Meeting Sue Hunter Weir
By JOHN ANDERSEN
“Gee, I didn’t know that.”
When Sue Hunter Weir writes an article for the alley, getting that response from a reader makes her smile. Yesterday we met in person and talked about her volunteer work.
Back in the 1990s there was a false narrative about the “poor, pitiful people” in the “crime ridden” Phillips Neighborhood. Sue, a longtime resident, got fed up with it. So, she hatched the idea of researching and writing about the lives of the people buried in the local Pioneers and Soldiers Memorial Cemetery. She wanted to tell a more accurate story.
After having published more than 200 biographies over a 25-year span, she has completely changed that narrative.
In our chat, Sue started by mentioning John Effert, an unskilled railroad laborer who died in a work accident in 1911 and is buried in the cemetery. Effert, an activist, had only been in the USA a few years. He was a Russian Jew who had been part of a plot to overthrow the Russian Army, and therefore had to flee.
Sue taught me a bit about organized labor history. I had no idea that Minneapolis was once a hotbed for Trotskyites. They were supporters of Leon Trotsky, one of the key leaders alongside Lenin in the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution.… Read the rest “Meeting Sue Hunter Weir”
Introducing Jake Ryan!
Jake Ryan’s illustrations will be gracing the pages of the alley for a little while, adding pen and ink flare to some of our articles. He kindly drew our namesake as an introduction. Can you spot which article he illustrated this month?
Jake is a South Minneapolis born illustrator, copywriter, whiskey distilling DJ, who loves the outdoors and art in all its forms. He generally spends his time lurking around cafes, going to shows, and running.
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Something I Said: Oct ’23
Black Books Matter
By 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 good measure, at a busy bus stop.
Why is this a good thing for anyone except black folk? Well, I guess others who are curious to learn can take a good look-see. But, being there is a good enough reason.… Read the rest “Something I Said: Oct ’23”