On Saturday, August 16, the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder (MSR) celebrated an extraordinary milestone: 91 years of storytelling, service, and steadfast presence in Minnesota’s Black community. The newly renovated Renaissance Minneapolis Hotel, The Depot, in the heart of the Mill District, provided an elegant backdrop for an evening that was as much about the future as it was about honoring the past.
From the moment guests arrived for the 6 p.m. reception, the space buzzed with anticipation. Sequined gowns brushed past sharp tuxedos, while laughter and conversation filled the grand lobby. This was more than a gala — it was a gathering of generations, a living archive of the people who have read, written for, and been shaped by the MSR since its founding in 1934.
The program, hosted by the ever-charismatic T. Mychael Rambo, a three-time regional Emmy Award winner, struck the balance between celebration and reflection. The evening’s entertainment reminded us that art is also a form of storytelling…