‘Commentary’ Archives
Something I Said: Oct ’23
Black Books Matter By DWIGHT HOBBES Dwight Hobbes I remember 20, 30 years ago a cheerful proprietor, Pat, owning and operating a black book shop over by the old Dome stadium in the industrial section. Not the best location for foot traffic, but the shelves held some beauties. Books by Jacob Lawrence and Gwendolyn Knight, Chester Himes, Maya Angelou who came through for a signing, and the rewarding opportunity to discover authors you hadn’t known about. And there were culturally specific knick-knacks, greeting cards, that sort of thing. It was a little treasure tucked away. One that didn’t see a lot of appreciation as a rule. Except, of course, that Angelou signing which saw a line clear down the block and, if memory serves, across the street. Eventually, Pat couldn’t keep the doors open.Imaginably, Strive Bookstore (www.strivepublishing.com) will see much support since it’s smack dab in the middle of downtown, on Nicollet Avenue right across from Target Store and, for [...]
Raise Your Voice: Oct ’23
Break on Through By PETER MOLENAAR Peter Molenaar After a tearful goodbye in mid-August, my companion and I returned from the snow-capped peaks of central Oregon, a place where a mere 2,700 years ago, molten lava had inundated the valley. Sadly now, my younger sister suffers a terminal cancer, likely the result of prolonged use of chemicals in the cleaning of rustic second homes owned by the rich. Yes, we all struggle to make ends meet.Hey, after 25 years of my having resided in one place, a 3rd landlord within three years demanded that I empty my basement storage locker, after which he would raise my rent by $150. Note: under the previous lease that voluminous space was filled to the brim with books from the long gone Paul Robeson Marxist Bookstore, and no, I did not relish being temporarily enslaved. Moreover, over a projected 20 years, I was to become bankrupt! So, I gave notice.So then, immediately upon my return from Oregon, I was the subject of an interview with the [...]
