Minnesota Spokesman Recorder, 3744 4th Avenue South, Minneapolis, Minnesota
From Placeography
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Minnesota Spokesman Recorder | |
Address: | 3744 4th Street S |
Neighborhood/s: | Central, Minneapolis, Minnesota |
City/locality- State/province | Minneapolis, Minnesota |
County- State/province: | Hennepin County, Minnesota |
State/province: | Minnesota |
Country: | United States |
Year built: | 1958 |
Primary Style: | Modern |
Historic Function: | Office |
Current Function: | Office |
Architect or source of design: | Vernon K. Hosso |
Builder: | Carlson - LaVine |
Material of Exterior Wall Covering: | Brick |
First Owner: | Cecil Newman |
Contents |
History
The Spokesman-Recorder building is located along 4th Avenue South at 38th Street East: a central location for South Minneapolis’ African American community. During and after World War II, the Central neighborhood and this intersection in particular attracted a large group of African American families. This immigration came with churches and other institutions that are still serving the community today. In the 1940s and 50s the neighborhood was home to grocery stores, banks, shoe stores, barber shops, Central High School,
The buildings was built for, and continues to house, the longest running family owned African American the newspaper in the state founded by editor, publisher, and civic leader, Cecil Newman, who established The Minneapolis Spokesman and the St. Paul Recorder on October 8, 1934.
Newman was an instrumental voice for the African American community in Minnesota because few others cared to share the stories of the African American community.Newman had a the support of a group of political leaders such as Hubert Humphrey, Walter Mondale, Donald Fraser, and individual from the African American community that worked on civil rights issues with him; Nellie Stone Johnson, Gordon Parks, and Carl Rowan.
Tracey Williams-Dillard, granddaughter of Cecil Newman, began working at the Spokesman-Recorder when she was eight years old. Since 2001, she has been the president and chief economic officer of the newspaper. In 2006 she became the Owner and CEO. She still honors the foundation which the Spokesman-Recorder was founded upon.
As it was spoken let us record. We live in an ever-changing world. As technology blurs boundaries, we come in closer contact with our brothers and sisters from around the world. As the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder approaches a new millennium, we are expanding in concert with our constituency, to serve the changing demographics of the African global community. Our goal is to Unite, Serve and Represent that constituency.