North Minneapolis in Focus: Pictures of the Year
Urban farming guru Michael Chaney dances his way to the front of the parade line on Juneteenth. He was this year’s parade marshal.
Photos and text by Azhae’la Hanson
An image can create powerful narratives, and as a photographer and writer for North News, I have this deepening sense of responsibility to get it right.
I remember looking up North Minneapolis online when I was a student at North High School and seeing the overbearing negative coverage of the community in which I lived. I thought to myself that there is so much more here, and people need to see that, too.
I am moved by the moments that happen over North when we were not at our lowest in this community, those moments of who we are. And without the prying eye of insistent narratives from people who don’t live here.
I hope this year continued us in the right direction of letting the world know who we truly are. I hope we can share many more moments and stories we experience together.
Thank you, Northside! And if you see me out and about, say cheese!
Anthony Taylor’s Melanin in Motion program invited people of color to explore outdoor sports. Axel Lester, 4, rode the slopes for the first time.
Pamela Weems twirls in a custom pink outfit at a breast cancer awareness event. Weems is a two-time breast cancer survivor and started the Pink Ladies, an awareness organization dedicated to providing support for African-American women who have been impacted by breast cancer.
Marvin Haynes embraced cousins, Destiny Coleman, left, and Grace Coleman shortly after his release from prison. Haynes spent 20 behind bars for a murder he did not commit.
JJ legacy teacher Kandice Childs twists her student's hair during resting time in her classroom. The student was telling her how he wanted to look like his older brother, who has locs.
Kaleena Johnson looks at Saturn through the Hall STEM Academy’s telescope. The academy is the only school in MPS to have an observatory facility.
Kevin Alwaik, owner of Webber Mart, smiles at his cat, Maddi. Aldwaik has operated the store since 2014 and has become an integral part of the Webber/Camden community.
Fred Davis, right, strikes a pose with his Mustang at the Northside We Outside event in June.
North High football coach Charles Adams dances with his team after securing a section championship title.
Former North High and WNBA standout Tamara Moore now coaches the men’s basketball team at Masabi Range College. “I let the world say what they want to say; legend, the goat, (and) trailblazer are things I let other people apply to my name. But I am very humbled by this ball right here. And I feel like my story is not fully written yet. I want to go as high as I can.”
Nakaiya Abdullah, center, became the first girl to complete a season on North High’s football team.
A dance instructor with the Dynamic Dolls Dance Team showed an audience how it’s done at this year’s Juneteenth celebration. This year, Juneteenth was recognized as a Minnesota state holiday.
Pastor Jerry McAfee speaks out against the transfer of a license for Merwin Liquors to We Push For Peace. The community has been in strong opposition to the store’s problematic presence on the corner of West Broadway and Lyndale avenues for generations.
Artist Loretta Day painted a mural on Plymouth Avenue North during this summer's Mural Fest.
A group of cousins took advantage of the open gates during football practice at North High and raced around on the field.
Minneapolis Public Schools hosted an annual Powwow in September to celebrate the Native/Indigenous students and families in the district.
Solana Anderson prays for her son, Omar Brown, while he nears the end of his standout college season at the University of Nebraska and embarks on his dream to play in the NFL.