Black History Month in Minneapolis: Spokesman-Recorder continues tradition

Celebrating Black History month

As part of the city of Minneapolis's celebration of Black History Month, an exhibit honors the 85th anniversary of the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder, the oldest black-owned newspaper in the state and one of the longest running, family-owned newspapers in the country.

The Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder exhibit on the A-level of the County Government Center, is a part of several Black History Month events coordinated by the Minneapolis Black Employee Network, a professional development group created by black employees to enhance employee work experiences through networking and support. Members share the common purpose of supporting the city’s objective of recruiting and retaining a diverse, talented and engaged workforce.

"It's really important for us to celebrate our history," said Velma Korbel, the director of the Minneapolis Civil Rights Department.

She said Minneapolis City Council member Andrea Jenkins made the suggestion to honor the Spokesman-Recorder.

"In my head, I am thinking I have no idea how to curate an exhibit, because that's just not my forte," Korbel said. "I can investigate complaints and enforce the Civil Rights Act, but that's about the extent of what I do here for the city."

So she called some friends at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, and they headed to the newspaper to start collecting items for the exhibit.

"There were thousands of photographs, of international, national and local people, and hundreds of bundles of the old newspapers," she said. "But we found the ones that we liked, and we found the very first newspaper published by Cecil Newman, August 10, 1934."

That newspaper is on display, along with a typewriter used by Newman himself.

"He worked as a pullman and wrote stories and sent them back to the paper," Korbel said.

Many of the photos feature unknown individuals and members of the community may share any information about people they might recognize.

A bit of the history of the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder: Established in 1934 by local civil rights icon and business leader Cecil Newman, the MSR has long been revered as a trusted news source and voice of the African American community. Years later, the paper and its staff remain committed to the credo that can be found on the wall of their historic office building in South Minneapolis:

“The Negro Press believes that America can best lead the world away from racial and national antagonisms when it accords to every man, regardless of race, color, or creed, his human and legal rights. Hating no man, fearing no man, the Negro Press strives to help every man in the firm belief that all are hurt as long as anyone is held back.”

Now under the direction of Newman’s granddaughter Tracey Williams-Dillard, the Spokesman-Recorder continues to thrive, championing perspectives and stories that may otherwise go unheard.

Here are more Black History Month events organized by the Minneapolis Black Employee Network from noon to 1 p.m. in the City Hall Rotunda, 350 S. Fifth St.:

Thursday, Feb. 6: Call to Action. Featured speaker: Lissa Jones, producer and commentator.

Thursday, Feb. 13: Empowering Youth. Featured speaker: Tracey Williams-Dillard, CEO and publisher of the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder.

Thursday, Feb. 20: Honoring History Maker at Home award recipients. Featured speaker: Deborah Watts, president, Emmitt Till Legacy Foundation.

Thursday, Feb. 27: Lift Every Voice. Panel discussion.