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THE VOICE OF BLACK MINNESOTA SINCE 1934
February 26 - March 4, 2026
Vol. 92
No. 30
Georgia Fort pleads not guilty to federal charges Supporters rally for press freedom
Phone: 612-827-4021 www.spokesman-recorder.com
A century later, effects of racial covenants persist By Damenica Ellis Staff Writer
acial covenants across Minnesota, first enacted in 1910, divided neighborhoods by race. The effects of systematic policies like these led to historically segregated neighborhoods and hostility toward Black residents who chose to live in white areas. Today, Black residents who move into these neighborhoods often say they are still treated as outsiders. One well-known story of white violence toward Black residents is that of Arthur and Edith Lee, who bought a house in the Field neighborhood of South Minneapolis. Four years before the Lees moved there in 1931, members of the Field Neighborhood Association had signed “contracts” to prevent non-white people from moving into the area, according to MNopedia. After harassment, vandalism and violence, the couple moved just four blocks away, but into another neighborhood formed by restrictive covSupporters of Georgia Fort rally outside the federal courthouse in St. Paul Feb. 17, urging prosecu- enants. Black newspapers reported many similar tors to drop felony charges. Fort pleaded not guilty earlier in the day. Jasmine McBride/MSR cases. “Moving in is now the easy part,” said one Black Federal prosecutors allege shaping our world’s reality, resident who requested anonymity. “But once By Jasmine McBride the group conspired to inter- with a portion of our society in the neighborhood, some Black residents are Editor fere with religious worship dur- living in delusion. So if you targeted through overpolicing and homeowners upporters of indepen- ing the Jan. 18 demonstration, stand, stand for truth … not association fees,” Minneapolis resident Kiarra dent journalist Georgia where protesters interrupted a just for all journalists, but for Zackery said, implying conditions have changed Fort gathered outside church service while criticizing anyone who is having their somewhat. the federal courthouse immigration enforcement ac- First Amendment violated.” Kirsten Delegard, co-founder, historian, and Fort, founder of BLCK Press director of the Mapping Prejudice Project, has in St. Paul Feb. 17 calling for fed- tions in Minnesota. Outside the courthouse, and co-founder of the Center researched racial covenants and their impacts in eral prosecutors to drop charges they say threaten press freedom. speakers framed the case as for Broadcast Journalism and South Minneapolis, where she was raised. Fort pleaded not guilty part of a broader pattern of its radio station Power 104.7 “I had grown up in Minneapolis and was taught earlier in the day to federal intimidation against journal- FM, has said she attended the a lot of stories about how this was such a profelony charges connected to ists. “The attack on the press church protest in her capacity gressive, liberal place and how it was on the cuta January protest inside Cit- did not start or end with my as a journalist to document ting edge of all these social policies,” she said. ies Church in St. Paul. She is arrest,” Fort told the crowd the demonstration. “This case It wasn’t until she returned after 20 years and doesn’t just leave me fighting began searching for an integrated school for her among nine people charged and assembled media. “We live in a time when for my freedom,” she said. in the case, including activists children that she discovered statistics about raAI images and AI videos are and another journalist. ■ See FORT on page 5 cial inequality in the city.
FIRST EDUCATOR
Edith Lee (l) with her daughter Mary Edyth Lee outside their vandalized home at 4600 Columbus Ave. on July 15, 1931. Minneapolis Tribune “I became really interested in trying to figure out how a place that prides itself on being so progressive and liberal ended up with some of the highest racial disparities in the country,” Delegard said. The Mapping Prejudice Project began in 2016, focusing on Hennepin and Ramsey Counties, and has since expanded across Minnesota. Delegard said she was shocked by the number of racial covenants she uncovered. “There comes a point in the 1920s when any new neighborhoods that are coming online are racially restricted,” she said. After this, the Twin ■ See SEGREGATION on page 5
Libraries’ commitment to Black Fifty years of Black progress and paradox and Brown voices questioned
ist. While data confirms areas The last 50 years Library officials say removals As an educator and civil are routine, but some cite conof advancement, it also cautions rights attorney, my work has fo- cerns amid national attacks on against premature victory. Charles Hamilton Houston cused on using a data-driven ap- diversity initiatives. (known as “The Man who Killed proach to assess how far the naJim Crow”) wisely stated: “Don’t tion has come and the work still By Jasmine McBride shout too soon” after winning required. In the past 50 years, Editor advancement, key legal battles that would technological eventually uproot segregation broader access to higher educahen Doug Bjosand repeal the doctrine of sepa- tion, and increased visibility of By Dr. Artika R. Tyner tad, a longtime rate but equal. Houston’s words Black leadership across sectors Columnist Hennepin Counare a reminder to complete the have reshaped opportunity in ty resident, nover the past half unfinished work required to meaningful ways. ticed recently published books At the same time, structural focused on Black history and century, Black com- achieve the inheritance of jusmunities in the tice, liberty and prosperity. ■ See FIRST on page 5 culture on giveaway carts at loUnited States have cal libraries, he felt alarmed. experienced gradual progress Beginning last fall, Bjostad impeded by persistent inequisaid he started seeing what he ties. Gains in educational atdescribed as an unusual numtainment, expanded economic ber of books on African Ameriopportunities, and increased can culture and history being access to health care serve as cycled out of circulation. While key milestones. Yet progress he is accustomed to spotting has never been a smooth ascent older, worn or outdated materiand never an easy climb toward als on withdrawal carts, he said justice and freedom. many of the titles appeared “a As Langston Hughes reminds little too new, a little too topical” us, “Life for me ain’t been no to be removed so quickly. crystal stair. It’s had tacks in it, Among them was “The Night And splinters. And boards torn Before Freedom: A Juneteenth up.” Progress is met by pivots, Story” (2023), a children’s book recalibration and setbacks. documenting the celebration America remains, as history of emancipation and African reminds us, a nation shaped by American heritage. contradiction and plagued by Fifty years after key civil rights victories, Black communities “It’s beautiful,” Bjostad said. historical amnesia. This para- in Minnesota and across the U.S. continue to face persistent “It was just published in 2023. dox reflects a reality in which inequities in wealth, education and justice, highlighting the Minnesota only recently officelebration and struggle coex- unfinished work of achieving true equality. cially adopted Juneteenth ob-
A copy of “The Night Before Freedom: A Juneteenth Story” (2023) retrieved from a Hennepin County Library withdrawal cart and later brought to the Spokesman-Recorder office Jasmine McBride/MSR servance. It’s still topical. I just he said. “I remember thinking, cannot imagine why they’re this doesn’t make sense.” getting rid of a book like this so In November, he encounquickly.” tered what he described as The copy he retrieved still a “slew” of 10 to 12 books bore a Hennepin County Li- from the “Black Americans brary withdrawal sticker inside of Achievement” series: biogthe dust jacket. raphies of historical figures Bjostad said he also picked including Rosa Parks, Conup “Lake Street Speaks,” a pic- gressman John Lewis, Harriet torial collection documenting Tubman, Frederick Douglass murals that emerged after the and author Richard Wright, 2020 uprising. He recalled even whose works “Native Son” and suggesting the book for pur- “Black Boy” were once staples in chase when it was first released. school curricula. “It’s only about five years old,” ■ See LIBRARIES on page 5