Speaker 0 00:00:00 Burn a whole thing down. Y'all don't really care about a brother till we burn a whole thing down.
Speaker 0 00:00:09 Yeah, we about to go to work. Yeah, we about to let it burn. Extended quill. Yeah, I bet you will try to skip a David lynching us and till and that's really freaking generous cuz honestly they have been killing us since we were property. No stopping me from saying how it is. Listen ain the whizz ain't no easing down the road where we live, that's a biz. We can't go out for a jog with swim for a dog, fall asleep in the car, fall asleep where we live. So we about to let it burn. Just like gusher say they be trying. Butler do not care what Gusher say. Put him back, screens up, make a few bucks. My life isn't marketing who you think you trying to play. Um, I like it better when like nerdy was all fun and stuff. This is really angry. Like don't you think you said enough? Well let's freaking tough cause I'm being loud and the people are not playing with you now. Yeah, you can burn a whole thing down. Yeah. I don't care if y'all uncomfortable. We can burn a whole thing down. You can burn our whole thing down. Couldn't care about a another zone. You can burn a whole thing down. Burn it down, down. Y'all don't really care about a brother until we burn all thing down. Burn it down, down. Yeah, we about to go to work. Yeah we to Pokemon.
Speaker 2 00:01:22 Come on The Youngs what I'm focused on. I'm so old then. Golden then I ain't know you was talking about Pokemon Ha. But I'm more like me and nerdy next to a burndown system with a candle of gas and a handful of matches and know we ain't miss some famous. Now my mission like be soi watching all the leaders leading Think no name minions but we torture enough to take us and we give into survivors city liars making black people compliant. Coon Rapids. Who are you asking? I'm proof. Survive the boomba trick bro. Ethics got me laughing at your message and Black Lives Matter. You would not get so defensive. We got cops and deeds and robberies and gas light us. We are not the same. We on the same we pass typing cuz y'all don't care about us and we ain't come to ask. We just mind up businessing and people be so stuck and mad. So pass the gun and mask and pass the athe. Nu Y'all can really kill us for anything. Y'all just bend the laws the same performance art, the same performative saving the racist head of rodeo normative. You
Speaker 0 00:02:20 Can burn the whole thing down. I don't care if you're uncomfortable or we can burn a whole thing down. You can burn it, burn it, burn it down. Couldn't care about it. Not zone. You can burn a whole thing down down. Y'all don't really care about it, brother. Till we burn whole thing down.
Speaker 1 00:02:40 Burn
Speaker 0 00:02:40 It down. Yeah, we about to go to work. Yeah, we about to let it
Speaker 3 00:03:09 Views from the ground, views from the damn ground views from the ground views from the damn ground views from the ground views from the damn ground. And that's on that, on that, on that. Hey, hey. All right. My name is dj. I use day them pronouns. I'm your agender host.
Speaker 4 00:03:25 My name is Brandon. I use he him pronouns.
Speaker 5 00:03:29 And I'm Nadia and I take she her pronouns.
Speaker 3 00:03:32 All right, so, uh, here we are on the views from the ground use from the damn ground. And uh, this week we actually have Nadia. Um, and uh, Nadia is going to do the news weekly for us. So, um, Nadia's a videographer and the movement and holds a lot of different hats. And I'm just so excited to have you come in and help us out. So
Speaker 5 00:04:00 Thanks djj. So I can get excited.
Speaker 3 00:04:02 Yo, go ahead, jump right in.
Speaker 5 00:04:03 Awesome. So, um, news weekly, but really like speaking more to media and, and media criticism like monthly honestly, with this, with this case. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>. Um, I wanted to talk a bit about feeding our future, um, huge pandemic fraud. Um, case. Basically at the center of, this is Amy Bach. Um, she founded a nonprofit that's currently at the center of an alleged $250 million, um, fraud investigation currently. Um, so how that works is she has this nonprofit, it specializes in, um, dispersing federal funds. And what happened there was a huge jump in the pandemic, um, to where they were receiving. Um, I believe the number was about 129 million. Um, and what came out of that allegedly is, um, Amy Bach, along with 48 others were able to create different, um, nonprofit organization, different organizations where they were able to, um, be perceived or be seen as getting this money to children in need of this, of, of these funding.
Speaker 5 00:05:16 But instead they were used to purchase allegedly, um, luxury vehicles personal items. Um, I believe I saw somewhere for Amy Bach, um, for her partner allegedly receiving $600,000, um, to his, um, construction company. Um, and, and, and she said it was, you know, used to refurbish the building. Um, but if, you know, and then the conversation is, well, why didn't you get a news? So it was, it's a lot of things like that. Um, so yeah, so at at the center of this is Amy Bach, um, but then there's also 48 other folks who were indicted, um, primarily of the East African communities. Um, and three folks have successfully led the c fled the country. Um, I believe there's two arrests, um, two are at the airport. Um, and one, um, this, this part is kind of hurtful for me, but it's one community, um, independent journalist, like a, a media local media journalist, um, um, was also involved in that.
Speaker 5 00:06:18 So yeah, I, I kinda wanna get like, I know my initial reactions to this was this is the biggest in the country. That's why there's so many eyes on it from a national standpoint. You have cnn, you have all these different national media outlets talking about this. Um, talking about Minnesota within the last two weeks, um, my initial thoughts were, wow, this is really feeding into the narrative that immigrant communities are corrupt, quote unquote corrupt. Um, and we do have an upcoming election happening and you're already kind of seeing it in the advertisements, kind of people pulling this case apart, which we don't really know the full facts of yet. And kind of using that to fit in to their, to a certain political agenda. Um, so that, that was my, my initial response was like, this is gonna take a while and, and we don't even know the full implications of this. Um, so I was wondering what y'all thought about this as well,
Speaker 4 00:07:13 <laugh>? Um, my original thought when I saw it was like, dang, the biggest in the country and it's here in Minneapolis, like, right. I feel like whenever, um, Minneapolis in particular, but Minnesota in general makes national news and normally ain't the best thing going on. Um, you know, it, like you're saying about the East African, uh, community and, and like the stigma that, you know, may surround them. Um, when I first saw the headline, I just assumed that it was rich white folks, to be honest. Cuz this sounds like a rich white folks thing. Um, even though it isn't in this particular instance, all I can do, um, again, what is our little pre thing say? Like, the views and opinions expressed are my own, my own <laugh> opinion is, I
Speaker 5 00:08:04 Like
Speaker 4 00:08:04 That disclaimer. I not, my own opinion is that I'm sure there's plenty of white folks who have done similar things that just have not gotten caught, um, who have done far worse things that have not gotten caught. Um, and, you know, so again, this is not a time to give grace or not to punish just because they are who they are. Um, however, when it comes to what is this white collar crime, is that what you would classify?
Speaker 5 00:08:31 We could call this a white collar crime,
Speaker 4 00:08:32 Right? White collar crime. I think it is a history of white collar crime in this country. And when you are in a position to partake in white collar crime, I think the capitalistic system is one that, uh, breeds this type of behavior. Um, so when you are trying to get ahead by any means necessary, that's what people do, whether right or wrong, whether legal or illegal, whether the funds were made for, um, covid relief and meant to go to the most underserved communities or not. I mean, we see that from people like Brett Favre, you know mm-hmm. <affirmative>. Yeah. Um, and we're talking millions of dollars for welfare people in the poorest state in the nation. And
Speaker 5 00:09:15 You're talking about Mississippi,
Speaker 4 00:09:16 Right? You're talking about Mississippi, you know, so yes, it is, uh, an at atrocity and it is very, uh, unethical and shameful what has happened here in Minneapolis. Um, but again, this is the largest one that we know of yet. <laugh>, I still feel, my own opinion is that we may find some far uglier ones, probably from some white folks, but that's just me. <laugh>.
Speaker 5 00:09:42 Yeah.
Speaker 3 00:09:44 Yeah. Well, I, you know, I think it's real messed up because, you know, obviously people could have used the money, um, during these tough times for the last two years that we've had, but I also think that, you know, I think it's kind of messed up. It's like when, when Brad messes up, right? It's like, oh yeah, you know, Brad committed this white collar crime, but then like, you know, a bunch of people of color mess up. There's like, so, uh, but these actions which potentially represent the whole East African community. Yeah. How are y'all gonna defend yourselves? Hurry up. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>, you know, when, when Michael, when Michael Vick, you know, got the dogs fighting, everybody's like running them through the news. Espn, you know, bra for does it? I haven't heard espn. Like, you know,
Speaker 4 00:10:29 I saw a Snapchat like story, whatever, like they have these little news things. It was about Mike Vick, like, I'm talking like two days ago. I'm like, Mike Vick, he'd been out of prison. Like he was talking about Mike Vick's life in prison. I'm like, where's the Brett Far? Oh my God, where's the Brett Far? He's literally taking millions of welfare funds, but we're still talking about Mike Vick. Are you kidding me? Yeah.
Speaker 3 00:10:48 Yeah. So, so I, you know, you know, I wish we could get to a point where, you know, if a person of color commits a crime, you know, they're not, you know, representing the whole community or Right. If I speak or something, you know, they're not like a DJ said that the black community feels, and I'm like, nah, DJ just said what DJ felt like. You know what I mean? Like mm-hmm. <affirmative>. So I feel like that's, um, one of those things that become hard to, um, tear apart in these type of, um,
Speaker 5 00:11:15 Cases,
Speaker 3 00:11:16 Cases with the media. So
Speaker 5 00:11:18 Yeah. I also feel like in these articles that I'm reading too, like there's a fixation on like the details too, where it's like, oh, we have it. Like, it feels like almost every person has this profile on them where it's, you know, picture stolen luxury bags or, you know, stolen welfare money on luxury items. Um, and this has a lot of parallels to, in the nineties, um, you know, criminalizing and, and social welfare, um, narratives against black women, um, utilizing, you know, welfare money, coining that, where it's that same fixation on folks utilizing welfare money, social money. We can't give this type of money out because it's going to be taken advantage of. Um, and yeah, I just, that, that was something that I was kind of fixated on too, was this, and of course my phone dies when I had more notes. Um, but yeah, so that was the, that was another thing that I was kind of wanting to speak to too, where it's like there's all these details coming out, but then again, a lot of people are also asking questions on the other side of it.
Speaker 5 00:12:26 Um, okay, so we know it's Amy Bach, but we also, people are kind of drawing ties allegedly to other d Ffl folks, um, white folks, wealthy folks who aren't necessarily indicted but could be aware that this was happening. Um, and we're just able to get away with it as well. Um, so you have people kind of asking those deeper questions of like, okay, well who, who help these folks fill out these forms, who help these folks, um, you know, get this far? Um, you know, people feeling like they don't have the full picture, which is good to see that people are, are more critical in that sense. So yeah, that's, that's, that's kind of what I had too. Um, and yeah, and I guess I wanted to know people's thoughts too on like, what, what do you think we're gonna be seeing, you know, in the next, cuz also like what we saw last Tuesday, um, Tuesday, September 20th was like the initial big one, which is where you saw in the news where it's like, whoa, 48 people we're just learning about this.
Speaker 5 00:13:25 This is so much to take in. Um, and then I think it was like the 26th, six days later they had that journalist, um, that I was just speaking to get indicted. Um, oh no, another thing that I wanted to speak to, that's where I, that's where I was going. Um, yeah, this fixation of people like the visual of people running to airports and like catching people at airports. That was the thing too. I thought that was just interesting, where it's like this person was caught, um, they were arrested at the airport, uh, this person tried to flee, and then like, when you get to the hearings, the quotes that are included are when the judge is like, we have no problem sending you back. So like, a lot of fixation on like, people running and like fleeing to their country, um, which I also think speaks a lot to like a racial implication to, um, like reporting on these communities, um, like specifying the, the, you know, they fled to Kenya, specifying that there were properties bought, um, fleeing to ababa, things like that.
Speaker 5 00:14:26 Um, so yeah, that was the, that was the main point that I wanted to touch on as well with, you know, being cautious of, of how these things are being spoken about, how these folks are already characterized before we get the full allegations, um, before we get the full story, before we know who also knew about this happening. Um, and yeah, so I just, I also wanted to close out with what are folks, what do you think you're going to be seeing in the next, you know, few months? How do you think people are gonna be talking about this? How, how do you think this is gonna be changing, um, in the way that people are talking about this as well? Something I'm interested in hearing?
Speaker 4 00:15:00 Yeah, I mean, looking through, um, I think unicorn, right? They put out like a big article detailing everything that like, they know so far specifically about the mayor's connection. Yeah.
Speaker 5 00:15:11 That's, so what's going on? That's a, people are really fixated on that.
Speaker 4 00:15:14 Yeah. And again, I think that is a, um, like it's an appropriate fixation in my opinion, because like if the biggest, you know, fraud is happening here in the city of Minneapolis, well, who knew about it? Like what government officials, because this is government money, right? Like this is subsidized. How did they continue to get away with it for so long? And like our elected officials, there has to be, in my opinion, I feel like, I think it just makes sense that there would, they would've known or they would have aided or, or like, I wonder what the implications are going to be for Mayor Fry. Um, and potentially anybody else who is an elected official who has a role in this, whether active, whether knowingly or not. Mm. If they played a role, how does that, uh, uh, work out for them in the future, you know?
Speaker 5 00:16:08 Mm-hmm. <affirmative>.
Speaker 3 00:16:11 Yeah. I'm, I'm just interested to see, you know, how many more people end up being on the list and, you know, how, how many more, you know, DFL ERs. So, you know, I just, you know, I'm waiting to see, did this story develop a little bit more, you know, it's messed up that, you know, people all across the country was taking advantage of the pandemic funds and not giving it to the people that it needed to get into. And now the government's being stingy with the amount of money that they're giving people who work through the pandemic to what we see, the, um, you know, the state that's giving out the workers worker pay more the people who work through the pandemic. So
Speaker 5 00:16:52 Essential frontline workers,
Speaker 3 00:16:54 Frontline workers, that's what it is. The frontline worker pay. I think some people just got, um, their email that said that they're only getting like 400 bucks. I looked at that, I was like, that's not even half a rent. I was like,
Speaker 5 00:17:05 It's like 450 bucks or
Speaker 3 00:17:06 Something. Yeah, 450 bucks. Like, ah, I was like, what, what am I gonna do with that? But, you know, like, whatever, like, yeah. I, you know, so I mean, obviously this money, you know, could have been spent, uh, been given out a lot better way, but, you know, just due to like capitalism and incentivizing people to, you know, take money and stuff like that. So, you know, I don't know. It's really sad. So,
Speaker 5 00:17:33 Yeah. And also, I just wanna close it out too with like at the center of this, people were saying, you know, with that money it was 250 million, um, that could have been used to, you know, give free school lunches to kids, um, across the state. Um, so there's, and you know, there were fake profiles being made of children, um, making up children, um, saying that like literally creating different kinds of children and, and saying that, you know, these are the reimbursement, these are the, the, the, the folks that we helped out and they did not exist. Um, and there were kids out there that, that did actually Yeah. Went hungry. Um, so, yeah. Yeah. And I think it's a question of, I would like to know more about, you know, the bureaucratic hoops, um, that were being crossed, you know, who were, who were knowledgeable about this, you know, who was, who was doing the education and, and, and how, how is this happening for so long? And, and who was kind of co-signing that as well is a lot of the questions that people are asking as well. So,
Speaker 3 00:18:27 Yeah. Yep. With that being said, thank you. I really appreciate you coming on and bringing these hard conversations and so I really appreciate it, Nadia. Thanks, cj. Um, with that, I'm gonna, um, also report a little bit on the international level, you know, <laugh>, um, and I'm gonna talk about the Hans Neman chess cheating scandal that's been plaguing the chess world. Um, and so yeah, there was a grand master, um, who ended up beating Magnus Carlson on two different occasions. And he actually, um, uh, after he beat, um, Magnus Carlson in the Sinfield Cup, which had a prize fund of $250,000, um, Magnus Carlson actually decided that he withdrew from the tournament, which was the first time he had ever done that before. Um, and so that was, um, very shocking to see. And so there's been a lot of, um, course where the royal champion has came out and said that he feels like this young player has cheated and this player has in fact admitted to cheating online.
Speaker 3 00:19:35 Uh, we, he actually admitted in the, uh, couple of days after Magnus had withdrew that he had cheated a couple of, like two times, but it wasn't really for prize money. So, you know, he didn't think it was a big deal, da da da, but you know, he's been working on becoming a better chess player and he's never done it over the board, like offline in person. And, um, the Wall Street Journal just published a 72, um, page document released by chess.com dot contradict everything that he actually said, um mm-hmm. <affirmative>. And they said that you actually cheated over a hundred times <laugh>, um, and that it was for prize money a lot of the times. So and so, yeah, it's just sparked this ideal of like, what constitutes cheating? What is cheating? Cuz like when you're like near top 50, top 60 playing strength in the world, what does it mean to cheat, right?
Speaker 3 00:20:29 Like, you're already so good, but it's almost like if I only cheated with one move, right? Like, like if I got to the critical position and then I turned on the computer to see what'll happen, cuz the computer's stronger than all the humans, even the real champion, you know, because that's what a lot of people are feeling like is what's happening. As we got to go over some of these games that have been flagged for cheating, uh, that we see that it looks like it was like a human play into that one point, maybe one of the moves was, um, instructed by the computer has been some of the theories of some top GMs. So,
Speaker 5 00:21:03 Okay, so it's not like a full, it's like the last stretch of it was.
Speaker 3 00:21:07 Yeah, maybe so. So that, that's what, that's what some people have started speculating, some of the top GMs like Naka Maru and you know, Ben Fine Gold and stuff like that. So it's, it's just been interesting to follow and develop, um, and yell at my dad about <laugh>. Uh, so, uh, every, I think everyone's kind of made their decision on where they are on the chest trauma and who sad they are. So, um, while of very close-mindedness in the chess community going on. So, um, but yeah, this has been the international spectical, cnn, npr, all reported on it at this point. People keep hitting me up like, what's going on? You know?
Speaker 5 00:21:47 Is this like the biggest like chest scandal that's happened? Or is this
Speaker 3 00:21:49 Like, it's the biggest one in like 20 years, you
Speaker 5 00:21:52 Know, in 20 years. Oh,
Speaker 3 00:21:53 That's 15, 20 years. You know, everyone's like, it's the biggest of all time. I was like, uh, topple off Vladimir Crumb neck championship match. Anyway, um, <laugh> so I
Speaker 4 00:22:03 Know about that one. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 3 00:22:05 We don't got time for that though. Uh, we can cover that LA back later. <laugh>. With that being said, I just want to, um, bring up that. So with that, we're going to go to the words of freedom segment.
Speaker 4 00:22:16 All right. So welcome to Words of Freedom, a segment here on views from the ground,
Speaker 3 00:22:20 Views from the damn ground.
Speaker 4 00:22:22 We give local poets a chance to free their minds, free their hearts, and liberate their souls with their words of freedom. This month we have Rose Marie Ale is going to be our featured poet. So Rosemarie Ale is a Togolese American writer based in St. Paul. She studied professional writing and communications at Hamlin University. She works as a freelance poet, editor and grant's writer. Aside from writing Rosemarie frequents the education sector, she has served as an AmeriCorps promise fellow in the Minneapolis School district and is currently facilitating creative writing and spoken word workshop for youth through the Minnesota African American Heritage Museum and the gallery. Her most recent publication is a lyric essay called Wash Day, which is available on midnight and indigo.com for free. So tonight we are going to listen to a couple pieces by, uh, Rosemarie. And the first one is titled Audacity number two.
Speaker 6 00:23:21 Audacity number two by Rosemarie Atle. It's pathetic you see, to take the soul you've been gifted and triple belt yourself into the ill-fitting jeans of my love loose you an, um, bandaid on wounds too. Great for your healing. Blood wears down your elasticity, yet you deny an inevitable peeling. I am in need of infinite stitches. And you are a small layer of antibiotic wrapped in his gauze, which if it makes you feel any better, will also be removed and disposed of. I am a series of slashes and burns, broken bones and infections. It is foolish to deem yourself my soul caretaker foolish to roam the earth with a piece of puzzle moaning to be consumed by the whole damn thing. Life is too long to deny yourself clarity. Wipe your glasses.
Speaker 4 00:24:30 And this next piece is titled F Your Apple Pie.
Speaker 6 00:24:36 F Your Apple Pie by Rosemary, A Teale. In 2006, a Minnesota wind greeted me along with immigration services and how old the Star Spangled Banner. For years, it's howling was a frequency. And my young ears cannot understand. I heard silence, complacency, but it's still how old it went. Something like, oh, see, can you see light as the greatest country on earth? Oh, say, can you see the rockets red glare of bodies trailing from sea to shining sea? Can you see the perilous fight for freedom, for liberty, for the right to bear arms heavy with shameful history? Can you see giving annual thanks to murderers? Can you see generations birth to work? Can't you see? I heard nothing silence, complacency. And every day I, along with my second grade class, would stand up and pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the stolen land on which it stands, one nation built on the back of my enslaved ancestors, divisible as hell with liberty and justice for none.
Speaker 6 00:26:20 And one day finally I heard it, I heard it howling finally. And the ringing in my ear caused me to go mad. So this angry black woman began howling. You want me to thank my lucky stars? That the flag still stands for genocide and subjugation for succession for insurrection. That this flag still waves a green light for racism, for homophobia, for sexism, for xenophobia, for the right, for human beings to dehumanize other human beings, huh? But God bless the United States of armed forces located in 70 different countries, they trample across the earth, bald ego, leading them, screeching this land is my land. This resource is my resource turning to his troops and they chant back. This land was made for you and me from Bina Faso to the Philippines. This land was made for you and me and the bombs bursting in air. Give continuous proof to the world that colonialism is alive and doing very freaking well. Oh, am I ruining your apple pie interfering with your manifest destiny? Oh, I'm manifesting destiny. All right. I'm manifesting universal healthcare. I'm manifesting the burning of red line white picket fences. I'm manifesting affordable education. I'm manifesting senators and representatives who do more than tweet. I'm manifesting abolition. I'm manifesting reparations because y'all, Louisiana purchased Mother Africa's children and stole their identities, manifesting waking up one morning and having a reason to say, I'm proud to be an American.
Speaker 4 00:28:16 So that was Rose Marie Ale. Um, beautiful, beautiful poetry. Um, always love hearing her speak, always love watching her perform. And we will be listening to her words all month. So stay tuned every Wednesday to hear more of her poetry. And stay tuned that last Wednesday of the month. We will get her in here for, uh, interview. And uh, if you want to keep up with her in the meantime, her Instagram is at r m a t h i l e Y. So r m Tle, which is R m A T H I L E Y. So yeah, thank you Rosemary, and we'll hear more from her next week.
Speaker 3 00:28:59 Thank you so much Brandon, for bringing up such wonderful artists in the community. So really appreciate it. With that, we're gonna go to the Nerdy spotlight. Um, so we actually are this month gonna have Nicar Forer, which is one of the hottest up and coming artists in the Twin Cities performing on stages in front of the biggest names of the business. Nicar is often referred to as one of the next ones up from the Twin Cities. This song is called Angels Round Me, which is gonna be a song that she did with her d So here we go.
Speaker 0 00:29:50 I got Angels round me. I got Angels Round me. I got Angels on my side. I don't care who your, I got Angels round me. I got Angels Round me. I got Angels on my side now. That's right. I got Angels on. Hi. We be doing nicely. Got my Sarah FEMA ramen, yo shouting brightly trying to fight me. Do it if you want, but know that you regretted I got Angels Rammy like I baby Joseph Gordon. Levi. Yeah. And we out here in the field. Tell 'em give a shout if they rock with us. For real. Yo, I never need to feel Halo to ram in the gang and be changing up the scene like bang, bang, bang, shitty bang. Hold up. Yes, know that they watching. I'm feeling so blessed. Oh my job, my power level is rising. We fighting with K o Kens. Oh my God.
Speaker 0 00:30:33 No way. Don't need no facade. I got the glory that rings across every stage, every place that, that grace with my people that got your boy covered and wins. Mama man, I got angels round me. I got angels on my side. I don't care who you'll be. I got angels round me. I got angels round me. I got angels on my side running. Tell them now that ride I got Angels round me. I got angels round me. I got angels on my side. I don't care for your, I got Angels Roundwood. I got Angels. Roundwood, I got angels on my side running. Tell them now that's right. I got angels
Speaker 7 00:31:13 On my angels around me like a ring. And I'm Rosie no matter the sit you. I'm peaceful, I'm cozy covered. The blood is sufficient efficiently. Eradiate what they meant for me. I hear talking, it sound like a symphony. I keep the hatred, but they cannot penetrate chickens. Won't be Fay worthy of my dpl. The name Lincoln against me, unfortunately Syndicate. I am the mother of Cairo, the sister of Essence on Earth. I've experienced heavenly blessing. What is an L when you learn in your lessons, my lyrics are diary full of confessions, ancestors with me in studio sessions. Angels on my side like Hot Smith and Weston. Even with Solo, they with me. No questions. So before you try me, please, just the expression
Speaker 0 00:31:46 I got Angels round me. I got Angels round me. I got angels on my side. I don't care who you'll be. I got Angels round me. I got Angels round me. I got Angels on my side running. And tell them now that ride I got Angels Ron, me, I got Angels round me. I got angels on my side. I don't care who you, I got angels. Ron. I got angels. I got angels on my side running. Tell them that I got angels on.
Speaker 8 00:32:23 This is the Minnesota dose on K F A. I remember mask mandates. The American Journal of Preventative Medicine just published a study comparing COVID 19 mortality in 27 countries with mask mandates. And 17 countries without scientists concluded that mandates were associated with lower death rates from Covid 19. To quote the study, the average COVID 19 mortality per million was 288 in countries without face mask policies and 48 in countries with face mask policies. This study examined 2.1 million cases of Covid 19 in 44 countries throughout Europe and Asia from February through May of 2020. That's all for now for the Minnesota dose on K F A I. I'm Ryan Dolls
Speaker 11 00:33:16 Programming on K F A I is sponsored by Community Action Partnership of Ramsey and Washington County's Energy assistance program. The Energy Assistance program helps low income households pay a portion of their heating bills. We assist Ramsey and Washington County residents with home energy payments, energy crises, and emergency furnace repairs. We also offer referrals to the home weatherization program. Call 6 5 1 6 4 5 6 4 7 0 or visit the
[email protected] for more information on how to apply
Speaker 3 00:33:50 <laugh> views from the ground views from the damn ground views, from the ground views,
Speaker 10 00:33:54 From the damn ground
Speaker 3 00:33:56 Views, from the ground views from the damn ground. And that's on that, on that on that. All right, so welcome back. We are here with brass solidarity. Woo
Speaker 10 00:34:07 Woo.
Speaker 3 00:34:08 Yeah. Yeah. So we have Kristen Frak and Ray Kurt in the house. So, uh, thank you. Thank you for coming. Thank for coming in.
Speaker 12 00:34:15 Happy to be here. Thanks for asking us, <laugh>.
Speaker 3 00:34:17 Yes, of course. So with that, I, we kind of just wanna learn more about like brass solidarity, right? So kind of tell us how like brass solidarity started.
Speaker 12 00:34:29 Okay.
Speaker 10 00:34:30 <foreign>,
Speaker 12 00:34:31 Take it away, Ray.
Speaker 10 00:34:32 Okay. Well I was sort of biking, aim biking and endlessly biking and min the new Minneapolis town that I've been here now one winter at the time. And so, uh, yeah, just curious and to, to look at the square on 38th Street and um, um,
Speaker 12 00:34:54 Well we were there playing, I remember the day that you biked by, cuz we had been playing at the Square since April of 2021. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>, because a lot of us were activated by what happened to George Floyd. And we wanted to do something about it, and we all found ourselves together. And Brass solidarity was kind of born out of a lot of different people's intentions to, um, fight for justice, use our music to heal mm-hmm. <affirmative>. And one day Ray's bike and by with his violin on his back. And he goes,
Speaker 10 00:35:30 I saw musicians and I just turned around, what are you guys doing? <laugh>.
Speaker 12 00:35:36 And so, so that's how a violinist joined a brass band
Speaker 10 00:35:39 <laugh>. Right, right. And halfway singing like I do once you know a song, you know,
Speaker 12 00:35:45 And riling people up.
Speaker 10 00:35:46 Yeah. Yeah. And then, and then after that, I remember I went to the Square by myself, um, and I'm can't even like remember what day that was. That may have been the Chauvin Verdict Day. And so I was there and it was quiet and people just humble and mellow and all this stuff and kind of gloomy. So, and I just pulled out a violin and just started playing and people were really, you know, appreciative and just, uh, yeah, I just make that. Um, and, and that's what I do as I, I play in the streets, you know, many streets and subways in from, in back East Washington, DC New York, Berlin, <laugh>, anywhere. Everywhere. Yeah. Mr.
Speaker 3 00:36:35 Worldwide
Speaker 10 00:36:36 <laugh>. Yeah. Music. Yeah.
Speaker 3 00:36:39 Yeah. Tell us about your, um, your background in music.
Speaker 10 00:36:43 Well, uh, born in Washington, DC uh, uh, as a vocal raised in the church gospel churches of Washington, shallow Baptist, Vermont Avenue Baptist and singing growing up. And then, uh, DC Youth Corral, DC Youth Orchestra. Um, when I decided to pick up a viola. And then, uh, uh, those years, the DC Youth Corral went into, um, the beginning of the Duke Ellington Performing Arts High School. So I was there like when it opened up. And that was like a, a plethora of music and arts. And so we, you know, you weren't only a musician, you were a dancer, you were an actor, you were everything. And those were the Wonder years and to the days of being young, gifted, and black. Oh, what a joy it would be <laugh>. Oh, yeah. So, yeah. Just, that's how I would audition. And they said, oh yeah, this guy <laugh>. So, and then after that Eastman School of Music, getting a scholarship and voice and then, um, music as a passport, just going here and there and playing and learning how to make a living at it or just, yeah, it's more than surviving. It's thriving and, and you just take on the calling and the power of it, the, the ministry of it. Because b grazing up being singing in church choirs and everything, it's all about the spirit and it's all about what it does, the healing and all of that. So that's right on my alley.
Speaker 3 00:38:31 <laugh>. Yeah. And you mentioned that you're from the East Coast. What inspired you to move here to Minneapolis?
Speaker 10 00:38:36 Well, I had a couple friends that were, uh, former students and acquaintances and that were living in Washington, DC and they retired out here. I couldn't name 'em, I guess Mr. Good old Mr. Bill. And so <laugh> and Covid shut down. Everybody got shut down and I was like, uh, uh, shut down with a music studio, uh, uh, in the church in Washington DC and just doing nothing. And so Mr. Bill asked me, just said, well, why don't you come out to Minneapolis and check it out and it some nice music scene? And I said, I, I guess yeah. Couldn't be bad. It was good for Prince
Speaker 3 00:39:18 <laugh>. <laugh>. Yes, I will.
Speaker 10 00:39:20 And so, okay. And, uh, right. And so I'm adventurous. Yeah. Uh, get on the train, check it down.
Speaker 3 00:39:29 Yeah. And, and so, um, frak, my neighbor, <laugh>. Yes, yes. Who lives upstairs,
Speaker 12 00:39:35 Dee? I live upstairs.
Speaker 3 00:39:37 <laugh> <laugh>. Um, uh, but Fra, but why don't you go ahead and tell us, uh, how you got into music?
Speaker 12 00:39:43 Um, well, I've played the saxophone in fifth grade, and I just kept playing the saxophone. And, um, I was a theater person, so I had a early life as an actor, and then as a playwright and a director, and I would always bring out my horn. And, uh, just over the years I just kept playing it. But then, um, for some reason in, in, when I became a mother, oh, sorry. When I became a mom, I had to, you know, give up the nights. So I started teaching piano for a living and then joined a brass band. So I was, I'm a member of the Brass Messengers and have been for 20 years. And, um, there's a festival called the Honk Festival. I don't know if you guys have heard of it. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>, it is a activist brass bands from all over the world.
Speaker 12 00:40:32 You know, a brass band is a working class band for the most part. You can pick up an instrument and you can play a tune OneNote at a time out in the streets. So there's a tradition of using music to foment social change. You know, the, in Romania, in Mexico, all over the world, there's brass bands that take to the streets. And the Honk Festival is, um, it's a convention of brass activist brass bands. So brass messengers have been going to Boston, to Austin, to Seattle. One of our members went to New Zealand. Um, so the idea of using music to move people into social, you know, goods, uh, is, is really something that's deep to my heart. Um, and yeah, the, the growing up in Minneapolis, you know, there's been so much, uh, there's been so much police brutality, so much unrest. There's been such a history of amazing activism.
Speaker 12 00:41:46 I kind of grew up with my daughter who went to South, becoming involved in the street, like, and, you know, dj, I see you out there all the time. We, my daughter and I spent Thanksgiving, um, learning from Naima at Jamar Clark's occupation. And so when George Floyd was murdered, it really moved me to figure out what can we do to get music going so that we can bring some kind of a contribution to the moment. And, um, so we put, uh, you know, I've just put together a mission of, for brass solidarity saying we were contribution for healing for the community, and we are gonna uplift black leadership and be a brass band for the people. And a bunch of other people had that same idea. And we all converged at George Floyd Square, like 83 weeks ago, <laugh> and, you know, put ourselves to the service of the community. And it's been a beautiful thing Yeah. With people coming together for it. And we're having our first, um, solidarity harvest.
Speaker 10 00:42:56 Solidarity harvest, we're harvesting and, uh,
Speaker 12 00:43:01 Celebrating.
Speaker 10 00:43:01 Yeah. Recognizing all that we've done, uh, from the community and people, uh, how we say, uh, interaction and engagement. And, and just from the couple of winters that I've been here, Minneapolis has been so welcoming to me. And, um, yeah. Really grateful for that and met some really interesting people that have inspired me and really delegated or made me see where I can contribute, you know, and, and continue. Yeah. Uh, inspire new music and new ventures, uh, collaborations and things. And I set up a new shop in the center performing arts. Thank you, Christian. She showed me that <laugh>, and, and that's been, yeah. Um, standing up a music studio and teaching and everything.
Speaker 3 00:43:57 Yeah. So you mentioned the, um, solidarity Fest. When, where is that gonna be and, and when is it and what time?
Speaker 10 00:44:03 Yes. So 35th and Bloomington
Speaker 12 00:44:05 Mm-hmm. <affirmative> and the Motus Locust Garden. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>. And we, you know, we've been doing a lot of responding to the trauma, to the events where Yeah. We've gone to be part of the healing and we've gone, um, per request to be at the Governor's mansion for a protest or right out someplace. And we decided we wanted to, um, we wanted to also contribute an offering to the community. So we're doing a festival in the garden, and we're recognizing, um, a couple really amazing activists with the first Solidarity Harvest awards. So we're, we wanna lift out people who are contributing to the culture of change in the city. So it's this Saturday. Yes. October 8th, 2022. Five, five o'clock to seven in Motus Locust Garden. Yeah, that's right. And we're, and and it's brass, solidarity. And Ang the Masses. Yes. And you wanna talk about Mori?
Speaker 10 00:45:01 Yes. Mo Tree or collaboration? Hopefully have, there are some really talented poets collaborating and interacting. Brandon <laugh>. Oh, yes.
Speaker 3 00:45:12 <laugh>.
Speaker 12 00:45:12 Yeah. The invite is there. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>, you heard it here. <laugh>.
Speaker 10 00:45:18 I'll
Speaker 12 00:45:18 Be there. Oh, right. We love to hear that. Because, you know, we we're loose, you know mm-hmm. <affirmative>, we're, we're about the mix.
Speaker 10 00:45:25 Yeah. And that's what's amazing, even in the Square. Um, and I've, um, living in the neighborhood not far from the Square, and I attend the morning community, me, uh, meetings and getting to know, or knowing the neighborhood and the people that are there and, you know, living, thriving and, uh, changing. And there, there's a purpose and, um, a mission there. You know, they're, they're trying to like, uh, the community demands are still, you know, have, have yet to be met. And so keeping in focus with that, um, you know, the reason for the season.
Speaker 3 00:46:13 Yes. Um, so tell me, why do y'all feel like it is important that y'all meet at the Square, right? Because y'all had the, y'all have this thing where y'all meet every Monday at the Square. Yeah. Why is the square remain a constant, um, through y'all, um, organizing?
Speaker 10 00:46:29 I feel safe there for one. Mm. It's a place of autonomy. Um, as a black man growing up in America, I do have a history and, you know, uh, uh, I've seen more riots and, uh, uh, brutality and, uh, oh, everything <laugh> that you can, you know, just experiencing in life and a journey and yeah. I'm a sole survivor and I'm proud of that because you, you have to learn how to maneuver in this country.
Speaker 12 00:47:04 Mm. <laugh> and every time we go there, every Monday, it's an offering. It's an offering to the community, and we, we take it seriously. So though we might be having a lot of joy, and it's a lot of fun mm-hmm. <affirmative> and people join in and there's a spirit of celebration. We are also really keenly aware that it's an occupation and it's a long standing, historically significant occupation. And we're there for them. We're there for the, the community and for the folks who are holding down the square. So it's, we consider it part of that agenda.
Speaker 3 00:47:45 Oh, man. And how many weeks in a, uh, in a row y'all been doing
Speaker 12 00:47:48 It, I think, what do you think, Ray? 83, 85 Sure. 81 <laugh>. I mean, if, if you say April, 2021 and you count for it, it, it, it adds up and we haven't missed one Monday. Yeah. You know, if if it, if it falls below
Speaker 10 00:48:04 Yeah. Below
Speaker 12 00:48:05 Freezing the limit. Yeah. We have limits.
Speaker 10 00:48:07 Well, I, my limit is 50 degrees. I'm East Coast.
Speaker 12 00:48:10 I'm sorry. Yeah. They be standing here. The rest of us are 35 degrees.
Speaker 3 00:48:13 35, 50 degrees. I know.
Speaker 10 00:48:16 I'm sorry. I can't, to me, uh, tomorrow, <laugh>
Speaker 3 00:48:19 <laugh>,
Speaker 10 00:48:20 Well, I still look at me, I got layers.
Speaker 12 00:48:22 <laugh>.
Speaker 3 00:48:23 Well, we pa long,
Speaker 10 00:48:24 I ain't playing.
Speaker 12 00:48:25 We have spaces that we go to in the winter, but every Monday we play. And, you know, if it's not in the square, it's like four blocks away,
Speaker 3 00:48:33 Man, you better, you better get ready for this polar vortex, <laugh>, I dunno what you talking about. 50 degrees. Alright. <laugh>.
Speaker 10 00:48:41 No, I'm, I'm good. I, I I enjoyed the colds <laugh>.
Speaker 3 00:48:45 So, um, how many members would you all say that y'all have?
Speaker 10 00:48:49 Wow. At this point listed? I think there's like 27.
Speaker 12 00:48:54 Wow. It fluctuates every Monday. Yeah. And if someone shows up with a horn and starts to play, it's, you know. Yeah. It's a people, it's fluid. Yeah. We have open borders, <laugh>.
Speaker 10 00:49:04 Yeah. I, I bring extra tambourines and cowbells. More cowbell and, uh,
Speaker 3 00:49:10 <laugh>. Yes,
Speaker 12 00:49:11 Yes.
Speaker 10 00:49:13 Whatever else. You can make noise with
Speaker 12 00:49:15 <laugh>. Yeah. We always have an extra tambourine and people, you know, they, they come and join. Yeah. And there's so many international visitors to the Square. Yeah. It's so cool. You know, we had, there were some people Monday from Brazil. Yeah. And so, oh yeah.
Speaker 10 00:49:29 Remember people from the, uh, uh, Arizona indigenous people mm-hmm. <affirmative> a choir or something, and they came
Speaker 12 00:49:37 And Yeah. Last summer there was a, a motorcycle.
Speaker 10 00:49:40 Oh,
Speaker 12 00:49:40 Right. There was a, there was
Speaker 10 00:49:42 A, the black Hells Angels or
Speaker 12 00:49:43 Whoever they <laugh> Yeah. Some, but they were doing a tour because people come to, I mean, you know, what's wild is there's people in our own city who don't come to the Square or haven't been to the Square, and people are traveling from other states to come to this historic place.
Speaker 3 00:50:00 Right. And countries. Yeah. Yes,
Speaker 12 00:50:02 Yes.
Speaker 3 00:50:02 Which is just, um, crazy. So, um, so are y'all interested in attracting other members or,
Speaker 12 00:50:10 You know, our borders are open, so Right. We, we want to develop, we're a multiracial band and we wanna develop mm-hmm. <affirmative> the ability to grow,
Speaker 10 00:50:22 Right.
Speaker 12 00:50:23 And deepen. So it's not about numbers, it's about commitment. Mm-hmm. <affirmative>. So it's gonna
Speaker 10 00:50:29 Change. And there's a lot of art, artistic interaction going on from the, uh, designers and the people that are making the murals and the guys that made the fist. Um, and what was that? That was the incident that happened in Ohio and then mm-hmm. <affirmative>, the, the artist came and conversed on the square to make the fist and then, uh, uh, the fist tour mm-hmm. <affirmative>. Right. And, and, and where did they ship it or mm-hmm. <affirmative>. Yeah. Had a caravan to take it to Ohio. I mean,
Speaker 12 00:51:00 You wanna talk about the bus Ray?
Speaker 10 00:51:03 Oh, yeah. Well, mm-hmm. <affirmative>, if anyone wants to donate a bus
Speaker 12 00:51:07 Yeah. <laugh>. Well, you know, we're trying to deepen our connections with the community. So we, we, we've got some elders that we're listening to and we, we are talking to people who are going to do activism in other parts of the, the Midwest or up in Duluth. We are talking to Jason Soul. And we had the idea, what if we had a bus and we could go with, and, you know, what, if we could bring our sound and our mission of being in solidarity with the movement for Black Lives to other spaces and follow leadership. So we have a few dreams that we're stoking,
Speaker 5 00:51:42 Press solidarity, like puts the biggest smile on my face anytime I'm on an action. Like, I don't think y'all understand like the, how much positivity you radiate from even an action. You just feel it when you hear the drums. Everybody knows, um, that this is something really special. Um, yeah. How, well, can you speak a little bit too, I, I've, I've been to some of your practices and uh, like you just kind of see people passing by. Huge smiles. Um, could you talk a little bit about like the community reactions to you? Um,
Speaker 10 00:52:12 Well, uh, well, yeah, there's people in the neighborhood, um, and they come, they know we're gonna be there on mundane and, and yeah. It's, um, yeah, that's the power of music that it heals and you can, and you, and bring it in a great feeling. And then there are people driving by and their cars and <laugh> <laugh> making all that noise, you know, honking. And That's great. Um,
Speaker 12 00:52:45 That's a good feeling to hear. Yeah, it really is. Because that's the purpose. That's why we're there, you know, most of us are in other bands. We have other musical outlets. It's really about the mission and it's about adding to the community and bringing healing and joy to the community in, um, in coordination with leadership. That's a really big part to me of brass solidarity, is we're not just showing up in order to play. We have other places to play music. We're showing up to join in and to, to augment and uplift. So we'll stop, you know, it's what like, you know, when anybody is speaking, we'll stop. And sometimes we'll show up to an action and it's too sober. You know, we need to just lay out, we need to be respectful and listen. So we're not just musicians, we're activists.
Speaker 10 00:53:41 And there was a gentleman that came one week and he was the son, or one of, of relative of someone was, who was murdered or police brutality or,
Speaker 12 00:53:54 Yeah. It was horrible. Um, tech La Berg's brother Yeah. Came to the square while we were playing and he, yeah, it was two days. Wow. Two days after his murder. Right. His brother's murder. And he, he was, he was shattered, of course. Yes. Yeah. And we just, you know, and he came there, we were all weeping and we were gathering, gather around him cuz it's, you know, it's not academic, it is not no. An exercise. And you know, what if it's, this is happening now, now. And, and we were honored to be approached to play his funeral and, you know, it's, it's, it's sobering and, and it's, uh, it's an honor
Speaker 10 00:54:38 Yeah.
Speaker 12 00:54:39 To be able to show up.
Speaker 3 00:54:41 Yeah. Um, so I just wanna stress how grassroots this is. This is people showing out, meeting their neighbors, um, bringing joy and energy and I just love how grassroots that this is and, uh, how much care it shows that, you know, this is a need that the community needed and is able to provide by itself. And it shows what the community is capable of. So, with all that in mind, I want to know, what does music mean to you?
Speaker 12 00:55:15 Hmm.
Speaker 10 00:55:16 Oh, it's breathing. It's everything.
Speaker 3 00:55:18 <laugh> say that.
Speaker 10 00:55:19 It's everything.
Speaker 12 00:55:20 <laugh>.
Speaker 10 00:55:21 It's, yes. Well, uh, yeah's a universal language and uh, I express it really <laugh> <laugh> and communicate. Yeah. And for me it's been a passport to the world. That's what I say. Yeah.
Speaker 12 00:55:44 For mm-hmm. <affirmative>. I mean, it's a, it's a resonance, you know, no matter whether you're singing. Cuz I'm a music educator, so I'm out there teaching, uh, piano, saxophone and voice, but everybody's a musician because we all have a resonant, um, voice. And so to me it's about crossing, you know, boundaries and, and joining in and having, um, having a resonance with everybody. It's, uh, it's soul work. Yeah. And, um, you know, I want to give a shout out to our co our other leader Butcher. Austin Butchy. Butchy Butcher's home with Covid right now. Bless. But he's doing good. He's doing good. And you know, you were talking about the revolutionary grassroots of this early on. Butchy and I were, were going out and, you know, all three of us were really trying to understand what is it that we're doing. And, and my daughter said, mom, don't become a nonprofit. That's the sures way to lose your revolutionary spirit. Shout out McKenna Frale <laugh> <laugh>. Shout out, you know, south High represent Ypac Young People's Action Coalition. You know, she, she keeps me honest and grounded and, and we're here for the community and we don't know what we're gonna turn into and we don't know what's gonna happen because we're created as much by the community as we are by our own.
Speaker 10 00:57:12 And that's what creativity is about.
Speaker 3 00:57:14 Mm-hmm. Yeah. Discovery. And I just really appreciate, um, all that y'all do. Uh, I agree to music is like life. I, I just like, cuz I just listened to so much music and I just like care for it so much and I just don't even know how to explain it to people. People are like, do you ever have song, a song playing at all time? I'm like, at all times.
Speaker 12 00:57:36 <laugh>. Ooh. And you joined the band. Yeah. You just came right out. We needed, we needed you dj and you came through
Speaker 10 00:57:43 Why you
Speaker 12 00:57:44 Bass drum.
Speaker 10 00:57:45 That was right. I remember that day. <laugh>, I walked up there and he's like,
Speaker 3 00:57:48 Boom, boom. <laugh>. So, so um, remind us again where and when, uh, your program is this Saturday?
Speaker 10 00:57:56 Yes. The Modus Locus Gallery on 35th and Blooming Day Bloomington.
Speaker 12 00:58:02 Yep. The first annual Solidarity Harvest. Harvest. Celebration. Celebration. So it's free open to the public family friendly. Yes. And Revere restaurants right next door. Go get yourself some fried cauliflower tacos.
Speaker 10 00:58:16 Yeah. Fried vegan. Well yeah, it's vegan.
Speaker 12 00:58:17 Yeah, it's delicious.
Speaker 3 00:58:19 And and what time is
Speaker 12 00:58:21 It? 5:00 PM 5:00 PM
Speaker 3 00:58:22 Mm-hmm. <affirmative>.
Speaker 12 00:58:23 And we're gonna be doing the awards at six o'clock, so some very special mm-hmm. <affirmative>, uh, people will be getting their solidarity awards.
Speaker 3 00:58:30 And the last question is, if someone was organizing a protest, they wanted you to show up and help, um, uh, play some music for them, uh, how would to be able to contact you?
Speaker 12 00:58:39 You can get us through our website, www.breathsolidarity.com. Sounds good. Or, or call up one of us.
Speaker 3 00:58:47 Okay. All right. Sounds good. Um,
Speaker 10 00:58:50 Or just come
Speaker 12 00:58:51 To the square. Or come to the square
Speaker 3 00:58:52 On a Monday. On a Monday. That's right. So with that being said, uh, I want to thank Brad Solidarity for coming in. Um, I want to also thank Brandon and Nadia for coming in and doing y'all segments. Really appreciated with that. We are going to be out for this week, so Wow. We will see y'all next week.
Speaker 13 00:59:13 Yes. You follow me, follow me, follow me. It's my philosophy that white law monopoly makes democracy and a capitalist economy. It's no democracy. I demand the return to my sovereignty. No apology, independence, autonomy. No need to mommy me. I could run my own country. If you could just stop bombing me, gimme my lamb back, gimme my gold back, my heritage, my birthright. You outright stole that. Organize, organize, organized, do wait. With all the lies. All the lies. They come in with the of the black and the 45 in between the protests we protest at R Lawyers. Yes. We are the organized, organized away with all the lies. All the lies. All the lies. They come in with the tear blocks and 45 in between the protest we protested.
