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THE VOICE OF BLACK MINNESOTA SINCE 1934
January 12 - 18, 2023
Vol. 89
No. 24
Phone: 612-827-4021
www.spokesman-recorder.com
Martin Luther King’s legacy under siege By Mary Turck Contributing Writer
changes in state voting laws, eviscerating a critical component of the Voting Rights Act. Free from oversight, states began artin Luther King’s legacy is under attack implementing restrictions on voting as page civil rights laws are rights designed to diminish the electoral ■ See GRAVES on 5 being challenged in power of voters of color. That movethe courts and state ment has accelerated in the past few legislatures, and attempts to suppress years under the pretense of preventing and rewrite America’s history of racism election fraud. In 2021, another Supreme Court and the long struggle against it are being challenged by school boards across the decision (Brnovich v. Democratic National Committee) further weakened country. The past 10 years have seen the Voting Rights Act. Republicans in repeated attacks on the Voting Congress repeatedly stymied efforts to Rights Act of 1965, a cru- pass new protections for voting rights. Since the 2020 election, Republicans cial part of Dr. King’s legacy. In 2013, the in statehouses across the country have Supreme Court introduced hundreds of bills restrictended pre- ing voting rights and gerrymandering clearance for election districts to dilute Black voter
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strength. These bills, many of which have become state laws, include decreasing the number of polling sites, especially in poor and Black neighborhoods; restricting opportunities for early or absentee voting; and imposing new conditions and restrictions on voter registration. Florida banned bringing food or water to voters standing in line. Because of other restrictions in voting, Florida voters sometimes spend upwards of four, five, six, or more hours waiting in line at polling sites. The new Jim Crow Senator Raphael Warnock, who is the pastor of Dr. King’s Ebenezer Baptist Church, calls these laws “Jim Crow in new clothes.” In the tradition of the Civil Rights Movement and the legacy of Dr. ■ See LEGACY on page 5
Is the Dream Still Alive?
At a time of social change and upheaval, how do we make sense of Dr. King’s legacy? By Evette Porter Managing Editor
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ince its recognition as a federal holiday in 1983, the Martin Luther King Jr. Day has served as a celebration not only of Dr. King’s legacy and history, but as a benchmark by which we mark our own progress. The MLK Day holiday affords us an opportunity to reflect on past achievements, consider where we have fallen short, and continue to push forward the work of racial, social and economic justice. It also begs the question, “Is the ‘Dream’ still alive?” In 2023, have we reached a point where Dr. King’s strategies of nonviolence, civil disobedience, and collective activism no longer generate the kind of social change of the Civil Rights Movement, in a post-George Floyd, pandemic-weary, social media-obsessed world? Protests and boycotts are now waged on Twitter and Facebook (Meta), WeChat and TikTok, not on “Bloody Sunday” marches from Selma to Montgomery. The Minnesota SpokesmanRecorder (MSR) spoke to organizers of the annual MLK Holiday Break-
applied to the pressing social issues of today. What do you see as today’s “pressing” social issues, and how are you and your partners working towards addressing them? LMK: There are still so many pressing social issues facing us today that have been exacerbated by the events of 2020—George Floyd’s murder, the pandemic, racial and civil unrest, economic and educational disparities. We recognize that some progress has been made, but so much more work still needs to be done. UNCF, along with many other corporations and community organizations, partCourtney Andersen nered with the Minnesota fast, General Mills Vice President Business Coalition for Racial Equity Courtney Andersen (CA), and United (MBCRE) to address issues and conNegro College Fund (UNCF) Devel- cerns that are ensuring Minnesota opment Director Laverne McCartney communities are strong and thriving. UNCF has long been an active Knighton (LMK) about this year’s theme and keynote speaker, Valerie partner in lobbying the federal Jarrett, and the significance of Mar- government—the largest source of funding for Historically Black Coltin Luther King’s legacy and impact. leges and Universities (HBCUs)—to MSR: The theme for this year’s event increase the financial commitment is “Keep Moving Forward,” inspired to HBCUs. The adverse impact of by MLK’s leadership and lessons the pandemic on the economy and
CA: In 2020, General Mills banded together with companies from across the state of Minnesota to do more— support efforts, lift up and help change the trajectory of systemic racism in our communities. We are a part of the Minnesota Business Coalition for Racial Equity, alongside 80 Minnesota-based corporations and community partners, aiming to help drive meaningful change around racial and social justice in our hometown. Through this partnership with our corporate peers, local and state government, community leaders, and othLaverne McCartney Knighton ers, we will take bold and the ongoing effects of systemic rac- leading actions needed to combat ism through police shootings and racial and social inequity and ensure civil unrest, and the need within the our community is a place where we Black community have made UNCF’s all can flourish. advocacy an even more urgent priority. MSR: Civil rights and voting rights— As a direct result of this advocacy, hallmarks of MLK’s legacy—are UNCF’s engagement helped direct seemingly under attack by the courts $5 billion in federal funds to HBCUs, and politicians in many states. How tribal colleges and universities (TCUs), have these challenges—restrictive and minority-serving institutions voting laws and gerrymandering (MSIs). ■ See DREAM on page 5
Documentary follows North High’s Polars By Charles Hallman Contributing Writer As a longtime Northside resident, I am as sensitive to negative talk about my neighborhood as I am for my hometown Detroit. Therefore, I approached the new short documentary film on Minneapolis North’s football team with great apprehension. “Boys In Blue” is a four-part docuseries that follows the Polars through their 2021 season. Peter Berg directed and executive produced the Showtime piece, and featured among others the team’s most gifted player and quarterback Deshaun Hill, Jr. Head Coach Charles Adams and his assistants—Adams’ father Charles Sr., Rickey Plunkett and Tim Lawrence— were all four at the time also Minneapolis Police Department officers. “I drove the crew all over North Minneapolis,” recalled Adams Sr., “and they’re just looking at the neighborhood. This is North Minneapolis. It’s just pockets of problem spots that we’re still trying to address, that we’re going to address.”
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I don’t know that you ever can make sense of such a senseless killing.
The late Deshaun Hill, Jr. I’ve lived on the Northside for the bulk of my transplanted life in Minnesota since the 1980s. If it was as bad as people purport, I wouldn’t be living here. No spoiler alerts here—North lost in the 2021 semifinals, and the gifted D. Hill, then
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Photo courtesy of Showtime a sophomore, was tragically shot and killed outside a neighborhood store just a few weeks after the season ended. “I think our time with Minneapolis North provides an opportunity for folks who might never get to go into a community like [North] Minne-
apolis,” stated Berg, “to go into that community and see beauty and love and nuance, in a community like this.” Berg is a Minnesota native who executive produced the “Friday Night Lights” television series that was adapted from the movie of the same name. As “Friday Nights Lights” was all about football and relationships intertwined in a Texas town, “Boys” is much more than a football movie in multiple acts. “When someone like me comes in and says, ‘Hey, can I spend time with you [and] captures [it] on film?” explained Berg. “It’s always a risk… I tried my very best and my crew to respect that. I’m very appreciative of that opportunity.” The Hill death wasn’t in the film proposal. “One of the producers just broke down crying… We know the kid was a good kid,” said Adams of D. Hill. “When we were asked what kid do we have to worry about getting in trouble if something happened, we all said we’re not worried about D. Hill. That was like a week before this happens.” Said Berg, “Our crew and myself were ■ See POLARS on page 5