Instant Blackness with a ticket and a name badge at the General Mills Foundation’s – MLK Breakfast 2010

November 15, 2009 · Filed Under Black America, Black in America, Civil Rights Movement, General Mills Foundation, General Mills Inc, Negros, White America, Yes Master · 5 Comments 

The closer we get to the beginning of 2010, and the possibility of Corporate America getting closer to “Blackness” in anticipation of Martin Luther King’s birthday and Black History Month, there are important questions that we must ask ourselves. Why has Black America let the commemoration of our history and achievements slip into the hands of White commercialization?

By Donald W.R. Allen, II – Editor in Chief/IBNN

In 1961, my birth certificate said I was born a Negro. In 2009, given the existence of a playing field that is only semi-level—and even that, only for certain blacks- black Americans as a whole are still in the “Realm of Negroism.”

On January 18 2010, General Mills Foundation and the United Negro College Fund will present the 20th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Breakfast.

The Breakfast “is an opportunity to celebrate the legacy of service of Dr. King and create an imperative to live out his legacy today in our homes, our communities and our world,” according to the MLK Breakfast website.

But wait. Next question.

Just what is Dr. King’s legacy? And how can we claim to honor this legacy, with no real engagement with the urgent issues that affect people of color every day?

Dr. King’s legacy cannot be lived and made real today over breakfast and tea, but requires grassroots organizing, protest, and activism. To fully understand this fact, we must look at the history of the Civil Rights Movement.

The Civil Rights Movement was at a peak from 1955-1965. Congress passed the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965, guaranteeing basic civil rights for all Americans, regardless of race, after nearly a decade of nonviolent protests and marches, ranging from the 1955-1956 Montgomery bus boycotts to the student-led sit-ins of the 1960s to the huge March on Washington in 1963.

We must realize that Dr. Martin Luther King’s words and actions were considered radical at the time. They gained popularity because he spoke Truth to the People of the United States. Dr. King said, “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.”

Today, Black America has become mute and non-confrontational. Read more

Tags: , , ,

Part 3: “Riding the Minority-Ethnic Gravy Train all the way to the Bank.” Have the Minnesota Lynx forgotten about Black owned and operated Media in the Twin Cities? How do we score in the front office?

July 7, 2009 · Filed Under "What would Malcolm say?", A Call to Action!, A: You don't know., Advertising Marketing, Bad Business, Bad Public Relations, Black Advertising, Black and White, Blacks on the Court - Front office short!, Boycott the MN Lynx!, Its a new day!, The Power of Black Wealth Misunderstood, We be wantin to do's some bit-ness too!, Who does the Hair and Make-up?, Yes Master · Comments Off 
lynx-meeting-001

(l-r)MTN's Black Focus-Ron Edwards; Lynx-Anna Mercado; V-Media's Don Allen; Mpls Mirror's-Terri Y; Lynx-Conrad Smith and African News Journal-Ben K.

Local Black media has nothing to offer the Minnesota Lynx organization.

For more than 30 years professional sports have been dominated by Blacks.

Blacks on the courts.

Blacks on the field.

Blacks on the track.

But when it comes to spending valuable advertising dollars with local Black owned and operated media outlets, Blacks stay back! Rather than spending those dollars for advertising in local Black owned and operated media outlets – the Minnesota Lynx want to do trade with tickets in lieu of good old US currency.

We find that of no value.

Is it me, or is something wrong with this picture?

Is a Black media outlet, less than a White media outlet, if so, why? Is a media outlet that plays “Black music” owned by a “White” company better than a Black Station owned by a Black firm?

It’s clear to me; the Minnesota Lynx have chosen their battle by making it clear that – there is no room at the Target Center for Black owned and operated Media.

I wonder what Beyonce’s people will say about that.

In a recent meeting with the Minnesota’s Lynx Chief Operating Officer Conrad Smith, a coalition of minority-ethnic media outlets presented concern and criticism about the Lynx/Timberwolves organizations exemption of Black owned and operated media to assist with the promotion of the two teams. In that meeting were the African News Journal, Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder, Mpls Mirror, V-Media Marketing and MTN’s Black Focus and others.

Early this year the MN Lynx invited select individual in for a “focus group” to drum up ideas on how to get the “community” and others interested in the team.

In an article from the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder titled, “The Lynx’s woes (or no’s) in marketing to the Black community,” it states:

  • “I don’t see a representative from the Lynx over North [Minneapolis] at the Cub [Foods grocery] store on Broadway with filers or anything, saying, ‘Hey, we want you to come to the games,’” adds Onika Craven, Minneapolis. “Once you start doing that, to get more involved in the community, [Black] people will come.”
  • Woman’s Club of Minneapolis Communications Director Dana Beasley says, “I’m not really sure, but we should wrap our arms around our people and support our success stories.”
  • John Robinson, Burnsville: “Maybe if the players got out more in the community, and begin to market them more, maybe I would go [to a Lynx game].”
  • “They [the Lynx] need to go through the Black papers, KMOJ, and go into those neighborhoods,” notes Lea B. Olsen, Minneapolis. “These young ladies should be seen by every little girl in North Minneapolis and South Minneapolis. These are the greatest role models that we could have in the African American community.”

Some of these same ideas were addressed and brought up by the group that met with Mr. Smith and Anna Mercado, Marketing Manager for the Lynx. Still coalition members received phone calls and said, “We’ve got some negative feedback from the meeting, we don’t want to be a part of a coalition.”

Local radio station KMOJ has reached out to the MN Lynx.

KMOJ’s Kelvin Quarles says, “We approached them about a marketing campaign. There have been times when I personally reached out to these players themselves, and we never got a call back.” He adds that the Lynx’s Black players must take the initiative themselves and reach out more.

But the Minnesota Lynx continue to want the “lights cut on” by sending out emails like this:

The Minnesota Lynx need you!

We’re making some exciting changes on and off the court. After three big trades on Friday, we managed to bring home Minnesota native Kelly Miller and secure another first round pick in the 2009 Draft. Recent front office additions include Chief Operating Officer Conrad Smith and Ticket Sales Manager Joe Schwei.

Bet you’re thinking…what does this have to do with me?

As a respected professional in the Twin Cities community, the Lynx are interested in your perspective and want your creative ideas to make the upcoming 2009 season the best yet!

WHAT – An informal brainstorming session to discuss new sales and marketing perspectives for the WNBA and the Minnesota Lynx.

# # #

Obviously, “changes” with the Minnesota Lynx don’t include Black owned media. Stay tuned – we’ve just got started.

Note: The MN Lynx is rumored to use one Black owned local cable television channel for ads, they wish not to be mentioned in this story.

Tags: , , , ,

  • Meta

  • News Services


















    Web Site Hit Counter
    Web Counter

    Stumble It!