WASHINGTON (NNPA) – Award-winning journalist George E. Curry,former editor-in-chief of the NNPANews Service, has been selected asAIDS coordinator for a new NNPA-Center for Disease Controlpartnership that targets thehorrendous HIV/AIDS rates amongAfrican Americans.

The program “Act Against AIDSLeadership Initiative,’’ wasannounced by the ObamaAdministration at the White Houselast week. It partners the CDC with14 civil rights organizations,including the NNPANews Service, asubsidiary of the NNPA Foundation.

As NNPA AIDS coordinator,Curry will write a series of 15HIV/AIDS-related articles that willbe distributed exclusively throughthe NNPA News Service. He willalso assist in the organization of anHIV/AIDS awareness event for theNNPA Summer Conference whichwill be held in Minneapolis, MNJune 24-27. The conference fallsduring National HIV Testing Week.

Because of his work onHIV/AIDS, Curry was the recipientof the Los Angeles-based BlackAIDS Institute’s ‘Drum Major’award last year at its annual “HeroesIn The Struggle” event. Over theyears he has attended and covered astring of International AIDSConferences for NNPA, including inMexico City, Toronto and Bangkok.

Each organization, including theNNPA Foundation, has received agrant of $100,000 from the CDC toadministratively support the project,which also includes the distributionof an NNPA op-ed series and pressreleases related to the initiative. Thegrants will be made available to theorganizations each year for the nextfive years.

“George is among the nation’smost authoritive, passionate andprolific writers on the topic ofHIV/AIDS from a Blackperspective,” said current NNPAEditor-in-Chief Hazel Trice Edney,who succeeded Curry two years ago.“We selected him because of his

years of journalistic dedication to thetopic. He always insisted that hisWashington and nationalcorrespondents write frequentarticles on HIV/AIDS. In fact, the25-part ‘All Star’ HIV/AIDS Op-edSeries that we distributed over thewire last year was actually the resultof George’s vision. We are excitedabout continuing that legacy.”

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7PAGE

The GreaterMinneapolis CrisisNursery

4PAGE

Ben Jealous:This moment reflectsan important windowin our history

6PAGE

American Violetfilm review

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Chillin’with Al Nolen Jr.

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Enjoyingthe great outdoors

Black Americans and the Jamestown Settlement

Minneapolis Urban LeagueBoard Chair Cathy Wassbergannounced last week that theMinneapolis Urban LeagueCEO Search Committee hasnarrowed its candidates down totwo, both of which will appearat a community event scheduledfor April 25th at the MUL'sNorth Minneapolisheadquarters.

Former President/CEOClarence Hightower left theMUL in the fall of last year.Since that time, the SearchCommittee of the Board hasdiligently searched for areplacement. Both candidates,Pamela Coaxum and Scott Gray,have been certified by theNational Urban League.

South Minneapolis native,Pamela Coaxum, is a graduateof the University of Minnesotaand the University of NorthCarolina. Most recently, sheserved as Local Office Directorof Enterprise CommunityPartners, Inc. in St. Louis, MO.Enterprise Community Partnersprovides financial and programsupport to public and privateorganizations that developaffordable housing and deliverworkforce and communitydevelopment programs in ahighly technology drivenenvironment. Previously, Pamwas Chief Operating Officer ofthe Metropolitan St. LouisYWCA.

Scott Gray is a native ofinner city Milwaukee. He has

completed degrees from theUniversity of SouthernMississippi and GoddardCollege. Scott is currently thePresident/CEO of the UrbanLeague of Greater Madison,WI. In this capacity heoversees multiple programs inthe areas of education, careerdevelopment, housing,economic development andworkforce development. Priorto joining the League, he wasAssociate Regional Director forHabitat for HumanityInternational in Chicago, IL.

Both candidates willparticipate in final interviewsand a community forum onSaturday, April 25 at theMinneapolis Urban Leagueheadquarters at 1:00 PM CST.The community is encouragedto attend and learn more aboutour finalist. The MUL Board ofDirectors will be solicitingcommunity input as they maketheir final selection. InsightNews President/Editor-in-ChiefAl McFarlane will host theevent.

An announcement of thenew President/CEO is expectedbefore May 1, 2009.

For more information aboutthe Minneapolis Urban League,visit www.mul.org or call (612)302-3100. The MinneapolisUrban League is headquarteredat the Glover-Sudduth Center,2100 Plymouth Avenue North,Minneapolis, MN 55411.

George Curry to lead NNPAHIV/AIDS awareness initiative

MinneapolisUrban Leagueidentifies finalists for CEO vacancy

The setting for a back-story to theUnited States of America is theJamestown Settlement in 1607. Atiny group of adventurers whocame in the name of the BritishCrown were primarily in quest ofthe wealth to be found in “The NewWorld.” The records that have beenhanded down to us tell us that a fewhundred suffering souls fromEngland survived a devastatingfirst year before reinforcementscame to strengthen this settlementwith fresh bodies and necessities offood stuffs and other materialgoods.

The land to which theserepresentatives of a rising Europecame had been explored and settledover many centuries by a variety ofindigenous peoples. Among themwere a people who calledthemselves Powhattans, the namefor their nation. This name camefrom their founding chiefPowhattan. The Powhattansbelonged to a much larger groupwho were linguistically akin. Thesewere Alquankin speakers whoinhabited long stretches of landalong the east coast of whatbecame the United States. ThePowhattan people are the people towhom the legendary Pocahontasbelonged. The popular historicalmyth says that Pocahontas was

DNC radio ad calls for Norm Coleman to concede Senate race to Al Franken

3JAMESTOWN TURN TO

By Mahmoud El-Kati

George Curry

Courtesy of Pablo Davis,Virginia Foundation for the Humanities,www.virginiavignettes.org

WASHINGTON, DC— Lastweek the Democratic NationalCommittee (DNC) announced itwill begin running a radio ad inMinneapolis/St. Paul calling onNorm Coleman to concede theMinnesota Senate race toDemocrat Al Franken. The adwill run on news talk radiostations in the Twin Cities andcomes one day after a threejudge panel decisively andoverwhelmingly declaredFranken the winner of thecontested race and said he wasentitled to an election certificate.

Despite what analysts andmany have called a hopelesscause, Coleman is vowing tocontinue his appeals and legalchallenges and cause furtherdelay in seating Franken.

“Enough is enough,” saidDNC Chairman Tim Kaine. “AlFranken won the election, therecount and now the legalchallenge where his leadactually grew. Minnesotadeserves two Senators and thepeople of America deserve 100in the U.S. Senate. Moreimportantly, the voters who castballots on Election Day deserveto have their verdict stand. Sen.Coleman should not put hispolitical ambition ahead of thewill of the people. It’s time forNorm Coleman to concede andfor Al Franken to be sworn in asthe next U.S. Senator fromMinnesota. If Mr. Colemanwon’t concede, state officialsshould issue an electioncertificate to Al Franken, as the

three judge panel said he isentitled to, so he can be sworn inimmediately.”

To listen to the ad, go to:http://www.democrats.org/page/-

/audio/DNC_MN_Radio_Ad_04_15_09.mp3

Al Franken (L) and Norm Coleman

Page 2 • April 20 - April 26, 2009 • Insight News http://insightnews.com

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After more than three months ofdiscussion, research and testing,Metropolitan Council ChairmanPeter Bell and Minnesota PublicRadio President Bill Klingannounced today that the MetCouncil and MPR have entered intoan agreement to mitigate the impactof light rail transit (LRT) on theMPR Broadcast Center on CedarStreet.

“This is a good agreement,”Bell and Kling noted. “It protectsthe integrity of the MPR BroadcastCenter – a tremendous asset to ourcity, our community and our state –and moves the Central Corridorlight rail project forward – a project

that will be an economic andenvironmental boon for all of us. Itwasn’t an easy agreement – bothsides had serious, legitimateproblems and concerns to beaddressed. And it isn’t a perfectagreement – everyone had to ‘give’on items of great importance toreach this compromise. But it is areasonable agreement, one thatcreates a framework for today andfor the future.”

“This agreement is the productof months of painstaking work byconsultants and staff of both theproject and MPR,” Bell said. “Itwill protect the world-classbroadcast facilities of MPR while

keeping this vital transitimprovement project on scheduleand within budget. The CentralCorridor LRT line is a vital elementin the Council’s vision to expandour transit system, grow ridershipand improve mobility for everyone.It also will provide improvedaccess to employment, educationaland economic opportunities alongthe corridor and beyond.”

“I’m pleased that we’vereached an agreement that allowslight rail to go forward and thatlargely protects our uniquebroadcast facility from the noiseand vibration of the trains,” saidKling. “The Met Council took our

concerns seriously and workedwith us to craft a plan that willaddress the most significantimpacts of the LRT line running soclose to our studios.”

As part of the agreement, MPRwill seek other sources of fundingfor window reglazing to mitigateLRT noise impacts on criticallistening spaces within its broadcastcenter, an effort supported by boththe Met Council and the City of St.Paul.

The 11-mile, $914 million LRTline will run on University andWashington Avenues fromdowntown St. Paul to downtownMinneapolis, connecting with the

existing Hiawatha line andterminating at a new intermodalstation near the new Twinsballpark. That station also willserve the new Northstar commuterrail line, which is scheduled forcompletion this fall.

Under the mitigation plan, theCentral Corridor project will:

• Install a 700-foot-long floatingslab or its performance equivalentfor the full length of the MPRbuilding and two nearby historicchurches to mitigate vibration andground-borne noise from the train.

• Move a planned crossoverswitch from a location near MPR toa new location north of I-94,removing another source of LRT-generated vibration.

• Work with MPR to design,install and pay for modifications tothree MPR studios to achieve“acoustical isolation” from LRT-generated noise.

• Maintain LRT vibration levelsbelow specific thresholds within 32recording and broadcast studios inthe MPR Broadcast Center.

involved with Captain John Smithand John Rolf. The settlers calledthe land of these indigenous peopleJamestown after the name of theirking, King James. Later, theseEuropean settlers from thekingdom Island of England gaineda greater toe hold, acquired moreof the native peoples land whileexpanding it into an Englishcolony, and named it in honor oftheir longest reigning monarch,Queen Elizabeth, or “the VirginQueen.” The name of the colonycalled Virginia is a corruption ofthe word virgin.

Within the blink of an eye,twenty Negár (Negro) peopleentered Jamestown in 1619. Thiscan be said to be the beginning ofthe history of African Americans inwhat would become the UnitedStates of America. Robert Tuckerwould be born in 1824; he was thefirst Black native of the land. Theycame on a Dutch Man O’War, andwere exchanged for food from theJamestown settlers. These werenot the first Africans to come to“The New World.” Peoples fromthe West coast of Africa had comewith the earliest voyages of theexplorations by the Conquistadorsof Spain and Portugal. There wereAfricans with the major voyagesfrom Columbus to Cortez, Pizarro,Coronado, and many more.

With the Spanish, these earlyAfricans helped to build the firstnon-native American town/city onAmerican soil, which was St.Augustine (Florida) in 1565. It isworth noting, that the 20 Africans(17 men and three women) whoentered Jamestown did not comedirectly from the African continent,

being captured off of a Spanishship by the Dutch. They hadSpanish names such as Alonzo andIsabella. Since the 1440s, there hadbeen a lively trading relationship(which also included slavery)between West Africans and theIberian peoples (Spanish andPortuguese) long before Columbusappeared on the pages of history in1492. Many Africans lived in thecapital cities of Lisbon andMadrid, before “the discovery ofThe New World.” One can seetraces of this ancestry in theseplaces today.

It is critical to also note thatthese original Africans who were,by accident, brought in to thisEnglish speaking community, werenot hereditary slaves, butindentured servants. The Englishsystem of labor exploitation andsubjugation to indentureship meantthat a person was obligated to workfor a term of years depending onthe contract. Thus, most of theearly settlers of Jamestown wereindentured servants, not enslaved,as the Irish were by the British inEurope at that time. Theindentureship of the earliest Blackpeople is evidenced by the lives ofVenture Smith and AnthonyJohnson, two Africans who mettheir obligations to indenturedservitude and both later becameprosperous land owners,employing indentured servants oftheir own, earlier in the 1600s.

The legalization of Blackpeople into lifetime enslavementdid not occur until the later half ofthe 1600s. The enslavement ofpeople on the basis of skin colorwas a gradual and uncertainevolution until 1661, when thelegislative body of the colony ofVirginia introduced moredefinitive racial slave codes.Finding a cheap source of slave

labor for these early agriculturalcapitalists was paramount. The fateof Black people was finallyreached on: who shall be a slavefor life when it was decreed by lawthat each offspring of a Blackmother shall be a slave for life.

Thus, the great adventure ofventure-capitalism in Americabegins with the mass wealth thatwas created from the superexploitation of Black labor. Whatfollowed was unprecedented inhuman history. We must neverforget that labor is the source of allwealth. The wealth which camefrom the cash crops (tobacco,sugar, rice, and “king cotton”) thatwas powered by slave laborchanged the economic history ofthe whole world. The wealth whichcame from Black cultivation andharvesting, and the distribution ofcash crops for world markets,made the American South the fifthrichest economy in the world priorto the Civil War (1861-1865), andaccounted for more than half of thegross national product of allAmerica.

What we know as “GlobalMarkets” began with the AtlanticSlave Trade, the largest “business”on the world stage for almost twocenturies. The foundation of socialwealth of the American Republicwas from the sweat and muscle ofthe unrequited labor of Africanpeople. Only beast of burden couldbe compared to Black labor.Unrequited labor (unpaid) is whatPresident Abraham Lincoln wasreferring to during his secondinauguration speech after the CivilWar. In a word, it was AbrahamLincoln who helped to plant theseed for the discussion ofreparation (compensation), whichis still going on somewhere inAmerica at this very moment.

JamestownFrom 1

http://insightnews.com Insight News • April 20 - April 26, 2009 • Page 3

MPR, Met Council reach accord on LRT mitigation

9LRT TURN TO

COMMENTARY

It’s plain that our nation’s healthinsurance system is broken: 46million people in America lackhealth coverage—nine million ofthem children—and the number ofuninsured is growing during thecurrent recession.

Since 2001, the cost of familycoverage from an employer hasclimbed by almost 80 percent,while workers’ earnings have risenonly 24 percent. And the number

of businesses offering employeeshealth coverage is declining. Atthe same time, the private healthinsurance industry has made hugeprofits, and several insurancefirms have provided their topexecutives annual compensationpackages exceeding $20 million.

Our health insurance systemenables a few to get rich frominsurance profits while millions ofuninsured families can’t afford toprovide their children regularvisits to the doctor or dentist. Thisis unjust and costly.

Our health care system iscrying out for reform, and ourfamilies and children are cryingout for help. Reform must includea public health insurance planoption that competes with privateinsurers to extend comprehensivebenefits through first-rate healthcare providers at an affordable

price. Without this public planchoice, the health of our childrenwill continue to be held hostage toprofit-driven insurancecompanies.

A public health insurance planoption would encouragecompetition on the basis of costand quality, not by avoiding thesick and denying care, as is thecurrent practice. The plan will alsokeep costs down by negotiatingbulk discounts from providers anddrug companies through poolingon the model of the Veteran’sAdministration. A public healthinsurance plan option could beavailable nationwide to peoplewho want it and deliver servicesthrough private health providers asMedicare does. Those satisfiedwith their current insurance couldkeep it.

America’s health care system

failure places struggling workingfamilies under great financialstrain, which is worsened duringthe recession. Some insuredfamilies spend more on health carethan on housing or food.

People who lose their jobs arelikely to lose their health coverage,despite the subsidy in PresidentObama’s economic recovery billallowing newly unemployedpeople to buy health coveragethrough their former employer.The high costs of treating seriousillnesses are a major contributor tobankruptcy. One study saysmedical problems were a reasonfor nearly half of all homeforeclosures.

Insurance companies have notprovided solutions to these hugeproblems and often cause them.For many insurers, maximizingprofits is paramount and providing

quality health coverage secondary.With little oversight or regulation,they control who gets coverage,what medical procedures they’llpay for, and the prices forcoverage. Insurance companiesroutinely deny coverage to peoplewith pre-existing medicalconditions or those they think willbecome ill in the future.

A reason that insurers havebeen able to continue thesepractices is that a few companiescontrol large portions of themarket in some states. AnAmerican Medical Associationsurvey reveals that one privateinsurance company controls morethan half the insurance market in16 states and a third of the marketin 38 states. With limitedcompetition, many of thesepowerful companies can ignorepleas to provide patient-focused

health care. Insurance companiesin the small group market spendon average 25 to 27 percent ofpremium receipts onadministrative costs—or profit—compared to the public Medicareprogram’s administrative costs inthe range of three percent.

Learn more about CDF’sHealth Coverage for All ChildrenCampaign atwww.childrensdefense.org/healthychild.

Marian Wright Edelman, whoselatest book is The Sea Is So WideAnd My Boat Is So Small:Charting a Course for the NextGeneration, is president of theChildren’s Defense Fund. Formore information about theChildren’s Defense Fund, go towww.childrensdefense.org.

America’s health care system crying out for reform

This moment reflects an important window in our history

Page 4 • April 20 - April 26, 2009 • Insight News http://insightnews.com

Children’sDefense Fund

By Marian WrightEdelman

The struggle to end the lock‘em up and throw away the keypolicies that resulted in the U.S.jailing more of its citizens thanany other industrialized countryhas just won a significantvictory.

For more than 35 years,families in New York have beenplagued by the notoriousRockefeller Drug Laws. Thepolicy which included longmandatory prison sentences forfirst time non violent drugoffenders resulted in major druglords often going free while thenon violent first offenders weregiven harsh sentences. The rulewas particularly harsh forAfrican Americans and women.

In New York by 1990, 61.2percent of all female prisonerswere committed for a drug

offense, compared to 32.2percent of men. Mothers, whoneeded drug treatment, werethrown in jail for sentences aslong as 20 years, torn from theirfamilies leaving children tofend for themselves in the fostercare system.

African Americans andLatinos constituted 94.2 percentof the total population of drugfelons in New York, whiteswere 5.3 percent. After decadesof protest by civil rights andcivil liberties groups andimpacted communities, the lawhas ended with its repeal byNew York State officials.

It’s expected to save NewYork over a quarter billiondollars a year, but moreimportantly it will usher in anera of smarter crime polices.The new approach will sendmost non violent drug offendersto drug courts where they haveaccess to treatment andimplement a new law creating adrug “kingpin’’ offense for“organized drug traffickers whoprofit from and prey on drugusers’’ and new crimes foradults who sell drugs tochildren. It rights the backwardimpact of the previous law, that

seemed to target the victimswith prison and let the “badguys” go free.

Now instead of unemployedteenagers, or girlfriendscoerced by their boyfriends intocarrying a package of drugs, themajor drug dealers will get theprison sentences and the drugaddicts will get the treatment.

New York Governor DavidPaterson should be applaudedfor his unwavering andlongtime support for endingthese cruel drug laws.

Immediately prior to therepeal, he cited the example ofa female drug addict who wasarrested 60 times over 25 years.After being successfully treatedfor her addiction, she became adrug counselor. It shows thewisdom of the new policy.

There is a perfect storm forchange – a confluence of statefiscal crises and the steadydrumbeat of voices for prisonreform. States like California,with dangerously overcrowdedprisons, are adopting smartersentencing policies similar toNew York.

Some states are lettingprisoners go early in order tosave money. We are at a rare

moment when voicesadvocating an end to massincarceration; urging alternativesentencing and ending thepractice of using prisons to lockup the mentally ill and theaddicted are resonating.

This moment reflects animportant window in ourhistory. It is the time to dreambig. The economic and politicalshifts in our country open the

door to advance policies that wethought would take decades towin. Overturning the draconiandrug laws in New York was oneof many battles predicted totake at least five more years towin, but the political shifts -reflected in the election ofPresident Obama - and theunprecedented fiscal crisesbrings us a unique opportunityfor change.

Like all battles before it, wehave to keep moving forwarduntil we achieve thecomprehensive change ourcountry needs. Now is the time.

Benjamin Todd Jealous ispresident and CEO of theNAACP.

In the last few months I have noticed a great dealof intolerance on issues of race by Twin Citians.The Twin Cities is 25-30% of color. Yet so manythings about the cities are so politically incorrect.People of European descent are always trying topaint themselves as so liberal, yet they are reallyare hiding their intolerance and racism. It is easyto talk liberal. It is different to live it.

A Black president is challenging manypeople’s assumptions about their comfort levelswith race. It is one thing to talk about liberalismover lattes with other white liberals. It is quiteanother thing to live out what you claim to believe.

President Obama has been getting a bit of

intolerance himself. So many people ask why hehas not solved the global economic crisis already.The man has only been in office less than threemonths. This is a mess that took decades toproduce. Yet, George Bush was brilliant. If hewas so brilliant why didn’t he figure out the globalcrisis before he left office. He had at least fivemonths to get it done.

Whether liberal or conservatives, it isimportant to give all people equal consideration.

Ken LawrenceMinneapolis, MN

Letter to the editor:

Intolerance abound

NNPA SpecialCommentary

By Ben Jealous

Reports of mortgage foreclosurescams are on the rise. Foreclosurescam artists are using a variety ofmeans to reach out to potential

victims, including the Internet,phone calls, direct mail, and door-to-door solicitations. For familieswho are struggling to remain in

their homes, it's vital to knowwhat to watch for and where toturn for help. Fortunately,legitimate housing counselors andother resources are available at noor low cost to assist homeownerswho have fallen behind on theirmortgage payments. The FederalReserve Board has compiled thefollowing list of tips to helpprotect homeowners from costlyforeclosure scams.

Work only with a nonprofit,HUD-approved housingcounselor. For a list of certifiedcounselors, visithttp://www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/hcc/hcs.cfm or call 877-HUD-1515 (877-483-1515). If the nameof the organization you areworking with isn't on the list, thenswitch to one that is. • Don't pay an arm and a leg.Most housing counselors provideno- or low-cost counselingservices. You should not have to

pay hundreds or thousands ofdollars for assistance. • Be wary of "guarantees." Noone can ensure you good results. • Know what you are signing.Don't let a counselor pressure youinto signing paperwork youhaven't had a chance to readthoroughly or don't understand. • If it sounds too good to betrue, it probably is. • If you feel you are a victim offoreclosure fraud, trust yourinstincts and ask for help. Reportsuspicious schemes to your stateand local consumer protectionagencies, which you can find onthe Consumer Action Website athttp://www.consumeraction.gov/.

Additional information aboutavoiding foreclosure scams maybe found on the Federal ReserveBoard's website athttp://federalreserve.gov/pubs/foreclosurescamtips/default.htm.

What do you want to accomplish?Are you looking for a job? Hopingfor a promotion? Saving to buy a

house? Losing weight? Running amarathon? Your success will becommensurate with your level ofaccountability to… you guessedit… yourself. You personallycontrol your achievements far morethan anyone around you. If you candevelop a compelling scoreboard, atracking system you will use andupdate daily, then your goals willhave a way of reaching themselves.

Coaching a basketball playoffgame without a scoreboard is achallenge. The crowd who caresabout the outcome wants to knowwho is ahead. Knowing the score

also lets the players know whenthey can ease up, and when theyhave to play their A-game. Giveyourself an advantage by keeping,and keeping an eye on, the score ofyour playoff games.

First, name your game. Look ateverything you want to do in life,and choose one major, important,realistic focus. Let’s say, forexample, your game is called, “finda job.” Then, establish a finish line.How will you know you’ve won?Your final whistle might be the dayyou start your new position.

Some plays move a game

forward, and others result in athree-pointer or a grand slam. Bothmatter. Your lead off plays will bethose activities that you set intomotion. Applying for jobs is a leadoff play. You control the number ofapplications you send out, knowingthat the more you send, the morelikely you are to get interviews.

Interviews, then, lag behind.The lead action influences theresults which drive the score. Ifyou don’t get the ball to the rightend of the court, you can’t shootand score. The more lead actionyou have, the more lag action will

follow. More applications, moreinterviews, more likely you’ll winthe game.

Keep your scoreboard simple.Write down the name of yourgame, decide how many leadactions you’re going to take, andname them. Pay attention to thecompetition: those situations thatdistract you from your goal. Makea habit of charting your lead playsand you should be able to watch thelag measures relatively increase. Ifyou can’t seem to win the game,increase your lead activities. Thatshould improve the score in your

favor.Not every milestone is

equivalent to a playoff game.Casual objectives are more likepickup games: buy milk on the wayhome, mow the lawn Saturday, seethat new movie the day it comesout. You don’t need a scoreboardbecause achieving these goals, ornot, has no real consequence. Butlife’s bigger achievements aremuch more than a pickup game.Create a rhythm of accountabilityto yourself and you will have betterluck reaching your goals.

BUSINESSDeveloping a compelling scoreboard will help keep track of goals

http://insightnews.com Insight News • April 20 - April 26, 2009 • Page 5

INSIGHT NEWS

www.insightnews.com

Insight News is publishedweekly, every Monday byMcFarlane Media Interests.

Editor-In-ChiefAl McFarlane

CFOAdrianne Hamilton-Butler

PublisherBatala-Ra McFarlane

Associate Editor &Associate PublisherB.P. Ford

Vice President of Sales & MarketingSelene White

Director of Content &ProductionPatricia Weaver

Sr. Content & ProductionCoordinatorElliot Stewart-Franzen

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ReceptionistLue B. Lampley

Contributing WritersBrenda ColstonJulie DesmondMarcia HumphreyMehgaan JonesAlaina L. LewisRashida McKenzieRyan T. Scott

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Contact Us:Insight News, Inc.Marcus Garvey House1815 Bryant Ave. N.Mpls., MN 55411Ph.: (612) 588-1313Fax: (612) 588-2031Member: MinnesotaMulticultural MediaConsortium (MMMC)Midwest Black PublishersCoalition, Inc. (MBPCI)National NewspaperPublishers Association(NNPA)

Postmaster: Send addresschanges to McFarlaneMedia Interests, MarcusGarvey House 1815 BryantAvenue North, Minneapolis,Minnesota, 55411.

By Julie Desmondjulie@insightnews.com

Planyour

career

Federal Reserve offers tips for avoiding foreclosure scams

It’s always nice to be considered thebest in the business — and evenbetter when the judges are membersof the public we serve. SocialSecurity is proud that the Americanpublic has put our online services atthe top of the list again.

In the most recent survey of e-Government services by theAmerican Customer SatisfactionIndex, Social Security’s onlineservices earned the highest overallscore of 79 percent satisfaction.(The average score for the Federalgovernment was 75.)

In particular, our RetirementEstimator scored 89, the top score inthe federal government. TheRetirement Estimator providesimmediate retirement benefitestimates based on your ownearnings record to help you plan foryour retirement. The onlineRetirement Estimator is a convenientfinancial planning tool, since iteliminates the need to manually keyin years of earnings information.The estimator also will let you create“what if” scenarios. For example,change your “stop work” dates orexpected future earnings to createand compare different retirementoptions. Check it out atwww.socialsecurity.gov/estimator.Also earning high marks from thepublic were our online RetirementApplication and Medicare ExtraHelp Application, with each scoring87.

In a separate survey, Nextgov, awebsite devoted to technology andthe federal government, listedwww.socialsecurity.gov as one of thetop five federal websites in its reviewof best online practices.

It is important to note that theusefulness of our website isenhanced because much of the onlineinformation is available in Spanish,as well as 14 other languages. Manydocuments are also accessible topeople who use screen readers,screen magnifiers and voicerecognition software.

To learn more, see the recentpress release about Social Securityand the American CustomerSatisfaction Index atwww.socialsecurity.gov/pressoffice/pr/onlineservices-accolades-pr.htm.Try out the best online services ingovernment for yourself at SocialSecurity’s website,www.socialsecurity.gov.

SocialSecurity’sonlineservices best ingovernmentBy Rhonda Whitenackand Jim Czechowicz Social Security PublicAffairs office in Minneapolis

On November 2, 2000, drugenforcement agents executed asweep of the Black communityin the tiny town of Hearne, TX,arresting 27 African Americanresidents, including a grievingfather who was taken intocustody during the funeral ofhis young daughter. The benchwarrants had been issued by thecounty on the word of aninformant who claimed to havepurchased crack from each ofthe accused, despite the factthat the ex-con was the soleeyewitness, had a history ofmental illness, and was himselffacing criminal charges at thetime.

Nonetheless, The DistrictAttorney aggressively pursuedconvictions in all of the cases,generally succeeding since mostof the defendants couldn’tafford to make bail, let alonehire a lawyer. What generallytranspired was that afterlanguishing in jail for severalmonths while awaiting trial,many succumbed to thepressure of their court-appointed public defender toplead guilty to a lesser charge inreturn for leniency, rather than

face the possibility of a lengthyprison sentence.

In actuality, theseunfortunate folks from theprojects had all simply beenvictimized by a state-sanctionedscheme to incarcerate innocentAfrican Americans. Ultimately,the ACLU would clear theirnames with the help of one ofthe defendants, an intrepidwoman willing to risk furtherincurring the wrath of the localauthorities by testifying againstthem in a lawsuit proving acolor-coded pattern ofmalicious prosecution.

The intimate details of herlengthy ordeal, set against thebackdrop of that landmark case,is the subject of AmericanViolet, a gripping dramatizationof the events surrounding thesad tragedy which ruined manyfamilies in Hearne. Directed byTim Disney (Blessed Art Thou),great-nephew of the legendaryWalt Disney, the movie starsnewcomer Nicole Beharie asDee Roberts, a 24 year-oldsingle-mother with fourdaughters whose life comesapart at the seams when shefinds herself suddenly ensnaredin a dragnet designed to rid thetown of Black people entirely.

We see that before beingframed for a crime she didn’tcommit, Dee had been gettingalong if not exactly flourishing,caring for her girls while tryingto save enough money fromwaitressing to studycosmetology someday. Butafterwards, she’s soon withoutthe financial resources or the

emotional support needed tohandle the situation.

In matter-of-fact fashion,this brilliant bio-pic effectivelyillustrates the likely falloutvisited upon a law-abiding butunsophisticated person like Deeup against an impersonal legaljustice system unconcernedwith the truth. For when she isfalsely accused of distributingnarcotics and held on $70,000bail, the ripple effect of theensuing nightmare means thatshe stands to lose her dignity,her job, her savings and custodyof her children in fast order.

Besides the powerfulperformance of Beharie, aJuilliard grad, American Violetfeatures a smorgasbord ofequally-engaging efforts on thepart of a talented supportingcast topped by such veteranthespians as Alfre Woodard,Charles S. Dutton, Will Patton,Tim Blake Nelson, Xzibit andMichael O’Keefe. A moviewhich earns high marks simplyfor being the first feature film

with the guts to tackle thesubject of racial profiling insuch an honest fashion,especially given the similarallegations leveled at theneighboring town of Tenahajust last month.

Fair warning: Do yourselfand family a favor and steerclear of that racist oasis if youhappen to be Black and passingthrough Texas.

Excellent (4 stars)Rated PG-13 for profanity,ethnic slurs, violence, drugreferences and mature themes. Running time: 102 minutesStudio: Samuel Goldwyn Films

To see a trailer for AmericanViolet, visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qv8Jq09qU1Q

To see a news report aboutTenaha, Texas, see:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-I80hda3IRI

AESTHETICSFilm ReviewAmerican Violet examines famous Texas case

http://filmgordon.files.wordpress.com

Page 6 • April 20 - April 26, 2009 • Insight News http://insightnews.com

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Film Review

By Kam Williams, Columnistkam@insightnews.com

Tucked away in a quiet corner inGolden Valley, MN is a safe havenand beacon of hope for many. TheGreater Minneapolis CrisisNursery is the only residentialnursery in Minnesota and one ofonly 20 in the country. The nurseryhas assisted families for 26 years inHennepin County. It has built agreat reputation, which has allowedfor the nursery to build trustingrelationships. “Reputations can belost in a day, but they are earnedover years,” explained JoelBergstom, who is the Developmentand Communications Director ofGMNC. The nursery has developedstrong roots within the communityit serves. GMNC also has a long-standing relationship with UnitedWay.

The Nursery has severalprograms which include a 24-hourcrisis hotline, crisis counseling, 72-hour residential care, medical careto children, referrals, home visitsand parenting classes. Althoughchildcare is an important aspect ofGMNC, the nursery can onlyprovide shelter for so manychildren at a time. The initial phonecall to the hotline allows for thefamily advocates to provide crisisintervention and connect parentswith the resources that they need.“The family advocates take thetime to let families know that theirissues are important even if wecannot provide their children withshelter,” said Molly Kenney,GMNC Family Services Director.

The families who use thenursery’s services are usuallyisolated, low income and in need ofassistance. These families areexperiencing a tremendous amountof stress in this time of economichardships. Kenney explained thatas a result of the economy theissues are greater than before andthe resources are less.

Many families who are in needof assistance are extremely brave.“A lot of the families who reach outto us are eligible for services thatare out there. They either don’tknow how to get them or areuncertain,” said Mary Pat Lee,Executive Director of the nursery.They understand their need forhelp, and they have a tremendousamount of strength for reachingout. “The parents who pick up thatphone and ask for help are verystrong. We want to make sure that

their children are well taken care ofbecause they trust us,” saidBergstrom.

The mission of the nursery is toend child abuse and neglect. Thestaff and volunteers at GMNCdisplay an amazing amount ofdedication to reaching this mission.They believe in the families theywork with and pride themselves onmaking a difference.

April is Child Abuse AwarenessMonth. Lee explained theimportance as a community to takethis opportunity in April to assurethe safety of children and tounderstand that extra steps need to

be taken to help end child abuseand neglect.

For further information,contact the Greater MinneapolisCrisis Nursery at (763) 591-0400or www.crisinursery.org.

Greater Minneapolis Crisis Nursery offers hope to families in needBy Mehgaan Jones

http://insightnews.com Insight News • April 20 - April 26, 2009 • Page 7

Photos: Suluki FardanThe mission of the nursery is to end child abuse and neglect.

GREATER MINNEAPOLIS CRISIS NURSERYServes all of Hennepin County, offering a 24-hour crisis hotline,crisis counseling, up to 72-hour overnight residential care,community referrals, parent education, parent support group,and a home visiting program. For more information or if youneed services: (763) 591-0100. Services are accessedvoluntarily by families through the Crisis Hotline.

PILLSBURY CRISIS NURSERY – A program of Pillsbury UnitedCommunities

Serves all of Hennepin County, offering a 24-hour crisis hotline,crisis counseling, emergency day care, and limited 72-hourovernight home based care. For more information or if you needservices: (612) 302-3500. Services are accessed voluntarily byfamilies through the Crisis Hotline.

Executive Director Mary PatLee, and Development andCommunications Director

Joel Bergstom

I used to laugh at the crazyMinnesota folks who would breakout in shorts and t-shirts on the firstsunny day that brought forty or fiftydegree temperatures. I’d also watchin disbelief those folks who, despitetemperatures barely above twentydegrees, shed their coat just becausethe sun was shining.

After living here for two winters,I have to admit that now I finally“Get it.” The Minnesota winters canbe so long and brutal that any sign ofwarmth is like an invitation to take itoff; that is, strip off the layers andlayers of outerwear. I used towonder if these strippers were cold.What I have concluded is that yes,they are cold, but it’s worth it to befree from the bondage of the layers-even if it’s just for a day or so.

My other confession is that Ihave now taken to stripping too; Ican be found running into the gym at6 a.m. with only my workout clothesand my hoodie.

I’m feeling really good aboutthis string of warm days that we havebeen having, and I am feeling goodabout wearing my lightweight coatsagain. This means that it’s time for

our winter hibernation to be over andfor spring activities to get into fullforce. If you are among those whohave packed on a few pounds to keepyou warm this winter (translation-you ate too much and watched toomuch television), now is the time tostrip off those extra pounds with fun,easy, and low-cost options.

Exercise Resistance BandsStarting at about $10 each, these go-anywhere bands are a perfect way toshape up whether you are indoors orout, at home or out-of-town. Bandsare hot right now and you can findthem being sold for big bucks oninfomercials and being used bymany personal trainers. You can getsimilar results at home if you followsome simple principles. For ideas toget started check out an article in Prevention magazine.

www.prevention.com/cda/article/we-found-it-the-fastest-way-to-sculpt

Hula-HoopsDo you remember the fun we used tohave with hula hoops? Recapturethe fun with your kids, nieces, or

grands-and get fit at the same time.A great deal, at only about $10,you’ll be fit in no time.Walking, Jogging, and BikingThese are always activities that areeasy to do. Just get some good gymshoes and you are ready. Whetherwalking or biking, challenge

yourself with hills and burn around20% more calories!

Jumping RopeThis is another super simple way tomeet your fitness goals! To make itmore fun, turn on some music-use acombination of faster and slowersongs to mix up your pace. After afew weeks, watch the inches meltaway.

Do you want sculpted arms,washboard abs, strong quads, orshapely calves? Maybe you want torelieve stress, sleep better, have moreenergy, or feel more confident.Exercise and a balanced diet can helpwith all of the above. As always,consult with your physician beforebeginning a new fitness program.Once you get the go-ahead, visit thenearest library and get some fitnessmagazines to get ideas on the latestfitness moves to do at home. If youjust stick with it, you will be amazedat how well your body, mind, andspirit will respond to you. The timeis now, so get outside and getmoving…today! Enjoy!

Marcia Humphrey is an interiordecorator and home stager whospecializes in achieving high style ata low cost. A native of Michigan, sheand her husband, Lonnie, have threechildren.

LIFESTYLEEnjoying the great outdoors

By Marcia Humphrey

Style on a dime

clatterymachinery.files.wordpress.com

Page 8 • April 20 - April 26, 2009 • Insight News http://insightnews.com

On Saturday April 25,  from 1 to 4 p.m., help celebrate the diverse achievements of our local community members at Amantes de la Ciencia at the Science Museum of Minnesota. Try hands-on science activities, and meet science and educational professionals from the finest companies and educational organizations. The event is free with museum admission. The museum is located at 120 West Kellogg Boulevard in downtown St. Paul. For more information, visit www.smm.org or call 651-221-9444.

• Restrict the use of train horns ina “quiet zone” in the areaimmediately surrounding MPR andthe churches.

Under the agreement, theCouncil will monitor the noise andvibration impacts of the line duringits construction, testing and firstyear of operation to ensure theeffectiveness of the mitigation planand address any variances ofagreed-upon mitigation criteria.

The Council hopes to completepreliminary engineering on the

project in September and obtainfederal approval to begin finaldesign, with the goal of startingconstruction next year andlaunching passenger service in2014.

The Metropolitan Council isthe regional planning organizationfor the seven-county Twin Citiesarea. It runs the regional bus and

light rail system, collects and treatswastewater, manages regionalwater resources, plans regionalparks and administers funds thatprovide housing opportunities forlow- and moderate-incomeindividuals and families. TheCouncil is appointed by and servesat the pleasure of the governor.

Minnesota Public Radio® is

one of the nation’s premier publicradio companies producingprogramming for radio, Internetand face-to-face audiences. With itsthree services — News &Information Service, ClassicalMusic Service and The Current —operating a 38-station regionalradio network and serving aregional population of 5 million

people, MPR has 100,000 membersand more than 840,000 listenerseach week, the largest audience ofany regional public radio network.American Public Media is thenation’s second-largest public radioproduction company (after NPR)reaching an audience of 16 millionpeople each week.

Have you ever felt something“pulling” at you? Something thatyou’ve always wanted to do oraccomplish but no matter whatyou do, you can’t get it done? Forexample, there are those of us wholike to make New Year’sResolutions. Resolutions areusually things you want to changein your life, but too often the

change never gets made. If you’reanything like me then you gettrapped in this vicious cycle foryears on end. You keep writingthose same goals on your list, onlyto discover five years later thatyou are no closer to completingthem.

Perhaps that “thing” could beyour calling; something the Lordhas planned for you, and He doeshave a plan for you. He has “plansto prosper you and not to harm

you, plans to give you hope and afuture (Jeremiah 29:11)”. But youhave to seek Him first. Theproblem is that we try to do italone and by ourselves and weend up messing up the planaltogether or delaying it.

What stands in the way of youachieving your goals could beseveral things: Maybe you aretrying to do too many things atonce, I for one am guilty of that.Maybe you are hung up on the

fact that someone in your life,perhaps someone very close toyou, told you that your goal wasimpossible. Or could it be thatyou’ve already tried and the taskahead proved to be a lot harderthan you thought so you backedoff?

If you are stuck in a rut forwhatever reason, the advice issimple although not always easy:“Seek ye first the Kingdom ofGod and all of his righteousness

and all things shall be added untoyou (Matthew 6:33).” By seekingHim first, you’ll be better able toput your goals into perspectiveand align them with what is in Hiswill for you to do. That way youwon’t waste valuable time chasingevery scheme or opportunity inhopes that it will take you to thenext level. With your focus onGod you will come to understandthat He has the final authority onmatters, not man. More

importantly, with time prayer andhard work, yes work, you willsoon realize that with God allthings are possible, even thosegoals you have been putting offfor the past few years.

Rashida McKenzie is aninspirational speaker, based inMaryland. To find out her latesttips for helping you transformyour life and find your purpose goto www.rashidamckenzie.com.

http://insightnews.com Insight News • April 20 - April 26, 2009 • Page 9

Let faith in God push you towards your goals

LRTFrom 3

By Rashida McKenzie

I have access to hundreds of foreclosed properties in Minneapolis-St.Paul and surrounding suburbs. Let me help you take advantage of this real estate market.

ATTENTION:MBE/WBE CONSTRUCTION

SUBCONTRACTORSWe are requesting quotations for the followingproject:

Blue Lake Wastewater Treatment Plant LiquidsImprovements Phase 1, Shakopee, MinnesotaOwner: Metropolitan Council EnvironmentalServices. Bids are due in our office no laterthan: April 22, 2009, 2:00 p.m. If you areinterested in bidding this project or needassistance in preparing your bids, pleasecontact our office: Madsen-JohnsonCorporation, General Contractors, PO Box486, Hudson, WI 54016

715-386-8201 / 715-386-5950 FaxAn EEO Employer

Page 10 • April 20 - April 26, 2009 • Insight News http://insightnews.com

ClearWay Minnesota Seeks

Board Candidates

ClearWay Minnesota is seeking candidates for its

Board of Directors. The ClearWay Minnesota Board

oversees operations of an independent, non-profit

organization. ClearWay Minnesota’s vision is to

eliminate the harm tobacco causes the people of

Minnesota. ClearWay Minnesota’s strategies include

grants, individual cessation services, research and

community outreach.

Board terms are three years. Board Members serve

without compensation. Please submit applications

to ClearWay Minnesota by May 15.

Qualified candidates must have:

Expertise in areas related to Board governance

No affiliation with ClearWay Minnesota

grantees or contractors

No affiliation with the tobacco industry or

related trade associations within the last 10

years

For an application, call (952) 767-1438

or email ahenderson@clearwaymn.org

Assumed Name1. State the exact assumed name underwhich the business is or will be conducted: Boyer International Trucks

2. State the address of the principal place ofbusiness: 21701 Industrial Blvd, Rogers, MN55374

3. List the name and complete street addressof all persons conducting business under theabove Assumed Name: Boyer Ford Trucks,Inc 2601 Broadway Rd NE, Minneapolis, MN55413

4. I certify that I am authorized to sign thiscertificate and I further certify that Iunderstand that by signing this certificate, Iam subject to the penalties of perjury as setforth in Minnesota Statues section 609.48 asif I had signed this certificate under oath.

Signed by: J Bradley GorsuchDate Filed: 4/8/2009Contact Person: J Bradley GorsuchDaytime Phone Number: (612) 627-5501

Insight News 4/20/2009, 4/27/2009

Part of the HealthPartners family of care.

At Regions Hospital, we are committed to providing state-of-the-art care in a comfortable, healing environment. Part of that care includes fostering a respectful environment that embraces the many different people that make up our community.

As a Level I Trauma Center and one of the area’s most respected healthcare providers, Regions Hospital celebrates diverse talents and backgrounds. Through acceptance and diversity, we can succeed in our mission to be a healing presence in the lives of the patients and families we serve.

Our passion for excellence is evident throughout our organization. As our partner, you’ll be rewarded for your talents with a wealth of opportunities and one of the area’s most attractive compensation and benefi ts packages. At Regions Hospital, you’ll discover a respectful, value-driven environment that can energize your career and personal growth.

For a list of current openings and to apply, please visit us online at www.regionshospital.com. EOE

regionshospital.com

A partner with the community, Regions Hospital celebrates Diversity.

Regions Hospital has served the Twin Cities and surrounding region for more than 125 years. We are genuinely dedicated to fostering an environment that provides our patients, and staff, with the Best Care, Best Experience.

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The best part of writing thiscolumn, and other articles, is thecool and enlightening momentswith the shiny young stars of theTwin Cities. Nothing canreplace wisdom from old folks;but make no mistake, wisdomhas no reigns, and young folkscan ride that horse with the bestof ‘em…they just tend to getbucked off a little more often.The “wisdom of the years” canalso be called “I’m sick offalling off this horse”.

Gopher point guard AlNolen, Jr. has the firstcornerstone of wisdom firmly onhis foundation. Listening is thefirst cornerstone of wisdom (inmy opinion), and Al Nolen, Jr.has been privy to listen to someof the best.

The fact that Nolen is a Jr.,

and that he is on a solid path tosuccess, says that there is a Sr.who most likely had a whole lotof good to say. Al Nolen, Sr.loves his son very much, andtogether with his mother, RosieBurch, you can see thateverything parents are supposedto pour into their child shows inJr.’s words and countenance.“My Mom and Dad talked all thetime about going to college. Itook a lot of trips to the careercenter because of that. PatrickHenry High School did a goodjob of reemphasizing throughcollege practice tests, so thathelped a lot, too,” said the pointguard.

Obviously, Gophers HeadCoach Tubby Smith has plentyof wisdom to pass on. “Coach(Smith) teaches a lot. The factthat he is an accomplished Blackmale role model means a lot.Obviously it is a bit easier torelate and communicate withhim in general. I feel blessed tobe in this position,” said Nolen.

Nolen talked at length aboutcoach Smith’s call forleadership. Relating a poignantmoment and lesson with regardto leadership Nolen said: “Wewere on a down swing during

the mid-season. What I had todo was listen to coach and take aleadership role in conveying hiswishes to the team. Throughthat we were able to all get onthe same page and make a strongfinish, which resulted inqualifying for the NCAATournament. It takes mentaltoughness to fight through thoserough patches, and coachconsistently drives home thepoint of mental toughness. Heexpects a lot out of all of us, butas the point guard I am the firstextension of the head coach as aplayer on the court.”

Beyond his collegiatecommunity, Nolen continues hisleadership through his homecommunity as well. Throughimpromptu drop-ins on hisformer high school team’s(Patrick Henry HS) practices, orin more formal addresses tocamps such as the Clyde TurnerEducational Basketball Camp,he tends to the importantresponsibility of giving backwhat he can to the NorthMinneapolis neighborhoods thathelped mold him. “I’m honoredif I’m seen as a role model.Lawrence MacKenzie and theother successful players from

Henry did the same for me. Ithink because we help each otherout like that, more kids from theneighborhood are starting tolook at how they can takeadvantage of the opportunitiesavailable with a lot of schools inthe area, whether the U or one ofthe other good schools.”

The same mentoring takesplace at the college-level. At theUniversity of Minnesota, formerplayers such as Walter Bondcome and talk to the Men’s

Basketball team. Bond wasparticularly adept at relaying themessage of turning allexperiences into positiveoutcomes said Nolen.

Nolen obviously has a goodchance to play professionally,whether in the United States orabroad. First thing’s first,however. This spring andsummer provide the opportunityto step his game up to the nextlevel for this coming fall when

his junior season begins.“Obviously we saw that ourconference rival Michigan Statemade it to the NCAAChampionship, so we have aclearer idea of what it takes toaccomplish our bigger goals.We just have to put in the work,”he said. Don’t you love it whenyoung folks talk about hardwork?

In response to my typicalquestion of what he wouldconvey to young people from hisneighborhood or otherwise,Nolen suggests: “Be yourself,and follow your own path.Make your own trail, and keepyourself around positiveinfluences. Negative influencescome around a lot, but if you dowhat you have to do first, andmake sure you chase your dreamthen they will not want to bearound you as much. And likemy Dad always says, ‘Try to dothe right thing.’”

We should all do the rightthing by passing this article onto a young person, because youcan’t say it much better thanthat.

Nolen’s pick for the NBAChampionship?…The LosAngeles Lakers. Good pickJunior. We can chill more oftenhomie.

SPORTS

By Ryan T. Scottryan@insightnews.com

Mr T’sSportsReport

Chillin with Al Nolen, Jr.:Nolen, Jr. attributes personal successes to Nolen, Sr. and others

Ryan T. Scott (L) with Al Nolen Jr.

http://insightnews.com Insight News • April 20 - April 26, 2009 • Page 11

Page 12 • April 20 - April 26, 2009 • Insight News http://insightnews.com

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