Chasing truth with a camera: Why two local photographers joined the Ferguson fray
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“I know how to tell the truth.”—Nancy Musinguzi
Truth. It’s often called objective.
#BlackLivesMatter and #ChargeMeToo
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As one grand jury after another refuses to indict police who have killed black men, #BlackLivesMatter protests continue across the United States. I marched on November 25, missed Saturday’s MOA protest, and will probably march again. Like many people, I keep hearing the same questions on Facebook and from friends and family. Before the next family gathering, here’s my short question-and-answer. Continue Reading
NYPD Officers Wenjian Liu and Rafael Ramos: Two more victims of the system
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On December 20, 2014, the sick, corrupted system that passes for justice in this country claimed two more lives.
Clergy tell Bloomington to charge them, too, in #BlackLivesMatter protest
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Charge us, too.
That’s what a growing list of clergy is telling Bloomington City Attorney Sandra Johnson and Mall of America administrators. Johnson says she expect to charge organizers of a Black Lives Matter protest at the Mall on one of the busiest shopping days of the year.
Merry Christmas from North Minneapolis (to all my white friends)
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I wanted to write something about Christmas and all the conflict about race happening this year. My family celebrations have been free of such conflicts, but my Facebook wall (and many of yours as well) have been HOT with conflict. With this on my mind, I went to the Cub and Merwin’s on West Broadway, north Minneapolis at about 8 o’clock at night. I was one of the few white people in either place, or along the street as I walked in between. I enjoyed a cold rainy night out in my neighborhood, my mind weighed the juxtaposition of what angry white folks were saying on Facebook and what I was experiencing in my ‘hood. There were no angry mobs of black people, but there were holiday smiles. Continue Reading
Some favorite responses to the “All Lives Matter” crowd
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I made a collage of some of responses to the “but shouldn’t it be ALL LIVES MATTER?” crowd. Continue Reading
Thousands protest at Mall of America, spark mall shut-down
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(If the Storify story does not appear, refresh your browser)
[<a href=”//storify.com/tcdailyplanet/thousands-fill-mall-of-america-chanting-black-live” target=”_blank”>View the story “Thousands protest at Mall of America, spark mall shut-down” on Storify</a>] Continue Reading
Time to cede the power
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A wise teacher once told me that when kids do not feel visible, in their classroom or their school, then they find ways to make themselves visible. On the other hand, many African American students tell me they feel hyper visible when it comes to Black History month or when a story in English class features a black character or in US History class when the Civil War is discussed. Then they are asked to represent the entire community of African American people when speaking, or responding, or arguing a point. Continue Reading
My DIY sufganiyot crawl
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Running a Jewish preschool is fun. It often inspires me to take on fun projects. For example, one of my staff was looking at resources for Hanukkah and said “Wait, what do donuts have to do with Hanukkah?” Continue Reading
Northside Achievement Zone gets mid-term report card
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Almost three years ago, the Spokesman-Recorder reported on the origins and mission of the Northside Achievement Zone, or NAZ, which was described as “a $28 million social experiment” whose goal was “increasing educational outcomes so that kids and families have opportunities that they can point to” over the following five years. (“Northside Achievement Zone envisions a ‘tipping-point’ of success,” MSR February 22, 2012)