Our Programs

Hubert H. Humphrey (1911-1978) is one of Minnesota’s most beloved and influential politicians. In the late 1940s, while he was Mayor of Minneapolis, Humphrey became vocal about his opposition to racial segregation, and in 1948, he made one of the most important speeches in political history. MN90 producer Marisa Helms reports that Humphrey’s passionate civil rights speech spurred the Democratic Party to adopt a civil rights plank into its platform. Years later, as a U.S. Senator, Humphrey was instrumental in helping to pass the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
[Read Transcript...]

August Wilson (1945-2005) is among America’s most critically-acclaimed playwrights. He penned several groundbreaking plays while living in St. Paul in the 1980s, including Pulitzer Prize winners "Fences" and "The Piano Lesson." They are both part of Wilson’s grand opus – a series of ten historical plays called "The Pittsburgh Cycle." In the series, each decade of the 20th century is represented through a play, exploring the cultural, spiritual, and daily lives of African Americans. MN90 producer Marisa Helms reports. [Read Transcript...]

Imagine it’s early spring… But it’s 70° below zero and you’re on skis. There’s nothing around but ice and polar bears. You’re pulling a sled twice your weight, you haven’t had a shower in months, and a stick of butter is on the menu for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Sound fun? It sure does if you’re Polar explorer Ann Bancroft. MN90 producer Marisa Helms introduces us to St. Paul native Bancroft who made history as the first woman to explore both the North and South Poles. [Read Transcript...]