April 19th, 2018 Edition

Annie Malone turns 130

5K run/walk, Mother’s Day Brunch join May

Day Parade

to celebrate milestone

American staff

Annie Malone Children and Family Services is celebrating 130 years of service this year with two community events, in addition to the annual Annie Malone May Day Parade, which takes place this year on Sunday, May 20.

On Sunday, April 29, the agency will host a 5K run/walk in Forest Park to recognize National Child Abuse Awareness month and raise awareness of child abuse and neglect; check-in time is 8 a.m. Olympic Gold medalist Jackie JoynerKersee is the official walk spokesperson. Individuals, families, businesses, and organizations are invited to participate. Proceeds will directly support Annie Malone programs that prevent child abuse and neglect.

n The May Day Parade, a St. Louis tradition that began over a century ago in the historic Greater Ville Neighborhood, steps off at 1 p.m. Sunday, May 20 at 20th and Market streets.

Annie Malone will also celebrate mothers with a Mother’s Day Brunch 11 a.m. Saturday, May 12 at Norwood Hills Country Club.

Then the May Day Parade, a St. Louis tradition that began over a century ago in the historic Greater Ville Neighborhood, steps off at 1 p.m. Sunday, May 20 at 20th and Market streets and heads east on Market to Broadway. This year’s grand marshals are Judge Anne-Marie Clarke, St. Louis City Family Court commissioner; Jimmie Edwards, director of Public Safety for the City of St. Louis; and St. Louis Police Chief John Hayden. The May Day parade, the oldest and secondlargest African-American parade in the nation, and other celebration activities provide financial resources to support the agency’s programs, including parenting education, crisis intervention, transitional living programs, and therapeutic

See MALONE, A6

Minority participation, civilian review subpoena power will become law

Aldermen pass, mayor says she will sign, progressive measures

By Rachel Lippmann Of St. Louis Public Radio

St. Louis aldermen sent Mayor Lyda Krewson bills on Monday that put

minority

FebruAry 16, 1953 –ApriL 13, 2018

Activist attorney Eric E. Vickers passes at 65

Won minority inclusion agreements in state, city workforce, contracts

By Gloria S. Ross For The St. Louis

American

Eric E.

Eric E. Vickers, the provocative, complex and controversial attorney and civil rights activist who defended causes and clients on both sides of the Mississippi River, died on Friday, April 13 after a battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 65. His mantra was “litigating, agitating and negotiating.” In 1999, Vickers orchestrated an event that required plenty of agitating and negotiating. He helped shut down Interstate 70 to protest the dearth of African Americans hired to work on highway projects. Vickers, the Rev. Al Sharpton and approximately 300 other protesters halted morning rush hour traffic. They got the attention of then-Gov. Mel Carnahan, the Missouri Department of Transportation and area contractors. Negotiations quickly ensued, and on July 22, 1999, 10 days after the blockade, protesters celebrated the inclusive agreement that had been hammered out, an agreement that still stands.

“I have learned to use public protest for the benefit of the weak and downtrodden,” Vickers wrote.

His cases needed to be equally meaningful; activism and law were inextricably linked.

“I never wanted to be just an attorney. I wanted to be a lawyer fighting for justice where it most mattered, inside its very core,” Vickers said in a 2001 RiverFront Times profile.

Eight excellent awardees

Salute to Excellence in Health Care is Friday, April 27

By Sandra Jordan Of The

St. Louis American

participation requirements into law for the first time and give subpoena power to the Civilian Oversight Board, which reviews police discipline cases. A spokesman for Mayor Lyda Krewson said she will sign both bills into law.

Krewson and previous mayors have signed executive orders requiring that a certain percentage of work on publicly financed projects, or projects receiving development incentives, go to firms owned by women or individuals of color. The minority participation legislation updates those numbers, which vary for different groups, and punishes developers who don’t make an effort to meet the goals.

The St. Louis American Foundation will honor eight exceptional individuals from major medical institutions, federally qualified health centers, schools and allied health professions at the 2018 Salute to Excellence in Health Care on Friday, April 27.

“There is no perfect piece of legislation,” said Alderman Terry Kennedy, D-18th Ward, who has pushed for minority participation laws since 1991. “That means then certainly there are some issues that could be strengthened but is it a good bill? Certainly it is.”

Eboni January, M.D.

Dr. Eboni January is an obstetrician/ gynecologist at Betty Jean Kerr People’s Health Centers. In addition to her focus on women’s

See SALUTE, A6

Photo by Wiley Price

Ashlee Coleman, an instructor at the Emerson Academy Therapeutic School operated by Annie Malone Children and Family Services, helps student Zackary Martin with a project.

Vickers

STD infection among latest accusations against R. Kelly

According to The Washington Post, a woman in Texas is suing R. Kelly for infecting her with an STD while grooming her for his “sex cult.”

The singer is reportedly accused of giving her a sexually transmitted disease during an eight-month relationship that began when she was 19.

‘The woman filed a complaint with the Dallas Police Department last week and is preparing a federal civil complaint against the “I Believe I Can Fly” singer, according to her Philadelphia-based attorney, Lee Merritt,” The Washington Post said. “In this new allegation, which Merritt released to The Post through a statement, the woman states that she met Kelly last June and that the relationship ended in February. The woman accused Kelly of infecting her in Dallas in December. ‘During the relationship, our client was the victim of several forms of criminal misconduct by Kelly ¬including, but not limited to, unlawful

restraint, furnishing alcohol and illegal drugs to a minor, and aggravated assault (via the referenced intentional STD infection),’

according to the statement from Merritt.

“These offenses occurred while our client was being groomed to join Kelly’s sex cult,” the statement continued, according to The Washington Post. “Kelly gradually introduced the cult to our client over the course of their relationship, culminating with an explanation that she would have to sign a contract and offer collateral information about herself and her family for Kelly’s protection.”

Robbers take more than $820K in cash and jewelry from Usher’s home

Usher has it bad, because more than $820,000 in jewelry and cash were recently stolen from his home. According to a police report obtained by The Blast, Usher’s estranged wife, Grace Miguel, reported the burglary after being notified about the break-in by the housekeeper on March 29.

When the staff member arrived at the property that morning, she “discovered a footprint on the second floor, a handprint on the pillow in the lower floor, and the curtains to the

lower floor window were open.”

When she went to check the recording box where security camera footage was kept, she “noticed that the recording box was missing and connecting wires were cut.”

When Miguel arrived at the house, she verified some jewelry – including six watches and a rose gold Jesus necklace worth $200,000 – was missing. When she called her estranged husband to tell him about the robbery, she discovered there was also around $20,000 cash missing from a box on the nightstand.

The house is currently on the market and Miguel told police she believed thieves must have unlocked a window during a recent open house viewing.

K. Michelle having rough recovery after silicone removal surgery

Singer K. Michelle took to Instagram to update fans on the process of getting the silicone removed from her backside.

“Jan 12, I started a journey to correct a mistake I did over 6 years ago. The

first surgery went well, so we thought until my body started to shut down while I was on tour.

For 26 cities I was on steroids to walk and keep down infection causing me to get off stage and be rushed to ER over 4 times and then the next day back on stage. I later found out the silicone had spread, and I would be rushed back into surgery. Last Wednesday, I entered surgery barely functioning with my legs and an infection. The surgery to remove all of this from me lasted a long 6 hours. The following days were spent with paramedics until I they realized my blood count was severely low and I was rushed into ER where I was admitted. Two blood transfusions later I’ve been released and started therapy today heal and walk.”*

She provided another update via Instagram as a caption to a Twitter post where she said the second surgery went well.

“I really can’t believe this has happened to me. I’m very serious about performing in a wheel chair by any means necessary. Maybe my friend 2chainz will loan me his. I’ve been a little down not performing on the weekends. That’s my therapy. No one knows what it feels like to look in the mirror and not know your body anymore. University of Memphis, I will see you even if I can’t walk. I need the energy.”*

*Spelling and grammar as it appeared in original post.

Sources: The Washington Post, Instagram, The Blast, Twitter.com, Celebbuzz.com

Usher

More than a hospital

Over-capacity premiere of Homer G. Phillips Hospital documentary felt like family reunion

By Ezelle Sanford III

For The St. Louis American

Excitement and anticipation hung in the air at the Missouri History Museum on April 6. Hundreds of St. Louisans, donned in their Sunday’s best, gathered to take a trip back in time, to relive the golden years of one of St. Louis’ most prized African-American institutions: Homer G. Phillips Hospital. The affair had the air of a family reunion. Hugs were exchanged as people waited in line, and friends old and new caught up on the details of their lives. Some inspected memorabilia from the Vashon Museum on display, while others walked the red carpet to the flash of cameras. After a more than a two-year labor of love, filmmakers premiered “The Color of Medicine” to an expectant audience.

Homer G. Phillips Hospital was not the first, nor the only, segregated hospital in St. Louis or in the United States. What set it apart was its size. Homer G. was perhaps the largest segregated hospital in the nation, rivaled only by the U.S. Veterans Administration Hospital in Tuskegee, Alabama. Moreover, the facility trained a large number of African-American medical specialists, nurses, and allied health professionals.

Homer G. Phillips was a central institution in

the history of American medicine. Beyond St. Louis, however, too few people understand the magnanimity of its legacy. “The Color of Medicine” aims to change that.

The film project began as an homage to a Homer G. alumnus, Dr. Earle U. Robinson Jr., initiated by his daughter, artist Rebecca Robinson, who co-produced the film. In the hands of filmmakers Joyce Fitzpatrick, a long-time family friend to the Robinsons, and Brian Shackelford the project blossomed, though the initial celebration of family love was never lost.

Dr. Robinson’s life in and around Homer G. Phillips Hospital was complimented by the lives and experiences of countless others, each with their own unique and powerful stories. As each of these figures, many well known in St. Louis, graced the silver screen, the audience murmured with recognition. Some beloved figures were applauded enthusiastically.

“Three years ago I could only imagine what the finish line would look like,” Robinson said. “When I walked into the museum and saw how many people were in line to see our film, I knew we were making history.”

“The Color of Medicine” captures so eloquently the profound emotional connection between Homer G., the medical

professionals it trained, and black St. Louisans. The hospital was nestled in the tight-knit, historic Ville neighborhood, but the hospital itself was a tight-knit community. Not only did physicians practice, and nurses care for patients, Homer G. staff communed with one another by playing cards, eating together, and visiting area churches and bars.

By highlighting staff’s extramedical bonding, “The Color of Medicine” demonstrates how Homer G. Phillips became more than a hospital. For many, it was home.

As the film played, emotions ran high among the audience. Some cried, as Homer G. nurses remembered how they never lost a patient in the sometimes hot, overfilled wards. Others laughed as Dr. Robinson discussed the “Great White Fathers,” those

Above: More than 750 individuals traveled to the Missouri History Museum to see the premiere of “The Color of Medicine,” a documentary about Homer G. Phillips Hospital, on April 6. More than 100 were turned away because both auditorium and overflow rooms had reached capacity.

Left: “The Color of Medicine” began as a homage to a Homer G. Phillips Hospital alumnus, Dr. Earle U. Robinson Jr., who co-produced the film and attended the premiere.

often-absent white medical department heads sent from Washington University School of Medicine.

The product of Jim Crow necessity, African Americans thrived in this segregated space. This is not to say that segregation policies were supported by those affiliated with Homer G. Rather, the conditions of segregation produced medical excellence and intense community formation. The story of Homer G. Phillips Hospital. as shown in “The Color of Medicine,” is a testament to continued black resilience.

“When we started making this documentary, it became apparent to me that this was more than a documentary about black excellence in medicine from St. Louis,” said Joyce Fitzpatrick, executive producer and co-director.

“This film is about how a state-of-the-art hospital helped The Ville community survive and thrive despite racism, and we hope it will spark a movement to learn more about the best from the past, to help lead the best in our future.”

Efforts to reclaim the legacy of Homer G. Phillips Hospital emerged in the early 1960s with Dr. Howard P. Venable’s history published in the Journal of the National Medical Association. Amid growing calls to close Homer G. Phillips, and later the effort to reopen the formerly segregated hospital, St. Louisans made political use of the past, articulating the hospital’s importance and why it should remain open.

“The Color of Medicine” is not the first documentary featuring the hospital. That honor goes to “A Jewel in

History: The Story of the Homer G. Phillips Hospital for Colored, St. Louis, Missouri,” which premiered in very similar fashion in 1999. In this new era of Homer G.’s legacy, “The Color of Medicine” is accompanied by two book-length projects still in the works: a book commissioned by the Homer G. Phillips Nurse Alumni, authored by Dr. Will Ross and historian Candace O’Connor (both featured in the film), as well as this author’s dissertation, “A Source of Pride, A Vision of Progress,” which uses Homer G. Phillips Hospital as a case study to trace the broad history of segregation in the development of 20th century American medicine. More than 750 individuals traveled to the Missouri History Museum to participate in the festivities. More than 100 were turned away because both auditorium and overflow rooms had reached capacity. The sheer demand has already prompted calls for another screening. These large numbers are a testament to how much Homer G. Phillips Hospital was loved, and how important it was in the lives of all who trained, worked and visited there.

This resurgence of interest in Homer G. Phillips Hospital will ensure that the legacy of the man and the institution will live on for years to come. Equally important, these works will emphasize African-American contributions to medicine, even when segregation forced them to the margins.

“The tears I shed while putting this film together were evidence to me that we were a part of something special,” said Brian Shackelford, co-producer and co-director. “We were not just telling a story, but reliving a moment in history. A moment many have never heard of, and a moment that may never happen again.”

For more information about “The Color of Medicine,” visit https://www. thecolorofmedicine.com. Reprinted with permission from http://www.ezellesanford. com/blog/colorofmedicine.

Photos provided by Flatcat Productions and Tunnel Vizion Entertainment

Editorial /CommEntary

Continuing Eric’s fight for minority inclusion advances the entire community

It is fitting that Eric E. Vickers – one of the most knowledgeable, fierce and relentless advocates for minority inclusion in St. Louis business opportunities – passed away just as the St. Louis Board of Aldermen was preparing to pass a bill that will preserve Vickers’ greatest legacy, once Mayor Lyda Krewson signs it into law, as she told The American she will. The bill, introduced by Alderman Jeffrey Boyd (about whom we seldom have good things to say) with nine co-sponsors, essential preserves in city law the deal for minority inclusion that Vickers struck with then-Mayor Vince Schoemehl via consent decree in 1990.

Actually, the new city law will update the 1990 inclusion goals of 25 percent for minorityowned business and 5 percent for women-owned business to reflect greater empowerment of women and greater diversity within our minority population; the new goals are 21 percent for blackowned businesses, 11 percent for women-owned businesses, 2 percent for Hispanic-owned businesses, 0.5 percent for Asian American-owned businesses, and 0.5 percent for Native American-owned businesses.

The passage of this bill is an important milestone, and when the mayor signs it into law, that will be another important milestone to be celebrated. We deeply regret that Eric is not here to celebrate with us and enliven our celebrations by his inimitable laugh.

faith effort.” We will be watching. Eric’s hard work in getting Schoemehl to agree to the goals that will soon be enshrined (with updates) in city law was enabled by a collegial inside operative, then-Comptroller Virvus Jones, who now serves on our editorial board. Eric and Virvus remained friends, and they visited not long before Eric’s untimely passing on April 13. At that time Eric described the inclusion project he worked on until the end, which is a revamping of the city’s Contractor Loan Fund. Eric knew from legal clients that the fund was not operating as forcefully as its good intentions, for various reasons.

Importantly, its terms are not that attractive to the mostly small, struggling businesses that such programs are intended to benefit. Therefore, many black-owned businesses find better credit terms at area banks than those the city’s fund offers. As a continuum to Eric’s work, the next order of business should be a revamped Contractor Loan Fund based on the many grievances of many blackowned businesses that tried to benefit from the fund but did not find it useful.

The celebration should be brief, because almost all of the work to empower more black-owned businesses (the sector of most critical concern to us) remains to be done. The city legislation, like the executive order on which it is modeled, speaks of “goals,” not guarantees – not set-asides or quotas, which are legal, based on the same U.S. Supreme Court ruling that makes minority inclusion programs legal, pursuant to a diversity study that reveals the negative effects of discrimination. We await a more bold Board of Aldermen and mayor to update the Minority Business Development and Compliance office that will be established through this new law to make it enforce guarantees, rather than simply monitor compliance to goals based on “good-faith efforts.” In the meantime, the new office will not be stronger than its vigilance in enforcing compliance based on what is or is not a “good-

The last legal fight that Eric did not survive to litigate was to sue the city over what he was convinced he could prove – the failure of the Contractor Loan Fund to deliver on its promises. As his health declined rapidly from pancreatic cancer, he was looking for a plaintiff who went through the program and did not benefit or even suffered losses. Rather than wait for such a suit, the city should proactively meet with black-owned businesses and create a task force to renovate the Contractor Loan Fund and make it a genuinely useful tool for stimulating greater racial equity in local business.

As is always the case in a region like ours that has such a large black community, not only black businesses benefit when we empower black businesses. Like Eric, we are motivated, not only by injustice, but by the pained sense of wasted potential, a keen awareness of all the people who could do so much to improve themselves – and the health of this region – if only economic opportunity was allocated more evenly. Advancing racial equity serves the entire region’s greater good. In the name of Eric, as he liked to say, the struggle continues.

Commentary

Why is St. Louis not more like Atlanta?

By Mike Jones

St. Louis American

Of The

Whatever the decisions black communities make are a function of the options available at the time. Other than climate and geography, nothing defines what options are available more than economics.

When you think about the economy of a city, you really need to deal with the economics of the region in which the city is located. The fate of St. Louis has always been and will continue to be a function of the economic strength and vitality (or lack thereof) of the St Louis region.

A metropolitan statistical area (MSA) is a rather imprecise but commonly accepted way of looking at metropolitan areas. An MSA is defined to include not only a city, but also surrounding suburban, exurban and sometimes rural areas, all of which have an economic relationship. I want to use this matrix to illustrate that the economic and social wellbeing of the black community is often a function of forces completely beyond its control. Or, as I have previously stated, what happens to you is in large measure about where it happens to you.

Atlanta is city we’ve talked about my entire four-decade public career. Invariably, we say something like, “How come we’re not like the black community in Atlanta?” or “if white folks here where like white folks in Atlanta, this would be a different place.”

Let’s look at Atlanta and its MSA. In 1950 the population of the City of Atlanta was 331,000, and the Atlanta MSA population was 997,000. The city’s population peaked in

1970 at 497,000 but declined to 394,000 in 1990. Today Atlanta’s population is 420,000, but here is the number that matters: The Atlanta MSA is 5.7 million people in approximately 8,300 square miles. The population of the entire state of Missouri is 6.1 million.

If you notice, Atlanta’s peak population was half the size of St. Louis’s peak population, and during the 1980s and 1990s Atlanta also experienced population decline. But the Atlanta MSA during that period remained one of the fastestgrowing regions in the country. Atlanta today is not appreciably bigger than St. Louis; both represent a small percentage of their MSA’s population, Atlanta 7 percent and St Louis 11 percent.

Let’s summarize. As of 2010, the population of the St. Louis MSA was 2.8 million and covered 8,400 square miles, the exact same size as Atlanta with half the people. In 1950, the St. Louis MSA had a population of 1.7 million; today it has grown by 58 percent while the Atlanta MSA has grown five-fold since 1950. The driver for this explosive growth was the increase in people moving to the Atlanta region, and that changed Atlanta. When a region experiences large sustained in-migration, it forces a change in the regional culture. These new residents

As I See It - A Forum for Community

Looking back on 15 years serving Hazelwood Schools

By Desiree Whitlock Guest Columnist

Nelson Mandela once said, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world,” and I believe this quote to be true.

Education is a powerful weapon that I have used to help equip students for nearly two decades by serving on the Hazelwood School District Board of Education, participating on district subcommittees, and taking on leadership roles on the PTA when my daughters were in school. My fight for equitable education for all students regardless of race, culture, religion, disabilities or social economic status is one that I will continue.

Serving on a school board or in any elected office can make you the source of public scrutiny; at the same time, it can also be the source of great pride. In fact, I am proud of the many accomplishments and advancements made by the district during my tenure. Together, we passed bond issues to build one new elementary school and four middle schools, to renovate older facilities, and to build state-of-the-art library media centers and STEM labs.

During my tenure, to ensure school safety, we installed

and updated security features in our schools, and we were the first district to provide active-intruder trainer for all students and staff. To prepare our students for the 21st century and for careers in STEM, we implemented one-to-one technology for students in 3rd-12th grade. In addition, we also developed a more rigorous curriculum with direct pathways to college and careers.

There are many things that should cause this community to pause and take pride in our student accomplishments and those of our district. I think about when we came together in 2013 to assist hundreds of families with recovery after a tornado struck the City of

n There are many things that should cause this community to pause and take pride in

and

Hazelwood. I think about how we always come together during a crisis to help others. However, it saddens me to think about all the many reasons that we can find to come together, yet somehow, our district is still divided separated by rumors, untruths, and negative perceptions. One of the biggest issues that we face as a district is rumors, instead of individuals taking

Letters to the editor

Change without progress in policing

bring a different history and different experiences that the existing regional culture must accommodate, and that changes the place and the people. There’s some truth to the statement about Atlanta having different white people. These newcomers’ integration with the Atlanta they found created the Atlanta we see today.

The lack of sustained in-migration in St. Louis means almost everybody here has always been here. In 1950, this was a culturally and politically conservative, racially backward metro region. In 2018, St. Louis is pretty much the same place it’s always been, minus the economic muscle.

Political leadership makes a difference, but it cannot create reality. The late Maynard Jackson was a brilliant politician and a transformational mayor; his tenure became the standard by which black mayors are measured. But the black community in Atlanta is what it is today because Maynard Jackson had the intelligence, grit and skill to take advantage of the hand circumstances dealt Atlanta. St. Louis has not produced a Maynard Jackson, and, if we had, he would not have had Atlanta’s cards. But we are also not the same people we used to be.

To be continued.

Mike Jones is a former senior staffer in St. Louis city and county government and current member of the Missouri State Board of Education and The St. Louis American editorial board. In 2016, he was awarded Best Serious Columnist for all of the state’s large weeklies by the Missouri Press Association.

One of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s desired reforms involved the professionalism of policing in America, but that hasn’t happened in St. Louis. Society has changed but, as Mike Jones wrote in The American, “we shouldn’t confuse change with progress. Change is something becoming or being made different, but progress is movement toward an improved or more developed state.” Jones referenced the 1968 Kerner Commission report, which addressed crime and civil disorder in America. That report was a series of subreports, one of which addressed policing in America. The report on police set forth a plethora of changes to be made in police departments in order to achieve the progress leading to professionalism. Jones wrote, “Focusing on progress is the key to our well-being. Change is about the individual; progress is about the community.” The community is this case being police departments. The St. Louis Metropolitan

Police Department has endured many identifiable changes: downsizing of personnel and facilities, new and improved equipment, change of police chiefs, a new police headquarters. But these changes do not equate to the progress (“movement toward an improved or more developed state”) cited as necessary by the Kerner Commission. The police department remains mired in the policies, sentimentalities and fantasies of a bygone era. It’s ill-equipped to police a 21st century society.

Michael K. Broughton Green Park

Low standards for janitors

I’m writing in response to Jamala Rogers’ column regarding low standards for Centaur Building Services janitors at Express Scripts. I was disgusted to read that contracted janitors at Express Scripts are barely making ends meet on low wages. Why did St. Louis County hand over millions of dollars in tax

time to verify the facts. We should remember the facts about the hard work and efforts of community members and administrators who worked together to balance the district’s budget. We should remember the innovative work by those who successfully opened the Hazelwood Opportunity Center and redesigned Hazelwood East Middle School. As I enter back into the private sector, I will continue to promote more parental involvement in our schools. I also hope to see the Hazelwood NOW educational initiatives that we set in motion come to fruition.

I would like to thank our students, parents, teachers, bus drivers, custodians, nurses, social workers, counselors, food nutrition staff, communications team, security team, administrators, board directors, and the community for allowing me to serve you on our school board for the last 15 years. I am going to miss you all. It is my hope at the end of the day, whatever work that I have done, let my work speak for me.

Desiree Whitlock, who served as a director of the Hazelwood School District Board of Education for 15 years and most recently as board president, was not reelected in the April 3 election. The mother of two graduates of Hazelwood East High School, she has been employed by the BJC HealthCare for the past 33 years in the field of substance abuse, mental health, and health education.

incentives to a Fortune 500 company that does not ensure contracted janitors are paid good wages, have quality health benefits, or are offered a voice on the job? That’s not the way we’re going to make our region better.

I work as a janitor, but unlike janitors at Express Scripts, I’m in a union. Our contract guarantees us annual raises, quality, affordable health benefits, a pension and a voice on the job. It’s time contracted janitors at the company have the same right. Express Scripts received nearly $10 million in taxpayer incentives on the expectation it would bring good jobs to North St. Louis County working families. If companies aren’t committed to creating good jobs for everyone, they shouldn’t receive taxpayer dollars. Express Scripts should turn its act around and lift up St. Louis County for all working people.

Keyahnna Jackson SEIU Local 1 janitor St. Louis

Guest Columnist

Desiree Whitlock

Columnist Mike Jones

Eric E. Vickers

Books donated to City Justice Center’s Legal Library

Tempestt Tuggle and Aaron Burnett, staffers with the Organization for Black Struggle (OBS), recently delivered books to the City Justice Center. Center personnel

Markeisha Franklin and Robin Edwards accepted the boxes, which contain books on criminal law, procedure, evidence and legal ethics. The project was initiated by Reginald Clemons who was housed at the Justice Center during his pre-trial hearings in the Chain of Rocks Bridge murders. The groups involved in the law book project were OBS, MacArthur Justice Center, St. Louis NAACP and the Saint Louis University Law Center.

Family Resource Fair at Twillman Elementary

The Hazelwood School District, the Spanish Lake Community Association and St. Louis County will host the 12th Annual Youth and Family Resource Fair 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, May 5, at Twillman Elementary School, 11831 Bellefontaine Rd.

Families will be able to obtain information to help them provide a safe and enriching summer for their children and connect with organizations and resources. There will be fun activities, free books, and a complimentary lunch (while supplies last).

Cultural Leadership is seeking world-changers

Through April 30, Cultural Leadership is applications for its High School Program. This year-long program recruits a diverse cohort of students passionate about social justice. Participants attend monthly meetings and three weekend-long retreats, learn leadership and facilitation skills, explore African-American and Jewish history and culture, and discover the pervasiveness of privilege and oppression. Students also participate in a School Swap to witness education inequity.

Participants also embark on a three-week Transformational Journey to 15 U.S. cities significant to the Civil Rights Movement. On this trip, they will meet with local and national leaders like U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg, Congressman John Lewis, U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill, and Rev. Al Sharpton. Students must currently be freshman or sophomores to apply. Financial aid is available. Apply online at CulturalLeadership.org, or email apply@culturalleadership.org for a hard copy of the application form.

Who made the big bucks off ‘Black Panther’?

By Christi Griffin For The St. Louis American

If worldwide support of a black superhero is our mission, we have won. If being featured in a billion dollar blockbuster movie is the goal, we’ve knocked the ball out of the park. If displaying our beauty and power in all of its splendor is the mark, job well done.

Black Panther is an overwhelming success, hands down. It is a cultural phenomenon, a blockbuster, a cinematic feat. As of this writing, the film has garnered $1.3 billion worldwide and $667 million in the domestic market. It has broken records and sunk Titanic as the third highest-grossing movie of all time. And very few of us are any the richer.

Fifty years after so many civil rights gains, we herald the first major motion picture to boast both an African-American director and a predominantly African-American cast while accepting that the billions earned go into their pockets, not ours. Hollywood garners the profits. They pay the white-owned studios, theaters, ad agencies, and concessions. That long stream of credits that scroll after the last heroic scene reflects few additional African Americans getting paid. As Hollywood feasts on this smorgasbord of economic wins, it’s important we insist that we won’t be satisfied with crumbs.

Yes, Bozeman, Bassett, Lupita, Jordan, Whitaker, and the other 125 or so black actors were paid, but unless their contracts included the unusual rider that sweetens the pot with a percentage of the gross, their salaries are fixed. The windfall belongs only to its three white investors. And while we rightfully celebrate that Black Panther displays women with unusual wit and power, both in front of and behind the camera, lead actress Michelle Williams was recently paid only the $80 per diem for reshoots of, ironically, All the Money in the World. Her supporting actor, Mark Wahlberg, was paid $1.5 million.

In 1994 Magic Johnson launched his theater chain and four years later relinquished them. Our interests are still controlled by others. Blacks own little within the myriad theatrical industries and, therefore, garnered little of the $250 million spent in production costs (1,289 jobs in visual effects alone). Owning a small percentage of either print or electronic media, blacks garnered little from the $100 million in marketing the feature movie to which we now pay homage. Those 133 actors? The majority where likely paid scale, barely enough to make the rent.

The frenzy that has engulfed our culture and handed us a mythical refuge called Wakanda has arrived exactly 50 years after Martin Luther King Jr. was silenced in real life. It seems to offer an escape from the daily reminder that economically we are no more than pawns in someone else’s game.

During all those years, few have climbed the corporate ladder. One step forward, two steps back. Black banks have closed, communities have re-segregated, and poverty has become a vehicle for someone else’s wealth. Big pharma has us drugged, the prisons have us bound, and the wealth gap is greater than before. More black children are born to single mothers while more black fathers fill prison beds. Fewer black teachers teach, and greed has consumed the land. And while many appear thrilled that the worldwide box office seems to signal a coveted acceptance by White America, we’ve yet to see little Johnny playing with a T’Challa doll or little Suzie sipping from a McDonald’s Nakia cup.

Christi Griffin, is the founder of The Ethics Project, a non-profit organization addressing the impact of crime, injustice and incarcerations. She is the author of “Incarcerations in Black and White: The Subjugation of Black America.”

Christi Griffin

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health, he has a strong interest in adolescent care, preventive medicine, youth mentorship and fitness. She frequently participates in community outreach and speaking events. She is the CEO of Pavlov’s Wellness Firm, which focuses on instituting health and wellness among businesses and corporations. The East St. Louis native earned her medical degree from Wright State University-Boonshoft School of Medicine in Dayton, Ohio.

Michael Johnson, M.D.

Since joining the staff as an intensivist in 1994, Dr. Michael Johnson has been a mainstay at the SSM Health St. Joseph Hospitals in St. Charles and Lake Saint Louis. Now a critical care and internal medicine physician, he strives to assist critically ill patients. Johnson has headed initiatives such as the patient journal project in the intensive care unit at the SSM Health St. Joseph Hospital — St. Charles. “The journal allows the patient and family to review events that occurred in the hospital to help them reorganize fragmented memories and sort out issues that may have been related to their experience in the ICU,” Johnson said.

Shunta Johnson, RN, BSN

Shunta Johnson is a nurse practitioner for BJC where she provides physical assessments, diagnosis of common health conditions and has prescriptive

MALONE

Continued from A1 services provided at Emerson Academy Therapeutic School.

“I feel the community has hope and wants to see Annie

Eboni January, M.D.

authority as delegated by the collaborating physician. She previously worked as a nurse in corrections, occupational health, ophthalmology, predelivery, a K-6 school and as a traveling nurse. At the University of Missouri St. Louis, she completed the Family Nurse Practitioner Program, earning a master of science as well as a bachelor of science in nursing there, after an associate degree in nursing at St. Louis Community College-Florissant Valley.

Paulette Luckett-Grant, RN, BSN

Paulette Luckett-Grant is a nurse at Berkeley Middle School in the FergusonFlorissant School District.

Malone return to its roots,” said Sara Lahman, the new chief executive officer. “The parade is a vital part of the community and people identify with that, but equally important are the services we provide to families. I want them to be able to go around the corner to get their

Michael Johnson, M.D.

Shunta Johnson, RN, BSN

Beyond physicals, dispensing medication and bandages, Luckett-Grant is an advocate for quality care, children, women and public health. Luckett-Grant provides wellness information for students and staff; coordinates onsite mobile dental care visits, mobile vision screenings and glasses; and collects clothing and other personal items that students may need. She was a 2017 finalist in the March of Dimes state Nurse of the Year. Luckett-Grant earned a bachelor of science in Nursing from Rockhurst College/ Research College of Nursing in Kansas City.

Moyosore K. Onifade, M.D.

Dr. Moyosore K. Onifade

needs met versus needing to go two hours away.”

Lahman took the reins of the agency in January after an extensive search for a new CEO. Board President Cozy Marks III said Lahman was the unanimous choice because of her deep experience managing

is the CEO and chief innovation officer of MyPHTS (Practical Health Technology Solutions) Care Management. Founded by physicians, PHTS seeks to improve healthcare access and outcomes through health information technology.

Onifade is a board-certified internist in primary care and is a physician advisor at Christian Hospital. She graduated from Stanford University in chemical engineering and worked as a technology analyst with Anderson Consulting prior to medical school. Onifade studied medicine at Washington University and completed her internal medicine residency at Barnes-Jewish Hospital.

residential treatment centers and her extensive work with children from St. Louis.

“Sara shared our concern that children from St. Louis were being served by agencies an hour away,” Marks said.

“We want to ensure that we are doing what we need to do to

Paulette LuckettGrant, RN,

Jeanetta Stomer, LPN, RN

Jeanetta Stomer is academic director and cofounder of Aspire Healthcare Solutions, a school to train certified nursing assistants and phlebotomists located in Florissant. The Wellston High School graduate became a medical assistant at Al-Med Academy and started her career in healthcare as a home health aide. She worked as a phlebotomist before going into nursing as a LPN, then as a registered nurse. Stomer previously worked at DePaul Hospital for 10 years. She earned a doctor of nursing practice from Chamberlain College of Nursing and became a family nurse practitioner.

serve children from St. Louis in St. Louis.” Lahman said she feels the presence of the agency’s namesake legendary businesswoman and philanthropist.

“It’s humbling to be part of that legacy,” Lahman said.

Christina Thurman

Christina Thurman is a marketing team lead at Siteman Cancer Center at BarnesJewish Hospital. She works across departments and in the community to spread messages encouraging health screening and prevention, research and treatment. This includes the Program for the Elimination of Cancer Disparities, the Breast Health Center and the Prostate Cancer Coalition. She is currently spearheading marketing for the satellite Siteman Cancer Center location in North County.

Tawannia Wilson, RN

Tawannia Wilson, a registered nurse, is a clinical administrator at Betty Jean Kerr People’s Health Centers. She oversees the day-to-day operations of the clinical services of the provider, and assures compliance with regulatory, accrediting and organizational policy for patient services, environmental and personnel safety. She has been with People’s for 12 years, initially working as a women’s health nurse manager. Wilson previously served as a nurse manager in obstetrics at the old Forest Park Hospital. She earned a bachelor of science in Nursing from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.

Tickets for the 18th Annual Salute to Excellence in Health Care Awards Luncheon on Friday, April 27 at the Frontenac Hilton are $750 per table for VIP/Corporate seating and $50 each or $500 per table for Individual seating. To order tickets, call 314-533-8000 or visit www.stlamerican.com.

“People talk about her business savvy, they talk about the agency and, of course, the May Day Parade.” For parade registration and information on all the celebration events, visit www. anniemalone.com/events or call 314-531-0120.

Tawannia Wilson, RN

Christina Thurman

Jeanetta Stomer, LPN, RN

Moyosore K. Onifade, M.D.

BSN

VICKERS

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“He practiced what I call ‘guerilla law,’” laughed his longtime friend, Virvus Jones, the former City of St. Louis comptroller and current member of The St. Louis American’s editorial board.

Vickers was filing lawsuits almost until he died.

The negotiator

When Vickers and other organizers shut down I-70, the Missouri Department of Transportation was a $1 billion-plus agency that had awarded 3 percent of its contracts to minority firms.

The protest and subsequent negotiations caused the State of Missouri to change the way it does business and cemented Vickers’ reputation as a man to be reckoned with.

An agreement was reached with MoDOT to initiate a construction program that trained more than a thousand minority workers. It also created a 10 percent set-aside of construction contracts for minority firms and 25 percent of construction jobs for minority workers.

The set-asides became common practice not only in highway construction, but in many other major capital projects.

S. Lee Kling, then chairman of the Missouri Highway and Transportation Commission, called Vickers “an amazing negotiator.”

The victory celebration drew Sharpton back to St. Louis, along with Martin Luther King III. King told an assembled crowd of about 500 that the movement was restarted in St. Louis.

Vickers had achieved a similar victory in the City of St. Louis a decade earlier during the time Jones was comptroller.

Vickers represented minority contractors in a federal lawsuit against the city that resulted in minority businesses receiving 25 percent and women businesses receiving 5 percent of all St. Louis contracts. The “25/5” deal was established in a consent decree and executive order in 1990.

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Aldermen also Krewson a measure that approved the second phase of development at the site of the old FederalMogul foundry in the Midtown neighborhood.

“He worked the outside, I worked the inside,” Jones said. That minority agreement still exists for minority contractors, and a version of it will enter city law when Mayor Lyda Krewson signs a minority inclusion bill passed by the St. Louis Board of Aldermen days after Vickers’ death, which she told The St. Louis American she will sign.

Testing the ‘establishment’

His hometown of East St. Louis was a teeming industrial city when Vickers was born on February 16, 1953. By the time he entered high school, the city’s most prosperous days were behind it. His parents moved the family to University City where he got his first taste of civil action – and its power. He participated in a studentled sit-down at University City High School to protest the lack of black teachers and staff. The tactic worked.

“There was a real sense of power, and once you realize the power of organizing, you never lose that sense,” he said in his RFT profile.

He wanted to get started on his activism full-time after graduating from high school in 1970, but his parents insisted that he go to college. He first attended St. Louis Community College at Forest Park, then Washington University, from which he graduated in 1975 with a

However, a measure that would have limited where protesters like those with the Coalition for Life St. Louis can stand outside Planned Parenthood on Forest Park Avenue failed. The measure got nine of the 15 needed votes. Follow Rachel on Twitter: @rlippmann. Edited for length and reprinted with permission from news.stlpublicradio.org.

political science degree. He later earned a master’s degree from Occidental College in California. After doing a yearlong internship in the CORO Foundation Fellows program in St. Louis, Vickers entered the corporate world.

It was not a good fit. He immediately began to upset the apple cart, advocating on behalf of black employees. When he got the opportunity to represent a black Monsanto employee at a union hearing and won, he knew he’d found his calling. He headed to law school at the University of Virginia, from which he graduated in 1981.

Upon returning to St. Louis, he joined Bryan Cave, one of the city’s largest and most prestigious law firms. But it was another form of the corporate world, and he wanted to defend the underdog.

In 1983, he and two others established their own firm, Vickers, Moore & Wiest. He took on difficult criminal and civil rights cases and was soon working on behalf of minority contractors.

At the time, Eddie Hasan, who led the St. Louis Minority Contractors Association and later the minority contractor advocacy group MOKAN,

called Vickers “the missing link” in the contractors’ efforts to gain contracts.

Throughout his life, his Muslim faith and his activism remained at his core and sustained him.

He converted while in law school and it became part of his activism. Following the terrorists’ attacks on 9/11, Vickers defended Islam. He twice met privately with President George W. Bush. He served as executive director of the American Muslim Council and on the board of the American Muslim Alliance. In his leadership roles, Vickers appeared on television programs, including a panel discussion on C-SPAN that included then-FBI director Robert Mueller.

Civil rights by any other name

He fought for economic issues, but was unafraid to explore any area of injustice.

He waded into the debate on police brutality with the “Jack in the Box” killings on Hanley Road in north St. Louis County in 2000, when police shot two unarmed black men. St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney

Pallbearers carried longtime activist and attorney Eric E. Vickers from Darul-Islam Masjid in Balwin on Saturday, April 14. He was laid to rest at Lakewood Park Cemetery. Vickers passed away on Friday, April 13 after a battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 65.

History Museum’s exhibit #1 in Civil Rights

The picture was from a protest at the offices of the St. Louis County government. The St. Louis Minority Contractors, an organization Vickers incorporated, was demanding that the county enact a law requiring inclusion of blacks in all county contracts.

“The picture shows me in the dual role I performed: attorney and activist,” Vickers wrote. He also leaves a more extensive written legacy, a book titled And Men Don’t Talk, a collection of short stories and poems about his upbringing among men who were “about action, rather than talk.”

Inherited wisdom

Robert P. McCulloch called Vickers and a fellow activist “phonies.”

Later investigative reporting by the Post-Dispatch proved that Vickers’ suspicions about the killings were well-founded.

After the Ferguson Police killing of Michael Brown in Ferguson on August 9, 2014, he exhorted black leaders to again practice civil disobedience, as he did. One of his fellow protesters and a client, state Sen. Jamilah Nasheed, D-St. Louis, went to jail during the protests. He and Nasheed had been together as his foray into politics grew. He was her campaign manager when she first ran for the Missouri House of Representatives. He was returning a favor; she had worked on his bid for the U.S. House of Representatives in 2000. She began serving in 2007, and Vickers became her chief of staff.

Last year, in an open letter to his daughter, Erica, (whom he affectionately called “Puddin”), he told her and his granddaughters (“Pumpkin” and “Peanut”), published in The St. Louis American, he wrote how his photo came to be included in the Missouri

Eric Erfan Vickers was the second-born of Claire Lee and Robert Vickers’ four children. His mother worked for the federal government; his father was superintendent of schools in Venice, Illinois. He was born February 16, 1953 at Peoples Hospital, an all-black hospital in St. Louis. His mother had refused to have her child at St. Mary’s Hospital in East St. Louis because black children were delivered in the hospital’s basement.

Atop his blog is posted some of his mother’s words of wisdom: “Your smart mouth will get you in trouble.” They were words he respected — and occasionally heeded. His marriage to Judy Gladney ended in divorce. Services were held on Saturday at Darul-Islam Masjid in Ballwin.

Survivors include his son, Aaron Vickers of St. Louis; his daughter, Erica Cage of Shiloh, Illinois; his father, Robert Vickers of University City; his sister, Vikki Deakin of Ogden, Utah; his brother, Steven Vickers of University City; and three grandchildren. A memorial service will be held 1-3 p.m. Saturday, April 28 at Brittany Woods Middle School, 8125 Groby Rd.

Photo by Wiley Price

June 28, 1917 – March 28, 2018

Dorothy (née Smith) Marshall passes at 100

Dorothy (née Smith) Marshall was born June 28, 1917, in Huntingdon, Tennessee, and died peacefully at the tender age of 100 years on Wednesday, March 28, 2018, at the Village North Skilled Nursing Facility in St. Louis.

She was one of three children born to Leona (née Randle) Smith, who worked in private service as a domestic until she was 82 years old, and James Garfield Smith Sr., who worked as a butler and chauffeur. The family moved to St. Louis when Dorothy was a young child. Her siblings, James Garfield Smith Jr. (the eldest son) and Allen Smith (the youngest), as well as her parents, preceded her in death.

Educated in St. Louis public schools, Dorothy Smith graduated from Vashon High School in 1936. She was baptized at the First Baptist Church at Cardinal and Bell avenues in St. Louis, where she served as an usher. She was the first African-American woman to work as front desk receptionist and switchboard operator at The Scottish Tower Hotel, from where she retired after 28 years.

An avid reader, jazz enthusiast and crosswords puzzle hobbyist, she married

baseball legend Quincy Thomas Trouppe Sr. in 1938, and from that union two sons were born: poet, author, and university professor emeritus, Quincy Thomas Troupe Jr. of New York, and former jazz drummer-turned minister, Pastor Timothy Troupe, of St. Louis, who also preceded her in death.

A brief marriage to China Brown ended in divorce, and Dorothy married Charles Marshall, with whom she raised an eight-year-old daughter, Janet Maria Freeman (née Marshall), now a retired

surgical nurse from BarnesJewish Hospital in St. Louis. Dorothy Marshall is survived by her son, Quincy (Margaret) Troupe Jr. of New York; daughter, Janet (Jimmy) Freeman of St. Louis; grandchildren: Karmen Brock (St. Louis), Yamila Troupe (St. Louis), Quincy Brandon (Jessica) Troupe (Montclair, NJ), Porter Troupe (New York & Portland, OR), Alexander Freeman (St Louis); greatgrandchildren: Kourtney, Zariah, Crystal, Jonathan, Samuel, Lillian, Andre, Trezhure, Amina, Zora, Ennis, and Jordan; nephews: Charles Quincy Troupe and Alvin (Phyllis) Troupe; nieces Betty and Donna; and a host of greatgreat-grandchildren, cousins, and other relatives.

A memorial service was held Monday, April 9 at Eddie Randle & Sons Funeral Home, Inc. In lieu of flowers, donations in the memory of Dorothy Marshall to the Alzheimer’s Association at 1-(800)-272-3900 or online at www.alz.org would be appreciated. Special thanks for the love and care given to Dorothy Marshall by all the staff at the Village North Skilled Nursing Facility, Bethesda and BJC Hospice.

Deltas raise money for scholarships

The African Proverb, “It takes a village to raise a child” is often quoted when considering the shared responsibility to care for a child. The result of that commitment can be seen in the ARIYA/Rites of Passage program, a signature training and scholarship program presented by the St. Louis Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Based on the seven principles of Kwanzaa, the ARIYA/Rites of Passage is a six-month program for collegebound girls in their senior year of high school. The village

includes community members who provide guidance and support. Training sessions are led by professionals in fields ranging from law enforcement to finance, covering topics including effective communication, college preparation, and campus safety.

At the culmination of training, participants are granted permission by village elders to transition into adulthood or the rite of passage. The entire process concludes in an ARIYA celebratory dinner with live drummers, dancers, and a formal presentation with attendees in regal African attire.

“I am proud that since 1995, the St. Louis Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., has secured over $1.5 million in funds to assist more than 300 young women with college expenses,” said Phyllis Russell-Smith, St. Louis Alumnae Chapter president.

The ARIYA/Rites of Passage event will take place 4 p.m. Sunday, April 29, 2018 at the Marriott St. Louis Airport, 10700 Pear Tree Ln. Tickets are $35 per person. This event is open to the public. For more information, visit www.dst-sla. org.

Dellwood contracts with North County Police Cooperative

American staff

As of April 9, 2018, the City of Dellwood has voted to discontinue its fullservice police contract with the St. Louis County Police Department and contract police services with North County Police Cooperative, a smaller department currently policing seven other North County municipalities.

“Due to current and foreseeable budgetary shortfalls, it was not fiscally responsible for the city to continue with the current contract,” Dellwood Mayor Reggie Jones said in a release. “The costs simply exceeded all reasonable accounting for this service.”

The new contract took effect on April 11 at midnight. Jones said a series of community engagement activities will follow, beginning with an introduction of the new police department. Working with the new department, he

Jones said that residents

Dorothy (née Smith) Marshall

Photo by Rachel Lippmann / St. Louis Public Radio

Leading with empathy

Dr. Will Ross is a doctor and medical dean who hasn’t forgotten his past

By Kristina Sauerwein Of Washington University

Dr. Will Ross knows he should be dead. Before his teen years, he had been beaten and bloodied countless times and stabbed in the arm. He had witnessed an executionstyle murder and had watched riots burn his community.

He had hidden in his house to avoid gangs. Indoors, he often buried himself in books to escape the alcohol-fueled fighting between his mother and her boyfriends.

“We were the poorest of the poor,” Ross said. “However, my experiences with violence were not unique. Most of the kids I knew growing up are dead or in jail. It is not hyperbole to say I should be dead.”

Now an esteemed nephrologist at the School of Medicine, Ross, MD, MPH, has achieved a level of success that he had never imagined as a boy scrounging for food, wearing ill-fitting handme-downs and fearing that rats would crawl over him in his sleep.

Ross could easily ignore people living in communities like the ones of his childhood. But he won’t. His early experiences inspire him as a physician, a professor of medicine and as associate dean of diversity. Long before buzzwords such as “health equity” emerged in the medical field, Ross was teaching how health outcomes are compromised by race, gender, sexual orientation, income, housing, education and other factors.

Through collaborations with local health agencies, Ross has initiated dozens of programs aimed at providing medical care to those who cannot afford it and at improving community resources necessary for good health, such as transportation to a health clinic or access to fresh fruits and vegetables.

In

and understand

“Humanity is lacking in neighborhoods like the one I grew up in,” Ross said. “I understand the social and economic barriers and the anger rooted in the violence. As physicians, we must be aware of such obstacles to health care.”

Ross has ingrained these core principles of understanding and treating underserved patients into the medical school curriculum. He founded the Saturday Neighborhood Health Clinic for the sick and uninsured.

More than 90 percent of Washington University medical students volunteer and gain practical, hands-on experience at the federally qualified, no-cost clinic. With faculty supervision, the students treat about 300 patients annually for ailments such as diabetes, asthma, high blood pressure and sexually transmitted diseases.

“Regardless of medical specialty interests, all students benefit from learning about

Black maternal health must be a priority

By Rose Anderson-Rice For The

St. Louis American

Growing up as a black girl in St. Louis was not good for my health. Through my work at Generate Health, understanding the health outcomes of black women, particularly in St. Louis, has shed light on my own fertility struggle. My personal story of infertility was a traumatic reality my husband and I were forced to face. We as a region need to understand the disturbing impact that living in St. Louis has on the health of black women. St. Louis is the sixthmost segregated metro area in the U.S., which makes it a particularly difficult place to be born black.

n Growing up as a

girl

was not good for my health.

Blacks in St. Louis have a 20-year difference in life expectancy compared to whites. We are the fourthworst city for unequal unemployment – 21 percent of unemployed residents are black, compared to just 6 percent who are white. Black families represent 80 percent of public transit riders, and only one in four jobs in the region are reachable by a 90-minute or less public transit trip. One in four black people are food-insecure in the city of St. Louis. One in four black people have severe housing problems, including overcrowding, high housing costs, lack of kitchen or plumbing, and/or other challenging living conditions. The saddest part about these statistics is that far too many people have no idea that these disparities exist – or that our moms and babies are suffering because of them.

FLOURISH St. Louis, an initiative powered by Generate Health, is working to reduce infant mortality in St. Louis and wants to fix the systems that impact our health. For example, more than one in three black women in the city of St. Louis receive inadequate prenatal care because of community barriers. A mom may have to choose between working her hourly job and taking time to go to the doctor, which puts her at risk for not being able to pay the utility bill this month. She may spend two hours on a bus each way to get to the doctor, and if the bus is late she could miss her appointment and have to wait weeks to get another.

Rose AndersonRice

As part of an orientation program he designed, Dr. Will Ross exposes first-year Washington University medical students to blighted St. Louis neighbor-hoods — not unlike the ones of his own childhood.

black

in St. Louis

Photo by Tim Parker

his nephrology practice, Dr. Will Ross makes a concerted effort to connect with patients

what’s going on in their lives.

Photo by Tim Parker

ROSS

Continued from A10 public health, and not just from a clinical perspective,” Ross said. “It teaches compassion and empathy. This is part of our moral responsibility as a medical school.”

The same year Ross founded the Saturday Neighborhood Health Clinic — in 1996 — he also became the associate dean for diversity.

“Will Ross is empathetic, enthusiastic and brilliant, and as associate dean for diversity, he has been nothing short of phenomenal,” said William Peck, MD, the Alan A. and Edith L. Wolff Distinguished Professor of Medicine and co-director of the Center for Health Economics and Policy. Peck, who served for 14 years as executive vice chancellor and dean of the medical school, recruited Ross to the position.

“I knew right away that he was the person for the job,” Peck said. “Dr. Ross seems laid back, but he isn’t. He is strategic and determined in his trailblazing efforts. He has helped to transform public health care in St. Louis, the state, the country and the world, all while elevating Washington University in diversity and medical education.”

Plunging into reality

Ross’s influence on every student is visible beginning day one. He created a mandatory, four-day orientation program for incoming medical students that includes a diversity retreat, lectures in health disparities and tours of St. Louis’ poorest, most racially segregated nonwhite neighborhoods.

Called Washington University Medical Plunge, the course removes students from academic and clinical settings and immerses them into the realities facing underprivileged patients.

On the tour, students see abandoned and dilapidated homes, weedy parks where feral dogs roam and a lack of basic services such as markets with healthy food.

“It defines the abstract,” Ross said. “There’s no sugar-coating. Some of the students have never witnessed poverty before the tour. It’s important to broaden their outlook because they may one day treat patients in similar circumstances.”

The tour leaves many students teary-eyed and emotionally altered. “It had a major impact on me professionally,” said surgical resident Leisha Elmore, MD, MPHS. “I found my love for serving underprivileged communities because of Dr. Ross.”

Similarly, many Washington University students have said they chose the School of Medicine specifically because of Ross, who is known for keeping his office door open and spontaneously inviting them to his house, where he and nurse anesthetist Arlene Moore, his wife of nearly 30 years, raised two daughters. Both daughters are now adults dedicated to social justice. Ross is noted for his calm demeanor and dapper clothing choices. He received his first bowtie for Easter when he was 4 years old. It’s a fond memory that has contributed to a collection of 50 bowties. At first glance, Ayodamola Otun, a first-year medical student from Nigeria, said he wondered if the distinguished professor with the bowtie would have time for him.

“I thought Dr. Ross

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The chronic stress our black moms experience is killing them and their babies.

wouldn’t be interested in me because he had lived in privilege long enough to forget about people like me. But I shared my personal challenges,” Otun said. “It is hard to explain, but the way he listened and responded showed me he cared. I felt safe and reassured that he was the right mentor, and Washington University was the right place.”

Ross’s drive to improve medicine for the poor extends beyond his leadership in St. Louis. He has assisted in establishing health-care programs in Ethiopia and South Africa. Currently, in Haiti, Ross is helping to develop a university undergraduate program in public health. In the U.S., he has worked with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other agencies to promote cultural awareness among physicians and reduce minority obstacles to health care. Through the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), Ross advocates for increased diversity among faculty and students.

“Dr. Ross’s work sits at the nexus of academic medicine and public health,” said Juan Amador, the AAMC’s director of constituent engagement.

“He is a national leader in this area.”

A 2016 AAMC report attributed at least 40 percent of negative patient outcomes to health disparities caused by social and economic factors. Such inequities, the report stated, may cause “systematic, measurable and avoidable health differences between populations that stem from social factors such as racism, poverty, lack of healthful food, and homophobia that result in disproportionate disease and death for the poor, racial and ethnic minorities, persons living with disabilities, LGBT communities and others.”

“Will Ross spoke about these issues when I first met him decades ago,” said William Danforth, chancellor of Washington University from 1971 to 1995. “He

Moms facing ongoing stress, like too many of those living in St. Louis, often go into preterm labor and are at risk for complications due to hypertension, diabetes, and other chronic illnesses that can affect long-term health.

was compassionate and authoritative, and I remember thinking, ‘Gosh, that young man really knows what he’s talking about.’ ”

Hiding from the violence

Ross knows because he lived it. Rarely has he spoken publically about his traumatic childhood. However, he has decided to share his experiences, hoping others will be inspired to persevere to achieve their goals.

Ross’s journey began in a shotgun shack with four older siblings, his grandmother and his mother in the small, segregated town of Helena, Arkansas. “I was born into a traumatic situation,” Ross recalled. “My mother’s boyfriend didn’t like me. My mother had mental health issues and was not there for me. I never knew my father. However, my grandmother, Willie Page, loved me unconditionally and, without doubt, was the biggest influence of my life.”

As a toddler, Ross’s family moved 90 miles north to Memphis to hide from his mother’s abusive boyfriend.

“My first memories were of violence,” Ross said. “I remember watching people hurt each other and not knowing what to say or how to process it.”

He aimed for inconspicuousness to avoid violent interactions. But he was lanky and wore big glasses, and his awkwardness and vulnerability grabbed attention. Ross fell prey to the older kids who assaulted him with rocks and bottles.

He devoured books from the library. He relished mathematical equations like other kids enjoyed sports. In kindergarten, he had his first memorable experience with medicine.

Ross’s sister, Helen, 6, had severe asthma exacerbated by their mother’s cigarettes. One night when the siblings were unsupervised, Helen could barely breathe. Ross and his

Over the past several decades, the gap between the death rates of white babies and black babies continued to grow – regardless of the mother’s socioeconomic status. Black women who are lawyers, doctors, or engineers have

other sister, Sherry, 8, helped walk Helen four blocks to an emergency room. Once they arrived, health-care workers groused, glared and ignored them.

“Will someone please take care of my sister?” the young Will Ross demanded. “She can’t breathe.”

“If you don’t like it,” a physician told the children, “leave.”

They didn’t, and eventually Helen was treated. But Ross never forgot the experience.

“I was 5 years old and as serious as I’ve ever been,” Ross said. “I told myself that if I ever became a doctor, I would never treat a patient so unkindly and disrespectfully as the staff had treated us. We were kids. We didn’t want Helen to die.”

Collectively, Ross’s neighborhood experienced its lowest point on April 4, 1968. For months prior, AfricanAmerican sanitation workers had been on strike to protest economic and social injustices. Trash overflowed into the streets. An odor of human waste and rotten food prevailed. Flies buzzed in swarms.

“Still, we had glimmers of hope,” Ross said.

That’s because Martin Luther King Jr. had come to Memphis to support the sanitation workers.

“He spoke of civil rights,” Ross said. “He was leading us toward a better life.”

However, shortly after 6 p.m., avowed racist James Earl Ray assassinated King at the Lorraine Motel, two blocks from Ross’ neighborhood. “I remember my mother crying, neighbors crying,” Ross said. “I was shattered. We all were.”

For many, grief turned to anger. “Some people were armed and rioting,” he said. “They began destroying nonblack businesses. They burned down our neighborhood market run by Chinese-American immigrants. Their daughter, Shirley, was my friend. We did mathematical equations at the store. After the market was destroyed, I never saw her again. I have no idea what

higher rates of infant mortality than white women who didn’t finish college, according to the Harvard School of Public Health. And black women are 243 percent more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications than white

happened to the family.”

Ross sighed heavily, gazed at the ground and shook his head in disappointment.

“Another tragic outcome is that the neighborhood never recovered,” he said. “To this day, it still looks bombed out.”

A safe passage

Ross’s future shifted one afternoon. With blood on his shirt — a result of a beating by gang members —he visited the high school guidance counselor.

The counselor pointed Ross toward Shirley and Alfred Wexner, who had established a scholarship fund in their deceased daughter’s honor for underprivileged kids with academic promise.

Shirley Wexner helped Ross attend a summer program at Phillips Exeter Academy, an elite boarding school in New Hampshire. This exposed him to higher-level coursework and opportunities at elite colleges. Ross lived with the Wexners periodically in Memphis, usually during the harshest moments at his home.

“The Wexner family offered me a safe passage,” Ross said. “In all likelihood, I would be dead if the Wexners hadn’t intervened.”

Like many students in the Exeter program, Ross was accepted into top-tier universities. He received a full-ride scholarship to Yale University, where he earned a degree in biology in 1980, and then to Washington University, where he earned a medical degree in 1984.

Throughout, the Wexner family provided financial and emotional support. “We love him,” said Shirley Wexner’s daughter, Barrie, who is slightly older than Ross. “We are proud he continues to help people in need.”

Encounters with racism

women, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

The health of black moms and babies must be at the forefront of every decision made by us and our elected officials, especially in regards to our health systems, our

“Around 2 a.m., a middleage white man came into the emergency room with an inflamed knee,” Ross recalled. “I told him I needed to drain the pus. He said he refused to be treated by a ‘nigger doctor.’ Those were his words. I took a deep breath and told myself to rise above and take the moral high ground.

“I said, ‘Sir, my name is Dr. Ross. I’m your doctor. I’m not a nigger. I will be the person who treats you. But first, you owe me an apology.’” The man apologized. In the years ahead, Ross would stand up to countless more racist acts.

“I feel there aren’t that many ‘bad’ people; rather, there are those who have been socialized to think or act a certain way,” Ross said. “Speaking out and showing them the damage done by their sometimes unintentional words or deeds can be insightful and even therapeutic, as they realize all of us have unconscious biases.”

Ross continued: “As associate dean for diversity, I feel I should give voice to those who feel dispossessed but are either afraid to speak out or don’t know how. By speaking out, we improve health care and we uplift humanity.”

Reprinted with permission from Outlook, a publication of the Washington University School of Medicine.

Despite the Wexners’ support, Ross had to overcome race-based obstacles. As a second-year medical student, Ross was interrogated, handcuffed and thrashed against a car hood. Police believed he had robbed a store for no reason other than his skin color. An hour later, Ross was released when a white classmate vouched that he had been in class when the robbery occurred. The incident that most stands out occurred in 1985, when Ross was an internal medicine resident at a hospital affiliated with Vanderbilt University in Nashville.

public housing policies, and our transportation providers. Our daughters, and our daughters’ children, deserve so much better.

Rose Anderson-Rice is chief program director at Generate Health.

Dr. Will Ross often hosts dinner and impromptu gatherings for Washington University medical students at his Central West End home.

Photo by Whitney Curtis

Nutrition Challenge:

Many people enjoy the warmer weather by bringing out the BBQ grill. Grilled foods are a great way to eat healthier. Just remember these few tips.

> Watch the “extras” such as marinades, sugary sauces and butter.

> Try grilled veggies, instead of fried.

Activities:

Healthy Kids Kids

> Include fresh fruits for dessert and limit the amount of ice cream and other frozen treats.

> Remember to drink a lot of water while you’re out in the heat.

Staying active outside and eating healthier will help you feel better all summer long.

Learning Standards: HPE 2, HPE 5, NH 1, NH 5

Vincent D. Williams, Owner, Pharmacist

Sunday, April 22, is Earth Day. Celebrate by spending as much time as you can outside and enjoying our planet.

Celebrate Earth Month!

Why not recruit some of your friends to clean up a neighborhood park? Kick off a new recycling program at your school. Or spend an afternoon planting flowers outside your home.

April is Earth Month! As a class, decide on a project that you could do for your school or community that would be a great way to celebrate. Here are a few ideas to inspire you… but your class can probably come up with even better projects!

What are some other “active” ways that

you can make a difference at home, at your school and in your community?

Learning Standards: HPE 1, HPE 2, HPE 5, NH 5

Where do you work? I am the owner and pharmacist-in-charge of LV Health & Wellness Pharmacy.

Where did you go to school? I graduated from East St. Louis Senior High School. I then earned a Bachelor of Science from SIU, Edwardsville, major in biological sciences with a minor in chemistry and a Doctor of Pharmacy from Chicago State University.

on your playground. Use gloves to protect your hands from dirt and germs.

> Plant flowers near the school entrance, or in your own front yard.

> Create a recycle program for home or school.

> What other great project ideas did your classmates suggest?

> Have a trash pick-up day

Learning Standards: HPE 2, SC 4, NH 1, NH 7

What does an owner/pharmacist do? I keep people informed about the medications and vitamins they take and if any have significant side effects or interact with each other. I mix and make medications in a process called “compounding.” We do this mainly for patients that cannot tolerate ingredients found in some products. I keep patients even more healthy by administering vaccines specific to condition or age.

Why did you choose this career? I love science! As a kid, I was very interested in how chemicals react. My parents purchased a science kit for me and I mixed powders and solutions in test tubes. I attribute this initial exposure to why I chose pharmacy as a career.

What is your favorite part of the job you have? I enjoy keeping people in good health. I share my knowledge of how medications, vitamins and herbals can make a difference in one’s life. That’s definitely my favorite part of the job.

Learning Standards: HPE6, NH3

CLASSROOM SPOTLIGHT

Ms. Clark’s 4th Grade Class

Aspire Academy

Educator of the Year at Aspire Academy, 4th grade instructor

Ms. VaNetta Clark shows students Jaiden Davis, Jacob Johnston, Jayerra Moore and Myles Sanders (standing) how to find STEM ideas using the newspaper’s education pages.

Photo by Wiley Price/ St. Louis American

Teachers, if you are using the St. Louis American’s NIE program and would like to nominate your class for a Classroom Spotlight, please email: csewell@stlamerican.com

SCIENCE CORNER

SCIENCE STARS

FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN METEOROLOGIST—

Charles Anderson

OWhat Is A Meteorologist?

A Weather Watcher

What’s the weather going to be today? It’s no secret that weather is a popular topic. Millions of people stay glued to their weather reports, whether it be on TV, in the newspaper, online, or on their smart phones. Meteorology is the study of weather. Meteorologists study patterns to predict the weather, not only the temperature, but heat waves, snow storms, tornados, hurricanes, blizzards, sleet and hail.

If you are interested in studying meteorology, you will need to take all of the math and science courses you can. With current technology advances, computer programming is also important training for this career.

SCIENCE INVESTIGATION

How do meteorologists predict the weather? Meteorologists use their knowledge of weather and patterns to forecast the weather. It is a very complicated process. Wind, dew point, sky cover, and pressure are observed. Radar is an electronic device that allows meteorologists to see rain and snow. Are you interested in learning more about weather forecasts? Check out: http://weatherwizkids.com/weatherforecasting.htm or the “Kids Book of Weather Forecasting,” by Mark Breen. Learning Standards: I can read nonfiction information about science and careers to gain background information.

n Aug. 13, 1919, Charles Anderson was born on a farm in University City. Although he lived on a farm, Anderson spent a lot of time exploring museums, theaters, gardens, libraries, and the zoo. He loved to read and his favorite subject was science. Anderson was a very hard working student and graduated as valedictorian of his class at Sumner High School in St. Louis. This was the first of many degrees for Anderson. He earned a bachelor’s degree in science from Lincoln University, a master’s degree in meteorology from the University of Chicago, and a master’s degree in chemistry from the Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn. Charles Anderson was the first African American to earn a doctorate degree in meteorology from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

Meteorology is the study of weather.

Anderson used this training during World War II when he was an Army captain and weather officer. Anderson studied cloud patterns and became skilled at forecasting (predicting) severe storms. This knowledge allowed the troops to plan their routes and strategies to keep safe.

Materials Needed:

2 2-liter bottles

Duct tape

Water

Procedure:

q Fill one of the 2-liter bottles two-thirds full of water.

w Tape the other 2-liter bottle to the top of the bottle. Be sure to tape carefully so the bottles stay together and the water will not leak.

e Turn the bottles over so that the bottle with water is on top.

r Shake the bottle in a circular motion. As the water empties into the bottom bottle, it will create a swirling vortex.

Tornado In A Bottle!

Want To Learn More About Tornados: http://scienceforkids.kidipede.com/physics/ weather/tornado.htm

A self-taught pilot, Anderson was the first African American to receive a pilot’s license in 1929. In 1940, Anderson started the Civilian Pilot Training Program (CPTP) at the Tuskegee Institute of Alabama. This program and its military follow-on, which he also directed, were responsible for training the pilots who became the famous Tuskegee Airmen. “Chief” Anderson is widely acclaimed as the father of Black Aviation. In 2007 the entire squadron was honored as a group with the Congressional Medal of Honor.

Learning Standards: I can follow instructions to create a science experiment.

After his service in the army, Anderson held many important jobs during his career. He worked with the U.S. Department of Commerce, before becoming a teacher in 1967, when he became a Professor of Space Science and Engineering. He was a professor at the University of Wisconsin and North Carolina State University. Charles Anderson died in October of 1994. His studies of meteorology and storm prediction have remained legendary.

Want to know more about Charles Anderson? http://www.moptopshop.com/charles_anderson.html

Discuss: Who is Charles Anderson? Why is he considered an important scientist?

Learning Standards: I can read a nonfiction biography to find the main idea.

MATH CONNECTION

Math Temperature in the United States is typically measured in Fahrenheit. In other parts of the world, temperature is measured in Celsius. To convert temperature from Celsius to Fahrenheit, use this formula:

1.8xCelsiusdegrees+32=Fahrenheitdegrees

Use the formula to convert the Celsius temperatures to Fahrenheit temperatures.

Celsius Fahrenheit

10 degrees

15 degrees

40 degrees

DID YOU KNOW?

Challenge: Can you use the formula to work backwards? If it is 70 degrees Fahrenheit, what is the temperature in Celsius?

Learning Standards:

Do you know why the temperature is measured in Fahrenheit, Celsius, and Kelvin? Research the three methods for measuring temperatures and the regions that utilize them. Find the regions on a map.

Use the newspaper to practice your skills.

Want more weather facts: Visit: http://sciencekids.co.nz/ sciencefacts/weather.html

q Severe weather is newsworthy. Look through the newspaper to find an article about drought, tornadoes, hurricanes, etc. Summarize the article. w Weather can be predicted accurately up to seven days in advance. What is the 7-day forecast? What is the highest temperature? What is the lowest temperature? What is the average temperature?

Learning Standards: I can use the newspaper to find information to solve a prompt. I can summarize and I can use math to add, subtract, multiply, and divide.

Anderson takes Eleanor Roosevelt for a flight during her visit to the Tuskegee Army Air Field in 1941. She took pictures back to Washington to persuade her husband, President Franklin Roosevelt to activate the Tuskegee Airmen during World War II.

How did Eric Greitens get here from Mother Teresa?

“I fear for my life and his because he’s a psychopath. He’s a ticking time bomb waiting to explode.”

Late Tuesday night, state Senator Jamilah Nasheed took to Twitter and made the above statement. She was not referring to the shooter who recently murdered teenagers at Stoneman Douglas High School, or the lunatic who opened fire last year in Las Vegas. She was, of course, referring to our duly elected Governor Eric Greitens

But how did our governor become this person?

The EYE has previously done a deep dive into the governor’s background, noting his promiscuous political shape-shifting. And we’ve noted before that he and his tactics bear an eerie similarity to those of our disgraceful and disgraced President Donald Trump. But in the wake of the past week’s unprecedented events – including a scathing report detailing Greitens’ allegedly violent, repulsive sexual misconduct and a right-wing attorney general (Josh “See No Evil Until Evil Becomes a Political Liability to Me” Hawley) of his own party imploring an urban liberal Democratic prosecutor (St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner, who is up to her eyeballs in a separate prosecution of Greitens) to prosecute Greitens for campaign finance malfeasance –the EYE feels that it’s worth asking how Greitens got here.

Thanks to being identified as a person with leadership potential even in elementary school, Greitens had many experiences that are transformative for nearly everyone who has the privilege to go through them – a Rhodes Scholarship, international nonprofit work with Mother Teresa and war refugees

from Rwanda and Bosnia, starting a nonprofit to help struggling veterans, service as a Navy SEAL, a White House Fellowship. In so many different realms, he occupied the rarefied stratum of the meritocratic elite and had the opportunity to meet and learn from the world’s philanthropic, economic, political, and military ruling class. Yet, in retrospect, these seem to have been merely boxes to check, not the meaningful, fulfilling transformative achievements we would expect. He emerged from these experiences with no strong principles that he wasn’t willing to discard as he pursued high office – as evidenced by the rapidity with which he discarded his longtime Democratic allegiances once he decided that Chris Koster was unbeatable in the 2016 Democratic gubernatorial primary. And he emerged from these should-have-been life-altering experiences –such as literally working alongside Mother Teresa – full of platitudes that sell enough of his self-help books to make him a millionaire, but apparently devoid of basic human empathy. Both the shocking and sickening allegations about how he behaved in his basement when his wife was away, as well as his eagerness to be whatever he needed to be in service of his goal of becoming president, reveal what appears to be a human being – albeit one with the best lawyers money can buy, whose messages on his behalf are being pushed daily by a public relations team, all paid for by …. who knows? They reveal the moral emptiness of a man who could lecture both Republican and Democratic gubernatorial opponents on family values even as he allegedly assaulted

defenders who are destined to become Missouri’s version of the Japanese military holdouts discovered on Pacific islands years after World War II ended, unwilling or unable to come to grips with reality. Where do we go from here?

his hairdresser-cum-mistress sexually, psychologically, and physically.

To repeat: allegedly. The EYE confesses to caring more about the rights of the accused when the accused is someone who evokes empathy (which this defendant does not, so much), but the rights of the accused are constitutional and sacrosanct. Greitens must be convicted of felony invasion of privacy – or any of the other charges one can imagine from the evidence presented to the state legislature or Judge Rex Burlison – before he is deemed a criminal or felon.

In that regard, it must be said that the prosecution’s handling

of evidence in the prosecution of Greitens – in particular, a videotape of testimony by the alleged victim – has been so irregular that the case is endangered, regardless of merits.

Why won’t he resign?

As of Wednesday morning, the entire Republican legislative leadership had called for Greitens to resign. Hawley – the attorney general who blames human trafficking on the sexual revolution, despite the antiquity of prostitution, i.e., “the oldest profession” –had not only urged Greitens to resign but had deemed not one but two of his allegedly criminal behaviors to constitute impeachable offenses. Greitens’ top known campaign donor (and there is more we don’t know about his funders than we do know), Southwest Missouri building materials magnate David Humphreys, had abandoned him. Even leading national conservative pundits were exhorting him to go away. Fortunately for Greitens, there remains a cohort of older men in the House Republican caucus who appear to share his world-view.

“Well, it’s just a ‘he-said, she-said,’” some of them say.

Actually, it’s not. It’s more like ‘he-tweeted, they-said’.

That’s because a) Greitens has refused to testify under oath despite having had numerous opportunities to do so, while his alleged victim has testified numerous times in multiple venues; and b) she has several people corroborating her account and were contemporaneously told of the incidents she now describes (though with some variations between accounts, which is not unusual for even the most reliable witnesses, and Greitens’ expert attorneys will feast on those discrepancies if the case moves forward).

The other refrain of the dwindling band of Greitens defenders is: “But she came back.” As in, the woman he allegedly abused returned for a second and third round. Anyone who has read about abusive relationships, or known a victim in one, understands that battered and tormented women frequently stay with their abuser until they are strong enough to break free. In fact, the testimony of Greitens’ allege victim reveals a keen self-awareness, courage, and grace in grappling with her unfortunate choices during those months of 2015. Far more, in fact, than that displayed by the narcissistic Greitens or his obtuse

An East Coast-based friend of the EYE texted, “Dude, you have got to understand how bad this is making your state look. Doesn’t he realize that even if somehow he is acquitted he will never be able to govern?” But that comment assumes that Greitens ever knew what it meant to govern. Nearly every legislator, lobbyist, or Capitol journalist will say that he does not. He has never tried it. Rather, he has postured, picked fights, rappelled into a bull-riding ring (seriously), and preened for his major donors and for national conservative media. He doesn’t understand the first thing about the policy process. So why isn’t he resigning? Because it’s gone too far now. He certainly could have resigned in mid-January, pleaded his St. Louis case down to a misdemeanor, taken a year sabbatical while he wrote his follow-up to the best-selling “Resilience” (“Redemption,” perhaps?), and returned to the lucrative speaking circuit where he once made $25-$50,000 a pop.

But after the last three months of searing allegations, no company could possibly bring him in to speak without risking an employee mutiny. No publisher could give him the type of six-figure advance he received for his last book. And certainly no political party – not the Democrats he favored in his 20s and 30s, nor the Republicans he embraced in his 40s, only to implode them – would ever get within a mile of him. It’s possible he could run for dog catcher on a non-partisan ballot, but the EYE’s sources say even dogs would run from him so fast that Greitens would be unable to govern in that office as well. And so it just might be that the man who, four months ago, was as likely as any American not named Mike Pence to become president, is now so toxic that he is simply trying to hold on to the only six-figure income gig he may ever have again. Because even being a mortally wounded governor is better than the alternative: an unemployed and disgraced ex-governor, and possibly an inmate in a Missouri correction facility.

Photo by Carolina Hidalgo / St. Louis Public Radio

recruits at ex-offenders job fair

From forensics psychology to hotel sales

Jacque M. Woods: ‘I put heads in beds’

By Tashan Reed

For The St. Louis American

Jacque M. Woods grew up a military brat. She was born in Manchester, Missouri, in 1975 before bouncing around to Central Michigan, Southern Illinois and Mississippi. For her junior year of high school, she found herself back in Missouri – this time in St. Louis.

“When you don’t know anything else, you don’t know that it’s different from other people,” Woods said. Her mother, Vera Woods, believed the itinerant life of a military family kept Jacque and her five older brothers close, but shortly after her birth her father, Perry Woods, decided to retire from the U.S. Marine Corps. Perry was from St. Louis, and Vera got a teaching job at St. Louis University, so moving back to the Gateway to the West only seemed

n “All you ever see when you go to a hotel are the valet workers, the servers in the restaurant, the bellmen, or the house keepers. It’s just a lack of exposure to management.”

– Jacque M. Woods

right. Once she finished high school, though, Jacque left home to attend Michigan State. She majored in forensics psychology and went

on to work at a transitional housing program for female offenders. In just three years, though, Jacque felt burnt out and frequently complained to her mother about how unhappy she was. Naturally, Vera took it into her own hands. At a conference dinner with SLU, she filled out an application in her daughter’s name and set up an interview for the Hyatt Regency St. Louis at Union Station. Despite disliking her current position, Woods fought the move.

“I knew I wanted a career change, I just thought I was gonna go to grad school,” Woods said. Still, she followed through with the interview to appease her mother. “All good African-American parents, they know what’s better for their kids,” she said. “Even though their kids don’t believe them.”

Royal Queens bound for robotics championship

Girl Scouts get gift to expand STEM education, develop future workforce

American staff

As six eastern Missouri Girl Scouts from the Jennings School District prepare to attend a global, invite-only robotics championship later this month in Houston, Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri has accepted a $400,000 donation Jim and Cathy Berges that will support the expansion of the organization’s robotics program. The six girls call themselves the Royal Queens, and they are one of only two teams attending from eastern Missouri. They are also the only Girl Scout team going to the robotics championship.

“Having a STEM-educated workforce is key to attracting great industry to this region,” Jim and Cathy Berges said. “The technical fields

See ROBOTICS, B2

Leonard C. Johnson III was appointed director for Neighborhood Business Development with the St. Louis Development Corporation. He will be responsible for initiating strategies to revitalize and strengthen neighborhood commercial districts, support small business development, and manage the neighborhood commercial district improvement program. He was a St. Louis American Foundation 2016 Young Leader.

Jessica Harris received the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. University faculty humanitarian award from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. She is an associate professor in the Department of Historical Studies, director of the interdisciplinary Black Studies program, and Provost Fellow for Diversity and Inclusion. She also introduced a pilot of the Sustained Dialogue program that encourages dialogue across differences.

Sean “Scooda” Thomas hosts a new radio program, “The Scooda Radio Show” on KATZ Hallelujah 1600AM. This show airs 4 p.m. Mondays. “I bring a hip, hype and motivational program to the listeners. I’m looking to bring a young audience to the station,” said Scooda. For more information and to listen to some episodes, visit www.iamscooda.com.

Carla Reid joined the Board of Directors for Habitat for Humanity Saint Louis, a not-for-profit, ecumenical housing ministry working in partnership with individuals and communities of all faiths to improve housing conditions and provide safe, decent and affordable housing in St. Louis city and county. She is Community Response Project coordinator, United Way of Greater St. Louis.

Wendell Kimbrough joined the Board of Directors for Gateway Center for Giving. He is CEO of ARCHS St. Louis. The center strengthens philanthropy and promotes community impact by providing programming, research and networking opportunities to grantmaking organizations in the St. Louis region. It also enhances regional leadership through information on community needs and philanthropic best practices.

Scouts Kamille Anderson, Vita Baker, Amber Smith, Ashlynn Smith, Jahnya Watkins and Zoi Fraction Williams from the Jennings School District are the Royal Queens.

Elena Araoz will direct Shakespeare Festival St. Louis’ production of Romeo and Juliet, June 1-24. She has international and Off-Broadway experience in directing new plays, classics and opera. New York productions this past year included Catherine Filloux’s Kidnap Road (La Mama), Maria Irene Fornés Mud (Boundless Theatre Company), Octavio Solis’s Prospect (Boundless Theatre Company), and Warren Leight’s new play Union Square Incident (American Airlines Theatre).

Leonard C. Johnson III

Sean “Scooda” Thomas Elena Araoz

Wendell Kimbrough

Jessica Harris

Carla Reid

Jennifer Richert and Jarrett Washington of Schnuck Markets recruited talent at the “Partnership for Success Career Fair” for ex-offenders hosted by Saint Louis University and Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis at Chaifetz Arena on Tuesday, April 10.

Faces oF Hospitality

Photo by Wiley Price

Schnuck’s

World Wide Technology lead sponsor of 2018 Biz Dash

World Wide Technology will be the presenting sponsor of The Biz Dash 5K in Downtown St. Louis at Soldiers Memorial on the night of Thursday, September 27. The Biz Dash brings St. Louis area businesses and employees together to celebrate team camaraderie and to encourage a healthy, active lifestyle, while having a fun night with friends and colleagues. The second annual Biz Dash in 2017 featured 180 companies and 4,000 participants.

“We find inspiration from the St. Louis Sports Commission’s commitment to strengthen our community as we grow our presence in St. Louis and continue our investment in the city that we’re proud to call home,” said World Wide Technology CFO Tom Strunk. Sports Commission President Frank Viverito said they expect over 250 companies

and 6,000 participants this year.

Runners and walkers of all levels are encouraged to participate for their company team. Companies may register an unlimited number of employees. If your organization is not participating, you can register as an individual as part of the St. Louis Sports Foundation team. The Biz Dash 5K benefits the St. Louis Sports Foundation, the Sports Commission’s charitable affiliate. The foundation implements programs and activities that promote sportsmanship, create positive environments for kids to play sports, and help young people in St. Louis lead healthier, happier lives. To learn more about the St. Louis Sports Foundation, visit sportsmanship.org.

Biz Dash registration officially opens May 1. For information, call Emily Thompson at 314-345-5111 or visit Stlbizdash.com.

Black MBA Association to host Entrepreneur Think Tank

The National Black MBA Association, Inc. (NBMBAA) – St. Louis Chapter, will host its Entrepreneur Think Tank 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, April 28 at The T-Rex building, 911 Washington Ave. in downtown St. Louis. Check in will begin at 8:30 a.m., with a continental breakfast until 9 a.m.

The event encourages business development for entrepreneurs who want to start, grow or explore new business opportunities and gives participants the opportunity to pitch their business ideas to industry experts with the chance to win technical business assistance, mentoring from keynote speaker O.D Harris, owner of Wize Tax and Accounting, and a cash prize to further their business.

n The event encourages business development for entrepreneurs who want to start, grow or explore new business opportunities.

Diverse workshops will be facilitated by industry experts, local entrepreneurs, small business representatives from community resource organizations, and college professors. Participants will select one track for group workshops consisting of Start-Up, Growth, Supplier Diversity, or Youth in Business.

ROBOTICS

continued from page B1 tend to be dominated by males. While women represent 52-percent of college graduates, only 20-percent are in technical fields. Getting more women into technical fields is one way to close the gap.”

Girl Scouts Kamille Anderson, Vita Baker, Amber Smith, Ashlynn Smith, Jahnya Watkins and Zoi Fraction Williams from the Jennings School District are presenting their clean water initiative at the FIRST LEGO League Jr. World Festival Expo in Houston April 19-21. The Girl Scouts, who are in kindergarten through third grade, formed their robotic team, the Royal Queens, in September 2017 with the goal of sharing their

WOODS

continued from page B1

Eighteen years later, Woods is now the sales manager for the Hyatt Regency St. Louis at the Arch. She works remotely from Memphis, Tennessee, where she moved to take care of her ailing brother in June of 2015. Her brother passed away due to pancreatic cancer, but Woods remains in Memphis primarily to help raise her nephew.

During her initial interview, director of sales Lori Coyne told Woods that she had a “sales manager’s personality” and that she wouldn’t be an administrative assistant for long. Woods took it with a grain of salt. “If it happens, it happens,” she said. “If it doesn’t, it’s no loss because I didn’t plan on being there or making it a career.”

Nine months later, Coyne held up to her word. She created a training program for Woods, and within the year she was promoted to sales manager for the Hyatt Regency in Indianapolis. She went on to work at Hyatt properties in Cleveland and Louisville before moving to the location at the Arch – where she has to meet a sales quota of $2.7 million in annual revenue while bringing in 10 to 12 groups to stay at the hotel throughout the year.

“I jokingly say I put heads in beds, that’s what I do every day” Woods said. Outside of selling hotel rooms to clients, she is the overseer of the religious, sports and multicultural markets.

As a devout Christian, proud tomboy and black woman, Woods believes that each field fits her perfectly. Her daily tasks in Memphis are mostly comprised of sifting

Tickets are $5 for youth aged 7-18, $20 for adults, and free for financial members of the NBMBAA. Small business vendor tickets are $125. To be a resource partner for this event, contact Desiree Adeboye at stlsdesiree@gmail.com. To register as a participant or vendor, visit http://thinktank18. eventbrite.com. Contact stlblackmba1@ gmail.com or (314)-329-8204 with any additional questions or concerns or to sign up for the pitch competition. Visit the NBMBAA-St. Louis Chapter website, www.stlblackmba. org to learn more about the organization and upcoming events.

n The Royal Queens’ motto: “We are a team. We do the work to find solutions with guidance from our coaches and mentors.”

STEM-related findings on this world stage.

Before the Royal Queens enter the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston on Friday, April 20, the six girls will recite their team’s motto: “We are a team. We do the work to find solutions with guidance from our coaches and mentors.” Their voices will grow louder as they repeat the words until each Girl Scout is shouting with excitement and they eventually throw their arms up in triumph.

through emails, researching and organizing, but she does travel to St. Louis once a month to meet face-to-face with clients and staff.

Woods also travels all over the country for conferences in various cities. “It’s great,” she said, “but when you’re living out of a suitcase and you don’t have your normal routine, you have that level of stress.”

She still remains active in her local community with her local church and programs like the Make A Wish and Ronald McDonald foundations.

“The balancing act is what’s

n Woods believes that many African Americans have what it takes to be general managers and directors, but are scared to take a chance or not aware of the opportunity.

the hardest,” Woods said. “I think it’s probably harder for people that work from home, because we don’t have a defined line to say, ‘Okay, it’s time to go home.’” Frequently, Woods will find herself still working on her computer at 10 or 11 p.m.

Woods, however, doesn’t let these challenges prevent her from enjoying her career. The travel caters to her adventurer personality, and she’s used to it thanks to her childhood. From her first incentive trip in Curacao to having executives and staff visit her in times of need, there are a litany of great moments and memories from her time at Hyatt. Through it all, however, she’s never forgotten that her career was “a complete

In 2017, Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri supported 55 FIRST robotic teams. By 2020, the organization will double that number to 110, thanks to an investment made by the Berges’. The council’s robotics program offers G.I.R.L.s (Go-getters, Innovators, Risktakers, Leaders)TM across eastern Missouri hands-on STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) engagement and interaction at a young age and inspires them to become leaders in these fields. Ninety-three percent of eastern Missouri Girl Scouts report increased interest in STEM after participating in a STEM program. Last year girls earned 16,141 STEM badges.

For more information, visit http://www.girlscoutsem.org.

fluke.” She graduated from her alma mater – Michigan State – without ever knowing that its School of Hospitality Business existed, let alone that it was nationally ranked among hospitality programs. Unfortunately, Woods believes that this lack of knowledge is pervasive throughout the AfricanAmerican community and prevents them from rising to managerial positions in the world of hospitality.

“We don’t know what we don’t know,” she said. “All you ever see when you go to a hotel are the valet workers, the servers in the restaurant, the bellmen, or the house keepers. It’s just a lack of exposure to management. I think we do a disservice to our kids by not exposing them to this element of hospitality.”

Woods believes that plenty of African Americans have what it takes to be general managers and directors, but they’re scared to take the chance or simply aren’t aware of the opportunity. “We start out just needing a job,” she said. “So, I think we get stuck.” Luckily for Woods, she had Vera. “If my mom had not have filled out that application for me, there’s no way that I would have ever went and applied for a job at the Hyatt,” she said. “Ever.”

Even with her mother’s guidance and her own hard-work, flexibility and perseverance, it took the courage to take a chance for Woods to make it. She urges other African Americans –no matter their age, class, education or gender – to do the same.

This is the third in a series of profiles of hospitality professionals that Tashan Reed is reporting for The American.

A beaming participant in the 2017 Biz Dash.

n “The only smart football players are the offensive linemen. The rest are a bunch of dummies.”

– Charles Barkley

Sports

traCk & FIeld notebook

is

Cleveland dominates

RIP Roosevelt Davis

The Cleveland Naval Jr. ROTC Commanders have been a dominant small-school track team in recent years with three Class 2 state championships in the past six years to their credit.

The Commanders have the pieces to make another strong postseason run in Class 2 this spring, and many of those performers were on display at the Corey Seibert Invitational at Rockwood Summit. Cleveland is led by seniors James Allen and Antonio Norman, who have been stalwarts throughout their careers. Allen finished first in the 800-meter run in a time of 1 minute 57.72 seconds, leading a strong field a runners, in which four finished under 1:59.0. Finishing second was Jerald Allen, the twin brother of James, who has transferred to Gateway STEM.

Norman placed high in three events, including a first-place finish in the high jump with a clearance of 6 feet 6 inches.

He also finished second in the 300-meter intermediate hurdles.

Junior jumper Kelsey Cole won the triple jump with an effort of 45 feet 3 inches. He was also fourth in the long jump. The Commanders also finished third in the 4x400-meter relay.

More Corey Seibert highlights

Senior sprinter Austin Maiden of CBC was the individual winner in the 100- and 200-meter dashes. Jumper Rasheed Ricketts

Play-action interest

In today’s highly-politicized and heavily-polarized social environment, companies often find themselves walking a tightrope between being socially responsible and politically agnostic. After all, one racist store manager can spark protests, boycotts and outrage that send stock shares tumbling faster than you can order a Quad Grande, Non-Fat, Extra Hot Caramel Macchiato Upside Down. Also, taking the wrong side of a political argument can get a pizza CEO canned even if his name appears on every box.

Yet companies still understand that if they play the socially-conscious card right, they can earn, love, loyalty and repeat business from paying customers. That is precisely the reason that Mark King president of Adidas North America, revealed that the multibillion-dollar shoe and apparel company has interest in signing Colin Kaepernick to an endorsement deal. There is, however, a pretty big catch.

“If he signs on a team, we would definitely want to sign him,” King said during Arizona State’s Global Sports Summit. On the surface, the condition that Kaepernick be signed to a team makes sense. Adidas is an athletic apparel company. What better way to sell shoes, jerseys and accessories than having a professional athlete play in the in front of millions of viewers every Sunday? However, when you look beyond the surface, you’ll discover that Adidas’ recent renaissance in the shoe game is due to its thriving lifestyle models. Besides the signature shoes of James Harden and possibly Damian Lillard, the average consumer couldn’t tell you the name of most Adidas sports models. Everybody knows about those Yeezy’s though. In recent years, Adidas has

Earl Austin Jr.

shoes. Rihanna and Kylie Jenner are securing hefty bags from Puma. Drake has a deal with Jordan Brand, but may soon be jump over to

Ishmael H. Sistrunk

Photo by Wiley Price At the 15th Annual Corey Siebert Invitational, Rock Bridge freshman Tyra Wilson (third from left) won the girls’ 100-meter hurdles with a

ning time of 14.43. McCluer North’s Michelle Owens (right) took second at 14.57

(left) at

and East St. Louis’ Rokelle Stanley (2nd from left) finished 4th at 15.56.

SportS EyE

With Alvin A. Reid

Black MLB participation inches up, but is still pitifully low

On average, the 32 Major League Baseball teams have less than two black players on their respective 25-mn rosters and disabled list, according to the annual study by USA TODAY.

Last year’s mark of 7.1 percent black participation in the Majors was a historic low so I guess the good news is that the number crept up to 7.8 percent on Opening Day of 2018. It’s also the biggest increase from one season to the next since 2007-2008.

Of course, there are teams – nearly one-third – that do not have an AfricanAmerican player on the roster.

MLB executive vice president Tony Reagins said he would like to see that 7.8 percent mark grow to 20 percent, adding that “we’re starting to see some progress. But is there a lot of work to be done? Absolutely. That’s a lofty goal. But this isn’t a one-time effort. We are fully committed to this. Is there a lot of work to be done? Absolutely.’’

MLB will release its first Diversity and Inclusion Annual Report next week, and I can’t wait to see what the St. Louis Cardinals have to say for themselves.

Each franchise completed a survey asking how many minorities hold front-office positions and the number of minorities who are on scouting and coaching staffs. The number of minority players in minor-league systems will also be examined. Importantly, these facts and figures will be

released to the public. “It is important that we create an atmosphere within baseball where diversity is celebrated and inclusion is promoted as a strength of our business,” MLB said in a

written statement. My guess is that Commissioner Manfred is waiting for the report’s release to share his thoughts. He’s probably very disappointed in what he has learned.

USA TODAY columnist Bob Nightengale wrote this week, “Major League Baseball no longer is accepting excuses for its African-American declining population and is taking full responsibility. It is embarrassing to Major League Baseball that the New York Yankees-Boston Red Sox series this week features more African Americans than three entire divisions.”

The NL Central, home of the Cardinals, either has some black players I don’t know about or it is one of the three.

Some other alarming findings include:

• The Los Angeles Dodgers, the franchise that Jackie Robinson debuted for on April 15, 1947, has just one black player and that is 33-year-old Matt Kemp

• The Cleveland Indians have black outfielders Michael Brantley and Rajai Davis which makes them the only AL Central team with more than one African American.

Look for MLB to increase its scouting and activity in urban areas, according to Reagins, a former L.A. Angels GM.

“We’re going to focus on going back to the inner cities, those high schools, those baseball programs, that have been forgotten,” Reagins said.

“You’re going to see our scouts go back to the same areas that provided us with Eric Davis and

Darryl Strawberry and Eddie Murray and Kenny Landreaux in South-Central LA., that used to be a breeding ground for MLB.”

While Kemp is nearing retirement, about three-fourths of MLB’s black players are younger than 30. In 2017, Royce Lewis and Hunter Greene were selected first and second, respectively, in the draft by the Minnesota Twins and Cincinnati Reds. This is just the fourth time this has occurred since the draft was initiated in 1965.

Because some players choose not to identify themselves as black, USA TODAY and the Society of American Baseball Research have conflicting totals on the number of black players.

According to SABR, black players constituted 8.4 percent of Opening Day rosters, up from 7.7 percent in 2017.

SABR figures say black participation is at its highest level since 2012.

In 1981, 18.7 percent of all MLB players were black and they comprised 22 percent of All-Star Game Rosters. Last year’s All-Star Game teams had just 5 percent had less than 5 percent.

Meanwhile, the NBA player population is 74 percent black and he NFL is at 65 percent.

Yet, quarterback Colin Kaepernick is still unemployed as is safety Eric Reid – two men who still refuse to say that they will always stand for the national anthem.

Jackie’s daughter hits homer

Jackie Robinson’s daughter, Sharon was not bashful when asked about the lack of protests by black baseball players.

“I don’t think they have much choice,” she said before her father was honored before the New York Mets hosted the Milwaukee Brewers last Sunday on Jackie Robinson Day.

“They are in the minority, where in football and basketball you have a group and therefore you can take a group action. So, players, if they speak out individually, they could be the only AfricanAmerican player on their team and it could be a difficult spot for them to be in.”

Pittsburgh All-Star second baseman Josh Harrison, a man that speaks his mind, said younger players don’t want to make waves, in part because veteran players are mum.

“For younger guys coming up, if guys with 10 years or so in this league haven’t really done much, you lean on those guys for advice,” Harrison said.

“If you don’t have anybody telling you one way or the other, you’ll keep your mouth shut. You don’t want to ruffle any feathers. If you don’t have anybody to help you in that regard, you’ll see a lot of guys be quiet.”

Robinson said NFL and NBA players are not only protesting, they are helping their communities off the field.

“They do it around their involvement in community themselves and talk about why that’s important,” she said.

“Part of the protest with the NFL or the NBA is how do we funnel some of these proceeds from the games, where we’re helping to bring these proceeds, and funnel them into the African-American community? So, some of the baseball players do that through their own charities or their own work within communities that they’re playing (in).”

Alvin A. Reid was honored as the 2017 “Best Sports Columnist – Weeklies” in the Missouri Press Association’s Better Newspaper Contest. He is a panelist on the Nine Network program, Donnybrook, is a weekly contributor to “The Charlie Tuna Show” on KFNS and can also be heard on Frank Cusumano’s “The Press Box.” His Twitter handle is @aareid1.

Alvin A. Reid

The Los Angeles Dodgers, the franchise that Jackie Robinson debuted for on April 15, 1947, has just one black player and that is 33-year-old Matt Kemp.

Congratulations to the Machine Elite 17U boys basketball team on winning the gold division championship at the Prep Hoops Route 66 Tournament in Oklahoma City. The members of the team are (in alphabetical order): Romello Ball (Parkway Central), Ahmad Burks (Jennings), Ben Coughlin (Rockwood Summit), Collin Goodwin (DeSmet), Dallas King (Webster Groves), Evan Mulhauser (Lutheran South), Gregory Robinson (Pattonville), Jeramy Shaw (Valley Park), Eric Walker (Hazelwood Central), Grant Western (DeSmet), Braden Wiggs (St. Charles). The team is coached by David Johnson.

kneeling controversy is standing in his way. That could impede other companies from reaching out, but the idea that King has openly expressed interest in signing Kaepernick shows that kneeling isn’t an issue. At this point, Kaepernick is more well-known for his kneeling and civil rights activism than he is for nearly leading the 49ers to a championship in Super Bowl XLVII. If Adidas was serious about signing Kaepernick, it would do so regardless of whether he is on an NFL roster. The company could then use its own power and influence to work to convince the colluders owners to give Kaepernick a shot. Thus far, a few teams have played similar lip service to signing Kaepernick. None have given him a workout or extended an offer of any kind since he

TRACK

opted out of his contract with the San Francisco 49ers a year ago. Let me be clear. Adidas’ money is Adidas’ money. The company is free to sign, or not sign, whomever it desires. If it really wants to sign Kaepernick, there’s no reason to wait. He’s a public figure, role model, philanthropist and cultural phenomenon. He’s also an athlete who had one of the highest-selling jerseys in the NFL for several months after he and the 49ers parted ways. In this situation, though, it seems that the company is trying to curry favor with the pro-Kaepernick crowd (a.k.a. black folks) by appearing “woke” enough to covet the QB-turned-activist. At the same time, by tethering its interest to a job that appears unlike-

n If Adidas was serious about signing Kaepernick, it would do so regardless of whether he is on an NFL roster.

ly-to-surface with each passing day. Adidas is shielding itself from the backlash and outrage that would come from those who are tired of hearing whiny black people with the audacity to call for civil rights, equality and justice.

Mark Smith headed to Mizzou

Former Edwardsville High School standout Mark Smith was a highly-coveted recruit by Mizzou coach Cuonzo Martin and fans around the state for the Tigers’ 2017 recruiting class. Unfortunately for the Tigers, the 2017 Mr. Basketball for the state of Illinois decided to stay in his home state to attend the University of Illinois.

During his freshman season, the talented guard averaged

just 5.8 points, 1.4 rebounds and 1.3 assists. Coach Brad Underwood’s team stumbled all season and finished with a disappointing record of 14-18. At the season’s end, Smith announced that he would be transferring to a new school.

from B3 games against LindenwoodBelleville, Washington had four hits, three runs batted in and scored a run. For the season, Washington is batting .401 with three home runs and 34 RBI and a slugging percentage of .547. He also has 11 doubles and 34 runs scored. Missouri Baptist is currently 14-7 in American Midwest Conference play.

Continued from B3 of Cardinal Ritter finished first in the triple jump with a leap of 21-9 and second in the triple jump by bounding 44-3. On the girls’ side, Deja Ingram of Hazelwood Central won the 100 in 12.18 seconds. Ingram is the defending Class 5 state champion in the 100. Senior Evangaline Harris of East St. Louis won the shot put with an impressive throw of 46-8. Lindbergh’s Abigail Judermann finished first in both the 800 and 1,600-meter runs.

Henle Holmes Invitational recap

There were several excellent performances at last week’s Henle Holmes Invitational at Parkway Central. The Kirkwood boys and Webster Groves girls took home the team titles from the meet. Senior jumper Diamond Riley of Ritenour was outstanding as she won both the long jump and triple jumps. Riley posted a winning jump of 18-5 in the long jump and a mark of 39-10 ¾ in the triple jump, which was a new meet record.

Finishing right behind Riley in the jumps was Zionn Pearson of MICDS, who posted second-place marks of 18-3 in the long jump and 38-3 in the triple jump. Pearson signed with Nebraska last week on a track scholarship. She also was part of the Rams’ 4x100-meter team that finished first in a school record time of 47.78.

Parkway North’s Jakeel Suber was a double winner in both hurdles events. He won the 110-meter high hurdles in 14.05, which was a new meet record. He also won the 300meter intermediate hurdles in 39.86.

Sophomore Justin Robinson of Hazelwood West finished first in the 100 in a time of 10.64. Junior Josh Sutton

finished second in 10.74 and came back to finish first in the 200.

Norm Armstrong highlights

Sophomore sprinter Jermarrion Stewart of Collinsville had an excellent day at the Norm Armstrong Invitational at Belleville West. Stewart swept both the 100and 200-meter dashes. His winning time of 21.6 was a new school record. He posted a winning time of 10.89 in the 100.

Another talented sophomore, Willie Johnson of East St. Louis, finished first in the 400 in 48.8. The Flyers also took home first place in the 4x200 in 1:28.62 and the 4x400 in 3:21.49.

RIP Roosevelt Davis

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family, friends and the East St. Louis track community on the tragic loss of former standout sprinter Roosevelt Davis. A 2016 graduate of East St. Louis, Davis was shot and killed outside of a convenience store in Cahokia, Illinois last Saturday. He was 21. It’s such a tragic loss of life of a young man who leaves behind two little daughters. The young man was tough, competitive and a great teammate. Davis played a major role in the Flyers’ run to the IHSA Class 3A state championship in 2016. He earned All-State medals in four events at the state meet. Davis ran a leg on East Side’s 4x100- and 4x400meter relay teams that won state championships. He also

the long jump with a leap of 18 feet 5 inches. She also won the triple jump with an effort

“I just don’t fit the system,” Smith told The (Alton) Telegraph. “I wish all the players the best of luck, but I just don’t fit the system.”

This week, the 6-foot-4 guard officially signed the paperwork to transfer to the University of Missouri.

Due to NCAA transfer rules, Smith will be forced to sit out the entire 2018-19 season. However, he’s the latest bigname signing for a program that went from just 8 wins in the 2016-17 season under Kim Anderson, to 20 wins in Martin’s first season at the helm.

“Cuonzo has a lot of faith in me, he’s expecting big things from me in the future and I just feel like we have a really

earned a second-place medal with the 4x200-meter relay and a fifth-place individual medal in the 200-meter dash. Davis ran a leg on the Flyers’ state championship 4x400-meter relay teams in 2014 and 2015 while also earning All-State medals in the open 400.

What’s on tap

A big weekend of action is on tap in the area. The Fred Lyon Invitational for boys at Parkway North will be held on Thursday and Friday. Several top area athletes will be headed to Lawrence, KS to participate in the Kansas University Relays. Other big meets include: Lindbergh Invitational (girls) on Thursday, Lutheran North Invitational (Fri) and the Dale Collier Relays on Saturday at Kirkwood.

The junior outfielder from Modesto, CA is one of the leading hitters for the Spartans, who are currently 22-15. Washington went three for five with five runs batted in and two runs scored in a victory over Harris-Stowe in the first game of a double header. In the second game, he had three more hits and a run scored. In a pair of

Donalda

Desir

Webster University – Women’s Track & Field

Desir finished second in the 400-meter dash, fifth in the 200 and ran a leg on the 4x100-meter relay team that finished sixth. In each of the three races, Desir posted

Financial Focus

By Courtney Bond

When

•

Living It

ESL’s Tahir Moore shines in

‘Real

Comedians of Social Media’

Hilarious crew prove profanity isn’t always synonymous with urban comedy

By Kenya Vaughn Of The St. Louis American

It’s still early into 2018, but it might be safe to say that one of the funniest comedy shows to come through St. Louis this year took place in a North Side church.

n The cadre of funnymen had the sanctuary shaking with laughter with their spin on everyday situations and experiences.

On Saturday, April 14, Bishop Antwain Jackson and his Equation Church hosted the St. Louis leg of the “Real Comedians of Social Media” tour. The lineup included Kev On Stage, Tony Baker and East St. Louis’ own Tahir Moore. Moore served as host, and rising comic Cris Sosa opened the show. What differentiated “Real Comedians of Social Media” from the typical urban comedy tour is that there was no profanity or sexual content. Since the dawn of the Def Comedy Jam era, it may be hard to imagine an entire roster of comedians of color where “booty” was the most salacious word used. But it happened, and it was glorious. The cadre of funnymen had the sanctuary shaking with laughter with their spin on everyday situations and experiences. The 400plus seat church was as at capacity for the show. Chairs had to be brought from the basement to make room for the sold-out crowd.

Moore, who was a regular on the local scene before recently moving to Los Angeles, opened the show with hilarious bits about his weight struggles and his relationship with food.

“I didn’t even know I was fat until I moved to L.A. – all this time thought I was just solid,” Moore said. “I’m in a strange position with my weight. I can either work hard and lose 45 pounds, or just gain 95 pounds and get the surgery. That 45 pounds is fighting me with all of its might.”

Moore has grown immeasurably in his years away. He is a part of the popular All Def Digital comedy cohort. Each of the “Real Comedians of Social Media” performers are affiliated with the group that garners millions of views through their online shenanigans – particularly the “Dad Jokes” segment that pairs comedians against each other to elicit laughter from their competitor through a series of corny jokes.

He’s found his comedy rhythm. He also showcased his ability to think on his feet when

he quipped on the routines of his co-stars.

“If I gave myself a wedgie, those jeans would be up there for days,” Moore said as he piled on Sosa’s joke about his Puerto Rican-Dominican father teaching him how to Salsa by giving himself a wedgie and using his hips to release the jeans from his backside.

Tony Baker, known for his voiceovers of animal videos, was best in show – but Moore

A Legend among the stars

Grammy, Oscar and Golden Globe winner to headline 2018 Variety Gala

and vocalist and dropped an R&B gem in the form of his

Women who imagine a new world through the arts

Saint Louis Visionary Awards to celebrate 2018 honorees Monday at Sun Theater

American staff

On Monday, April 23, a group of six wonder women who are among the doers, givers, teachers and administrative facilitators within St. Louis’ creative community will be recognized by the Saint Louis Visionary Awards at Grand Center’s Sun Theater. Since the relaunch of the awards as its own independent institution in 2015, fresh faces and local legends alike have been celebrated for their relentless efforts to fuel the St. Louis arts community. Some of the past awardees include Denise Thimes, Vivian Anderson-Watt, Cecilia Nadal, Kat Reynolds and Shirley Bradley LeFlore.

“The Visionary Awards have created a crucial platform that allows for the celebration of women of excellence, but most importantly, it has harnessed a contagious energy that truly promotes phenomenal women making significant

doing transformational work in the arts. We couldn’t be more impressed with the 2018 honorees said Sara Burke, co-chair of the Saint Louis Visionary Awards.

Just as with past honorees, they are pouring their talents, skills and resources into the arts scene in the effort to make the world a better place.

Carroll has traveled the country to talk about her Creative Reaction Lab, an initiative that works to galvanize community members to address social issues.

Her vision for Creative Reaction Lab came at the height of the Ferguson unrest. Carroll was a resident of Ferguson when the community took to the streets in protest of the shooting death of Michael Brown in August 2014.

Beyoncé, the biggest music star on the planet, delivered the blackest performance of her life Saturday night as she became the first African-American woman to headline the Coachella Music Festival. The performance was an unapologetic celebration of African, African-American

Photo by Lawrence Bryant.

John Legend will headline Variety’s Dinner with the Stars for 2018 next Saturday, April 28, at Peabody Opera House. His most recent visit to St. Louis was the spellbinding ‘Darkness and Light’ last year at The Fox.

By Kenya Vaughn Of

Photos by Vincent Lang

The 2018 Saint Louis Visionary Awards Honorees. Standing: Lana Pepper, Yvonne Osei, Cheeraz Gormon and Allison Felter. Seated: Asha Premachandra and Antionette Carroll.

Photo by Diane Anderson

Tahir Moore

Tony Baker

Kev on Stage

Cris Sosa

How to place a calendar listing

1. Email your listing to calendar@stlamerican. com OR

2. Visit the calendar section on stlamerican.com and place your listing

Calendar listings are free of charge, are edited for space and run on a space-available basis.

concerts

Sat., Apr. 21, 9 p.m., BucDaWorld & RocDiezel Promotions presents Best of Both Worlds Hip-Hop Meets R&B Featuring Blac Chyna & Keri Hilson. Ambassador, 9800 Halls Ferry Rd., 63136. For more information, visit www.metrotix.com.

Sun., Apr. 22, 3 p.m., Ethical Society of St. Louis presents From Bach to Bernstein with Marlissa Hudson 9001 Clayton Rd., 63117. For more information, visit wwwbachsociety.org.

Sun., Apr. 29, 5 p.m., Harmony for Peace. Our featured artists from around the globe will perform with our Jr. Peace & Music Ambassadors and musicians from St. Louis. Touhill Performing Arts Center, One University Blvd., 63121. For more information, visit www.touhill.org.

Sun., May 6, 7 p.m., An Evening with Audra McDonald: Songs from the American Music Theater Touhill Performing Arts Center, One University Blvd., 63121.

Wed., May 9, 8 p.m., The Firebird presents Day 26 2706 Olive St., 63103. For more information, visit www. ticketfly.com.

Sun., May 13, 5:30 p.m., Denise Thimes Mother’s Day Concert. With musical guests Jermaine Smith and Matthew Whitaker. Touhill Performing Arts Center, One University Blvd., 63121.

Sun., May 13, 7 p.m., Smooth presents R&B Legends Mother’s Day Edition feat. Evelyn “Champagne” King with Tony Terry and Kim Massie. Ambassador, 9800 Halls Ferry Rd., 63136. For more information, visit www. metrotix.com.

Fri., May 11, 7 p.m., 95.5 The Lou presents the District Rhythm Series feat. MC Lyte and Big Daddy Kane. Ballpark Village, 601 Clark Ave., 63102. For more information, visit www. ticketfly.com.

Fri., May 18, 5 p.m., Sheldon Concert Hall presents Ezinma Ramsay Strings Attached Concert With special guest Rhoda G. 3648 Washington Blvd., 63108.

Fri., June 8, 5:30 p.m., Hot 104.1 Super Jam. Feat. Post Malone, 21 Savage, Remy Ma, SOB X RBE, DJ Luke Nasty, & Derez De’Shon. Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre, 14141 Riverport Dr., 63043. For more information, visit www. topeventpromoter.com.

local gigs

Fri., Apr. 20, 7 p.m., Center Stage Showcase 5: Peace, Love and Sauce feat. Murphy Lee. The Ready Room, 4195 Manchester Ave., 63110. For more information, visit www. facebook.com.

Wed., Apr. 25, 7 p.m., Monthly Music Series: Sean Coray & Friends World Chess Hall of Fame, 4652 Maryland Ave., 63108. For more information, visit www.worldchesshof.org.

Fri., Apr. 27, 7 p.m., The Sheldon Concert Hall presents A Spring Jazz Concert feat. Julian Vaughn and Tim Cunningham. 3648 Washington Blvd., 63108. For more information, visit www.thesheldon.org.

Sat., Apr. 28, 7 p.m., Lumiere Place Casino & Hotels presents the Fabulous Motown Revue. 999 N. 2 nd St., 63102. For more information, visit www. ticketmaster.com.

The Guide

Kenya

special events

Thurs., Apr. 19, 5:30 p.m., United 4 Children Lighting the Way At The Races Gala. Donations support safe after school places, healthy meals, and more. Windows on Washington, 1601 Washington Ave., 63103. For more information, visit www. united4children.org.

Fri., Apr. 20, 6 p.m., Voices for Children St. Louis presents the 2018 Foster the Future Annual Gala Chase Park Plaza, 212 N. Kingshighway Blvd., 63108. For more information, visit www.voices-stl.ejoinme.org.

Fri., Apr. 20, 6:30 p.m., Rainbow Village’s 22nd Annual Somewhere Over the Rainbow Gala. Help raise funds to provide safe, quality homes for individuals with disabilities. Four Seasons Hotel, 999 North 2nd St., 63102. For more information, visit www.rbvstl.org.

Apr. 20 – 22, Consuming Kinetics Dance Company presents The Scenic Route The Marcelle Theater, 3310 Samuel Shepard Dr., 63103. For more information, visit

www.metrotix.com.

Sat., Apr. 21, 9 a.m., Deaconess Foundation “Children at the Center” Community Fair. We will have a photo booth, carnival games, basketball, and more. 1000 North Vandeventer Ave., 63113. For more information, visit www.deaconess.org.

Sun., Apr. 22, 2 p.m., Food Outreach presents the 30th Annual A Tasteful Affair Chefs from more than 25+ local kitchens will have tastes and treats ready to sample plus live and silent auctions. Four Seasons Hotel, 999 N 2nd St., 63102. For more information, visit www.foodoutreach.org.

Sun., Apr. 22, 4:30 p.m., Changing Your Idea of Beauty Fashion Show. Featuring CrispinMulatto. Busch Student Center, St. Louis University, 20 N. Grand Blvd., 63103. For more information, visit www. facebook.com.

Sun., Apr. 22, 5 p.m., O’Fallon Tech Class of ‘83 Alumni Committee presents a Comedy, Spoken Word, and Jazz Explosion. II Bar & Restaurant, 10466 W. Florissant Ave., 63136. For more information, call (314) 307-9114.

Thur., Apr. 26, 11 a.m., LPN Hiring Event and BBQ

Grab some food, win some prizes, and meet your new team. Phoenix Home Care, 2088 Craigshire Rd., 63146. For more information, call (855) 881-7442 or visit www. careers.smartrecruiters.com.

Thur., Apr. 26, 5 p.m., Kiener Cocktails Happy Hour. Support the Gateway Arch Park Foundation and enjoy an evening in the park with live music. 500 Chestnut St., 63101. For more information, visit www. archpark.org.

Fri., Apr. 27, 6 p.m., Habitat St. Louis Benefit Auction. Join us to bid on items from Rescued Furnishings & Designs to benefit Habitat for Humanity. 2714 Lafayette Ave., 63104. For more information, visit www. rescuedfurnishings.com.

Sat., Apr. 28, 9:30 a.m., National Caolition of 100 Black Women –Metropolitan St. Louis Chapter presents Hats Off to Mother’s Day Brunch. Norwood Hills Country Club, 1 Norwood Hills Country Club Dr., 63121. For more information, visit www. eventbrite.com.

Sat., Apr. 28, 12 noon (11:30 a.m. doors), African and African American Designers Fashion Show, Proceeds will benefit the African Orphanage Foundation Non-profit organization Water Project. Phyllis Wheatley Heritage Center, 2711 Locust Avenue. For tickets contact 314-6967593. Tickets can be purchase at Progressive Emporian Educational Center 1108 N. Sarah St. Louis, MO 63113 or Worldwide International Foods & African Market 8430 Olive Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63132.

Fri., Apr. 28, 6 p.m., The Kids in the Middle Broadcasting Live! Gala 2018. Auctions, entertainment, and raise funds for families experiencing divorce. River City Casino & Hotel, 777 River City Casino Blvd., 63125. For more information, visit www.kidsinthemiddle. org.

Sat., Apr. 28, 8 p.m., Variety Children’s Charity presents their 22nd Annual Dinner With The Stars featuring John Legend. The Peabody Opera House. For more information, For more information, visit https:// varietystl.org/charity-events-st-

louis/dinner-with-the-stars.

Sat., Apr. 28, 8 p.m., 8th Annual St. Louis Teen Talent Competition. The Fabulous Fox Theatre, 527 North Grand Blvd., 63103. For more information, visit www. fabulousfox.com.

Sat., Apr. 29, 8 a.m., Annie Malone’s Kids on the Run Against Child Abuse & Neglect. 5K Run/Walk, vendors, children’s activities, raffles, and more. Forest Park (Upper Muny Parking Lot), 63112. For more information, visit www.anniemalone.com.

Sat., May 5, 7:30 p.m., The 2 nd Annual St. louis Open Black Rodeo. Chaifetz Arena, 1 S. Compton Ave., 63103. For more information, visit www. ticketmaster.com.

Thur., May 10, 6 p.m., Disney Junior Dance Party on Tour. Peabody Opera House, 1400 Market St., 63103. For more information, visit www.ticketmaster.com.

Thur., Apr. 19, 7 p.m., Left Bank Books hosts author Jewell Parker Rhodes, author of Ghost Boys. Jerome is shot by an officer who mistakes his toy gun for a real threat. As a ghost, he observes the devastation that’s been unleashed on his family and community. 399 N. Euclid Ave., 63108.

Sat Apr. 21, 4 p.m., The Emerging Artists Showcase. An open mic showcase for Normandy Senior High School’s graduating Poetry and Drama Club members and other artists. Legacy Books, 5249 Delmar Blvd., 63106. For more information, call (314) 261-6365.

Wed., Apr. 26, 7 p.m., Left Bank Books hosts author Richard Rothstein, author of The Color of Law: A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America. Julia Davis Branch, St. Louis Public Library, 4415 Natural Bridge Ave., 63115. Mon., Apr. 30, 7 p.m., National Poetry Month Reading: Aaron Coleman & Eileen G’Sell. Coleman is the author of Threat Come Close, and G’Sell is the author of Life After Rugby. 399 N. Euclid Ave., 63108.

Wed., May 2, 7 p.m., One

Vaughn recommends

An Evening with Audra McDonald: Songs from the American Music Theater. See CONCERTS for details.

Book, One Kirkwood: Stephanie Powell Watts – No

One is Coming to Save Us

JJ Ferguson’s return home to North Carolina forces a town to consider what more they want and deserve from life. Nipher Middle School North Gymnasium, 700 S. Kirkwood Rd., 63122.

Wed., May 2, 7:30 p.m., St. Louis Storytelling Festival Opening Concert. Join us for a night of music, stories, art, and fun. .Zack, 3224 Locust St., 63103. For more information, visit www. metrotix.com.

Mon., May 7, 7 p.m., Maryville Women & Leadership hosts author Areva Martin, author of Make It Rain. Learn the power of media appearances to revolutionize a business. Maryville University Auditorium, 650 Maryville University Dr., 63141. For more information, visit www. left-bank.com.

comedy

Apr. 19 – 22, Funny Bone presents Jordan Rock 614 W. Port Plaza Dr., 63146.

Sat., Apr. 21, 7 p.m., Open Mic and R.J.A.L.R. present Life and Laugh Comedy Show. Feat. Andre Helm, Reneice P., Poet Lightning, Princeton Dew, and Jaylee Thomas. Legacy Books and Café, 5239 Delmar Blvd., 63108. For more information, call (314) 337-4830.

Thur., Apr. 27, 8 p.m., University of Missouri

St. Louis Program Board presents Leslie Jones with Lenny Marcus. Touhill Performing Arts Center, 1 University Blvd., 63121. For more information, visit www. touhill.org.

Thurs., May 3, The Lit AF Tour starring Martin Lawrence and featuring Rickey Smiley, JB Smoove, DeRay Davis and Benji Brown. Chaifetz Arena. For more information, visit www. ticketmaster.com.

Fri., May 11, 7:30 & 10

p.m., Peabody Opera House presents Trevor Noah: Afraid of the Dark Tour 1400 Market St., 63103. For more information, visit www. ticketmaster.com.

theatre

Sat., Apr. 21, 3 p.m., Gitana Productions will present We the People of the Planet at the

St. Louis Earth Day Festival The performance will be held on the grounds of the Muny in Forest Park at the St. Louis Earth Day Festival’s Peace Garden. For more information, visit www.gitana-inc.org or contact Gitana Productions at (314) 721-6556.

Sat., Apr. 28, 6 p.m., Will Ray Productions presents Gossip! The Jewel Event Center, 407 Dunn Rd., 63031. For more information, visit www.metrotix.com.

Sun., Apr. 29, 1 p.m., Radio Arts Foundation presents Careers in the Arts: Theater A discussion on a career in theater with Mike Isaacson, Artistic Director and Executive Producer of the Muny. Centene Auditorium, 7700 Forsyth Blvd., 63105. For more information, visit www.rafstl. org.

Through Apr. 29, The Black Rep presents Torn Asunder. True stories of newly emancipated African Americans trying to overcome the vestiges of chattel slavery to reconnect with their families. Edison Theatre, 6445 Forsyth Blvd., 63105. For more information, visit www. theblackrep.org.

Through Apr. 21, Sheldon Concert Hall and Art Galleries presents School Focus: Cardinal Ritter College Prep Student Exhibit. 3648 Washington Blvd., 63108. For more information, visit www.thesheldon.org/ upcomingexhibits.

Thur., Apr. 26, 5 p.m., Seeing Other People Exhibition Opening. The exhibit considers the rhetoric of the constructed self as it is shaped by the act of gazing or being gazed upon. projects+gallery, 4733 McPherson Ave., 63108. For more information, visit www. projects-gallery.com.

Through June 24, From Caricature to Celebration: A Brief History of AfricanAmerican Dolls. Field House Museum, 634 S. Broadway, 63102. For more information, visit www.fieldhousemuseum. org.

lectures and workshops

Sat., Apr. 21, 10 a.m., Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.,

St. Louis Alumnae Chapter presents Career Readiness Extravaganza. William J. Harrison Educational Center, 3140 Cass Ave., 63106. For more information, visit www. dst-sla.org.

Tues., Apr. 24, 6 p.m., Places for People invites you to Raise Your Voice A discussion about mental health and substance use in our community. Venture Cafe at CIC, 4240 Duncan Ave., 63110. For more information, visit www.placesforpeople.org.

Wednesdays, 7 p.m., Through Apr. 25, The Missouri Bar Association invites you to the Spring 2018 Mini Law School for the Public. Six-week series covering various legal topics. St. Louis County Council Campus, 41 S. Central, 63105. For more information, call (866) 366-0270 or visit www. missourilawyershelp.org/minilaw-school.

Sun., Apr. 29, 11 a.m., Shades of Beauty Bridal Workshop Series. The Dollhouse Studios, 1428 Washington Ave., 63103. For more information, visit www. shadesofbeauty.eventcreate. com.

Sundays, Through Dec. 30,

2 p.m., Center for Divine Love Church presents Finally Understand Race in America. A portrayal of the African-American experience. Discussion will follow. 3617 Wyoming St., 63116. For more information, visit www. facebook.com.

health

Sat., Apr. 21, 10 a.m., Alzheimer’s Association Caregiver Support Group, Friendly Temple Missionary Baptist Church Campus Friendly Village, 5545 Wells Ave., 63112. For more information, call 314-4395799

Fri., Apr. 27, 11 a.m.,

The St. Louis American Foundation’s 18th Annual Salute to Excellence in Health Care Awards Luncheon, Frontenac Hilton. To order tickets, call 314-5338000 or visit www.stlamerican. com

Sat., Apr. 28, 12 p.m., Get Sexy Movement presents Cardio for Cancer Join us for classes, vendors, and to raise money for local charities supporting the fight against breast cancer. Cuetopia II Billiards & Bar, 11824 W. Florissant Ave., 63033. For more information, visit www. eventbrite.com.

Sat., Apr. 28, 1 p.m., Union Memorial United Methodist Church invites you to Put the Brakes on Bullying

and Young Adult Suicide 1141 Belt Ave., 63112. For more information, call (314) 367-8314 or visit www. unionmemorialstl.org.

Sat., May 5, 9 a.m., St. Louis HELP Home Health Equipment Donation Drive Receive a tax deduction voucher for every item you donate, and help provide free loans of home health equipment. For more information or a list of donation sites, call (314) 5674700 or visit www.stlhelp.org.

Sat., May 5, 9:30 a.m., Gateway Hemophilia Association presents Unite for Bleeding Disorders Walk/5K Forest Park - Lower Muny Lot, 1 Theatre Dr., 63112. For more information, visit www. uniteforbleedingdisorders.org.

May 19, 10 a.m., Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis Guild Annual Health Fair, O’Fallon Rec Plex, 4343 West Florissant.

Wednesdays through June 6, Health & Wellness Series: Boot Camp. Enjoy an upbeat, sweat-inducing, and fun boot camp led by Heath Norton, Owner of TITLE Boxing Club-Rock Hill. Kiener Plaza, 500 Chestnut St., 63101. For more information, visit www. archpark.org.

Sun., Apr. 29, 10 a.m., Chancel Choir 40th Anniversary Reunion Service. Special guest Dr. Leo Davis of Mississippi Boulevard Christian Church. New Sunny Mount Missionary Baptist Church, 4700 W. Florissant, 63115. For more information, call (314) 389-4510.

Sat., May 5, 7 p.m., Festival of Praise Tour presents Texture of a Man feat. Fred Hammond, Hezekiah Walker, and Donnie McClurkin Peabody Opera House, 1400 Market St., 63103. For more information, visit www. ticketmaster.com.

Kenya Vaughn recommends

The Black Rep presents Torn Asunder. For more information, see THEATRE.

CD “Get Lifted” in 2004.

A critical and commercial smash fueled by the mainstream crossover hit ballad “Ordinary People,” his first album earned Legend four Grammy Awards. When he hit the Fox stage with his name atop the marquee for the first time nearly a decade ago, he already had six Grammys and two follow up hit records under his belt. Since then Legend has grown into a certified superstar who has forayed into film, television and stage as a producer. He has earned 10 Grammy Awards, an Academy Award and a Golden Globe. A favorite live performer of local music lovers since his first visit to St. Louis – as an opening act for Alicia Keys at the Fox back in 2005 – Legend will make his Peabody Opera House debut next week as the headliner for the legendary benefit gala Variety’s Dinner with the Stars. For more than five decades, Variety’s Dinner with the Stars has been a major fundraising effort for the charity that empowers children with physical and developmental disabilities – and improves their quality of life. For the seventh time, the event will be underwritten by The Steward Family Foundation, Centene Charitable Foundation and World Wide Technology, allowing all funds raised to go directly to local Variety Kids. For the 22nd year, Marylin Fox will serve as the gala’s chair. The evening will be hosted by St. Louis’ own Joe Torry, a comedian, actor, and movie producer known for using his time and talents to give back to the community. The gala, taking place on Saturday, April 28 is the culminating festivity for Variety Week – which kicks off Saturday, April 21 with the Runway Lights Fashion Show. For that event, Union Station will be transformed into a New York-style runway. Custom

dresses and a vest by Ralph Lauren designers made for Variety Kids – who will model them while using their Ameren Power Wheelchairs – will be among the featured designs. For the gala, Legend is the latest among a long line of A-list names that include Carlos Santana, Sammy Davis, Jr., Diana Ross, Toni Braxton, Natalie Cole, Ray Charles and Lionel Richie.

In recent years, Legend branched out to earn praise for his work as a producer – including the Academy Award-winning film “La La Land,” the television drama “Underground” and the critically acclaimed OffBroadway presentation of “Turn Me Loose,” a one-man show starring Joe Morton based on the life of comedy legend, activist and beloved St. Louis son Dick Gregory. Yet, Legend has always

kept his music a top priority, particularly providing spellbinding live music experiences. In the nearly 15 years since he has been bringing his live performances to St. Louis, he is yet to disappoint. His most recent visit to St. Louis, last year’s “Darkness and Light Tour,” was among the best concerts of 2017.

“I always want audiences to connect to the show, the music, to me as an artist and to feel my passion,” Legend said.

Variety’s Dinner with the Stars with special guest John Legend will take place at 8 p.m. (reception and dinner begin at 6 p.m. for VIP ticketholders.). STL’s own Joe Torry will host this year’s gala. For more information, and to reserve tables or tickets visit varietystl.org/dinner-withthe-stars.

COMEDY

Continued from C1

and headliner Kev On Stage weren’t far behind. Baker took the crowd through the hidden funny that comes common occurrences, such as airplane travel and eating cereal.

“Is it petty of me that if I get the window seat, I feel like you don’t have the right to look out of my window?” Baker asked the crowd. He also talked about the “pettiness” of fellow passengers who don’t wake him up when the snack cart comes his way.

Headliner Kev On Stage proved that he’s more than simply a social media sensation by having a well-polished and natural routine that poked fun at everything from his religious, impoverished upbringing to his relationship with his wife.

“We don’t have problems like ‘oh, I’m gonna cheat on you,’ because I don’t have an ‘I’m gonna cheat on you kind of body,’” Kev said. “I have the kind of body that if I’m with another woman and I take my clothes off, she will tell me to go back to my wife. She’ll say, ‘You wife clearly loves you. You don’t want to mess that up because of me.’”

He then jumped into the

VISIONARY

Continued from C1

“I wanted to create a platform that would encourage civic engagement across all walks of life,” Carroll said in an interview with SparkAction. org. “We are trying to see how we can transform our city while building social and civic changemakers.”

In a TedxHerdon talk she delivered in Herndon, Virginia, Carroll talked about how reimagining the concept of design in the fight for equity and against racism.

crowd pretending to be a fiery pastor who turned popular Disney films into sermons.

“The hyenas aren’t trying to kill you for who you are, Simba, they are trying to kill you because they know who you are destined to be,” Kev maneuvered through the church poking fun as a person of faith who pretends to have the gift of

“If design is shaping our culture and our world and has been doing it for centuries, then why are we not inviting designers to the table to address these social issues that are imbedded in our culture?” Carroll said. “Systems of oppression, injustices and inequity are designed. Many people may not look at it that way, but it’s a designed decision. These are not individual decisions – they are system designs.”

In that talk, Carroll also spoke of the often-undervalued transformative power and influence that the artistic community brings to the table when it comes to “designing a better world.”

“You are experts on creative problem solving, on human connection and connecting us with our souls,” Carroll said of artists.

At a 2014 TedxGatewayArch presentation, Gormon spoke to Carroll’s idea with a presentation and poem entitled “Who Moved My Memories.”

The poem addressed her first-hand experience with urban decay. Following the piece, Gormon, who recently released her book of poetry

prophecy and healing.

“Take your glasses off,” Kev instructed an unsuspecting audience member. “Things are blurry in your life right now,” Kev said after the audience member complied. He then commanded the audience member to return the glasses to his face.

“You can see clearly now!”

“In The Midst of Loving,” expounded upon the range of emotions that came with returning to her old College Hill neighborhood in North St. Louis and finding it in shambles.

“I am a firm believer that respect for all people in this city, along with their histories and memories, has the ability to curve population sprawl, re-instill pride in those who have been maligned and may end up being the most costeffective PR decision ever,” Gormon said.

“Ultimately, we must ask ourselves in this city, ‘Are we courageous enough to see each other’s histories and memories as valuable, valid and worthy of preserving?’ If not, then what is our payoff – and is it worth it?”

The 2018 Saint Louis Visionary Awards Ceremony will take place 6 p.m. Monday, April 23, 2018 at the Sun Theater in Grand Center, 3625 Grandel Square. Susan Sherman and Marcela Manjarrez-Hawn will serve as the evening’s co-hosts. For additional information about the Saint Louis Visionary Awards and ticket information, visit www.vizawards.org.

Photo by Lawrence Bryant.

John Legend

Photos by Vincent Lang

East St. Louis native Tahir Moore was among the hilarious crop of funnymen who brought the house down at Bishop Antwain Jackson’s Equation Church Saturday night.

Jordan Chambers identified as source for character in Benton mural

Art historian James Bogan solves ‘art historical cold case file’ mystery

American staff

Art historian James Bogan believes he has solved a mystery – the identity of a pivotal African American figure in Thomas Hart Benton’s 1936 mural in the Missouri State Capitol.

Benton’s A Social History of the State of Missouri adorns the walls of the Missouri House of Representatives Lounge in Jefferson City. One man, leaning on a tree and listening to a political speech, was the subject of an important story in Benton’s memoir on the mural’s creation, but he has remained anonymous until now.

“In 1992, we released Tom Benton’s Missouri, a documentary about the mural, and the identity of the mystery man defied our research at the time,” said Bogan, Curators’

Distinguished Teaching Professor emeritus of art history and film at Missouri University of Science and Technology. “When I retired a few years ago, I returned to what amounted to an art historical cold case file on a missing person.”

Benton’s memoir tells a story of former Missouri Gov. Guy Park calling the artist into

SLPS students visit HBCUs

People’s Community Action Corporation leads tour

American staff

People’s Community Action Corporation recently took 30 students from Vashon High School and 12 students from Central Visual and Performing Arts High School on a threeday tour of Historical Black Colleges and Universities, including Tennessee State University, Spelman College, Morehouse College, Morris Brown College and Clark Atlanta University. “This tour offered students an opportunity to leave the St. Louis metropolitan area, visit and interact with collegeminded students in a college setting, develop and maintain goals for their life’s plan

his office and telling him that a St. Louis politician he called the “most important black voter ‘getouter’ in the town” objected to Benton’s portrayal of black people, especially the graphic images depicting slavery.

Benton did not want to erase that piece of Missouri history from the painting. Instead, he showed the politician the mural and explained how he would

after graduation,” said David Swingler, youth director at People’s Community Action Corporation, who led the tour.

“The students came back energized and ready to focus. Several of the sophomores and juniors attending applied to several of the schools we visited. Other students began discussion of things they needed to do, including better ACT test preparation, improving of grades and deciding on a college choice.”

Swingler said these St. Louis Public Schools students benefited from the experiences and encouragement. For more information on College Tour, contact David Swingler at 314-305-9290.

show the progress of black people in Missouri, overcoming misfortune and rising to political importance. Benton invited him to be the model for a figure, leaning on a tree at a distance. Benton said the man agreed, and the rest of the mural remained unchanged.

Bogan spent the last couple of years combing through historical photos and archives

A detail from Thomas Hart Benton’s mural A Social History of the State of Missouri featuring a character newly identified as having been painted from Jordan Chambers (1895-1962), a black political powerbroker from St. Louis.

to solve the mystery of the man’s identity. An obituary of Jordan Chambers (1895-1962) fit the profile of Benton’s description of the man.

“The obituary calls him the ‘Negro mayor of St. Louis,’ and candidates at all levels of government wanted his support,” Bogan said. “Also, he was noted for wearing a ‘signature’ white Stetson hat, just like the fellow in the mural.”

The man was arguably as politically important as Kansas City political boss Tom Pendergast.

“This man was described as

the boss Pendergast of the time in St. Louis,” said Bob Priddy, president of the State Historical Society of Missouri. “His inclusion in the mural shows he’s working across the state in powerful social and political arenas. The figure is a critical component. It helps us better understand black history in the backdrop of Missouri politics of the time.”

Both Priddy and Benton expert Henry Adams of Case Western Reserve University believe the circumstantial evidence around Bogan’s discovery is strong.

“The inclusion of Jordan Chambers was inadvertently prophetic for Missouri political history in that it was Chambers who delivered the critical vote for Harry Truman for Democratic nomination to the Senate in the 1940,” Bogan said. “Benton did indeed paint the future into his historical mural.”

Download of Bogan’s documentary Tom Benton’s Missouri at http://extension. missouri.edu/tombenton/ mr-chambers.aspx.

The gift of music

SIUE East St. Louis Arts Program student thrives in music thanks to piano donation

By Patricia Merritt Of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville

Sometimes when Ester McNeil wakes up, she can hear her son’s measured notes coming from the living room on a piano identified, donated and delivered by Southern Illinois University Edwardsville staff and students.

“I was surprised to learn that we were getting a piano, and I was excited for him,” said Cahokia native Ester McNeil regarding her 14-year-old son Camaron Johnson, a piano student in the SIUE East St. Louis After School Performing Arts Program. “I was grateful to receive such a nice gift for him.”

When Mary Jo Pembrook, PhD, Performing Arts Program piano teacher, learned that an SIUE employee wanted to donate a piano, student Camaron Johnson immediately came to mind.

“Camaron is a serious music student,” Pembrook said. He took to the piano right away when he joined the SIUE East St. Louis Center Performing Arts Camp last summer – and has been practicing ever since.

“I can play the drums, but I started playing the piano because I wanted to try something new,” said Camaron Johnson, a seventh-grader at Estelle School of Choice in Cahokia.

Carol Dappert, graphic designer in University Marketing and Communications, and her wife, Mary Christine McMahon, donated their Baldwin Acrosonic piano from the 1940s to make more room in their home.

Members of the SIUE Wrestling team moved the piano to McNeil’s house in December 2017 in a moving truck and trailer provided by SIUE wrestling team alumnus Alan Grammer.

Providing the muscle for the move were SIUE Wrestling Coach Jeremy Spates, coach Eric Grajales and wrestlers Jacob Blaha, Tyshawn Williams and Christian Dulaney.

“It was a great SIUE effort to help one of our students,” said Pembrook. “I am delighted that Carol and Mary were eager to donate to a worthy student, and that the wrestlers were willing to help.”

The SIUE East St. Louis Center for the Performing Arts has a rich history. Legendary dancer, anthropologist, and social activist Katherine Dunham founded the Center for Performing Arts at the SIUE East St. Louis Center in 1967.

“The SIUE East St. Louis Center’s Performing Arts program has a decades-long legacy of

Photo by SIUE

Ester McNeil, of Cahokia, and her son, SIUE East St. Louis After School Performing Arts Program participant Camaron Johnson, are thankful for the piano that was gifted to them by SIUE employee Carol Dappert and her wife, Mary Christine McMahon.

providing transformational education experiences in music and dance,” said SIUE East St. Louis Center Executive Director Jesse Dixon. “When the SIUE community comes together for students in the Metro East – as it has in this case - there is no limit to the opportunities we can create for our youth.”

Johnson and his classmates are gearing up for their spring recital next Wednesday.

“I’d say he is still a beginner, but Mary Jo thinks he’s extremely talented,” McNeil said of her son. “He picks up notes fast. Besides sometimes in the mornings, I can hear Camaron playing in the evenings, He plays the new songs he’s learned, and the old ones, too. He enjoys it.”

He enjoys it so much that he’s factoring the instrument into his future.

“I think I might want to make playing the piano a career. I’m playing a solo, ‘Toccatina’ for our spring show.”

The SIUE East St. Louis After School Performing Arts Program will present its recital at 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 25 in Dunham Hall. Students will perform on the piano, guitar and chimes. They will also perform West African drumming and dance, jazz, ballet and the Dunham technique. The recital is free and open to the public.

Saying goodbye to ‘#1 in Civil Rights’

By Jody Sowell For The St. Louis American

Saying goodbye to an exhibit is always tough,

especially when that exhibit is one of the most important we’ve ever created. #1 in Civil Rights:

The African American Freedom Struggle in St. Louis closed on April 15. Here’s what I’m personally going to miss most.

Hearing songs and chants from the Civil Rights Movement as I walk through the Missouri History Museum’s Grand Hall: To help bring our local civil rights history to life, we partnered with actors who portrayed area activists and led our visitors in songs that were sung during protests. Listening to our visitors sing these songs was a clear indication that we had succeeded in creating a deeper experience than your average exhibit.

Seeing crowds of all races, ages, and backgrounds exploring race and the racial divide, one of the defining issues of American history: We began planning #1 in Civil Rights before events in Ferguson gained international attention. After those events happened, some worried that our community was so on edge that visitors wouldn’t be receptive to an exhibit about civil rights. Those concerns were unfounded. More than 260,000 people experienced #1 in Civil Rights, making it the fourth most visited exhibit in our 151-year history. These numbers prove that people in the St. Louis region are eager to discuss and debate the past, present, and future of race relations.

Whenever I walk through the gallery, I get a glimpse of numerous people who inspire me.

I see a video of Jessie McMillan, who was involved in downtown lunch counter sit-ins in 1944 and was part of a group of women who stood up for their rights by sitting down.

I see an image of Lucy Ann Delaney, a woman who endured 14 years of slavery and 17 months locked in a jail cell before a judge ruled that she was a free woman, and I am in awe of what some people can bear and how they emerge with a gracious and hopeful spirit.

n More than 260,000 people experienced #1 in Civil Rights, making it the fourth most visited exhibit in our 151year history.

Hearing visitors’ heartfelt and grateful comments: Some people have come up to staff to thank them for creating this exhibit, whereas others have left notes in the gallery or on social media. I was particularly moved by this note from a local educator: “As a history teacher, I’m sad I wasn’t taught about St. Louis’ civil rights history. I’m excited because I will be able to educate my students on the history of the city in which they live.” This teacher’s statement was a reminder of the power of public history not just to educate and engage within galleries but also to plant seeds of interest that continue to blossom long after an exhibit closes.

Seeing so many inspirational people so often:

I see a painting of Charlton Tandy, an activist who jumped into St. Louis streets to grab the reins of horses pulling trolleys driven by men who didn’t want to pick up African-American passengers, and I’m moved by how far some people will go to fight for justice and equality. What I’m not going to miss is St. Louis’ civil rights story, because we’re not going to quit telling it. Although #1 in Civil Rights has closed, our efforts to share this history won’t be coming to an end. Graphics from the exhibit will be moved to a variety of cultural and civic organizations, where they’ll be displayed for years to come. We’ve also partnered with a St. Louis public school to show pieces of the exhibit and help them create a civil rights exhibit of their own. And we have a full slate of programs that will continue the discussion regarding the role race has played in our collective history.

#1 in Civil Rights was inspired by a 1964 article published in this very paper. In that article, Judge Nathan B. Young, one of The St. Louis American’s founders, made the case that St. Louis was the most important city in this country’s civil rights history. “If the long history of Civil Rights had to be confined to a single city, St. Louis would be it,” he wrote. We never made the claim that St. Louis was the most important city in civil rights history, but we have argued that its history was too important, too fascinating, and too complex for us to forget. We’ll miss the exhibit, but we look forward to continuing the story in new ways so that this important history no longer goes overlooked.

Jody Sowell is director of Exhibitions and Research at the Missouri History Museum.

Celebrations

Prom Perfection

Reunions

Beaumont Alumni Class of 1968 50th Class Reunion will be held June 8-10, 2018. Our 2018 meetings in preparation will be held at STL County library located 7606 Natural Bridge at 1:00 p.m. Dates are (Saturdays) February 17, March 17, April 21, May 19 and June 2. For more information call (314) 8698312 or email bhsco1968@att. net. Pass the word and let’s celebrate!

Beaumont High Class of 1973 will celebrate its 45th reunion, Aug-10-12, 2018! Banquet is Aug. 10 at Orlando’s, 2050 Dorsett Village Plaza, picnic at January Wabash Park. $100 per person includes entire weekend. Deadline is June 15! To register, contact Dr. Liz Franklin at mychoice2succeed@yahoo. com or (636)293-9553. Also checkout BHS Class of 73 Facebook page.

Beaumont High Class of 1978 will celebrate its 40-year reunion in 2018. For further information, please contact: Marietta Shegog Shelby, 314-799-5296, madeshe@ sbcglobal.net.

Homer G. Phillips and St. Louis Municipal School of Nursing is planning an all class reunion in June 2018. Please send your name,

address and telephone number to: Homer G. Phillips Nurses Alumni, Inc., P.O. Box 8033 St. Louis, Missouri 63156.

McKinley High School Class of 1978 40th Class Reunion will take place July 27-29, 2018 at the Embassy SuitesAirport Hotel in St. Louis, Missouri. Classmates from all McKinley H.S. classes are invited. Registration is required. To register, contact Barbara Lindsey, Barbara_ Lindsey@icloud.com or Marvin Woods, mwoods@ projectcontrolsgroup.com or (314) 647-0707.

Northwest High School Class of 1978 is planning its 40 year reunion for next year. PLEASE reach out to our classmates, tell them get ready for this. If you have any questions please contact Sly at (314) 397-0311 or email us at

New Kappa Man

Congratulations to Jeremy Strong for becoming a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc., Alpha Theta Chapter at Tennessee State University on March 31. Jeremy is a junior and Health Science Major and maintains a 3.7 GPA! Shoutout to him for his consistent achievement! His proud parents are Ronald and Ericka Strong.

northwestbluedevils@78gmail. com. Check us out on Facebook Northwest High School-Class of 1978.

Northwest Class of 1979 is planning on cruising for our 40th class reunion and would love for you to join us. Date to sail is July 20, 2019. Contact Duane Daniels at 314-568-2057 or Howard Day at 414-698-4261 for further information. Please don’t miss the boat!

Soldan Class of 1978 will sponsor a “40 and Still Triple Threatening” basketball tournament. Contact Janice A. Tompkins 314-322-6406 if interested in participating.

Sumner High School Class of 1973 will have its 45th year class reunion the weekend of June 22-June 24, 2018. More info to follow outlining the

details. If you did not receive a newsletter in January, please contact Marsha JosephWilliams (314-606-8701) or Dorris Simmons-McGhaw (314-541-2462) or you can inbox Sid S. Shurn or Dorris on Facebook.

St. Louis American Celebrations c/o Kate Daniel 2315 Pine St. St. Louis, MO 63103 FREE OF CHARGE

Do you have a celebration you’re proud of? If so we would like to share your good news with our readers. Whether it’s a birth, wedding, engagement announcement, anniversary, retirement or birthday, send your photos and a brief announcement (50 words or less) to us and we may include it in our paper and website – AT NO COST – as space is available Photos will not be returned. Send your announcements to: kdaniel@stlamerican. com or mail to:

Sumner Alumni Association will host its 10th Scholarship Awards Luncheon & Fashion Show on June 9, 2018, Noon—4pm. The cost is $50 to attend and it comes with a cash bar, free parking, attendance prizes and more. For more info, contact B. Louis at 314-385-9843 or email: sumneralumniassn@yahoo. com.

University City Class of 1978 will hold its 40th reunion May 25-27, 2018. For more information please email ucityhs1978@gmail.com.

Reunion notices are free of charge and based on space availability. We prefer that notices be emailed to us! However, notices may also be sent by mail to:

Kate Daniel, 2315 Pine St., St. Louis, MO 63103

Deadline is 10 a.m. on Friday. If you’d like your class to be featured in a reunion profile, email or mail photos to us. Our email address is: reunions@ stlamerican.com

Happy 2nd Birthday to Amari Sean Brooks on April 19! We love you! From: Sean, Tisha, Wanda, Lee

Trinity Rives Jessyka Bailey

Trinity Rives and Jessyka Bailey, Soldan International Studies High School students and St. Louis American editorial interns, show off their prom dresses.

Kevin Hart’s hard no on the cell phones. I already knew that it was going to be a serious matter when it came to that cell phone ban when Kevin Hart brought his “Irresponsible Tour” to Scottrade Center Friday night. I heard it repeated by a host of employees at least six times between the doors to get in and my seat. And if that wasn’t enough, he even reminded people before Kevin Hart took the stage that if they pulled out their phones, they would be shown the door – just like the people that they saw get escorted out. It wasn’t enough. Ushers had a glowstick that they would spin around right in front of the cell phone offender. Once they did, the yellow coats would come through and walk them out. I lost count. I couldn’t keep up with the ousted and the openers at the same time. Joey Wells of Hart’s Plastic Cup Boyz served as the host for the evening. He was pretty funny. That Naim Lynn had me hollering. I would say that that he was “best in show.” But what ended up being a non-stop night of laughter for me was thanks to a group effort – and that group was the folks trying to talk their way of being shown the door by security. My favorite was the woman in 105 who tried to tell the usher that she had her phone out so she could find her seat. The usher was not having it. “Ma’am, you were in your seat when you pulled out your phone.” When she said she wanted to make sure she was in the right seat – AFTER sitting through all three opening acts – I was deceased. Kevin Hart was cool, but my messy side was hoping for more tea about why the show was called the “Irresponsible Tour.” I get that he was being mindful to protect his relationship, but he shouldn’t have acted like he was going to give us some scoop. One more thing on the cell phones, were folks this defiant when the cigarette ban was first enacted? To quote the late great Dr. Maya Angelou, “when someone shows you they will put you out with no refund, believe them the first time!”

The rain didn’t stop the Hush. Niddy brought is nomadic set to Dos Salas for the unofficial Kevin Hart afterparty. I know plenty of folks who were holding out until the lights came on hoping for a glimpse of Hart up close and personal, because Niddy has brought him through his sets on more than one occasion. Listen, he’s still trying to get his house in order – so don’t expect him in the club anytime soon. But even before that, there’s a sure-fire way to tell if Kev will be in the building at an after party. If you go to his website or social media and he has one of his health events the next morning, he will not be kicking it in the club for anybody’s afterparty. But this post is about Niddy, so let’s get to it. As usual, the stunners were deep up in Hush. Tae, girl, you were slaying with that risqué freakum dress! Mario from DELUX was getting it in on the dance floor in his hot red Louis Vitton ensemble with his shirt unbuttoned to the navel. I liked that Erik Killmonger-inspired hair game on you too. Great clean funny from the social media comedians. If it wasn’t obvious, I didn’t get my life from Kevin Hart. He was cool, but it just didn’t feel fresh to me. But I got laughter more abundantly Saturday night at the Equation Church when the “Real Comedians of Social Media” had the folks hollering. I was blown away by East St. Louis’ own Tahir Moore. He has come a long way since the first time I saw him do stand up at the late, great Lola. He’s been doing some big things since he moved to L.A. and hosting this tour was one of them. When he started talking about his struggle with slimming down, I was like “get out of my head!” And I thought the church’s health unit ministry was going to have to fan me and give me a sip of water when he revealed his “tramp stamp” and started talking about the problems it has caused him over the years.

Tony Baker was funnier in real life than he is on those animal videos, y’all, like when he said, “a portion of the proceeds of this show will benefit the United Negro College Fund…and those negroes are my two sons.” His impression of that ashy voiced theme song singer from the 1990s almost took me to the upper room! Kev On Stage let the folks know that he is not the run-of-the-mill internet sensation that can get a kee-kee from videos, but who can’t tell a joke in the flesh to save his or her life. Him saying that he was so poor growing up, that the chicken grease was older than him had me in tears. Let’s just say I can relate to being six years old with some nine-year-old grease on the stove. That show was everything – and there was not a cussword or sex story in sight.

Happy anniversary to the Laugh Lounge. Since this is clearly a comedy special Partyline, I might as well give a shout out to my boy Jessie Taylor. He celebrated the one-year anniversary of the Laugh Lounge this past weekend with special guest Michael Colyar. I’m wishing him continued success with his black-owned comedy club!

A somewhat solid ‘Set it Off.’ I would be lying if I said I wasn’t surprised that for the most part, I enjoyed JeCaryous Johnson’s stage adaptation of “Set It Off.” No shade to him, I’m just still traumatized from that alleged “Love Jones The Musical.” But this was not that. Except for some modifications to the script so that it plays well to the taste of the urban stage drama audience, it was the movie played on stage. Now I’m hoping that some of the profits will go to building a set that is not made from cardboard. Who am I kidding? They won’t, but I enjoyed it for what it was. I’ll say this, the casting was nearly perfect. Aunty Viv would be proud if she checked out LeToya Luckett’s interpretation of Frankie for sure. Latifah would tell Da Brat to dial it back a bit – but Da Brat wouldn’t listen. Jada would tell Kyla Pratt to put some bass in her voice. And we’ll just leave Demetria out of this since this is a positive review of sorts. I had a cute time. Can somebody tell your uncle to leave that meat order-sized hunk of bologna at home the next time he decides to be a patron at

the Peabody Opera House?

Elizabeth Donielle and Tony Davis of Made Moguls hosted the charity’s 4th Annual Black-Tie Charity Dinner Sunday @ The Holiday Inn

Musicians Mike, Kelvin and Kevin of Jas’s Band Sunday @ KDHX The Stage for Jasmine Turner’s EP release

Brittany and Jo Jo arrived early and beelined to their booth @ HUSH Friday night @ Dos Salas

Background singers Destiny and Mariah celebrated with Jasmine Turner backstage before her EP release concert Sunday @ KDHX The Stage

Posh Shoe Bar owners Sherrell and D’Ann celebrated their grand opening Saturday in the Delmar Loop

Keith Johnson and Reggie-D pulled up fresh for the Made Moguls 4th Annual Black-Tie Charity Dinner Sunday @ The Holiday Inn Downtown

Keke and Shay reminded us that Fridays kick off the fun when we caught up with them @ The Marquee

Stacey and Sharita on the dance floor just before the HUSH party filled Dos Salas Friday night

DoughboyTyke was on deck once again as Lil Durk rolled through the Lou and packed out The Marquee Friday night

Kev on Stage (his wife Melissa is also pictured), Tony Baker, Cris Sosa and East St. Louis native Tahir Moore, better known as the Real Comedians of Social Media were greeted by a sold-out crowd when their tour stopped at Equation Church Saturday night. The crew of funnymen had the crowd rolling the entire show with their unique brand of clean comedy.

Photos by V. Lang

Rekha and Azariah chatted about all things art after the Lyrical Therapy squad wrapped up their weekly show @ UrbArts Sunday

THE MUNY ANNOUNCES Auditions

for Bass (acoustic/electric)

The Muny will hold auditions for a bass position on May 4, 2018 at 11am (acoustic/electric bass). A bass amp will be provided. If you are hired by The Muny you must be/or become a member in good standing of M.A.S.L. Local 2-197.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS • Professional experience in Musical

•

• Ability to work as part of a team • Ability to play fretless electric bass when called for in a book

Audition repertoire will be furnished via e-mail after receipt of your audition request. Applicants will need to bring both acoustic and electric bass. An amp will be provided, please bring your own cord. Sight reading excerpts will be provided at the audition.

To schedule an audition time or other questions, please contact James Prifti via e-mail by April 20, 2018. jprifti@muny.org

The Muny Orchestra is covered by a collective bargaining agreement with the Musicians’ Association of St. Louis Local 2-197, AFM. The Muny is an equal opportunity employer.

POLICE OFFICER-

LATERAL ENTRY

City of Alton, IL

Must have been a full-time Police Officer

See website for further requirements and link to online application www.cityofaltonil.com/ careers

Deadline for applications: May 4, 2018

(PT) Arts organization of 20 yrs. seeks person with mastery of Quickbooks. Will consider MBA student or retiree that wants to enjoy life. Call 314-440-3855

Responsible for assisting Claims Department personnel with medical related issues on their claims. To apply, please visit: www.safetynational.com and click on the Careers tab.

Responsible for handling assigned claims from initial assignment to closure as well

The Brentwood School District seeks to hire the following positions

FT Night Custodian-2:30pm-11pm Mon-Fri and as needed

• Custodial experience required. School Custodian experience preferred.

FT Day Maintenance Worker/Back up

Custodian-9am-5:30pm Mon-Fri and as needed

• High school diploma or GED strongly preferred; Postsecondary trade or vocational school certificate preferred.

• Minimum 2 years verifiable experience in maintenance required.

• Must have own tools.

• Will also provide back up for our day custodians.

Terms of Employment

• 12-month, full-time position.

• Board paid medical, dental, and vision for employee.

• As a condition of employment, all new hires will be required to complete a FBI, State Highway Patrol and Children’s Division of the Department of Social Services background check.

Visit the following website for to apply: www.brentwoodmo schools.org Click on the Human Resources tab at the top of the page. Deadline is 11 p.m., Friday, April 27, 2018. Only online applications are accepted. If you have applied previously you do not need to reapply.

Please No Phone Calls. EOE.

DATA SUPPORT SPECIALIST

Data Support Specialist will collect, analyze and process information from the agency’s client management database (Penelope). S/ he will create reports depending on departmental needs. S/he will install computer hardware and software and respond to internal staff with technical support needs. Must have good interpersonal skills as well as strong computer knowledge and experience extracting data from databases. To apply: http://www.iistl.org/ jobopenings.html EEO/AA

ELIGIBILITY AND COMPLIANCE SPECIALIST

The Eligibility & Compliance Specialist is responsible for eligibility determination for MO Refugee Program services, coordinating with local implementation partners; training and technical assistance support; data collection and management; quality assurance and additional tasks as needed. Master’s degree or Bachelor’s degree with 3 years of experience required. Experience in working in refugee services preferred. Fulltime salaried position with benefits. To apply: http://www.iistl.org/jobopenings.html EOE/AA

ACCOUNTING

MANAGER OF GRANTS

The Manager of Grants Accounting will be responsible for developing and maintaining practices and procedures related to the IISTL’s Missouri Refugee Assistance Program. This position addresses tight deadlines and a multitude of grant specific and agency-related accounting activities including general ledger oversight, financial reporting, year-end audit preparation, budget preparation, and forecast activities. The MGA will work under the authority of the Director of Accounting Services and the Missouri Refugee Coordinator; the position requires strong interpersonal communication skills both written and verbal. Ensure the timely reporting of all monthly financial information as assigned. Collaborates with the other finance department managers to support overall department goals and objectives. BA/BS in Finance or Business with an emphasis in Accounting. Fulltime salaried position with benefits. To apply: http://www.iistl.org/jobopenings. html EOE/AA

Drug Analysis Technicians, Eastern District of Missouri. Generous retirement/benefits package. For additional information including how to apply, see our website at www.moep.uscourts.gov. Vacancy Announcement 2018-11. Equal Opportunity Employer.

US PROBATION RECEPTIONIST

U.S. Probation Receptionist, Eastern District of Missouri. Generous retirement/benefits package. For additional information including how to apply, see our website at www.moep.uscourts.gov. Vacancy Announcement 2018-12. Equal Opportunity Employer.

CITY OF ST PETERS, MO CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

Are you a team player? Work for an employer who values and supports teamwork for their employees. St. Peters Rec-Plex and Golf Course offer their employees competitive pay and a chance to work in a fun atmosphere.

To view current openings and to apply please visit: www.stpetersmo.net/jobs AA/EOE

The Muny Orchestra is covered by a collective bargaining agreement with the Musicians’ Association of St. Louis Local 2-197, AFM.

The Muny is an equal opportunity employer.

To apply, please visit: www.safetynational.com and click on the Careers tab.

All bidders must regard Federal Executive Order 11246, “Notice of Requirement for Affirmative Action to Ensure Equal Employment Opportunity”, the “Equal Opportunity Clause” and the “Standard Federal Equal Employment Specifications” set forth within and referenced at www. stl-bps.org (Announcements).

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL

The America’s Center is soliciting bids for painting the public restrooms at the Dome. A prebid & walkthrough meeting is scheduled for April 30th, 2018 at 10:00am. Meeting Location: 901 N. Broadway Street, St. Louis, MO 63101. Contact David Savage at 314-342-5357 with project inquiries. The America’s Center reserves the right to reject any or all proposals. EOE

NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS

Paric Corporation is seeking proposals for the following project: AC Marriot Hotel – One York. (Foundations, Core and Shell, Interior Finishes and Sitework)

The project consists of a new 94,300 sf with 191 guestrooms on 7 levels of a light gage building

A pre-bid walk-through will be held on Tuesday, April 24, 2018 at 1:30 PM. The meeting will be at 215 York Ave, St. Louis, MO 63108. Bids for this project are due on May 15, 2018 at 2:00 p.m.

This project must adhere to the current City of St. Louis Mayor’s Executive Order requiring the following enterprise participation: 25% MBE business and 5% WBE business participation.

For any questions or would like to find out more detailed information on this opportunity, please contact Evan Chiles at 636-561-9544 or emchiles@paric.com.

All bids should be delivered to Paric via e-mail (bids@paric. com) or fax (636-561-9501).

Plans and specifications will be available to view at Paric’s Main office at 77 Westport Plaza, Suite 250, St. Louis, MO 63146. MOKAN and Crossroads

PARIC CORPORATION IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS

Paric Corporation is seeking proposals for the following project: SCOTTRADE CENTER CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS: DEMOLITION ONLY FOR THE 2018 PROJECTS

Drawings will be available on April 23, 2018

A walk thru will be held on Monday April 30, 2018 at 1:30pm. We will meet at the 15th Street Entrance. Bid will be due on May 14, 2018 at 2:00pm

This project must adhere to the City of St. Louis Mayor’s Executive Order #47 requiring the following enterprise participation: 25% MBE business and 5% WBE business participation.

This project must adhere to the City of St. Louis Ordinance 69427 requiring the following Workforce participation: 25% Minority, 5% Women workforce, 15% Apprentice workforce, and 20% City Resident workforce participation.

For any questions or if you would like to find out more detailed information on this opportunity, please contact Jason Szachnieski at 636-561-9500 or JRSzachnieski@paric.com All bids should be delivered to Paric via e-mail (bids@paric. com) or fax (636-561-9501).

Plans, Renderings, and RFP’s will be available to view at Paric’s Main office at 77 Westport Plaza, Suite 250, St. Louis, MO 63146. MOKAN AND CROSSROADS

PARIC CORPORATION IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

BID REQUEST

KCI Construction requests subcontract proposals from MBE, WBE, DBE, Veteran Owned Business and SDVE businesses for the Schrenk Hall – Phase IIA Renovation, Missouri University of Science & Technology, Rolla, MO. Project #264005

Plans and specifications are available • To view electronically at no charge from: http://adsmo.net

• To view at our Camdenton office: 5505 Old South 5, Camdenton, MO 65020

• By a Dropbox Link from jmorrow@kciconstruction.com

Subcontractor bids are due by 1:00 p.m. Wednesday, May 16, 2018. You may email bids to jmorrow@kciconstruction.com or send a fax to 573-346-9739. Please call if you have any questions: 314-200-6496.

Public Notice of Single Source Procurement

Notice is hereby given that the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District is proposing to procure: Inlet Stones. The District is proposing single source procurement to Wieser Concrete Products Inc.

Any inquiries should be sent to dlegrand@stlmsd.com.

Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

SEALED BIDS

for Site Security System Upgrades, Missouri School for the Deaf, 505 East 5th Street, Fulton, Missouri , Project No. E1617-01 will be received by FMDC, State of MO, UNTIL 1:30 PM, 5/17/2018. For specific project information and ordering plans, go to: http://oa.mo. gov/ facilities

MBE/WBE/SDVBE INVITATION TO BID

K&S Associates will be accepting bids for the following projects during the month of May. Normandy Schools –Early Learning Center – May 11 Schrenk Hall Renovation –Phase IIA – Rolla MO – May 16 Plans and Specs can be viewed at www.ksgcstlplanroom.com Submit Bids to estimating@ksgcstl.com or Fax 314-647-5302 Contact Dennis Dyes @ 314-647-3535 with questions.

Advertised

LETTING #8664

RECONSTRUCTION

63103 until 1:45 PM, CT, on May 22, 2018, then publicly opened and read. Plans and Specifications may be examined on the Board of Public Service website http://www.stl-bps.org/planroom.aspx (BPS On Line Plan Room) and may be purchased directly through the BPS website from INDOX Services at cost plus shipping. No refunds will be made.

Bidders shall comply with all applicable City and State laws (including DBE/MBE/WBE policies). Mandatory pre-bid meeting will be held on Tuesday, May 1, 2018, at 10:00 A.M. in the Ozark Conference Room (AO4066) at the Airport Office Building, 11495 Navaid Rd., Bridgeton, MO 63044.

All bidders must regard Federal Executive Order 11246, “Notice of Requirement for Affirmative Action to Ensure Equal Employment Opportunity”, the Equal Opportunity Clause” and the “Standard Federal Equal Employment Specifications” set forth within and referenced at www.stl-bps.org (Virtual Plan Room).

INVITATION FOR BID

Jefferson Franklin Community Action Corporation’s

Weatherization program is soliciting sealed bids for the following in Jefferson and Franklin Counties:

1) Contracts to provide weatherization and insulation work from July 1, 2018 to June 30, 2019 with a yearly renewal option of up to two years.

2) Contracts to provide HVAC services (gas, oil and electric), water heaters, and ASHRAE compliant ventilation from July 1, 2018 to June 30, 2019 with a yearly renewal option of up to two years.

Request bid packets at P.O. Box 920, Hillsboro, MO, 63050 or (636) 789-2686, ext. 1302, or email at drose@jfcac.org or Relay Missouri Service Users 1-800-735-2966, TT/TTY or 1-800-7352466 VOICE.

Jefferson Franklin Community Action Corporation reserves the right to reject any and all bids, in whole and in part, and to waive any informality.

Funds are made possible through the Missouri Department of Economic Development/Division of Energy.

Bid Deadline: June 4, 2018 at 2:00 p.m. JFCAC is an Equal Opportunity Agency.

PUBLISHER’S NOTICE:

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

# 57818100, CAMPUS AND RESIDENCE LIFE COMMUNITY SYSTEM

Harris-Stowe State University (HSSU) is requesting sealed proposals from qualified providers for a Campus and Residence Life Community System. A copy of the RFP is available by calling (314) 340-3325, emailing: barskys@hssu.edu or faxing a written request to: (314) 340-3322.

Proposals will be received until 10:00 a.m. on Monday, May 7, 2018 and should be mailed or delivered in sealed envelopes clearly marked “Proposal for Campus and Residence Life Community System” to Harris-Stowe State University, Attn: Shelley Barsky; 3026 Laclede Ave., Room 105, St, Louis, MO 63103.

INVITATION FOR EQUIPMENT BIDS

East-West Gateway Council of Governments is seeking bids for ballistic helmets & vests, shoring equipment, rope rescue equipment, automated license plate reader cameras & radio batteries. Bids are due May 8, 2018. Funding provided by the U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security. MBEs / WBEs are encouraged to submit

reserves the right to reject any and all bids, in whole and in part, and to waive any informality. It is the policy of Normandy Schools Collaborative that no person shall, on the basis of race, ethnicity, socio-economic status, gender, age, sexual orientation, religion, or disability, be subject to discrimination in employment or activity in the District. All inquiries pertaining to this project shall be directed to: Angela Rodriguez TR,i Architects 9812 Manchester Road, St. Louis, MO 63119 angela.rodriguez@triarchitects.com (314) 395-9750 x236

Clergy challenge Congress to heed Jesus The Message One-on-one with Christ

It is not hyperbolic to describe the current state of our society as one of the most tumultuous times in our country’s history. More and more, working class and poor families are finding it harder and harder to get by: wages for the working class have stagnated, jobs are more precarious, the richest few own more wealth than ever, and healthcare is becoming an increasingly expensive luxury instead of a basic human right.

As clergy and people of faith, we feel called to serve the people struggling most, both in our congregations and beyond.

With Holy Week and Easter still on our minds, siding with those who are struggling is particularly poignant, as Christians marked the resurrection of Jesus, who sided with the poor and marginalized, and as Jews commemorated God liberating them from slavery in Egypt.

Unfortunately, we have found our political leaders to be increasingly hostile towards the concerns of the many to benefit the finances of the few.

The most recent, and one of the most egregious, examples has been the persistent attacks on access to healthcare for the most vulnerable people in our communities. After failing to directly undermine our already thin health insurance system last year, in December Congress passed one of the biggest tax breaks for rich corporations ever: $1.6 trillion over the next 10 years. President Trump made it clear how Republicans intend to make up this budget shortfall in his proposed budget: steep cuts to Medicare, Medicaid, and the Affordable Care Act, along with most other social safety net programs.

In Missouri, our access to Medicaid is already one of the lowest in the nation and our neighbors and loved ones have suffered attacks on Medicaid at the state level. These cuts

Tommie

are paid for by the stress and pain and lives of million-plus children, seniors, and people with disabilities that depend on Medicaid to survive.

These attacks on healthcare access for the most vulnerable people calls to mind a poignant passage from the Gospel, as found in Matthew 25: 31-45.

The scripture tells how when Jesus returns, he will judge both the righteous and the wicked on how they treated him in their lives. When both groups ask, “Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?”

He will answer, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me, [but] whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.”

Our Republican members of Congress have been particularly eager to support these inhumane cuts, having voted yes on every

ACA repeal bill, voting yes and

offering public support for these tax cuts, and refusing to take seriously the concerns of the thousands of constituents who have contacted them via phone calls, staff visits, protests, and sit ins over the past year. These choices elevate the profits of the few over the needs of the most vulnerable of us, of “the least of these” among us. In their capacities as members of Congress, they have a unique opportunity to ensure the way we spend the immense wealth of our nation reflects the call for Christians to serve the people above profit. As fellow Christians, and as voting constituents, we implore our members of Congress to look to the teachings of Jesus and consider how their choices affect the least of these among our society.

Rev. Darryl Commings, Bethany Way Fellowship

The Rev. Jon Stratton,

Trinity Church Tommie Pierson, pastor of Greater St. Mark’s Family Church

Ruth Ehresman, MO Jobs with Justice Jack Lipin, Sts. Joachim and Ann Care Service

Rev. Carleton Stock Presbytery of Giddings-Lovejoy

The Rev. Michael G. Dunnington, All Saints and Ascension Episcopal Church

Sharon Orlet, spiritual director Flora Fazio, Sts. Joachim and Ann Care Service

Rev. C. Jessel Strong, African Methodist Episcopal Church

Deacon Kevin J. McGrane Sr., Episcopal Diocese of Missouri

Sister Carla Mae Streeter, Aquinas Institute of Theology

The Rev. Deacon Dayna Jewson, St. Luke’s Episcopal Church

The Rev. Dr. Dan Handschy, Rector, Church of the Advent The Very Rev. Kathie AdamsShepherd, Christ Church Cathedral

The Rev. Dr. Francis X. Ryan, Jesuit Hall

The Rev. Jill V. Seagle, St. Thomas/Holy Spirit Lutheran Church

The Rev. Joshua K. Brecht

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church

Rev. Jeffrey Lindgren, Evangelical Lutheran Church

The Rev. Dr. Martin Rafanan, Evangelical Lutheran ChurchThe Rev. Rebecca Ragland, St Paul’s Episcopal Church

The Rev. Mark Kozielec, St. Mark’s Episcopal Church

Rev. Paul A. Beins, retired

Rev. Dr. Tom Schoenherr retired

Rev. Judith A Conoyer, retired

The Rev. Teresa Mithen Danieley, Episcopal Diocese of MO

The Rev. Gregory Eidell, Holy Cross Lutheran Church

Rev. Rodrick Burton, Pastor, New Northside Missionary Baptist Church

I remember reviewing the letters of Paul in Bible study. In doing so I was constantly reminded that one cannot look at Paul without really seeing Jesus’ amazing handiwork. Because the two are so closely associated with one another, I can’t help but consider the impact of this tandem on human history.

A very large part of the Bible is devoted to Paul’s building of the early church at a time when who you worshipped was a life-and-death decision. Paul himself says in his letters to the church in Corinth, there was indeed a point to his suffering and persecution and the basis for most, if not all, of what he went through was a by-product of his faith in Jesus Christ.

Paul wrote, “But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:8-10.

This kind of thinking and belief led to the eventual proliferation of the church worldwide. It also makes the point of how the lives of so few have impacted and influenced so many in the world then, and the world as we know it today.

Paul is who he is because of his unique one-on-one encounter with Christ. That encounter changed him and ultimately the world in which we live. If that be true, then our individual encounters with Christ should also have a profound effect on us and the world in which we currently live.

It is not unusual for new Christians to come under attack by old friends. It is also not unusual for new Christians to come under the attack of the world, since it is in the world where Satan has some sway. Paul’s good news is there is a place of refuge when the attack comes. He uses himself as a very good example to follow. If I surrender my weaknesses to the power of Christ and subjugate my will to that of the Lord’s, then I become empowered to deal with whatever is thrown my way. In the eyes of God, one’s weaknesses are welcomed opportunities for God to show up and show out. Have you ever wondered why those who have been through so much are able to stand so strong and witness for Christ? Reexamine the reality of God’s grace and you just might get your answer.

Columnist James Washington

Photo by Wiley Price

Pierson, pastor of Greater St. Mark’s Family Church (seen here supporting striking nursing home workers in Ferguson on January 9), is one of 28 clergy associated with Missouri Jobs for Justice arguing that proposed cuts to health care spending violate Christ’s teaching to serve and heal the poor and sick.