Recent content from Myron Medcalf
Medcalf: Exonerated of murder, author will speak at our Minneapolis book club about 'life and freedom'
Anthony Ray Hinton spent nearly 30 years on death row for a murder he didn't commit: "The only way I knew that I could get my joy back is that I had to forgive them."
Medcalf: Will plans to restore St. Paul's Rondo replace what was stolen?
Ideas must include measures that will not only restore the area but also create an economic boost for the people most impacted by injustice.
Medcalf: Young adults' demand for work-life balance offers lessons for us all
Loving a job is one thing — allowing it to become your whole identity is hazardous.
Medcalf: Were up to 200 kids really actively fighting in Roseville?
Reports of recent incident deserve scrutiny — not a rush to judgment.
Medcalf: Deadly men with guns were once boys who did not know what to do with their anger
There is hope for the boys who haven't yet become those men, if we can reach them.
Medcalf: Why Black History month is needed
Meet the Minneapolis woman who leads a museum shining a spotlight on Black Minnesotans' contributions.
Medcalf: Here's what we're reading next for local antiracism book club
Anthony Ray Hinton, who was wrongly convicted and then freed from death row, shares his story
Medcalf: Taking name used by Indigenous mental health crisis center was wrong
Throughout history, attacks on Indigenous communities have involved efforts to take their land, erase their traditions and history and remove or ignore symbolism of their names.
Medcalf: Let's remember homeless Minnesotans are our neighbors, too
It's time to change the language used in conversations about people unhoused in the Twin Cities.
Medcalf: Even in tough times, we all need and deserve to seek moments of joy
The winter solstice is behind us and the days will get brighter, but it can be challenging to see the light in our own lives.
Medcalf: Years later, the memory of covering my first murder trial still haunts me
Marvin Haynes was a teenager when he was sentenced to life in prison. Questions raised recently about his case are troubling.
Medcalf: What does news avoidance mean for next generation?
I'm not convinced my children's generation will see the value of the news the same way I did.
Medcalf: Promotion of Minneapolis police officer after she forwarded a racist email deserves scrutiny
Police chief's response to critics highlights department's refusal to be held accountable.
Medcalf: Here's why we must confront book-banning efforts in Minnesota and elsewhere
America hasn't been a theme park for everybody. Children should know that.
Medcalf: Nominee for Minneapolis public safety commissioner shares his own encounters with police
No one person can fix a broken system, but Hennepin County Chief Judge Todd Barnette's personal experiences and professional credentials would serve him well in the role.
Medcalf: How this Minnesota night owl made the switch to become an early riser
Waking up earlier gives me a burst of energy, peace the rest of the day
Medcalf: Dialogue about school resource officers failed our kids
Our children deserve a more holistic approach to their well-being than the one presented in this conversation. Instead of chokeholds and policing, what about relationships and resources?
Medcalf: My quest to read more books led me to 'reading therapist' in St. Paul
Limit Netflix viewing, go on reading dates with friends and other advice to get back to reading more.
Medcalf: As a new school year begins, Minnesota's teachers and students need our support now more than ever
Aftershocks of pandemic have made a tough job even more challenging for teachers, and it will take all of us to fix it.
Medcalf: What Minnesota's wealth gap says about opportunity and power structure
If we are to see real progress in addressing gender and racial economic disparities, companies must do more to recognize and reward the impact of women and BIPOC individuals.
Medcalf: Minnesota's new policy banning school suspensions for our youngest students is progress
Law aims to curb discipline bias in schools, especially during the critical early years.
Medcalf: An apology was in order, Mayor Frey
Why did it take a federal investigation into Minneapolis police conduct to confirm for city leaders what Black Minneapolitans have been saying for years?
Medcalf: On embracing the wonderful, imperfect journey of fatherhood
Fatherhood is a responsibility and a chance to embrace growth.
Medcalf: Decision to remove hoops from park to fight crime is cruel
The decision follows two recent shootings in six weeks at River Bend Park in Savage. Officials do not shut down baseball diamonds and hockey rinks. But basketball rims are an easy target,
Medcalf: At George Floyd Square and beyond, the vow to never forget continues
The "Rise and Remember" event to mark the May 25 anniversary of Floyd's murder is a testament to a community's strength and perseverance.
Medcalf: How much should parents post about their children?
A Minnesota mom who rewarded her son for staying off social media weighs in.
Medcalf: Is gun violence really the legacy we want to leave for our children?
Those who live with the pain of that violence watch headlines about the tragedies disappear in 24 hours.
Medcalf: The legacy of Minnesota artist, thinker Beverly Cottman
The loss of BIPOC elders carries impact in their significance to the foundations of the community.
Medcalf: Javier Zamora's 'Solito' is spring reading selection for anti-racism book club
The memoir explores the complex story of the immigrant experience.
Medcalf: Nothing like a Minnesota snowstorm to unite us
Drama aside, tough winters here remind us that we're all in this together
Medcalf: Aldi's closing is a reminder of how north Minneapolis community is starved of key resources
For some, the store's decision to leave is not just an inconvenience — it's a death sentence.
Medcalf: No woman should have to live in fear for her life for rejecting a man
We should not allow ourselves to become desensitized to the ongoing partner violence by men that cost women their lives.
Medcalf: On rethinking the way we approach New Year goals
I no longer believe in resolutions, only growth.
Medcalf: Do social media posts of good deeds actually spur others to do good?
I worry these public displays have turned random acts of kindness into an exploitative ambition.
Medcalf: Therapy is a valuable tool in dealing with life's struggles
Many men could benefit from mental health treatment, but are reluctant to seek help
Medcalf: Minnesota woman who suffered in prison discovered writing was her therapy — and her talent
Barbara Currin put pencil to paper and found herself.
Medcalf: Minnesota designer seeks to uplift people with clothing line sporting positive messages
The 22-year-old started working on his streetwear brand during the pandemic to bring light to those around him.
Medcalf: The anti-racism book club meets Thursday in Minneapolis. Join us!
It will be the first in-person gathering since the Mary Ann Key Book Club began in the wake of George Floyd's murder.
Medcalf: What Steve Sviggum's question reveals about the University of Minnesota
The vice chair of the University of Minnesota's Board of Regents just made the system's institutions less safe for its BIPOC students.
Medcalf: Why I wanted to allow people to post comments on my column
The comments can lead to fruitful dialogue in real life.
Medcalf: Join us for our anti-racism book club talk about late author's prophetic lessons
Octavia E. Butler's writings — suggesting involving young people and connecting through our shared humanity — are key to curing societal ills.
Medcalf: Give Minneapolis teachers of color a chance to be there for students who need them most
The toxic dialogue around the Minneapolis teachers' contract ignores the impact teachers of color have on the school district and students who resemble them.
Medcalf: A survival guide for teen girls and their loving parents
Six wise Minnesota women offer advice to their younger selves about navigating high school.
Medcalf: Rethinking masculinity for the next generation
Altering the perception of masculinity among our young men is key to shepherding them to the future.
Medcalf: Fall selection for anti-racism book club offers a measure of promise
Octavia Butler's "The Parable of the Sower" is a dystopian novel that speaks to today's challenges, offers remedy for change
Medcalf: Minnesotans who are experiencing homelessness deserve to be seen, heard
A walk with two outreach workers offered an introduction to those living in tents and on the streets — and to their hopes and dreams
Medcalf: The lasting damage of Mpls. Council Member Rainville's rant
In ways he cannot understand, Michael Rainville has hurt the Somali American community in Minnesota and beyond.
Medcalf: Take a vacation this summer, Minnesotans — you deserve it
Unplugging from work occasionally is healthy, and a choice we don't make as often as we should.
Medcalf: Black outdoorsman wants BIPOC Minnesotans to see state's parks, trails as theirs, too
He has hiked around the world in places accessible to all, but not always viewed as inclusive.
Medcalf: It's OK to laugh, even in these tough times, Black comedians in Minnesota say
Black comedians in Minnesota talk about their art and the power of laughter
Medcalf: How to reconnect with friends you've lost touch with during the pandemic
It can be a struggle to find our social stride now that the world has opened up again.
Medcalf: Minnesota artist's work is a form of activism and connection for Native American community
Marlena Myles is among the featured speakers at an upcoming anti-racism book club community discussion
Medcalf: Inside the world of Minnesota sneakerheads
A growing community of sneaker aficionados sees footwear as a mode of self-expression
Medcalf: An invitation to learn U.S. history from an Indigenous perspective
Upcoming Mary Ann Key Book Club event features former teacher who helped adapt popular book for young people.
Medcalf: Next book club selection to focus on 'America's most overlooked community'
Mary Ann Book Club's next selection is "An Indigenous Peoples' History of the United States For Young People."
Medcalf: What happened to Amir Locke feels like it could happen to any Black Minnesotan
If it happens to me, what happens to us, investigate the investigation.
Medcalf: Friendly encounter with war veteran in greater Minnesota is a reminder of empathy's power
The pandemic has contributed to an erosion of our collective empathy – a tool that helps unite us.
Medcalf: Getting to know the real Martin Luther King Jr.
Let's honor him by studying the full story of his struggle and not just excerpts from his famous speeches.
Medcalf: Minnesota women speak about bell hooks' impact on their lives
The late scholar and author birthed a generation of Black women who were empowered by her ideas.
Medcalf: Verdict won't end the pain for those closest to Wright
Testimony showed the trauma friends and family have suffered
Medcalf: What Black Minnesotans are feeling hopeful about
'The greatest privilege of this space is the people I've met through this journey'
Medcalf: A letter to Daunte Wright's family
Let's not lose sight of the fact that we will never know his potential because his life was cut short.
Medcalf: For many Minnesotans, hunger is part of their new normal since pandemic
Hunger is closer to all of us than we may realize.
Medcalf: Why I chose not to attend Dave Chappelle's Minneapolis show
The comedian, an influential voice on racism, has the power to shape the perception of the LGBTQ community, another marginalized group that is full of Black folks he claims to defend.
![JaNae Bates speaks during the Yes On 2 Election Night Party at the Gold Room Restaurant & Lounge, Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2021 in Minneapolis, Minn. ] CA](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/4G4HQLJ4XZ2JD25XIJ3K3IZQIA.jpg?h=120&w=180&fit=crop&bg=999&crop=faces)
Medcalf: Minneapolis election result feels like the start, not the end, of police reform fight
To ignore that view is to dismiss the diversified push to create systemic change and to avoid another tragedy.
Medcalf: Minnesota book club to encourage solidarity with Asian American communities
"Minor Feelings" has been filled with reflections on the parallels between the Asian American and the Black communities.
Medcalf: For joy on 8 wheels, roll onto Burnsville rink
At the roller rink, there is equality and diversity that illustrate the possibilities within the Twin Cities.
Medcalf: It's time to start seeing and valuing Black, single mothers in Minnesota
Single, Black mothers are held to an impossible standard without substantial support.
Medcalf: Minnesota's 'teen whisperer' humbled by support he's received during cancer fight
Accustomed to providing support for others, Jason Clopton recently displayed his own vulnerability as he discussed his next steps.
Medcalf: Black children continue to lose their lives to gun violence. It's a Minnesota problem.
There is a long line of young victims and, in many cases, young shooters.
Medcalf: In Minn., boarding school trauma inflicted on Indigenous communities must be acknowledged
Native American history has been buried by a country that knows it cannot be discussed without the admission of complicity.
Medcalf: Donut Trap owner offers a message of hope for a Black community navigating a turbulent world
Through his doughnuts, he has created a platform for dialogue.
Medcalf: Next book chosen for anti-racism book club focuses on Asian American reckoning
The goal of this choice is to demand respect for the perspectives of our Asian American and Pacific Islander community.
