Northside activists remember a ‘gentle giant’ of the local civil rights movement

By David Pierini staff reporter 

As the grief and anger over the death of George Floyd in police custody leavens a new generation of activists, a forefather of the Civil Rights Movement in Minneapolis quietly passed away in Charlotte, N.C. 

Randy Staten Photo credit: Minnesota Legislative Manual

The life journey of Randy Staten wound through professional football, three terms in the Minnesota House and two churches as a prominent North Minneapolis pastor. Along the way, he championed important legislation as the only Black congressman at the time, fought systemic racism and gave his knowledge generously to some of today’s most important leaders. 

Staten was living with family when he passed away May 29 at the age of 76.

“I watched him work and he was fearless,” activist Al Flowers said. “That’s the one thing I learned; be fearless and don’t think twice about it.”

In three terms, stretching from 1981 to 1986, Staten led efforts to get the state to divest from South Africa (whose government then enforced apartheid), to have  the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday declared a state holiday and sponsored the Minority Child Heritage Protection Act.

The law was the first of its kind in the U.S. and required child protection agencies to place minority children for adoption or foster care with relatives, followed by families with the same race or ethnicity. 

“I’ve always believed that politics is one area where involvement can lead to necessary changes,” Staten said in a 1980 interview for a legislative publication featuring newly elected legislators. He was the only African-American member at the time. “I don’t want to ever be considered a ‘Black’ legislator. But the viewpoint of a person of color is necessary.” 

Randolph Wilber Staten grew up in Charlotte and came to Minnesota; recruited to play football for the Golden Gophers. He excelled his junior and senior years and was considered one of the teams fastest lineman. After graduating with a degree in communications, Staten played the 1966 season for the Scranton Miners, a minor league team. He was signed by the New York Giants in 1967 and played 14 games before a leg injury ended his career. 

Afterwards, he returned to Minneapolis where he worked for Cargill and rose as a leader in the local civil rights movement. 

Staten was involved with the 1968 start of Pilot City, a one-stop center in North Minneapolis for health care, employment assistance, educational programs, food assistance and housing services. It later became NorthPoint Health and Wellness Center. 

He was also active at The Way Community Center, which was dedicated to cultivating racial pride among African-American youth. The building later became the Minneapolis Police Department’s Fourth Precinct headquarters.

He was only the third African-American elected to the House. After politics, he went into the ministry, serving as the pastor of two of the Northside’s most prominent churches, Zion Baptist Church and New Salem Missionary Baptist Church.

“He was a gentle giant and rock solid,” said the Rev. Jerry McAfee, pastor at New Salem. “One of the greatest things he instilled in a lot of us is to always make sure to negotiate before you protest. If negotiations break down, do not protest until you ask one fundamental question, ‘What do you want?’

“I used to be really gung-ho and he would  irritate me. I had a lot of zeal but I didn’t have the knowledge. This current generation could use a lot of his wisdom.”

Former city councilman and pastor, Brian Herron, who now heads Zion Baptist Church, remembers being a young father in need of a job when Staten helped him find employment. 

Later, when Herron was elected to the city council, Staten instilled in him the value of working well with other people, sticking to the issue and never making it personal. Herron said he wasn’t the only one who benefits from a door opened by Staten. 

Herron remembers having a series of meetings with Staten before he moved out of state a few years back. In those meetings, he gave advice and shared stories about North Minneapolis from when he was a young activist. 

“He was a good negotiator but he was firm enough to stand on what he believed,” Herron said. “There was a power in Randy’s voice when he spoke, and as he moved into the ministry, that power was even more apparent. He used to tell me to quit being timid. He said when you believe something, stand on it and be strong on it. That’s something my father used to tell me.”