News & Views of Phillips Since 1976
Friday December 19th 2025
Something I Said
By DWIGHT HOBBES
What”™s the big deal? Why did we need a whole month for the history of black folk? After all, nobody else gets one.
Well, for openers, calm down and console yourself that at least it was the shortest month of the year. Then, consider. Were American History college and grade school classes honest about chronicling what white people did – actually, what they didn”™t do ”“ the record would already have been set straight. Which isn”™t merely a matter of recording facts for facts”™ sake. More than being about data, as Marcus Garvey stated and Dick Gregory quoted, “A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots.” Crucially, youngsters denied that knowledge have little to foster self-esteem outside models mainstream media provides, largely in sports and entertainment ”“ this includes the sorry spectacle of thug rappers brandishing a lifestyle kids blindly believe will take them from the streets to riches and fame but lands legions behind bars in a revolving door industry.
Even aside from that, why not put truth to the historic lie that Caucasians and Caucasians alone made this nation what it is? Unless, of course, you can only feel good about yourself as some sort of master race by looking down on someone else as being inherently less than?… Read the rest “Something I Said”
Keep citizen journalism alive!
Raise Your Voice – Sisters in Spirit
By PETER MOLENAAR
Last month, on delivery of the usual 40 Alley papers to the Minneapolis American Indian Center, the young woman at the desk gave access to the Two Rivers Gallery where a marvelous birch bark canoe is on display. With a twinkle, I inquired: “Who built the first canoe?”
As it happened, thousands of years ago”¦.
It was to be an unusually warm day for late autumn, it seemed. The Aunties exited the sweat lodge, intent upon harvesting the edge of the marsh. Straddling lengths of logs the men had hewn, they would maneuver the water without getting stuck. In tow were the water-tight baskets they themselves had made.
A celebratory fire was stoked near shore for their return. In the shallow, a newborn was placed in a basket for introductions. The gentle rocking induced a contented smile, which erupted in a squeal of delight when a careful spin was applied.
Naturally, the toddlers and somewhat older children converged to demand their turn. This is why the first boat was actually a big round basket, which eventually gave birth to the canoe to facilitate trade between the nations.
So, then”¦
In today”™s world, “Alley territory” extends somewhat beyond the official boundaries of the Phillips Neighborhood.… Read the rest “Raise Your Voice – Sisters in Spirit”