In the early 1970’s, Native American youth were experiencing discrimination in the Twin Cities public schools that created turmoil and high drop out rates. This lead to the creation of an alternative accredited educational place named The Red School House. KFAI's Dixie Treichel filed this report. 

"Being at Red School House, you didn’t have anyone telling you you couldn’t be who you are," said Dorene Day, a former Red School House student. "We were encouraged to delve into every aspect of our life as a Native person."

The Red School House began in February of 1972. The idea was hatched by concerned parent Charlotte Day alosngside St Paul American Indian Movement Executive Director Edward Benton-Benai. Day and Benton-Benai then developed the concept with members of the community. First Person Radio interviewed Edward Benton-Benai  in 1976.

"So our relationship with the public school system of St. Paul has not been one of  romance. They had threatened to pick all the kids up from school and  charge them with truancy at one time. When that call came, we sent out a call to the Indian community.  In about 40 minutes  there were about 250 Indians that surrounded the building and dared them to come and get the kids. And we knew too that we had a responsibility to live up to an that was the maintaining and enlarging of the school."

This work is funded in part by the Minnesota Humanities Center with money from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund that was created with the vote of the people of Minnesota on November 4, 2008. 

Photograph Courtesy of the American Indian Movement Interpretive Center

First Person Plural | Self-Determination and Other Teachings of the Red School House

In July 1981, the New York Times published an article about a mysterious illness plaguing gay men in New York City. After reading the article, Bruce Brockway, a gay activist and publisher of the Twin Cities' first LGBT newspaper, turned to his partner and said, "I think I have that." That was AIDS and Bruce was right. Numbers-wise, Minnesota was never a hot zone of infection. But for the Minnesotans living with HIV/AIDS, the struggles were the same: to stay alive and to fight the homophobia that wanted to ignore an epidemic dismissed as a gay man's disease. This is their story, reported and narrated by KFAI's Britt Aamodt.

Photo: Bruce Brockway and Rene Valdes. Support for MinneCulture on KFAI comes from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

Ep. 29: Generation AIDS

Anthony Brutus Cassius was questioned by the FBI, fought to be the first Black person in Minnesota to get a liquor license, and his famous greasy burgers were once mentioned on the Johnny Carson show. But above all, starting in the 1930s, Cassius created space for the Twin Cities Black community to eat, drink, organize and connect. Even today, there are hardly any Black-owned bars or restaurants in the Twin Cities. Cassius' story helps us to understand how we got here.  

“The Godfather of Black Space in Minneapolis” traces Cassius’ life and impact as a labor organizer, civil rights leader, and entrepreneur. This episode of the MinneCulture Podcast was produced by food writer and chef Mecca Bos and audio journalist Nancy Rosenbaum. It’s the first installment in the Hidden Black Foodways of Minnesota -- an audio documentary and podcast series that will spotlight untold and under-told stories of Minnesota’s Black food makers and pioneers.

Special thanks to the Minnesota Historical Society for the A.B. Cassius oral history audio in this episode. Thanks also goes out to Katie Myhre, Brandt Williams and Brian Lozenski. 

Find more work by Mecca Bos at meccaboswrites.com and Nancy Rosenbaum at nancyrosenbaum.com.

Support for the MinneCulture Podcast comes from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund and the Hennepin History Museum. 

Photo courtesy of the Hennepin County Library and the children of John Glanton. Find more photos from the John F. Glanton Collection here: https://bit.ly/2T449bY

Ep. 30: The Godfather of Black Space in Minneapolis

This is First Person Plural on KFAI, produced in partnership with MinneCulture and Migizi Communications, with newly digitized radio archives of the nationally syndicated Native American radio program, First Person Radio. 

Writer and scholar Gerald Vizenor, of the White Earth Nation, wrote the screenplay for the film Harold of Orange in 1983 while teaching at the University of Minnesota. It’s a playful film about a modern day trickster played by Native American actor/comedian Charlie Hill (Oneida). Set in Minnesota and filled with comedy and irony, the film explores the interaction between Native Americans and philanthropic foundations.It premiered in Minneapolis in 1984 at the Uptown Theater.

Photo courtesy Vision Maker Media

This work is funded in part by the Minnesota Humanities Center with money from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund that was created with the vote of the people of Minnesota on November 4, 2008.”

Search for more First Person Plural Stories at KFAI.org.

First Person Plural | Harold of Orange: Gerald Vizenor's Silver Screen Trickster

The art of writing a good joke welds a lot of power. A good joke can drive the plot of a TV sit-com, can spark political controversy … or, in this case, sell an oil change. KFAI’s Matthew Schneman spoke with a few auto mechanics about how they’ve made writing jokes part of their business. KFAI's Matthew Schneeman has the story.

Support for MinneCulture on KFAI comes from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

Mechanics Expound on the Perfect Roadside Quip

The Minnesota Twins aren’t short on iconic players who have won the hearts of fans over the years. One of them is Tony Oliva, who overcame obstacles in making his way from his home in Cuba to Major League Baseball, where he became a fierce hitter in the team’s early years, eventually receiving one of the sport’s highest honors. Sportswriter Thom Henninger has written a biography about the Twin’s Great, “Tony Oliva: The Life and Times of a Minnesota Twins Legend.” Mike Moen talks with Henninger about Olivia’s life and career.

Photo: In 1965, Tony Oliva became the first player ever to win batting crowns in his first two full seasons. 
Photo Courtesy of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum

MinneCulture on KFAI is supported by the Minnesota Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund.

From Cuba’s Farm Diamonds to MLB Glory, the Twins’ Tony Oliva Carves Out a Long Path to Cooperstown

Ta-Coumba Aiken and Seitu Jones are two Twin Cities-based artists with international reputations. Forty years ago, the two were part of the vibrant African American Cultural Center, a place where Black Art was being nurtured, rediscovered, and celebrated. KFAI's Sheila Regan about the Center's history, and its legacy that continues today. 

Image: Cover of pamphlet for "Reclaiming Our Legacy": The 6th Annual Black Arts Festival presented by The African American Cultural Center. At the Martin Luther King Center, Saint Paul, Minnesota. 1983. Contributed by: University of Minnesota Libraries, Archie Givens, Sr. Collection of African American Literature.

The African American Cultural Center: A History of Collaboration and Connection in Minnesota

Nostalgia can be hard to pin down. What exactly makes something feel old school? What makes it feel like you’re ‘stepping back in time’? In South Minneapolis, Tom's Popcorn Shop has that effect. The store has a retro 60’s-esque logo and an old school candy shoppe feel. But reporter Matthew Schneeman found the biggest element may just be Tom himself. 

Support for MinneCulture on KFAI has been provided by the Minnesota Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund.

A Tale As Old as Tom: Getting to Know the Tom of Tom's Popcorn Shop

This documentary was produced by Britta Greene and James Napoli, and edited by Julie Censullo. Special thanks to Jim Leary and the Center for the Study of Upper Midwestern Cultures (https://csumc.wisc.edu/) at the University of Wisconsin-Madison for sharing many of the audio recordings included in this piece, including from the Down Home Dairyland recordings (https://uwpress.wisc.edu/books/2916.htm). Additional thanks to Rob McGinley Myers, Nancy Rosenbaum, Sophie Nikitas, Cris Anderson and members of the Upper Midwest Folk Fiddlers. 

You can find more of Mike’s research and recordings on his websites: Upper Midwest Old Time (https://uppermidwestoldtime.blogspot.com/) and the Midwest Fiddle Tunes Project (https://minnesotafiddle.blogspot.com/)

Support for MinneCulture on KFAI is provided by the Minnesota Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund. MinneCulture is hosted by John Gebretatose.

Saving Minnesotan Old Time Music

KSTP-AM is one of Minnesota’s oldest and formerly most successful radio stations. By the 90's, it had been mostly forgotten, as fans flocked to FM. While music fans enjoyed the stereophonic sounds on the other side of the dial, a new form of radio program began to emerge. Before long, talk radio flourished across the United States, and nowhere was it strong than at “The Talk Station.” 

Fueled by a desire to shake up the radio landscape, Hubbard Broadcasting’s Ginny Morris took charge of the station and hired a new set of voices in the Twin Cities to break up the status quo. It was an eclectic cast of characters, and none of them were more unique than Tommy Mischke. Left to his own devices and given the keys to a late night kingdom, the renegade broadcaster blazed his own path. Hear from his colleagues and managers to get the inside story about what made The Mischke Broadcast one of Minnesota’s favorite radio shows, it’s legacy and why it’s a show that could only happen here.

Today, Tommy Mischke might be known as a podcaster and book author, but long before that he known by Twin Cities radio fans as only “The Phantom Caller.” 

This documentary was produced Kyle Shiely and edited by Julie Censullo. Hear more classic Mischke bits at MischkeMadness.com and keep up with Tommy at the Mischke Roadshow podcast. Find more of Kyle’s work at kyleshiely.com. 

MinneCulture is hosted by John Gebretatose and edited and executive produced by Julie Censullo. Support for MinneCulture on KFAI is provided by the Minnesota Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund.

The Phantom Caller of the Twin Cities

Take a dive into comedic history in this story about the beginnings of the Brave New Workshop. 

The Brave New Workshop was founded by a former circus former named Dudley Riggs. In the mid 20th century, a new kind of humor was taking the world by storm, and Riggs tapped into the zeitgeist of improvisation that had no limits. Hear from past and present company members, archival audio, and Riggs himself in this celebration of comedy that speaks to its time. 

Produced by Sheila Regan.

MinneCulture is hosted by John Gebretatose and edited by Julie Censullo.

The Instant Theater Zeitgeist

In the 1970s, lesbian and feminist organizations popped up in cities across the nation. Minneapolis and Saint Paul were no exception. Here in the Twin Cities, the Amazon Feminist Book Store, Lesbian Resource Center, and Lesbian Feminist Organizing Committee all provided space and community for newly out lesbians and queer women.

At the same time, a small network of transgender women started their own type of organizing, one that relied more on mutual support than a physical meeting place.

But these groups weren’t mutually exclusive. In the late 1970s, a trans woman named Sissy Potter tried to join a lesbian feminist group called A Woman’s Coffee House. She’s probably not the only one, either. On this episode of MinneCulture from producer Kira Schukar, Sissy’s letter sparks a conversation about feminism, gender, and transfeminism in the Twin Cities and beyond.

Content warning: This podcast contains a transphobic slur and comments.

Photo courtesy of Sissy Poettler.

MinneCulture is hosted by John Gebretatose and edited by Julie Censullo. 

Sources:

“2023 Anti-Trans Legislation.” Trans Legislation Tracker, https://translegislation.com/bills/2023. Accessed 26 Mar. 2024.

2023 State Equality Index: A Review of State Legislation Affecting the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Community and a Look Ahead in 2024. Human Rights Campaign Foundation, 2024, https://reports.hrc.org/2023-state-equality-index?_ga=2.7211186.1288380725.1706647812-211073266.1705959553.

Enke, Finn. “Collective Memory and the Transfeminist 1970s: Toward a Less Plausible History.” TSQ: Transgender Studies Quarterly, vol. 5, no. 1, Feb. 2018, pp. 9–29.
---. Finding the Movement: Sexuality, Contested Space, and Feminist Activism. Duke University Press, 2007.
---. “Smuggling Sex through the Gates: Race, Sexuality, and the Politics of Space in Second Wave Feminism.” American Quarterly, vol. 55, no. 4, Dec. 2003, pp. 635–67.

Franklin, Michael David, et al., editors. Queer Twin Cities. University of Minnesota Press, 2010.

Grossman, Mary Ann. “Pioneering True Colors Feminist Bookstore Expected to Close in February.” Twin Cities Pioneer Press, 27 Dec. 2011, https://www.twincities.com/2011/12/27/pioneering-true-colors-feminist-bookstore-expected-to-close-in-february/.

McNaron, Toni. “About Toni.” Toni McNaron, https://tonimcnaron.com/about/. Accessed 26 Mar. 2024.

Van Cleve, Stewart. Land of 10,000 Loves: A History of Queer Minnesota. University of Minnesota Press, 2012.

Whitaker, Jan. “‘Way Out’ Coffeehouses.” Restaurant-Ing Through History, 28 Sept. 2009, https://restaurant-ingthroughhistory.com/2009/09/28/way-out-coffeehouses/.

'Sissy' as in Sister

On a beautiful mid-August weekend on Palmer’s patio, 24 musicians signed up to perform  in the 48 Hour Band Contestival — the first Contestival in 8 years. The six bands of four were randomly put together, regardless of their skill level or instrument. Over a mere 48 hours, they met up to produce, practice and perform 2 -3 songs on the patio of Palmer's Bar to a large audience and a panel of celebrity judges.

The Contestival began nearly 20 years ago, in the 7th Street Entry. Grant Hart of Hüsker Dü was one of the judges. It was continued at the Hexagon for years, with musician/booker Luc Parker at the helm. 

The Contestival brings community together, forging new friendships and sometimes, the formation of new bands. One was Wet Denim, whose members Claire Zach Swenson and Billy Luetzen were emcees this year. Wet Denim performed the sign-up night, with Butter Boys and stand-up comedian, DeVon Bland.

This year's 48 hours Band Contestival culminated in some wildly surprising  performances. The Contestival drew a large crowd —  many returning fans, and many who had never experienced it.

KFAI’s Cyn Collins attended the event and spoke with organizer Luc Parker, and some of the participants and attendees.

Support for MinneCulture on KFAI is provided by the MInnesota Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund.

24 musicians, 6 bands, and 48 hours of brand new music

Sound is powerful tool. Throughout human history, it's has been used to boost morale during war, to help people work more efficiently and to ward off evil spirits.  The concept of using sound to heal goes back to ancient Greece. 

Sound vibrations in and of themselves contain resonance that have a powerful effect on our bodies and minds. Research shows us that sound healing can slow down our brain waves and put our bodies in a very relaxed, dreamlike state. It may also be able to help with certain physical and mental health conditions.

A Sound Journey – or Sound Bath – is a guided meditation that harnesses this power for therapeutic and restorative effect. During a session, a participant lies down in a comfortable setting with closed eyes and allows the sound from a myriad of instruments like chimes, singing bowls, gongs and drums to wash over them. The relaxing resonance acts like concentric rings, building on itself and helping to release blockages, expand awareness and inspire.

Sound Practitioner and Singer/Songwriter Annie Fitzgerald leads a one-hour group Sound Journey in numerous locations throughout Minnesota including Saint Mark’s Cathedral every other Thursday. Everyone is welcome!

https://anniefitzgerald.com/events/
https://ourcathedral.org/event/sound-journey-meditation-with-annie-fitzgerald/2024-06-27/

Support for MinneCulture on KFAI is provided by the Minnesota Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund

Good Vibrations: Annie Fitzgerald bring vibrational healing to St. Mark's Cathedral

Lunch with Casey opened with a clip of an old steam engine chugging along, the titular Casey waving out the window. Kids would hear this theme song and come running to have their lunch in front of the television set with Casey Jones and his sidekick Roundhouse Rodney.

The show was produced by Roger Awsumb (Casey Jones) and Lynn Dwyer (Roundhouse Rodney). Awsumb and Dwyer wrote the scripts scavenged props, and answered the phone calls from the parents calling in with their kid’s name to be read on air for their birthdays. This birthday shout-out segment became so popular that they had to request parents send post cards in advance of the actual air date.

Lunch with Casey debuted in May of 1954. It was filmed live with cartoon and commercial breaks. The show aired on WTCN-TV channel 11 here in the Twin Cities. Viewers today would recognize this channel as KARE-TV.

For those of you who remember Lunch with Casey, enjoy this little trip down memory lane. 

This story was written and produced by Rmay Rivard. Archived audio of Lunch with Casey is courtesy of KARE-TV Channel 11. Support for MinneCulture is provided by the Minnesota Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund. 

Grab your lunch and eat it with Casey

Ashley Ann Rukes was a transgender woman who changed the Twin Cities Pride Parade forever. As the  parade director, she improved the parade's organization and began adding a wider variety of participants. By 2000, the parade was the largest of any kind in Minnesota and surrounding states. 

Ashley passed away unexpectedly in June 2000, and the Pride Committee decided to name the parade in her honor: The Ashley Rukes GLBT Pride Parade. KFAI's Dixie Treichel tells this story of Minnesota Pride history. 

Archival audio courtesy of the Tretter Collection in GLBT Studies, the Minnesota Historical Society, and KFAI.

Ashley Rukes loved a parade

Halima Osman lives in Minnesota. She's an educational assistant and founder of Mothers Tutoring Academy. Upon first glance, you wouldn't imagine the lives she lived before her arrival in the United States.

From being one of the only women to graduate in Somalia at the time with degrees in Mathematics & Physics to surviving civil war. Her wisdom breaks through glass and touches hearts. Halima's daughter, Sundus Hassan Nooli, shares this portrait of her mother's life. 

Support for MinneCulture on KFAI is provided by the Minnesota Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund.

Listen to your elders: a portrait of Halima Osman

With a population of about 1,300 people, Grand Marais, Minn., located on the North Shore of Lake Superior, changes dramatically when some 10,000 people arrive to join the celebratory atmosphere that is Fisherman’s Picnic.

The annual celebration of local culture (and fish) typically takes place the first weekend in August. One aspect of Fish Pic that many choose to engage in happens under a bingo tent, as KFAI contributor Joe Friedrichs shares in this report.

This story was written and produced by Joe Friedrichs. Erika Janik is the managing editor of MinneCulture. Support for MinneCulture is provided by the Minnesota Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund.

Inside the bingo tent at Fisherman's Picnic

Tameka Jones grew up on Aurora St. in the historically Black neighborhood of Rondo in St Paul. 

Since she was a child, she’s felt out of place, and struggled to reconcile the differences between where she lived, where she learned, and why she was treated so differently. 

In those years, what illuminated her path to understanding was her grandmother’s all loving acceptance. And now she honors her grandmother’s memory and teachings through her lipstick business, located right by her childhood home. 

This story was written and produced by Sundus Hassan Nooli. Erika Janik is the managing editor of MinneCulture. Support for MinneCulture is provided by the Minnesota Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund.

Listen to your elders: a portrait of Tameka Jones

November 10th marks fifty years since the Edmund Fitzgerald vanished beneath the dark waters of Lake Superior. One of the Great Lakes’ largest freighters, she carried a heavy load of iron ore when a fierce gale struck, overwhelming the vessel and sinking her before any distress signal could be sent. All 29 crew members were lost. The story might have faded from memory were it not for a song by the Canadian folksinger Gordon Lightfoot. His song captured the tragedy in a haunting ballad that kept the memory of the ship and the storm alive. 

This story was written and produced by Alison Young. Erika Janik is the managing editor of MinneCulture on KFAI.


Support for MinneCulture on KFAI is provided by the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund. For more stories like this check out the MInneculture tab on KFAI.org

Remembering the Edmund Fitzgerald 50 Years Later

If you've ever driven on Snelling Aveneue in St. Paul, down by Highland Park High School, you've probably seen the Highland Park Water Tower, even if you didn't know it. Standing at 127 feet tall, it is a beautiful 1928 stone tower located on one of the highest points in St. Paul, making it the perfect place to store water, and see a unique view of the Twin Cities. Though it was decommissioned in 2017, the tower is open to the public twice a year - in July and October - so that everyone can experience the walk up to, and view from, the top of this historic building.

This story was written and produced by Hans Buetow. Erika Janik is the managing editor of Minneculture. Support for MinneCulture is provided by the Minnesota Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund.

Climbing to the top of the Highland Water Tower

Inspired by his love of punk and garage band music of the 1980s, Jon Clifford started a hair salon by Loring Park in Minneapolis in 2011. It’s a funky, one-of-a-kind place helmed by a funky, one-of-a-kind guy filled with music and Minnesota music memorabilia. Jon later added a record store with John Kass, focusing on local music, next to the salon; hence the name HiFi Hair and Records with “the best waiting room in the city.”

A welcoming place for a hair cut, the salon is filled with Jon’s craftsmanship, humor, quirkiness, creativity, and a feel good sense of community. 

This episode was written and produced by Dixie Treichel. Erika Janik is the managing editor of MinneCulture. Support for MinneCulture on KFAI is provided by the Minnesota Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund.


A Rock ’n Roll Hair Salon

In the 1990s, for a brief four years the radio station 93.7 The Edge popped up and imprinted itself onto the minds and hearts of many young Minnesotans who were aching for new music: The Cranberries, Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and No Doubt. Radio back then wasn’t just a way to listen to music, but to discover music. The station also hosted EdgeFest which forged even stronger memories. Every generation has a nostalgic love for the music of their youth and Edge fans are no different—perhaps even more adoring. KFAI’s Matthew Schneeman talked to these fans, now all grown up, about their love for The Edge and nineties alt-rock.

MinneCulture is edited by Erika Janik. Support for MinneCulture on KFAI comes from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

Let it Linger: Memories of 93.7 The Edge

The Augie Garcia Quintet played rock ‘n’ roll in 1954 before they knew what to call it — Augie described their sound as rhythm-and-blues with a shuffle and a “hard sock.” The Minnesota Music Hall of Fame says the band likely recorded Minnesota’s first rock record.

Raised at the West Side Flats in St. Paul, Augie became known as a showman who danced on the piano and dressed year-round in Bermuda shorts tailored by his mother. He assembled a strong group of musicians that included Willie Brown on sax, Maurice Turner on bass (Prince’s uncle) and James “Cornbread” Harris (producer Jimmy Jam’s father).

At age 98, Cornbread can still play the River Road Boogie. Speaking to KFAI, he shares his memories of wild performances at the River Road Club. Plus, the time Elvis’s manager kicked the band offstage.


This story was written and produced by Michelle Bruch. Erika Janik is MinneCulture's Managing Editor. Support for MinneCulture is provided by the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

Sources: Minnesota Music Hall of Fame; “Under the bridge hides a hot guitar,” Star Tribune, March 29 1955; “Swede’s swings in long pants,” Star Tribune, July 11 1960; “Augie Garcia: A look at the Twin Cities’ original rock and roller,” Insider: The Midwest Music News Magazine, September 1972 issue; “Whatever Happened to Augie Garcia,” PBS NightTimes Magazine, Feb. 3 1981; “‘50s rock 'n' roll star in his 60s having a ball in the '90s,” Star Tribune, July 8 1993; “’Hi Yo Silver!’ Area rock pioneer Augie Garcia to ride again,” St. Paul Pioneer Press, April 15 1996; “Ride to raise funds for Korean War Memorial,” St. Paul Pioneer Press, June 7 1996; “Mystery album hits sour note for pioneer rocker Garcia,” St. Paul Pioneer Press, August 19 1996; “Twin Cities musician Augie Garcia dies at 67,” Star Tribune, Aug 7 1999; The Current Presents “Augie Garcia: The Godfather of Minnesota Rock n' Roll” by Jacquie Fuller, July 26 2012; Graceland/Elvis Presley Enterprises; “Elvis Day by Day,” by Peter Guralnick; Augie Garcia 1996 concert on VHS at Gale Family Library; “From the Flats to the Future: Understanding Displacement on St. Paul’s West Side,” June 2024 report by Research In Action; “Deeper Blues: The Life, Songs, and Salvation of Cornbread Harris,” by Andrea Swensson.

Music credit: “Drinking Wine Spoli Oli,” performed by the Augie Garcia Quintet. “Hello Baby,” performed by the Augie Garcia Quintet. Used with permission from the Garcia family.


Sound credit: Restaurant background walla and dishes by craigsmith, Old Vinyl Record Crackle by WhiteNoiseSleeper at freesound.org. 

Photos courtesy of the Garcia family. 

When Augie Garcia’s band rocked the River Road Club

Did you know that there are more than 300 public library branches in Minnesota?  It takes a lot of people-power to keep things running smoothly. Many of these libraries are supported by avid book lovers who volunteer as part of their libraries’ friends group. 

KFAI producer Rmay Rivard caught up with a group of retirees in Brainerd dedicated to the support of their local library.

Support for MinneCulture is provided by the Minnesota Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund.



The Book Loving Friends Behind Your Local Library

In the summer of 1931, Arthur and Edith Lee, bought a home in South Minneapolis and caught hell. They were black. The neighborhood was white. The Lees withstood 1,000 plus-strong mob intimidation, and hate crimes that commanded national headlines and would scar their young daughter for years before fleeing in fall 1933. KFAI’s Will Wright reports on one stubborn family's fight to make a home. (Photo: The Crisis, October 1931.)

Minneapolis 1931: A Blitzkrieg of Bigotry

How can you forget the one Halloween in your life that came with two feet of snow? KFAI's Britt Aamodt was studying biology at Gustavus Adolphus College when a record snowstorm blasted its way into her life. She wasn't alone in experiencing the legendary Halloween Blizzard of 1991, a storm that closed schools, shuttered stores and workplaces and left an indelible memory on those that experienced it. (Photo by Peter Boulay)

The Halloween Blizzard of '91: A Mix Tape in 6 Songs and 2 Feet of Snow

America's attempt to separate Native children from their families didn't end with boarding schools. In the decades after World War II, the U.S. government created the Indian Adoption Project, an effort designed to place Native kids with white parents. In this one-hour documentary, producer Melissa Olson explores the personal and historical impact of this policy. Her Ojibwe mother, Judy Olson, was raised by a white family. So were the mothers of several friends. The emotional impact of the Indian Adoption Project — and similar state projects — continues today. Produced by Melissa Olson and Ryan Katz. Edited by Todd Melby. (Photo: Kip Moon, Courtesy of Kip Moon.)

Stolen Childhoods

Minnesota's own Jayhawks have been defining Americana for three decades. Check out this blast from the past a "Live from Minnesota" performance recorded September 4, 2014 with the Jayhawks at the Turf Club in St. Paul. Produced and mixed by Tom Garneau. (Photo: Gary Louris of the Jayhawks. Photo by LivePict.com, Wikipedia.)

Live from Minnesota: The Jayhawks

Jess Hirsch visited Sweden to learn how to carve spoons. Now she's an advocate of "slug slöjd," a clever artistic technique favoring axes and saws over power tools. KFAI's Angela Lundberg reports.

She's Sly — With An Axe

Choral conductor Tesfa Wondemagegnehu believes vocal music can help change the world. In 2017, he co-founded the Justice Choir movement in Minneapolis. It hopes to bridge the gap of social injustice through music, dialogue, and community activism. KFAI's Dixie Treichel produced this audio portrait. (Photo by Johnny Goodson, St. Olaf College.)

Singing for Justice

The Mendota Dakota tribal community honored arborist Dan Keiser at their annual pow wow in September of 2019. Keiser goes by "Oak Man," a nickname he acquired during the years-long standoff over the construction of Highway 55 in the late 90s.  The protest pitted environmental activists and native communities against MnDOT. A central symbol of the fight were four bur oak trees, well over 100 years old, that native communities believed to be sacred, and highway officials said needed to be cleared. The highway ultimately won out, and — 20 years ago this December — the trees came down. But behind the scenes, Keiser took cuttings from the oaks and brought them to an expert who was able to graft them onto new saplings. Keiser then transplanted the grafted trees on the historic grounds of St. Peter's church in Mendota, and still cares for them today. Story by Brigitta Greene for KFAI's MinneCulture. (Photo Courtesy of Brigitta Greene) 
Support for MinneCulture is made possible by the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

Dan Keiser, The Oak Man

In the days after Minneapolis police killed George Floyd, youth-led protests in the city helped spark rebellions around the globe. The police, military, and white supremacist groups all responded. President Trump blamed the protests on “antifa” and called for participants to be labeled terrorists.

Anti-Racist Action (ARA) started in Minneapolis and is a predecessor to the crews often now called antifa. ARA started in 1987 with a multiracial group of teenage skinheads who fought the rising white power movement. It grew into a network of groups in at least 120 towns and cities across the U.S. and Canada. ARA’s first principle was: “We go where they go. Never let the Nazis have the streets.” They eventually applied that not only to white power organizing, but to homophobic and anti-abortion organizing, and to police violence, which they saw as all connected.

Told through vivid first-person accounts, archival audio, and music from the era, “Fighting Back: The Rise of Anti-Racist Action in Minneapolis” starts under the railroad tracks in Uptown, Minneapolis and traces a movement that continues to shape the U.S. to this day.

(Photo Courtesy of Kara La Lomia)

"Fighting Back: The Rise of Anti-Racist Action in Minneapolis"  is produced by Anna Stitt. Alexis "Lex Amor" Adimora composed the original score. 

"Fighting Back: The Rise of Anti-Racist Action in Minneapolis" is a production of KFAI's MinneCulture. Funding for MinneCulture made possible by the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

Anna Stitt is a fiscal year 2020 recipient of an Artist Initiative grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board. This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation by the Minnesota State Legislature; and by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts.

Fighting Back: The Rise of Anti-Racist Action in Minneapolis

MinneCulture is KFAI’s award-winning audio storytelling program. We produce audio documentaries exploring Minnesota’s art, culture, and history — stories about musical sensations, small town heroes, cultural icons, local lore, and everything in between. We produce two types of stories: short form under the name "10,000 Fresh Voices" and long form under the name "MinneCulture"

KFAI's MinneCulture

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