The Godfather of Black Space in Minneapolis
“The Godfather of Black Space in Minneapolis,” is a feature-length audio documentary that traces the life of Anthony Brutus Cassius, an overlooked Twin Cities labor organizer, civil rights leader and entrepreneur who fought to be the first Black person in Minnesota to get a liquor license in the 1940s. Along the way, Cassius was questioned by the FBI and his famous greasy burgers were even once mentioned on the Johnny Carson show. But above all, starting in the 1930s, Cassius created space for the Twin Cities Black community to eat, drink, organize and connect. Even today, there are few Black-owned bars or restaurants in the Twin Cities. Cassius' story helps us to understand how we got here. I produced this work in collaboration with Twin Cities food writer and chef Mecca Bos.
Dreamland 2021
Dreamland 2021 was a public celebration of A.B. Cassius and the release of “The Godfather of Black Space in Minneapolis.” On a warm July evening in 2021, over one hundred partygoers gathered at Black-owned Palmer’s Bar to enjoy a live performance from Twin Cities music legend Cornbread Harris and listen to selected clips from the audio documentary. Here are some photos from that night, courtesy of photographer Uche Iroegbu.
Me with co-producer Mecca Bos
Emcee Miki Mosman
Tony Zaccardi, Owner, Palmer’s Bar
Suluki Fardan, A.B. Cassius’ grandson reacts after listening to an audio clip from the documentary.
Twin Cities music legend Cornbread Harris, then 94, performed multiple sets that night.
Me and co-producer Mecca Bos with emcee Miki Mosman and chefs Mateo Mackbee and Erin Rae.
The crowd toasts Alfreida Kirksey with shots of Crown Royal. Kirksey was a longtime patron of Cassius Bar. She says her house drink was “Crown Royal on the rocks with a water back.”
DJ Keezy closes out the night.
The Dreamland Cafe
Over a period of 40+ years, Anthony Brutus Cassius owned and operated two different eating and drinking establishments in Minneapolis. The first was The Dreamland Cafe, located at 3755 4th Avenue South in the heart of Minneapolis’ Black Southside community where Cassius also lived. The Dreamland Cafe opened in 1937 and offered a rare safe space where Black Minneapolitans could eat, drink, gather and feel welcome at a time when downtown restaurants and hotels discriminated against Black customers and workers. Cassius sold The Dreamland Cafe In 1947.
Cassius Bar
In 1948, after more than a year of wrangling with Minneapolis city officials, along with defending himself against false accusations of being a Communist, Cassius became the first Black person in Minneapolis to obtain a liquor license and open a bar downtown. Between 1947 and 1980, he ran Cassius Bar (also known as Cassius Club Cafe), which included a music venue called The Bamboo Room where Prince’s father, whose stage name was Prince Rogers, used to play live jazz.
A.B. Cassius in 1948 after winning his liquor license.
Cassius Bar and Playroom, 207 South 3rd Street
