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Find out more about “Duluth for Mandela: A Northland Celebration” on page 7.
Celebrating 90 years of Black journalistic excellence.
October 24 - 30, 2024
Vol. 91
No. 13
Phone: 612-827-4021 www.spokesman-recorder.com
Black churches historically have fostered social cohesion
What might it mean then if more young Blacks go unchurched?
As winter approaches, new heating law protects tenants By Alexzia Shobe Staff Writer
which landlords control the heat. Passage of the law came amid growing appeals from s a winter forecast to residents in need of help mainbe colder and snowi- taining safe indoor wintertime er than average fast temperatures. Minnesota residential utilapproaches, tenants can rest easy knowing their right to a ity customers have protection livable and comfortable envi- against utility service shut-off during the coldest months of ronment is protected. A law protecting tenants, the year. The Cold Weather Minnesota Statute 504b.161, Rule prevents utilities from dates to 1999, but it got a shutting off heat sources beboost when Gov. Tim Walz tween Oct. 1 and April 30 signed into law a supplemen- based on lack of bill payment. tal measure dealing specifically The new law extends the same with heating at rental proper- protections to renters without control over heat levels in their ties. It took effect on Oct. 1. This statute originally re- apartments. Samuel Spaid, staff attorquired that landlords keep rental properties safe, well- ney and research director at maintained, and energy-effi- HOME Line, was at the forecient—and reinforced tenants’ front of discussions over the rights by prohibiting waivers new rule. “This was a change or modifications that allowed to the law that HOME Line relandlords to shirk or shift re- ally championed at the state sponsibility of those require- legislature,” he said, “because we receive hundreds of calls ments onto tenants. This year’s supplemental act each year about the lack of Research shows that nationwide fewer Black men, particularly young Black men, are attending services. zamrznutitonovi requires that landlords “supply heat or inadequate heating, or furnish heat at a minimum which can have serious health The Voting Rights Act of 1965 is one of history’s most pro- temperature of 68 degrees consequences—especially for By Charles Hallman Staff Writer found civil rights achievements. Following its passage, the Fahrenheit” between Oct. 1 children and seniors. disparity in registration rates between Black and white voters and April 30 for all units in ■ See COLD on page 5 re Black men still going to church? Research shows that dropped from nearly 30 percentage points in the early 1960s to nationwide fewer Black men, particularly young Black 8 percentage points just a decade later. Church initiatives and passage of the Voting Rights Act of men, are attending services. The Black Church has long been an institutional backbone in 1965 had a powerful, positive influence on Black mobilization. the community, with a foundational role in the Civil Rights Era— Black voter turnout went from 40% in 1960 to 60% in 1984. The peak came in 2012, as President and providing a critical form of social coheBarack Obama sought re-election. Black sion and power, particularly political power. voter turnout that year reached 66.6% of eliSo, what does it mean if this cultural instiHistorically, Black tution declines in impact? Where do young gible Black voters, which was 1 percentage Black men find the guidance, support, and point higher than overall white voter turnout. churches served as political expression the Church historically This threshold in Black voter mobilization has a source of comfort provided? not been seen before or since. and support for Black Church-led campaigns to expand According to two longtime pastors, local and protect voting date back to the Civil congregations are experiencing this trend in Black men and a War, but momentum peaked during the Civil declining attendance numbers. space where they Rights Era of the 1950s and ’60s. In 1957, “Since the pandemic, I don’t see as many could express their church and civil rights leaders organized the Black males coming to the church,” said RevPrayer Pilgrimage of Freedom—a celebraerend Dr. Tracey Gibson, pastor of St Peter’s spirituality, connect AME Church in South Minneapolis. She was tion on the third anniversary of the landmark with their cultural first appointed in October 2022, two years Brown v. Board of Education decision that heritage, and seek after the pandemic forced churches to close became a rallying cry for voting rights. and hold virtual services. “I wasn’t at the “To [the Rev. Martin Luther] King and other support without fear church before the pandemic,” she noted. civil rights leaders, the Black Church was a of discrimination. Shiloh Temple International Bishop Richkey institution within the pro-democracy movement,” notes historian David Daniels ard D. Howell, Jr. has been at the North MinIII, who joined the faculty of McCormick neapolis church founded by his grandparents Theological Seminary in 1987 and was inaugurated professor of since 1980. “What I’m seeing, at least at Shiloh, is a significant church history in 2003. “They believed its reach could be har- slight increase of men coming, more men than ever before. [Yet] Before the statewide standard went into effect, wintertime nessed to eradicate the barriers to voting and expand accessibil- women still outnumber men.” heat protections varied—with some cities and towns not Howell added, however, ity of voting and enlarge the number of voters.” ■ See CHURCH on page 5 offering tenant protections. Sam Wagner
Inflation hits lowest level since pandemic By Stacy M. Brown
A cooling of inflation bodes well for Black Americans, who were disproportionately affected by rising costs. Giuliano Benzin
price change for goods and According to a poll conductservices affecting consumers’ ed by NPR, the Robert Wood ccording to the latest Con- daily lives, were shelter and Johnson Foundation, and the sumer Price Index food, which comprised over Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, 55% of Black (CPI) report from the 75% of the overall rise. Food prices alone increased Americans report facing seriBureau of Labor Statistics, inflation in the United by 0.4% in September, with ous financial difficulties, comStates has slowed to its lowest the cost of meats, poultry, pared to 38% of white Amerilevel since the early months fish and eggs rising sharply by cans. of the pandemic. The CPI for 8.4%. Fruits and vegetables The survey also showed All Urban Consumers rose by also saw a notable increase of that Black Americans are more 2.4% over the past year, a sub- 0.9%. These rises reflect on- likely to lack emergency savstantial easing from the higher going pressures on household ings, with 58% unable to cover inflation rates seen over the budgets as essential goods even a month of expenses, last two years. continue to grow more expen- compared to 36% of white September’s monthly in- sive. respondents. Food insecurity A cooling of inflation bodes also presented a more presscrease of 0.2% matches the growth recorded in August well for Black Americans. Re- ing issue, as 32% of Black and July, indicating a steady, search in 2022 revealed that, Americans report struggling to moderate rise in consumer at a time when households afford food, compared to 21% prices. across the U.S. widely reported of white Americans. The most significant con- experiencing serious problems The nonprofit Prosperity tributors to the monthly in- from inflation, Black Ameri- Now said the index showed prices increased crease in CPI, a vital indicator cans were disproportionately housing by 0.2%, remaining a major of inflation that measures the affected by rising costs.
stumbling block for American families seeking security and economic stability. The organization noted that housing costs remain a significant hurdle for families striving to build wealth and achieve longterm financial security through homeownership. “Homeownership has long been one of the most reliable ways to build wealth in this country, but for far too many families it remains out of reach,” said Marisa Calderon, president and CEO of Prosperity Now. “While it’s encouraging to see inflation slow, we must ensure that economic gains translate into real opportunities for families to build a more secure financial future.” The latest CPI Index revealed that energy costs declined ■ See INFLATION on page 5