Conference

On Saturday, I attended the Follow Black Women Conference, held at the Amherst H. Wilder Foundation. Here is my not-very-good photo of the building:

Catrice Jackson is the organizer of this annual conference. From the website, the whys of this conference are:

• Black and brown people are emotionally, spiritually and literally dying because of racism.
• THIS conference will move you beyond theory into intentional action. 
• This conference won't dance around the taboo issues of racism and oppression.
• We will not be sugar-coating the truth by talking about diversity and inclusion.
• We will stare racism and white supremacy in the face and unflinchingly dig up its lethal roots to talk candidly about how racism is detrimental to the lives of black and brown people.
• This conference will be relevant, real and raw.
• THIS conference is for people who are sick and tired of talking about racism in theory and who are ready to do their own personal anti-racism work.
• This conference is for those who are ready to take swift and strategic action to dismantle white supremacy.
• This conference is for those who are ready to advance the women's movement by listening to and following the brilliant and unapologetic leadership of black women. 
• This conference is for black women who are ready to lead their own personal and social revolution. 
• This conference is for ALL women who are ready to create space for black women to lead and to be the wind beneath their wings. 

The speakers and their topics were:

• Sandy Broadus, attorney--No Is A Complete Sentence: Strategies For Black Women to Reclaim Their Time 
• Rachel Cargle, writer and lecturer--Root to Rise: The Ancestral Figures of Anti Racism-Work
• Layla Saad, ancestress, writer, and speaker: Become a Good Ancestor
• Fawntice Finesse, sound healer--Heal With Sounds: Sound Bath Meditation for Support & Inner Peace (for Black women)
• Catrice M. Jackson, Transcending White Guilt: From Fragility to Resiliency  (for White women)

The event was sobering and enlightening, and it was a gift to be allowed to be there. The day started with Catrice having the White women move to the back of the room. The speakers spoke and interacted with the Black women (except the final session directed to White women). White women reported coming away with the following insights:

• Black women know White women better than White women know themselves
• There are no exceptional White women
• White women must give up their scarcity mindset. Stop hoarding resources, support, opportunities--there is enough for everyone.
• Black women are not a monolith; follow, learn from, support, and amplify as many as you can
• Black women have a right to take up space
• White women need to get out of Black women's way and/or use our white privilege to support them
• White women need to know which weapons we use to harm Black women and guard against using them

Capitol Building

According to Wikipedia, the Minnesota State Capitol Building "...was built by Butler-Ryan Construction and designed by Cass Gilbert and modeled after the larger Saint Peter's Basilica in Rome. The dome is the largest unsupported marble dome in the world, as Saint Peter's is made of concrete. However, like all capitols with domes in the US it is also inspired by the idea of domed capitols originating with the United States Capitol dome. Work began on the capitol in 1896, its corner-stone laid July 27, 1898, and construction was completed in 1905."

An interesting website was put together to pay homage to as many of the original workers as possible. Many fascinating stories and interactive maps are available.

The Capitol Building was recently renovated, in a major project that lasted from 2013 until 2017. Beautifully done:

These gold statues are the Quadriga. "Created in 1906 by Daniel Chester French (the same sculptor responsible for Lincoln at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington) and Edward Potter, 'Quadriga: Progress of the State' stands at the base of the Minnesota State Capitol’s dome. The sculpture shows a man on a chariot driving four horses and flanked by two women. The man represents the state’s drive for progress and prosperity. The four horses represent the forces of nature (earth, fire, water and air) and are controlled by the two women who represent industry and agriculture (or civilization collectively)."

Sculptors: Daniel Chester French and Edward Potter; dedicated in 1906

The interior of the dome:

Another view; looking up from first floor:

A plaque about Minnesota being part of the "Old Northwest." I guess we live in the New Northwest:

There are many plaques to Minnesota soldiers throughout the space, including this one to the 13th Minnesota All Volunteer Infantry, 1898 - 1899:

There was also an exhibit about the Native peoples that the Americans displaced and broke treaties with. Here are two placards from that exhibit.

This one is from a quote by "Dakota doctor and writer Ohiyesa (Charles Alexander Eastman), recalling his uncle's description of American values in the 1860s":

This one is from a quote by "Dakota Chief Passing Hail, describing conditions at the Crow Creek Reservation, 1866":

The Minnesota House of Representatives Chamber. From mnhs.org, "The Senate and House meet in regular session each biennium for a total not exceeding 120 legislative days." They were not in session while we were in town and won't meet again until February 2020.

Closeup of the image above the speaker's desk. Her pedestal reads, "The trail of the pioneer bore the footprints of liberty."

Minnesota State Senate Chamber:

Minnesota State Supreme Court Chamber:

The Governor's Reception Room, featuring a painting by Howard Pyle:

Battle of Nashville, Howard Pyle, 1861 - 1865

A kitty cat decorating a marble bench:

Capitol Mall

After checking into our hotel, we explored the mall and building of the Minnesota State Capitol. The mall extends over 18 acres and includes many memorials and monuments. For a complete list (and the origin of the quotes on this page), click here.

Here are some of the memorials and monuments that we saw.

"Since 1881, 217 Minnesota firefighters have died in the line of duty...The grid of weathering steel columns rusts over time - a process reflecting oxidation of fire. Names of Minnesota's fallen firefighters are inscribed on the columns with room in the grid for additional columns and inscriptions in the future, making it a living monument. The wall greeting visitors to the site is inscribed with names of the 791 fire departments throughout the state":

Minnesota Fallen Firefighters Memorial

A closeup:

Sculptor of original bronze statue: Douglas O. Freeman; Architect: Leo A Daly; Engineer: Westwood Professional Services; dedicated on September 30, 2012

In honor of Vietnam War veterans, with a plaque that reads, "Why do you forget us?"

Monument to the Living

Here is the Monument to the Living from the back (the flag in the far right of the photo is at half-staff in honor of U.S. Congressman Elijah Cummings, who died the day before we arrived in Minnesota):

Sculptor: Rodger M. Brodin; dedicated on May 22, 1982

This memorial was "...built to commemorate the Hmong, Lao and other combat veterans and their American advisors, trainers, volunteers and forgotten heroes who served and fought to maintain peace and freedom in Southeast Asia":

Special Forces in Laos Memorial

Closeup of one of the panels:

Sculptor: Marjorie Pitz; Site Design: Kathryn Ryan and Greg Brown, AECOM; dedicated on June 11, 2016

"The 46 central elements in this sculpture composition is a 'Spiral for Justice,' representing the 46 years of Roy Wilkins' leadership of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) in its fight for social and economic justice for all Americans":

Roy Wilkins Memorial

This memorial was inspired by a Roy Wilkins quote: "We must truly see others as ourselves and all as our nation - our common and glorious heritage built upon man and his freedom. For this is what our country is about."

Sculptor: Curtis Patterson; dedicated November1995

"The bronze statues represent Lindbergh as a boy dreaming of flying and as a man who accomplished that dream, honoring the Minnesota aviator who made the first solo trans-Atlantic airplane flight in 1927." The squirrel is not mentioned:

Charles Lindbergh. Sculptor: Paul T. Granlund; dedicated in 1985

"'It was once said that the moral test of Government is how that Government treats those who are in the dawn of life, children; those who are in the twilight of life, the elderly; and those who are in the shadows of life, the sick, the needy, and the handicapped.' -- Hubert H. Humphrey, 1977. Humphrey served as Mayor of the City of Minneapolis from 1945-1948, as United States Senator from 1971-1978, and Vice-President of the United States from 1965-1969":

Hubert H. Humphrey Memorial. Sculptors: Jeff and Anna Koh Varilla; Site Design: Jeff Martin, DSU; dedicated on
August 4, 2012

A view of downtown Saint Paul from the capitol steps:

This woman dancing with her scarf made us feel like we'd never left home:

Best Western Plus Capitol Ridge

We spent our two nights in Minneapolis-Saint Paul at the Best Western Plus Capitol Ridge.

In general, the Twin Cities seems like a pretty flat place. But there was at least one ridge, they put the Minnesota State Capitol Building on it, and our hotel was about two blocks away from that--and thus its name.

Not a lovely building:

But the lobby was comfortable:

Photo from the Internet

And the onsite restaurant, Peddlers Pub, was quite good for a hotel eatery. We had one dinner and two breakfasts here:

Photo from the Internet

Our room was fine:

By day, we had a view of an abandoned Sears building:

And some of the nearby state office buildings:

By night, we were treated to a low-rider show. To be honest, the cars were amazing, and hey, it was free:

Our hotel was also very close to the Cathedral of Saint Paul:

Here it is again through the leaves:

Lost at MSP

We took a quick weekend trip to Minneapolis-Saint Paul ("the Twin Cities"). We had an easy flight--just under three hours--and enjoyed watching John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum.

Our first adventure occurred almost immediately upon deplaning at MSP. We had all our luggage, so the next question was, where to pick up a Lyft?

We landed at Terminal 1-Lindbergh, but the Lyft app told us we had to meet their drivers outside the purple garage at Terminal 2-Humphrey. First we walked the wrong way in Terminal 1, then we took the elevators down to the basement. We were going to catch the tram to Terminal 2, but were told we needed to take the light rail. While searching for the light rail, we found this parking lot for little go carts:

We finally found the light rail and took it to Terminal 2-Humphrey (we could have stayed onboard and visited the Mall of the Americas, oh boy). It was unclear how to get from the "train station" into the parking lot, but we finally did--and then realized we were in the orange lot, not the purple lot. We asked some flight attendants we passed, but they didn't know how to get to the purple lot. We finally found our way out of the orange lot and were going to head into Terminal 2, when we realized that if we walked along the edge of the orange lot, we'd end up at the purple lot. Here is Matt (far left) making that trudge:

Here is a map that might have been handy if we'd found it during our adventure. We walked back and forth and up and down in Terminal 1 (upper right), took the dotted line (the light rail) to the orange parking lot of Terminal 2, where we also walked back and forth and up and down. Finally, we walked along the terminal side of the orange lot, found the purple lot, walked along the terminal side of it, and then ended up at the purple lot's far left corner, where we were able to call Lyft.

Map from the Internet

Much to our dismay, the Lyft driver who returned us to the airport at the end of the weekend showed us where the app should have told us to go to pick up a Lyft at Terminal 1. Nowhere near the purple garage, of course.