February is Black History Month, a time to honor, celebrate, and recognize the contributions of Black and African Americans nationally and within our communities. We strive to celebrate Black history past and present at Seward Co-op, and this Black History Month, we wanted to highlight a community partner: Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder (MSR). In August of 2024, MSR celebrated their 90th anniversary as the state’s oldest Black-owned business and longest-running Black newspaper. It initially began as two separate entities, The Minneapolis Spokesman and the St. Paul Recorder, led by civil rights activist Cecil E. Newman. In 2000, the two papers merged into the Spokesman-Recorder, which has been a family-owned business throughout its lifetime. Currently, the CEO is Newman’s granddaughter, Tracey Williams-Dillard, who took over in 2007.
Honoring Local Black History
Local Legacies in a Historic Black Corridor
Kitty corner from where the Friendship store sits in the Bryant neighborhood is the location of the building Newman build in 1954 to house the newspaper. Bryant has been, and remains a neighborhood with a larger Black population and is notable for many things. It’s the neighborhood where the musician Prince grew up and where Moe Burton started the Bryant-Central Co-op in the 1970s. It’s where the Sabathani Community Center still thrives and where the Tilsenbilt Homes Historic district is—single family homes built as part of the first interracial housing project in the country. It’s where MSR grew, too. For over 90 years MSR has communicated hyper-local and relevant information catered to the Black and African American community.
Partnering for Community
Seward Co-op has been in partnership with MSR since the Friendship store opened down the street in 2015. We’ve worked with them to advertise and partner on events like the one we’re hosing in February (more details below). Williams-Dillard says the presence of the coop meant having fresh fruits and veggies and deli products for the neighborhood, a positive for a community that for a long time did not have a nearby grocery store. “The relationship means a great deal to the MSR. It shows a commitment to the MSR and the Community,” said Williams-Dillard. We at Seward Co-op are honored to continue our partnership with MSR and celebrate their continued contributions to the community. Learn more about their 90th anniversary celebration at www.spokesmanrecorder.com.
Championing Black Voices in MN – Honoring the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
Thursday, Feb. 20, 4:30–5:30 p.m.
Friendship store
Join us in welcoming James L. Stroud Jr., historian and author, for a conversation about the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder, Minnesota’s oldest Black-owned newspaper. Enjoy refreshments and explore the history of the MSR and the activists who founded it. James will share some remarks on the legacy of Black journalism and impact of MSR’s 90 years of being a cultural resource in the Twin Cities, and specifically within the historic corridor of Black culture right here on 38th street.
Free! Registration not required but if you register via Eventbrite you will receive a reminder email the day before the event.
James “Jimmy” L. Stroud, Jr.is a writer and photographer as well as an self-described “house historian” of the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder Newspaper. He currently teaches students K-6 in the St. Paul school district and is working on two book projects.