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The Experience of Ron Edwards

A Renaissance Black Man in a White Man's World

A Beacon for Freedom in the City

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2009 Columns

“Through My Eyes”

weekly column of Ron Edwards
from the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
Continuing The Minneapolis Story,
Ron’s “Black Focus,” airs Sundays, 5-6 p.m.,
on Channel 17, MTN-TV


Quarter 4: October thru December

December 30, 2009 Column #51: Historic Success Story: Integration of the Minneapolis Fire Dept

December 23, 2009 Column #50: Urban League ‘Gateway’ passes the buck for leadership failure. What ‘stakeholders’ approved this assault on front-line workers?

December 16, 2009 Column #49: No justice yet for Quincy Smith. One year later, his family still awaits some resolution

December 9, 2009 Column #48: Local 'leaders' fail to confront decline in Black judges

December 2, 2009 Column #47: Police Chief Tim Dolan: The reappointment process begins. Also: Vikings: Asked to leave or asked to stay?

November 25, 2009 Column #46: Black bank proposed for the Northside community

November 19, 2009 Column #45: Tragedy at Ft. Hood includes evidence of ongoing bigotry on both sides — Ft Hood, Texas, Nov 5, 2009, Another American Tragedy

November 11, 2009 Column #44: Social agencies face deep financial cuts. Community tastes the bitter fruits of failed leadership.

November 4, 2009 Column #43: The stadiums are done. Where is the Inclusion Compliance Report?

October 28, 2009 Column #42: Mayor nominates his chief "partner" for another term. Black organizations cling to status quo

October 21, 2009 Column #41: From Hollman to Heritage Park: How well we remember. The Northside project is a model for displacing Blacks from American cities.

October 14, 2009 Column #40: This time one of the good guys won

October 7, 2009 Column #39: City violence spikes. Nellie Stone Johnson’s solutions (and ours): education, jobs, housing.


Quarter 3: July thru September

September 30, 2009 Column #38: Lost: one disparity study. Found: an approach to keep the racism and discrimination ongoing

September 23, 2009 Column #37: Carter gets it right: Racism fuels attacks on Obama's governance

September 16, 2009 Column #36: No Black voodoo, just presidential greatness. Since when can't the president talk to the nation's children?

September 9, 2009 Column #35: Cover-up of MPD abuses continues. There's only been one whistleblower, and it's not Sgt. Kelly O'Rourke

September 2, 2009 Column #34: The Metro Gang Strike Force; The Denial of Race As A Policy

August 26, 2009 Column #33: MPD's 'culture of violence' still prevails. Assault on Darryl Jenkins not the first or the last.

August 19, 2009 Column #32: Let's fix health care before the nation implodes.

August 12, 2009 Column #31: Harrison development project scrapped. Is Harrison targeted to host a new Vikings stadium?

August 5, 2009 Column #30: Minneapolis Urban League on shaky ground. Members have been disenfranchised, bylaws violated.

July 29, 2009 Column #29: Mid-Year Update

July 22, 2009 Column #28: The Fairway Foundation gets it done, Minnesota struts its stuff in Kansas City

July 15, 2009 Column #27: Mismanagement forced re-bid of Marquette and 2nd Avenue Project. Cover-up keeps city council in the dark.

July 8, 2009 Column #26: Investigation of Mineapolis skinhead cops comes too late. The damage has been done.

July 1, 2009 Column #25: The Withholding of Evidence in the matter of the wrongful death trial of Fong Lee


Quarter 2: April thru June

June 24, 2009 Column #24: City harassment campaign targets Somali cabdrivers

June 17, 2009 Column #23: New colonial masters fill our leadership vacuum.Foundation, Committee of 40 plan Black community changes

June 10, 2009 Column #22: Let's admit it: Some judges are bad. Conduct of Fong Lee trial is a case in point.

June 3, 2009 Column #21: Complaint to Minneapolis Civil Rights Department lands man in jail

May 27, 2009 Column #20: The passing of Cliff Burns, Sr. A Black bowling legend passes from the game and community.

May 20, 2009 Column #19: Commission is last line of defense for Mpls civil rights. A no-confidence vote could clear the air.

May 13, 2009 Column #18: Mutiny on the HMS Civil Rights Department

May 6, 2009 Column #17: Courageous witness may expose race-based MPD corruption

April 22, 2009 Column #16: Fong Lee case raises many troubling questions. Many concern what the grand jury may or may not have been told.

April 15, 2009 Column #15: Is the end near for the Minneapolis Civil Rights Department?

April 8, 2009 Column #14: Dominic, Fong and Quincy: the death of three men of color at the hands of the MPD

April 1, 2009 Column #13: Race card in the Fourth Ward


Quarter 1: January thru March

March 25, 2009 Column #12: Attempt to discredit Blacks for White MPD misdeeds has failed. Upcoming corruption trial of the century will expose the farce.

March 18, 2009 Column #11: B. Todd Jones is an excellent nominee for U.S. attorney

March 11, 2009 Column #10: Why not axe the whole Mpls Civil Rights Department? That would at least openly acknowledge its current impotence.

March 4, 2009 Column #9: So much for free speech, so much for the mercy of the court: Carl Eller denied justice, dignity

February 25, 2009 Column #8: With stimulus funds coming, where's the plan for inclusion?

February 18, 2009 Column #7: Where's the plan to ensure Blacks benefit from economic stimulus? Now's the time to ask your representatives.

February 11, 2009 Column #6: Star Tribune continues to carry water for City, MPD

February 4, 2009 Column #5: Homicide of Quincy Smith warrants federal inquiry

January 28, 2009 Column #4: The task begins: the Presidency of Barack Obama

January 21, 2009 Column #3: Is the MPD in service to a parallel government?

January 14, 2009 Column #2: No Black face on White corruption means no investigation. Strib's treatment of the MPD shows loss of journalistic integrity

January 7, 2009 Column #1: Nonprofits, foundations face funding crisis. Are contingency plans in place to safeguard communities of color?


Ron hosts “Black Focus” on Channel 17, MTN-TV, Sundays, 5-6 pm. Formerly head of the Minneapolis Civil Rights Commission and the Urban League, he continues his “watchdog” role for Minneapolis.

Order his books at www.BeaconOnTheHill.com. Hear his voice, read his solution papers, and read his between columns “web log” at www.TheMinneapolisStory.com.

Permission is granted to reproduce The Minneapolis Story columns, blog entires and solution papers. Please cite the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder and www.TheMinneapolisStory.com for the columns. Please cite www.TheMinneapolisStory.com for blog entries and solution papers.

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