PRST STD U.S.POSTAGE PAID TWIN CITIES MN PERMIT NO. 6391
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Inside this Edition...
Counting down to our 90th Anniversary
May 2 - 8, 2024
Vol. 90
Read more about Linda Martell on page 6.
Phone: 612-827-4021 www.spokesman-recorder.com
No. 40
Siblings scattered when child protection intervenes By Abdi Mohamed Associate Editor
their children. While Bonnie and Roynell lived in Duluth, Minnesota, they were able to work with Editor’s Note: For the times the local county office and gain when Child Protection Services custody as next of kin. Alonzia Bonita Colbert, 17, has intervened with timely and positive outcomes, there is also Tamara Taylor’s oldest daughter, a growing swell of African-Ameri- was just one year old when her can voices telling different stories grandparents formally adopted of their CPS experiences, which her. She has seen her mother affected them adversely as in- over the years but hasn’t had dividuals and families. The MSR the opportunity to develop a provides an avenue for the fami- relationship with her. “I’m at the point where I feel lies of our community to be heard. like my grandma has raised me. onnie Anderson and My granddad and my grandma Roynell Taylor have been are my parents,” she said. Bonnie Taylor, 21, is Tabitha married for over 47 years. They have 35 grandchildren and Taylor’s oldest daughter and six great-grandchildren. In the has lived with her grandparlast 20 years, they’ve had to re- ents since she was three. She’s turn to their parenting instincts currently studying political scias they’ve had custody of several ence and hopes to become a grandchildren. lawyer to resolve family sepaTheir twin daughters, Tabitha ration under Child Protective and Tamara Taylor, have strug- Services (CPS) in the future. “A lot of what I wanted to do gled with substance abuse, resulting in them losing custody of actually did come from what
I’ve been through growing up,” she stated. Initially, Bonnie wanted to become a social worker, but she learned through her family’s struggle navigating CPS and county agencies that social workers can only do so much. She decided that she needed to dream a bit bigger and aim to change the laws that have caused her and her family so much grief. While living in Duluth, Anderson and her husband, Roynell, had a good relationship with CPS in St. Louis County. However, once they moved to the Twin Cities metro in 2009, they began encountering difficulties trying to maintain custody of their grandchildren. Things came to a head in 2021 when their family home in Coon Rapids was shot at one evening. Just days before Bonnie Anderson and Roynell Taylor sit with their grandchildren, Bonita Colbert (left) and Joy Photo by Chris Juhn ■ See CPS on page 5 Taylor (center) after recently being reunited with the latter.
Is today’s NAACP misunderstood or undervalued?
H i s to r i
Joe Louis, ring idol, coming for boxing H is tor ica l Capsul e exhibition
St. Paul Branch President Rev. Richard Pittman, Sr. shares insights By Vickie Evans-Nash Contributing Writer hough not much is said of the work of the Minnesota NAACP, they are busy working on behalf of the Black community. Community members may experience changes based on their accomplishments but don’t know where to give thanks. Pastor Richard Pittman, Sr. is currently in his second two-year term as president of the St. Paul branch. Minnesota branches include St. Paul, Minneapolis, Duluth, Rochester, and St. Cloud, but Minnesota also represents North and South Dakota. Pittman has been involved with the NAACP for 14 years and has been a pastor for over 40. He was inspired to join the NAACP by his wife’s cousin, Nathaniel Khaliq, who served as president for over 15 years. Pittman’s first position was religious chair, then public safety chair before serving as vice president. Under Pittman’s leadership, the NAACP has made education a top priority. They are actively addressing the lack of diversity in Minnesota’s teaching staff, as highlighted by The ■ See NAACP on page 5
Rev. Richard Pittman, Sr. Photo courtesy St. Paul NAACP
ca l Capsule
This historical capsule, published in the St. Paul Recorder on Jan. 8, 1937, unveils the arrival of Joe Louis, the ‘Brown Bomber‘, for a ps u l a boxing exhibition ical C in theeTwin H i s to r (l-r) Rep. Ilhan Omar, Sen. Tina Smith and Sabathani Executive Director Scott Redd Photo by Chris Juhn Cities. His nickname, a testament to his knockout power, has become a part of boxing history. To keep with authenticity, our Historical articles are placed as they were written when first published and unedited. ule MS Caps proR Louis, icalbrought H i s t o rwho oe fessional boxing out of the doldrums in the heavyweight Representative Ilhan Omar Precisely, what is geo- place the building’s 50-year- ranks, is going to put his fistic By Al Brown were on hand April 22 to cel- thermal energy? Wikipedia old boilers, Thelma and Louise. wares at the Minneapolis audiAssignment Editor Sabathani’s executive direc- torium the night of January 14 ebrate the center’s sustainabil- explains that thermal energy n Earth Day, something ity progress and cutting-edge is extracted from the earth’s tor, Scott Redd, was proud of under the sponsorship of The big happened at Sa- green initiatives—plans call for it crust, combining energy from the historical center’s recogni- Minneapolis Tribune. Detroit’s fighting idol has bathani Community Cen- to be powered by solar-arrayed the planet’s formation and tion for its commitment to susagreed to headline a 42-round ter—big enough to attract two of rooftops and microgrids. It will radiative decay. Unlike wind tainability and green initiatives. boxing show. He will appear in the state’s congressional mem- also draw energy from a renew- and solar energy, geothermal “This support says not only a six-round exhibition against bers to the neighborhood center, able energy geothermal heat plants produce power at a to me but also to this comthree opponents, going two which has provided services to pump system, making the near- constant rate without regard munity that it recognizes that rounds with each. The Tribune the community since 1966. ly century-old building energy- to weather conditions. The this is a resilient community committee in charge of argeothermal system would reSenator Tina Smith and U.S. efficient and self-sustainable. ■ See COALITION on page 5 rangements will donate all of the net proceeds to the Parents and Teachers’ Association of Minneapolis. When Jack Dempsey passed out of the picture as a heavyweight boxing attraction 10 By Tommy Wiita such as a four-pack of cigars years ago ‘twas often repeated Bring Me the News and chewing tobacco. It also ■ See HISTORICAL on page 5 ends price discounts and couThe Minneapolis City Counpons, increases the financial penalties for licensees who cil passed an ordinance on violate city policy, and ends April 25 that would allow the the sampling “loophole” for city to sell cigarettes at one of any new commercial tobacco the highest price points in the products shop. country. The council unani“These changes will protect mously approved the amendyouth and communities of ment with the ordinance color from tobacco industry authored by Councilmember targeting,” Vetaw said. “TobacLaTrisha Vetaw. It imposes a $15 minimum co is still the leading cause of price—before tax—for a pack death, and I am proud that our of cigarettes and other com- Will rising costs deter low-income residents from smoking? city is taking this important mercial tobacco products, ■ See CIGARETTES on page 5 Stock photo by FreePiks
Coalition for a greener South Minneapolis in motion
Earth Day tour brings Sen. Smith and Rep. Omar to Sabathani
Minneapolis’ cigarette cost to be among the nation’s highest
Correction: The photo credit for last week’s Sammy McDowell story should have been attributed to North News.
Joe Louis