PRST STD U.S.POSTAGE PAID TWIN CITIES MN PERMIT NO. 6391
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Cynthia Johnson on page 9.
Counting down to our 90th Anniversary
June 20 -26, 2024
Vol. 90
Phone: 612-827-4021 www.spokesman-recorder.com
No. 47
MSR in the turbulent ‘60s and ‘70s
By Al Brown Assignment Editor
gained momentum. The Minne- The deaths of President John apolis Spokesman and St. Paul F. Kennedy, Medgar Evans, Recorder were at the forefront, Malcolm X, and Robert Kenhe Minneapolis Spokes- offering meticulous and impas- nedy left deep scars, and the man and the St. Paul Re- sioned coverage of the fight for newspapers provided thoughtcorder were instrumental racial equality. They covered the ful reflections and critical in chronicling the African Ameri- monumental strides and har- analyses on the implications of can experience during the tur- rowing setbacks, providing their these losses for the Black combulent 1960s and 1970s. These readers with relentless reports munity. The assassination of publications, established in 1934 on key legislation such as the Martin Luther King Jr. in 1968 by the visionary Cecil E. Newman, Civil Rights Acts of 1964 and was a particular focal point, as were deeply rooted in a tradition 1968 and the Voting Rights Act the papers captured the heartof comprehensive coverage of of 1965. These legislative victo- break and resolve of a commulocal, state, and national occur- ries were monumental, and the nity determined to continue his rences that impacted the lives of papers celebrated them while legacy. Civil unrest in major citBlack Americans. Over time, they simultaneously amplifying the ies such as Watts, Detroit, Chievolved to meet the growing de- voices of leaders and grassroots cago, Memphis, Atlanta, Newmands for news amidst the chang- activists who were tirelessly ad- ark, Washington, D.C., and the Twin Cities also marked an era ing social and political landscapes. vocating for change. During the 1960s, the United The publications also docu- of MSR coverage. One significant aspect of the States experienced a seismic shift mented the tragic assassinaas the Civil Rights Movement tions that rocked the nation. Spokesman’s and Recorder’s
Why are reparations for Black Americans so hard? By Marissa Braswell
Feeding Our Future fraud audit faults MN Dept. of Education
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Department officials defend their oversight
he topic of restitution for Black Americans is highly contested. Now that the conversation has entered the mainstream, what is the solution? Over time, the movement for reparations has persisted, grown louder, and pushed the argument forward, but critics insist these efforts lack real weight and don’t answer the most pressing question: Where’s the cash?
“I was frustrated by many who say we should just get over how our country [treated us],”
coverage was their reporting on the FBI’s war on Black Americans. Under J. Edgar Hoover, the FBI notoriously targeted civil rights leaders and groups. The Black Panther Party was branded as public enemy number one. Newman’s papers did not shy away from exposing these injustices, providing a platform to demystify the misconceptions and present the Panthers’ communityoriented initiatives. As the 1970s ushered in new challenges, the Spokesman and Recorder remained vigilant. The era saw heated debates over segregation, with busing becoming a flashpoint Publisher Cecil E. Newman sits at his desk, which his grandfor racial tensions in schools. daughter, Tracey Williams-Dillard still uses today. MSR Photo Archives ■ See MSR on page 5
ca l Capsule
Hometown legends Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis strike major deal with Arista Records
Submitted photo By Abdi Mohamed Associate Editor
Last Thursday, Minnesota’s Office of the Legislative Auditor (OLA) released its special report on the Minnesota Department of Education’s (MDE) oversight of the nonprofit Feeding Our Future (FOF) following a maFilmmaker Yoruba Richen jor investigation and trial that discovered this debate firsthand found individuals linked to the while making her documentary Saint Anthony-based organi“The Cost of Inheritance” in 2023. zation guilty of crimes includPart of the film investigates the ing bribery, wire fraud, and history of Georgetown Univer- money laundering. sity’s reparations. The U.S. Department of In 2014, the university admit- Justice indicted 70 individuals ted that it had sold 272 enslaved in relation to the nonprofit’s people in 1838. In response, the food distribution program. The university created The Reconcili- program was intended to feed ation Fund in collaboration with underserved children but desome of the descendants. How- frauded government resources ever, not all descendants are on of roughly $250 million, bethe same page due to the lack of coming the biggest pandemic cash payments. fraud case in the nation. “There is another group of The defendants in the finan■ See REPARATIONS on page 5 cial fraud case have allegedly
used the money to purchase vehicles, homes, a beach resort, and more. On June 7, a jury voted to convict five defendants in the first trial of the FOF fraud case. Two others were acquitted. Eighteen others have already pleaded guilty to the charges brought against them. To conduct the review, the OLA examined documents related to MDE’s oversight of the nonprofit, which spanned application records, meal claims, and monitoring activities. MDE and Feeding Our Future’s executive director, Aimee Bock, provided the OLA with documents that contributed to the audit. Bock has pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against her relating to the fraud. In the report, OLA evaluated MDE’s responses to past complaints it received about FOF and its sites. They reviewed the agency’s past com-
munications with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and law enforcement agencies and gathered information through interviews with MDE staff. OLA stated that MDE failed to follow up on several complaints against the nonprofit and allowed FOF to investigate itself on at least one occasion. The report identified multiple missed opportunities for the agency to deny applications for government funds to continue operating. In the past, MDE has received praise from federal prosecutors for drawing their attention to concerns with FOF’s handling of funds. The agency reported these suspicions to the U.S. Department of Agriculture in 2020 and the Federal Bureau of Investigation the next year. During a contentious hearing on the audit report, MDE Commissioner Willie L. Jett ■ See MDE on page 5
s we approach our 90th work with iconic artists like anniversary on August TLC, Janet Jackson, and Boyz 10, 2024, this week’s MSR His- II Men has left an indelible toric Time Capsule celebrates mark on the music industry, C a p s u l e the extraordinary H i s t o r i c a l showcasing the remarkable achievements of our hometown talent. On talent that has emerged from August 31, 2000, we proudly our community. As we comreported on legendary hitmak- memorate this milestone, we ers Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis honor their legacy and the signing a major joint venture many stories that have shaped with Arista Records. Their our history.
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MSR Photo Archives To read more about this historic event and others, visit our website www.spokesman-recorder.com
The enduring power of family reunions in Black history By Al Brown Assignment Editor
Shutterstock
legacy of slavery. The institution of slavery, by its very nature, sought to dismantle he aroma of barbecue families, tearing parents from smoke, the laughter of children, husbands from wives, children playing, the and siblings from each other. rhythmic sway of music, and The forced separation of famithe warmth of shared stories lies was a deliberate strategy are the hallmarks of a Black to break the spirit of enslaved family reunion, a vibrant tradi- Africans and strip them of their tion deeply rooted in history cultural heritage. Following the emancipation and resilience. For generations, these gatherings have served proclaimed by the Thirteenth as more than just celebrations Amendment, the yearning for of kinship; they are powerful reunification became a drivtestaments to the enduring ing force for many Black famispirit of the Black community, lies. Freed people embarked a testament to the endur- on journeys across the vast ing strength of family bonds expanse of the United States, forged in the crucible of ad- driven by the hope of finding long-lost loved ones. Letters versity. The significance of family were written, inquiries were reunions in Black culture can made, and reunions were eabe traced back to the horrific gerly anticipated, often cul-
minating in tearful embraces that had been decades in the making. These reunions, however, were not always successful. The scars of slavery ran deep, and many families were permanently shattered. Some individuals succumbed to the hardships of their journeys, while others simply could not be located. Despite the pain of loss, the family search continued, fueled by an unwavering determination to reconnect and rebuild the fractured bonds of kinship. The reunions that did occur were celebrations of survival and a testament to the enduring power of family. These gatherings served ■ See FAMILY REUNIONS on page 5