The 15th annual Back in the Day Fest celebrated community spirit
By Al Brown Assignment Editor
n a sun-drenched Sat-
urday, August 31, the vibrant South Minneapolis neighborhood of Phelps Park transformed into a kaleidoscopic celebration of culture, community, and the enduring spirit of togetherness.
The 15th Annual Southside Back in the Day festival drew attendees from all corners of the city and beyond, uniting families, friends and newcomers for a joyful day filled with festivity and nostalgia.
As I mingled among the lively crowd, a sense of camaraderie enveloped the festival, a feeling that transcended mere entertainment. This annual event, which began as a small gathering in the backyard of its founders, retains that intimate atmosphere— a reminder of that first day when it all started.
“It feels like a backyard gathering,” I overheard one festival-goer say, perfectly capturing the essence of Southside’s community spirit. This genuine closeness is the secret sauce behind the festival’s sustained
success and allure, making it a beloved summer staple in Minneapolis.
The festival ecosystem flourished with food trucks serving mouthwatering dishes, local vendors showcasing unique crafts, and information booths educating attendees on various health, wellness, and community issues. Families reveled in the lively atmosphere while children played, their laughter blending with the beat of DJ-spun music filling the air. The half-court basketball tournament drew passionate players and specta-
One of the day’s most heartfelt moments was the award ceremony, honoring notable individuals for their extraordinary contributions to the Southside community. The lineup of awardees reads like a “Who’s Who” of local legends, including Grammywinning producer Gary Hines, who spoke profoundly about the significance of community recognition.
“The great Billie Holiday said, ‘God bless the child who’s got his own’—there’s nothing like ■ See BACK IN THE
North Star Black Cooperative Fellowship reimagines our world
The program is currently taking applications for the next seven-month cohort
By Binta Kanteh
Contributing Writer
n 2017, a book club for “Collective Courage: A History of African American Cooperative Economic Thought and Practice” at Nexus Community Partners birthed the idea of the North Star Black Cooperative Fellowship. Jessica Gordon Nembhard’s publication moved Nexus’ staff Danielle Mkali and consultant LaDonna Sanders Redmond to launch a fellowship structure that would provide space for Black people to be immersed in reclaiming and reframing ownership and holistic wealth-building rooted cooperatively. The program challenges fellows’ understanding of capitalism and supports them in growing their cooperative ideas.
Taking part of its title from both the nickname for Minnesota and recognition of the North Star as a guiding light for liberation for enslaved Africans, the North Star Black
Cooperative Fellowship has graduated over 100 alumni to date as it enters its eighth cohort this fall.
“Often, you can turn on the news and feel demoralized by the state of the world, but with North Star, I get inspired and moved every day because I see what is possible. Every day, I am reminded of what Black brilliance and genius give [to this world]. I am really inspired by everyone that has come through the cohorts.”
Nonkululeko Shongwe, who also goes by Nkuli, assumed facilitation of the fellowship from Danielle after the fourth year of the program.
Nkuli is now the director of community wealth building at Nexus, one of several community wealth-building initiatives, including stewarding the North Star Black Cooperative Fellowship.
For Nkuli, her facilitation of the program has, in many ways, turned her into a student of cooperation. “[The fellowship] is
■ See NORTH STAR on page 5
The real state of Black America’s wallet
By Dedrick Asante-Muhammad and Algernon Austin
s the country moves rapidly toward our 2024 presidential election, Black Americans are experiencing the most positive economic conditions in generations. Record low unemployment rates, record low poverty rates, record high-income levels, and new heights of wealth paint a picture of prosperity. One could easily think that this data means Black people are experiencing broad prosperity. Yet, deeper investigation reveals that despite these record-breaking economic num-
Nearly 70 years later, there’s more to Emmett Till’s death
By Stacy M. Brown
ewly unearthed research notes and letters from William Bradford Huie, the journalist whose reporting on the 1955 lynching of Emmett Till helped shape the public’s understanding of the crime, reveal that Huie deliberately concealed vital details that could have implicated additional participants in the murder. These documents, recently released by the descendants of one of the lawyers involved in the case, suggest that Huie prioritized his financial interests and the protection of his sources over the pursuit of truth and justice.
The cache of documents, now housed in the Florida State University Digital Repository, includes a 33-page set of Huie’s research notes and a series of letters exchanged between Huie and John Whitten, one of the defense attorneys for J.W. Milam and Roy Bryant, the two men acquitted of Till’s murder. The content of these letters and notes reveals a complex and troubling relationship between the journalist and the defense team, raising serious questions about the integrity of Huie’s reporting.
Huie’s notes indicate that he was aware of other individuals involved in the kidnapping and murder of Emmett Till but chose not to report this information. In a letter dated December 10, 1955, Huie confessed his doubts about the story Milam and Bryant were telling him:
“I began doubting myself… and one night I was on the point of coming back to Mississippi and ‘pistol-whipping’ Milam for telling me a fabric of lies.” Despite these doubts, Huie went ahead with his article in Look magazine, presenting Milam and Bryant’s version of events as the complete truth.
The letters between Huie and Whitten also reveal the extent to which Huie was willing to collaborate with the defense attorneys to craft a narrative that would serve their mutual interests. In a letter dated November 16, 1955, Huie assured Whitten that he was carefully considering the “most effective presentation” of the story, stating, “We have been sort of marking time… and in due time and with great care, I’ll be in touch with you.”
This close coordination suggests that Huie’s reporting was
influenced by his desire to protect his sources and a shared goal of controlling how the public would receive the story. Huie’s financial motivations are laid bare in another letter from Whitten, dated November 22, 1955, in which the attorney thanked Huie for a gift—a fine Cavanaugh hat— and expressed confidence that the criminal case would not proceed further despite any additional publicity. “My wife was so complimentary of the hat…that I finally had to tell her something about where it came from,” Whitten wrote before adding, “Nevertheless, I think that we should not throw caution to the winds.”
Beyond these troubling collaborations, Huie’s notes reveal that he was aware of a “third man” involved in the kidnapping of Emmett Till, identified by Elizabeth Wright, Till’s great-aunt, as Milam’s brotherin-law from Minter City, Melvin Campbell. However, this information was not included in Huie’s published article, presenting a version of events that Huie himself doubted.
The letters also highlight Huie’s strategic manipulation of the narrative to ensure the story’s maximum impact. In a December 20, 1955, letter, Huie boasted to Whitten about his ability to control the story, writing, “I dealt with a magazine with which I could exercise this control. You see, John, I’m very old in this propaganda business. I know how to fight smart…so smart that my ‘enemies’ don’t realize just what is being done to them at times.” Huie’s cynical approach extended to his portrayal of Till, as revealed in the same letter, where he explained that including a detail about Till having a picture of a White girl in his wallet would “pinpoint the hypocrisy” of white liberals and make them “very uncomfortable.” These remarks starkly contrast Huie’s public reputation as a journalist sympathetic to the Civil Rights Movement. Huie’s reporting had an
bers, Black Americans are still mired in great economic insecurity. This ongoing economic challenge is reflected in their low opinion of the economy, widespread asset poverty, and ongoing Black/white economic inequality.
The best Black economy in generations isn’t enough when near-never-ending inequality and insecurity loom on the horizon. As the nation goes through a historic election that could have long-term ramifications on its political direction, it is clear that for Black voters, economic concerns remain front and center, even as social issues dominate the headlines.
tors alike.
DAY on page 5
The Royal Red Hat Sabathanettes were honored at this year’s festival. Photos by Steve Floyd
Sounds of Blackness founder Gary Hines receives a community award from Back in the Day on Aug. 31 at Phelps Park.
The Twin Cities Impact Cooperative, North Star 23-24 graduates
A session at the Black Cooperative conference that took place this summer Photos courtesy of Nexus
Al-Maa’uun wants its services to be better known
Faith-based Muslim organization
By Vickie Evans-Nash Contributing Writer
Across the city, many Christian-based organizations work to support the needs of their communities. Al-Maa’uun seeks to be the leading Muslim faith-based organization to address the lack of resources for the North Side of Minneapolis.
Their mission is “to alleviate poverty and oppression within Black and communities of color in North Minneapolis,” said board member Keith Holloman on August 8. Members, staff, and supporters gathered at Minneapolis Urban League to celebrate their successes and hear an appeal for resources to advance their mission.
“Al-Maa’uun is still one of the best-kept secrets in the community,” their executive director, Makram El-Amin, began. He is also the Imam of North Minneapolis’ Masjid An-Nur, where Al-Maa’uun is housed. “We want to bring [AlMaa’uun] to the consciousness and partner with others.”
Over a year ago, Al-Maa’uun held a community discussion with staff, clients, and community partners. They developed ways to measure their success other than the number of people they served.
“After so long, you have di-
minishing returns,” El-Amin explained. “We want to shift our focus to how many ways we can touch individuals, families [and] households to drive impact.”
This involves the five pillars of support: food service, affordable housing, employment services, mentorship, and peer recovery services. “A person can come through any of those pathways and be exposed to everything we do,” he explained.
“Guys like me who come from the streets, that think that we don’t know nothing but the streets, we tend to go back there.”
As a result, they have trained and employed 125 community members in livable-wage jobs at an average of $20 per hour. Five days a week, they provide 160 seniors with Halal meals delivered to their door.
They offer 30 beds of transitional housing. This past spring, they took their first youth group on an HBCU tour. At Thursday’s event, two community members, Ali and Kevin, testified about how Al-
Maa’uun changed their lives.
Ali came to the organization through their recovery program. He presented sobering statistics, citing that over three years, 108,000 individuals died of opioid use. “That’s roughly nine deaths a day,” he said. “Those are people’s sons, daughters, family members,
Al-Maa’uun’s faith-based housing was essential to his recovery. “When I was introduced to Al-Maa’uun in 2022, I went to the sober living house. I was scared out of my mind,” he explained. “For someone in recovery, it is essential that [faith-based]
criteria get met,” he continued. “Because if they don’t get met, it’s easy to indulge in other things.”
Since arriving at Al-Maa’uun, he has enrolled in college and has been a sober living house manager since December of last year. “There is a therapeutic value in being able to help another.”
Kevin came to Al-Maa’uun after spending several years in prison. “I spent about 14 years in prison, and it was 14 years of a two-life sentence plus 30 years for a nonviolent crime in a federal prison,” he explained.
Kevin said in federal prison, “A life sentence means that when you die, they hold your body for 24 hours before releasing it to your family. I thought that would happen to me as I served my time.”
He had exhausted all possibilities of appeal and said he accepted his fate. “I never thought in a million years I would be standing right here before you.” Upon his release, Al-Maa’uun offered him opportunities he couldn’t find elsewhere.
Kevin is now a supervisor in the construction industry, making a wage that supports his needs. He also regularly meets with others being released from prison and shares relatable experiences and advice.
“The best way that Satan gets us is he threatens us with poverty,” he explained. “Guys like me who come from the streets, that think that [we] don’t know nothing but the streets, we tend to go back there.”
Al-Maa’uun works to break the cycle for Northside families experiencing barriers similar to Ali’s and Kevin’s. “Imagine being part of a mission that not only feeds the hungry but empowers communities to break free from the chains of poverty and oppression,” ElAmin said.
“We are dedicated to transforming lives, particularly within the Black and brown communities.”
For more information, contact Al-Maa’uun, at 612-3265851. Visit their website at www.almaauun.org.
“Everybody was offering me the bag, and I had just come from a life sentence.” The bag represents quick but illegal ways of making money. “I was having problems with my housing. They took that off my shoulders. Then, I had problems with employment. They took that off my shoulders.”
Vickie Evans Nash welcomes reader comments to mary_11@ msn.com.
Dottie (Dorothy) Richburg
Sunrise, August 15, 1951 — Sunset, August 19, 2024
Dottie (Dorothy) Charlene Richburg (Harriston), born on August 15, 1951, in Washington, D.C., passed away peacefully on August 19, 2024, surrounded by her loving family.
Dottie graduated from Calvin Coolidge High School and earned a B.S. in math/computer science from Ohio University.
There, she met the love of her life, Joe Richburg. This encounter led to a 52-year marriage filled with love and mutual respect. Together, they welcomed two children, Khari and Kisha (Deneane), who were the light of Dottie’s life.
Dottie began her professional career as a programmer/analyst and project manager, eventually co-founding
Keystone Computer Solutions (KCS) in 1987. As a Black, woman-owned business, KCS thrived under Dottie’s leadership, growing to employ 150 consultants and serving several small to mid-sized businesses and Fortune 500 companies like 3M and General Mills.
Dottie was a trailblazer in an industry where barriers were significant for Black IT professionals and Blackowned businesses. She was a strategic thinker and a visionary who understood trends, obstacles, and actions needed to lead a successful company.
Beyond her professional achievements, Dottie was deeply committed to her community. She worked in several organizations, including
Olympic Kingdom, Brownbody, the Midwest Minority Supplier Development Council (MMSDC), and the Minnesota African American Chamber of Commerce (MAACC), in which she played a significant role in shepherding it into what is now known as the Minnesota Black Chamber of Commerce (MBCC).
She and Joe were founding members of the Black Data Processing Associates (BDPA) Twin Cities Chapter in 1989. She developed the Programmatic Thinking Program, which provides IT training for youth, and expanded it through partnerships with Friendship Academy of the Arts and Bloomington Public Schools.
Dottie spent numerous hours over multiple years (sometimes decades) applying her business acumen and doing the “heavy lifting” needed to breathe life into the infrastructure, offerings, and programming of these organizations. She did this because she was committed to the community and believed in making a positive impact.
Dottie’s love for children was evident in her work with Sunday School programs at Mount Olivet, St. Phillips,
and Camphor Memorial United Methodist Church. Her energy was expansive, farreaching, and authentic.
Dottie was known for her strong sense of responsibility, work ethic, and self-motivation. She was also recognized for her kind, humble, and gracious personality. Dottie was a creative force, hosting lavish gatherings where her culinary skills shone.
She was especially known for her baked macaroni and cheese, fried shrimp, crab cakes, and Coca-Cola cake!
With her late brother John David Cottom (also an amazing cook), she was frequently asked to cater events and gatherings by family and friends, as well as fellow members of the Black business community.
Dottie also had a deep passion for the arts, theater, and music. She was tirelessly devoted to her daughter’s artistic pursuits and served as Brownbody’s business manager for over a decade.
She was also an avid traveler and bargain hunter, known for finding the best deals at garage sales and thrift stores. Dottie frequently offered refuge, opening her home to family and friends as needed.
Dottie was somebody
folks could confide in; she offered so much grace, support, and unconditional love to anyone who needed it. If you were sad, stressed, or upset, you could talk to her, lay your worries at her feet, and she would love, care, hold, and walk with you as you navigate your way through your stress and worries. Dottie would stop her world to lend her hand to intervene for her loved ones. Her love for family and friends was true, deep, unconditional, and sincere.
Dottie is survived by her husband, Joe Richburg, of 52 years; two children, Khari and Kisha; four brothers, Duke Harriston (Angela), Clifton Cottom (Michelle), Donnell Reese, and Deon Murray (Rachel); sisterin-law Alvena Richburg, and brother-in-law Irving Richburg (Cindy); along with a multitude of nephews, nieces, Godchildren, great-nephews, great nieces, cousins, and cherished friends and family members who will forever hold her memory dear. She was preceded in death by her parents, Charles and Natalie Harriston, and brothers and sisters Howard, Jeffrey, Edith, Jacqueline, Mary, Michael, John David, and
Catherine. She was also preceded in death by Uncle William I. and Aunt Ruth Harley, who adopted her and played a central role in raising her.
When she relocated to Minnesota in the ’70s, Mom Loretta Farrar lovingly nurtured her. Dottie will be remembered as a beacon of joy, kindness, and love, leaving a legacy that will forever be treasured by all who knew her.
A memorial service for Dottie (Dorothy) Richburg will take place on Thursday, September 12, 2024, at Camphor Memorial United Methodist Church, 585 Fuller Ave., St. Paul, MN 55103. Fellowship with the family will take place at 2 p.m. The service is at 3 p.m., and a repass will immediately follow the service. The service will be livestreamed at camphorconnects.org. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Dottie’s favorite non-profits: Black Data Processing Associates (BDPA) (www.givemn.org/ organization/BDPA-TwinCities-Foundation), Camphor Memorial United Methodist Church (https:// camphorconnects.org/give) and Brownbody (https://bit. ly/DottieRememberance).
fathers [and] mothers.”
Makram El-Amin
Submitted photo
Obituary
You want to build and share your wealth. We have tools to help you do both. Together, we’re unstoppable.
September is National Sickle Cell Awareness Month. Learn about the disease, the experiences of people living with it, and advances in research and care.
Most people have dreams for the future, but what if you were living with a condition so debilitating that you weren’t able to plan beyond your next trip to the hospital? This was the reality for Juliana Voss, whose sickle cell disease (SCD) resulted in up to eight hospital visits a year. “I was always sick,” she recalled. “It was brutal.”
Until a stem cell transplant changed her life, Voss’s experience was not unlike that of many of the estimated 100,000 people in the U.S. who are liv-
Getting to know sickle cell disease
ing with SCD. SCD is a group of inherited red blood cell disorders that affect hemoglobin, a protein that carries oxygen throughout the body.
“I was always sick. It was brutal.”
Typically, red blood cells are disc-shaped and flexible, allowing them to move easily through the blood vessels and deliver oxygen to cells and tissues. SCD gets its name because the abnormal hemoglobin protein causes some red blood cells to form a distinct crescent, or “sickle” shape, that can block the flow
immunizations are up-to-date
Many children, teens, and young adults are overdue for their immunizations. It’s a great time to catch up, whether for school, sports, daycare, or other activities. Childhood immunizations are crucial for protecting children from serious diseases such as measles, mumps, pertussis,and diphtheria. Hennepin County offers programs to help children get vaccinated, even if the family is uninsured, underinsured, or lacks a primary care provider.
Immunization Clinics
Free walk-in immunization clinics are available for children from infancy through 18 years old.
Wednesday, September 4
3 to 7 p.m.
Armstrong High School
10635 36th Avenue North, Plymouth, MN 55441
Armstrong High School map
of blood and cause recurring episodes of intense pain.
People living with SCD often experience symptoms that include extreme tiredness and pain, as well as life-threatening conditions such as anemia, heart problems, and even stroke.
Sunday, September 8
11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Cedar Fest Block Party
Research supported by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) has helped advance the understanding of SCD and improved treatment options and clinical care.
Now, there are several ways to manage SCD, including
Intersection of Cedar and Riverside
Saturday, September 21
10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Eden Prairie Library
565 Prairie Center Drive, Eden Prairie, MN
Eden Prairie Library map
Saturday, September 28
11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Brookdale Library 6125 Shingle Creek Parkway, Brooklyn Center, MN 55430
Brookdale Library map
Saturday, October 26
11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Hosmer Library
Saturday, November 23
11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
AN EVENT CREATED BY FOR BLACK WOMEN
medicines, blood transfusions, gene therapy, and bone marrow transplants. Until recently, a bone marrow transplant was the only cure for SCD. However, in December 2023, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved two new gene therapies for SCD. One therapy adds a healthy copy of a gene to the body, and the other makes changes to the DNA to turn off the production of sickle hemoglobin and turn on the production of fetal hemoglobin, which is normally only found in the red cells of babies in the womb or shortly after birth.
Researchers at the NHLBI are exploring other types of gene therapies that may help
provide new SCD treatments. After her treatment, Juliana was able to go to school and become a registered nurse. She loves working with her patients, some of whom are living with SCD themselves. Reflecting on her journey with SCD and her treatment, “I felt a huge difference. It was like day and night. My experience has made me a better nurse.”
For more information and resources about SCD and other blood diseases and disorders, visit the NHLBI’s Blood Diseases & Disorders Education Program. Visit NHLBI’s clinical trials page to see whether you or someone you love is eligible to take part in an NHLBI study on SCD.
Brookdale Library - Full Meeting Room 6125 Shingle Creek Parkway, Brooklyn Center, MN 55430
Brookdale Library map
Saturday, December 21
11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Hosmer Library - Room LO2
347 East 36th Street, Minneapolis, MN 55408
Hosmer Library map
Information provided by Hennepin County.
Continued from page 1
getting something from your own, from this community that birthed, bred and nurtured the Sounds of Blackness,” Hines expressed, gratitude radiating from every word.
Other notable honorees included Reg Chapman, a veteran journalist for WCCOTV; longtime photojournalist Steve Floyd; and Ray Seville, a pioneer in DJ and radio promotion, who reflected on the importance of acknowledgement. “Someone told me today that we all are being watched for the good we do in the community. It feels good to be recognized,” said Seville, as he acknowledged the many mentors who helped along his journey.
Chapman shared that being honored at this festival meant more to him than any prestigious awards he had received before. “This is more important to me than winning an Emmy or any other accolade because it comes from the people I serve,” he declared, underscoring the deep connection journalists often forge with the communities they report on.
As the festival tributes continued, I met Steve and Somona Jennings. The couple traveled from Rochester, with this being her first visit while he had been before. She was captivated by the health information booths sprinkled throughout the event, saying, “This is my first time. I’m looking around, and I’m just enjoying everything.”
NORTHSTAR
Continued from page 1 BACK IN THE DAY
a reminder of what is possible and what we can build for our future, elders, and ourselves. [We] get back to [cooperation] based on what we know versus what we’re told we’re supposed to know. It also inspired me to join a coop, an investment cooperative based in Saint Paul essentially working to hold commercial spaces for artists,” explained Nkuli.
A cooperative is defined as a democratically controlled business jointly owned by an association of people who share common economic and social aspirations, and the shared ownership of the business or enterprise is a means to achieving those aspirations.
Many forms of cooperatives exist; some examples you may have heard of are housing, grocery stores, restaurants, coworking spaces, and shopping
BLACK WALLET
Continued from page 1
Black unemployment, the racial wealth gap
From 1972 to 2022, the average annual Black unemployment rate was 11.6%. In July of 2024, it was at 6.3%, nearing historic lows. But those figures look different in context; in 2023, for instance, the annual Black unemployment rate was nearly 1.7 times the white rate. On average, the Black unemployment rate between 1972 and 2022 was 2.1 times that of whites, showing that bridging the Black/white unemployment gap remains a work in progress.
Other indicators tell us a similar story. The annual Black prime-age employment rate is at a record high: For
EMMETT TILL
Continued from page 1
“This festival means so much to me. This is my family. I’m a SouthSider for life.”
Meanwhile, Steve was enthused about the festival’s energy and how it fosters awareness of community issues that truly matter. The couple also excitedly shared their plans for a Rochester Family Wellness Day on October 12.
Felisha Price, who also received a Back in the Day community award, said, “This is my highest honor being recognized by my community and family for our work. Often, as a social entrepreneur, you feel like you’re working really hard so that the results do not come as quickly as you want them to, but for my community to acknowledge the work we’re doing helps me realize the impact of that work.”
One of the festival’s founders, Philip Crawford, expressed his pride in witnessing the growth of what started as a small backyard gathering into a full-fledged festival. “When we started this in the backyard, the house had one bathroom. As the crowd grew, we had to move it to Phelps Park, and from there, it took on a life of its own,” Crawford
centers—the kinds of businesses that can be run in the shared ownership way are numerous.
Nkuli co-runs the North Star Black Cooperative Fellowship with its program manager, Leanna Browne, who joined the Nexus team in 2022. Browne was drawn to the fellowship because cooperation is familiar in other facets of her life. She explains, “I was drawn to the space because I see how we cooperate in my family and in artistic communities [I’m a part of], particularly dance. I was excited to be in a space with other Black folks, learning alongside them and getting to dig into the history of Black cooperative economic thought and practice and reclaim those connections a lot of folks as we go through the cohort recognize.”
Leanna and Nkuli support each other in leadership of the fellowship that spans seven months. Orientation day involves food, headshots, group photos, and reading materials for the program’s duration, in-
cluding Nembhard’s “Collective Courage,” the fellowship’s seminal text.
During the winter months between October and May, the fellowship dives into the history of local and national Black cooperative economics. This includes learning about rethinking capitalism, solidarity economies, Black feminist history, and cooperative principles that include values of Black heritage.
As the temperature warms up outside, there’s a shift.
“We switch in the spring to talk about the technical aspects of building a cooperative—governance, bylaws, and how to set up a cooperative,” Nkuli said.
She added, “One of the most important topics for the fellowship that we cover is conflict and conflict resolution. Cooperating and collectivism are about working with people. We all have our own tensions and conflicts, and we also have to deal with tensions and conflicts in the world. Learn-
As noted in the 2023 report “Still A Dream,” with all of the advances made since 1960, the nation is still moving at a glacial pace in bridging Black/white economic inequality.
the first half of 2024, it has averaged 78%, slightly above where it stood the previous year. Black median household income is also at its highest point in a generation, growing from about $41,000 in 2011 to nearly $53,000 in 2022 — a nearly 30%increase. That same year, median Black wealth or net worth (assets minus debts) also reached a new high of nearly $45,000, more than double the postGreat Recession low of about
$17,000 in 2013. Despite these positive trends, the economic reality for many African Americans remains precarious. In 2023, there would have needed to be over 1.4 million more Black people working to reach the same employment rates as white people. This joblessness cost Black America roughly $60 billion. And while Black median income has risen, it is still nearly $30,000 lower than the white median — and still
Huie’s notes indicate that he was aware of other individuals involved in the kidnapping and murder of Emmett Till but chose not to report this information.
reminisced with a humble grin. “We have been extremely blessed throughout the years. In 15 years, we’ve never been rained out.”
As I continued to absorb the day’s events, I was struck by the sincerity and passion expressed by award recipients. Activist and radio personality Al Flowers shared his gratitude for being honored, stating, “It means a lot because I’m from
the South Side. I’ve been here for over 30 years, and it means the world to me to receive this from the ‘Day.’”
Among the crowd was community icon Spike Moss, who had introduced Flowers earlier. Moss, honored by a streetnaming celebration on Aug. 16 in North Minneapolis, spoke loftily about the importance of community celebrations.
“They are so important to the fiber of a community. And it’s so wonderful to receive these honors while you can still take in the magnitude of the outpouring of love. It was awesome to experience. And I commend the Back in the Day organizers for a wonderful job year after year.”
Whether one is a lifelong resident or a curious newcomer like Mrs. Jennings, the Back in the Day festival continues to create an outpouring of excitement and warmth that embraces everyone. In the memorable words of Sly & the Family Stone, the event truly is “a family affair,” reminding us of the unbreakable bonds that unite communities through celebration, remembrance, and the simple joy of being together.
As the sun set over Phelps Park and the festival ended, still the energy lingered. Each
“Often, you can turn on the news and feel demoralized by the state of the world, but with North Star, I get inspired and moved every day because I see what is possible.”
ing how to navigate those conflicts when working with people is an important piece of cooperative work. Danielle, LaDonna, and incredible facilitators have built the curriculum with wisdom over time.”
In reflecting on the various cooperative ideas the North Star Fellowship has attracted and encouraged, cooperatives and collectives in housing, investment, broadband, grocery, and disability justice came up for both Leanna and Nkuli. However, they stressed that there are too many favorite cooperative ideas across the program’s history.
The application to join the next cohort of the hybrid fel-
even below the white median income of 1972.
The average Black median wealth of approximately $45,000 keeps many Black people distant from the $190,000 to $570,000 estimated as the wealth necessary to reach middle-class status. As noted in the 2023 report “Still A Dream,” with all of the advances made since 1960, the nation is still moving at a glacial pace in bridging Black/white economic inequality. If the country continues at the rate it has been moving since about the 1960s, it will take over 500 years to bridge Black/white income inequality, and nearly 800 years to bridge Black/ white wealth inequality.
A bold vision rooted in justice
These statistics underline a crucial point: while Black
(D-Mich.) read the story into the congressional record it was hailed as “spectacular” by Black newspapers. However, Huie’s decision to omit critical details effectively ended efforts by Black journalists and the FBI to pursue additional suspects in the case.
MSR’s Ray
speaks after being recognized for decades of innovative
smile, each shared story, and each moment of connection echoed the festival’s enduring legacy, solidifying South Minneapolis’s place as a vibrant hub of culture and community spirit.
Attendee Karen Martin shared this sentiment. “Oh, my goodness! This festival means so much to me. This is my family. I’m a SouthSider for life. I grew up in this neighborhood, two blocks from here. This is like a family reunion to me.”
Al Brown welcomes reader responses at abrown@spokesmanrecorder.com.
I think North Star allows for that to happen. Even [if you are] a little bit interested, consider it. Apply.”
lowship closes on Sunday, September 8. When asked who should apply and what to keep in mind, Leanna said, “North Star is open to any field or sector and groups of two or more, with most of the folks having decision-making power being Black. North Star is a Black-centered space, but folks who are not Black can be in North Star. We want it to be Black-led efforts that we are supporting.”
Leanna added, “I would encourage people to reimagine what kind of world are we trying to build. How do we get there? Part of it is this education piece and being willing to imagine something different.
Americans are experiencing significant economic gains, these advances are insufficient to overcome the entrenched inequalities that persist. Today’s economic progress is a foundation, not a finish line. It speaks to the need for comprehensive policies addressing ongoing economic security and wealth-building barriers.
Investment in quality education, access to affordable healthcare, affordable housing, job creation targeted to highunemployment communities, and new means of government financing of asset-building opportunities like Baby Bonds are essential. These measures can help ensure that today’s economic gains translate into sustained prosperity and security for future generations.
As we approach the 2024 presidential election, much has been made of the historic
The release of these documents exposes the uncomfortable truth that Huie’s reporting, while instrumental in bringing the horror of Emmett Till’s murder to national attention, was deeply compromised. The documents suggest that his decisions to prioritize fi-
Nkuli shared that the program is for people 18 and up to emphasize the intergenerational nature of the fellowship. “It’s so important to have youth voices in this work. The youth are the next generation to move this work forward. It’s an intergenerational space; all age ranges are welcome. We love our elders; we love continuing to learn with and from them.”
The pillars of the North Star Black Cooperative Fellowship are housed within the overarching mission, values, and reparative framework of Nexus Community Partners. To learn more about the fellowship and similar initiatives at Nexus, visit nexuscp.org/2024-25-north-starapplications-open-aug-12/.
Binta Kanteh welcomes reader comments at bkanteh13@ gmail.com.
possibility of electing the nation’s first woman president. But let us not make this election a mere contest between individuals but one of policies that could be a salve for the foundational wound of race and economic inequality. Addressing these issues with urgency and commitment will improve the economic outlook for Black Americans and create a new foundation of great equality, creating a firm base for a more unified nation.
Algernon Austin is the race and economic justice director at the Center for Economic and Policy Research. Dedrick Asante-Muhammad is the president of the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies.
This story was republished with permission by Word in Black.
nancial gain and protect his sources over full transparency contributed to a narrative that left justice incomplete and the full story untold.
respondent.
Stacy Brown is the NNPA Newswire senior national cor-
Steve Floyd is celebrated for his many years of community service and exemplary photography.
Seville
work as a DJ and promotions guru.
Reg Chapman, Thorton “Pharoh Black” Jones, and Daryl Boudreaux pose proudly at Back in the Day.
in the industry, who are sought out for collaborations. She hasn’t felt that her peers in the neighborhood are invested in her success. Yet, despite these obstacles, the neighborhood residents have supported her.
“The average person who walks in the door sees the value in what we offer, and that support means everything to me.”
Preparing to open her first business and taking the steps needed to ensure its triumph was a meticulous process. She knew it wouldn’t be easy and approached it with a mindset of frugality and education. The wellness aspect came naturally to her, but understanding the
numbers—knowing when to expect to break even and make a profit—took effort. Regardless of her challenges, she remains committed to making Aesthetic Repository a success and is still striving toward profitability.
Aesthetic Repository has quickly become known for its comprehensive weight loss packages, particularly the liraglutide (Ozempic) treatments. However, Castillo takes the most pride in the skin services she can offer to melanated clients. She explained that there’s a hole in the market for treating skin conditions more commonly seen in those with darker skin tones, such as hyperpigmentation.
Owning her business has allowed her to make a tangible difference in people’s lives.
When asked what the most rewarding part of owning her business is, she said, “Seeing the smiles on my clients’ faces and knowing that our services positively impact their lives is so fulfilling. Making wellness accessible in our community and providing inclusive aesthetic services that work on all skin tones is meaningful to me. “
She has ambitious goals for Aesthetic Repository, including expanding into mental health services. She is currently working on obtaining her mental health certification and will
soon be double-boarded as a family nurse practitioner and a psychiatric nurse practitioner.
“I want to make this a holistic wellness center. That’s my vision. I want to offer basic psych services and alternative therapies for depression and chronic pain. I would love to have a mental health therapist on site as well.
“To me, that would encompass the total wellness package. You’ll have access to external aesthetics services, wellness services such as vitamin drips and weight loss treatments, and be able to seek out psychotherapy,” Castillo explained.
She is determined to guide others onto a path of wellness and self-care while finding time for herself. She relaxes at least once a week, whether getting a massage, going for a long walk, or enjoying a solo picnic by the water.
Castillo’s vision for Aesthetic Repository is clear: She aims to create a holistic wellness center that addresses her community’s
Alexzia
Lunette Castillo
Photo by Chris Juhn
Arts & Culture
By Dwight Brown
“Whatever it says, don’t listen to it. It will play on your heart. It will play on your mind.”
Nice dialogue for an “Exorcist” kind of movie. But not enough to hold this horror/thriller together for its entirety. The setup is pretty routine: A mom, Ebony (Andra Day, “The United States vs Billie Holiday”), her mother (Glenn Close), and three school-age children move into a haunted Gary, Indiana home.
Slowly, her kids Nate (Caleb McLaughlin), Shante (Demi Singleton), and little Andre (Anthony B. Jenkins) start acting weird. Like they’re possessed. Turns out they are in the devil’s corridor, and he’s messing with them.
The script by David Coggeshall (“Orphan: First Kill”), Elijah Bynum (“Magazine Dreams”),
and director/writer Lee Daniels (“The United States vs Billie Holiday”) is based on the Ammons haunting case that occurred in Gary in 2011.
child abuse issues. No wonder she needs monitoring. No wonder it won’t be easy for audiences to care about this fractured protagonist.
That’s when Latoya Ammons, a single mom, her mother Rosa, and three young offspring experienced paranormal activity in their new home. The creepiness started with swarms of black flies and escalated to footsteps in the basement, creaking doors, and shadowy figures. All the makings of a good fright film.
Daniels and crew don’t venture far off the genre path. And when they mistakenly do, their efforts trail off into stupid soap opera-ish melodrama.
Ebony’s mom, Alberta, lives with them and is a thorn who is constantly berating her daughter’s parenting skills. Cynthia, the social worker (Mo’Nique, “Pariah”), stops by to observe and needle the mother, whose drinking problem aggravates her
The preposterous family dynamics feel similar to those in a bad Tyler Perry movie. But Daniels, director of “Precious” and “The Butler,” has a much stronger pedigree than the Madea filmmaker, so why this? Why would he risk his reputation on this project? Is it because it’s based on a real-life occurrence? Why? Even more of a mystery is why the satanic special effects are so skimpy, lackluster, and unimaginative—B-movie grade.
There are horror film beats, rhythms and rituals that must be met, and there is no indication that Daniels’ direction can deliver those crucial elements. As the victims go through their contortions and body malformations, brought on by demonic possessions, bone-chilling fear and scares never emerge.
Fans of horror films know when they’re seeing a real shocker or a campy, midnight fright-fest movie. They expect to be terrorized to death or amused in a macabre way. This endeavor never delivers those nightmarish effects.
Technically the cinematography (Eli Arenson, “The Watchers”), production design (Steve Saklad, “Juno”), art direction (Carlton Lee Jr. and Ella Thompson), music (Lucas Vidal), editing (Stan Salfas) and costume design (Paolo Nieddu) are OK,
separately. But not as a cohesive unit. Thus, the footage lacks a central, distinguished style, and it’s as if these artists were working in silos.
Andra Day should have won the Oscar for Best Actress for her raw, stunning role in “The United States vs Billie Holiday.” This portrayal is not in the elite category. Ebony is painted as a street-savvy, pugnacious and disturbed woman who is so unbridled she beats up the neighborhood kids who bully her children. Day is too refined to make that persona believable. It’s like she’s acting like a tough girl but isn’t one. However, her vulnerable scenes are much more credible, as when she sees her angelic son and questions her mothering: “I don’t know how such a good person came out of somebody like me.”
When Mo’Nique enters the picture as an agent from Child Protection Services, she has an air about her that shows a strength and street savvy Day feigns. The two actresses should have been cast in each other’s roles.
Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor (“King Richard”) turns the character of Apostle Bernice James, the exorcist who will do the “Deliverance,” into that of a strong woman of God. She crusades against the devil in a holy fightfor-life battle. Guarding the mother, she warns: “Ebony, that demon wants your son!” Then, she forcefully challenges the evil monster: “I rebuke you in the name of Jesus!” Unfortunately, Close is miscast as the white trash older woman who loves Black men. Not believable in one single frame. A cameo by Omar Epps, as Ebony’s husband, is appreciated but not long enough for him to show his talent.
This horror/thriller plays on your mind, but not enough to scare the bejesus out of you. That’s a clear sign of a flailing “Exorcist” wannabe. Many will expect more from Lee Daniels. Many will be disappointed. Maybe the devil made him do it.
“The Deliverance” is currently playing on Netflix.
Dwight Brown is a film critic for DwightBrownInk.com and NNPA News Wire. Find more of his work at DwightBrownInk.com.
Anthony B. Jenkins and Andra Day
courtesy
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Opinion
Strip searches are sexual assaults by the state
The humiliation and sexual abuse of men in Minnesota’s prisons
By Shavelle Oscar Chavez-Nelson
“As a sexual assault survivor, I feel retraumatized by strip searches each time I’m forced to undress. It’s a trigger for me.”
—Oak Park Heights inmate Jamaine Williams
“It’s embarrassing, to say the least. I’ve been literally bodyshamed by officers during strip searches on numerous occasions because I am fat and my stomach hangs over my private parts. A guard once said to me during a strip search,’ I bet you urinate on your stomach, don’t you?’”
—Oak Park Heights inmate Ronald Hill
These are only some of the responses I received from other men incarcerated here in Oak Park Heights to explain their lived experience with “strip searches.”
As recently as January 1, 2024, Minnesota lawmakers finally recognized the victimization and sexualized dynamics associated with strip searches conducted on incarcerated youth, significantly curtailing the decades-long practice of state-sanctioned sexual assault that humiliates and dehumanizes incarcerated children.
Relatedly, after a barrage of complaints by incarcerated women at Shakopee prison, Corrections Commissioner Paul Schnell issued a directive requiring the use of body scanner
technology in place of prison guard-involved strip searches before and after visiting and medical trips, effectively repudiating the sexual trauma women experience during such searches.
These actions by lawmakers and the commissioner are a testament to, at minimum, an awareness of the attack they pose to personal dignity and bodily integrity.
Just like the sexual assault of women and children by prison guards is wrong, so is it the sexual assault of men by prison guards.
My question is: Why would incarcerated adult males be treated any differently? Just as the sexual assault of women and children by prison guards is wrong, so is the sexual assault of men by prison guards. Am I wrong?
Indeed, the homoeroticism, phallocentric voyeurism, humiliation, and degradation experienced by those subjected to strip searches by male prison guards at adult male facilities remain invisible.
As a Black man, I cannot help but think of the rituals of degradation and emasculation my ancestors survived in slave auctions. Scholars of war note the “normal” sexual violence of “en-
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forced nudity” to humiliate the vanquished, putting defeated bodies on display.
When I raised concerns with Oak Park Heights Warden Halverson, her professional response was essentially that it was department policy. “Policy” gives male prison guards carte blanche to commit acts that, if committed outside of working hours, would be considered a sex crime.
Under Minnesota law, “sexual contact” includes coerced or forced removal of clothing covering a person’s intimate parts or undergarments. For clarity, when an incarcerated person is told by a guard to remove his clothing, the word “no” comes with violent consequences. As you’ll learn, all strip searches are achieved by force, coercion, or threatened force.
What occurs during a strip search?
Incarcerated persons are told to become fully naked by one or several guards, who may be standing in front of you or may have intimidatingly encircled you. The removal of your clothing must be one piece at a time until you become nude.
You then stand in the nude, in the presence of however many prison guards; open your mouth, lift your tongue, take out false teeth if any, flicker your ears, stretch your arms, lift your feet, fondle your testicles and penis by separating them from one another; turn so your buttocks is facing the guard, bend over and spread your buttocks cheeks exposing your anus.
These forms of searches are conducted whenever we go to and return from a visit or the hospital, to and coming from solitary confinement, “randomly” selected by a prison guard, at the end of your workday, and at the discretionary whim of any prison guard—because he can.
What occurs if an incarcerated person says “no” to strip search?
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Kamala Harris deserves better
A response to William Cooper’s opinion piece “Defining Kamala,” which ran in the August 22, 2024 edition of the MSR.
Dear William Cooper, I must object to your tepid and grudging endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic nominee for president of the United States.
You compare Harris to Barack Obama and Joe Biden and lament that she lacks the “rock star” quality of Barack and the “policy experience” of Joe, although you do concede she is “better than the alternative”: Donald Trump. (High
praise indeed!)
However, you fail to see that Kamala is a meteor who will bring joy, warmth and compassion to the Oval Office—something that Americans have never seen. As Hillary Clinton says (and who would know this better than Hillary), Kamala is “on the other side of the glass ceiling” and can show her warmth as well her acuity, intelligence and grit. She is able to hold both sides with clarity and calm. She is a warrior for justice, motivated by her belief that it is her job to make the world a better place. She has a solid track record of getting things
done in every position she has held, from prosecutor to attorney general to senator to vice president. It is true that her first bid for the presidency was a flop, but as we all know, every road to success includes a failure. While she won’t be the perfect president, she is not only better than Trump. Kamala (along with our governor, Tim Walz) is the next best thing that could happen to our country. She is motivated by the desire to do the right thing and will emerge as the president for all the people.
Rondi Atkin
Kamala Harris’ Black agenda: A record of accomplishments
By Keith Boykin
“Black Vote, Black Power,” a collaboration between Keith Boykin and Word In Black, examines the issues, the candidates, and what’s at stake for Black America in the 2024 presidential election.
Certain Black people on the internet keep raising two questions about Kamala Harris. What is her Black agenda? And why didn’t she do it during the last four years?
First, if you want to know Kamala Harris’s Black agenda, look at what she’s already done. As vice president, Kamala Harris helped to pass the Emmett Till Anti-Lynching Act, provided a record $16 billion in funding to HBCUs, $2.8 billion for Pell grants and need-based assistance, $2 billion to Black farmers, $2 billion to clean up pollution in communities of color, doubled the number of Black businesses in America, and brought us the lowest Black unemployment rate and the lowest Black poverty rate in history.
The Biden-Harris administration also expanded the child tax credit, which cut the Black child poverty rate in half; capped the cost of insulin at $35 for seniors, which is especially important for Black people who are disproportionately affected by diabetes; signed up five million more people for Obamacare; canceled $168.5 billion in student loan debt for 4.8 million people; pardoned thousands of marijuana charges; and on top of all that, even signed a law creating the first new Black-related federal holiday in 40 years—Juneteenth.
At the same time, they appointed more Black judges than any administration in history and gave us the first Black woman on the Supreme Court and the first Black vice president. And those federal judges have lifetime tenure, so they’ll be on the bench for decades.
Trump was president for four years and didn’t do any of those things. In fact, he was the first president since Richard Nixon 50 years ago to appoint no
about one’s personhood, fear, humiliation, or religious or cultural beliefs.
Black judges to the U.S. Courts of Appeals. And the judges he did appoint are the very ones striking down the laws and policies that help Black people.
Now, the second question: Why hasn’t Kamala Harris done whatever thing you think she should have done in the last four years? The answer. She’s not the president. She’s the vice president, and that person’s job is to help the president. But even if she were president, people need to have realistic expectations about what a president can and cannot do.
The president leads one of our three co-equal branches of government. For those who missed “Schoolhouse Rock,” the three branches are legislative, executive and judicial. Congress, the legislature, makes the laws. The president, the executive, enforces the laws. And the judiciary, through the Supreme Court and lower courts, interprets the laws.
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You will find yourself surrounded by a host of participants and spectators who violently render your body physically helpless by force, gassings or macings, muscle you to the ground, ripping or knifing off the clothing from your body, now using their own hands to spread your anus and fondle your genitals. It cannot be overstated that a prisoner’s refusal or objection to a strip search is automatically viewed as motivated by having something to hide or conceal instead of legitimate concerns
I don’t profess to be a psychologist. Still, I know from personal experience that these daily sexual and violent group assaults, experienced and witnessed, often cause a range of physiological and psychological harms.
How does inflicting this form of traumatic anti-human violence for years or decades contribute to rehabilitation and an individual’s successful reintegration into society?
Is it any wonder why many institutional-based establish-
In the UK, the executive and legislature are combined in Parliament. The prime minister comes from the legislature and has the power to enact their own agenda. It makes it easier to get things done, but we don’t have that system in the U.S.
Currently, we have a divided Congress, with a Republican House of Representatives and a Democratic Senate. The House is gerrymandered, giving members no incentive to work with a president from the other party. And the Senate is constitutionally unrepresentative of the country.
That’s why the 1.6 million people in the mostly white and rural Dakotas get four U.S. senators, while the nearly 40 million people in the racially diverse state of California get only two U.S. senators. That means the people of South Dakota have 50 times more power than the people in California in the Senate. The legislature is rigged against us.
And, unfortunately, so are the courts. Because of the antiquated electoral college system for picking presidents, we have an unrepresentative Supreme Court with six of the nine justices appointed by Republican presidents, despite the fact that Democrats have won the popular vote in seven of the last eight presidential elections.
So, even if Bernie Sanders, Jill Stein, Cornel West—or any imaginary candidate you think might be more radical or more proBlack than Kamala Harris—was elected president, there’s very little that any president can do in our system of government that won’t be blocked by Republicans in Congress or overruled by the Republican-appointed judges on the federal courts.
As vice president, Kamala Harris helped to pass the Emmett Till Anti-Lynching Act…doubled the number of Black businesses in America, and brought us the lowest Black unemployment rate and the lowest Black poverty rate in history.
That’s why we can’t just vote once every four years in a presidential election and complain when things don’t work out. We have to vote in every election, every year, in primaries, runoffs, and general elections, up and down the ballot, for city council, mayor, judge, school board member, county commissioner, state representative, governor, senator, vice president, and president.
But the choice is clear. If you want a president who has spent his life attacking Black people, from the Central Park Five to Barack Obama to Colin Kaepernick, Trump is your guy. If you want a president who won’t be able to accomplish everything we want but will move us in the right direction and has a record to prove it, Kamala Harris is the one.
And if you want a king or queen to be your leader, move to London.
Keith Boykin is a New York Times–bestselling author, TV and film producer, and former CNN political commentator. This commentary was republished with permission from Word in Black.
ments, prisons, nursing homes, and mental wards are hubs for abuse by employees? Emboldened by “policies” allowing repeated abusive behavior on already vulnerable and defenseless humans who will hardly be believed, where power imbalances can be exploited at any time by any employee to “strip search” as a vehicle of sexual domination, harassment, or retaliation?
Perhaps you reading this find it so shocking or unbelievable that you disregard it or feel no sympathy is warranted because this is just what happens to “those criminals,” existing
beneath humanity’s normative paradigm.
My last question is: Does a sexual assault disguised as a “security procedure” make the sexual assault acceptable?
Shavelle Oscar ChavezNelson currently resides in Oak Park Heights Prison and can be reached on jpay.com with his ID number: #204140.
This commentary was made possible through a partnership with the Twin Cities Incarcerated Workers Organizing Committee, a union working to transform the justice system in MN.
By David E. Kirkland
As the new school year begins, we at forwardED extend our best wishes for a transformative academic journey. Yet, as we settle into the familiar rhythms of the classroom, we challenge educators to embrace a new focus—one that could redefine the trajectory of our education systems, which will mean success or failure for many of you.
This year, we ask you to place a deliberate focus on Black boys, the students who need our efforts most. Focusing on Black boys in education isn’t about fixing them; it’s about fixing the schools and classrooms that fail to see their brilliance.
By addressing their needs, we find our greatest opportunity for growth and improvement for our schools and ourselves. Young Black men and boys remain the most vulnerable student population in U.S. schools. Research consistently shows that Black boys are disproportionately suspended, overidentified for individualized education programs (IEPs), and funneled into special education programs at alarming rates. They are also more likely to encounter discrimination, face microaggressions, and graduate at lower rates than their peers. Standardized tests, which often fail to consider their unique cultural and social contexts, report lower proficiency scores for Black boys, perpetuating narratives of failure rather than potential.
Compounding these disparities are systemic issues such as housing insecurity, with Black boys representing a high percentage of foster students and those experiencing homelessness. Exclusion from school and society for minor infractions further exacerbates their alienation, pushing them toward a cycle of disadvantage that is hard to break. Outside the classroom, Black men and boys face a myriad of crises—incarceration, health disparities, unemployment—and have become one of the most isolated and disaffected groups in our society. The layers of trauma they carry, from depression and anxiety to a pervasive sense of fatalism, paint a bleak picture of what it means to grow up as a Black male in America today.
This is a systemic failure, not a personal one. Addressing these challenges begins with embracing restorative practices in the classroom. But it doesn’t end there. We must focus on better conflict resolution techniques in the school that repair harm and build relationships rather than resorting to traditional exclusionary and hyper-punitive disciplinary measures. We must also enter into the imagination to create responsive spaces designed to reduce the feelings of alienation that Black boys often experience. If we lift Black males, the entire educational system will undergo a radical transformation. Consider this: If all adverse outcomes for Black males, such as suspension rates, special education identifica-
tion, and dropout rates, were reduced by 20 percent, and if all positive outcomes, including graduation rates, college enrollment, and academic achievement, improved by 20 percent, the ripple effects across the entire school system would be profound. Research shows that when we address the needs of the most vulnerable populations, the benefits extend to all students.
Designing systems that love and deserve Black boys
To truly serve Black boys, we must design systems that love and deserve them. This means rejecting deficit thinking and cultivating environments where Black boys are seen, heard, and valued for who they are. It’s not enough to expect them to “tough it
out” or “have more grit.”
The burden should not fall on Black boys to adapt to systems that were never designed with them in mind. Instead, it’s up to us to create schools worthy of their brilliance.
My insights on culturally responsive-sustaining education highlight the critical importance of integrating students’ cultural backgrounds into their education. This approach goes beyond mere inclusion to actively sustain students’ cultural identities while equipping them with the tools to navigate and transform the world.
torical perspectives that highlight the contributions of Black people, or holding discussions that challenge prevailing narratives about race and identity.
As we build these systems, it is also crucial to ensure that professional development for educators includes training on implicit bias and culturally responsive teaching. This will help create school environments where Black boys feel genuinely valued.
These are schools that do not merely aim to improve test scores or graduation rates but seek to cultivate the full humanity of every student. Schools that understand the importance of designing systems that not only serve Black boys but love and deserve them, too. As educators, we have the power to change lives. But this power is not in what we teach; it’s in how we teach, see our students, and design the systems that shape their futures.
Similarly, Pedro Noguera reminds us that the ultimate goal of education should be to prepare students to become responsible, productive members of society, which requires a deep commitment to equity and justice.
To begin this work, educators can incorporate culturally responsive-sustaining curricula that reflect the lived experiences of Black boys. This might mean including literature by Black authors, examining his-
Let us enter this school year with a renewed commitment to our Black boys, knowing that we become titans, lifting our world by lifting them. This is our call to action. Let’s rise to meet it.
David E. Kirkland, Ph.D., is the founder and CEO of forwardED. He is a nationally renowned scholar of education equity. He can be reached via email at: david@forward-ed. com. A version of this post first appeared on forwardED.
Editor’s note: This article has been edited for brevity.
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Notice is given that an application for informal appointment of personal representative has been filed with the Registrar. No will has been presented for probate. The application has been granted.
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Notice is hereby given that informal appointment of Graham Harrison, whose address is 807 Black Oak Dr., Knoxville, Tennessee 37912 as personal representative of the estate of the above-named decedent, has been made. Any heir, devisee or other interested person may be entitled to appointment as personal representative or may object to the appointment of the personal representative and the personal representative is empowered to fully administer the estate including, after 30 days from the date of issuance of letters, the power to sell, encumber, lease or distribute real estate, unless objections thereto are filed with the Court (pursuant to Section 524.3-607) and the Court otherwise orders
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Dated: August 20, 2024
Yvette M. Andrade Registrar
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SOE SOCCER
Continued from page 12
Gopher squad.
Gabriel, a forward/defender from Kernersville, NC, was an all-conference performer in four sports (soccer, basketball, indoor and outdoor track) in high school.
Yon, a defender from Durham, NC, was a three-star soccer prospect and a top 50 South Atlantic Player.
“I wanted to get far away from home and have a fresh start,” Yon admitted, who plans to study kinesiology, elementary education, and special education.
Added Gabriel, who signed with Minnesota after her official recruiting visit, “I love the coaches, I love the team. Everything is just so knit-tight, and everybody’s like a family.”
Both athletes praised the consistent support from the Gopher coaches and their fellow teammates. “With the amazing coaching staff and facilities and academics that the University of Minnesota offers, it’s an easy choice to come here,” noted Yon.
Continued from page 12
new, also tough programs won’t change that.
“I think it would be just as fun and just as competitive,” Awoleye pointed out. “I think the only thing that will change is that we can’t play as many teams twice.”
After a scheduled two matches this weekend at the Big Ten/Big 12 Challenge (Baylor on Friday and TCU on Saturday), Minnesota returns home to host St. Thomas September 10 at Maturi Pavilion.
This also is Year 2 under second-year Minnesota Head Coach Keegan Cook. “We’re all being pushed. Ev-
“Something that they [the coaches] really install in us here is the belief in the process and believing in things that you can’t see.
“So, I think that it’s so important that no matter what happens, you give 100% and be relentless,” she pointed out. Gabriel concurred: “I think we have so much, like the great support staff, whether it’s our sports psychologist or if it’s our upperclassmen or the coaches, we also have someone to talk to because there will be challenges and there will be things that we don’t understand.”
Finally, both first-year Gophers said they are committed to help Minnesota be successful this season and beyond.
“We have a great group of freshmen coming in, and we have worked hard, and we’re gonna help build this team to get our way to the Big Ten tournament, and hopefully win that,” said Gabriel.
“I’m so excited to see how everything plays out,” concluded Yon.
Charles Hallman welcomes reader comments to challman@ spokesman-recorder.com.
erybody’s working very hard,” surmised Awoleye. “I think it’s gonna be just as fun, just as competitive, but it’s just a new level.”
Awoleye said she’s not exactly sure what she wants to do after volleyball is over, even though she is studying to take law school entrance exams. “I want to have options,” she said.
Next — Minnesota this season has one of the three Black assistant volleyball coaches. Look for our interview next week with first-year Gopher Assistant Coach Crissy Jones Schoonderwoerd.
Charles Hallman welcomes reader comments to challman@ spokesman-recorder.com.
VIEW
Continued from page 12
way, shape or form at the conference. Really, something for everyone,” boasted Bush.
Among the panel discussions we attended was the Future of Baseball Broadcasts featuring Minnesota.
Twins President Dave St. Peter, which we reported on in an earlier MSR edition.
We sat in on Mark Armour’s “The One Millionth Run” presentation in which the veteran researcher argued that, by his statistical analysis, Bob Watson may not have after all scored baseball’s one millionth run on May 4, 1975.
“I think by what we knew at that time, [Watson] did,” Armour said afterwards. “And by what we know now, he probably didn’t.”
Now that MLB is officially recognizing Negro Leagues statistics, Armour pointed out that the millionth Major League run probably would have been scored “10 or 15 years earlier,” he said.
Todd Peterson is the cochair of the Negro Leagues Committee, which was formed in 1971. Its main purpose is to preserve the history of Blacks in baseball before the reintegration of the game, as well as support efforts to recognize Black players.
“We’re going to find out more stuff about [Black baseball players],” said Peterson. “I think that a lot of information is still out there.”
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Peterson, The Donaldson Network founder Pete Gorton, and Carl Rogan, grandson of Hall of Famer and former Negro Leaguer Wilbur “Bullet” Rogan, were featured on a Black baseball panel at SABR25.
“I like what they’ve done because it gives some credibility to what has happened in the past,” said Carl Rogan.
On his grandfather’s career stats now officially recognized by MLB, he said, “His stats are in the top 25 of everybody that’s ever played. That to me is just remarkable.”
However, Gorton said he’s afraid that the MLB move [and the subsequent MLB certification process], which took place in May, could ultimately hurt more than help in recognizing more Black baseball players, such as John Donaldson, who according to Gorton, have “more wins, more strikeouts than any segregated pitcher all time.”
Peterson added, “I think as more things are digitized, more people will be able to find things. People are starting to do deep dives [for] information. They can look at the stats and interpret them in many different ways.
“More stuff is going to come out every day.”
Next — The forgotten St. Louis Cardinal
Charles Hallman welcomes reader comments to challman@ spokesman-recorder.com.
HAMLINE
Continued from page 12
and president for the last 12 to 13,” Dave said proudly.
Assistant Coach Josiah Walker spent time after a practice with a player. He said oftentimes that is when he does his best coaching.
“With individual conversations with each player, they let you know what they need for that moment, or the mistake they have made. During practices, there’s a lot of noise with everyone screaming and communicating.”
Preseason football practices can be brutal. The Hamline team uses the morning before it gets too hot to really get the necessary preparation in, then uses the late afternoons and early evenings for team walkthrough and other activities.
“A high school player to now a college player…it’s the real big adjustment,” said freshman Amere Warren from Minneapolis. Senior Jevon Jones from Woodbury recalls his freshman days: “When I came in as a freshman, I really was excited to be here and just gave my best effort. My transition was a little different [because] I had an older brother here and that was kind of helpful.”
“I feel much better than when I was a freshman knowledge-wise on the football field,” added junior Elijah Jamison from Denver. “I feel like I got better from freshman year to now. I think I’m
more focused.”
“I’m gonna have to make a plan” such as managing and balancing life now as a fulltime college student athlete, predicted Warren. Jones, who was recovering from an injury, will be a student assistant coach this season. “I’m just happy for the opportunity to teach my linebackers,” said the St. Agnes graduate.
“Our journey will be long, but our guys are battle tested.”
“Our journey will be long, but our guys are battle tested,” noted Head Coach Chip Taylor. “They have worked so hard since January.
“We need to play as hard as we can in every game for 4-6 seconds of play,” he pointed out. “We need to be right where the ball is in play.
“I’m looking forward to watching our young men work through the diversity that’s going to come our way this fall,” Taylor pointed out. “We hope to ignite the student body and the community with our play this year.”
Special thanks to Coach Chip Taylor, his coaching staff and the Hamline football players for their cooperation and consideration.
Charles Hallman welcomes reader comments to challman@ spokesman-recorder.com.
Gopher athletes working hard, having fun Sports
There are approximately 100 African American and other student-athletes of color this school year at the University of Minnesota. In an occasional series throughout the school year and sports year, the MSR will highlight many of these players. This week: Gopher freshmen soccer players Aaryn Gabriel and Karson Yon, and volleyball graduate student Phoebe Awoleye.
First-year soccer players happy to be Gophers
he Gophers women’s soccer team is back home this week for a two-match stretch. The 2024 team thus far is off to a 4-0 start.
“We have a great staff who have helped us all summer preparing us for this moment,” said Aaryn Gabriel after their 4-1 victory at St. Thomas August 25.
“Everybody’s like a family. It’s an easy choice to come here.”
Gabriel and Karson Yon are two of seven first-year players this season. The two also are the only Black players on the
■ See SOE SOCCER on page 11
he prep football season got off to a fast start and I was able to catch two competitive contests. Quarterback Beckham Van Voorst’s three touchdown passes to Tavorian Thompson (5 yards), Semaj Young (22 yards), and Emmanuel Karmo (10 yards), and Dalon Gurley’s score on a four-yard run, led Robbinsdale Cooper to a 2721 victory over Park Center.
Seasoned volleyball player weighs career options
ith the addition of Oregon, Washington, UCLA, and USC now in the Big Ten, the four new members have helped improve the conference’s diversity in women’s volleyball this season.
UCLA (3), Oregon (3), Washington (1) and USC (4) bring the total number of Black volleyball players to 40.
Middle blocker Phoebe Awoleye is one of two Black players on this year’s Gopher squad. She played in all 30 matches last season, her first season at Minnesota after spending her previous collegiate seasons at the University of Georgia (her freshman and
Prep football season begins North, Cooper, Park Center, Holy Angels
Denero Fellow’s touchdown passes to Roosevelt Klee (14 yards), and Ronald Brown (12 yards), and Josh Diggs’ fiveyard run led Park Center. Minneapolis North got outstanding performances from Jmarion Sanders Jajuan BobManuel, Stephan Jackson, and Anthony Deline in a 34-31 loss to Holy Angels. Check out the pics!
Photos by Dr. Mitchell Palmer McDonald
Dr. Mitchell Palmer McDonald welcomes reader comments to mcdeezy05@gmail.com.
a
sophomore years) and her junior year at Loyola Marymount.
Awoleye this season will play out her athletic eligibility as a graduate student. She has a degree in management information systems.
“We’re
all being pushed.”
“I finished with my master’s in sports management this summer,” she announced. “I’m just doing non-degree classes and studying for the LSAT this fall.”
Big Ten volleyball in recent years has been tough from top to bottom, and adding four
■ See SOE VOLLEYBALL on page 11
aseball is a sport, rightly or wrongly, that induces arguments and debates: Who is the best hitter or hitters? The best pitcher or pitchers? Best fielder? And for such arguments, baseball fans and others use statistics as a foundational basis.
My first time attending the Society of American Baseball Researchers (SABR) convention, held in August in Minneapolis, had all the makings of a
baseball geek’s paradise with tons of panel discussions, research presentations, and various committee meetings.
“We emphasize SABR’s ability to unite all of us in baseball fellowship,” said SABR CEO Scott Bush in his welcome during the convention program. He told us, “We’ve got just less than 600 people here. We
“I like what they’ve done because it gives some credibility to what has happened in the past,”
have 34 different research committees, and each one of them is represented in some
■ See VIEW on page 11
By Charles Hallman Sports Columnist
ou learn so much about a team by watching them at practice. However, this is a luxury that isn’t always afforded because coaches are so afraid that someone will post something they see on social media.
The Hamline University football coaches and players allowed me to watch them practice for a couple days in August and sit in on team and position
meetings. This is my third year doing this. One of those days the Frogtown Youth Football team was also in attendance.
“We just want them to see how coaches interact with kids, how the kids respond to the coaching, their hustle, their work ethic. Stuff like that is really important,” explained Frogtown Coach/President Coach Dave, who said nearly 100 kids from age seven to 14 participates in the program.
“I’ve been with Frogtown for 27 years, and I’ve been a director
Minneapolis North running back Jajuan BobManuel scores
touchdown against Holy Angels.
Minneapolis North wide receiver Jmarion Sanders catches a touchdown pass against Robbinsdale Cooper
Robbinsdale Armstrong wide receiver Semaj Young catches a 22-yard touchdown pass against Park Center.
Minneapolis North running back Stephan Jackson against Holy Angels
(l-r) Park Center halfback Josh Diggs, quarterback Denero Fellows, and wide receiver Ty’John Brooks against Robbinsdale Cooper
Karson Yon (l) and Aaryn Gabriel
Photo by Charles Hallman
Phoebe Awoleye
Photo by Charles Hallman
(l-r) Todd Peterson, Peter Gorton, Carl Rogan
Photo by Charles Hallman
(l-r) Frogtown 9U Coach Gary Benson, Hamline Coach Chip Taylor, Frogtown Pres/Director Coach Dave
Hamline players Jevon Jones (l) and Amere Warren Photos by Charles Hallman