 on page 9 Convention Center

Minneapolis’ first Women’s Final Four saw UConn champs go undefeated he 1995 Women’s Final Four was a starstudded affair: two No. 1 seeds, a No. 2 and a No. 3 made it. Four Hall of Fame head coaches, a future ESPN commentator, and a future

Football Director of Player Development Norries Wilson. Parents of three kids, they relocated to the area a few years ago. She and her 1994-95 teammates were inducted as a group in 2008 into UConn

Courtesy of Twitter

Texas A&M WBB Coach Joni Taylor Hall of Famer were there as well, and two former local prep stars played in front of family and friends in their hometown for the first time as collegians. Overall, it would be the first national title for Connecticut, the second all-time team to finish unbeaten in Division I women’s hoops (35-0). It was Brenda Marquis’ first-ever trip to Minnesota as well. “We had never been in the Mall of America,” the Connecticut native, then a UConn freshman basketball player, recalled. She didn’t play much basketball that magical season, but she nonetheless played an important role on the Huskies. “As a freshman,” noted Marquis, “my role was to be the person at practice to get our starters prepared to play. I was the one that was guarding either Rebecca (Lobo, now a Hall of Famer and ESPN commentator) or Kara Wolters most of the time. We got them better by practicing hard against them every day.” Marquis, now Brenda Wilson, is married to Gopher

Huskies of Honor. Mrs. Wilson shared her experiences, fondly looking back at the first time Minneapolis hosted the Women’s Final Four. UConn fans then and now “traveled very well,” she noted. Upon arriving on the LynxTimberwolves court, “We saw our fans. We were impressed with the amount of people that had traveled [to Minneapolis]. It kind of felt like a home game for us. Obviously, being a freshman at the time [my] eyes

“If you’re on the court, play your hardest. If you’re not on the court, cheer your hardest.” were big and wide open.” She still has a piece of the championship net. “It was an exciting thing to be able to go up on our ladder and cut that piece,” admitted Wilson. “Not everyone gets to do that.” Her advice to the players of the four final teams coming to play for a national championship this week: “Don’t go into a [hotel] room and just do

■ See SOE on page 9

State tournament features outstanding coaches, players his week’s photo spread features four major contributors to Championship Saturday at the Boys’ State Basketball Tournament at Williams Arena: Ayoba Berthe (Park Center, Class 4A champion), Tommy Humphries (Totino Grace, Class 3A champion), Nasir Whitlock (DeLaSalle, Class 3A runner-up), and Mario Sanders (Minneapolis North, Class 2A runner-up)—and a first-time championship coach, DeLaSalle guard Nasir WhitJames Ware (Park Center). lock during the Class 3A State boys’ basketball championDr. Mitchell Palmer McDon- ship game against Totino ald welcomes reader responses Grace at Williams Arena in to mcdeezy05@gmail.com. Minneapolis on Saturday, March 26. Totino Grace won All photos by Dr. Mitchell 50-44. Whitlock had a gamePalmer McDonald high 18 points.

Park Center guard Ayouba Berthe during the Class 4A boys’ basketball championship game against Wayzata at Williams Arena in Minneapolis on Saturday, March 26. Park Center won and Berthe scored 13 points.

Totino Grace guard Tommy Humphries scores two of his nine points during the Class 3A title game against DeLaSalle at Williams Arena in Minneapolis on Saturday, March 26. The junior also had six rebounds and two blocks for the 3A state champs.

Park Center Head Coach James Ware led the Pirates past Wayzata to capture the Class 4A State Boys’ Basketball Championship at Williams Arena on Saturday, March 26.

Minneapolis North guard Mario Sanders calls a play during the Class 2A championship game against Annadale at Williams Arena in Minneapolis on Saturday, March 26. Annadale won 60-49.