Apology to the North Minneapolis Community. We don’t have leaders, we have self-appointed spokespersons
Black leadership has to recognize that principles more than speech, character more than a claim, is greater in advancing the cause of our liberation than what has transpired thus far. ~Louis Farrakhan
In recent articles on IBNN, we have stated that north Minneapolis has a few “self-appointed leaders.”
Well that’s not the case.
IBNN took it for granted that these individuals from the areas of media, human services, politics and a host of other industries were “leaders,” when in fact they didn’t have the integrity, honesty and experience to guide a community to greater levels and work with others on a fair and knowledgeable playing field.
With local “spokespersons” going on record saying, “Bad parenting is the reason we have crime, gangs and a failure of the Black infrastructure,” none of these inexperienced “spokespersons” want to talk about the systemic reasons why. These spokespersons have left out an important part of the explanation on why Minneapolis youth resort to violence, drug dealing, babies having babies and crime.
They see no future.
MSNBC reports that, “Minorities make up nearly half the children born in the U.S., part of a historic trend in which minorities are expected to become the U.S. majority over the next 40 years. In fact, demographers say this year could be the “tipping point” when the number of babies born to minorities outnumbers that of babies born to whites.
- Black Minnesota spokespersons have not talked about the plan to address the issues of no jobs; no economic development; no graduations from high school for children of color. They are not ready for this “tipping point.”
- Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak has been “planning” for 8 seasons. As he continues to plan, our (Black) spokespersons have not come to terms on where Black Minnesota is.
- Over 55 weeks ago, we watched a mini-movement with highlighted marches on the state capital for force the hand of the Minnesota Department of Transportation to cooperate, facilitate and let us (Blacks) participate. Year-to-date: Nothing.
- While they (Poverty-Pimp Spokespersons) battle for crumbs, millions of dollars are passing through the realm of process where people with a plan have full access to dollars and jobs which will lead to wealth and independence for everyone but us.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not trying to downplay the roll of spokesperson – but the right “spokespersons” turn into people like Malcolm X, Dr. King and Huey Newton – who for most part are prepared to die for what they believe in, rather than organize their community for cash grants – you know who I’m talking about.
Present day spokespersons are motivated when a camera or a news reporter is on the scene of a crime or event. They are the first to jump in front of a camera to be the “mouthpiece” for the whole community.
On earth, the only thing you can do without experience is “count numbers.”
Some of these spokespersons cannot read; or have never made a payroll.
Their idea of community engagement is to meet with the mayor or other politicians – whom for the most part already know these folks don’t have a plan or a clue. Ask yourself, “When was the last time a meeting with a local politician created jobs for north Minneapolis?”
Case in point: On February 18, 2010 the 58B state representative, who is the Vice-Chair of the Transportation Finance and Policy Division, and sits on the Transportation and Transit Policy and Oversight Division, called a meeting at the request of local “spokespersons” with Congressman Jim Oberstar to discuss the Minnesota Department of Transportation’s ongoing compliance issues.
Sources tell IBNN that towards the end of the meeting on Congressman Oberstar asked this group, “What can I do –what are the suggestions?” Only two of the members of the group had a plan. Remember, “fluff” is only good in baking.
You see, there are only a few that have the experience and goal setting skills to operate in the realm of efficiency, while making sure “the least of thee” have the tools for success.
We (Black people in Minneapolis) continue to give our power to rodeo clowns and sideshow freaks that don’t care if you mothers and fathers have a job.
The Death of North Minneapolis…
Alisha will never know what it is like to attend college or to pledge a sorority. She will never marry and have children or see her grandchildren. The death of this young girl represents a lot more than a continued rise in violence. It represents the over-all catastrophic failure by those “self appointed” leaders who have condemned their own “reflections,” the youth of north Minneapolis. Poverty Pimps march to the tune of the all mighty dollar. This would be okay if dollars were reaching the community – but no, they organize for finance, not for “the least of thee.”
17-year-old Alisha ‘LeLe’ Neeley, was laid to rest on Saturday, March 6, 2010.
Editorial by Donald W.R. Allen, II – editor in chief/IBNN and USA Radical Black
“I couldn’t stay in the church for long. Looking at the young girl laying in a casket dead, no future, no tomorrow, just a memory of a day and time imagining what she would do tomorrow if she were alive. Earlier I watched as 187 people (I counted), mostly youth marched down Broadway Avenue to the church. One question I had…Why was MADDADS still in the parking lot of Cub Foods putting on a show when everyone had left?”
As of today, no suspects have been arrested in the death of Alisha Neeley. This continued trend of shootings and murders grow in North Minneapolis, and around the metro area. The death of Ms. Neeley represents more than we realize. This is the third death in less than 3-years where north Minneapolis (female) teenagers are killed by random acts of violence.
For the last three years, community leaders and north Minneapolis politicians have promised jobs, economic development and a chance for the youth of north Minneapolis to have a better chance for success. What has happened is a self-serving process of “give me the money” to pay the people who work in my building, “screw the community.” Perpetual north Minneapolis non-profit stupidity. (Just ask the Peace Foundation when they have ever hired 20 people from the north Minneapolis community.)
What has happened is north Minneapolis? Read more
MLK Breakfast Part II: Go ahead celebrate – while your having breakfast…2 Million Black Households WITH Children Face Hunger
Minneapolis, MN – Sources tell IBNN a group of “the usual suspects” are atempting to create and develop a CDC (Community Development Council) in north Minneapolis with a local Foundation.The problem is, the individuals tasked to head up this group have not had one successful long term buiness venture north Minneapolis.
Again the community is pimped, played and starved.
This isn’t even the tip of the iceberg….
1.8 million Black Households with children are food insecure – Black households with children experiencing very low food security up 92%
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service (USDA) reported yesterday that almost one in four children living in the United States are food insecure. According to the 2009 report on Household Food Insecurity in the United States, there is a striking disparity in the prevalence of food insecurity among black children. Nearly two million black households with children were food insecure at least some time during the year, an increase of 25 percent over 2007. In 2008, there were 3.76 million non-Hispanic white households with children that were food insecure. The study also revealed that 146,000 black households with children — a 92 percent increase over 2007 — experienced very low food security, meaning that the food intake of one or more of the household children was reduced and their eating patterns were disrupted at times during the year because the household lacked money. Read more
Don Samuels wins the Ward 5 DFL Endorsement. More importantly, where the hell was his opponent? And who stifled her campaign?
Mr. Don Samuels
Personally, I do like and do support Ward 5 Council Member Don Samuels. However, I thought his chances for re-endorsement were shaky, offering an opportunity for an opponent with a strong campaign message to unseat him. But, as a result of his re-endorsement, one thing was very clear: Samuels and his team were prepared for this win.
Since I bide my time as a political spin doctor, I decided to tell a group gathered in north Minneapolis that I did not support Don Samuels to see what kind of reaction I would get.
I wasn’t surprised. Samuels’ supporters rattled off a litany of facts and reasons why anyone should support the councilman. Those who opposed him offered no facts, nor did they prepare a strategy that would effectively engage and sway support for Kenya McKnight, Samuels’ challenger. Read more
Ode to the Community “Spokespersons” – Hello. How are you? Won’t you tell us your “Game?”
True community leaders and spokespersons, Councilman Don Samuels and MADDADS VJ Smith hold vigil (on Sunday, January 18, 2008 in front of the abandoned house) for 15 year old Annshalike Hamilton who was seven months pregnant and found dead in a garage on the 22nd block of 4th Street North. No sign of the community “spokespersons” that cried foul at the Jordan Area Community Council press conference on Saturday.
Definition: Leadership: The ability to guide, direct, or influence people
Attention Community Leader(s), Spokespersons,“Frankenstein’s” and poverty pimps;
I don’t know if you’ve noticed that north Minneapolis especially the “City of Minneapolis – N ½ of Section 16-29-24” is suffering from the lack of leadership. Because we have no one to guide, direct or influence people, our community has fallen into a state of moral and economic demise. Members of our community are being killed and no one seems concerned; our homes are going into foreclosure and nothing impactful is being done to save the homes; our neighbors are moving to the suburbs, leaving our communities abandoned, and no one has taken a stand.
As I participated in the vigil for Annshalike Hamilton, the pregnant 15-year-old who was found in an abandoned garage, I realized no one has stood up to question the death of this teen. If she were a young white girl, our city would be up in arms. Then I realized, no one has taken a stand to question the death of Quincy Smith, the young man who was tasered to death by Minneapolis police.
These are two significant events that have gone without an official word from the leaders or “spokespersons” of our community. This silence that seems to have infiltrated our community, has also affected the leaders of community organizations such as Northway Community Trust, Stairstep Foundation, Minneapolis Urban League, NorthPoint and many other organizations inside and outside north Minneapolis purporting to represent the North side. Many have written in the mission statements the words “to help or assist the community” – we know that is not the case.
This is not an attack, but a request for information on how such “spokespersons” have come to be called leaders in the community and yet have not stood up to decry the killings and the economic demise occurring in north Minneapolis.
In the National Black MBA Association-Twin City Chapter 2008 catalog for their Annual Scholarship Gala, held on August 1, 2008 – on page 22 the quote from Isaiah Reese at the top of the page says, “Our stance as a people should be to serve as one common denominator for all not as a separate unit.” For years some of the organizations “spokespersons” have been working as a separate unit not addressing the facts, concerns and issues of north Minneapolis, and discounting African-Americans. The local community organizations are in need of your unique expertise.
Many of the esteemed, distinguished organizations community members turn to you for leaders. But, where are your leaders? How can you lead a fledgling community when you have no history with the community? I must admit that I have not seen any of the people in gala brochure (for the NBMBA-TC) at any meeting or community gathering or making a public statement when an injustice happens to African-Americans in Minneapolis. I have never seen the President or the VP of the Twin Cities Chapter of the National Black MBA Association or the local chair and vice chair for the Urban Financial Services Coalition (based out of Wells Fargo) condemn the killings in the community cry foul the current economic state of north Minneapolis. In fact, in the past two years, I haven’t seen a single Black leader taking a stand against what’s going on in our community. But, our so called “spokespersons” will attend a party or the General Mills MLK Breakfast. I question the ethics behind the process of choosing a leader or “spokesperson”; I challenge theses spokespersons definition of Leader. Before you “flinch” remember I have some history with this subject matter.
I understand that Black people in the Twin Cities get comfortable being comfortable and maybe don’t think they need to address the issues and concerns regarding “those Black folks in north Minneapolis.” But soon, sooner than you think, the issues will directly affect you, your organization and your past actions, or inaction’s. Your inaction will hasten the continued redirection of funding streams, which should be directed toward north Minneapolis – to predominantly White organizations that should have no business conducting outreach in the underserved communities of north Minneapolis.
There is a reason for your inaction. Collaborating with point people and organizations in north Minneapolis could affect your status. With the corruption and lack of deliverables, your organizations could become “transparent” and fall into the same categories we have been speaking about. The “flip side” is that you could be helping the community and don’t want to tell anyone…if that’s the case, God bless you.
I would like to share an applicable piece from W.E.B. DuBois – “The Talented Tenth, from The Negro Problem: A Series of Articles by Representative Negroes of To-day” (New York, 1903), he wrote, “The Negro race, like all races, is going to be saved by its exceptional men. The problem of education, then, among Negroes must first of all deal with the Talented Tenth; it is the problem of developing the Best of this race that they may guide the Mass away from the contamination and death of the Worst, in their own and other races. Now the training of men is a difficult and intricate task. Its technique is a matter for educational experts, but its object is for the vision of seers. If we make money the object of man-training, we shall develop money-makers but not necessarily men; if we make technical skill the object of education, we may possess artisans but not, in nature, men. Men we shall have only as we make manhood the object of the work of the schools—intelligence, broad sympathy, knowledge of the world that was and is, and of the relation of men to it—this is the curriculum of that Higher Education which must underlie true life. On this foundation we may build bread winning, skill of hand and quickness of brain, with never a fear lest the child and man mistake the means of living for the object of life. . . .
In closing, if the north Minneapolis “Spokespersons” are truly a network of business professionals with a commitment to education, career development and promoting the economic wealth of the African-American community, where does the word and the work involving “community” fit in?
The Current State of North Minneapolis heading into 2009 – “Shall we Overcome?”
Mr. Lennie Chism addresses the Minneapolis City Council, who has decided to “exclude” the Black community from dollars.
In view of the catastrophic failure of Minneapolis Urban League in 2008 as it pertains to service to people, programs, community engagement and bad internal decision making to include cutbacks and layoffs, does the Black social service agency have a contingency plan for 2009? With the layoff of the MUL’s marketing/communications director (A U of M triple major with a Masters Degree – probably the smartest person in the building), it seems that bad choices will continue to be the flavor for 2009. An old poet wrote, “To fear someone with education and a strong will moves forward the clock of your stupidity.”
Furthermore, the exit this summer of the MUL’s Chief Development Officer and the agency opting to hire another grant writer versus someone with a solid direction, (which was the issue in the first place), put the once flagship Black social service agency in a tight competition for funds and the lack of procedure on how to fundraise in the private sector – a piece that’s been missing for a long time. It’s been reported that in 2009 local and national philanthropic agencies will meet to announce cuts in funding to Twin City agencies to include the MUL. These (White) philanthropic agencies have been conditioned to see Black agencies on television, radio and newspaper talking about successful measurable outcomes and current programs that reflect dollars given to local non-profits for programs to enact those programs. “Question: When was the last time you saw FOX 9 News or WCCO at the Minneapolis Urban League to promote a successful outcome that was purely Black focused and driven?”
The fact is; it has not happened. Now, with no fear of being called racists or unfair for not giving the usual dollars to the Black agencies in light of the current political atmosphere, the White philanthropic agencies are asking the question, “What are you doing with the money and what have you done.” With questions still unanswered regarding the $50,000.00 given away freely by Northway Community Trust to a firm outside of the community/state for a survey on Broadway Avenue businesses that was never done; to the alleged miss-dealings of the Jordan Area Community Council; and our favorite, Northside Residents Redevelopment Council (NRRC) lack of “development” makes us wonder if “change” is the operative word for 2009, local Black social service agencies must “step up to the plate” and play in the league of sound business practices; understanding policy, making policy and working with people from outside of their circle (but within the community) who might know more without being afraid of “change.” For example, if the Minneapolis Urban League gets money (again) to address the housing foreclosure issue within the community, we cannot let them “go outside the community and hire people that don’t look like us or don’t live in the community to address this very serious issue. That has always been the “easy-out.” There are knowledgeable people in the community that have technically solved the foreclosure crisis in their heads but have not been given the opportunity to step forward and apply the logics needed to create education, wealth and independence for North Minneapolis. If the African American Men Project needs a marketing plan or a website developed – they will not give a White firm $100,000.00 to complete a task and turn into a referral agency. Year-to-date, we have not seen a solid plan or website for AAMP. Part of this situation evolves from Black people that can make decisions, feel more comfortable doing business with White folks. (That’s another story…soon.)
Rather than just cutting the agencies off, meetings are being set up to announce a start from scratch approach with programs and plans that local agencies have to re-apply for funding – if they meet the requirements. Also reported today, NorthPoint Health and Wellness Clinic goes into 2009 with a half-million dollar deficit. Contacts for IBNN allege that a meeting was called between the NP board chair and a NP program director that had to answer some very “pointed” questions about his “process” or failure of. (It’s understandable why the U of M backed out of that deal.)
In University of Minnesota/Northside Partnership News…A concerned North Minneapolis community wise man received this email from the University of Minnesota’s Community Liaison, stationed at the Minneapolis Urban League. It reads, “The Urban Research and Outreach/ Engagement Center is working to create a time line of people who have been important or instrumental in the Northside and well as Minneapolis and in Minnesota – people who have had an effect in a positive or negative way. This will be used during the Future’s conference. Some examples include Jesse Ventura – Governor from 1999 – 2003, Sharon Sayles-Belton as the first African American and woman Mayor, Marcea Bland Staten Lloyd – Political strategist or Sister Jean of Ascension these are names to jog your memory. Names should cover the 1970s, 1980s,1990s, and 2000s up until now. Can you send your responses by the end of this week, Friday, January 2nd at 3:00? Please list names and year. Feel free to pass this on to others. Thanks for your help.”
In outrage and the feeling of being patronized and disrespected, the community wise man responded with this email message, “You continue to insult the community with the 1950’s “Ceremonial Negroes” mind set. STOP. What was successful yesterday can it be carried forward today? The major concern I have is the continuing unprofessional, lack of knowledge and lack of full discourse. Anyone engaging in your process that disagrees with your plan or ideas of mindset is made unwelcomed. This question is another example of limited discourse prior to posing such a question. “Successful people live in the future; unsuccessful people live in the past.”
To add fuel to the fire, the University of Minnesota point person sent this email to us, which read, (unedited) – “What is your most pressing question around PAR? Each Foundations of Participatory Action Research (PAR) training session will include both University faculty, students, and staff, as well as Community participants. The opening of the training will place it in the context of partnership and university-community engagement, highlighting the value of research in forming and sustaining these collaboratives. Each session will then introduce the concept of research as a continuum, with ‘traditional’/bench research on one end and PAR on the other. After brief descriptions of the different degrees of collaboration in research on the continuum, the training will offer a basic definition of PAR, noting that it is a form of engaged research through which all members are co-inquirers. The training will then move into a more detailed exploration of PAR. Topics to be covered will include: historical basis and theoretical underpinnings; assumptions; core values and principles; benefits; challenges; process and phases; and ethics. In addition to a general Q&A exchange, attendees will be given the opportunity to participate in “table-top” dialogues with their colleagues.”
Our response was, Dear Community Liaison for the Urban Research Outreach and Engagement Center/ University Northside Partnership University of MN – After receiving you’re very badly written email about Participatory Action Research and being totally insulted by the text in the body of the email – it is clear that the University of Minnesota has no clue what they’re doing and who they’re doing it with. You folks presuppose that just because you have some melanin in your skin you identify with the Black folks of North Minneapolis. Secondly, you asked the question in your email, “What is your most pressing question around Participatory Action Research (PAR)?” Did you forget you did not write any background information or provide a link so we “Neanderthals” can look it up ourselves?
The fact is the “research” aspects of PAR attempt to avoid the traditional “extractive” research carried out by universities and governments where “experts” go to a community, study their subjects, and take away their data to write their papers, reports and theses. Research in PAR is ideally BY the local people and FOR the local people – (Like the lost tribe of “Booboo”) lol! Research is designed to address specific issues identified by local people, and the results are directly applied to the problems at hand.
PAR proceeds through repeated cycles, in which researchers and the community start with the identification of major issues, concerns and problems, initiate research, originate action, learn about this action and proceed to a new research and action cycle. This process is a continuous one. Participants in Action Research projects continuously reflect on their learning from the actions and proceed to initiate new actions on the spot. Outcomes are very difficult to predict from the outset, challenges are sizeable and achievements depend to a very large extent on researcher’s commitment, creativity and imagination of which you and the University of Minnesota have none. (The players from UROC and UMNP have failed to demonstrate the skill-sets, in my judgment, to complete the necessary tasks to complete the PAR).
If you want a significant participation from the community for the U of M/UROC-Northside Partnership please stop the central localization of message distribution that only attracts the same participants with no new ideas; no creative solutions; and finally no results. I’ve seen what the U of M is trying to do in North Minneapolis work better in other cities because the point-people “got-it!” Your database reflects the U’s lack of outreach to a broader community base; therefore your list has become folly, a sham!
In closing Makeda, this is not a personal attack against you but an attack against the process that leaves “sound business practices and the correct process of community engagement” in the trash. Happy New Year!
As the University of Minnesota/Northside Partnership and UROC forge ahead with its impending commitment to research, it has again scheduled a series of meeting in the community cleverly sung to the tune of, “We want to know what you think” while offering no immediate answers to North Minneapolis about economic stimuli, employment, business start-up, addressing the Minneapolis Public Schools; or the Foreclosure issue. One reason no answers have been given is because they haven’t a clue!
In our opinion, it looks like 2008 will carry into 2009 with the same Standard Operating Procedures and no results. What will it take for the community to stand up and demand a solid community benefits agreement with the University of Minnesota that will reflect a true partnership – “What I have; what you have and what we have together.” Starting over is not a failure but an opportunity to align yourself with the right groups to move the project forward.
Until then, there’s a lot to write about. Happy New Year!
IBNNNEW- North Minneapolis: NAACP President “Uncovers” two of the North side seven and an estimated $4 million dollars Donald Allen
- Apology to the North Minneapolis Community. We don’t have leaders, we have self-appointed spokespersons Donald Allen
- The Death of North Minneapolis… Donald Allen
- IBNN Exclusive Report: Youth with weapon attempts to enter funeral of Alisha “Lele” Neely (Captured on Film) Donald Allen
- WCCO 4 (CBS) Television fails in journalistic integrity with “edited and spliced” tape of the Minneapolis Police Beating of Ira Stafford…rating F- Donald Allen
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