St. LouiS AmericAn
Honoring those slain in 1921 Tulsa massacre
a white mob attacked the affluent Greenwood neighborhood, home to about 10,000 people and a flourishing business district known as “Black Wall Street.”
President Biden: ‘Hell was unleashed’
An emotional President Joe Biden marked the 100th anniversary of the massacre that destroyed a thriving Black community in Tulsa, declaring Tuesday that he had “come to fill the silence” about one of the nation’s darkest — and long suppressed — moments of racial violence.
“Some injustices are so heinous, so horrific, so grievous, they cannot be buried, no matter how hard people try,” Biden said. “Only with truth can come healing.”
“Just because history is silent, it does not mean that it did not take place,” Biden said. He said “hell was unleashed, literal hell was unleashed.” And now, he said, the nation must come to grips with the subsequent sin of denial.
“We can’t just choose what we want to know, and not what we should know,” said Biden. “I come here to help fill the silence, because in silence wounds deepen.” After Biden left, some audience members spontaneous-
David Dorn
ly sang a famous civil rights march song, “Ain’t Gonna
Let Nobody Turn Me Around.”
In 1921 — on May 31 and June 1 — a white mob, including some people hastily deputized by authorities, looted and burned Tulsa’s Greenwood district, which was referred to as Black Wall Street.
As many as 300 Black Tulsans were killed, and thousands of survivors were forced for a time into internment camps overseen by the National Guard. Burned bricks and a fragment of a church basement are about all that survive today of the more than 30-block historically Black district.
On Tuesday, the president, joined by top Black advisers, met privately with three surviving members of the Greenwood community who lived through the violence, the White House said. Viola “Mother” Fletcher, Hughes “Uncle Red” Van Ellis and Lessie “Mother Randle”
City faces lawsuit alleging brutal treatment at CJC
By Dana Rieck Of The St. Louis American
By Alvin A. Reid Of the St. Louis American
A protector. A fine man. A
State Rep. Shamed Dogan announced that portions of Martin Luther King Drive and I-70 will be named after slain retired SLMPD Capt. David Dorn during an Ethical Society of Police memorial service Wednesday in Forest Park.
n “I wouldn’t want another mother to hang close to her phone and worry day in and day out about the safety of their loved ones that are inside that place because you just don’t know what may happen.”
– Catrese Howard
The stories of abuse at City Justice Center detailed in a newly filed lawsuit seem endless — but there’s a common thread through them all: correctional officers are allegedly excessively macing inmates and withholding access to clean water as punishments. The lawsuit was filed May 24 on behalf of Derrick Jones, Darnell Rusan and Jerome Jones (no relation) by attorneys with ArchCity Defenders, the Roderick & Solange MacArthur Justice Center, Rights Behind Bars and the Saint Louis University School of Law Clinics. Derrick Jones has been in custody at CJC since November 3, 2020, Jerome Jones spent over two years in custody there awaiting trial before he was ultimately acquitted and Darnell Rusan has been in custody since around Thanksgiving 2020.
Maureen Hanlon, a staff attorney with ArchCity Defenders, said they’re not only seeking monetary damages, but a commitment from the city to change the jail’s poli-
Guilty of three felonies, gets slap on wrist
By Dana Rieck Of The St.
death in Minneapolis. The court eventually reduced his $50,000 bond to $5,000 and he was released from custody in August, under the mandate that he undergo alcohol abuse treatment in addition to psychological treatment. In mid-May, Swoboda pleaded guilty to those charges — three felony counts of See BOMBER, A6
A woman walks by a mural depicting the Tulsa Race Massacre during its centennial on Monday, May 31. Up to 300 people were killed when
Photo courtesy of the AP
The Defender News Service
Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American
Viral video circulates of King Harris in heated argument
A video clip of King Harris, son of T.I. and Tameka “Tiny” Cottle-Harris in a heated argument with an unknown person has gone viral.
Harris is heard asking, “What you wanna do?,” then goes to ask another individual if they’re from the area. From there, he opens the passenger side door of a Jeep and pulls out his spiked bookbag.
Once he puts the bag on, voices nearby can be heard with a young girl saying, “Oh hell nah, let’s go.”
Following that statement, things turn left and Harris asks the young man “what’s going on?” and why he keeps stepping up to him as if he’s going to do something.
A voice then rings out in the video tell ing Harris to relax. In addition to that person, a young woman tells her friend to move out
of the way because someone may have a gun.
The video ends with Harris saying, “Be about your business, my n****,” he then steps back into the car with his bookbag.
Vivica Fox says 50 Cent is love of her life
In a recent interview with VladTV
Vivica Fox shared the story of how her love affair began years ago. The pair became connected after 50 complimented Fox on a dress she wore to the Soul Train Music Awards. After that, his team got in touch with Fox. A phone conversation followed and 50 filled her house with her favorite flowers for her birthday. Fox revealed at the time she was already accustomed to the limelight while 50 was still on the rise.
“I was already Vivica Fox from Independence Day, this that and the third, and he now is becoming this huge mega
Rap star who is crossing over with ‘In Da Club,” Fox said.
“I was used to fame and the main thing that killed the relationship is that we just went way too public way too fast.”
The actress said the love she had for him still stands today and
that he will always be the love of her life.
“I will admit that without any reservations,” Fox said. “He will always have a special place in my heart. But the reason that the relationship ended is because we went way too public, way too fast.”
50 hasn’t made any comments yet about Fox’s statement.
Samuel E. Wright, voice of The Little Mermaid’s ‘Sebastian the Crab’ dead at 74
Samuel E. Wright, the actor who voiced the character Sebastian the Crab in Disney’s “The Little Mermaid,” and sang the film’s award winning single “Under the Sea,” has died at 74.
In the film, Wright plays a Jamaican crustacean and the adviser to King Triton in the 1989 classic. This role skyrocketed him to stardom leading him to a career of longevity in theater, television and cinema.
The town of Montgomery, New York, where he founded a cultural center with his family, confirmed his death. It was also confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter by his daughter, who described him as “the brightest light.”
“On top of his passion for the arts and his love for his family, Sam was most known for walking into a room and simply providing PURE JOY to those he interacted with,” the
town wrote on its Facebook page. Wright’s vocals on “Under the Sea” earned him an Academy Award for Best Original Song, and a Grammy.
He also starred in the TV series adaptation of “The Little Mermaid” and had a voice role in the movie “Dinosaur.”
Howard University honors late actor Chadwick Boseman
Howard University is naming its reestablished College of Arts after one of its most notable alumni, the late actor Chadwick Boseman The Washington Post first broke the news.
In May, the university appointed veteran actress and alumna Phylicia Rashad as the dean of the fine arts college.
Boseman, a Howard alumnus, was the university’s commencement speaker in 2018. He lost his battle with colon cancer in August at 43. His family released a statement on social media on the honor, “Chad, you exemplify Howard’s core values of excellence, leadership, service, and truth. There is no one more deserving of such an honor.”
Following his death, a Change.org petition asking Howard’s president and board of trustees to name the school in Boseman’s honor received more than 58,000 signatures.
Sources: TheJasmineBrand.com, Hot97.com, CNN.com, NPR.org
Vivica
Busch Stadium graduations hit home for SLPS students, loved ones
Special to the American COVID-19 nor stormy weather could stop SLPS graduates from crossing home plate and picking up their diplomas last week at Busch Stadium.
Seniors from McKinley, Metro, Northwest, Roosevelt, Soldan, Collegiate and Vashon received diplomas during an evening ceremony on May 26th.
Graduates from Gateway STEM High School, Clyde C. Miller Career Academy, Central Visual and Performing Arts High School, Cleveland NJROTC High School and Carnahan High School of the Future graced the diamond on Friday night after something that happens to ball games – a rain out on Thursday.
After graduates received their diplomas at home plate, they proceeded to third base to have a photo taken with the Gateway Arch in the background.
“I think it’s cool. It’s great. This is where they should have graduations at,” Eloise Jones, a graduate’s grandmother told KSDK.
Dr. Chantam Trinh, Soldan High School principal, offered advice to all graduates during the May 26th ceremony.
“Keep going, don’t give up, and have the persistence and dedication and there’s nothing you cannot achieve,” Trinh said. Each high school assessed how many tickets would be needed for family and friends
“The opportunity for a quality education is key to ensuring economic growth. My report details the facts that can spur change at the state level, so we no
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HOW DOES THE COVID-19 VACCINE WORK?
Family Medicine
Physician Dr. Kanika Turner explains what happens in your body after you get the vaccine.
Two of the COVID-19 vaccines, those from Pfizer and Moderna, are mRNA vaccines. And these mRNA vaccines are actually really safe. The whole purpose of this type of vaccine is to deliver a message to your cells to produce a harmless piece of what is called the “spike protein.” (The spike protein is found on the surface of the virus that causes COVID-19.) This allows your body’s defenses to recognize that protein when it comes into contact with it and mount an immediate immune response. And once that message is sent to your cells, that mRNA gets completely destroyed.
Learn more about the COVID-19 vaccine from Dr. Turner and other Missouri medical professionals at mostopscovid.com.
Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American
Soldan International Studies graduate Mariah Gause has her cap adjusted by her mother, Latasha Evans, before the start of St. Louis Public Schools graduation at Busch Stadium on May 26. SLPS held graduation ceremonies on two nights, with the second set of high school seniors graduating on May 28.
Tulsa massacre part of horrific American pattern
“No one should be under the impression that the burning of Black Wall Street in Tulsa a century ago was a one-off atrocity. In fact, it was part of a long and shameful pattern in which white mobs used murderous violence to erase African-American prosperity … It happened in East St. Louis, Illinois in the summer of 1917… It happened in Chester, Pennsylvania that same year… Perhaps the worst of the 1919 riots was in Chicago ...Two years later came the horrific events in Tulsa, which claimed hundreds of lives and literally wiped out one of the nation’s more prosperous Black business districts from the face of the earth … And that’s what ‘race riot’ meant in those days–a program by whites against African-Americans, but it was part of a familiar pattern.”
–Eugene Robinson, Washington Post columnist
On June 1, 1921, a white mob–enraged by a Tulsa newspaper report that a young Black teenager had attacked a white woman on an elevator–ruthlessly destroyed a thriving Black business community, killing up to 300 people, injuring thousands and unmercifully demolished homes and churches. In truth, the teen had stumbled while entering the elevator to go to a restroom for Blacks, because the restroom where he worked was forbidden for Black people to use. After the inflammatory Tulsa Tribune report that police had arrested Dick Rowland for sexually assaulting the elevator operator, the armed mob gathered with the intention of lynching the Black teenager.
This horrific, widespread racial violence came to a peak more than 60 tumultuous years after the legal end of centurieslong slavery. It was a hateful, resentful white response to Black aspirations and the unprecedented migration of millions of Black people away from the crushing racism and hopeless grinding poverty of the South.
In response to the current, more frank cycle of discussion
about race relations, injustice and inequity, there has been a nationwide push back against the idea that some of these conversations are taking place in many of our nation’s classrooms. Of course the Texas Legislature and others across the country say they want to talk about history but insist it must be taught in a way that preserves the system and emphasizes “the founding principles that have made Americans so special”. In other words, it must be white washed history if it is to proceed. With the historic Biden presidential visit to commemorate the centennial Tulsa Race Massacre, more of the country is finally learning more about this country’s long history of inhumane racist actions, particularly from the 1870s to the 1920s. The list is long, and there is an excellent book on the subject, The War of the Races: How a Hateful Ideology Echoes Through American History.
In fact, it was the Washington Post along with the police that helped stir up anger over an alleged “Negro fiend” attacking white women, according to Gillian Brockell, a staff writer for the Washington Post history blog, Retropolis. She has been at the Post since 2013, and wrote that things boiled over in Washington DC on July 19, 1919 with white police hunting Black men. The violence lasted for nearly a week before it was extinguished by a long summer rain. This was
one of the few race riots in which more white people may have been killed by Blacks defending themselves (many were soldiers returning home from World War l) than Blacks murdered by white mobs.
This effort to ban critical race theory discussions has been embraced by conservatives who are concerned about how America has turned more attention to racial injustice and inequities in the past year. Of course, our ignoramus, White Nationalist past-President Donald J. Trump was ahead of the herd in 2020, when he directed the federal government to stop diversity and inclusion training that supported more honest discussions, calling them “propaganda.”
This attack on truth telling about America’s history is very much like the unmitigated attack on access to voting that is both brazen, undemocratic and uncompromising. History professor Trinidad Gonzalez rightly says, “The present and past are interconnected. That is history.”
If this country retreats from a true reckoning on race, that would be shortsighted and ultimately a possible existential threat to the country in a rapidly-changing global world. The country’s adversaries and economic competitors could not be more pleased than to see this de facto multi racial nation tear itself apart because it thinks it can turn the clock back to our past status quo.
How we finally passed real police reform
By Brian Williams
May 25 marked one year since George Floyd was murdered in Minneapolis with a police officer’s knee on his neck. George Floyd could have been me. He could have been you. That is why I put forward legislation to begin fixing a broken system that does not value Black lives. In my travels across the state, I spoke with, marched alongside and listened to advocates on the frontline of the police reform movement. I also spoke with police officers and legal experts on the issues of arrest protocols and officer misconduct.
I knew if this effort became an “us verse them” situation, it would fail.
I grew up in Ferguson. I know what it is like when a call for change goes unanswered by a legislature about 100 miles away. But now, I’m in that legislature. The first Black man elected to the state Senate in 20 years. So, when I filed Senate Bill 60 to bring real police reform to Missouri, there were naysayers, critics and outright opponents.
There were also people who never lost hope. Longtime advocates eager for a fresh approach. Police officers who confided in me the challenges they faced in expelling bad cops from their ranks. Different groups who could do something remarkable – something historic - if they would just listen to each other.
Columnist Brian Williams
As with any legislation, my bill took a confusing route through both chambers. But when we hit a roadblock, we would find a way around it. If we lost one supporter, we found two more. If someone only offered a clenched fist, we responded with an outstretched hand. We held no grudges, but also made no excuses. Finally, in the last days of session, we did it. For the first time in a long time, actual police reform legislation is on its way to the governor’s desk.
This bill will save Black
As I See It - A Forum for Community Issues
SLPS will always put students before profit
Recently the St. Louis Post-Dispatch ran an opinion piece by Eric Scroggins of Opportunity Trust. In his commentary Scroggins invokes the words “white supremacy” in regard to public education in the St. Louis Public Schools (SLPS).
Scroggins, whose organization is partially funded by millionaires, asks: “. . . will we continue with the status quo a system based in white supremacy, designed to be impervious to change and operating almost identically to how it did 100 years ago — and hope for a different outcome?”
Scroggins dares to mention white supremacy when he himself is a white male who has benefitted from the same system he criticizes. His private organization’s only record is accumulating money from wealthy people and organizations - and now from taxpayers. He just used the system to get $2 million in state funds directed to Opportunity Trust, which seeks to siphon tax dollars from the public school system and the students he claims to want to help.
If $2 million slated for Scroggins and company gives you pause, it should. One must ask, “why wasn’t the Opportunity Trust named in the state budget? Why such secrecy? One must question the lack of transparency in the line item in the legislation. Is his priority students or profits?
An April Washington Post article details how privatizers like Opportunity
Trust operate in secrecy with the intent to use vouchers and charter school expansion legislation as an incremental tool in a long-term goal of dismantling public schools. In a nutshell, they intend to kill public schools slowly – death by a thousand cuts.
The Post-Dispatch editorial board questioned the legislature’s move, noting Opportunity Trust brought in more than $6 million last year. The organization had enough resources to have 10 lobbyists at the state capitol doing their bidding this past session. No wonder they were successful!
Scroggins’ version of “equity” increasingly looks like a future battle between charter schools and SLPS over a smaller and smaller pot of money.
St. Louis Public Schools have regained full accreditation, expanded Pre-K and carefully negotiated a mandated turn to virtual education, then hybrid and now in-person instruction because of the pandemic. Of course, our children include low-income families in need of community support. However, without fully funding SLPS, and including social workers and counseling for
Letters to the editor
Black woman, in the struggle “then and now”
I am a Black Woman, Mother, and Grandmother, who is experiencing anger, frustration, and depression due to what is happening to the Black community.
The question I ask myself every day is-- why are we killing each other and why are the police killing our Black children, women, and men? Why are guns and drugs so easily accessible in the Black community? When our Black children are killed just because they are Black a part of me dies. I can’t turn this feeling off because it is embedded in me. I have lost sleep and shed tears over the past few months. So much, that it has been difficult to get out of bed.
lives.
It will ban police chokeholds. It will stop departments from passing bad officers onto the next police force. It will punish officers who sexually exploit those in their custody. It will protect good cops who expose the few bad actors in their ranks.
It will create a use-of-force database to stop abuse. It will allow prosecutors to achieve justice for the wrongly imprisoned, like Lamar Johnson and anyone serving time for a crime they did not commit. It will help reformed individuals expunge their records sooner to turn the page and restart their lives.
This bill changes the way officers handle non-violent warrants, meaning no more automatic arrests for failing to pay a court fee or minor offenses. This bill is comprehensive, meaningful and the most successful police reform bill since the death of Michael Brown.
To everyone involved, I offer my most humble gratitude. There is always more to do, but we will not let the thought of a long journey stop us from taking the first step. Today, this bill takes historic steps forward. Now, let us keep going.
I was raised in Canton, Mississippi. I have experienced racial discrimination the majority of my life. I was 16 years old when a man was killed in my home state of Mississippi. I held hands and did voter registration drives with he and others
Today I am appalled at some churches’ leadership. It would appear that some are more con-
social emotional needs, a nurse in every school, librarians, after-school activities, kids who have the least would continue to go without. Opportunity Trust’s record merely includes the accumulation of money, but little to speak of in terms of actual results.
Although Scroggins, along with WePower (an organization partially funded by Opportunity Trust), continue to cite their interpretations of their own internal and other polls, we should all be leery of schemes designed to benefit their personal interests. Their notion of defunding SLPS, and how that would magically improve the district, is bogus. Our city is at a crossroads. The true promise of public education is to create the same opportunities for free, quality instruction everyone. This is the opposite of white supremacy. The American Federation of Teachers thinks it is time to increase our investments in Pre-K, fund and strengthen fullservice, community schools and commit to repurpose two SLPS schools as unionized vocational/technical trade schools to align opportunity with the jobs of the future. We support real dialogue on improving outcomes for SLPS and reject Mr. Scroggins’ racially charged divisiveness. Ray Cummings is president of American Federation of Teachers St. Louis, Local 420, a product of St. Louis Public Schools and a 30-year SLPS master teacher.
for length and style.
cerned about the pastor church anniversaries, and other related church events instead of outreach to their collective communities.
Some questions I struggle with are: Have we become tired, complacent, materialistic, and apathetic? Why we had to drink from colored only fountains and our mothers and grandmothers fed white babes their breast milk? Why were black women continuously raped by white slave owners and could not refuse their sexual advances? How humiliating.
Black women are a strong force in the family. They (WE) have endured.
Many painful situations were there then and now still today. Black women have worked hard in fields, done domestic work, and labor work for 2-3 dollars a day, but are classified as lazy. Our Black men are classified as 3/5 of a man and thugs.
Black Americans have experienced these racial injustices for over 400 years.
Let’s hope America will make Black Lives Matter.
Shirley Minter McGee
Columnist Ray Cummings
OBS partners with State Historical Society on preservation project
Special to the American
The Organization for Black Struggle (OBS) and the State Historical Society of Missouri are making and preserving history.
A joint project to ensure that OBS’ history and legacy will be available to future generations is underway as part of an archival process which started two years ago with the digitizing of OBS events filmed on VHS tapes.
“OBS’ decades-long struggle to support the Black working class through its tireless efforts to combat systemic racism among existing institutions, including law enforcement agencies, and improve healthcare, housing and educational opportunities for African Americans will provide unique insight into the Black freedom struggle in the post-Civil Rights era,” said Alan Medlock, senior archivist with the State Historical Society of Missouri.
Founded in 1980, OBS has worked “to shape the
political and cultural contours of the St. Louis region,” according to founding OBS members Jamala Rogers and Kalimu Endesha, who will work with the society.
The digital component is part of The Commonwealth Project, led by Harvard University’s Walter Johnson, professor of African and African American Studies. The project connects students with community groups in St. Louis and East Saint Louis. The video tapes are part of the collections that will contribute to understanding OBS’ historical significance.
Medlock, who will work directly with OBS founding members on the archival project, said accessibility to the community is a major concern for OBS.
“The OBS records will be an invaluable addition to the society’s ongoing mission to document the African American experience in Missouri,” he said.
Currently, the partners are reviewing hundreds of photos, videos, newsletters, correspondence, memos and reports to determine what will be included in the collection.
Brighter futures through improved transportation
By Michelle Tucker
Access to safe, reliable transportation is about more than just getting from point A to B – it has the potential to open countless possibilities for brighter futures for individuals and communities. But this critical resource is not readily accessible for all our neighbors. We must prioritize additional transportation options to help ensure equitable access to opportunities for economic mobility in our region.
In United Way’s 2020 Community Needs Assessment, the issue of transportation ranked as one of the top five needs across the St. Louis region, with each of our 16 area counties in Missouri and Illinois reflecting it as a priority need. Recently, COVID-19 has only amplified these challenges for many of our neighbors. What’s more, some of our neighbors are disproportionately impacted by transportation barriers, which can leave them without safe, affordable ways to get to work or school or simply navigate the community.
Nationally, families from low-income neighborhoods, along with Black, Hispanic and immigrant communities, are less likely than other groups to have access to vehicles, leading to longer commutes and higher transportation costs, according to the Pew Research Center and the U.S. Department of Transportation.
A report from the National Equity Atlas notes that across America, income and wealth disparities, on top of racial segregation driven by histories of discriminatory lending and zoning policies, redlining and other practices, drive up these inequities. And people with disabilities and those who work irregular schedules face additional challenges in finding safe options that are accessible for them.
Cities like Seattle, Jersey City, N.J., Arlington, Texas and Los Angeles have expanded their transit options through on-demand rides, low-income car ownership programs, carpools, shuttles, discounted public transit rates and other methods. Having the flexibility and freedom to travel when and where you need to go unlocks doors and changes lives. Working with our region’s nonprofits, we have seen this time and time again. For example, transportation needs represent the number one reason local people participate in Individual Development Account programs at local nonprofits. In these programs, participants work with a volunteer financial coach to meet a savings goal, and then their savings are matched to help them make purchases that will improve their financial stability. Thirty-two percent of program graduates use their funds to purchase vehicles. With a vehicle of their own, a young adult has a better chance of securing a better job or one located further away. A single parent may be able to attend school while working so they can continue to grow professionally while still being able to support their family.
We have also seen how too many of our neighbors need help with transportation so they can access their most basic needs. When local community partners came together with ridesharing service Lyft in 2019 for a pilot program offering free rides for those in need, the program was critical in helping local people access grocery stores for healthy food, medical appointments and job interviews. The program provided more than 2,200 rides over the span of about a year. By supporting expanded and equitable transportation options, we can connect our neighbors to the basic resources they need to thrive, the tools to improve their stability and the opportunities to fulfill their potential. And, this great impact will strengthen our entire community, paving the path for a brighter tomorrow.
Michelle Tucker is president and CEO of United Way of Greater St. Louis
St. Louis Fire Department Captain Leon Whitner helps Yolanda Lankford select bicycles for Crisis Aid International in St. Louis on Thursday, May 20, 2021. The bikes are given to young boys and girls that are in need.
Bikes for kids
Photo by Bill Greenblatt / St. Louis American
Michelle Tucker
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Wednesday.
“He was a police officer and whether he was on duty or off duty it was his job to protect people.”
Capt. Dorn had served under Isom when Isom was SLMPD chief of police.
Police Chief John Hayden said Capt. Dorn was “an officer younger African American officers looked up to and emulated.”
“He distinguished himself with his keen investigation skills and bravery. (While he had retired) he remained a police officer at heart.”
Ed Ron Jablonski, Dorn’s longtime police partner, said “David was the best partner you could ever have.”
Respective portions of Martin Luther King Drive and I-70 will be named after Capt. Dorn, state Rep. Shamed Dogan announced at the memorial service.
“He is getting two highways named after him. That does not happen often,” Dogan said.
“I am encouraged that his legacy is going to live forever.”
Bomber
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unlawful possession, transport, manufacture, repair or sale of an illegal weapon.
St. Charles County Circuit Court Judge Deborah Allesi then handed him two consecutive seven-year suspended prison sentences and credit for time served, along with five years of probation. This means if he complies with probation the prison sentences will be dismissed, if he doesn’t he will have to serve the 14 years in prison.
Retired Sgt. Heather Taylor, Isom’s senior advisor, former city officer and ESOP president, said young officers “mirrored” Dorn, and that “he preached education and he preached being fair.”
“Over the years, Capt. Dorn would stop us and give us little tidbits as young officers. I appreciated everything he stood for. There aren’t many like him.
State Sen. Steve Roberts said, “we all owe a great doubt to Capt. Dorn.”
“(He) stood up for what is right when all seemed to be going wrong.”
Stephan Cannon, 24, of St. Louis was charged with first-degree murder, first-degree robbery, first-degree burglary, three counts of armed criminal action and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm in connection with Dorn’s murder.
Jimmie Robinson of Florissant was charged with first-degree burglary, one count of armed criminal action and one count of stealing, police said.
A lifelong city resident, Dorn also served as Moline Acres chief of police after retiring from the SLMPD and was an ESOP member throughout his law enforcement career.
The group of activists, clergy and NAACP leaders who gathered last week in protest called upon the federal government to step in and act. They also pressed the United States Attorney Sayler Fleming to review the case for possible hate crime violations.
“Our groups have made a formal request to the United States Attorney for some assurance that protesters are safe,” said Rev. Darryl Gray in a media release. “Swoboda committed a hate crime, why wasn’t he charged appropriately. Judge Allesi’s decision puts the safety of BLM advocates in imminent and severe jeopardy.”
Tim Lohmar, St. Charles County prosecuting attorney, said he believes that the type of crime he was charged with, plus the facts of the case, just didn’t fall within the scope of what’s legally considered a hate crime. He said it was clear Swoboda was in the middle of a mental health crisis.
“First of all you’ve got to prove a specific protected group of people was targeted … we don’t have that [here],” he said. “... This one wasn’t so clear cut, he was making some delusional statements that were concerning and very alarming but didn’t rise to the level of putting any one group of peo-
ple directly at risk of being victimized.”
He said that if sentenced to prison, Swoboda could be released after having only served about 15-20 percent of the sentence — and the prosecutor believed that probation offered a more intensive, thorough monitoring of the man for a longer period of time.
Gray and other civil rights activists also expressed concern about the disparity in sentencing between white and nonwhite defendants.
“Here in St. Charles County, race has absolutely nothing to do with anything,” Lohmar said. “In fact, I wouldn’t know
the race of this particular defendant until I read their press release. I think the biggest takeaway is each of these cases has their own set of particular circumstances and we can’t just have a cookie cutter outcome for all of them.”
He also said he thought it was “a bit ironic” that the activists who seek to address over-incarceration in the country are advocating to put someone in prison.
“This person was on the hunt for activists and the judge just sends him back to his basement to make more bombs. This is totally unacceptable,” Gray said.
Lohmar confirmed that he and the court have no present concerns about anyone’s safety with Swoboda free in the community.
“He’s been in active psychiatric treatment since he was arrested on these charges and by all accounts he’s been medicated, and so at present no, we don’t have any concerns that anybody’s safety is at risk,” Lohmar said.
Missouri NAACP President Nimrod Chapel Jr. is a trial attorney with more than a decade of practice covering a wide range of legal issues.
He asked how Black defendants in St. Louis County can get lengthy prison time for setting a trash can on fire, but this white defendant in St. Charles gets a suspended sentence and is released from police custody.
Lohmar said he did not know what case Chapel was
referencing but again denied that race has anything to do with the outcome of this or any other cases.
The NAACP issued a travel advisory in 2017 warning Black people against traveling to Missouri, pointing to racist incidents, a state law making it harder to sue for discrimination and the fact that Black motorists have a much greater chance of being pulled over. That advisory remains in effect.
“During the previous legislative session, St. Charles legislators sought to enact legislation that would remove liability for drivers who run over protesters, and make it a felony for protesters to block streets, so this just seems to be business as usual for St. Charles,” Gray wrote. “It just seems that the penalty for freedom of speech escalates from jail, to injury, or possible death in St. Charles.”
The reverend later announced that he, other activists and Lohmar planned to meet Wednesday morning. In a Facebook post after the media conference last week, Gray summed up his frustration.
“When you put a would be white supremacist assassin back on the street, what message are you giving to other violent white supremacists. That’s simple: That it’s business as usual.” Allesi declined to comment on the matter, saying the rules of judicial conduct prevent her from publicly discussing cases.
Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American
SLMPD Lt. John Leggette performed a song in honor of fallen retired Capt. David Dorn on the first anniversary of his murder. The Ethical Society of Police hosted a memorial event for Dorn on Wednesday at Forest Park’s World’s Fair Pavilon.
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cies, as well.
“I think we are hopeful that the new mayoral administration will be willing to consider some of these injunctive changes, which are protections that would seem to align with public statements from the mayor about improving and making sure the jail is a humane and safe place for people,” Hanlon said.
The lawsuit claims one of the plaintiffs, Derrick Jones, was maced after requesting to move to a different cell because his cellmate was showing signs of COVID-19. Jones says he was then taken to the ground, kicked, handcuffed and maced again. Instead of providing him with a change of clothes and medical attention, Derrick Jones says a lieutenant said “let him marinate.”
While Derrick Jones said he later saw a medical staff member who washed his eyes, he was taken to solitary confinement for eight days, where he was denied a shower and
Tulsa
Continued from A1 Benningfield Randle are all between the ages of 101 and 107.
Biden said their experience had been “a story seen in the mirror dimly.”
“But no longer,” the president told the survivors. “Now your story will be known in full view.”
Outside, Latasha Sanders, 33, of Tulsa, brought her five children and a nephew in hopes of spotting Biden.
“It’s been 100 years, and this is the first we’ve heard from any U.S. president,” she said. “I brought my kids here today just so they could be a part of history and not just hear about it, and so they can teach generations to come.”
change of clothes. “It’s been hard, I’ve been in a cell for 23 hours a day,” said Derrick Jones in a media release. “In the one hour a day I get out, I have to shower, I have to make all of my calls, it’s crazy. I’ve been in here for six months. It feels crazy to be without my family. My daughter has been born since I was jailed, and I can’t even hold her yet.”
His mother, Catrese Howard, told The St. Louis American she’s overwhelmed by the way her son has been treated in the jail and said she has not been able to once get in touch with someone at the facility about the conditions. She said his caseworker also hasn’t been able to provide information or answer her questions.
The stories of abuse at City Justice Center involve correctional officers allegedly withholding access to clean water as punishments.
“I know there’s a lot that goes on there, but at the end of the day my son has been in solitary confinement since mid-December,” she said. “I wouldn’t want another mother to have to hang close to her phone and worry day in and day out about the safety of their loved ones that are inside that place because you just don’t know what may happen.”
John Ondiek, another Tulsan in the crowd following Biden’s speech on cellphones, said he was encouraged that “There aren’t just Black people here. That tells me there’s an awakening going on in this country.”
Several hundred people milled around Greenwood Avenue in front of the historic Vernon African Methodist Episcopal Church awaiting Biden’s arrival at the nearby Greenwood Cultural Center. Some vendors were selling memorabilia, including Black Lives Matter hats, shirts and flags under a bridge of the interstate that cuts through the district.
The names and pictures of Black men killed by police, including Eric Harris and Terrence Crutcher in Tulsa, hung on a chain-link fence next to the church.
Biden briefly toured an
Hanlon said another big issue with conditions at CJC is that most detainees are being held pretrial, meaning they have not been convicted of the crime they’ve been charged with. She said the law is clear that unless detainees are aggressive or pose a physical threat, macing them is not a legal course of action.
“Assuming that you are being properly detained in pretrial detention only you’re not supposed to be subject to any kind of punishment at all,” she said of the law.
That doesn’t seem to stop the correctional officers, however. The lawsuit states Rusan was maced two times, first in
exhibit at the center, at times stepping closer to peer at framed historic photographs, before he was escorted into a private meeting with the three survivors.
America’s continuing struggle over race will continue to test Biden, whose presidency would have been impossible without overwhelming support from Black voters, both in the Democratic primaries and the general election.
He announced Tuesday that he was appointing Vice President Kamala Harris to lead efforts on voting rights as the GOP carries out efforts to pass laws restricting access to the ballot. Republicans portray such legislation as aimed at preventing fraudulent voting, but many critics believe it is designed to limit the voting of minorities.
Biden has pledged to help
combat racism in policing and other areas following nationwide protests after Floyd’s death a year ago that reignited a national conversation about race.
Biden called on Congress to act swiftly to address policing reform. But he has also long projected himself as an ally of police, who are struggling with criticism about long-used tactics and training methods and difficulties in recruitment.
The Tulsa massacre has only recently entered the national discourse — and the presidential visit put an even brighter spotlight on the event.
Biden, who was joined by Housing Secretary Marcia Fudge and senior advisers Susan Rice and Cedric Richmond, also announced new measures he said could help narrow the wealth gap between races and reinvest in
December 2020 and then in February 2021.
In December, he said correctional officers maced him, removed him from the shower, handcuffed him, and slammed his head into an elevator wall. Then, while he was in the medical unit, a correctional officer started hitting and choking Rusan and said “we’ll kill your little ass in here.” He said he was then forced into a room that the officers sprayed mace into and left there for nine hours.
In February, Rusan and others were subjected to nude body cavity searches and during that time he was sprayed with a large amount of mace and left in the same room for four hours.
“Somebody has to do something,” said Rusan in a media release. “People are going to do what you let them do and I hope that this lawsuit is an attempt to stop that.”
After questioning why he had to move cells, Jerome Jones said he was taken in handcuffs and locked in a visiting booth. Once he was in the room, a lieutenant asked Jerome if he was going to
underserved communities by expanding access to homeownership and small-business ownership.
The White House said the administration will take steps to address disparities that result in Black-owned homes being appraised at tens of thousands of dollars less than comparable homes owned by white residents as well as issue new federal rules to fight housing discrimination. The administration is also setting a goal of increasing the share of federal contracts awarded to small disadvantaged businesses by 50 percent by 2026, funneling an estimated additional $100 billion to such businesses over the five-year period, according to the White House.
Historians say the massacre in Tulsa began after a local newspaper drummed up a furor over a Black man accused of
move cells. Jerome Jones said no, and they sprayed mace into the visiting booth until it filled the room, leaving him in there for over 25 minutes before he was put back in a cell without running water.
Hanlon said she hopes this lawsuit brings about real change in the way people in custody are treated.
“There are problems with these conditions and still there’s been a real sort of denial that problems of any sort exist,” she said. “And so I know I’m hopeful that we can at least acknowledge that there are problems that need to be taken care of.”
Howard echoed that, saying she wants to see some accountability.
“It is really unfathomable just to know no one has been held accountable for the things that have happened to my son — like a caged animal, in so many words,” Howard said. “You know, my son has said that to me before, ‘mom, they treat me like an animal.’”
The complaint can be read in full online at https://bit.
ly/3yIS4sI
stepping on a white girl’s foot.
When Black Tulsans showed up with guns to prevent the man’s lynching, white residents responded with overwhelming force.
Reparations for Black Americans whose ancestors were enslaved and for other racial discrimination have been debated in the U.S. since slavery ended in 1865. Now they are being discussed by colleges and universities with ties to slavery and by local governments looking to make cash payments to Black residents.
Biden, who was vice president to the nation’s first Black president and who chose a Black woman as his own vice president, backs a study of reparations, both in Tulsa and more broadly, but has not committed to supporting payments.
Photo courtesy of St. Louis-mo.gov
North Central Plan finalized
By Dana Rieck
Of The St. Louis American
Residents and community leaders have presented to the city an updated version of the previous North Central Plan, first published 21 years ago. It now includes an asset-based, resident-centered approach to development.
n “We need to get enough done where people will choose not to leave, and more people will choose to come.”
– Alderwoman Marlene Davis, Ward 19
The nearly 450-page plan was produced by the North Central Plan steering committee in partnership between Deaconess Foundation and the United Church of Christ Church Building and Loan Fund and includes financial support by Deaconess Foundation. It seeks to continue to revive and develop the Covenant Blu-Grand Center and Vandeventer neighborhoods.
The committee was made up of 27 residents and neighborhood representatives and was staffed by a professional planning design team led by H3 Studios, Vector Communications and Action St. Louis.
The updated plan stated that while the original North Central Plan set forth many creative recommendations for developing and improving the area, the original plan did not articulate an actionable road map for implementation, nor was the plan ever adopted by the city, limiting its impact on city investment and the ability to guide private development.
On May 15, St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones joined residents for a public celebration to commemorate the completion of the North Central Plan.
Audrey Ellermann, co-chair of the North Central Plan steering committee, said the celebration was in recognition of the members who led the process. “The plan was designed to be an accountability tool,” she said in a
Mark Anthony Campbell’s death proves COVID still deadly
By Sylvester Brown Jr.
Of The St. Louis American
“The closer you walk with God Almighty, the more you will see yourself.”
Aunkula Benford Campbell, wife of the late Mark Anthony Campbell, was not sure why her husband posted that Facebook message on Sunday, April 25.
“It was church day for Mark, maybe he was just feeling spiritual,” she mused.
St. Louisans knew the silver-bearded, dapperly dressed entrepreneur as the founder of the “Mark Anthony Collection.” For more than 30 years, thousands had purchased designer, custom jewelry, brand name handbags and accessories from Campbell.
What Aunkula did know was that her husband was not feeling his best that evening. He had just returned home from a business trip and, even though he was not feeling 100 percent, they decided to take their daughters, Laila, 14, and Aunya, 9, to dinner at the Pasta House in Ladue. Once seated, Mark excused himself, saying he was having chills and wanted to step outside to stand in setting sun light.
Aunkula said her husband’s condition worsened over the next few days. By Thursday morning, he looked beat up, not as “swagger-ish,” she recalled. Campbell went to a nearby urgent care facility where they tested him for COVID-19. Aunkula received the results by a text. It
See CAMPBELL, A10
PeoPle on the Move
Deborah Patterson
County Executive Dr. Sam Page has appointed Deborah Patterson to serve a four year term on the Board of Trustees of the St. Louis County Library District. Patterson retired from Monsanto where she worked as vice president of Global Contributions and Employee Engagement. Previously, she served as chief executive officer of the American Red Cross of Eastern Missouri. She is a board member of Barnes-Jewish Hospital, Delta Dental of Missouri, St. Louis Public Library Foundation and the Pulitzer Arts Foundation, among others.
Beckwith reappointed president of library board
Dr. Lynn Beckwith
Dr. Lynn Beckwith has been reappointed to serve as president of the Board of Trustees of the St. Louis County Library District. As a retired educator, Beckwith spent decades serving as a teacher, assistant principal and principal. He was the executive director of state and federal programs/governmental affairs for Saint Louis Public Schools and served as superintendent of Schools in the School District of University City. Beckwith serves as the Chair of the Board of Directors of the Saint Louis Public School Foundation, among others. Patterson appointed to library board of trustees
Brooks joins Baker Sterchi Cowden & Rice Branden Brooks
Branden Brooks recently joined as an associate in Baker Sterchi Cowden & Rice’s St. Louis office. He is experienced at defending manufacturers in toxic tort and product liability actions, having appeared in court on behalf of his clients and prepared numerous responsive pleadings and motions. As a former prosecutor, Brooks represented the state of Missouri in prosecuting individuals charged with felony offenses within the City of St. Louis, where he gained experience in both jury and bench trials. Brooks received his JD at Boston College Law School.
Ronika Moody joins Justine PETERSEN
Ronika Moody
Justine PETERSEN recently welcomed Ronika Moody to its team. As resource development manager, Moody will oversee grants management, board development and comprehensive financial tracking. A seasoned practitioner in the finance industry, moody has more than10 years of experience in an array of departments, having previously worked for Wells Fargo, TD Ameritrade, US Bank and Edward Jones. When asked about why she chose JP, Moody stated, “The organization aligns with my motto which is E.A.T. – Educate, Advocate and Transform the African-American community to ultimately building generational wealth for Blacks overall.”
Audrey Ellermann, with the Covenant Blu Neighborhood Association, Mayor Tishaura Jones and Alexa Seda, with the City of St. Louis in Planning & Urban Design, at the unveiling of the North Central Plan at the Deaconess Foundation Saturday, May 15.
Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American
Top left: Jewelry and fashion designer Mark Anthony Campbell, who passed from COVID-19 on May 13, 2021. Bottom (left to right) daughters Aunya and Laila Campbell and Aunkula Benford Campbell, widow.
Photo courtesy of the Campbell Family
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media release. “By adopting this plan, the city will ensure that development in our community is led by residents’ voice, in essence democratizing development.”
The creation of the updated plan included two town halls with residents and meetings with most of the area’s community groups and institutions. Following a public endorsement from area aldermen, the finalized plan was publicly submitted to the city’s Planning and Urban Design Agency to be adopted as an official city planning document, to be used as guidance for future development in the neighborhood. It will be up for formal approval by the city in the coming months.
According to the finalized document, the North Central Vision Action plan seeks to create:
• A community with stronger stakeholder relationships
between residents, businesses, community organizations, faith-based organizations and government (elected and appointed officials, public health, public safety and public works departments schools, etc.)
• A clear vision for redevelopment which addresses the need for inclusive housing and economic development policies
• A roadmap and timetable for the implementation of both short and long-term projects and policies, that will improve the lives of residents and businesses in the North Central Plan footprint
• Informed and engaged neighborhoods prepared to influence policy changes, access local, state, and federal funding and attract private investment
Alderwoman Marlene Davis, Ward 19, told The St. Louis American that a lot was accomplished in the last 20 years.
“I would say maybe 65 to
Campbell
Continued from A9
was positive. He was severely dehydrated. Urgent care doctors feared his kidneys were shutting down and sent him to DePaul Hospital. Aunkula could not go to the hospital because her husband was on the “COVID Floor,” she said.
Visitors were not allowed but her husband assured her he would stay in touch by phone. Meanwhile, Aunkula felt exhausted. She checked her and the girl’s temperatures regularly. Although they showed no symptoms, Aunkula decided the family would stay quarantined in the house.
Things were tough for the Campbell family. Two weeks before the pandemic struck last year, they had moved into a high-rise dwelling near the Central West End. Aunkula is a licensed cosmetologist who works from home. Both of their professions (retail and beauty) were basically shut down as the virus shuttered businesses nationwide. Their health, life and other insurance policies lapsed during the economic downturn. Neither she nor Mark had been vaccinated. Their deci-
sion, Aunkula explained, was based on religious reasons and shared mistrust of the medical system that, she added, has mistreated and experimented on Black people for centuries. Campbell stayed in touch with his wife by phone.
“Every night he would say, ‘I don’t think I’m going to make it,” Aunkula recalled. “We weren’t really phased by that because he talked about death a lot even before this.
So, I just said, ‘Honey you’re going to be fine. You’re gonna make it.’” He didn’t. Mark left his last message with his daughter, Laila, who shared it with her mother and little sister:
“I just want you all to know that I love you,” he said.
Mark Anthony Campbell passed away on May 13, 16 days before his 60th birthday. Condolences to his wife, daughters and children from other relationships, and his loved ones filled his Facebook page. Friends, family and former customers shared their stories of unique items they had purchased or interactions and conversations they had with Mark over the decades.
“I’ll always remember his well-groomed gray beard and his fashion,” wrote KSDK morning news anchor, Rene Knott.
75 percent — depending on the weight you would give to housing and commercial development — of it has been accomplished and a lot of the residents who were a part of the original plan are still in the community, still in the neighborhood even though they’ve been redistricted,” Davis said.
The alderwoman said development is all about community support and it’s critical that the residents are on board with a business or other development moving into the area.
“You’ve got to remember, we’ve constantly lost population for the last 40 years on a large scale and you end up with vacant land, vacant buildings and so even though you’re getting some things done, you’re losing too,” she said. “So hopefully at some point we’ll start stabilizing, that’s what needs to happen with the city. We need to get enough done where people will choose not to leave, and more people will choose to come.”
The plan can be read in its entirety online at northcentralstlplan.com.
“Every night he would say, ‘I don’t think I’m going to make it…I just said, ‘Honey you’re going to be fine. You’re gonna make it.’”
– Aunkula Benford Campbell, wife of the late Mark Anthony Campbell
“Sadly, I am reminded once again to let the people you care about and love know that you do. St Louis has lost a good man. Rest in Peace Mark and God Bless your family.”
The passing of the locally famous jewelry and fashion couturier, serves as a stark reminder that COVID-19 is still lurking, still consuming and still deadly even as the numbers of coronavirus-related deaths are declining. As of May 29, a total of 134,418,748 Americans had been fully vaccinated, or 40.5 percent of the country’s population, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
Although almost 600,000 Americans have died from the coronavirus, cases and deaths in the U.S. have dropped to their lowest levels in nearly a year. And while the number of people vaccinated continues to grow, the virus has not yet been eradicated. Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, is still saying Americans shouldn’t feel anywhere near comfortable until we see “a baseline level of COVID-19 infections so low that the risk of being exposed to the virus is as close to zero as possible.”
Even though the virus claimed her husband’s life, Aunkula’s feelings about vaccinations haven’t changed. She’s holding on to the faith she and Mark shared while he lived. God’s grace, she said has been exhibited in the outpouring of love from the community who purposely bought items from the Mark Anthony Collection to help her, and the family rebuild their lives.
Her husband lives on in her and her daughter’s lives, Aunkula stressed: “Mark is in peace and suffers no more. He was a wonderful father, brother, husband, and friend. He was an intensely passionate and loving man. I will miss him dearly and I will continue to honor his legacy.”
Sylvester Brown Jr. is The St. Louis American’s inaugural Deaconess Fellow.
Photo courtesy of the Campbell Family
Maryville, Regions Foundation partner in STEM program with JJK Center
Special to the American
The Jackie Joyner-Kersee Foundation, Maryville University and the Regions Foundation, a nonprofit initiative of Regions Bank, are partnering to provide Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) educational programming for elementary school students in East St. Louis.
Supported by a $100,000 contribution from the Regions Foundation, the JJK Center Elementary Learning Program will launch this fall.
“This is a great opportunity for youth at the Jackie JoynerKersee Center to learn about the importance of STEM education at an early age,” said Joyner-Kersee.
“Our mission is to instill youth in the Greater East St. Louis area with the dream, drive, and determination necessary to succeed in academics, athletics, and leadership. This initiative will greatly assist us in the fulfillment of guiding youth toward academic success, and I am grateful to be a part of such an empowering endeavor.”
The community partnership will build on a collaboration between the Jackie JoynerKersee Center and Maryville University’s Center for Access and Achievement. Already, the collaboration supports high-need high school districts and nonprofits by equipping students with skills to succeed in STEM fields in college and their future careers. The new partnership will expand the program’s reach to serve elementary-aged students as well.
“Every day, our teams are focused on building more inclusive prosperity throughout the communities we serve, and we are honored to make this investment in a program that will help level the playing field for students while laying a foundation for future success,” said Regions Financial
“This is a community partnership that will benefit students not only when the program launches this fall, but also in the years to come as students build on their education and pursue successful careers.”
The Regions Foundation contribution will fund teacher training and STEM materials for the JJK Center’s Elementary Learning Program. In addition, the funding will support family engagement workshops to facilitate remote learning, as well as after-school
and summer classes for JJK Center K-5th grade students.
Launching in September 2021, the initiative will serve 200 students in its first year.
The JJK Center Elementary Learning Program represents the latest STEM collaboration for Maryville’s Center for Access and Achievement.
Additional projects include a STEM Sprouts program serving preschool students; the Maryville Science and Robotics Program serving more than 500 students each summer; and CREST-M (Children using
Robotics for Engineering, Science, Technology and Math).
Like the JJK Center Program, each of the initiatives has focused on elevating STEM education among young females, minority students and students from low- and moderate-income schools.
“The future of education lies in access and opportunity, and this collaboration allows us to
A new STEM education program will launch this fall at the JackieJoyner Center through a partnership of the JJK Foundation, Maryville University and the Regions Foundation. Regions is supporting the effort with a $100,000 contribution. From left are Mark Lombardi, Maryville president, Jackie Joyner-Kersee and John Turner, Regions Financial Corp. president and CEO.
reach more students and families than ever before,” said Dr. Mark Lombardi, president of Maryville University.
“The path to lifelong learning begins in childhood, and we’re committed to providing equitable learning opportunities for our community.”
Reaching and serving students who may not otherwise receive the opportunity to experience STEM education and
the lasting impacts it provides were key factors in the Regions Foundation pledging its support.
“This program is especially important because it introduces the world of STEM to children at such an early age,” said Marta Self, executive director of the Regions Foundation. “We’re opening the door for younger children to begin exploring possibilities they may have never considered and encouraging them to dream now about what their future can be and prepare for it.”
Corp. President and CEO John Turner.
“Taking Care of You”
and
were both
family’s six decades of care for St. Louis patients, Williams is hanging up his stethoscope 40 years after taking over his father’s practice.
‘Always give back to the community’
Dr. Roy Jerome Williams Jr., retiring after 40 years of service to North St. Louis
By Sylvester Brown Jr.
Of The St. Louis American
services to people in neighborhoods who share his hue and life experiences. Williams is a proud family member of Black doctors who have provided services to citizens of St. Louis for three generations. His grandfather, William R. Williams, MD, had a private practice at 16th and Franklin streets near downtown St. Louis. His father, Jerome Williams, Sr, initially had a practice at St. Louis Avenue and Marcus in the Greater Ville area before moving the office to
Ruling could come by July 1
By Rudi Keller Missouri Independent
The lawsuit seeking to force Missouri to expand Medicaid coverage under a voter-approved constitutional amendment will go to trial June 18 in Cole County. On May 26, Circuit Judge Jon Beetem met in a conference call with Attorney General Eric Schmitt’s office and attorneys for the three people suing for coverage. In an online notation with the case, Beetem ordered a “hearing on Stipulated Facts.”
The lawsuit filed May 20 seeks an order for the Department of Social Services to allow newly eligible Missourians to enroll and receive coverage starting July 1. The quick
trial date means it is possible Beetem will rule before that date, said attorney Lowell Pearson, who is representing the plaintiffs along with Chuck Hatfield.
“Certainly, on the plaintiff’s side, we want to move the case forward,” Pearson said.
“Both sides will make their case to the judge and the judge will issue a decision in due course,” Marianna Deal, spokeswoman for Schmitt’s office, wrote in an email.
“Beyond that, we aren’t going to comment further on pending litigation.”
Dr. Dwayne Proctor, Missouri Foundation for Health president and CEO, said in a statement this week “there is no single issue more important
the Union Boulevard site in 1965.
According to family lore, Williams’ grandfather, who received his medical license in S. Carolina, was supposed to be the first Black medical director at Homer G. Phillips, which opened in 1937. Homer G. was the only hospital for African Americans in Missouri and the first teaching hospital west of the Mississippi River that served doctors of color. Someone “more politically-connected” got the administrative role and Williams’ grandfather, he said, uprooted his family and moved to
By Dr. Graham A. Colditz Siteman Cancer Center
Summer officially arrives this month, and it feels especially welcome. After a very long 16 months since the pandemic started, life is returning to normal, as COVID-19 vaccination gains ground and rates of infections continue to drop. And while we still have a way to go before we can put the pandemic fully behind us, getting to enjoy the long, warm days of summer feels like a well-deserved reward for how far we’ve come. As usual, no group may be happier about summer than kids. After yet another disrupted school year, most are likely ready for a good, long break and hopefully a return to more normal routines.
Though it may not be at the top of their list, an important part of that return-to-normal for our kids can be helping them get back on track with, or build upon, important healthy behaviors. Over the short term, this can help give a boost to their well-being as we begin to come out of the pandemic. Over the long term, it can help lay a foundation for overall health and even a lower risk of cancer in adulthood.
n “Many lifelong habits that help protect against cancer begin in childhood.”
Many lifelong habits that help protect against cancer begin in childhood. And because youth is a unique time of growth and development, some behaviors and exposures during these early years can impact cancer risk later in life. Help the children, adolescents and teens in your life with these healthy behaviors: Be sun safe, avoiding indoor tanning. Enjoying time outside is one of the great parts of summer but being smart about it is key. Youth and teens are especially vulnerable to skin damage from the sun. Help them find
See COLDITZ, A13
As the attorney general and lawyers for plaintiffs in the Medicaid coverage lawsuit prepare for trial, Dr. Dwayne Proctor, Missouri Foundation for Health president and CEO, said Tuesday “Missourians who qualify under expansion have a constitutional right to Medicaid. Every day this process is delayed is another day nearly 250,000 Missourians go without the access to health care they need.”
Dr. Roy Jerome Williams Jr.’s grandfather
father
Black physicians who served city residents. After his
Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American
Dr. Graham A. Colditz
Photo courtesy of Wayne State University
“Taking Care of You”
NAACP: It’s still important to know more about COVID-19
Organization launches online information hub
By Stacy M. Brown NNPA senior national correspondent
Derrick Johnson, national NAACP president and CEO, said this is no time to drop the guard against COVID-19 – especially in Black communities.
His organization’s mission is that everyone receives the facts needed to make the best decisions for their families and communities while the fight against the pandemic goes forward.
Williams
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South Carolina in protest. Turns out, Williams’ father, came back to St. Louis after attending Morehouse College in Atlanta. Before graduating, he joined the military and attended Meharry Medical College, an HBCU in Nashville TN., where he studied medicine. From there, Williams Sr. trained at Homer G. Phillips and eventually served as the director of outpatient care before starting his own practice.
Roy Jerome Williams Jr. was born at Homer G. Phillips in 1951. It was a time when the segregated city had its largest population to date of almost one million people. As with many other industrialized cities, Black and white St. Louisans lived in separate parts of town and abided by separate and unequal rules for African Americans.
Williams never forgot his father’s sage advice to “always be there and always give back to the community.” He was inspired by his father’s decision to turn down advancement at Homer G. Phillips and start his own practice dedicated to serving people of color. Williams, the oldest boy of five children, vividly remembers riding in his father’s car as he made house calls. The first and only time he tasted squirrel meat was when one of his patients bartered health services for the urban “delicacy.”
“His patients ran up bills, and my father was not as diligent on collecting as he should
Medicaid
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to the Foundation’s work and mission than Medicaid expansion and achieving health equity in Missouri.”
“Missourians who qualify under expansion—specifically parents and single individuals—have a constitutional right to Medicaid. Every day this process is delayed is another day nearly 250,000 Missourians go without the access to health care they need,” he said.
Johnson appeared for a live interview with the National Newspaper Publishers Association’s morning news program, “Let It Be Known” and announced the launch of “COVID.KNOW.MORE.” The
campaign will provide Black Americans “the most comprehensive suite of relevant information and resources on COVID-19 available, curated specifically for them.”
“With the country showing increasing signs of reopening each day, the tendency exists among some to forget the most devastating impacts of COVID-19,” Johnson said.
“In many of our most vulnerable communities, the battle against the disease continues to
rage on as Americans contend with not just high infection rates, but also the pandemic’s long term health implications and unprecedented economic setbacks.” The mainstay of the NAACP’s ‘COVID. KNOW.MORE.’ effort is a live, multifaceted online information hub housing a broad array of features designed to empower African Americans’ decision-making as they navigate the pandemic – at their convenience.
The hub, found at naacp. org/covidknowmore, stands as one user-friendly, central place for individuals, community groups and NAACP branches alike to see the latest news and information, research and updates from medical experts.
The platform further reinforces the NAACP as the most visible and trusted resource for African Americans on the health crisis.
“The NAACP is continuing its work to help our most vulnerable citizens, and communities safely navigate back to normalcy while countering
have been,” Williams fondly recalled.
There were strict rules in the Williams household that revolved around his father’s practice. For example, Williams recollected, family dinners were always on hold until his father came home in the evening before returning to work in the wee hours of the night: “We kids were probably running around hungry at six or seven o’clock, but we couldn’t eat until dad came home so we could eat together as a family.” Williams’ formative years
“These are our neighbors and friends who have often been delaying essential care and checkups for years. The people have spoken; it’s time to do right by them and prioritize their health and well-being.”
The initiative approved in August 2020 directed that Missourians ages 19 to 64 would become eligible for Medicaid coverage if their household income is below 138 percent of the federal poverty guideline, or $17,774 a year for a single person. For a household of four, the limit is $36,570. Before passage of the initiative known as Amendment 2, Missouri was one of 14 states that had not yet expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. The law originally made expansion mandatory but the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2012 that penalty provisions that made Medicaid an allor-nothing program were
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shade, use sunscreen and wear sun-protective clothes, like long-sleeved shirts and widebrimmed hats. Indoor tanning is risky and should be avoided. Eating a healthy diet. The quality of kids’ eating habits can slip in summer. So, this can
be a good time to help them choose foods rich in fruits, vegetables and whole grains, and steer them away from red meat, fast food, high-calorie snacks and sugary drinks. This is good for both overall health and healthy growth. When kids are old enough, also discuss the dangers of alcohol with them. Among other problems, drinking increases the risk of several adult cancers.
occurred during the tumultuous civil rights era. His father believed that medicine was an honorable profession but told his son he’d never get rich as a Black physician. Instead, he urged Williams to seek another profession based on his belief that unknown opportunities were about to open for Black people.
Williams, a stellar student, was the first African American to enroll in John Burroughs School, a private, college-preparatory school in Ladue in 1965. From there, he enrolled at Harvard University
unenforceable.
Adults who have no other qualifying condition such as a disability are only eligible currently if they have children and income lower than about $4,800 a year for a family of four.
Under the Affordable Care Act, often referred to as Obamacare, the state would pay 10 percent of the expense with the federal treasury underwriting the remainder.
In his January budget proposal, Gov. Mike Parson recommended adding $1.9 billion to the state budget to cover the cost of the approximately 275,000 people who would become eligible. That amount included about $130 million in state general revenue.
Fit in physical activity, limit screen time. Regularly give kids the opportunity to be active. A good goal is 60 minutes per day. But any amount is better than none. It’s also important to think about kids’ screen time, which is a good marker for how much time they spend sitting. Time with phones, tablets and TVs kicked up dramatically when much of our lives turned virtual during
in Cambridge, Massachusetts, seeking an undergrad in economics. He was one the 110 Black students out of the 1,100 enrolled at the school in 1969. Williams said memories of house calls and his father’s words about “giving back to the community” stayed with him. So much so that halfway through his sophomore year at Harvard, he switched to pre-med and enrolled at Duke University School of Medicine in Durham, North Carolina. He returned to St. Louis to start his training in internal medicine at Barnes Hospital and the
The budget delivered to Parson by lawmakers, however, did not include the spending. Opponents argued that the long-term cost was too much for the state to bear and that constitutional provisions in place when the initiative went before voters made the amendment void because it did not include a revenue source for the state’s share.
Pearson and Hatfield argued in their filing that the initiative did not violate any other constitutional provision because it did not direct that the state spend any specific amount on the expansion group or Medicaid as a whole.
“The General Assembly cannot predict with certainty the number of individuals who will enroll in MO HealthNet
the pandemic. With health restrictions now starting to lift, it’s a good time to begin to reset our relationships with our screens.
Get the HPV vaccine. The HPV (human papillomavirus) vaccine is a standard childhood vaccine that protects against six adult cancers. Recommended for both boys and girls ages 9 to 12 years old, it can also be given to
the ongoing devastation of COVID-19,” Johnson said.
“‘COVID. KNOW.MORE.’ is the natural evolution to continue to expand not only the information provided to our communities but also to address the long-term implications and impacts of the pandemic and systemic disparities.”
Johnson also discussed the importance of the Biden-Harris administration’s appointments of Black women like Kristen Clarke and Marcia Fudge.
“Highly-qualified individuals,” Johnson said.
Dr. Jerome Williams speaks with Curtis Boyce in an examination room Wednesday.
Washington University School of Medicine.
Williams became the second person of color selected as the chief resident in internal medicine, where he organized training programs for residents. With a golden administrative trajectory basically guaranteed, Williams surprised his superiors with the decision to join his father’s practice in 1982. After only three weeks, his father turned the practice over to his son. Today, about a month from retirement, Williams has no regrets. He cherishes the expe-
during the next fiscal year or the health needs that those individuals will have during the next fiscal year,” the lawsuit states.
The state can decide how much it is willing to spend and spread the amount over the entire population, they wrote. Or, they wrote, lawmakers could, as they do every year, add enough money through a supplemental appropriation bill to pay for all required services.
There is unlikely to be any witness testimony in the trial, which is set to begin at 3 p.m. on June 18, Pearson said.
Pearson said he thinks a ruling by July 1 is likely.
“We did discuss the July 1 eligibility deadline and
riences passed down from his grandfather and father of caring for generations in their own community. In a society of disproportionate health disparities for minorities, access to quality health care is a luxury for some and not others, Williams said he takes pride in the first-class service he’s provided over the years.
“To see patients grow up, to know their grandparents, parents and their children, to take care of them all… well, that’s something I don’t take for granted.” Williams and his wife, Marva, have four children, three grandchildren and another on the way. His youngest daughter is a pediatric anesthesiologist who’s “enamored with the west & east coasts,” Williams said, indicating that there will be no fourth generation of Williams running the practice.
He’s hired two physicians to take his place and is spending the rest of this month introducing them to patients and helping them make a smooth transition. Even in this day of health care options, it’s important that people can walk or ride the bus to receive services his practice offers such as mobile mammograms or one-on-one dietary and nutritional information. He wants his practice to continue following his father’s wise advice:
“Always be there and always give back to the community.”
Sylvester Brown Jr. is The St. Louis American’s inaugural Deaconess Fellow.
asked for a hearing as soon as possible,” Pearson said. However Beetem rules, it is unlikely it will be the final word on the case. The losing side is almost certain to appeal. If the state does not expand Medicaid coverage, it will give up a chance to receive about $1.2 billion in federal support for the traditional Medicaid program. The American Rescue Plan passed in March increases the federal share of the traditional program by 5 percent for states that expand Medicaid in the next two years. Missouri Independent is part of States Newsroom, a network of news outlets supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity.
teens and young adults. If the vaccine isn’t offered at your child’s regular vaccine appointment, be sure to ask about it. It’s been a strange and often stressful pandemic for kids and parents, alike. So, be sure to take any healthy changes slowly. Try to set realistic goals and then build up bit by bit from there. And know that even small changes can have important benefits – and for years to come. It’s your health, and your family’s health. Take control.
Dr. Graham A. Colditz, associate director of prevention and control at Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, is an internationally recognized leader in cancer prevention.
Colditz
Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American
Derrick Johnson
Still waiting for U.S. to do the right thing
By Mike Jones
For the St. Louis American
I want to extend on my “Is a next Civil War in our future” column published May 20. It was not written as predictive, but to recognize that we live in a perilous time with the real possibility of negative outcomes. But civil war is not the only draconian outcome; it is possible for a democratic republic to descend into a dystopian nightmare without a civil war.
One of my favorite Mark Twain quotes is, “It ain’t what you don’t know that gets you into trouble. It’s what you know for sure that ain’t so.” This statement has never been truer than when examining nonFox mainstream news commentary since the November election. This commentariat is convinced of two things; that not only is American democracy a thing, but it is also a special thing that generates only good outcomes and protects from all the bad ones; and a foundational belief in the inherent good character of the illdefined group they refer to as the American people.
British Prime Minister Winston Churchill knew something about democracy and the American character. Here’s what he had to say about democracy, “it has been said that democracy is the worst form of Government except for all those other forms that have been tried from time to time.…’’. But what he had to say about the American character was even more insightful, “You can always count on Americans to do the right thing - after they’ve tried everything
else.” I concur with Churchill on both counts. There is no inherent guarantee that a democracy will produce morally superior social outcomes. Democracy in ancient Athens, the birthplace of modern democracy, was limited to adult, male citizens. It excluded foreign residents, regardless of how many generations of the family had lived in the city (immigrants welcomed but not included), slaves and women were also excluded from the democratic process. It is estimated that Athenian democracy was limited to about 30 percent of the adult population.
When you really think about it, there is not much difference between Athens of 600 BC and America of 2021. As far as Churchill’s second point, whether your starting point is 1619 or 1776, if you’re Black you’re still waiting for America to do the right thing.
following of Germans desperate for change. In addition, his campaign propaganda promised to put the German people back to work and pull Germany out of the Depression. The Nazis also pledged to restore German cultural values, reverse the provisions of the Treaty of Versailles, turn back the perceived threat of a Communist uprising, and restore Germany to its “rightful position” as a world power.
But there is a more relevant example of how quickly things can go wrong in a democracy, leading to tragic and catastrophic consequences. Germany in the 1920s and 30s was a democratic federal republic, much like the United States. Like the U.S., it had a geographically diverse population with a highly visible minority that was socially integrated but not culturally accepted as fully German.
By the early 30s Hitler was tapping into the anger and helplessness felt by a large number of voters, and attracted a wide
Masters of division and scapegoating, Hitler and other Nazi propagandists were successful in directing the population’s anger and fear against Jews, Marxists (Communists and Social Democrats) and those the Nazis held responsible for signing the armistice of November 1918 which ended World War 1. Hitler often called these people “November criminals.”
There was an insidious relationship between Nazis and the German business class that is eerily like the one that exists today between American corporate interest and right-wing reactionary Republican political leadership.
German business leaders disliked Nazi ideology but came to support Hitler because they saw the Nazis as a useful ally to promote their interests. Business groups made significant financial contributions to the Nazi Party hoping the organized labor movement and left-wing parties would be eliminated.
The U.S. in 2021 is not Nazi
Germany. But the stories are analogous. The question for Germany in the 1930s is not how Hitler and Nazis came to power democratically. Instead, it is ‘why did so many Germans accept and support the obvious evil they were?’
As we remember the 1921 destruction of the Greenwood District in Tulsa, it would be wise for Black America to seriously reflect on the current political environment and our historical political relationship to white America.
Despite valiant effort and heroic sacrifice by individual white citizens on behalf of justice for Black and indigenous people, a large plurality, if not outright majority, of white Americans are hostile or indifferent to social justice for people of color. And if hostile white people are a minority, most white people will not actively oppose their attempts to oppress people of color.
There is no historic record that I’m aware of where the United States government or a substantial cohort, or any sized cohort, organized to defend the lives and property of Black Americans against murderous white mobs.
Sen. Joe Machin (D-W. Va.) epitomizes this white America. He clearly knows the right thing to do but cannot bring himself to support justice for Black Americans if it means undermining the architecture of white supremacy. Saving American democracy will not save us because American democracy has never included us. And the American people, as we self-define ourselves, cannot be relied upon to do the right thing before it is too late, because we never have.
Columnist
Mike Jones
Authentically Black opera
By Kenya Vaughn for The St. Louis American
With the second production of the Opera Theatre of Saint Louis 2021 season, famed composer William Grant Still’s HIGHWAY 1, U.S.A., their stage once again became home to an authentically African American story told through the classical voice.
n Like “Fire,” HIGHWAY 1,
U.S.A. gives opera goers a glimpse into actual Black life, as opposed to contrived dramatizations that tend to see Black characters reduced to the lowest common denominator of society.
The hour-long obscure 1963 opera, with a libretto provided by Verna Avery, opened last Saturday as part of OSTL’s 2021 season. Like the rest of the season lineup, the production is being held outdoors – within eyesight of their usual home of the Loretto-Hilton for the sake of COVID-19 safety. There are three remaining performances of this opera, set for June 4, June 13 and June 17. Unfortunately, seating is at capacity due to public health regulations. HIGHWAY 1, U.S.A. is a further exclamation of the OSTL’s willingness to create space for the Black experience as expressed through the notoriously historically white art form of opera; And not just in the context of exceptionally talented voices so captivating that the genre must make exception by way of culturally inclusive casting. It was an experience last seen with the 2019 world premiere of Terence Blanchard’s “Fire Shut Up In My Bones” – which will make history at New York’s Metropolitan Opera later this fall when it opens their season. That opera will be the first production by an African American composer to play there since its founding in 1883. Like “Fire,” HIGHWAY 1, U.S.A. gives opera goers a glimpse into actual Black life, as opposed to contrived dramatizations that tend to see Black characters reduced to the lowest common denominator of society. By welcoming such operas, the company taking a risk that breaks tradition with what many come to expect when they attend a mainstream opera season. It is a risk that the audience is better for – but a risk all the same.
OTSL enlisted Black Rep Founder and Producing Director Ron Himes to direct the HIGHWAY 1, U.S.A. He rose above and beyond the challenge of blending a display of ordinary Blackness contrasted with classical singing voices, unlike most African American musicals that typically rely on R&B, soul or gospel. His direction provides the type of brilliant nuances allotted for by his more than
Local comics remember “Godfather of Comedy”
Paul
Mooney
dies from heart attack at age 79
Special to the American
Comedy is a rare profession in which you can be unapologetic and talk about anything you consider funny no matter how controversial or politically correct it might be.
Nothing is off limits. It’s all a matter of personal preference, what you feel comfortable joking about.
Paul Mooney, comedic giant and writer, who was often referred to as “The Godfather of Comedy” died in his Oakland, California home on May 19 after suffering a heart attack. He was 79. Many of his standup routines centered on race. He would call out white people who held blatant disposition toward Black people.
“My goal is to make people think and to make them laugh, both,” Mooney said in a recent interview with News Channel 3 WREG Memphis.
“It’s also in the message...to have some sort of sophistication, class and good taste about what I do.”
45 years of presenting and producing Black theatre. Early in the production, there is a scene where the all-Black cast gathers around a small
Mooney was born Paul Gladney in Shreveport,
See Mooney, B6
High on the Hog: How African cuisine transformed American cooking
By Dwight Brown NNPA News Wire Film Critic
It’s a revelation. The rich history of Black heritage cooking and how it has influenced American cuisine is on view in this enlightening, heartfelt and surprisingly well-crafted documentary. Stephen Satterfield, founder of Whetstone Magazine, hosts the four-part Netflix epicurean travelogue which is dedicated to food origins and culture. He begins his culinary journey in western Africa and continues to the U.S., making his personal sojourn a voyage of self-discovery for everyone.
In Episode I, Satterfield gets an illuminating tour of Benin by Dr. Jessica B. Harris, author of High on the Hog: A Culinary Journey from Africa to America. Her work is source material for the docuseries. Her shaman-like voice, reminiscent of the late Maya Angelou, makes you feel as if you are in the presence of an oracle. “Food is how we know who we are and how we are connected,” Harris says in the opening episode. She and other guides and chefs, including Valérie Vinakpon, and preservationists recall how African people were rounded up, enslaved and brought by boats to port towns like Benin’s Ouidah. The captives were shipped out and their food traditions came with them on their harrowing transatlantic passages to the western hemisphere. Learning that okra, yams, black-eyed peas, fava beans and rice are staples there - and here - is fascinating. Discovering the history of the fourkilometer slave trail that ran from the center of
Ouidah to the sea and a mass grave (Cemetery of Slaves) devastates Satterfield and will have the same effect on audiences.
Episode 2 takes place in Charleston, South Carolina, where other emissaries chart the history
of Black cuisine. Michael W. Twitty, author of the food blog Afroculinaria and book The Cooking Gene: A journey Through African American Culinary History in the Old South, says “Cooking puts you in the presence of our ancestors.”
Stephen Satterfield (right) explores a Benin marketplace with Dr. Jessica B. Harris, author of High on the Hog: A Culinary Journey from Africa to America in the opening episode of a four-part Netflix series which details the impact that African and African American culinary heritage has on American cooking.
Photo courtesy of NNPA
He and others expound on the essential elements of Black cuisine that influence American food, from Carolina Golden Rice to using all parts of a pig (aka high on the hog). A deep preservation of African life has been maintained on South Carolina’s isolated Sea Islands as manifested in Gullah Geechee culture. Viewers learn that enslaved chefs established the palette for a new democracy, and that elders to this day teach the next generations how to cook, thus preserving traditions. Episode 3 spotlights two of the most lauded epicureans of the 18th and 19th centuries, respectively.
Paul Mooney
kitchen table to form a prayer circle and offer traveling grace to their church members that
Photo by Eric Woosley for Opera Theatre of Saint Louis
Nicole Cabell as Mary and Will Liverman as Bob in William Grant Still’s ‘Highway 1, U.S.A.’
See Opera, B6
Church that survived Tulsa massacre remains part of community
By Joshua Adams Special to
the American
A century ago, between May 31 and June 1 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, more than 1,000 homes and businesses were burned to the ground in an area known as “Black Wall Street.”
Up to 300 Black Tulsans lost their lives when thousands of armed white rioters attacked, looted and burned the businesses and houses. Some committed drive-by shootings, riding through Black
residential neighborhoods and shooting any Black person they saw. Survivors later recounted planes flying overhead and dropping bombs filled with flammable materials. The only edifice to survive the eighteen hours of destruction was Vernon Chapel A.M.E. Church, a place where Black people hid to escape the violence.
Though Rev. Robert Turner, the current pastor of Vernon Chapel, lauds the resilience of Greenwood, he points out
the historical ramifications the massacre has had on the community.
“In this one or two block area, we still have about 26 Black-owned businesses in the Greenwood Chamber of Commerce,” Turner said. “But to go from like 600 hundred to less than 30, shows how far we
“I am exhausted.”
I wrote these words this time last year as I was, like so many of you, overwhelmed by the nonstop media coverage about the murder of George Floyd. Even though I wanted to know what was going on, after some many days of the continuous coverage, I was emotionally and spiritually worn out. There were images from Minneapolis and throughout the nation of protesters, police kneeling in solidarity with protestors and police attacking protestors. The crazy part is that I knew watching these images and seeing the many posts on social media (including family members deleting and blocking each other!!!) was probably not the best use of my time. I watched anyway. When Sundays came, I was happy because I needed a virtual word of encouragement
from my pastor on how to navigate all that was going on. A few times, he addressed the protests as part of a sermon. He emphasized that, when confronted with injustice, Christians needed to respond with Christ-like love. I agree. But I found myself wanting to hear more about justice and Christianity. I had to ask myself: why am I getting frustrated? After praying about it, I realized that I believe that showing Christian love is a part of the solution in dealing with injustice. But I do not think it is the only answer. The call for justice must also be a part of the solution. So, I ask Black Pastors:
have fallen. But there are still remnants left.”
At Vernon Chapel, the basement survived but the sanctuary and other buildings needed to be rebuilt. Reconstruction of the church started right after the massacre, and through community efforts and grants from local foundations in Tulsa, the
what are you doing to equip your Black Christian church members on how to deal with the current racial and political environment?
Teaching Christians reconciliation during times of extreme division is important but there can also be teachings on justice. Proverbs 21:5 says, “When justice is done, it is a joy to the righteous but terror to evildoers.”
Micah 6:8 says, “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”
Proverbs 22:8 says, “Whoever sows injustice will
main church building was fully rebuilt by 1928. The church has been in operation and growing in membership since then.
Historians, activists, politicians and community members are honoring the victims of the massacre and keep the memory of this horrific tragedy alive.
The city of Tulsa is hosting an array of events, which will continue through the summer, to honor the centennial of the massacre. Included are art projects, vigils, officially recognizing historically significant locations in Greenwood and a nationally-televised commemoration event with speakers and performers.
“There are several things we are doing to commemorate,” said Turner. “We are having a celebration of the stained-glass windows created by the survivors, a prayer wall for racial healing, a revival, and there are other events going on around the community.”
The community is still seeking the economic restoration
reap calamity, and the rod of his fury will fail.”
Depending on the version the Bible, there are between 28 (King James) and 167 (New Living) references to justice/ injustice within its pages. With these many references, justice was obviously important to God.
In May of 2020, I watched an online lesson from Pastor Claudette Copeland who shared that, even though oppression against Jews was increasing in Nazi Germany in the early 1930’s, there were Jewish people who believed that things would not get that bad. They stayed in Germany, and many perished in the concentration camps.
it is owed. Descendants of survivors have sued the city of Tulsa for reparations and, importantly, documents related to the massacre. Though honoring victims of the event and learning this troubling history is important, Turner believes that current and future efforts should be focused on reparations for those who perished.
“It’s justice that’s been delayed, it’s injustice that hasn’t been recognized and needs to be atoned for,” said Turner, who was attacked by a white mob last July while delivering a sermon calling for reparations at City Hall.
“It’s important because it was hidden for so long and we need to make sure this incident of racial terror is known by everybody so it won’t happen again and so justice can be finally served.”
Joshua Adams is a staff Writer for Colorlines and an educator from the south side of Chicago.
The Rev. James Washington’s Spiritually Speaking commentary will return next week.
Shewanda Riley is a Dallasbased author of “Writing to the Beat of God’s Heart: A Book of Prayers for Writers.”
Many of those who were alarmed with what they saw left. They foresaw what was to come. Many Christians were shocked by the violence of the Jan. 6th Capital insurrection. Those paying attention to social media, and were spiritually in tune, knew exactly what was going to take place. This makes me wonder if pastors who teach only love and reconciliation during this time as the solution to racial and social injustice are naively leaving their Black church members unprepared for what is to come.
Guest Columnist Shewanda Riley
Rev. Robert Turner
Track & Field NoTebook
With Earl Austin Jr.
Trinity wins state title as school reaches the finish line
Cardinal Ritter also captures first state crown
It was a banner weekend for St. Louis area athletes at the Missouri State High School Activities Association Track and Field Championships in Jefferson City for Classes 3,4 and 5. The girls of Cardinal Ritter College Prep and Trinity Catholic brought home state championships while the Parkway Central girls and MICDS, Trinity Catholic and Francis Howell boys secured second-place team trophies.
Trinity goes out in style
The doors at Trinity Catholic will close at the end of the school year and the Titans girls made the school’s last athletic competition a memorable one by winning the Class 4 state championship. The Titans scored 54 points to win their second state title. They also won the Class 3 state championship in 2019. The Titans got state championship performances from senior Sydney Juszczyk in the javelin and junior Brooke Moore in the triple jump.
Juszczyk became a three-time state champion in the javelin with a winning throw of 151 feet 9 inches, which was a new meet record in Class 4. Moore’s winning effort in the triple jump was 39 feet 10 ¾ inches.
Trinity’s ability to score points in several events made the difference in winning the state title.
In the 100-meter high hurdles, Moore finished in third place, Akilah Heffner finished fifth while Juszczyk finished sixth for a big 13-point bonanza in the event. Heffner was also fifth in the long jump while Juszczyk was sixth in the triple jump. A’Laji Bradley finished sixth in the 100 and fifth in the 200 while Sydney Burdine was sixth in the 400. The team of Moore, Heffner, Bradley and Burdine finished third in the 4x200-meter relay. The Titans also took home a fifth-place medal in the 4x100.
The Titans’ boys team also earned a team trophy as they finished third place in the standings with 49 points. They were led by senior Myles Norwood, who won the triple jump with an effort of 46 feet 8 inches. Norwood also finished fourth in the long jump and sixth in the 110-meter high hurdles. Malcolm Harvey finished second in the javelin, James Oliphant was fifth in the 110meter high hurdles while Julian Juszczyk and William Johnson finished fifth and seventh in the 300-meter intermediate hurdles, respectively.
Cardinal Ritter girls make history
The Lions won their first state championship in girls track in winning the Class 5 title with 64 points. Freshman phenom Aniyah Brown won state titles in the 100- and 200-meter dashes with winning times of 11.77 seconds in the 100 and 24.08 in the 200. Brown also anchored the Lions to a championship in the 4x200-relay. She was joined by Alexis Taylor, Brooke
Cardinal
Brady and Charlye Moody on the winning team. The team of Taylor, Brady, Makenna Delany and Kayleigh Jenkins also won the 4x100-meter relay.
The Lions also picked up points in several other events with Hannah Wallace finishing fourth in the 300-meter low hurdles and fifth in the triple jump, Brady finishing fifth in the 200, Brayanna Washington finishing fifth in the 100 and Taylor finishing eighth in the triple jump. The team of Brown, Wallace, Moody and McKiya Taylor also finished third in the 4x400-meter relay.
Colts take a runner-up trophy
Parkway Central’s girls
battled Trinity until the final event and came home with a second-place team trophy in the Class 4 state meet. The Colts tallied numerous points in sprints and sprint relays. Their state championship came in the 4x200-meter relay with the team of Nnenna Okpara, Skyye Lee, Jessica Parsons and Kayelyn Tate finishing fifth in 1 minute 41.36 seconds. Tate also took home second-place medals in the 100 and 200 while Lee was third in the 100, Okpara was fourth in the 200 and second in the 400. Lee also finished third in the 300-meter low hurdles, Jessica Parsons was eighth in the long jump and the 4x400-meter relay team finished seventh.
MICDS Ram tough
The MICDS Rams finished second in the Class 3 boys team standings, marking its best showing in boys track. The team of Novo Onovwerosuoke, Winston Moore, Aaron Hendricks and Tony Nunn clinched the Rams’ second-place performance by winning the 4x400-meter relay. The Rams also got a victory from Shawn Putman, who won the long jump with a leap of 22 feet 4 ¼ inches. Onovwerosuoke finished third in the 200, Nunn was fifth in the 400. The Rams also finished second in the 4x200 and fourth in the 4x100.
5 state
Francis Howell boys fly high
The Francis Howell boys also had their best team showing at the state meet with its second-place finish in the Class 5 meet. The dynamic duo of Mason Brock and Bryce Kazmaier were excellent in leading the Vikings. They finished first and second in the javelin as Brock won the event with a throw of 194 feet 3 inches while Kazmaier was second with a throw of 189-8. Brock also finished third in the discus while Kazmaier was fourth in the 110-meter high hurdles and fifth in the 300-meter intermediate hurdles. Anthony Faupel finished fifth in the 200 while the Vikings finished second in the 4x400
and fifth in the 4x200. State Championship Highlights
• Sophomore Jeremiayah Love of CBC won the Class 5, 100-meter dash in a time of 10.76 seconds.
• Junior Eliza Maupin of Webster Groves won the Class 5 girls high jump with a meet record clearance of 5-7 ¾
• Senior Julia Crenshaw of Fort Zumwalt West won the Class 5 girls javelin with a throw of 151-5.
• Senior Macy Schelp of Lutheran South won the Class 4 800, 1,600 and 3,200meter runs.
• Senior Romon Logan of Parkway North won the Class 4, 400-meter dash in a time of 49.56 seconds.
• Senior Sam Wright of Hillsboro won the Class 4 200-meter dash and 300meter intermediate hurdles.
• Senior Sam Schmidt of St. Francis Borgia won the Class 3 100- and 200-meter dashes.
• The team of Kevin Coleman, Jamal Roberts, Samuel Williams and Adrian Forbes of St. Mary’s won the Class 3 4x100-meter relay.
• Senior Mikel Davis of Northwest (Cedar Hill) won the Class 5 high jump with a clearance of 6-6.
• Sophomore Grace Tyson of Lafayette won the girls Class 5 3,200-meter run.
• Junior Sullivan Gleason of Fort Zumwalt North won the boys Class 5 pole vault with a clearance of 14-8 ¾.
Earl Austin Jr.
Senior Shawn Putman of MICDS won the boys long jump at the MSHSAA Class 3 State Track And Field Championships Saturday, May 29, in Jefferson City. Putman won the event with a jump of 22 feet 4 1/4 inches.
Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American
Ritter College Prep made history in girls track and field by winning the MSHSAA Class
championship Thursday, May 27, in Jefferson City. It was the Lions’ first state championship in girls’ track.
COMMISSIONER
First
RECRUITING NEW BOARD MEMBERS
Northside Youth And Senior Service Center (NSYSSC) is recruiting new board members from the St. Louis area to support our mission to meet the basic needs of vulnerable residents in the City of St. Louis.
Membership of the Board of Directors will provide you with an opportunity to impact the lives of vulnerable children and seniors by providing meals, senior transportation, academic enrichment, after school programs, housing support services and access to technology.
The Ideal Candidate must be a passionate leader, desires to make a positive impact in an underserved community of color and has the ability to serve with like-minded leaders supporting the community.
Requirements:
• Must be a Resident of St. Louis Metropolitan Area
• Serve on and participate in board committee work.
• Engage and secure fundraising for the organization to advance our mission.
• Leverage professional relationships and connections to secure partnerships.
• Help the Development Committee and staff identify and solicit potential funders.
• Directly invest in the work of Northside by making a personal contribution each year
• Attend one board meeting per month (every 4th Friday) from 7:45 am-8:45 am, CST.
To apply, please send a copy of your most current resume to careers@nsyssc.com and a link to your Linkedln profile, if you have one.
Incumbent in this position reports to the Director of Public Safety and is responsible for planning, organizing, supervising and controlling the operations/programs of the Division of Corrections for the City of St. Louis Department of Public Safety. To receive consideration for this position, candidates must have a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice or a related field; plus five years of experience at a major adult correction institution including at least two years in an upper level management capacity with responsibility for directing the activities of one or more large correctional facilities. Or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience. Annual salary range is $95,212 to $149,474. Appointment may be made at a rate within the range based on qualifications. To apply, visit the City web site at: https:// www.stlouis-mo.gov/government/ departments/personnel/jobs/
COMMUNICATIONS POSITION
The Gateway Arch Park Foundation is seeking to fill the following open full-time position.
Senior Communications Manager: Position requires a bachelor’s degree with 7 years of professional experience View full job descriptions and application process at www.archpark.org
MISSOURI HISTORICAL SOCIETY CURRENT JOB OPENINGS!
The Missouri Historical Society is actively hiring for the following positions:
• Public Historian, African American History Initiative
• Sales Associates, Part-time
Please visit www.mohistory.org under the “Current Openings” tab for position details and to apply.
An Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer Services Provided On A Non-Discriminatory Basis
ASSISTANT FRONT OFFICE MANAGER
How to apply: Visit careers.hyatt.com and search for Hyatt Regency St. Louis or scan the QR code below to be directed to the application.
Hyatt is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.
MISSOURI HISTORICAL SOCIETY NEW JOB OPENING!
The Missouri Historical Society actively seeks to hire a Director of Marketing and Communications. Please visit www.mohistory.org under Current Openings for position details and to apply.
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LETTING NO. 8732
STRUCTURE REHABILITATION –LAMBERT INTERNATIONAL BLVD. BRIDGE OVER COLD WATER CREEK
At St. Louis Lambert International Airport
Sealed proposals will be received by the Board of Public Service in Room 301 City Hall, 1200 Market Street, St. Louis, Mo. Until 1:45 PM, CT, on Tuesday, July 13, 2021, then publicly opened and read in room 325. Plans and Specifications may be examined on the Board of Public Service website http://www.stl-bps. org(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, State and Federal laws (including MBE/WBE policies). Mandatory pre-bid meeting will be held on Tuesday, June 15, 2021, at 1:30 PM via Zoom: To access ZOOM log in information go to: https://www.flystl.com/business/zoom-bid-information
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).
REQUEST FOR QUOTATIONS
COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCY OF ST. LOUIS COUNTY, INC. (CAASTLC)
LOW INCOME WEATHERIZATION PROGRAM (LIWAP)
CAASTLC is accepting sealed bids to provide labor and materials for Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning (HVAC) and mechanical services for its residential weatherization program. LIWAP (made available through CAASTLC) is federally funded and administered by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) through the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
This weatherization grant is funded through the DOE and is subject to all of its provisions. Bid packages will be available to be picked up at CAASTLC starting Monday, 6/07/2021, at 9:00 a.m. and will be available for downloading on CAASTLC’s homepage at https://www.caastlc.org
CAASTLC will have a Pre-bid Conference, via online Zoom Conference, on Tuesday, 6/15/2021, at 9:00 a.m. and Tuesday, 6/22/21 at 3:00 p.m. for questions, etc. The meeting link for this Conference will be available on CAASTLC’s homepage ( https://www.caastlc.org/ ) the day of the Conference and the login attendee ID and password for this Conference will be in the bid packages.
Bids must be sealed, marked “LIWAP – DNR Sealed Bid” and delivered to CAASTLC, Inc., 2709 Woodson Road, St. Louis, MO 63114, no later than 5:00 p.m., Thursday, 6/24/2021.
Bids will be opened and read publicly, via online Zoom Conference, at 2:00 p.m., Friday, 6/25/2021 at CAASTLC’s main office. The meeting link for this Conference will be available on CAASTLC’s homepage ( https://www.caastlc.org/ ) the day of the bid opening and the login attendee ID and password for this Conference will be in the bid packages.
NOTICE TO MINORITY & DISADVANTAGED BUSINESSES
Poettker Construction Company is seeking bids from minority and disadvantaged businesses for the MUHC – Missouri Psychiatric Center – Pediatric Assessment Unit at the University of Missouri in Columbia, MO. A Diversity Participation goal of 10% MBE / 10% Combined WBE, DBE, Veteran Owned Business and 3% SDVE has been established for this contract. All interested and certified businesses should contact Zach Lindberg at 618-526-3339 or zlindberg@ poettkerconstruction.com to discuss opportunities. All bids must be received by EOB on Monday, June 28th. Bid documents are available for download through the following link: https://securecc. smartinsight.co/#/PublicBidProject/585583
400 South Germantown Road
Breese, IL 62230
Phone: 618-526-7213
Fax: 618-526-7654
SINGLE FEASIBLE SOURCE PROCUREMENT
for procurement of the following from Watermark Insights LLC:
Planning and Self-Study by Watermark; Implementation of Planning and Self-Study by Watermark; VIA Campus Wide by Watermark and Implementation of Via by Watermark Harris-Stowe State University (HSSU) anticipates procuring the products listed above from Watermark Insights, LLC. Watermark Insights, LLC is the sole holder of copyright and other intellectual property rights in the products. The dollar amount of the products is $55,000.00. The award is scheduled to take place on or about June 10, 2021.
The contact for the University is Barbara A. Morrow, Director of Business Services, email address: morrowb@hssu.edu or telephone #: (314) 340-5763.
NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS
Accepting Sealed bids for:
Farm Structures Project for Carver and Busby Farms
Primary Investigator (PI) Building and Hay Barn
LINCOLN UNIVERSITY
JEFFERSON CITY, MISSOURI 65101
Bids will be received in the Office of the Jeff Turner, Director of Facilities and Planning, Room 309 Young Hall, Lincoln University, until 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, June 30, 2021.
Plans and specifications for bidding can be obtained via “Onedrive” by contacting Jon Waynick at jwaynick@hollisandmiller.com. Plans and specifications for the project may also be reviewed from the Office of Facilities and Planning, Room 309 Young Hall, Lincoln University, (573) 681-5084.
A Pre-bid conference and walkthrough for the project will be conducted on Monday, June 14, 2021, at 10:00 a.m. at the Carver Farms Site 3804 Bald Hill Road. Attendance at the Pre-bid is mandatory of each bidder submitting a proposal.
ADVERTISEMENT FOR PROPOSALS
Sealed PROPOSALS for RFP 21-149 - Design-Build Platform for Pump Disconnects – 370 SW PS 2 will be received by the City of St. Peters, Purchasing Department, City Hall, One St. Peters Centre Boulevard, P.O. Box 9, St. Peters, Missouri 63376 until 2:00 PM local time, Friday, June 18, 2021. This will be a Non-Public opening
Contract Documents will be available on Thursday, June 3, 2021 and may be obtained from the City of St. Peters, One St. Peters Centre Boulevard, St. Peters, MO 63376 or requested in writing to Bids@stpetersmo.net under the subject line “RFP 21-149 - Design-Build Platform for Pump Disconnects –370 SW PS 2.”
All questions regarding this project shall be submitted to the City of St. Peters Purchasing Department in writing to Bids@stpetersmo.net under the subject line “RFP 21-149Design-Build Platform for Pump Disconnects – 370 SW PS 2” or by mail to City of St. Peters Purchasing Department, One St. Peters Centre Boulevard, P.O. Box 9, St. Peters, MO 63376 before noon local time, Friday, June 11, 2021.
The City reserves the right to waive any informality, and to accept the proposal most advantageous to the City.
ST. LOUIS COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Responses for St. Louis Community College on IFB B0004079 for Industrial Work Uniforms will be received until 3:00 PM (CST) on June 24, 2021. Go to https://stlcc.bonfirehub.com for bid document and submission.
AUCTION NOTICE
The following people are in debt to Gateway Storage Mall of Belleville. The contents of their storage unit(s) will be sold at auction to compensate all or part of that debt.
Auction at the Belleville Royal Heights location will be held online with www.storageauctions.com on June 23rd, 2021 at 10:00 AM. A cash deposit will be REQUIRED for all winning bids. Royal Heights --Belleville: G33 –Derrick Johnson, G14 – Trina Wilson, G23 -James Davis, G28 -Tia Jay, G48 – Juanita Frazier, F17 – Scott Busche
Auction at the Belleville Mascoutah Avenue location will be held online with www.storageauctions.com on June 24th, 2021 at 10:00 AM. A cash deposit will be REQUIRED for all winning bids. 217 -Chris Ciszczon, 417 -Brianna Taylor
For all rules, regulations and bidding process, please contact www. storageauctions.com . All other questions, please call 618-233-8995 or mail: 17 Royal Heights Center, Belleville, IL 62226.
PUBLIC NOTICE
St. Cecilia accepting Food Service bids for 21-22. Breakfast, lunch, snack. Cost + fee contract. Submit by 6/15/21. 353-2455 or eroth@stc-stl.org for info.
Bids for Repair B u i l d i n g Exterior, Troop B Headquarters & Crime Lab, M a c o n , M O Project No. R2013-01 will be received by FMDC, State of MO, UNTIL 1:30 PM, June 17, 2021 For specific project information and ordering plans, go to: http://oa.mo. gov/facilities
REQUEST
FOR PROPOSAL: SSD 118-21: OFFICE RENOVATIONS AND BUS CANOPY RENOVATION AT SOUTH TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL
Project Manual and drawings will be available through County Blue on June 10, 2021. A non-mandatory pre-bid meeting will be held at 2:00 PM on June 16, 2021 at South Technical High School, 12721 West Watson Road, St. Louis, MO 63127. Bids are due at 2:00 pm on July 8, 2021 at Special School District Purchasing Department, 12110 Clayton Road, St. Louis, MO 63131.
BID NOTICE
Great Rivers Greenway is seeking bids from qualified firms to provide labor and materials necessary to rekey and master 450 Medeco Cylinders located throughout the Gateway Arch National Park and Old Courthouse (the “Park”) in St. Louis, MO. Go to www. greatriversgreenway.org/jobs-bids and submit by June 18, 2021.
The City of Bel-Ridge, Missouri, is accepting sealed bids for the purchase of 2901 N. Hanley Road, Bel-Ridge, Missouri 63121. The City acquired the property in lieu of taxes and will convey title by quit claim deed to the successful bidder, who will be required to enter into an agreement with the City to assure completion of rehabilitation of the property within one year of closing. Sealed bids may be submitted to the City Clerk, City of Bel-Ridge, 8920 Natural Bridge Road, Missouri 63121. The deadline for submission of bids is 11:00 a.m. on July 1, 2021.
BID NOTICE
Lift for Life Academy invites prime/trade contractors to submit bids for renovation of 2322 S. 7th St., 63104. Matt Ule, designated contact, for BC Construction as manager. Interested bidders should contact Mattu@bococonst.com who will send plans & bid forms via email. Bid forms to be completed, signed, scanned, and emailed to Matt by June 24th at 3:00 pm.
There will be a non-mandatory walk though scheduled for 17th of June @ 10:00 A.M at 2322 S. 7th Street. All bidders are encouraged to attend.
Funding for this project requires all labor wages be paid not less than those established for the local area by the Secretary of Labor. See links below for wage rates that apply. https://www.wdol.gov/ or https://labor.mo.gov/DLS/PrevailingWage
All bidders must comply with the Equal Employment Opportunity Act and shall not unlawfully discriminate against or harass any employee or applicant for employment because of race, religion, color, national origin, sex gender, age or disability or any other protected status or activity.
Advertised herein is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Act, which makes it illegal to advertise any preference, imitation, or discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial\status, or national origin, or intention to make any such preference, limitation, or discrimination.“We will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. All persons are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised are available on an equal opportunity basis.”
Call Angelita Houston at 314-289-5430 or email ahouston@stlamerican.com to place your ads today!
the principal characters is proudly preparing to attend his younger brother Nate’s college graduation. That intimate moment is so familiar within the black community. Yet it is so uniquely African American that seeing it on an opera stage makes the gesture utterly striking – and sets the tone for what audiences can expect from the production. Bob – portrayed by Will Liverman – had just finished singing in a rich baritone voice about the sacrifices he has made to make the moment possible. His wife Mary, played by Nicole Cabell, reminded him that Nate’s education came at the expense of the couple’s comfort and upward mobility. In an exchange that teetered between frustration and endearment, Bob stressed to Mary that financially supporting Nate, played by Christian Mark Gibbs, so that he could complete his education. Bob doing so was a
dying wish of their late mother, and he feels the achievement has the capacity to be a generational blessing for their family and the community. Mary pointed out to her husband that his work ethic and that as a hard-working gas station owner is as much a contribution and source of pride for the family legacy as his brother’s education.
The one person who takes Bob’s selfless act for granted is the benefactor, who presents the type of dramatic climax and conflict that are common among operas. The entire ensemble was a joy to watch, but Cabell’s Mary was breathtaking. She captured the essence of the supportive wife that holds the family together. At the same time, she delighted her magnificent soprano voice – with the rare trifecta of tone, range and vocal charisma often associated with opera superstars. Rehanna Thelwell was also a standout as Aunt Lou. HIGHWAY 1, U.S.A. makes a major case for the importance of Black composers within opera, and their capacity to create characters in their own image with enough fullness
and complexity to fit within the canon of opera.
The work is an antithesis for the false narratives where Black people are presented as tragically flawed souls with moral compasses easily subject to compromise based on personal circumstances and/ or conditions. HIGHWAY 1, U.S.A. accurately depicts Blacks with the type of resilience and will to withstand 250 years of bondage that transitioned into a centuryand-a-half of racial terror and systemic racism. Their survival was rooted in laying the foundation for future generations to have the ability to thrive. Sadly, there were those, like Nate, who managed to curse the blessing provided by those who paved the way.
Opera Theatre of Saint Louis production of William Grant Still’s HIGHWAY 1, U.S.A. will play through June 17 as part of their 2021 season. The production is currently at capacity due to public health restrictions, but there is a waiting list available to purchase tickets. For more information, visit https:// opera-stl.org/boxoffice
Louisiana. Once he realized his interest in comedy, he uprooted, moved to Hollywood and started making his mark in the genre.
His work is credited on “Good Times,” Sanford and Son,” “The Richard Pryor Show,” “In Living Color,” “Chappelle’s Show,” “Saturday Night Live,” “The Real Husbands of Hollywood,” and more.
He never left stand-up comedy shows behind though, and opened for Eddie Murphy on a tour. He’s the author of the memoir, “Black Is the New White,” where he details his life, journey to stardom, and friendship with Richard Pryor. He shined on St. Louis Mooney may have mentored and written for many big names in both Hollywood and Black Hollywood, but his impact also touched St. Louis.
Comedians Darius Bradford, Princeton Dew and Maurice “Maurice G” Rankin toured with Mooney, all calling it an unforgettable experience they will cherish and remember.
Bradford said Mooney “was
like a teacher to me.”
“He went into a sensei type of mode,” Bradford said. “As an educator, he schooled you on going against the grain and letting people be themselves.”
Maurice G said that when Mooney first met him and Dew, he always used to say that he wished he met them a little sooner because of their undeniable talent.
“He used to tell me and Princeton ‘your talent is gonna get you where you need to be,’” Maurice G said. “I just wish I would’ve met yall five years ago when I was still making stars in Hollywood.”
Dew said he loved seeing Mooney interact with his fans as he always went above and beyond to make them feel appreciated.
“He really loved his fans,” Dew said.
“We had shows where there’d be 300 people in line for an autograph picture and his assistant would be like, ‘okay, Paul let’s go’ and he’d be like no I’m not leaving yet. It’s still people in line. That’s something I loved and respected about him.”
It was not all laughs and smiles for Mooney during his career.
He was criticized for his nontraditional method for
humor. Some even accused him of being a form of the very thing he frequently joked about —racism.
“I’ve never told anyone where to live,” Mooney said in an interview with the Reelblack YouTube Channel. “I’ve never told anyone what kind of jobs to have. I’ve never kept anyone from going to school, out of a restaurant or drinking from a fountain. I’ve never lynched anybody. By definition I can’t be racist.”
In an interview on ABC’s “Nightline Upclose” he shared that people’s perception of him and his content didn’t matter.
“It’s not my problem what you think or how you perceive me,” Mooney said. “I have control over who I am, what I do and who I like. I like me and I have to like me to like others.”
Friends, family and fans will always have memories of Mooney’s bold, blunt and unashamed personality.
Mooney’s reps’ tweeted the news from his personal account: “Thank you all from the bottom of all of our hearts ...you’re all the best!...... Mooney World .. The Godfather of Comedy - ONE MOON MANY
Hercules Posey, head chef for President George Washington and James Hemings, chef for Thomas Jefferson. The latter, brother of Sally Hemings, was the first American chef to train in France and is credited with bringing French fries and macaroni and cheese to America. Their careers, families and fights for freedom are known. Specific menus and portraits are non-existent. The Los Angeles’ restaurant Hatchet Hall keeps their form of hearth cooking alive serving historyinfluenced dishes like Hemings Snow Eggs (soft custard with basil, peach, toasted almond). Equally intriguing are the stories of Thomas Downing, the entrepreneurial Oyster King of New York City, and the smart businessman Albert E. Dutrieuille who created a catering empire/dynasty in Philly.
Episode 4 brings the series to a conclusion as the production ventures to Texas, highlighting
the significance of the holiday Juneteenth. Satterfield is briefed on its history by James Beard finalist Jerrelle Guy, author of Black Girl Baking. She unveils some of her prized desserts (raw raspberry-hibiscus cheesecake) and their historic significance. Meeting Black cowboys (Northeastern Trail Riders Association) and seeing how African Americans influenced cowboy culture—from cuisine to rodeo events—is also very informative. Add in clips of tantalizing cowboy stew, beef brisket, baby back pork ribs and tamarind paste broth and the intersection of culture and food continues to amaze. It’s like taking a graduate course in four self-contained episodes.
Technically, the entire production team should take a deep bow. The rich colors, eye-catching patterns, and vibrant restaurant scenes are in part courtesy of production designer Kati Davenport. Engaging camera angles, overhead shots and intimate portrait-like closeups from cinematographer Jerry Henry (I Promise Africa) never fail to mesmerize. All segments have a natural rhythm because editor Ephraim Kirkwood (Wu-Tang
Clan: Of Mics and Men) cut the footage with a certain precision while string music and other sounds caress the proceedings due to composer/musician John Zarcone. The excellence of the series is courtesy of directors Roger Ross Williams (The Apollo), Jonathan Classberry and Yoruba Richen. Conversations, dialogue and a detailed blueprint are thanks to writers Classberry, Shoshana Guy (Dateline NBC) and Christina Lenis (Gun Trucks of Vietnam). If ever there is a culinary series deserving an Emmy, this is it. Its indelible images, emotionally peaked encounters and wealth of history and knowledge are extraordinary. Black America’s legacy lives on because people guard the gates of our culture. The makers of this brilliant miniseries and the guides who take us on this journey are those guardians.
Trailer: https://www.youtube. com/watch?v=7wsEdxt1Ico Currently on Netflix. Visit NNPA News Wire Film Critic Dwight Brown at DwightBrownInk.com and BlackPressUSA.com.
Continued from B1
Photo by Eric Woosley for Opera Theatre of Saint Louis Members of the ensemble of Opera Theatre of Saint Louis’ production of William Grant Still’s ‘Highway 1, U.S.A.’
Is your roof strong enough to endure wicked summer weather?
The summer months are often accompanied by rough weather that can do a number on a roof if it’s not designed to withstand the elements. Experts say an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
“Having a roof that exceeds code and is made from strong, high-quality products can make all the difference when a big summer storm blows through,” says Scott Lowe, sales manager, ProVia. “You are always better off taking preemptive steps to protect your home and family than making repairs and upgrades in the aftermath of a storm.”
Here are a few key things to look out for in a roof:
• Weather Performance: Your roof should meet or exceed third-party testing so you never have to worry about the next bad storm. This includes defense against wind uplift and a barrier system to protect against hail and sheeting rain.
• Durability: The right roof will retain
its structural integrity and appearance for years to come with little maintenance. To that end, be sure your new roof offers UV protection against chalking and weathering, as well as resistance to corrosion, mildew, algae and black streaks.
• Cost Benefits: While a new roof might seem like a big investment, the right choice can actually help you save money over the long run, with some models offering substantial energy savings and reduced insurance premiums.
• Beauty: A roof makes up 50-60
percent of a home’s appearance, so while performance is essential, don’t compromise on aesthetics.
Updating a roof can add instant and dramatic curb appeal.
• Resale Potential: If you intend to relocate at any point, think about how your roof may factor into a home sale. A beautiful, well-manufactured roof with a transferrable lifetime warranty can be a major selling point.
• Materials: While traditional materials like asphalt, wood shakes and slate can present various issues like shorter life spans, damage concerns, maintenance
issues and disposal problems, metal roofing can overcome these obstacles and provide significant advantages. Check out ProVia’s distinctive metal shake and slate roofing panels, which are manufactured with 10 percent more galvanized steel than industry standards, yet are up to three times lighter than asphalt shingles. Available in wood shake and slate styles, the manufacturer’s embossed metal roofing provides distinctive style and naturallooking details in a durable finish. Finally, ProVia metal roof systems are designed to ensure easy installation, and installers are trained and certified to ensure workmanship and maximum roof performance. To learn more, visit provia.com.
The decision to reroof your home is a big one. For easier maintenance and long-term performance through summer storms and all other kinds of extreme weather, be sure you understand all the aspects of the investment.
Mortgage program benefits St. Louis city municipal employees
St. Louis is a community of neighborhoods. Each of our City’s neighborhoods reflect the vibrant culture built through long-standing traditions and modern influences. The strength of our neighborhoods comes from the people who work and live on each block – a coalition of our culture and community.
“When teachers, librarians, city administrators, first responders, and others who work for St. Louis own homes in a neighborhood we build the strength and value of our city, together,” explains Suzanne Agin, Community Development Director, Stifel Bank & Trust. To celebrate our neighborhoods Stifel Bank & Trust has built a program to help make homeownership easier for St. Louis municipal employees.
This is an exclusive program open to any employee of the city of St. Louis, plus St. Louis Metro Police Department, St. Louis Fire Department, St. Louis Public Schools, St. Louis Public Library, and St. Louis Airport Authority. Agin went on to say, “Stifel Bank & Trust is here to help you invest in homeownership in the City of St. Louis by making
purchasing or refinancing a home more affordable.” The “Work & Live St. Louis” program includes low rates, low down payment options, and extensive loan programs to fit the needs of today’s homebuyers. To help make the mortgage
“When teachers, librarians, city administrators, first responders, and others who work for St. Louis own homes in a neighborhood we build the strength and value of our city, together,” explains Suzanne Agin, Community Development Director, Stifel Bank & Trust.
process more affordable Stifel Bank & Trust is waiving some cost of opening a loan.
“Stifel Bank & Trust’s program is designed to help investment in the neighborhoods of the City from the
people who work to make St. Louis a better place,” according to Agin. Municipal employees may use the program to purchase or refinance a home townhome, condo, multifamily home (up to 4 units) or residential rental property. The Work & Live St. Louis program may be used by first-time homebuyers or those refinancing a current mortgage, and for those who are already homeowners and looking to move or invest in another home. The program does not have income limits or requirements, other than documented income appropriate to support repayment of the loan, as is the case with all mortgages.
“Our goal is to help build homeownership, which in turn builds strength in our community. Making homeownership more accessible and affordable is one step in that growth,” Agin said.
Learn more about the Work & Live St. Louis program and apply for your mortgage loan at https://www. stifelmortgage.com/WorkLiveStLouis. html.
What homeowners need to know before refinancing
With mortgage rates hovering near three percent, experts say there are still a number of homeowners who could benefit from refinancing. In fact, borrowers who refinanced in 2020 to lower their mortgage rate saved over $2,800 in mortgage payments annually, according to the latest Freddie Mac research.
“While today’s low mortgage rates have fueled a refinance boom, it’s been driven mainly by higher-income borrowers. With millions of borrowers eligible to refinance, lower- and middleincome borrowers who could stand to benefit the most from refinancing might be leaving money on the table,” says Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s chief economist.
To determine whether refinancing makes financial sense for you, it’s essential to first understand the basics. Here’s what to know about the refinancing process:
• Understanding refinancing. When refinancing your mortgage, you are essentially applying for a new mortgage with the goal of securing a loan with better terms than your current one. Primarily, people refinance their mortgages for three reasons: to lower their interest rate, to switch from one product to another (i.e. switch from an adjustable-rate mortgage to a fixed-rate mortgage) or switch to a loan with a shorter term.
• Determining refinancing costs. While refinancing can save you money, it isn’t free. Just as there are closing costs and associated fees with your current mortgage, there are related costs to refinance your loan. To get a sense of what refinancing could cost you, use Freddie Mac’s refinance calculator, which is available at calculators. freddiemac.com.
• Knowing your options. The refinancing option that is best for you will depend on your financial situation and goals. The most common option is to refinance the remaining unpaid balance on your mortgage. Through refinancing, you can improve your financial position by shortening your term or locking in a
lower interest rate. Your lender will be able to discuss refinancing options with you and help determine the best solution for your situation.
• Closing your loan. Closing on your new loan is the final step in the refinancing process, a procedure that is almost identical to when you initially closed on your current mortgage. During closing, it’s important that you take your time to read all documents carefully and ask clarifying questions. Once all of the closing documents are signed, you will have a new loan.
For more information on refinancing, visit myhome.freddiemac.com.
Even with today’s mortgage rates near historic lows, it’s important to carefully evaluate your situation and your home goals with a housing counselor or lender.
Should you buy or sell a home in 2021?
While the roll-out of the COVID-19 vaccine has left a lot of question marks about the future of the U.S. economy at-large, analysts expect the housing market to remain strong and stable in the coming year.
“Despite the uncertainties of the pandemic, the housing market performed well in the second half of 2020,” says Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s chief economist. “Low mortgage rates and the ability to work remotely continued to propel demand for housing, which is reflected in home sales reaching levels not seen in 15 years.”
Whether you’re a potential homebuyer, a current homeowner or considering selling, here are some of the biggest takeaways of Freddie Mac’s Quarterly Forecast:
• Interest rates are likely to remain low. The average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) hit a record low over a dozen times in 2020. The low interest rate environment is projected to continue through 2021, with the 30-year FRM expected to average below 3 percent. Low rates are good news for buyers looking to purchase a home, and homeowners looking to reduce their mortgage payment through refinancing.
• Home sales to remain high. The demand for housing is expected to remain strong in 2021, creating a favorable market for sellers. Last year, low mortgage rates and the ability to work remotely drove up home sales (the measure of the number of homes sold every month). This year, home sales are expected to ride that wave, averaging 6.5 million for the year.
• House prices to grow moderately. In the second half of 2020, the high volume of home sales and low supply of housing drove up house prices. In 2021, house price growth is expected to moderate for the full year.
• Refinances to start declining. Low mortgage rates spurred refinance activity in 2020, boosting mortgage originations (the process in which borrowers apply for a home loan) to historic highs. As mortgage rates rise modestly in 2021, refinance activity should start to slow. “While many homeowners took advantage of these low rates in last year, evidence suggests that many lower income homeowners still have the opportunity to strengthen their financial position by refinancing,” says Khater.
For more insights on housing, visit freddiemac.com/research. For homebuying and homeownership resources, visit My Home by Freddie Mac.
Many of the trends that shaped the market last year, especially historically low mortgage rates, will continue to drive housing activity in 2021. As you embark on your journey towards your home goals, be sure to have a firm understanding of today’s market conditions.
New program offers help for Spire customers struggling with rent and utility bills
Customers in Missouri financially impacted by the coronavirus pandemic may qualify for assistance
Assistance is available for Spire Missouri residential customers who need help paying their outstanding rent and utility bills because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Through the State Assistance for Housing Relief (SAFHR) program, renters across Missouri can receive assistance with past-due rent and utility bills dating back to April 2020 and up to three months of future rent and energy expenses. The SAFHR program is administered through Missouri’s Housing Development Commission. Customers may apply through the SAFHR program or through similar programs throughout the state to access relief. All programs share common eligibility requirements and are funded through the federal Emergency Rental Assistance Program and the U.S. Department of Treasury.
“With so many people experiencing financial hardship due to the pandemic,
help with rental and utility expenses is critical to our customers and communities,” said Scott Carter, president of Spire Missouri. “Fortunately, there are great resources available through the State Assistance for Housing Relief program to assist people with pastdue bills when they need it most.”
To qualify for SAFHR, an individual must currently live in a residential rental property in Missouri and have a household income at or below 80 percent of the area median income (based on the most recent 30 days or the 2020 annual income). In addition, a tenant must be receiving unemployment benefits or have experienced a reduction in household income and incurred significant costs or financial hardship due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Applications for assistance are available now through Sept. 30, 2021. To learn more about the SAFHR program and how to apply, visit https:// spireenergy.com/missouri-rentalassistance.
Five ideas for backyard fun
Whether you’re hosting a get together or just want to keep everyone in your household entertained, it’s the best time of year to take the fun outdoors. Check out these five ideas for backyard fun for people of all ages:
• Create a waterpark. Avoid traffic and crowds and cool down from the comfort of home using sprinklers and splash pads. A fun way to beat the heat, you can create your very own waterpark during the dog days of summer
• Have a dance party. Portable instruments make it easy to practice and perform anywhere, including your backyard. A good choice for those starting a new musical adventure or anyone who wants to play music anywhere is a Casiotone keyboard. Stylish and sleek, it features a carrying handle for ease of transport and built-in speakers so you can pump up the jams for friends to
enjoy.
• Make a bonfire. Get the friends together to tell scary stories, cook dinner over an open fire, make s’mores and have a sing-along. With many portable, smokeless fire pits on the market today, you don’t need to wait until your next camping trip to have a bonfire.
• Play jumbo-sized games. From chess and checkers to tumbling towers, outsized versions of your favorite classic board games are ideally played outside.
• Relax with a lazy day. With a hammock alone, you can instantly create the perfect backyard oasis for a leisurely day of reading and napping. Today’s hammocks are more versatile than their predecessors. Beyond those that tie to trees and mount to walls, self-standing models offer easy set-up and portability so you can follow the shade – or sun – as desired.
