The City of Minneapolis seeks to get three historical sites for Black culture recognized by the National Register of Historic Places for their importance over time.
The three sites are the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder, the oldest Black-owned newspaper in Minnesota, the Phyllis Wheatley Community Center, a 100-year-old beacon of community empowerment, and the former home of Harry Davis, Sr., the civil rights advocate and first Black candidate for Minneapolis mayor in 1971.
A spot on the register of historic places means national recognition of the location’s importance and allows for the possibility for national and state preservation grants and tax credits. The locations have not been recognized yet, but the city is pursuing the next steps. The funding for this project came from grants from the National Park Service and the Minnesota Historical Society.
People involved with the historic sites are honored and excited for the effort to continue.
“I’m honored that the paper my grandfather built is being considered for national recognition,” said Tracey Williams-Dillard, CEO and publisher of the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder, in a statement. “This would shine a long overdue light on the decades of work the MSR has done to uplift African American voices and secure its place on the national stage.”
The city’s plan to nominate the three sites to the register is the next step in a year-long effort. The project was assembled by 15 city-appointed members of the African American Heritage Work Group who advised the Minneapolis African American Historic and Cultural Context Study, a study that highlights African American history from 1800 to the present, including the recognition of influential people, locations, and events.
“There are so many remarkable stories in this study,” said senior city planner Erin Que in a press release. “These stories talk about finding and making a home here in Minneapolis, discuss faith traditions and important community resources. They also uplift the ways African Americans have added vibrancy to the city and consistently fought for civil rights.”
The project’s goal is to uplift the voices, achievements, and struggles within the Minneapolis Black community that are integral to the city’s history.
