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Counting down to our 90th Anniversary
May 16 - 22, 2024
H i s to r i
Vol. 90
Phone: 612-827-4021 www.spokesman-recorder.com
No. 42
ca l Capsule
How the cause of civil rights has fared in the State of Minnesota organization in the U.S. today
is the NAACP. H is to r ica l Capsul e
Contrary to popular opinion among the white majority, the NAACP is not a “Negro” organization, but was founded by and has had a membership of whites and Negroes since its inception. Since sulein varying degrees is Caprights icalcivil H i s to r an issue whether one lives in the Deep South or in Minnesota, this newspaper asked William Cratic Jr., past president of the Minneapolis NAACP, to write for this ediWilliam A. Cratic tion a resume of the work of this important organization in this area. This historical article takes an interesting lookM at how the By William uleA. Cratic S R H i s t o r i ca l C a p s NAACP was perceived by the uring the years from 1950 general public in 1956. to 1956, the Minneapolis Editors Note on Feb. 24, 1956: Branch of the National Association ■ See HISTORICAL on page 5 The most talked about
Meet the Minnesota journalist who pioneered covering women’s sports By A.J. Hilton, WCCO News
Minnesota. “I started there in 1990, so t’s a Friday night in April at I think I’m on 30-some years,” Target Center, and Charles Hallman said. He’s covered everything Hallman is where he usually is, in the media room, several hours throughout his career. Stories on race, politics, and education are before tipoff. Hallman writes for the Min- commonplace. However, one nesota Spokesman-Recorder. moment really stands out for It’s the oldest continuously Hallman. ■ See HALLMAN on page 5 operated Black newspaper in
Hall of Fame Journalist Charles Hallman
Photo by Paige Elliott
Humphrey Policy Fellows panelists (l-r) Dr. Larry Jacobs, Duchesne Drew, Tracey Williams-Dillard, Tim Blotz
Publisher talks Spokesman-Recorder with Humphrey Policy Fellows
By Tony Kiene Staff Writer
program selects approximately “Perhaps more than ever, when state of news media and its everthree dozen mid-career leaders you think about the division in changing landscape. every year from the arenas of our world, we need something In addition to Williams-Dillard, n May 10, Minnesota government, business, philan- like this,” says Sara Benzkofer, ex- the panel consisted of Duchesne Spokesman-Recorder thropy, the nonprofit sector, and ecutive director of the program. Drew, senior vice president of CEO and Publisher the Minnesota National Guard. “Policy Fellows offers its people American Public Media Group Tracey Williams-Dillard took Heralded around the nation the invaluable opportunity to and president of Minnesota Pubpart in a media panel for the for both its ingenuity and impact, learn other perspectives and to lic Radio; and Tim Blotz, news 2023-2024 cohort of Policy Fel- this program fosters leadership work across their differences.” anchor and reporter for Fox 9 Friday’s panel, titled “Today’s and Fox 9+ Television. The modlows at the University of Min- development and provides parnesota’s Hubert H. Humphrey ticipants the ability to connect Reporting Opportunities and erator was Professor Larry Jacobs, School of Public Affairs. with public officials and commu- Challenges,” gave the Hum- McKnight presidential chair in Established by former Vice nity leaders, as well as the chance phrey Policy Fellows the forum public affairs, the Walter F. and President Walter Mondale more to help design and implement to directly engage local leaders Joan Mondale chair for politithan three decades ago, the “important projects that benefit in the field of journalism and cal studies, and director of the Humphrey School Policy Fellows the wider community.” collectively address the current ■ See HUMPHREY on page 5
Is prison justice fair? By H. Jiahong Pan Contributing Writer ince being incarcerated 18 years ago, Amani Fardan has become an artist. This has helped him connect with himself and his family members. “I find it therapeutic,” said Fardan. “One of the pieces I was working on was basically a picture of a family dog that passed away. So just trying to do something like that has sentimental value.” His work has been exhibited through an organization called Art From The Inside, most recently at the Minnesota Attorney General’s office. Sometimes, he experiences difficulty creating artwork. In February, officers at Stillwater prison did a shakedown of the A-East unit where he lived. They found a small half-ounce bottle of ink and powder in Fardan’s cell during their inspection. In a series of phone calls and emails his father Suluki sent
to the MSR, Fardan says the ink was used to create art. He also says the powder in his cell was used for laundry detergent. Despite being tested negative for drugs, officials believed the powder was drugs, and the ink was used for tattooing. Fardan was tried on aggravated charges. Though DOC officials told Fardan they planned to withdraw the medication
Congress finally talks about Black male mental health By Genoa Barrow
Photo by Tony Kiene
and Boys, and Commissioner Troy Carter, who moderated. The discussion drove home the need ith the 2024 NFL for more attention and resources draft being held for Black men and boys around virtually, football mental health. fans recently saw some selected Smith said mental illness startplayers celebrating their big day surrounded by large crowds of ed for him long before the NFL family and friends who marked came calling. the occasion and million-dollar “I had my first anxiety attack contracts with tears, shouts of when I was 8. Nobody in my comjoy, and robust hugs. Emotions munity – my mother, my father, ran high as the draft was the culnobody—really understood what that really meant. That carried me mination of years of practice and all the way to high school and into sacrifice paying off as the players Photo by Julian Myles/Unsplash the NFL,” said Smith, who admitfinally made it to the pros. What’s not shown is the pres- uncles who came to their games ton Commanders, joined panel- ted he contemplated suicide. Suicide is the third leading sure many players feel at carrying and paid for equipment when ists sharing their work and experiences with members of Congress cause of death among Black men their entire families, neighbor- their parents couldn’t. Sen. Laphonza Butler (D-Calif.) to help celebrate May as Mental ages 15-24. hoods, and, to some extent, the “The suicide rate for Black men broader community on their asked Marcus Smith II, a first- Health Awareness Month. “Mayday: Suicide and the and boys has increased 160% backs and shoulders. Many were round draft pick of the Philadelthe first in their families to go to phia Eagles in 2014, to discuss the Mental Health of Black Men and over the past three decades, and college and to have the oppor- toll that comes with success for Boys” was hosted by Florida Rep. young Black men are at the heart tunity to make a lot of money. many African American athletes. Frederica C. Wilson, chair of the of this. The younger generation They’re eager to buy their moth- The prompting came as Smith, Caucus on the Commission on (is) taking a gun and taking their ers’ houses and cars for the who now plays for the Washing- the Social Status of Black Men ■ See MENTAL HEALTH on page 5
charge, he said he was nonethe- dan also wondered how he was less convicted of it and another punished on aggravated chargcharge and sent to solitary for es based on a preponderance of 25 days. His unfinished artwork evidence. was deemed finished by prison MnDOC can punish the inguards and sent to his father. carcerated for breaking a rule, “I didn’t know these items but they must follow a process. would be misconstrued and According to MnDOC policy looked at as drugs and weap- 303.010, they must first issue a ons; otherwise, I would [have] “notice of violation.” Incarcerees gotten rid of these items,” said have a right to a hearing, and if Amani Fardan in an email. Far■ See DOC on page 5
Doors Open at Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder xperience the magic of Doors Open Minneapolis 2024 with the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder (MSR). Join us on May 18 and/or May 19, from 10 am to 5 pm, as we open our doors
to share our story with you. As one of over 100 amazing venues participating in this citywide event, we invite you to step inside and learn more about our ■ See DOORS OPEN on page 5