The pantry is run by Mykelo 'Keiko' Jackson, who was awarded a Minnesota State grant to establish the facility.
According to The Post Millennial, the pantry's sign explicitly states: "The resources found in here are intended for Black & Indigenous Folx. Please refrain from taking anything if you're not." In an August post, the pantry's mission was further emphasized, "With the help of our community and MDH: African American Health Office we’ve distributed 2,249 lbs of food to Black & Indigenous Folx in North Minneapolis. This is what liberation looks like on a small scale."
However, Jackson's policy has sparked controversy, forcing the pantry to relocate. Initially opened on July 27 near the Sanctuary Covenant Church, Jackson made it clear that white individuals were not welcome to access the food intended for the poor. Howard Dotson, a 54-year-old local chaplain, was denied entry due to his race. "This is not building community, it's destroying it," Dotson told Alpha News. He subsequently filed a complaint, which Jackson dismissed as an exhibition of his "white privilege."
Jackson defended her stance, stating, "There was no one there directly turning them away. They felt entitled to the resources that were not for their demographic - white privilege is real." She further accused Dotson of engaging in "political violence."
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In an Instagram post, Jackson announced the pantry's closure and impending relocation to Za’Rah Wellness. She thanked Sanctuary Church for their initial partnership, but also hinted at a disagreement, attributing it to "a recent incident with a 'Karen.'" She stated that the church felt her commitment to directing resources exclusively towards Black & Indigenous families was exclusionary to other community members.
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The food pantry, named Food Trap Project, was funded by a taxpayer-funded Paths to Black Health grant. The grant program aims to address and reduce health disparities for black Americans while contributing to community development.
In a social media post, Jackson justified her policy of excluding white individuals from the pantry. She highlighted the systemic racism that has led to a lack of supermarkets in predominantly Black communities, referring to these areas as 'food apartheids.' She argued that the term 'food apartheid' better encapsulates the systematic lack of access to healthy foods, taking into account race, geography, and economics.
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The Sanctuary Church, however, expressed disappointment in Jackson's approach. They claimed they were misled by Jackson and her project, stating, "When Mykela Jackson approached us to set up her Food Trap Project we were excited to support her. This would be a place accessible to anyone 24./7. No demographic [information] necessary. Anyone in need would be welcome."
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The church further clarified that Jackson's original proposal did not indicate any intention to restrict usage to specific communities. They asked her to adhere to her original proposal, but when she failed to do so, she decided to relocate the Food Trap Project. The church has since cut power to the facility.
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This incident raises questions about the use of state grants and the balance between addressing systemic racial disparities and ensuring equal access to resources for all community members. It also highlights the ongoing debate about the role of 'white privilege' in society and the potential for policies aimed at addressing systemic racism to inadvertently foster division and resentment.
