Minnesota is often portrayed as a progressive state, known for its high standard of living, education system, and Scandinavian roots. However, beneath this image lies a deeply embedded legacy of white supremacy, which has shaped the state’s culture and continues to affect its communities of color. To truly understand this dynamic, it’s essential to examine the history of racism in Minnesota and how it manifests today.

Historical Roots of White Supremacy in Minnesota

Minnesota’s history is not immune to the racial injustices that have plagued the United States since its founding. While it was a free state during the Civil War, Minnesota still participated in institutionalized racism, including segregated schools, redlining, and exclusionary housing practices that limited where Black people could live.

The infamous 1920 Duluth lynchings—when three Black circus workers were falsely accused of raping a white woman and brutally murdered by a white mob—illustrate how violent white supremacy could manifest, even in the northern Midwest. This event left a scar on Minnesota’s Black community, reminding them that even outside the South, their lives were not safe from racial violence.

Moreover, redlining practices in the Twin Cities segregated Black families into certain neighborhoods, denying them access to the wealth accumulation opportunities that white families had through homeownership. To this day, these neighborhoods still suffer from underinvestment, higher crime rates, and fewer opportunities compared to predominantly white areas.

The Minnesota Nice Facade

Minnesota is often characterized by “Minnesota Nice,” a cultural tendency toward passive aggression, avoiding confrontation, and maintaining a superficial friendliness. While this may sound harmless, in practice, it often allows white Minnesotans to avoid discussing race or confronting their own biases. “Minnesota Nice” can mask systemic racism, giving the impression that everything is fine while avoiding meaningful conversations about inequality.

This cultural trait contributes to the gaslighting that Black people and other communities of color experience when raising issues of racism. The discomfort white Minnesotans feel when confronted with racial injustice often leads to a defensive posture, where the concerns of people of color are minimized, ignored, or outright denied. This refusal to acknowledge the problem only deepens the divide.

The Present-Day Impact of White Supremacy

Today, Minnesota is still grappling with racial disparities in education, housing, healthcare, and employment. The murder of George Floyd in 2020, right in the heart of Minneapolis, laid bare the deep-seated racism within the state’s police departments and the broader criminal justice system. Protests erupted not only across Minnesota but around the world, highlighting the urgent need for change.

Despite the progressive image, Minnesota’s racial disparities are some of the worst in the nation. For example, the educational achievement gap between white students and Black students in Minnesota is among the largest in the country. Similarly, Black Minnesotans are far more likely to be arrested, face housing insecurity, or experience unemployment than their white counterparts.

The housing market in the Twin Cities, for instance, remains one of the most segregated in the nation. Decades of disinvestment in Black neighborhoods have left communities without the resources needed to thrive, perpetuating the cycle of poverty. And while white residents have historically accumulated wealth through homeownership, Black families have been denied the same opportunities, exacerbating the racial wealth gap.

Addressing White Supremacy in Minnesota Culture

Tackling white supremacy in Minnesota requires more than superficial gestures of goodwill or policy changes. It demands a reckoning with the past, a willingness to dismantle the systems that have kept Black Minnesotans marginalized, and a commitment to rebuilding communities in ways that prioritize equity and justice.

Organizations and activists are already hard at work, pushing for policies that will address these racial disparities. Efforts like the African American Family Preservation Act, designed to keep Black children with their families rather than placing them disproportionately in foster care, represent an important step forward. Similarly, initiatives to invest in Black-owned businesses, provide affordable housing, and reform the criminal justice system are essential to changing the status quo.

For white Minnesotans, this also means being willing to engage in difficult conversations about race, privilege, and complicity in upholding white supremacy. It means going beyond “Minnesota Nice” and acknowledging the harm that has been done to communities of color.

Conclusion

While Minnesota may pride itself on being a progressive state, its history and present realities tell a different story—one where white supremacy still plays a significant role in shaping the lives of its residents. Addressing this legacy requires not only policy changes but a cultural shift in how race and racism are understood. Until then, the disparities and injustices that have long defined Minnesota’s landscape will continue to thrive.

Awakening to the Truth: A Call to Consciousness

Minnesota, like much of America, has long lulled us into complacency with its progressive veneer, but the time has come for us to wake up. The disparities we see, the injustices we face, and the systems designed to keep us in place are no accidents. They are the result of centuries of white supremacy, operating subtly and overtly, to keep power in the hands of a few while the rest of us struggle for the scraps.

It’s time for us to become conscious—truly aware—of how these systems work and how we can dismantle them. Becoming conscious means more than just recognizing injustice; it means actively seeking the truth, even when it’s uncomfortable, and choosing to stand against it. It means rejecting the narrative that this is just how things are or that things will change on their own. They won’t. We are the ones who will change it.

This awakening isn’t just a moment of awareness—it’s a movement of action. When we wake up to the realities around us, we become empowered. We see through the illusions that have kept us trapped and realize that we have the power to build something new, something just, something truly for us.

This is the moment to rise from our sleep. To shake off the lies we’ve been told and to take control of our own destinies. Together, as a conscious community, we can break the chains of oppression and build a future rooted in equity, justice, and love for all.

We must wake up, we must stay awake, and we must act. Our future depends on it.