This Twin Cities Cultural Treasure to turn 90 years old in August, and
will Commemorate the Occasion with Two First-Class Events
Minneapolis, MN – This August, the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder (MSR), the North Star State’s oldest African American newspaper, officially marks 90 years of impact in the Twin Cities and beyond. Founded on August 10, 1934, by local entrepreneur and legendary Civil Rights activist Cecil E. Newman, the MSR has chronicled local, state, national, and global history for generations and has long been revered as the “voice of Black Minnesota.”
“The history of the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder is synonymous with the history of African Americans in the State of Minnesota,” wrote the late Matthew Little, longtime President and Chairman of the Minneapolis NAACP, “Not only have they documented and archived the Black presence and mobility in the state, but over the years they have played a central advocacy role in African American progress.” Ahead of the festivities, shortly after July 15, the historic publication will be honored with a proclamation from the city of St. Paul, citing August 10, 2024, as Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder Day.
Legacy Yacht Cruise and 90th Anniversary Gala
On the weekend of August 16 and 17, 2024, the MSR will celebrate its extensive history and many accomplishments by hosting unforgettable evenings. The festivities kick off that Friday evening, August 16, from 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm, with the MSR’s 90th Anniversary Legacy Yacht Cruise. Guests will sail down the St. Croix River on the historic Majestic Star, where they’ll experience live entertainment, an all-you-can-eat buffet, and four floors of activities, games, and prizes. For more information on the Legacy Yacht Cruise, including how to get your tickets, please visit https://tix.spokesman-recorder.com/e/legacy-yacht-cruise-on-the-majestic-star. Then, on Saturday night, August 17, at 6:00 pm, the scene will shift to downtown
Minneapolis for the MSR’s 90th Anniversary Gala. This elegant affair will take place along the Mississippi River at the iconic and newly renovated Renaissance Minneapolis Hotel, The Depot. Tables and tickets for the gala, including VIP options, are available now. MSR also offers a “Community Supporter Package.” For more details and how to secure your seats for this one-of-a-kind event, visit our 90th Anniversary Gala webpage at https://cbo.io/tickets/msr/tix. A special group rate has also been reserved for those who would like to stay at the Renaissance Minneapolis Hotel for the gala, and that link can be accessed here https://www.marriott.com/event-reservations/reservation-link.mi?id=1702333862939&key=GRP&app=resvlink.
90 Years of Impact at the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
The MSR’s influence has also spread well beyond the Twin Cities and the borders of the North Star State. Hubert H. Humphrey famously credited Newman with counseling him on the issue of Civil Rights, helping shape local policy throughout the former’s tenure as Mayor of Minneapolis and national policy during his time as Minnesota’s senior senator and the 38th Vice President of the United States. In addition to Newman, other journalistic icons who regularly contributed to and/or called the MSR home include Gordon Parks, Carl Rowan, and Nellie Dodson Russell.
“We are more than just a newspaper, “notes Tracey Williams-Dillard, Newman’s granddaughter and current CEO & Publisher, “Our legacy is rooted in the quest for justice, equity and human rights. The MSR has witnessed and captured the historical moments, trends, and events that have shaped the world over the last century. We’ve earned our rightful place as a trusted voice in media and the larger community through blood, sweat, and tears.”
In addition to the Legacy Yacht Cruise and the 90th Anniversary Gala, the MSR invites everyone to become part of its $90 for 90 Campaign, honoring nine decades of continuous publication. Those who contribute $90 in support of the MSR will have their names prominently displayed in the paper’s print editions through August 15, 2024. To learn how to participate, please go to https://spokesman-recorder.com/__90for90/.
For more information on the MSR, its 90th Anniversary celebration, and to schedule an interview with MSR Publisher and CEO Tracey Williams-Dillard, please contact Tony Kiene via email at tkiene@spokesman-record.com or by telephone at (651) 226-2513.
About the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
The Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder (MSR) enjoys a living legacy as the oldest Black-owned newspaper in Minnesota and one of the longest-standing, family-owned newspapers in the nation. Civil Rights activist and Twin Cities businessman Cecil E. Newman founded the MSR in 1934 as two separate papers: the Minneapolis Spokesman and the St. Paul Recorder, which merged into a single publication in 2000. Today, under the leadership of Newman’s granddaughter Tracey Williams-Dillard, the MSR continues in its time-honored tradition as a trusted voice for the diverse Black communities of Minnesota, championing the perspectives and stories that might otherwise go unread.
The post PRESS ROOM: MINNESOTA SPOKESMAN-RECORDER TO CELEBRATE IN STYLE IN 2024 first appeared on BlackPressUSA.
