Real Talk Systemic Racism

Our city and nation convulsed and ruptured in the aftermath of the murder of George Floyd on May 25, 2020, on the Southside of Minneapolis at the intersection of 38th Street and Chicago Avenue. Like thunder and lightning flashing across the prairie, the world heard and listened once again to the cry for recognition of Black humanity and simple justice. George Floyd and Dred Scott walked the same ground in Minnesota and both died trying to get us to acknowledge their human rights.

In May of 1863 the African American population in Minnesota doubled. Learn about the journey from enslavement at Fort Snelling and in the South to segregation, military service, and family settlement around the Hiawatha/ Longfellow community from African American descendants. Presentation will be accompanied by a panel, film, and powerpoint.

We offer stories about three African American families and their descendants to honor and to celebrate the amazing perseverance of African Americans in Minnesota and the greater Longfellow neighborhood.

By sharing the legacy of local families, we hope to inspire and sustain our community as we move forward together.

For more information, contact Bernadette Suwareh at 651.793.1541 or bernadette.suwareh@metrostate.edu.