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Celebrating 90 years of Black journalistic excellence. September 5 - 11, 2024
Vol. 91
Inside this Edition... Read about ‘The Deliverance’ on page 7.
No. 6
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The 15th annual Back in the Day Nearly 70 years later, there’s more to Fest celebrated community spirit Emmett Till’s death By Stacy M. Brown
Sounds of Blackness founder Gary Hines receives a community award from Back in the Day on Aug. 31 at Phelps Park. By Al Brown Assignment Editor n a sun-drenched Saturday, August 31, the vibrant South Minneapolis neighborhood of Phelps Park transformed into a kaleidoscopic celebration of culture, community, and the enduring spirit of togetherness. The 15th Annual Southside Back in the Day festival drew attendees from all corners of the city and beyond, uniting families, friends and newcomers for a joyful day filled with festivity and nostalgia.
influenced by his desire to protect his sources and a shared goal of controlling how the public would receive the story. Huie’s financial motivations are laid bare in another letter from Whitten, dated November 22, 1955, in which the attorney thanked Huie for a gift—a fine Cavanaugh hat— and expressed confidence that the criminal case would not proceed further despite any additional publicity. “My wife was so complimentary of the hat…that I finally had to tell her something about where it came from,” Whitten wrote before adding, “Nevertheless, I think that we should not throw caution to the winds.”
ewly unearthed research notes and letters from William Bradford Huie, the journalist whose reporting on the 1955 lynching of Emmett Till helped shape the public’s understanding of the crime, reveal that Huie deliberately concealed vital details that could have implicated additional participants in the The Royal Red Hat Sabathanettes were honored at this year’s festival. Photos by Steve Floyd murder. These documents, recently released by the descendants of one of the lawyers inAs I mingled among the success and allure, making it tors alike. lively crowd, a sense of cama- a beloved summer staple in One of the day’s most volved in the case, suggest that heartfelt moments was the Huie prioritized his financial raderie enveloped the festival, Minneapolis. The festival ecosystem award ceremony, honoring interests and the protection of a feeling that transcended mere entertainment. This an- flourished with food trucks notable individuals for their his sources over the pursuit of contributions truth and justice. nual event, which began as a serving mouthwatering dish- extraordinary The cache of documents, small gathering in the back- es, local vendors showcasing to the Southside community. yard of its founders, retains unique crafts, and information The lineup of awardees reads now housed in the Florida that intimate atmosphere— booths educating attendees like a “Who’s Who” of local State University Digital Reposia reminder of that first day on various health, wellness, legends, including Grammy- tory, includes a 33-page set of and community issues. Fami- winning producer Gary Hines, Huie’s research notes and a when it all started. “It feels like a backyard gath- lies reveled in the lively atmo- who spoke profoundly about series of letters exchanged beering,” I overheard one festi- sphere while children played, the significance of community tween Huie and John Whitten, one of the defense attorneys val-goer say, perfectly captur- their laughter blending with recognition. “The great Billie Holiday said, for J.W. Milam and Roy Bryant, ing the essence of Southside’s the beat of DJ-spun music community spirit. This genuine filling the air. The half-court ‘God bless the child who’s got the two men acquitted of Till’s closeness is the secret sauce basketball tournament drew his own’—there’s nothing like murder. The content of these Beyond these troubling behind the festival’s sustained passionate players and specta- ■ See BACK IN THE DAY on page 5 letters and notes reveals a complex and troubling relation- collaborations, Huie’s notes ship between the journalist and reveal that he was aware of a the defense team, raising seri- “third man” involved in the kidous questions about the integ- napping of Emmett Till, identirity of Huie’s reporting. fied by Elizabeth Wright, Till’s Huie’s notes indicate that great-aunt, as Milam’s brotherhe was aware of other individ- in-law from Minter City, Meluals involved in the kidnapping vin Campbell. However, this Cooperative Fellowship has and murder of Emmett Till but information was not included graduated over 100 alumni to chose not to report this infor- in Huie’s published article, date as it enters its eighth comation. In a letter dated De- presenting a version of events hort this fall. cember 10, 1955, Huie con- that Huie himself doubted. “Often, you can turn on the The letters also highlight fessed his doubts about the news and feel demoralized story Milam and Bryant were Huie’s strategic manipulation by the state of the world, but of the narrative to ensure the telling him: with North Star, I get inspired “I began doubting myself… story’s maximum impact. In and moved every day because and one night I was on the a December 20, 1955, letter, I see what is possible. Every point of coming back to Mis- Huie boasted to Whitten about day, I am reminded of what sissippi and ‘pistol-whipping’ his ability to control the story, Black brilliance and genius Milam for telling me a fabric writing, “I dealt with a magagive [to this world]. I am really of lies.” Despite these doubts, zine with which I could exerinspired by everyone that has Huie went ahead with his ar- cise this control. You see, John, come through the cohorts.” ticle in Look magazine, present- I’m very old in this propaganda Nonkululeko Shongwe, A session at the Black Cooperative conference that took place ing Milam and Bryant’s version business. I know how to fight Photos courtesy of Nexus of events as the complete truth. smart…so smart that my ‘enwho also goes by Nkuli, as- this summer sumed facilitation of the felThe letters between Huie emies’ don’t realize just what lowship from Danielle after and Whitten also reveal the is being done to them at times.” the fourth year of the program. extent to which Huie was willHuie’s cynical approach exNkuli is now the director of ing to collaborate with the tended to his portrayal of Till, community wealth building at defense attorneys to craft a as revealed in the same letter, Nexus, one of several comnarrative that would serve where he explained that inmunity wealth-building initiatheir mutual interests. In a let- cluding a detail about Till havtives, including stewarding the ter dated November 16, 1955, ing a picture of a White girl in North Star Black Cooperative Huie assured Whitten that he his wallet would “pinpoint the Fellowship. was carefully considering the hypocrisy” of white liberals and For Nkuli, her facilitation of “most effective presentation” make them “very uncomfortthe program has, in many ways, of the story, stating, “We have able.” These remarks starkly turned her into a student of cobeen sort of marking time… contrast Huie’s public reputaoperation. “[The fellowship] is and in due time and with great tion as a journalist sympathetic ■ See NORTH STAR on page 5 The Twin Cities Impact Cooperative, North Star 23-24 graduates care, I’ll be in touch with you.” to the Civil Rights Movement. This close coordination sugHuie’s reporting had an ■ See EMMETT TILL on page 5 gests that Huie’s reporting was
North Star Black Cooperative Fellowship reimagines our world
The program is currently taking applications for the next seven-month cohort By Binta Kanteh Contributing Writer n 2017, a book club for “Collective Courage: A History of African American Cooperative Economic Thought and Practice” at Nexus Community Partners birthed the idea of the North Star Black Cooperative Fellowship. Jessica Gordon Nembhard’s publication moved Nexus’ staff Danielle Mkali and consultant LaDonna Sanders Redmond to launch a fellowship structure that would provide space for Black people to be immersed in reclaiming and reframing ownership and holistic wealth-building rooted cooperatively. The program challenges fellows’ understanding of capitalism and supports them in growing their cooperative ideas. Taking part of its title from both the nickname for Minnesota and recognition of the North Star as a guiding light for liberation for enslaved Africans, the North Star Black
The real state of Black America’s wallet By Dedrick Asante-Muhammad and Algernon Austin
Shutterstock
s the country moves rapidly toward our 2024 presidential election, Black Americans are experiencing the most positive economic conditions in generations. Record low unemployment rates, record low poverty rates, record high-income levels, and new heights of wealth paint a picture of prosperity. One could easily think that this data means Black people are experiencing broad prosperity. Yet, deeper investigation reveals that despite these record-breaking economic num-
bers, Black Americans are still mired in great economic insecurity. This ongoing economic challenge is reflected in their low opinion of the economy, widespread asset poverty, and ongoing Black/white economic inequality. The best Black economy in generations isn’t enough when near-never-ending inequality and insecurity loom on the horizon. As the nation goes through a historic election that could have long-term ramifications on its political direction, it is clear that for Black voters, economic concerns remain front and center, even as social FSU Digital Repository has new letters and documents sugissues dominate the headlines. gesting even more of a cover-up in the murder of Emmett Till ■ See BLACK WALLET on page 5 FSU Digital Repository