As a rap artist who is also a professor of hip-hop, I always make it a point to have my songs reviewed by other artists I admire.

A Poetic Tribute to #The Amanda Gorman

W.D. Foster-Graham is a native son of Minneapolis, Minnesota, and an alumnus of Minneapolis Central High School’s Class of 1970. A graduate of Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, he received a B.A. in psychology, with a minor in Black studies. He is an original member of the 3-time Grammy Award…

Once again, Black Americans have saved a presidential candidate with our votes, which President-Elect Joe Biden publicly acknowledged. He could NOT have won without us. Yet, his newly released “priorities” say Nothing about racial healing, reparations, or eliminating racial injustice.

Black voters have a powerful role to play in this year’s elections. That’s why we are being targeted by disinformation campaigns that are meant to discourage and suppress our turnout. We can’t let them succeed.

Accept what’s happening is happening. Nature is turning you inward to gain power through peace, rather than outward to gain power through activity.  Until things improve and something starts to work, let’s lie down in the cool, shady valley . . . and rest. 

There is a certain kind of reality created by our present days.  A good portion of Americans might not be returning to what was ‘normal’ for quite some time.  An unprecedented pandemic of a mysterious, relentless and killing disease where the shock of over 16,000,000 global cases to date has…

September 2019 I was elected onto the Augsburg University Board of Regents, a position I accepted with pride and joy. I’m passionate about education as I believe everyone should have access to a high-quality education irrespective of their circumstance.  At the second board committee meeting…

In a most unusual endorsement, the New York Times has endorsed both Senators Elizabeth Warren (MA) and Amy Klobuchar (MN) for the Democratic nomination for President. Apparently, the Editorial Board of the Times disagrees with Senator Bernie Sanders (VT), who allegedly told Warren that a wom…

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) defines environmental justice as, “the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income, with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulat…

“I’m A Rican” my brother Luis Mario Robles, Jr. use to say with his strong Brooklyn accent and a bit of swagger and attitude for effect.

This week, I wanted to take a moment to shine a little “purple spotlight” on a brother doing important work by maintaining positivity, purple music, and philanthropy, wherever he goes, Craig Alexander of Prince Day Houston.

“We bled, we got beat, we went to jail, we got murdered. Pay up.” said Harry “Spike” Moss. “Make sure they (young people) understand that there is a debt to be paid. We didn’t do any of this in vain.”

Winter is coming, and Miami or Los Angeles sound attractive to everyone who isn’t looking forward to ice fishing.

President Donald Trump needs a swift kick out of office along with his supporting cast – vice president and the others.

Cindy Kent is someone who seeks to use all of her gifts and talents. Kent is president and general manager of 3M's Infection Prevention Division and has been in the Twin Cities community for more than a decade.

This is the first week of Meet Opportunity.

“You know, it was pretty staggering. It put an end to essentially something that the Civil War was unable to end.” – Legal Defense Fund Attorney Jack Greenberg, describing his reaction after the Supreme Court ruling in Brown v. Board of Education

How ironic.

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” – Margaret Mead

Editor's Note: This commentary is part four of a four part series on racism and the over-policing of African-Americans and other people of color.

Editor's Note: This commentary is part three of a four part series on racism and the over-policing of African-Americans and other people of color.

Editor's Note: This commentary is part two of a four part series on racism and the over-policing of African-Americans and other people of color.

Editor's Note: This commentary is part one of a four part series on racism and the over-policing of African-Americans and other people of color.

IOWA CITY, Iowa – Amazing what you can find in Iowa.

How do you entice a bunch of squirming children to settle down, take turns asking questions, introduce themselves and explain how to program a robot? Engage them in hands-on science. That is precisely what took place on Friday, March 11, 2016 at Howard University as part of Black Press Week …

“My wife Anna was part of the second Insight2Health Challenge. Her great results and progress inspired me to join too. We felt that participating together as a family would help us hold each other accountable and we would see better results,” said Todd Williams, a senior group manager for Ta…

Last week, anthropologist David Zander, a research analyst with Council Asian Pacific, served as co-moderator. McFarlane and Zander interviewed Juan Lopez and Rich Stanek, candidates for Hennepin County Sheriff. The Conversations with Al McFarlane Public Policy Forum broadcast on Independent…