Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN) takes questions during a summit on economic reality for black Minnesotans at Franklin Middle School Wednesday evening. A panel of influential black leaders were apart of a panel discussing data, facts and proposed solutions regarding economics in the diverse community.
By ELIZABETH BRUMLEY/Murphy News Service
U.S. Rep. Keith Ellison, (D-Minneapolis) joined a forum of speakers Tuesday evening to discuss the wide and deep economic gap between Minnesota’s diverse black and white communities Tuesday evening at Franklin Middle School.
Parents, social workers, employers and others gathered at Franklin Middle School in North Minneapolis school The forum was co-hosted by State Senator Bobby Joe Champion and State Rep. Rena Moran.
A 2015 census report reveals the drop in annual income for black households from 31,500 annually to 27,000, which is than half the median income of white households.
Ellsion said, “I just think we’ve got to get our act together, combine all our talents and resources, to make sure that everybody in Minnesota, African-Americans too — and when I say African-American, I mean Somalis, East Africans, Liberians — can participate in the environment that we have here.”
Samuel L. Myers Jr., Roy Wilkins Professor of Human Relations and Social Justice and Director of Roy Wilkins Center for Human Relations and Social Justice, said there is no dispute about how wide the gap between racial groups are, that black income has declined and black individuals make 43 cents to every dollar the white dollar.”
The panel and participants each had their own interpretation of the list of problems that leads to that dramatic income difference.
Also speaking at the forum was Samuel L. Myers Jr., Roy Wilkins Professor of Human Relations and Social Justice and Director of Roy Wilkins Center for Human Relations and Social Justice. MURPHY NEWS SERVICE PHOTO BY ELIZABETH BRUMLEY.
Moran said the change needed in Minnesota must be driven by getting qualified people of color into office and Steve Belton of the Minnesota Urban League discussed the vital importance of family in making and change along elevating the status of entrepreneurship.
Mohamud Noor, president of the Confederation of Somali Community in Minnesota, said the largest employees of Somalis in the state are is Somalis, yet the household income is $15,000. “We are in a cycle that needs to be broken,” Noor said, “and how can that be if mom is out working, making minimal income while no one is then with her children. Let’s demand change from within.”
After hearing data and economic status, forum attendees told of their personal hardships.
An attendee who asked to not be named said he has lived in the U.S. for 30 years, has a graduate degree and is struggling to get job interviews. Multiple testimonies had a similar theme.
At one point during the forum, attendees were asked to exchange business cards and information to receive interviews.
The evening ended with a promise from Ellison that the discussion will continue in other forums.
Reporter Elizabeth Brumley is studying journalism at the University of Minnesota
Phalen Pounds waits around for his mother, Nekima Levy-Pounds, elected president of Minneapolis NAACP at Franklin Middle School Tuesday evening.