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THE VOICE OF BLACK MINNESOTA SINCE 1934

December 25 - 31, 2025

Vol. 92

No. 21

Phone: 612-827-4021 www.spokesman-recorder.com

Ron Edwards honored for Pardon opens new chapter lifelong civil rights work for reformed gang leader By Jasmine McBride Editor

streets of Chicago and culmi‑ nated in his national recogni‑ tion as a restorative justice ason Sole, once leader. “I’ve always believed you’re marked by multiple convictions and gang in control of your own nar‑ affiliations, has re‑ rative,” Sole said in a recent ceived a full pardon, closing interview. “Don’t let circum‑ a chapter that began in the stances define you.”

Sole’s early life was shaped by hardship. Growing up in Chicago, his father struggled with heroin while his mother fought to keep the family to‑ gether. By his mid-teens, Sole was deeply involved in gang activity. At 15, he rose to a ■ See JASON on page 5

■ See ICE on page 5

Ron Edwards was honored with a memorial plaque at Fire Station 1 on 299 S. 5th Ave. on Dec. 19. Photos courtesy of Clint Combs/MSR By Clint Combs Contributing Writer

neapolis Fire Department and advocate for racial equity in public safety. Edwards, who died of natu‑ Civil rights activ‑ ist and longtime ral causes in 2020 at age 81, Minnesota Spokes‑ moved to Minneapolis from man‑Recorder col‑ Kansas City in the 1940s and umnist Ron Edwards was became active in the Civil honored with a golden me‑ Rights Movement during the morial plaque at Fire Station 1960s. He served as presi‑ 1 on 299 S. 5th Ave on Dec. dent of the Minneapolis Ur‑ 19, recognizing his decades ban League in the 1970s and of work to diversify the Min‑ joined the steering committee

for a consent decree in 1972 that required the fire depart‑ ment to hire more firefighters of color. The impact of that activism is seen today in a department that remains more diverse than many across the coun‑ try: about 14-16% of Minne‑ apolis Fire Department fire‑ fighters are Black, compared with roughly 8% nationally, ■ See RON on page 5

Jason Sole, restorative justice leader and entrepreneur, was fully pardoned on December 18. Eric Mueller

Proposed Netflix-Warner deal alarms Black filmmakers By Lizzy Nyoike Contributing Writer s major media companies con‑ tinue to consoli‑ date, Black film students say they worry about whether there will be space for their voices in an indus‑ try increasingly controlled by fewer decision-makers. Reports and speculation surrounding a potential Netf‑ lix acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery have sparked con‑ cern across the entertainment industry, particularly among emerging Black filmmakers. For students studying film, consolidation raises questions not only about on-screen rep‑ resentation, but about access, opportunity and creative free‑ dom behind the scenes.

“All the money in the world that studios give, along with their restrictions, shouldn’t be worth sacrificing our creative and personal freedom.” “Accessibility is continu‑ ing to dwindle,” said Wanjiru Mbuthia, a filmmaker, actress and co-founder of Dreamy Mango Studios, a women-ofcolor-founded film collective. “Producing and directing my own projects has been much more beneficial and easier to do with my friends.” Mbuthia, a student at Northeastern Illinois Univer‑ sity, said consolidation limits access at every level of the in‑ dustry. She hopes her creative work can help expand oppor‑ tunities for independent film‑

She also expressed concern struggle to get support,” she Despite those concerns, makers, whose potential she Journalism, said consolidation concentrates decision-making Norris said Black filmmakers about how Black stories are said. believes is often overlooked. Still, both Mbuthia and “There are not a lot of spac‑ power and narrows opportu‑ are not lacking in preparation framed by mainstream studios. “Black film and TV are rarely Norris see possibility in com‑ or talent. es or theaters that show indie nities for diverse voices. “We’re honestly overpre‑ depicted outside of struggle,” munity-driven storytelling and “As you saw with the de‑ or short films,” she said. “I’d like my studio to help curate cline of NBC Black and layoffs pared at this point,” she said. Mbuthia said. “We don’t see digital platforms that allow enough stories of us just existing.” filmmakers to reach audiences those events and build the affecting Black employees “All we need is the platform.” That reality, she said, makes directly. She pointed to filmmakers at studios, there’s a push to spaces we hope for.” For Mbuthia, filmmaking is about more than entertain‑ ment. She said she wants to create media that feels ac‑ cessible, safe and inclusive for communities often excluded from mainstream storytelling. In a written statement, Mbuthia referenced com‑ ments made by producer and writer Issa Rae, who has spo‑ ken publicly about the difficul‑ ty of getting projects funded or promoted at the same level as sequels, reboots and bigbudget releases. “If it’s hard for her, and she’s been planting roots in this industry for Black creatives, then it will be even more dif‑ ficult for smaller organizations and collectives,” Mbuthia said. Rather than relying on ma‑ jor studios, Mbuthia said in‑ dependent film communities must continue building their own networks of support. “We have our own stories Black film students say industry consolidation, including a potential Netflix–Warner Bros. Discovery deal, could further limit we want to tell,” she said. “We access and creative freedom for emerging Black filmmakers. don’t have the backing of big studios, but we can still create As Hollywood reshapes together and share resources.” centralize power,” Norris said. such as Spike Lee and Will it difficult to trust that cor‑ Networking and self-pro‑ “When power sits with fewer Packer, both graduates of his‑ porate mergers will lead to itself, Black film students say the issue is no longer motion have become essential people, you narrow the scope torically Black colleges and meaningful change. “Representation on boards only about who gets hired or survival tools for independent of ideas and open-minded‑ universities, as examples of creators who built influential alone isn’t enough,” she said. funded, but who is allowed creators, she added, even as ness.” Norris hopes to work as a careers despite limited institu‑ “Someone has to take a chance to imagine freely. For emerg‑ access to consistent audienc‑ ing filmmakers, the future of on our stories.” local reporter or video jour‑ tional support. es remains limited. While founding a women- Black representation may de‑ For Mbuthia, the challenge “All the money in the world nalist after graduation, but that studios offer, along with said consolidation could have is further complicated by in‑ of-color-led film collective has pend less on corporate prom‑ their restrictions, shouldn’t be lasting effects on film and tersecting identities and sys‑ been empowering, Mbuthia ises and more on whether said funding and promotion space is made for stories that temic barriers. worth sacrificing creative and television. exist beyond stereotypes. “It’s already hard to get your remain major obstacles. “With Netflix becoming a personal freedom,” Mbuthia said. “It’s disheartening to see Morgan Norris, a video dominant distributor, a lot foot in the door as a filmmak‑ Lizzy Nyoike is a Hubbard and broadcast master’s de‑ of mediocrity could seep er,” she said. “When you add how much money is spent gree student at Northwestern through,” she said. “Valuable other parts of your identity, it on reboots and sequels while School of Journalism & Mass smaller, meaningful projects Communication student. University’s Medill School of stories risk being overlooked.” becomes even harder.”