Cleveland Naval Jr. ROTC’s Mike Wells wins the Missouri Class 2 State 100-, 200- and 400-meter dashes Page B3
St. LouiS AmericAn
Maya
the White House in Washington, D.C. on February 15, 2011.
Maya rises
Maya Angelou ‘ascends’ at age 86
By Kenya Vaughn and Chris King Of The St. Louis American
“Listen to yourself and in that quietude you might hear the voice of God.”
These were the last words Maya Angelou shared with this world, via Twitter, on May 23. She passed away Wednesday, May 28, 2014 at her home in Winston-Salem, North Carolina at the age of 86.
“Her family is extremely grateful that her ascension was not belabored by a loss of acuity or comprehension,” her only child, Clyde “Guy” Johnson, said in a statement. “She lived a life as a teacher, activist, artist and human being. She was a warrior for equality, tolerance and peace.” Angelou, a St. Louis native, recently canceled a series of public appearances due to “an unexpected
See ANGELOU, A7
The message of ‘Brown vs. Board of Education’
Sixty years later, we are still fighting for access to affordable early childhood education and higher education.
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Steve’s Hot Dogs set to expand
Steve Ewing, frontman for the local band The Urge, is raising funds to open a second location in Tower Grove East
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Cards fans say farewell to Yankees’ Musial
It was likely the final opportunity to see one of the last great clean players of the game of baseball when Derek Jeter and the New York Yankees came to town.
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n “She will always be the rainbow in my clouds.”
– Oprah Winfrey
n “She evolved into a global voice, springing from a wellspring of black experience.”
– Shirley Bradley LeFlore
mArch 18, 1948 – mAy 24, 2014
Bertha Gilkey passes Community organizer helped transform public housing in St. Louis, nation
Gilkey, a community organizer who played a key role in the improvement of public housing in St. Louis and around the nation, died Saturday, May 24, 2014, while she was in the process of receiving cancer treatment, according to her daughter, Yvette Gilkey Shuford. She was 66. Gilkey had
only surviving child. “I gave up my mom for the people in St. Louis and anywhere she was needed to go fight.”
A wake will be held 5-8 p.m. Friday, May 30 at Central Baptist Church, 2842 Washington Ave. Funeral services will be held 9:30 a.m. Saturday, May 31, also at Central Baptist, followed by a repast at Carr Square, 1629 Biddle St.
“She was an outspoken advocate for her community who played a central role in making St. Louis a national model for making public housing livable for families,” Kit Bond, former Missouri governor and U.S. senator, told The American “Bertha was passionate about improving the
See GILKEY, A6
Angelou was presented with the Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama in a ceremony at
Photo by Wiley Price
By Chris King Of The St. Louis American
Bertha Gilkey
Kanye gives guests 20-minute wedding rant
According to several outlets, controversial rap star Kanye West spent 20 minutes of his highly publicized wedding festivities this past Saturday slamming the media and calling the Kardashians a ‘warrior brand.’
“We’re celebrities. The world is our altar,” West reportedly said after exchanging vows with Kim Kardashian. “[The media] feel like it’s okay to put you on the tabloid covers to sell your image, to use you in an SNL spoof ... We don’t negotiate. We’re not like that. We’re not stupid. “The Kardashians are an industry! ... We are warriors!”
married in Italy Saturday.” The announcement also referred to Kanye West as an “egotist” and Kardashian as a “sex tape star.”
In other Kimye wedding news, Jay Z and Beyoncé opted out of attending the star studded bash after much speculation about whether or not the music power couple would attend.
Houston family furious over Whitney and Bobby biopic plans
The Houston estate is said to be so upset they’re considering a lawsuit to block production of the upcoming Lifetime film biopic that showcases the tumultuous relationship between the late Whitney Houston and her ex-husband Bobby Brown
The family reportedly made it clear they weren’t on board with a TV movie.
Pat Houston wouldn’t get specific, but told TMZ, “Whitney is certainly worthy of more than a television movie. If Whitney were here today, this would not be happening.”
He reportedly went on to say “[Kim is the] ideal celebrity ... the ideal art.”
The New York Post added fuel any future media related Kanye West rants with their Kimye wedding announcement.
The passage – equipped with a “yawn” in the headline – starts with “Two jackasses got
Lifetime also produced the short lived Houston family reality show “Houstons: On Our Own” just six months after Whitney Houston’s death.
‘Basketball Wives LA’ star slapped with DUI
The Glendale Police Department told E! News that “Basketball Wives LA” star Sundy Carter was asked to give a blood or a breath sample after allegedly crossing over a double yellow line and traveling westbound in the eastbound traffic lane near Kenneth Road and Hillcrest Avenue around 1 a.m. Tuesday. She chose to provide the breath sample and blew a .18 percent twice (the legal limit is .08 percent).
According to Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department records, Carter posted $10,000 bail Tuesday and was released. She’s scheduled to appear in court on Thursday at 8:30 a.m.
Tiny lets Instagram haters have it following Fatburger brawl
The T.I. vs. Floyd Mayweather Fatburger confrontation has picked up new legs when T.I.’s wife Tiny reportedly lashed back at a comment on her Instagram page that implies Tiny was the root of the problem.
“I ain’t put that [n-word expletive] in [expletive],” Tiny exclaimed. “You see that [n-word expletive] in the media with different [b-word expletive]. Don’t
come at me with that [expletive] about no pix with a friend [expletive] you & whoever feel like u.”
The drama kicked off over the weekend when Tiny’s husband T.I. stepped to Mayweather at a Las Vegas Fatburger accusing the boxer of trying to date his wife. A melee ensued that was captured on video. Mayweather cleared up the rumor that he and Tiny were an item, but revealed that there were serious woes in T.I. and Tiny’s marriage in the process.
“Tiny is married. I respect that,” Mayweather said. “I don’t care if y’all separated; she’s still married under God’s eyes and the law. I’m not going to sleep with a married woman. I’m not going to do that. Like I said on All Access, I’m becoming a better person.”
Mayweather says he is just friends with the singer and reality television star, but she was blamed with fueling the fight because of photos she posted that included the boxer along with Tiny’s good friend.
“You should be asking why I put up with him! [expletive]utambout!!!,” Tiny reportedly continued. “U been seeing him in the net time after time on [expletive] [expletive]!!! So, [expletive] you [expletive] and how you feel. You can shove that respect up yo [expletive].
North City historic site gets national push
Committee planning Mary Meachum Freedom Crossing monument
By Nora Ibrahim Of St. Louis Public Radio
On the 159th anniversary of Mary Meachum’s attempted crossing of the Mississippi River, from what was at the time the slave state of Missouri to the free state Illinois. St. Louis residents, local groups and officials gathered at the crossing site to announce plans for a permanent monument. For many of those who attended, it marks 15 years of hard work to get the site more widely recognized.
James Clark, vice president of community outreach for Better Family Life, says the local group is still working hard to take the historic site to the national forefront. Clark hopes that the crossing site will be recognized on that level as construction begins in the next three to seven years. The point of Meachum’s crossing has been designated a national Underground Railroad site — the first in Missouri. The site is about three miles north of downtown St. Louis, just north of the Merchant’s Bridge.
“This is very, very pungent history, and we are very, very fortunate of having the responsibility of bringing it to life,” Clark said. “This is a very powerful river. This is a very strong metropolitan area. We are just now recognizing this.”
At the riverfront, Angela da Silva, adjunct professor in American studies at Lindenwood University, helped re-enact the night Meachum, a free woman of color, tried to cross the Mississippi River with a group of nine slaves. Da Silva is also a seventh-generation Missourian and a descendant of Missouri slaves on both her mother’s and father’s side.
“We have lost so much of our history, and especially African Americans,” she said. “If people really knew their origins, I’d say they’d come to the slave states.”
For da Silva, a monument marking the Meachum crossing site would bring attention to its historical significance and even help some people reconnect with their
family histories.
“We are truly blessed this site is still pristine, meaning nothing was built on it nor demolished,” she said. “The vista we’re looking at while we’re standing here is the same vista those slaves saw on May 21, 1855. That’s powerful to me.”
Clark and da Silva both said that the
n “This is very, very pungent history, and we are very, very fortunate of having the responsibility of bringing it to life.”
– James Clark, Better Family Life
construction of the monument will bring needed tourist activity to North St. Louis.
“As we get the word out, as we begin to really tell the story, St. Louis will open up,” Clark said.
The committee behind the monument’s construction has secured an endowment, largely due to St. Louis Alderwoman Dionne Flowers. Still, the committee is searching for other methods
of funding and promoting the site’s visibility.
While the committee searches for funding opportunities, it will also hold a competition to design a nine-acre site. The committee members hope the monument will be a noticeable landmark on the riverfront so both tourists and passersby will stop to visit.
“Creating a more permanent monument at the point of departure can commemorate the courage to cross the Mississippi or even the contemplation to do that,” said Laura Lyon, committee member and vice president of H3 Studio, which is involved in regional planning of the site. “This would give a spot to tell that story, stand in their footprints. It’s up to the artists to explore what that means and its physicality.”
Entries will be voted on in October, and the committee will announce the finalist next year.
Members of the committee said artists interested in entering the monument competition should keep an eye on Great Rivers Greenway’s website (www. greatriversgreenway.org) and the Mary Meachum Freedom Crossing Celebration Facebook group for details. Edited slightly and reprinted with permission from news.stlpublicradio.org.
60 years after Brown
By Rev. Jesse L. Jackson Sr. Chicago Sun-Times
The Supreme Court decision in Brown vs. Board of Education 60 years ago began when Oliver L. Brown, a welder, went to court because his daughter Linda could not attend Sumner Elementary School in Topeka, Kan., seven blocks from her home.
The Supreme Court ruled definitively that “separate but equal” has no place in the American Constitution, that separate facilities are inherently unequal.
Sixty years later, residential patterns have resegregated many of our schools. First lady Michelle Obama speaking in Topeka noted “many young people in America are going to school largely with kids who look just like them. Too often, those schools aren’t equal, especially ones attended by students of color, which too often lag behind, with crumbling classrooms and less experienced teachers.” Brown overturned the ignominious Supreme Court decision in Plessy vs. Ferguson, in which the court ruled that separate but equal train facilities fulfilled the constitutional guarantee of equal protection under the Fourteenth Amendment. Just as Plessy wasn’t solely about train cars, Brown wasn’t solely about schools.
Court ruled that separate but equal had no place under our Constitution. It ended legal segregation not just in classrooms but also in all aspects of life.
After Brown, we had rights. We had to march and protest, sit-in, get arrested and risk our lives to affirm those rights, but we no longer had walls to limit our dreams. From Brown came the New South. Yet, the end of legal segregation did not mean the end of discrimination. In our criminal justice system, African-American men are more likely to be stopped than whites, more likely to be searched if stopped, more likely to be charged if arrested, more likely to be prosecuted if charged, and, if convicted are hit with sentences that are on average 20 percent harsher than white men convicted of similar crimes.
Racial discrimination remains a battleground in America. The conservative majority in the U.S. Supreme Court under Chief Justice John Roberts has been systematically weakening civil rights laws from voting rights to affirmative action. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, dissenting from a Roberts’ decision, wrote, “The way to stop discrimination on the basis of race is to speak openly and candidly on the subject of race.”
Plessy legitimized legal apartheid in the United States. African Americans in the South were banned from using white public facilities, libraries, transportation, swimming pools, schools and more. With its decision in Brown, the Supreme
And her position on the court to offer that dissent is a testament to how far we have come, and to the great transformation the Supreme Court helped to launch with its decision in Brown vs. Board of Education
Columnist Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr.
Angela da Silva, adjunct professor in American studies at Lindenwood University, re-enacts the night of Mary Meachum’s freedom crossing.
Photo by Nora Ibrahim
Editorial /CommEntary
Connecting Maya, Bertha and us
It is a profound and humbling honor for The American to join in representing this community when the world loses a very special person from St. Louis who is African American. We consider it a sacred duty to record the passing of those great figures who emerged from the black community in St. Louis and had the vision, passion and tenacity to transform St. Louis, the United States and even, in some rare cases, the world. This week we grieve the loss of two such beloved figures: Bertha Gilkey and Maya Angelou. In addition to being born in St. Louis, these two black women have in common the fact that each was sent to be raised by grandparents in the South, albeit 20 years apart (Angelou was born in 1928, Gilkey in 1948). Their life directions diverged, at that point. Angelou left the South for California and a career in the performing arts that would eventually make her one of the most widely influential and beloved writers in the world. Gilkey left the South to return to St. Louis, where she joined a tenants’ rights movement in public housing that she would eventually help lead to national prominence. What both shared, most deeply, was the ability to move other people. Angelou moved people foremost through language, both on the page and in performance. She was an inspirational writer and performer, thanked by countless people all over the world for giving their lives hope and direction. “From a childhood of poverty and abuse in rural Arkansas to the pinnacle of world renown, recognition and even celebrity, she seemed always to carry an air, an aura, that said, ‘Here I am, a fountain of positive energy, dip into me,’” the St. Louis poet K. Curtis Lyle writes in an essay we will publish next week. “I hesitate to use the word ‘healer,’” Curtis added, “because it sounds a bit mystical and a little too precious.” Maya’s core readers, however, would never hesitate to use the word “healer.” Without question, in addition to being an inspirational writer and teacher, Maya was a healer.
Bertha Gilkey, by contrast, was a grinder. She was an organizer and a negotiator. She did not plumb her emotional depths and provide guidance to others who might need help on their spiritual journey. She knocked on doors, participated in meetings, organized pickets and lobbied legislators. She woke people up. Her organizing skill soon moved beyond the public housing projects where she first found her voice and came to encompass the corridors of legislative and policy-making power. She leveraged the latent power of her low-income community to force changes in St. Louis governmental policy that eventually reached Washington, D.C. and the White House.
And there, again, Bertha Gilkey and Maya Angelou converge. Both of these black women, born in St. Louis and reared in humble circumstances, came to command the attention of presidents of the United States. President George H.W. Bush visited Cochran Gardens in St. Louis in 1992 to praise Gilkey’s efforts in organizing tenants’ rights, and two U.S. presidents summoned Angelou to Washington, D.C.: President-elect Bill Clinton in 1993 to read a poem at his inauguration, and President Barack Obama in 2011 to award her a Medal of Freedom, our nation’s highest civilian honor. “Bertha could talk to anybody, from a Fortune 500 CEO to an alderman to a community organizer,” her beloved son-in-law Rick Shuford said. “She could talk to anybody at the table.” The same, precisely, can be said of Maya Angelou. St. Louis poet Shirley Bradley LeFlore said that Maya took her personal experience as a black woman “and connected most of us in the world.” We are so much better connected, and so much stronger, because these two great human beings lived. We join their families, friends, admirers and supporters in mourning them deeply and giving thanks for them.
Commentery
GOP still swallowing the tea
What’s happening in the Republican primaries is less a defeat for the tea party than a surrender by the GOP establishment, which is winning key races by accepting the tea party’s radical anti-government philosophy.
Anyone who hopes the party has finally come to its senses will be disappointed. Republicans have pragmatically decided not to concede Senate elections by nominating eccentrics and crackpots.
But in convincing the party’s activist base to come along, establishment leaders have pledged fealty to eccentric, crackpot ideas. House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio, who easily won his primary this month against a weak tea party challenger, said Tuesday that there isn’t “that big a difference between what you all call the tea party and your average conservative Republican. We’re against Obamacare, we think taxes are too high, we think the government’s too big.” That doesn’t sound so crazy. But is it reasonable for Republicans to keep voting to repeal all or part of the Affordable Care Act – more than 50 times, so far – knowing full well that they have zero chance of success? Does it make sense, if taxes are excessive, to refuse President Obama’s invitation to begin serious talks about tax reform?
As for the “government’s too big” part, this traditional GOP mantra has become – thanks to the tea party – a weapon of spite, not a statement of policy. No to extended benefits for the
unemployed. No to struggling families who need food stamps. No to underprivileged kids who need Head Start. No to a long-overdue increase in the minimum wage. No to undocumented immigrants who want to contribute more fully to our society. No to sorely needed infrastructure projects.
The victories by establishment-backed Republicans in Senate primaries hold no promise that the party is ready to stop throwing tantrums and begin governing. They do ensure, however, that Democrats will have few, if any, “gimme” races this fall. None of the GOP contenders nominated thus far is likely to self-immolate in the manner of, say, Christine O’Donnell, a tea party favorite in Delaware who memorably had to run a campaign ad in 2010 clarifying that “I’m not a witch.”
Well, maybe one candidate has the potential for a pratfall: Monica Wehby, a pediatric neurosurgeon who had establishment support in winning Oregon’s Senate primary this week, was accused of physically attacking her ex-husband in 2007 during a messy divorce. She faces incumbent Democrat Jeff Merkley in November.
In Georgia, the tea party’s favored candidates, Reps. Paul Broun and Phil Gingrey, were both dispatched last Tuesday. The establishment’s favorites, Rep. Jack Kingston and businessman David Perdue, will square off in a July 22 runoff. Either will present a tough challenge for Democrat Michelle Nunn, who still has a fighting chance, polls indicate, to steal a seat from the Republican column.
Polls also show Senate Minority Leader Mitch
Equality is about options
My personal story serves as an illustration of just how far we still have to go as a nation in fulfilling the promise of equality in education set out by the Brown v. Board of Education U.S. Supreme Court case, which was decided 60 years ago last week.
Guest Columnist George Parker
I remember the court ruling vividly. I was a young black boy attending an allblack segregated school in rural North Carolina, and later went to become an active participant in civil rights protests and demonstrations while in college.
We remember Brown v. Board in the context of racism, but the core of the case was actually about equality. And when it comes to schools, that means educational opportunities and options.
Prior to the ruling, black students pretty much had only one option: go to your segregated school. Even if that school’s facilities were inferior, even if its textbooks were out of date, even if its programs were grossly underfunded –black kids had only one option. They had no access to schools designed for whites only. After the Supreme Court put an end to the false “separate but equal” doctrine that had been the law of the land since 1896, black students finally had choices.
A few years after the Brown ruling, when integrated schools came to the area of North Carolina where I lived, I chose
to complete high school in the same segregated school I’d been attending. Teachers were also segregated – even the best teachers, if they were black, had to teach at black schools. I had some great teachers. They not only taught academic curriculum but instilled values and principles we would need to successfully compete in a racially biased and segregated society. But again, staying in that school was now my choice.
In 2005 I became president of the Washington Teachers Union in D.C. The public schools were performing among the worst in the nation on standardized tests with a substantial achievement gap between black students and their white counterparts nationally. Charter schools were growing at a rapid rate, and public school enrollment was declining.
In response to dwindling enrollment, the chancellor of schools sought to close down the poorest-performing schools, all of which happened to be in neighborhoods with high poverty rates and large minority populations.
I followed the standard course of union action and fought against charter schools. I fought against school closures. Why? Because they would have meant fewer teachers, a subsequent reduction in union dues income, and therefore less financial and political clout for our union.
Charter schools aren’t unionized. And consolidating schools would mean consolidating teachers as well. We fought those things out of self-interest, not on behalf of
Letters to the editor
DESE and Normandy
McConnell, R-Ky., in a surprisingly close race against Democrat Alison Lundergan Grimes. McConnell handily defeated Matt Bevin, a challenger with tea party support, in the primary. But in what devolved into a contest of more-conservative-thanthou boasting, McConnell – by nature a dealmaker – promised, essentially, no deals with Obama.
The tea party is claiming a victory in college president Ben Sasse’s victory over Shane Osborn in the Senate primary in Nebraska. But there was no discernible difference between the candidates’ positions on the issues – they fought mostly over who was more determined to waste time and energy trying to repeal the Affordable Care Act. And Sasse, despite his protestations to the contrary, is actually a polished Washington insider.
Nothing I’ve seen in the primary results so far suggests the Republican Party is tempering its views or weakening its implacable opposition to anything the Obama administration proposes. To the contrary, the GOP slate promises to display a remarkable degree of far-right ideological purity.
The Republican Party’s move to the right opens political space for Democratic incumbents and challengers trying to win in red states. Candidates such as Grimes and Nunn can emphasize local issues while maintaining some distance from Washington – and, in the process, make Republicans play defense. Democrats must not let voters be fooled. Yes, tea party candidates are going down. But the tea party’s extremism and obstructionism live on.
I was informed by Beyond Housing that last Monday DESE contacted the police to say that protesters from Normandy were expected at the state board meeting and might be “unruly.” The Columbia police called Beyond Housing to look into this. Beyond Housing explained the reason for the journey – to bear witness and see the decision makers face-to-face.
In communities like Normandy, the police are generally feared. The fact that a police presence was called in placed DESE in the category of those who fear, harm and mistrust people who are poor and black – people who are poor and black who get on buses to ride far from home to advocate for their children.
The people of Normandy have yet more evidence of the state’s disregard and willful misunderstanding. They are damned as uncaring if they don’t show up in public, and damned if they do come for being perceived as a threat to law and order.
Inda Schaenen, instructional coach Normandy School District
Still separate and unequal
Sixty years after the historic Supreme Court decision in Brown v. Board of Education, our public schools are still separate and still unequal. The growing gap between rich and poor has relegated lowincome working families to neighborhood schools without the resources to give children the education they deserve. Neither the business community nor our elected leaders have done enough to address the problem. That’s why workers are joining together on the job to raise wages and to build the power that’s necessary to reclaim their neighborhood schools and provide the education all our children deserve. We are standing on the shoulders of courageous parents, and students like 16-year-old
students. Of course, I wasn’t going to tell that to the black community. So, I was in the position of telling black kids and poor kids and Latino kids, “You have only one choice, even if that school is failing you.” That was the same thing black kids, including me, had been told nearly two generations earlier, prior to the Brown case. When adults are blinded by their own self-interest and support policies and causes that limit or deny educational opportunities to poor black kids, the effects of their actions can be identical to those of racism.
Many people in the black and Latino communities, including politicians and education advocates, have bought into this bad messaging. They call charter schools “corporate” and assert that vouchers will “privatize” education. They believe they are fighting for kids, but they’re actually supporting a racially biased type of segregation and education inequality. Six decades after Brown it’s time that we re-evaluate the whole point of that court case. Education is our country’s great equalizer. It provides poor kids the opportunity to lift themselves up, pull themselves out of poverty, and be successful. No kid, no matter their skin color or their parents’ socioeconomic status, should be stuck in a substandard school and denied options. That should not have been the case in 1954, and it should absolutely not be the case today.
Parker is a senior fellow at StudentsFirst, a school choice advocacy organization.
Barbara Rose Johns, who organized and led a 450-student walkout at her high school in 1951 to stand up for equality and brought the struggle to the steps of the Supreme Court. Now it’s up to all of us to honor this proud legacy by continuing to organize in the workplace and in our communities to reclaim our public neighborhood schools and to raise wages so we can invest in excellent sustainable schools for all children.
Mary Kay Henry, president Service Employees International Union
Standing up for basic protections
On behalf of the 541 businesses in support of workplace protections, we express disappointment no vote was taken on the Missouri Nondiscrimination Act (MONA). We are humbled and grateful for the businesses that supported MONA and made a bold decision to stand up for basic protections for LGBT Missourians. We also want to thank our incredible leader state Senator Jolie Justus for her service and work on MONA throughout the years. We know from our efforts this year there is political will to get this done. There is currently not enough courage to get the vote right now.
A.J. Bockelman, executive director, PROMO
Awesome work ethic
President Barrack Obama has been on his job day in and day out. And although I have not totally agreed with every decision he has made, I certainly agree with his work ethic. Amid critics, amid chaos, amid a dysfunctional and ambivalent Republican Party and amid even some suspect fellow Democrats, our president has never the less remained presidential. Despite every hateful rant and despite every twisted argument that is posed against him, our president clocks in each day,
Columnist Eugene Robinson
Bertha Gilkey
Maya Angelou
First District Career Fair on Monday, June 2
U.S. Rep. Wm. Lacy Clay will present his 9th annual First District Career Fair 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday, June 2 at Harris-Stowe State University’s Emerson Physical Education & Performing Arts Center, 3026 Laclede Avenue. The U.S. Office of Personnel Management, Ameren, Boeing Company, Express Scripts, BJC Healthcare Systems, World Wide Technology, Clear Channel Communications, CBS Radio, Emmis Communications, Charter Communications; Centene Corporation, Wells Fargo Advisors, Lodging Hospitality Management, Lumiere Place, Hollywood Casino, PNC Bank and the U.S. Postal Service are expended to send representatives.
Pulitzer changes name, expands
The Pulitzer Foundation for the Arts is changing its name to the Pulitzer Arts Foundation and closing temporarily in late August for an expansion project that will transform the lower level of its Tadao Ando-designed building into new public spaces for exhibitions, programs and artist-driven activities. It will reopen in May 2015 with a new schedule of concurrent exhibitions.
Filmmakers Showcase deadline nears
May 31 is the submission deadline for the 2014 St. Louis Filmmakers Showcase, which will screen July 13-17.
The St. Louis Filmmakers Showcase screens works that were written, directed, edited, or produced by St. Louis natives or films with strong local ties. The various film programs that will screen at the Showcase range from full-length fiction features and documentaries to multi-film compilations of fiction and documentary shorts. Visit www.cinemastlouis.org for more information or contact chris@cinemastlouis.org with any questions regarding submissions.
Eden honors MASW
The Eden Theological Seminary community and student body presented the Shalom Award to the Missouri Association for Social Welfare (MASW). The award is given to an individual or organization that exhibits courage and leadership in seeking to speak and embody the vision of shalom. Shalom, the Hebrew word for peace, “is used theologically to describe a state of life in which basic human needs are met and harmonious and just relationships prevail,” according to MASW. MASW was chosen because of its work promoting peace and justice by addressing issues such as hunger, mental and physical health, and many others.
Daddy is deploying
U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Jason Singleton, a St. Louis native, plays with his 1-year-old son during a recent deployment ceremony at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif. Singleton is an intelligence analyst with Headquarters and Service Company, 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment. He and fellow Marines with the battalion deployed to Darwin, Australia, to train alongside Australian service members as part of Marine Rotational Force-Darwin.
The message of Brown
By U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters Guest Columnist
The Brown vs. Board of Education decision was a major step toward education equality in the United States, and launched a Civil Rights movement that was a turning point for our country.
I am reminded of heroes like Justice Thurgood Marshall, James Meredith, the Little Rock Nine, the lawyers who fought in the courtroom, and the many civil rights activists who risked their lives to fight for equality.
But while the decision changed the law of the land, it didn’t immediately change the reality of education inequality in America.
Even during the time directly following the court decision, all states and localities did not follow the precedent set by the ruling. This played out in national news across the country and was clearly seen at Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas when a group of black students, known as the Little Rock Nine, was blocked by the National Guard from entering the school, under orders from then Governor Orval Faubus.
Over the years, various federal and state laws and initiatives have been introduced in an effort to improve education, yet today, there is still more work that can be done to ensure that every child has equal access to a world-class education.
Sixty years later, we are still fighting for access to affordable early childhood education and higher education and for the reduction of dropout rates. Additionally, the school-to-prison pipeline is not merely a theory, but is a reality for many of our students across the country and is hindering them from access to educational opportunities.
We must also adequately prepare our students for entering the workforce as our students compete in a global economy with individuals from around the world.
On this important anniversary, let us remember the words of Justice Thurgood Marshall, who argued this case as a NAACP chief counsel: “None of us got where we are solely by pulling ourselves up by our bootstraps. We got here because somebody… bent down and helped us pick up our boots.”
Today, let us never forget the message of Brown as we work to ensure equal access to education, a strong workforce, and an open door to opportunity for all.
Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), ranking member of the House Financial Services Committee and a native of Kinloch, released these remarks to honor the 60th anniversary of Brown vs. Board of Education which declared all laws establishing segregated schools unconstitutional. The anniversary fell on May 17.
Maxine Waters
Photo by Cpl. U.S. Marine Corey Dabney
GILKEY
Continued from A1
living conditions of residents of public housing and lowincome families,” said Richard Baron, a founding principal at McCormack Baron Salazar, who partnered with Gilkey from her early years on many projects. “She never lost her fight.”
“I must have traveled to 30 cities with her,” said community activist Anthony Shaheed. “She’d get right in them gang members’ faces and say, ‘I’m getting ready to call the police on you.’ She’d walk those grounds. If you were up to no good and see Bertha coming, you knew you had a problem.”
From Arkansas to activist Bertha Knox Gilkey was born in Round Pound, Arkansas on March 18, 1948 to Willie and Irma Robinson, the second oldest of 16 children, according to Shuford. Though her parents lived in St. Louis, she was raised by her grandmother in Arkansas, moving to St. Louis in her early teens after her grandfather passed away. Her mother was living in Cochran Gardens, a public housing complex near downtown St. Louis.
“She moved in with her mom,” Shuford said, “and became an activist.”
Baron first met her in 1969, when Gilkey was active in a rent strike to improve conditions at the embattled public housing complex. “She wasn’t a leader of the strike,” Baron said, correcting previous reports. “But she clearly was part of the Cochran tenant organization, which was part of a citywide group protesting issues at the St. Louis Housing Authority.”
Baron said Gilkey served on the citywide Tenant Affairs Board and was elected to head the Cochran Tenant Management Organization when it moved to a tenant management model in 1976. She later served as
commissioner for the housing authority.
Michael Jones, who is now senior policy advisor for County Executive Charlie Dooley, was head of the St. Louis Housing Authority in 1986 when it signed its first tenant management agreements with Gilkey at Cochran Gardens and Loretta Hall at Carr Square.
“In 1984 when I was announced as head of the housing authority, Bertha picketed my house,” Jones said. “When I left in 1989, based on policy differences between myself and H.U.D., where the mayor (Vince Schoemehl) took H.U.D.’s side, she protested that. So she protested my coming, and she protested my leaving.”
In the meantime, they made history together, turning operational control of public housing facilities in St. Louis over to tenant management for the first time.
“The basis of our evolving relationship,” Jones said, “is we were both committed to the idea that just because people are low-income did not mean they should not have the same level of services and justice that people with money had.”
As Gilkey organized the community to make history, she participated in the major black empowerment movements of the time,
identifying as a Black Panther and then as a member of the Nation of Islam.
“My mom made me wear those things on my head,” Shuford said. “The kids would make fun of me. I’d say, ‘Mama, please let me wear some shorts.’”
Shuford had one sibling, Antoine Gilkey, who was better suited for the activist life.
“My brother was more like my mother,” Shuford said. “He went to meetings and boycotts and pickets because he wanted to. I went because Mama told me I had to do it.”
The mother who was not afraid to confront gangbangers did not tolerate insubordination from her children.
“I feared Mama like I feared God,” Shuford said. “My brother was 6’2”, and she would make him get on his knees and beat him. Mama did not play.”
To get the community involved in organizing, she used a more savory strategy.
“She was an exceptional cook, and her negotiating tool to get people to go picket was to invite you over for a plate of spaghetti or mac-ncheese,” Shuford said. “Now that she done fed you, you’re all happy and ready and committed to do whatever she had committed to do.”
Pioneer fighting for federal funds
According to a 1992 New York Times report, when Gilkey had been unpaid tenant manager at Cochran for 15 years, she was earning an annual income of more than $30,000 as a consultant, traveling cross-country to teach the tenant management model.
The Times reported that Gilkey was paying $786 a month to live in a three-bedroom apartment next to neighbors whose rent was low as $19 a month.
She insisted she could not lead the movement any other way.
“She couldn’t smell that pissy elevator unless she was down there,” Shuford said.
“She couldn’t hear the gunshots unless she was down there. She couldn’t tell you if gang members were sitting in the hallway unless she was down there.”
Though Gilkey was conversant with public housing tenants and gangbangers, she mixed equally well with developers like Baron and public officials at all levels, reaching all the way to the White House. President George H.W. Bush visited Cochran Gardens in 1992, and his H.U.D. Secretary Jack Kemp developed close family ties with Gilkey that their children
Bertha Gilkey, center, celebrated with 6th Ward Alderwoman Marit Clark and Michael Jones, head of the St. Louis Housing Authority, when the first tenant management agreement was signed at Cochran Gardens in December 1986.
now maintain.
This, and the location of Cochran Gardens on the edge of downtown, resulted in a massive influx of federal funds that helped to improve the complex. The Times reported that Cochran benefitted from more than $33 million in renovation grants from 1978 to 1992, more than twice the funding awarded to any other St. Louis housing complex in that period.
“She was a pioneer behind fighting to get federal money to go in and rehab these high rises with poor conditions,” Shuford said. “She fought real hard to get developers involved.”
Gilkey went on to develop other local projects in partnership with Baron and others, such as O’Fallon Place and Murphy Park, which brought a new holistic approach to public housing.
The I. Jerome and Rosemary Flance Early Childhood Education Center, which is opening soon at Murphy Park, is marked by her spirit, Baron said.
“Early childhood education is something Bertha was always interested in,” Baron said. “We got the Ford Foundation to fund an infant care center at Cochran in the late ‘70s. She spent a lot of time at the Henry School, which is adjacent to Cochran. It was the combination of her
interest in affordable housing and schools that distinguished her from others who were involved with public housing.”
In later years, she worked with school choice groups, including the Black Alliance for Educational Options.
“Once she got some public/ private partnership established so the tenants could be proud of where they stay, she started to look at kids and focus on kids,” Shuford said.
“She knew they started off as good kids, but ended up committing suicide or killing each other in gangs. She told me, ‘Your generation and the ones after you are lost. We need to go fight for these kids so they know what to do and we can keep the world going.’”
Tragically, she lost one of her only two children when Antoine Gilkey died in 2005 from a staph infection.
“That affected her more than any one thing,” Shuford said. “I did the whole funeral for my brother. She never even visited his grave site. She said, ‘I don’t have enough in me to go visit his grave site.’” Gilkey cherished her two grandchildren, Percy and Ricky Shuford, who called her “Nanna.”
“My mama was everybody’s mama,” Shuford said, “but once these grandkids came, everything revolved around them.”
Shuford recalled being dismayed when she sent her boys to her mother one summer only to hear that they had appeared on the network news, picketing with Nanna.
“She’d take them to Six Flags,” Shuford said, “but before that you had to work, make some flyers, knock on some doors.”
Shuford said two projects in memory of her mother are in the works. A petition will be circulated to name a street in St. Louis after Bertha Gilkey. Shuford and her husband Rick also intend to start a family foundation called Our Kids Rock. For more information, email yvetteshuford@gmail. com or rickshuford@yahoo. com.
Photo by Wiley Price
ANGELOU
Continued from A1 illness.”
“Today, Michelle and I join millions around the world in remembering one of the brightest lights of our time – a brilliant writer, a fierce friend and a truly phenomenal woman,” President Barack Obama said in a statement.
Obama presented Angelou with the Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor, in 2011.
Eugene B. Redmond, East St. Louis poet laureate, spoke to his longtime friend a few days ago. “She was laughing and giggling and working out the time I was coming this summer,” said Redmond.
It would have been the 14th consecutive summer he spent in Angelou’s guest house on Valley Road in Winston-Salem, working on poems. Redmond has written and published more poems about Angelou than he could count.
“She feeds eyes, ears & skies with / dancing loaves of poetry,” Redmond writes of her in one poem.
Poetry was only part of her gift.
“Over the course of her remarkable life, Maya was many things – an author, poet, civil rights activist, playwright, actress, director, composer, singer and dancer,” Obama said.
“She won three Grammys, spoke six languages and was the second poet in history to recite a poem at a presidential inauguration,” her longtime friend Oprah Winfrey said in a statement.
Even as a writer, Angelou knew few bounds.
“Who else won Grammys for spoken word, was nominated for a Pulitzer for poetry, received a National Book Award for lifetime achievement (where Toni Morrison gave the intro) and had a book (‘I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings’) made into a movie?” Redmond said.
“Who else, outside of Langston Hughes and maybe Amiri Baraka, has written in every genre? Who else excelled in poetry, fiction, autobiography, songwriting, lyrics, books for ballet? She excelled in every genre, and then she created some hybrid forms.”
She even published cookbooks. The lively atmosphere and adventurous menu served at her table is captured in Redmond’s poem “Maya’s Kitchen: Homage to SisterCook. “Smothered blues from a delta skillet – black,” Redmond writes. “Spicy
proverbs from a rush of pepper soup.”
St. Louis poet and author Quincy Troupe, whose friendship with Angelou dated back 40 years, said her achievement was greatest in autobiography and performance.
“I liked her as a person, as a personality and especially as a stage presence,” Troupe said. “She could really deliver the goods. It was remarkable how she could move an audience.”
Gerald Early, a professor at Washington University and fellow author in multiple genres, agreed with Troupe’s assessment. He recalled introducing her at a campus event in St. Louis when he was still an unknown junior professor. “She gave a fantastic presentation,” Early said, “combining her literary and theatrical skills seamlessly.”
But on the page, Early said, she was strongest as a memoirist.
“‘I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings’ will always be one of the great African-American autobiographies ever written, one of the great American autobiographies,” Early said.
Perhaps it is most remarkable that one human being – emerging from an oppressed people – could encompass so many gifts and use them for so long to touch so many other people.
“Maya Angelou met, knew, encountered, cooperated and collaborated with, opposed –almost always with aplomb and dignity – represented, intimately probed, sometimes dissected, sometimes corrected, sometimes used, every one of the classic black masks,” the St. Louis poet K. Curtis Lyle said.
“She was able to accomplish this admirable feat of human complexity and visionary
clarity by incorporating into her being, quite early, what the Yoruba call Ashe, or the ability to make things happen.”
“She evolved into a global voice,” said St. Louis poet Shirley Bradley LeFlore, “springing from a wellspring of black experience. I think about how she used that to connect most of us in the world.”
“What stands out to me most about Maya Angelou is not what she has done or written or spoken, it’s how she lived her life,” Winfrey said. “She moved through the world with unshakeable calm, confidence and a fierce grace.”
Caged bird singing
Maya Angelou was born Marguerite Annie Johnson to Bailey Johnson and Vivian Johnson in St. Louis on April 4, 1928, though she was raised by her grandmother in the small town of Stamps, Arkansas.
Her breakthrough book, “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings” (1970), focuses on growing up in a small segregated Arkansas town. The worst abuse she suffered, however, came her mother’s
boyfriend, who raped her at age 7. After she spoke the rapist’s name, he was found kicked to death. Awed by the power of her own voice, she writes, she fell silent for nearly five years, speaking only to one brother.
The book – which has been translated into 17 languages and sold more than one million copies – alone would have guaranteed her literary immortality.
“She was one of the few writers, black or white or anything else, who had both a huge popular audience (every African American I know loves her work) but also was respected by the literati for her autobiographies, particularly ‘I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings,’” Early said.
She adopted the stage name “Angelou” in the early 1950s when she was married to Tosh Angelos, a Greek American sailor, and dancing professionally at San Francisco’s Purple Onion nightclub. Her singing and dancing career is described in her third memoir, “Singin’ and Swingin’ and Gettin’ Merry Like Christmas” (1976).
In the first half of the 1960s, she was a civil rights activist
Maya Angelou signs books with fellow St. Louis native Alice Windom whom she roomed with for a time in Ghana.
and aspiring writer in New York. She spent the second half of the sixties living in Africa, after marrying a South African activist, experiences described in her fifth autobiography, “All God’s Children Need Traveling Shoes” (1986). In Ghana she roomed for a time with a fellow St. Louis native, Alice Windom.
U.S. Rep. Wm. Lacy
Clay points out that she was inducted into the St. Louis Walk of Fame in 1992, a year before she read a poem at Bill Clinton’s first inauguration –becoming only the second poet in history, after Robert Frost, to do so.
In keeping with her embrace of both high and popular culture, in 2002 she lent her name and verse to a line of Hallmark products. “I want my work read,” she told The Washington Post at the time.
Throughout all of these evolutions – and this is a very partial summary – she retained close connection to Redmond and Troupe, two St. Louis-area poets from opposite sides of the Mississippi River. In both cases, it was a family affair. In 1970, the year her life
began to change forever with the publication of her first best-selling memoir, Angelou told Redmond, “Be my brother forever.”
“The way she danced, serpentine, with Haitian movements, and then a snap of her neck like black women do, and she’d pop her finger and say, ‘Be my brother forever,’” Redmond remembered.
“‘Be my brother forever’ – back then, that meant something. Every two weeks, I’d give an elegiac poem for someone who had fallen in battle, often under suspicious circumstances. In my heart, in my gut, I knew what she meant: ‘We’re here fighting. I got you, and you got me.’” In Troupe’s case, with a different twist of fate they might have been actual blood brother and sister.
“I saw Maya in San Francisco and she took me to meet her mother. She said her mother had something to tell me. So I go by and meet her mother – she was a lovely lady – and her mother tells me that she once had a relationship with my father!” Troupe said.
“It was shocking to me. That kind of bonded Maya and me. We could have been brother and sister in a real sense.”
Later, in 1987, Troupe had the extreme honor of serving with Angelou (and Toni Morrison) as an honorary pallbearer in the funeral service of the great author James Baldwin in New York City. Redmond and Troupe are joined by millions of people all over the world from all walks of life mourning Maya Angelou.
“I’ve been blessed to have Maya Angelou as my mentor, mother/sister and friend since my 20s. She was there for me always, guiding me through some of the most important years of my life,” Winfrey said. “I loved her and I know she loved me. I will profoundly miss her. She will always be the rainbow in my clouds.”
Truman, Danforth, Suggs inducted into Hall of Fame
Missouri State University establishes new honor for leaders in ‘Public Affairs’
By Rebecca Rivas Of The St. Louis American
President Harry S. Truman occupies an honored place in American and world history because of his leadership during a pivotal time, said Gov. Jay Nixon.
U.S. Senator John C. Danforth and Donald M. Suggs, publisher and executive editor of the St. Louis American, have become known as transformational and courageous leaders as well, he said.
Truman, Danforth and Suggs recently became the inaugural inductees in the Missouri Public Affairs Hall of Fame, an honor for global citizens
associated with Missouri who act consistently for the benefit of others. They were honored in a ceremony held at Missouri State University’s annual public affairs conference in Springfield, Mo. on April 11.
“What an outstanding group of individuals for our first inductees into the Missouri Public Affairs Hall of Fame,” said Missouri State President Clifton M. Smart III.
“They represent a wide range of interests and careers, but they have one thing in common: They exemplify what we mean when we talk about living the public affairs mission. I know these inductees, and those who follow, will inspire our students
as well as other Missouri citizens.”
Danforth was praised most highly by a fellow awardee.
Suggs said that Danforth, a three-term U.S. senator, had a privileged upbringing and education, being an ordained
Episcopalian minister who earned graduate degrees in law and divinity from Yale University. “Yet Senator Danforth prepared and then dedicated himself to the rigors of a life and career of public service,” Suggs said.
President Harry S. Truman (represented by his grandson, Clifton Truman Daniel), U.S. Senator John C. Danforth and Donald M. Suggs, publisher of the St. Louis American, were the inaugural inductees in the Missouri Public Affairs Hall of Fame at Missouri State University in Springfield.
Photo by Kevin White / Missouri State University
Suggs shared a quote from one of Danforth’s books, Faith and Politics, published in 2006: “Find a problem and solve it. Fashion practical ways to solve it. Across the political spectrum, senators realized that without government intervention, the private sector would not meet the needs of the poor. Helping the poor is clearly a religious value. Mistreatment of the poor is a grievous sin. So is ignoring the poor.”
Suggs said he was surprised to find a close personal connection to his other fellow awardee, President Truman.
“My deep admiration for President Truman, who was the only 20th century president who did not have a college degree, was increased when I learned of his modest beginnings and his experience as a newspaper publisher,” Suggs said.
Suggs also found commonalities between his two fellow awardees.
“President Truman was a Democrat, Senator Danforth a Republican. But notwithstanding their differences in philosophy about public affairs, they both exemplify the authority of conscience and share a belief in the ideal of the interconnectedness of people in our nation,” Suggs said.
Orvin Kimbrough, president and CEO of the United Way of Greater St. Louis and member of the Board of Governors for Missouri State University, said that Suggs’ impact spreads beyond The St. Louis American. He pointed out Suggs’ tireless advocacy of educational opportunity and leadership roles for young African Americans.
“Dr. Suggs has a passion for higher education,” Kimbrough said. “He sees a part of his platform is to ensure that that next generation is exposed to the same opportunities that he was exposed to through higher education. There are so many younger leaders who follow in his footsteps who he encourages.”
The St. Louis American Foundation, which Suggs founded and leads, has fostered nearly $3 million in scholarship awards, almost entirely to African Americans from the St. Louis metropolitan area.
Suggs said his personal journey began in very modest circumstances in East Chicago, Indiana, a smoky working-class suburb outside Chicago, during the Great Depression of the 1930s.
n “President Truman and Senator Danforth both exemplify the authority of conscience and share a belief in the ideal of the interconnectedness of people.”
– Donald M. Suggs
“Each of these two remarkable leaders we honor tonight was willing to deal with punishing ordeals – some often came from within their own political parties – to advocate for their beliefs.”
To colleagues at The St. Louis American, Suggs shared his deep humility at being included in this inaugural Hall of Fame group with two major historical figures. He also privately credited the newspaper staff, present and past, for his receiving this historic public recognition. But others spoke more personally about Suggs’ achievements.
“Donald M. Suggs has led a life of blazing new trails both for himself and for many others,” Gov. Nixon said.
“Whether as a dental surgeon, as a leader in the Civil Rights Movement, as a promoter of education and the arts, or as the publisher of the largest weekly newspaper in the state, Dr. Suggs has opened many doors of opportunity for countless people.”
Suggs earned his bachelor’s degree, along with his doctorate in dental surgery, from Indiana University. He landed in St. Louis when he chose to complete his postgraduate work at Washington University Dental School and Homer G. Phillips Hospital. He served as chief of oral surgery at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware and was the first African American to serve as an associate clinical professor at Saint Louis University Dental School. In 1994, Suggs founded the United Way’s African American –Charmaine Chapman Leadership Society, which is now the top philanthropic program for African Americans in the St. Louis region and at United Ways throughout the country. Since he was first radicalized by left-wing labor organizers in his industrial hometown, Suggs has advocated for social change. At some risk to his professional career, he was active in the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s and 70s, serving as chairman of the Poor People’s March-On-Washington in 1968. When his leadership of The American, which he bought in 1980 (initially, with two partners) placed him among St. Louis’ civic leaders, he began to push for change from the inside. He has served on countless boards and executive committees at many of the region’s most influential institutions.
Suggs ended his remarks at the ceremony by quoting a speech given by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in February 1968: “In closing, if any of you are around when I have to meet my day, I’d like someone to mention that I did try to feed the hungry, to clothe those who were naked, to visit those who were in prison, to love and serve humanity. I just want to leave a committed life behind.”
Obituaries
Velma Lee Carr Moore
Velma Lee Carr Moore, known to everyone as “Madea”, transitioned peacefully on Wednesday, May 21, 2014 at Beauvais Manor Assistant Living, St. Louis. She was born on December 14, 1916 in Cottonplant, Arkansas to Jack and Annie Mae Thomas. However, Madea lived most of her life in Kinlock, Mo. and St. Louis. Her only sibling, Willa Mae Griggs, preceded her in death. Madea was first married to Remus Carr Sr. and later to Samuel Moore. Of the two unions thirteen children were born. Mr. Carr and Mr. Moore preceded her in death as well
three children; Rema Mae Owens, Willa Mae Poston, and Adrian Moore.
Madea leaves to cherish her memories, six girls: Velma Moody, Congresswoman Maxine Waters, Samella Bolden, Dr. Kimberly Moore, Sharon Frison, and Raye Evelyn Moore, one daughterin law, Dorthouea Carr; four sons: Remus Carr Jr. Joseph Webb, Wadsworth Carr and Reginald Moore; two sonsin law, Stanley Frison and Sidney Williams; thirty three grandchildren, fifty-five greatgrandchildren, a host of greatgreat grandchildren and one great-great-great-granddaughter and many friends.
Homegoing Arrangements: Visitation on Thursday, May 29, 2014, 4-7pm at Austin Layne Renaissance Chapel, 7239 West Florissant, St. Louis, Mo.63136, 314-3816900. Funeral Services: May 30, 2014, 11 am. St. Paul A.M.E. Church, 1260 Hamilton Ave., St. Louis, Mo 63112,
314-385-8900. Interment to follow at Calvary Cemetery 1:30 pm. Repast at The Gateway Classic Foundation.
In Memoriam Arvelle W. Fisher
February 7, 1936— June 2, 2007
Removed from our midst seven years ago but never forgotten. Thank you for being the man you were and for sharing your life with us. You filled our lives with enjoyable and fun times. Our memories will continue to be our keepsake.
Your loving wife, Claudia; daughters, Marsha and Donna (Todd);
granddaughters, Torey, Maya, Taylor and Kennedi; brothers, Booker (Estelle) and Michael; mother-in-law, Martha; sistersin-law, Marion (James) and Fay (Harry); brothers-in-law, Lawrence (Lourdes) and Donald (Brenda); cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.
Platinum Memorial Jubilee for Mary Johnson Allen Amey
August 16, 1898— May 7, 1944
Mary Amey of Helena, Arkansas, mother of Bobbie Lorene Givens Brandon (died April 1966) her only child and wife of Jessie James Amey (died Sept. 1955).
Dear Grandmother Mary,
Although you passed away many years before my birth, thanks for the one and only beautiful photograph of yourself and mama (circa 1920’s). I enjoyed the fun memoirs about you; in which you were the pillar of strength
that has transcended through the generations in all us. As I conduct the family genealogy you have been placed as the maternal matriarch. With all of my Love, Your granddaughter Wanda D. Brandon
Ruthie WhiteheadGilliard
Mrs. Ruthie WhiteheadGilliard, 1943-2014, daughter of the late Nadine Noble and Willie Marbles, mother of Michelle and Andre, grandmother, sister, aunt and cousin, made her earthly departure May 16. Memorial Service will be held Saturday, May 31 at “Friends”, 710 N Compton Ave at Delmar, 5-9 pm.
Jackie Delores Collins
Jackie Delores Collins was born on July 20, 1955 to the union of Mark and Lartharee Collins in St. Louis Missouri. She received her education from Yeatman Elementary School in 1969 and Beaumont High School in 1973. She attended Florissant Valley Community College from 1973-1975. Jackie confessed her faith in Christ at an early age and was baptized into the fellowship of Pleasant Green Missionary Baptist Church on April 27, 1962 at the age of seven, under the leadership of Rev. George H. Pruitt. Jackie was one of the original members of the Pleasant Green Young Adult Usher Board when it was established in September 1976. She later served as a senior usher for a length of time. Jackie was a faithful member of Pleasant Green until the Lord called her home on Tuesday, May 6, 2014. Jackie worked for the U.S. Postal Service for 29 years. She loved to decorate. If she was not working at the Post Office, she was decorating someone’s home. She also loved to mentor young people, telling them what God loves. In her later years, she became a dedicated NBA basketball fan.
Velma Carr Moore
Arvelle Fisher
Jackie Collins
Mary Amey
Better Together St. Louis comes clean
The EYE is on record as saying, repeatedly, that if Better Together St. Louis really did not want people to think it was pursuing a foregone conclusion that St. Louis and St. Louis County would be better off together – that is, merged in some way – then the organizers should have chosen a different name. But “Better Together St. Louis” is their name, and they are sticking to it.
But Dave Leipholtz, director of community based studies for Better Together St. Louis, and Marius Johnson, its coordinator of community based studies, insist that this is not just another civic proposal that is being hatched in back rooms and then forced down the public’s throat – via, say, Rex Sinquefield’s favored approach of the ballot initiative.
Not that the billionaire libertarian and political investor is picking up any of the tab for Better Together St. Louis. At least not yet.
“He hasn’t been asked,” Leipholtz said of Sinquefield during an hourlong meeting at The American. “I don’t want to be disingenuous and say he won’t be asked to contribute. Probably he will. He’s got a lot of money.”
As for devising a major regional proposal secretly and then springing that on the public, Better Together St. Louis is not pursuing that approach if for no other reason than because it doesn’t work.
“This is not a traditional study where you pay a consultant, they talk to the mayor and county executive and a few CEOs, and then you drop the report,” Leipholtz said. “That happens all the time. It’s not effective.”
So instead, they are taking the approach of producing a detailed study of regional government and what it costs to deliver essential services in stages. They started with public finance and economic development. They are moving next to public health,
public safety, parks and recreation, and infrastructure. The idea is to tabulate what our fragmented regional government looks like in detail and what it’s costing taxpayers and then post that data transparently as a basis for conversation.
“We don’t expect to find anything new or exciting,” Johnson said. “But the conversations we usually have are based on gut feelings. We hope to provide data instead that can say our gut feelings are valid or maybe we need to rethink our viewpoint.”
The gut feelings expressed thus far have not been encouraging, with a spate of municipal governments from all over the county saying they think the county and city are better off apart. Better Together St. Louis said that is not the whole story.
“When the mayor of Chesterfield was in the news saying Chesterfield could merge with St. Charles County, we were sitting with the Chesterfield Chamber of Commerce, and they told us they had been studying this for 20 years and it’s a no-brainer,” Leipholtz said. “They see things from a regional perspective. We talked to people in Ballwin who are not against us and said their City Council’s vote against us was non-binding.”
Leipholtz compared greater regional cooperation – or a city/county merger, or whatever you want to call it – to Obamacare. Many people who were polled as opposed to Obamacare were polled as being in support of most of Obamacare’s provisions when cited individually. If people understood that greater regional cooperation meant paying less for better government services – not to mention opening the region to greater economic development and more jobs – their fears might turn into support.
“If I can get the services I need for cheaper, everyone wants that,” Leipholtz said. “But we are in an environment where for years ‘economic development’ has just
meant shifting around commerce from one part of the region to another. The perception is that if someone else is gaining something, we must be losing something.”
The EYE asked if they really believed data to be more powerful than fear.
“Not necessarily,” Johnson admitted. “But enough people realize we have regional issues that need to be addressed. There is an appetite for this.”
The EYE reminded them that when the data are all in and it’s time (wait for it, you know it’s coming) for eventual proposals for change – for a city/county merger or whatever they try to call it – it’s likely that proposal will have to be passed by legislators and officials who could stand to lose their jobs with a more streamlined regional governmental structure.
“None of us want to tell people, ‘You’re out of a job,’” Leipholtz said. “That’s absolutely a concern. You’re absolutely correct.” If there is a phase two of the
does not address them.
“We’re not dealing with the school districts,” Johnson said. “The board set the mission to study the delivery of government services at the municipal level. The school district is its own political subdivision. Education is critical to the conversation, and we know it has to change if St. Louis is going to move forward in a meaningful way. But it’s not what we are studying at this point.”
Nixon to veto student transfer bill
Missouri Governor Jay Nixon announced Friday that he will veto the legislation seeking to change a 1993 state law that gives students living in unaccredited school districts the option to transfer to neighboring districts and requires the failing district to pay for their tuition and, in some cases, transportation costs.
In a statement, Nixon said that Senate Bill 493 “would have diverted public, taxpayer dollars away from Missouri’s public schools and given that money to private schools without any accountability to voters.”
He also said that it’s a “failed attempt” to fix the 1993 school transfer law and would further disrupt students in struggling school districts.
initiative that will call for specific changes, these two guys are not in on those meetings (or at least they denied knowledge of the process). They said their mandate is to crunch through these studies and deliver them to the public with the plan to wrap them up around February 2015.
For now, their chore is to compile and release a bunch of tedious data in a form where, as Leipholtz said, “it’s accessible to people in 10 minutes between their kids and their jobs.”
As they collect and compile the data, they are wise to keep reciting some of the mind-boggling statistics of our regional fragmentation.
It’s pretty horrific: 115 local governments, which includes St. Louis and St. Louis County as well as 90 municipalities, 23 fire districts, 20 municipal fire departments – and don’t even get started on all those different school districts with their accreditation and transfer crises.
In fact, Better Together St. Louis isn’t getting started on all those school districts. Perhaps unwisely, their study
“Every child in Missouri deserves a quality public education, and that is why I am vetoing Senate Bill 493,” Nixon said.
The provision that would allow public taxpayer dollars to be used to pay for private school tuition is a “dangerous voucher scheme that would undermine the core principles and protections enshrined in Missouri’s constitution,” he said. Nixon said the bill would eliminate the requirement that unaccredited districts pay for the transportation costs of students and would “negatively impact the hundreds of students and families.” It would also have allowed districts that receive students from unaccredited districts to discount the tuition paid for transfers in exchange for not having to include those students’ performance data for accountability purposes for up to five years, he said.
“The result of this provision would be to allow schools to not be held accountable for the education of these transfer students,” he said.
Steve’s Hot Dogs set to expand
By Chris King Of The St.
Louis
American
Steve Ewing came up with the idea for opening Steve’s Hot Dogs from his other job – call it his night job – of playing music professionally.
In the late 1980s he co-founded The Urge, one of St. Louis’ most popular and long-lived local bands. The funk combo moved to Los Angeles in 1999 and, having not quite become famous, returned to St. Louis – where the band never had any difficulty finding gigs – in
2006.
“When I moved back home, I started playing a lot again,” Ewing said. He still plays 200 nights a year, often as The Steve Ewing Duo with his buddy Adam Hansbrough. “That’s how I came up with the idea of feeding folks at the end of show,” he said.
n “We don’t tout ourselves as a health food place. It’s really about getting a treat.”
– Steve Ewing of Steve’s Hot Dogs
It says something about Ewing that he was willing to step off the stage at the end of a show and transform himself from front man into hot dog
vendor.
“I got a hot dog cart and went out in the street and did okay,” he said. It occurred to Ewing that people also eat hot dogs during the day, when a musician seldom has a paying gig. “I also got the idea of a way to employ myself during the day time,” he said. So he opened Steve’s Hot Dogs on the Hill at 2131 Marconi Ave. in September 2011. That begs the
question – how would the city’s historically Italian enclave receive a black man opening a hot dog restaurant in the neighborhood?
“That was a worry of mine at the beginning of things,” Ewing said. But he didn’t have any problems. In fact, the 21st century Hill is more diverse than its reputation.
“There are lots of black folks living down there,” Ewing said. “Several neighbors of the shop are black folks.” It helped that he immediately
By Maria Altman Of St. Louis Public
n “This is the only way that St. Louis is going to get its place back in the national conversation.”
– Steve Ponciroli, North Highland
said the competition is changing the
“At a
Torres
are
produces
Quincy Troupe received the 2014 Gwendolyn Brooks Award at the 2014 National Black Writers Conference. Troupe is a widely published poet and author from St. Louis now based in New York. The other 2014 awardees were Margaret T. Burroughs (Ida B. Wells Institutional Leadership Award), Maryse Conde (Toni Morrison Award), Walter Mosley (Richard Wright Award) and Derek Walcott (W. E. B. Du Bois Award).
Ingrid D. McClendon has been selected the principal of the Airport Elementary School in the Ferguson and Florissant School District. She has 14 years of professional teaching experience, including K-12th grade reading specialist, 3rd and 4th grade classroom teacher and reading teacher at McCluer South Berkeley High School. She attended Airport Elementary School, Berkeley Middle School and graduated class of 1993 from Berkeley Senior High School.
Craig Lucas received the Certified Construction Manager (CCM) designation by the Construction Manager Certification Institute. He is vice president of Kwame Building Group. The CCM designation is awarded to individuals who meet the professional standards of the industry and demonstrate a commitment to providing the highest quality professional construction management services. Applicants must meet criteria regarding formal education, field experience, and demonstrated capability in construction management.
Karlie Thornton was chosen for the Bank of America Student Leaders Program. She is a junior at Hazelwood West High School. The program is an eight-week summer experience that includes a paid internship with a local nonprofit organization. She is the daughter of Karen Thornton, a case manager at BJC Behavioral Health, and Karlton Thornton, a general supervisor with Ameren.
Lens McKeown III received a 2014 Rosemary Zander Award from the Special Education Foundation, in partnership with Special School District (SSD). He is a senior at Hazelwood West High School. The award, the highest honor awarded to SSD students, was named in honor of an SSD teacher. Students were recognized for their achievements in academics, arts, athletics, communications, vocational training, independent living skills and community service.
Steffonya C. Raines graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, San Antonio, Texas as Air Force Reserve Airman 1st Class. She is the niece of Kimberly and Titus Reed of St. Louis and a 2010 graduate of Lafayette Senior High School. The airman completed an eightweek program that included training in military discipline and studies and basic warfare principles and skills. On the move? Congratulations! Send your good professional news and a color headshot to cking@stlamerican. com.
Quincy Troupe
Ingrid D. McClendon
Craig Lucas
Karlie Thorton
Lens McKeown III
Steffonya C. Raines
Photo by Wiley Price
Radio
Steve’s Hot Dogs on the Hill is excited to announce plans to
second location in Tower Grove East. Steve Ewing,
owner
front man of the popular St. Louis-based band
plans to raise funds through the website Indiegogo to help fund ther expansion.
n “I do apologize to Tiny because she cool people. She has never been disrespectful to me.”
– Boxing champ Floyd Mayweather, after his Las Vegas brawl with rapper T.I. over his wife Tiny
Sports
TraCk & FIeld noTebook
With Earl Austin Jr.
Class 2 100-meters with a winning time of 10.87
Gold medal man
Wells wins 100-, 200-, and 400-meter dashes
Mike Wells closed out a spectacular career at Cleveland Naval Jr. ROTC in high style at last weekend’s Missouri Class 2 State Championships in Jefferson City. The senior sprinter won three individual gold medals in the 100-, 200- and 400-meter dashes. He also finished second in the long jump, an event he just started competing in three weeks ago. He finished with 38 points to lead the Commanders to a third-place finish in the Class 2 team standings. Wells’ winning times were 10.87 in the 100, 22.3 in the 200 and 49.11 in the 400. The rainy conditions during Saturday’s finals kept him from posting faster times, but he did set a
n Wells also finished second in the long jump, an event he just started competing in three weeks ago.
new Class 2 record in the 200 when he posted a 21.65 in Friday’s prelims.
Wells finished his career at Cleveland as a nine-time state champion. He led Cleveland to the Class 2 state championship as a sophomore in 2012. He will continue his track career at Oklahoma University next season.
Lutheran St. Charles girls repeat
Lutheran St. Charles’ girls repeated as Class 2 state champions, scoring 63 points to easily outdistance the competition. Courtney Rogers finished first in the 1,600- and 3,200-meter runs. She also anchored the Cougars’ 4x400 and 4x800-meter relay teams to state titles. Hannah Leippen won the 400 and finished second in the 200.
See MISSOURI, B5
fans say farewell to Yankees’ Musial
Cahokia girls win state
Cahokia boys seek four-peat this weekend
The Cahokia High track dynasty continued last weekend at the Illinois State Championships, but it was the girls who brought home the hardware this time.
The Comanches won the IHSA Class 2A state championship last weekend at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston. Cahokia scored 61 points to win its first state title.
Freshman Mariya Hudson won the 400meter dash title in 55.65 seconds. She also finished third in the 200 and seventh in the long jump. Sophomore Raynesha Lewis finished third in the long jump and triple jump and ninth in the 100-meter high hurdles. Senior Daisha Townsend was second in the shot put and discus. The Comanches also finished fourth in the 4x100 and sixth in the 4x400-meter relay.
Earl Austin Jr.
Triple jumper
Altons Lajarvia Brown won the Class 3A state title in the triple jump with an effort of 40 feet 3 ½ inches. She also finished sixth in the long jump. Jasmine Berry of Belleville West finished third in both the 100-meter high hurdles and 300-meter low hurdles. Kristen Dowell of Edwardsville was fourth in both hurdles events while teammate Aaliyah Covington was second in the shot put and seventh in the discus. Kayla Marshall of Collinsville was fourth in the triple jump.
Cahokia seeks four-peat
The boys will take center stage in Charleston this weekend at the IHSA State Championships at Eastern Illinois University. Cahokia will be seeking its fourth consecutive state title and seventh overall as they compete in the Class 2A meet. Friday’s prelims begin at 11 a.m. with the championship races set to begin at noon on Saturday.
Once again, the Comanches will be loading up the bus as they qualified individuals in eight events and all four relays, including eight sectional champions. Cahokia ran away with the Sectional title at Herrin with 152 points. Cahokia will be led by individual standouts Jamari Ward in the long and triple jump and Gary Hickman in the hurdles. The Comanches were also sectional champions in the 4x100, 4x200, 4x400 and 4x800.
Mayweather distractions could cost him
Pound for pound boxing champ Floyd “Money” Mayweather can’t seem to stay out of the headlines these days. That could be a good thing for his bank account, but the constant distractions and out of the ring altercations could make Mayweather more vulnerable to defeat, or worse. The latest drama with boxing’s biggest diva occurred when the welterweight and junior middleweight champion got into a scrap with rapper T.I. aka “The Rubber Band Man” at a Las Vegas Fatburger over the holiday weekend. It sounds like something out of a fake reality housewives show and considering that T.I.’s wife Tameka “Tiny” Cottle was
the cause of the commotion, I suppose it’s a housewife reality show in real life (thinking about that makes my head hurt).
The abridged version of the story goes like this: Mayweather and his daughter took photos with Cottle. T.I. got mad and talked to Mayweather. Cottle then went to a strip club party with Mayweather and his crew. Mayweather was filmed saying that he told T.I. that “[women] ain’t loyal.” T.I. and the champ exchanged heated words in a Las Vegas Fatburger before the rapper took a swing at the boxer and incited a chair-throwing, restaurant-clearing brawl. Somewhere Manny Pacquiao is fuming that T.I.
Floyd Mayweather
leapfrogged him and got a Mayweather first. To be fair, T.I. and his well-documented insecurity are most-certainly to blame for this idiotic incident. Still, it’s hard to ignore that Mayweather seems to be a magnet for drama and distraction these days. In the past few years Mayweather has been arrested for an altercation with his baby momma, fell out with former BFF 50 Cent, been taken to court by Pacquiao over steroid allegations, broken off his engagement with Chantel Jackson over an alleged abortion, beefed with Nelly via social media after the STL
n Somewhere Manny Pacquiao is fuming that T.I. leapfrogged him and got a Mayweather first.
rapper publicly courted his ex and now the scuffled with T.I. over a plate of chicken and waffles - literally. Mayweather can deny it all he wants, but I’m sure the prefight distractions involving Jackson played a role in the closer-thanusual result versus Maidana a few weeks ago. As fighters get older, Mayweather is 37, reflexes, speed and stamina gradually diminish. For the final few fights of his career, Mayweather will need to utilize his experience and supreme boxing knowledge more than ever. Just ask Roy
See CLUTCH, B4
Ishmael H. Sistrunk
Photo by Wiley Price
Cleveland Naval JR. R.O.T.C. senior Michael Wells, center, won the Boys
Saturday in Jefferson City at Dwight T. Reed Stadium.
Jr. got into a fight with rap artist T.I. after “The Rubber Band” man went into a jealous rage over the fighter’s close ties to his wife “Tiny” (centerright).
Claib’s Call
With Mike Claiborne
Cardinals fans say farewell to Yankees’ Musial
It was likely the final opportunity to see one of the last great clean players of the game of baseball when Derek Jeter and the New York Yankees hit town this week. In a pre-game ceremony on Monday, perhaps two of the most elegant men to ever play the game – Jeter and when Hall of Famer Ozzie Smith –embraced. They both brought something to the game beyond than their glove and bat that over time we can all truly appreciate.
Ozzie’s story continues as he represents like only a few can now that his playing days are behind him. For Jeter the next chapter is about to begin. Seldom has a bad word ever been uttered nor printed about Derek Jeter. His championship rings speak for themselves, as he was always in the thick of it when the games were on the line. Off the field, he was able to keep his private life just that in a city like New York that yearns for gossip. That is what you call respect.
n I would not mind seeing Jeter and the Yankees come back to St. Louis in October ... for the World Series.
Cardinal broadcaster Mike Shannon may have summed it up best in his comparison to a St. Louis Legend. “Jeter may be the closest thing we have seen when it comes to greatness on and off the field. He is the closest to Stan Musial I have ever seen.” For Shannon to make the Musial reference is striking considering the respect he had for Stan. While it was something of a media circus during the Yankees visit, I get it. Jeter
CLUTCH
Continued from B3
Jones Jr. how fast slightly decreased reflexes and can bring a career to a crashing halt. Ask Mike Tyson how out of the ring distractions can result in one of the biggest upsets in boxing history (Buster Douglas). We won’t see Mayweather return to the ring until September. By then the T.I. drama will have blown over (presuming Tip doesn’t go digging up the gun arsenal that got him locked up in 2007) but we can all rest assured that America’s top-grossing athlete will find some new, ignorant, outside-the-ring distraction. For his sake, I’m hoping Mayweather is smart enough to elevate himself above the nonsense outside the ring as he has elevated himself above the competition inside the ring for so many years. If he doesn’t a determined fighter like Maidana, Keith Thurman, Shawn Porter or Danny Garcia will take Mayweather’s “0” and his titles in one felled swoop. Exciting below the radar action in the squared circle Fight fans are salivating at this weekend’s matchup
It was likely the final opportunity to see one of the last great clean players of the game of baseball when Derek Jeter and the New York Yankees hit town this week.
is one of the greatest, and we did not see that much of him during his career. The fans showed much respect, as he received ovations only reserved for Cardinal greats.
I would not mind seeing Jeter and the Yankees come back to St. Louis in October ... for the World Series.
Finals low on star power
It will not be long now before we have the most predictable sporting event of the year. Yes, the Heat versus the Spurs. Yes, here we go again. You have one of the most fundamentally sound teams
ever to play in San Antonio. They do everything right with several players many of you have never heard of. Yeah, we all know about Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili. Duncan is still considered to be the most fundamentally sound big man the game has ever seen. He stands out, as there are so many poor big men in this league (see Roy Hibbert). But you will be hard-pressed to name five other players on this Spurs roster. As for the Miami Heat, we know about LeBron James Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh, and in their case LeBron is the only one who shows up
between Englishmen Carl Froch (aka the best 168-pound fighter not named Andre Ward) and Carl Groves. The first bout was an epic Fight of the Year candidate that showed both fighters hit the canvas and a disputed decision victory by Froch. This fight comes on the heels of last week’s fanfriendly scrap between light heavyweight champion Adonis Stevenson and Andrzej Fonfara who both tasted the canvas on Showtime and Juan Manuel Marquez’s fantastic showing the previous week against Mike Alvorado. While none of the aforementioned fighters are on the same planet as Mayweather in terms of name recognition and popularity, for hardcore fight fans, they represent
every night. Ray Allen is a first-ballot Hall of Famer for sure, and he knows what it takes to contribute at this late stage of his career. The rest of the players on this roster are spare parts. Not sure if they would start for a number of other good teams. Talk about knowing your role – these players seem to get it.
As much as I enjoy the NBA, I may struggle a bit to get my arms around this year’s Finals. What do we have here? One answer: LeBron. Best on the planet and worth watching. As for the rest, I admire their skill and their ability to get back to the Finals, but this series will be missing
exciting fights and entertaining discussions about fights that actually happened inside the squared circle. It’s a great time to be a boxing fan. Follow Ishmael and In the Clutch on Twitter @ IshmaelSistrunk. Tune in to In the Clench, our weekly boxing Hangout on youtube. com/stlamericanvideo and on Google+.
something. More star power, if you will.
Lawyer up
If you are an aspiring lawyer, my suggestion would be to see if you can work for the NFL or the NCAA. They are mired in legal woes that will eventually cost them billions of dollars.
A federal judge has denied the NCAA’s motion to dismiss the claim filed by Ed O’Bannon and other former college athletes who filed suit against the NCAA claiming they never received one red cent from the hundreds of millions of dollars the
NCAA made from using their likeness for video games and other marketing bonanzas. The NCAA is fighting for its life as we know it on this one, as all eyes are looking to see how they get out of this mess without either writing a huge check or trying to settle – not to mention perhaps restructuring the NCAA and its division of profits.
Also, the National Labor Relation board is set to rule on the students at Northwestern University who want the option to unionize. That will change college sports for sure as players would be allowed to collectively bargain salary and health benefits.
The NCAA should fire everyone who is in a decisionmaking position, as they have truly messed things up. They should settle with these groups and reorganize as soon as possible. The NCAA is worth billions, but they are about to start spending a few billions if they don’t watch out. To try and tie this thing up in the courts for years like the NFL thought they could do with the former disabled players will not work here either. The meter will continue to run. Time to do the right thing once and for all.
The NFL just cannot seem to get out of their own way either. Another group of players have now filed suit claiming team medical staffs regarding treatment and drugs they were giving players. This could get ugly as there are some medical careers that will be closely examined. That $765 million settlement the league thought they had with former players is starting to fall apart as well. Most now think the judge will not approve it as it is underfunded. The fine print in this deal is also too leaguefriendly, so the league may have to go back to the drawing board and start the settlement talk with the word “billion.” As I said, it is a great time to be a lawyer for the NCAA and the NFL, as there seems to be plenty of work for years to come.
Mike Claiborne
rAmS roundup
With Palmer L. Alexander III
All eyes on Bradford
The St. Louis Rams will start their veteran mini-camp next week, and as usual there will be a lot of new faces on the field.
Expectation levels have arisen for this franchise under the watchful eye of Head Coach Jeff Fisher and GM Les Snead
Both coach and general manager received rave reviews from their NFL brethren and the very patient and loyal St. Louis Rams fan base for the 2014 draft class. The Rams filled plenty of holes on the roster, and there is plenty of competition to go around. But, does this mean the Rams are going to finally break through this year and have a winning record? Or qualify for the playoffs? Maybe even win the division? I don’t know. Honestly, we’re not going find out until the games count. And when they do, most eyes will be on Sam Bradford and the offense. There has never been such a lightning rod at the quarterback position in the St. Louis Rams football era since Tony Banks
MISSOURI
Continued from B3
Still a champion
Brentwood sophomore Sophie Rivera repeated as the Class 2 state champion in the shot put and discus. Rivera won the shot put with a heave of 45 feet 8 inches and the discus with a throw of 129 feet 11 inches.
Relay winners
The girls from McKinley Classical and Metro each won state championships in the 4x100-meter relay. McKinley’s team of Jamila Ricketts, India Abernathy, Sky Parker and Lindsey Griffin won the Class 1 title in 51.78 seconds. Metro’s group of Joella Gillespie, Karis Gamble, Elizabeth Hagen and Tiana Jackson won the Class 2 state title in 50.54. McKinley’s Parker also finished second in the open 200 while Metro’s Jackson finished third in the 100 and sixth in the long jump.
ILLINOIS
Continued from B3
Edwardsville athletes
Edwardsville will be taking a strong contingent of athletes to the Class 3A state meet, including standout hurdler Craig James and some very talented sprint relays. The Tigers won the Class 3A Sectional title last Friday on their own track.
Bradford’s career numbers look good. Last year he threw 14 touchdowns and four interceptions had over 1,600 passing yards. He connected on 60 percent of his throws and improved his quarterback rating from 82.6-90.9 while adapting to a run-oriented offensive game plan. In the first four games last year, Bradford attempted at least 40 passes per game with
n Last year Bradford improved his quarterback rating from 82.6 to 90.9.
a season high of 55 versus the Atlanta Falcons. For all those passing attempts, Bradford averaged 6.4 yards per pass. The low-water mark game was at home against the San Francisco 49ers when Bradford threw the ball 41 times and only connected on 46 percent for 202 passing yards. Of his four interceptions, three were returned for touchdowns. And with the Rams offense still struggling to score points, Bradford had to be damn near perfect with the ball in his hands. But he didn’t finish the season. He’s only played two
Three-time medalist
Maplewood’s Essence Brewer was a three-time medalist in the Class 2 girls meet. Brewer finished fourth in the 100, third in the 200 and fifth in the 400. Maplewood’s boys finished second in the 4x100 and 4x400. Marquis White finished eighth in the 200 while Devon Williams was eighth in the triple jump. Brentwood’s boys finished third in the Class 2 4x100 while Carnahan was fourth in the 4x100.
Class 3 and 4 State Championships
Class 3 and 4 State Championships are this weekend The big schools in Missouri take center stage this weekend at the Class 3-4 State Championships in Jefferson
full seasons at quarterback. His career numbers are good, yet the Rams still haven’t had a winning season. Usually if you have a winning season then there is playoff football.
This year’s team is expected to take it to the next level. The Rams shored up the offensive line, resigning Rodger Saffold and drafting Greg Robinson They added a veteran receiver in Kenny Britt. Snead is banking on this young receiving corps to step up and for Jared Cook to play more consistently.
This season has already been tabbed “make it or break it” for Bradford. I think if he stays healthy and the offensive line stays away from any major injuries, the Rams will take that next step.
The Rams are built to play rugged, smash-mouth football. The reduced amount of pass attempts in their victories last year proved it. Last year four of the seven victories occurred when the magic number of pass attempts was around 20. And if Kellen Clemens can go 4-5, what will Bradford do after suffering ACL injury last season?
For more Rams Roundup, go to youtube.com/ stlamericanvideo.
City on the campus of Lincoln University. Friday’s prelims begin at 11 a.m. with the championship finals beginning on Saturday at noon.
Quest for third title
Cardinal Ritter’s Charles Jones will resume his quest for his third consecutive state title in the Class 3 800-meter run. Jones is also gunning for the overall state record of 1 minute 49.89, set by Springfield Parkview’s Billy Rainey in 1987. Jones is also competing in the open 400.
McCluer North girls
McCluer North’s girls will be taking a strong contingent of sprinters and hurdlers to the Class 4 state meet, led by junior hurdler Jasmine Barge. Lutheran South and McCluer South-Berkeley will battle
Prep Athletes of the Week
Mike Wells
Cleveland Naval Jr. ROTC – Boys Track and Field
The senior sprinter closed out a stellar prep career by winning three individual gold medals at last weekend’s Missouri Class 2 state championships in Jefferson City.
Wells won the 100-, 200- and 400-meter dashes. He also finished second in the long jump to score 38 of his team’s 43 points, which was good for third in the team standings.
Wells’ winning times were 10.87 in the 100, 22.3 in the 200 and 49.11 in the 400. He set a new Class 2 state record in the 200 with a time of 21.65 in Friday’s prelims.
Wells finished his career with nine state championships. He will head to Oklahoma University.
Tre Curry
Francis Howell Central – Boys Track
The senior standout was one of the top individuals at last weekend’s Class 4, Sectional 2 meet at Troy.
Curry finished first in the 100-meter dash while also sweeping sectional titles in the long jump and triple jump.
Curry set a personal best in winning the 100 in 10.63 seconds. His winning marks in the jumps were 22 feet 5 1/4 inches in the long jump and 47-0 in the triple jump. Curry also anchored the Spartans’ 4x100meter relay team to a second-place finish.
A two-point standout at Howell Central, Curry was also a top player on the Spartans’ basketball team. He is headed to Benedictine College.
Craig James Edwardsville – Boys Track
The senior hurdler won three events in leading the Tigers to the IHSA Class 3A sectional championship at Edwardsville.
James finished first in the 110-meter high hurdles and 300-meter intermediate hurdles. He also anchored the Tigers’ 4x100-meter relay team to victory in 41.47 seconds.
James posted winning times of 14.07 in the 110-meter high hurdles and 38.10 seconds in the 300-meter intermediate hurdles. He also was part of the Tigers’ third-place 4x400-meter relay team.
James was also a standout on the Tigers’ football team that advanced to the Class 7A state semifinals. He has signed with Minnesota on a football scholarship.
for trophies in the Class 3 girls’ competition, along with defending state champion Ste. Genevieve and its strong group of distance runners.
Long contender Eureka’s Hannah Long will be one of the top contenders in the Class 4 girls 800, 1,600
and 3,200 and 4x800. On the boys’ side, Lafayette’s Dylan Quisenberry and Marquette’s Noah Kauppila are top contenders in the 800 and 1,600.
Hotly contested
The Class 4 boys 4x400meter relay will also be hotly contested with defending state champion CBC and 2013 runner-up Hazelwood Central fielding strong teams once again. The Hawks are also the three-time defending state champions in the team competition. Hazelwood Central girls’ standout Ashley Henderson will try to repeat in the 100 and 200.
Palmer L. Alexander
University breaks ground on dental clinic
A.T. Still’s School of Dentistry partnering with Grace Hill Health Centers
By Sandra Jordan Of The St. Louis American
A partnership between A.T.
Still University’s Missouri School of Dentistry & Oral Health in Kirksville, Missouri and Grace Hill Health Centers led leaders to break ground on a new dental education and clinic building in St. Louis.
Grace Hill will manage the clinical side of the building.
The 79,000-square-foot facility will be located at the intersection of Truman Parkway and Park Avenue, a short distance east of Lafayette Square.
“We see this as more than a clinic for our students,” said Craig Phelps, D.O., president of ATSU. “When we see young men and women from these neighborhoods fulfilling their dream to become a healthcare professional, working in this clinic, and returning to this community to provide healthcare to the people of St. Louis and Missouri, we will have reached our ultimate goal.”
Phelps estimated the facility will create about 90 jobs.
“The university chose that location specifically because of the population that it
ARCH
Continued from B1 a life vest called Wingman that’s specifically made to help triathletes.
“We’re excited for the support and being around likeminded individuals,” Fox said.
“It can get kind of lonely as an entrepreneur when you’re having ideas that no one else really knows about. Now we’re going to get it out there and give it our best shot.”
serves,” Phelps said, adding the partnership with Grace Hill Health Centers will helps them diversify the enterprise. Phelps said it is important that “our patients, as well as our employees that work with Grace Hill and the university, be reflective of the population in that area.”
Musick Construction and Cannon Design, both of St. Louis, will serve as the general contractor and architect for the project, respectively.
AT Still’s general counsel said the university is well aware of diversity issues specified in the City Ordinance 68412 as well as the mayor’s executive order 46, which mandate workforce inclusion of women, minorities and apprentices on public works and TIF projects of scale in the city.
Kalleb Green, first-year ATSU-dental school student; Alan Freeman, Grace Hill Community Health Centers president and CEO; Christopher Halliday, DDS, MPH, dean of ATSU-Missouri School of Dentistry & Oral Health; 7th Ward Alderwoman Phyllis Young; Mayor Francis Slay; G. Scott Drew, DO, ‘87, ATSU Board of Trustees; state Rep. Penny Hubbard; Gov. Jay Nixon; and Craig Phelps, DO, ‘84, ATSU president, break ground on A.T. Still University’s dental education and clinic building in St. Louis at the intersection of Truman Parkway and Park Ave. on the near South Side.
which includes its School of Health Management, College of Osteopathic Medicine and the Missouri School of Dentistry and Oral Health – total 563 employees. Of those, 80.1 percent are white; 8.1 percent are Asian or Pacific Islander; blacks and Hispanics are 2.1 percent each; 1.4 percent are classified as American Indian or Alaska Native. “N/A” and “Other” accounted for 2.4 percent and 2.3 percent, respectively.
“One of the reasons we picked Musick is they have been successful in meeting these diversity requirements under the executive order,” said Matt Heeren, vice president and general counsel at A.T. Still University. “We are not a TIFF project; we are not receiving any city money; we are not a public works; so technically it does not apply to us,” he said, though the university still bid the project out with intentions of meeting those requirements to the best of its abilities.
Less Annoying CRM, a platform for managing customer relations, already has made the move from San Francisco. CEO Tyler King, a St. Louis native, said he and his partners were committed to coming back even if they didn’t win.
“We worked for four-anda-half years in the Bay area, the sort of startup capital of the world, and no one noticed us,” he said. “We come here, and our first week back we’re already recognized and the community has really embraced
“We actually met with SLATE [St. Louis Agency on Training and Employment] to try to identify the workforce that’s going to give us the people that will help us achieve the mandate under the
executive order,” Heeren said.
“This is part of the bidding process. The actual workforce issue that we are talking about now is built in the bidding process so that people knew it was an expectation and a goal of ours.”
Phelps said diversity is embedded in the school’s mission, but numbers supplied by the university about its employees racial makeup reflect it is a work in progress.
n “It can get kind of lonely as an entrepreneur when you’re having ideas that no one else really knows about.”
– Michael Fox
us, so it’s been great.” The winners were whittled down from 46 finalists who presented to a panel of judges in April.
Steve Ponciroli, with the global consulting firm North Highland, served as a judge of life science companies in
the initial rounds. He said he wanted to be involved in Arch Grants because it’s helping build St. Louis’ entrepreneurial ecosystem.
“This movement, if you fast forward 10 years from now, it’s going to put us on the map,” Ponciroli said. “Being from St.
Of the 23 employees at the Missouri School of Dentistry & Oral Health in Kirksville (including work-study students), 21( 91.3 percent) are white, with one black employee (4.3 percent). Support staff in Missouri –
Louis and seeing the rise and fall of companies that have been here or moved away, this is the only way that St. Louis is going to get its place back in the national conversation.”
Duane Johnson will move Tuloko, a company he co-founded with Sean Armstrong, here from Minneapolis to launch the Green Book Network, which he envisions as a social networking site for minority suppliers – “a conduit between all the players in the supplier diversity field,” he told The St.
“One of our missions is to go out and serve the underserved, and we’re realizing we have to make the medical community more reflective of the patients we are trying to serve,” Phelps said. “We picked the city of St. Louis because of the great diversity it does offer, which is not typical of cities in the west or many cities of the Midwest.” Site preparation for the new facility began April 15, with construction time estimated at 12 months. With a
Louis American
The grants are funded through donations, including from corporations, government agencies, and individuals. The winners also receive pro-bono services from several firms and mentoring from experts in law, real estate, sales, product development, accounting, financial services, marketing and I.T.
Edited slightly and reprinted with permission from news. stlpublicradio.org. Follow Maria on Twitter: @ radioaltman.
Photo: A.T. Still University
Black & Single Lessons from my ex
Resonating truths regarding being passed over
By Kenya Vaughn Of The St. Louis American
For the last several weeks, I’ve been in this “living for the story” phase of my life. If I get into a situation that I feel has the makings of a captivatingly hilarious moment worthy to be shared, I just kind of lean into it. It’s been a fascinating journey.
I know you’re thinking, “What does this have to do with anybody’s love life?”
n “The fact that you moved forward knowing that you might eventually resent me made me resent you –and take you for granted.”
Well, my phone rang, and I noticed that it was “the one who needed to get away.” For the sake of the story, I decided to answer. He was in crisis mode – dealing with all kinds of personal issues that had him riddled with turmoil and reevaluating life. And, of course, “I’m the only person he felt like he could call.” It took everything inside of me not to say, “In your face” with a side of “that’s what you get” and hang up.
But, for the sake of the story, I decided to let him carry on, and on…and on. Just as he was bowing out of the conversation, I asked him if he would call me back tomorrow and return the favor by answering some questions about our history “for the sake of a story.”
He said he would call back when he got off work and had a chance to unwind. I didn’t believe him, but the phone rang at 7:30 p.m. sharp.
I told him I wouldn’t judge or make him out to be the villain. My only request was that he be brutally honest.
Out of our conversation came what I believe are common mistakes made by women who decide to choose a particular man who doesn’t want to be chosen –well, at least not by you.
It doesn’t fit, we force it. According to him, that was how he knew I wasn’t the one.
“Even if you had never been in a functional relationship, I was on some [expletive] and you had to know it. The man that is for you – even if he messes up – has the intention of being the best man he possibly can towards you,” he said.
“Unconditional love is cool,
We are in the full swing of wedding season, and what’s more important than wedding style?
Nowadays, anything goes for bridal and overall wedding fashion. Long gone are the days of the traditional wedding style of white dresses and black tuxedos. Nowadays, brides can be caught in any color ranging from sea foam green to black.
“Ultimately brides want to be stylish yet comfortable and of course stay within the budget,” said Tiffany Kelly, owner of our wedding style partner, Savvy Silhouette. “Today’s bridal market is really about being practical about everything,
especially the bride’s dress.” Savvy Silhouette offers new and “pre-loved” gowns for a fraction of the original retail price. They also carry bridal party fashions including mother of bride, bridesmaids, flower girl dresses. In addition to dresses they carry shoes and accessories.
The DRESS
Many brides have had an idea of what they want their dress to look like since childhood. Most likely, it’s a version of Cinderella with full lace veil, or tiara and glass slipper in tow. But today, more chic, simple bridal silhouettes are “en
See WEDDING, C4
‘Many museums don’t want to go there’
Walker.” She speaks at the Saint Louis Art Museum at 6:30 p.m. Friday, June 6. Former Romare Bearden fellow to talk on risks of exhibiting
By Chris King Of The St. Louis American
When Gwendolyn DuBois Shaw delivers a free public lecture on the work of Kara Walker at the Saint Louis Art Museum at 6:30 p.m. Friday, June 6, she’ll be returning to a city where she first learned about censorship of controversial AfricanAmerican art. Shaw will present updated ideas drawn from her 2004 study “Seeing the Unspeakable: The Art of Kara Walker.” Her talk is part of the museum’s public programming in connection with its exhibit “Anything but Civil: Kara Walker’s Vision of the Old South,” which closes August 10.
Though “Anything but Civil” is far from Walker’s most provocative work, it does contain the sort of disturbing imagery drawn from American slavery that has upset many viewers. For example, one drawing in the show depicts two disembodied heads of black men. One of the heads, encircled by a spiked slave collar, is being told by the other, “You just tryin’ to act white!” It’s work like this, as Shaw shows in her book, that made Walker an international black superstar in the white-dominated art world whose most vocal critics are African Americans. Shaw saw that dynamic first-hand right here in St. Louis in 1993-4, when she was
City of trumpeters
Russell Gunn and Keyon Harrold pay tribute to local trumpet masters
By Kenya Vaughn Of The St. Louis American
“I’m not sure exactly what we are going do, but any kind of tribute to those great trumpet players who are from St. Louis is always special,” said Russell Gunn. “Because most of those cats don’t get their props anyway.”
Though Miles Davis was the glaring exception to the rule, he undoubtedly was a reflection of the rich horn history anchored in St.
Louis that continues to this very day, by way of Gunn and fellow trumpet master Keyon Harrold in particular.
On Friday, May 30, St. Louis will get a taste of both when the two – along with keyboardist Danny Mixon and vocalist Denise Thimes – join The Jazz Edge Big Band for a “Tribute to St. Louis Trumpeters” in the Lee Theater of the Touhill Performing Arts Center.
The performance will also include
Photo: Duke University Press
Gwendolyn DuBois Shaw with her 2004 book “Seeing the Unspeakable: The Art of Kara
Russell GunnKeyon Harrold
Photo by Katty Rodriguez-Harrold
See TRUMPETS, C4
See SHAW, C4
See SINGLE, C4
By Danie Rae, Style Broker For The St. Louis American
Models: Tara Johnson, Lena Wood both of West Model
Hair: Phea Monae, MU: Patrice Singletary, Styling: Danie Rae
Style Broker, Photos by Lawrence Bryant
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Calendar listings are free of charge, are edited for space and run on a space-available basis.
concerts
Fri., May 30, 7 p.m., Touhill Performing Arts Center presents Tribute to St. Louis Trumpeters. Two of the most sought after trumpeters in the world today--Russell Gunn and Keyon Harrold-salute St. Louis jazz trumpet legends with The Jazz Edge Big Band for one night only. Listen for an unmatched menu of renditions yielding great creativity and strength. Dr. Donald Suggs, Dr. Doris Wilson and Robert Edwards will each receive an Arts Leadership Award. 1 University Blvd., 63121. For more information, visit www. touhill.org.
Fri., May 30, 7:30 p.m., St. Louis Symphony presents The Gospel According to Swing with Byron Stripling Trumpet sensation Byron Stripling performs the swing hits that will set your soul on fire. From Mahalia Jackson to Aretha Franklin, with the influences of Bessie Smith and Duke Ellington. Powell Symphony Hall, 718 N. Grand Blvd., 63103. For more information, call (314) 5341700 or stlsymphony.org.
Fri., June 6, 7 p.m. & 9:30 p.m., Lumiere Place Casino & Hotels presents Macy Gray. 999 N. Second St., 63102.
Fri., June 20, 8 p.m., The Fox Theater presents The O’Jays and Chaka Khan. 527 N. Grand Blvd., 63103. For more information, visit www.metrotix.com.
Sat., June 21, 6 p.m., Hot 104.1 FM presents Super Jam 2014 starring K. Michelle, Juicy J., August Alsina and more. Scottrade Center. For more information, visit www.ticketmaster.com.
Sat., June 28, 1 p.m., Plush St. Louis presents SLUMFEST 2014. The St. Louis Underground music festival returns for it’s 5th year
as the biggest Hip Hop Festival in the Midwest that showcases all four elements of Hip Hop under one roof. This event will consist of: over 60 Local and Out of State Hip Hop artists/group performances, over 20 of the area’s hottest DJ’s, and B-Boy/B-Girl Dance competition for a cash prize. The event will also include a Producer beat battle, Emcee Freestlye Battle, and live displays from Grafiti Artists. 3224 Locust St., Ste 101, 63103. For more information, visit www.slumfest.com.
local gigs
Thurs., June 5, 7:30 p.m., The Sheldon presents Brian Owens performing the music of Otis Redding. Brian Owens continues his version of a PhD in classic soul through a celebration of the music of Otis Redding. Donate new boys or girls socks sizes small (xxs) through large (xl) and/or new boys and girls underwear sizes 3/4 through 18/20 to the Little Bit Foundation on the night of show and get $5 off tickets to future Brian Owens concerts. All proceeds from this event will benefit the Little Bit Foundation. 3648 Washington Blvd., 63108. For more information, visit www. metrotix.com.
Fri., June 6, 10 p.m., Ballpark village Busch Stadium presents Dirty Muggs. 700 Clark Ave., 63102. For more information, visit dirtymuggs.com.
special events
May 30 – 31, A Benefit for Habitat For Humanity Saint Louis presents The 2014 Thurman Loop Fest Music, Arts and BBQ Festival. This is a free family friendly festival presented within the classic architecture of the tree lined Historic
Calendar
Shaw Neighborhood of Saint Louis City. The festival will present arts, crafts, music, BBQ competition, storytelling, puppet shows, and food. Shenandoah Ave. and Thurman Ave., 63110. For more information, visit http:// festivalnet.com/52884/SaintLouis-Missouri/Festivals/ Thurman-Loop-Fest-Music,Art-BBQ
Fri., May 30, 9 p.m., Battle of the Best: The Roc vs Bad Boy – The Dynasty Tribute. A tribute to Legendary Hip-Hop Dynasties Roc-AFella Records & Bad Boy Entertainment hosted by Corey Black feat. DJ Charlie Chan Soprano and DJ Sno on the 1s & 2s. Jay-Z or Diddy who you roll with? Harlem or Brooklyn who you got? Lola Lounge, 500 N. 14th St., 63103
Sat., May 31, 10 a.m., Myrtle Hilliard Davis Comprehensive Health Centers, Inc. presents A Gospel Brunch Fundraiser: Celebrating 45 Years of Service with MC Evangelist Mary Tillman. Performers include Leslie Johnson, St. Louis Gospel Choral Union, Next Level, and more. Norwood Hills Country Club, 1 Norwood Hills Country Club Dr., 63121. For more information, call (314) 3715957.
Sat., May 31, 12 p.m., NaWay Ministries presents College and Career Readiness Resource Fair & Janet L. Armstrong Scholarship Fundraiser. There will be food, music, games & prizes! There will be workshops for all ages on ACT
Prep, College Applications, Job Search & Resume Editing and more information on the Janet L. Armstrong Scholarship for STL city and Normandy graduating seniors. Tandy Community Center, 4206 Kennerly Ave., 63113. For more information, call (314) 606-9145.
Sat., may 31, 6 p.m., ALIVE Magazine presents Hot List. Join us for a grand evening to kick off the summer season and celebrate St. Louis’ most notable restaurants, boutiques, hots pots, cultural institutions and more. Restaurant and Food Truck Hot List winners will be sampling at the event along with Miller Lite, Pinnacle Vodka and Skinny Girl Wine. Dance to beats provided by DJ TrashTalk and live music by Tommy Halloran’s Guerilla Swing. Plus, a pop-up shop featuring the hottest St. Louis boutiques. Cortona at Forest Park, 5800 Parkview Pl., 63110.
Sat., May 31, 8:30 p.m., Circus Flora presents Late Night Revelry. Entrance to the Big Top Performance, a One-Night Only Performance, see acts not featured in The Pawn. The event also includes a live Auction, dancing in the Ring with performers, and Open Bar. The Event is located in the big tent in Grand Center next to Powell Hall, 718 N Grand Blvd., 63103. For more information, visit www. metrotix.com.
May 31, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Omicron Eta Omega Chapter presents AKAvantage: The Next Level of Your Success. Are you a
St. Louis Symphony presents The Gospel According to Swing with Byron Stripling. See CONCERTS for details.
student looking for a great summer internship opportunity to enhance your skills and build your resume or an employer looking for a great student that will be an asset for your company? You must have a 2.5 cumulative GPA. We are specifically looking for IT/Computer Science majors, but ALL majors are welcome to apply. Application should include: a resume, official college transcript, letter of recommendation, and an essay describing why you want to be an intern and your extra-curricular activities and volunteer work. All materials are due by May 31. For more information, please email AKAvantage@akaomicronetaomega.org.
Sun., June 1, 12 p.m. – 4 p.m., The public is invited to an Open House and Preview Event showcasing the Fox Theatre’s 2014-2015 U.S. Bank Broadway Series on Sunday, The Fox Theatre. For more information, visit www. fabulousfox.com
Fri., June 6, 7:45 a.m., Norwood Country Club hosts Community Women Against Hardship Ambassadors Annual Golf Tournament. The cost includes green fees, cart, continental breakfast and lunch. The proceeds are donated to CWAH to assist in providing financial support to implement services to families. 1 Norwood Hills Country Club Dr., 63121. For more information, contact Monica Stewart at s935849@ sbcglobal.net.
Fri., June 6, 8 p.m., Highlands Golf & Tennis Center in Forest Park hosts Night on the Greens. Night on the Greens is a one of kind, glow in the dark fundraiser benefiting the Gateway Area Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Enjoy a glowing outdoor evening featuring food and drinks from Gamlin Whiskey House, music by Phat Kat DJ’s “DJ TooTall”, raffles, contests, lawn games and more. 5163 Clayton Ave., 63110. For more information, visit http:// site118896-1712-1805. strikingly.com/.
Sat., Jun. 7, 8 a.m. (7 a.m. registration) The St. Louis Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Incorporated is hosting its annual Kappa League Scholarship Fund Golf Tournament, Eagle Springs Golf Course, 2575 Redman Road, St. Louis, MO 63136. For more information, call Contact: Christopher Harrell at (314) 477 1482.
Sat., June 7, 9 a.m., Coffee
Cartel hosts Monopoly® Tournament. To benefit United4Children. Three Rounds of play (90Min rounds) Grand prize $500 Cash. Come be the king of Monopoly®. #2 Maryland Plaza, 63108. For more information, visit www. thecoffeecartel.com.
Sat., June 7, 7 p.m., Gateway Motorsports Park presents Neon Dash 5K. Neon Dash is the Original Nighttime 5k Run and Walk Event that’s been sweeping the Country since 2011. Become a part of the show when you run, walk or dance this 5k course as you’re covered in brilliant Neon Colors. Add to the entire experience by dressing in costumes and wearing anything that blinks and glows. Thousands of glowing Participants will light up. The After Dash Bash filled with UV Backlight, Music, and Entertainment. 700 Raceway Blvd., East St Louis, IL 62201. For more information, visit http://www.neondash.com/ locations/stlouis/.
Sat., May 7 9 p.m. (8 p.m. doors) Le Syndicate presents Miguel’s Birthday Bash with performance by Flirt featuring No I.D., Mac’s Banquet Room, 315 Belle, Alton IL 62002. For tickets, call Corey at 618.381.2829, Erica at 314.669.1702 or Miguel at 314.732.9955.
Sun., June 8, 6 p.m., S.L.I.M presents Loosecannon Celebrity Basketball Game. Chaifetz Arena, 1 S. Compton Ave., 63103. For more information, call (314) 9775000.
Thurs., June 12, 7 p.m., The Safe Connections Young Professionals host Love. For Friends. For Family. For a Cause. The Safe Connections Young Professionals are hosting a swanky summer night out to enjoy some live music and celebrate having healthy relationships with all those we love. The event will feature delicious hors d’oeuvres and an open bar, a local band and exciting silent auction. The event will be held at Olivia’s on The Hill, 4915 Daggett Ave., 63110. For more information, visit safeconnections.org.
Sat., June 14, 6:30 a.m., Downtown St. Louis hosts Susan G. Komen St. Louis Race for the Cure. Help save lives and end breast cancer. The Komen Race for the Cure Series is the largest series of 5K runs/fitness walks in the world. The Susan G. Komen St. Louis Race for the Cure® raises funds for the local fight against breast cancer,
Continued from C1
vogue”. Opting for a more detailed look with lace, or beading and less “fru fru” is making sure that the dress of your dreams isn’t a regrettable trend. If the dress must be larger than life, everything else has to be turned down. Meaning, hair and makeup should be minimal as well as accessories. The dress will be more than enough to be the center of attention.
Merry maids
The approach to bridesmaid style has also completely been left open to the bride’s interpretation.
“Many bridesmaids don’t want to spend an inordinate amount on a dress they probably will only wear once,” Kelly said. “And with the trend of non-matching dresses, buying a ‘pre-loved’ or consignment dress is the best way to go. Not only is it easy on the pockets, it’s also a way to find something unique and versatile enough to wear again.” My number one pet peeve is to see the bridesmaids come down the aisle in dresses that look “forced” – meaning they look like they didn’t have a say so in the choosing of a dress that best suites them. And even though the day is about the bride, the crew has to be as fly as the captain.
Adding accessories
Way too often are brides go overboard when it comes to their choice of bridal adornment. I’ve seen some tragic cases of brides with a
SINGLE
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but setting boundaries and standing your ground will set the tone. You didn’t do that so I [expletive] you over. Even if he doesn’t grow to love you, he’ll respect you. You can’t have one without the other.”
We’re delusional. Actually, I was quietly insane about it.
“I knew if we tried, we would both end up miserable,” he said. “The fact that you moved forward knowing that you might eventually resent me made me resent you – and take you for granted. It felt like you were looking forward to me being a piece of [expletive] so you could throw it up in my face or hold me hostage due to guilt.”
veil worn with gloves, with a bracelet, ring, and diamond encrusted nails. Then there is the polar opposite bride that has a “blah” dress that either is not figure flattering or the color completely washes them out. And then they choose to wear their hair in a non-flattering style to just complete clash the entire look. I always recommend brides to go for what is always timeless. That includes wearing only one other accessory besides your wedding band, and keeping it simple if you want to incorporate head gear. Opting for a feather, flower, or beaded adornment for a hair accessory instead of a
Guys want happily ever after too. But for them, there’s this catch that we never consider.
When women are approached by what we see as “Prince Charming,” we fall head-first and start writing our fairytale. According to him, when most men start out with a woman that appears perfect, they think, “Okay, what’s the catch?” and start subconsciously selfsabotaging the relationship.
“I either go in with the overwhelming fear of messing things up and end up messing it up, or I believe that she can’t be everything I’m looking for,” he said. “I’ll say, ‘She’s pretending – she’s a fake.’ And I mess it up.”
We play make-believe in relationships. He says this is why he thinks women that sound too good to be true typically are.
Photo by Lawrence Bryant
traditional veil will ensure the overall look will still be relevant twenty years from now.
Whether a bride is traditional or more avant garde, it’s imperative to be sure that the most beautiful day of one’s life look is timeless.
Wardrobe provided by Savvy Silhouette, 550 Rue St. Pierre, Florissant, MO 63031, 314-714-5322, www. Savvydress.com.
Special thanks to the Missouri Botanical Gardens. For more information regarding events, contact, www. missouirbotanicalgarden.com.
“A man likes a woman who has the same interests, hobbies, humor and all of that. A woman likes a man and then decides that she can grow to like whatever he likes,” he said.
“It’s stupid. If you’re physically attracted to somebody, that’s fine. Handle that. But don’t think because you like the way he looks, his sense of humor, his intelligence – or whatever it is that attracts you to him – that you can play ‘fake it ‘till you make it’ as soul mates.”
It’s not us, it’s him. “It sounds cliché, but it’s the truth,” he said. “If a woman loves a man, he could decide to be with you if he wanted to. Y’all make it easy to do. The only women who do that to men are usually gold diggers. If he decides to move on, consider yourself blessed –not broken.”
TRUMPETS
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a special presentation of Arts Leadership Awards to St. Louis American Publisher Donald M. Suggs, Dr. Doris Wilson and Robert Edwards.
For the past 20 years, Gunn has followed in the footsteps of his horn hero Miles Davis by making a name for himself and his hometown of East St. Louis on the international jazz scene.
While Davis helped bring jazz to pop culture, Gunn delivered the genre to the hip-hop generation –especially with his Grammy Award-nominated albums Ethnomusicology Vol. 1 and Vol. 2.
He even recorded an album of Miles Davis classics entitled Russell Gunn Plays Miles in 2007.
Gunn is humble to the point of almost seeming selfdeprecating when he speaks of his own place in the world of jazz. Comparing himself to Davis – or any other of the greats – is completely out of the question for him.
“The thing I try to do mostly is to show what a good work ethic will do,” Gunn said.
“The music is in my veins, but trumpet playing isn’t. I don’t consider myself to be a natural
SHAW
Continued from C1
a Romare Bearden graduate fellow at the Saint Louis Art Museum.
The black community’s outrage, in that instance, was not directed toward Walker’s work, but rather that of another black artist named Robert Colescott. When the University of Missouri – St. Louis hung a Colescott painting of an interracial couple that incorporates stereotypical racial imagery in a visible public space, there was a public outcry. Black students and community members, including civil rights icon Norman Seay, led a successful effort to have the painting taken down and hung in a less conspicuous place.
“That incident was very formative to my understanding of the stakeholders who are involved, the museum administration – in this case, an academic administration – but also the concerns that the larger community has when it comes to displaying works of art,” Shaw said.
“The students at UMSL were very upset by this painting appearing in their academic environment. They thought they should not be disturbed by unpleasant and provocative images. They didn’t want that, and they didn’t want to have a conversation about it. No!”
Her experience of this controversy, she said, helped her to understand Walker and the outrage often sparked by her work.
“Her work still, over the past 20 years, has really found a lot of vocal critics who feel it can’t be displayed without very significant context being given – wall labels, an audio guide, a
trumpet player, but I work really hard at what I do. And that’s it.”
Miles Davis, Lester Bowie, George Hudson, Clark Terry are among the artists that will be celebrated.
“I don’t even know where to start with Clark Terry. He’s one of the greatest of all time,” Gunn said. “He’s not as revered as somebody like Miles – but he influenced Miles greatly. Miles talked about Clark Terry all the time as one of his heroes.”
Being able to pay tribute to Terry is clearly a high note for Gunn – who has a simple theory as to why Terry didn’t receive the recognition that his one-time mentee Miles Davis did.
“He had such a mastery of the instrument, he was really hard to duplicate,” Gunn said of Terry. “I think that’s why he wasn’t as imitated as someone like Miles because Miles played simpler melodic lines and you could kind of copy that. Clark’s mastery of the instrument was too much for most people to even try.
Only Wynton Marsalis comes close, Gunn said, “and many people don’t know that Clark Terry is his hero also.”
Based on the way he speaks of him, Gunn will be sharing the stage with another hero trumpeter.
“Keyon is a [expletive]
panel discussion,” Shaw said.
Or, in the case of her own forthcoming public lecture on Walker’s work in St. Louis, a talk by a visiting scholar of color.
“And not all museums have educational and curatorial staff prepared and trained to handle controversial issues surrounding race and the history of enslavement and violence in the United States,” Shaw said. “It remains an enormous problem for American museums.”
Shaw first came to St. Louis to work in a program specifically designed to address this problem. She is one of 18 African-American art professionals who have
n “They thought they should not be disturbed by unpleasant and provocative images. They didn’t want that, and they didn’t want to have a conversation about it.”
– Gwendolyn DuBois Shaw
benefitted from the Romare Bearden Fellowship, which grooms people from underrepresented groups in curatorial skills at an elite art museum.
“I don’t think I’d be sitting here today as a tenured professor at an Ivy League school had I not had the opportunity to work with objects at the Saint Louis Art Museum and come to a better understanding of museum work,” she said.
monster. It’s unbelievable what kind of trumpet player he is and his understanding of the music,” Gunn said of Harrold, a native of Berkeley. “Keyon is great in his own right. I’m almost looking more forward to hearing him play than playing myself.”
The show will be the first time he and Harrold will share the stage professionally. Harrold was most recently the featured trumpet player for Cirque De Soleil’s “Michael Jackson: The Immortal World Tour.” He has played with the likes of Jay Z, Beyoncé, Maxwell and Robert Glasper. Gunn is also looking forward to playing with The Jazz Edge – whom he played with as a teen and young adult when he was still living in St. Louis. “It feels good to be able to say, ‘Remember who they are,’” Gunn said. “We’re doing what we are doing because of them.”
The Jazz Edge Big Band “Tribute to St. Louis Trumpeters” featuring Russell Gunn, Keyon Harrold, Danny Mixon and Denise Thimes will take place on Friday, May 30 at 7 p.m. in the Lee Theater of the Touhill Performing Arts Center located on The UMSL campus. For more information, visit www.touhill.org or call 314-516-4949.
She is associate professor of American Art at the University of Pennsylvania, located in Philadelphia. “The University of Pennsylvania,” she emphasized, “not Penn State – they are two very different schools.” She currently serves as undergraduate chair of the Department of Art History and is curating an exhibition and catalogue of works by African-American artists in the permanent collection of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
“African Americans are incredibly underrepresented as curators,” she said. “For example, the Metropolitan Museum of Art has over 100 curators – and not one single African American.” She said the fact that so few museums have black curatorial staff limits the ability of museums to risk public controversy by exhibiting work by controversial AfricanAmerican artists like Kara Walker.
“Many museums don’t want to go there,” she said. “They don’t want to show really controversial and provocative art work if they don’t feel they can adequately explain that work to their audience.”
She admitted to finding it a “big surprise,” given her experience in St. Louis 20 years ago, to find the Saint Louis Art Museum among the institutions willing to exhibit Kara Walker’s work.
“It’s a city that struggles to fully integrate its many neighborhoods,” she said of St. Louis, with several pauses to choose the correct words. “Walker does not receive an easy reception in such contexts. It comes down to the racial, ethnic and class lines that keep us apart. That’s a lot of what Kara Walker questions in her work – issues of historical racism and inequity.”
Be a Tourist in Your Own Town
St. Louis Convention and Visitors Commission
Want to fly on a trapeze?
St. Louis’ newest attraction takes visitors to new heights
A new St. Louis attraction is giving visitors a real high—literally.
Those brave enough to climb a 30-foot tall ladder can learn to “fly through the air with the greatest of ease,” as the old ditty goes, and experience a new spin on the adrenalin rush.
The Circus Harmony Flying Trapeze Center has been drawing “oohhhhs” and “ahhhhhs” from visitors who opt to “fly” high above Union Station’s train shed since the attraction opened there in April.
Circus Harmony is a non-profit social circus headquartered at St. Louis’ fantastic City Museum where visitors can see a circus performance. Visitors can sign on for a single “swing” on the trapeze or lessons that will have them swinging on the trapeze, learning to do a “trick” high in the air, and then being “caught” by an aerialist on another trapeze.
While this adventure is not for the faint of heart or those who fear heights, safety is front and center. Flyers are on a harness and swing over a net.
To start, flyers must climb a ladder that’s like “like climbing to the second-story window,” Jessica Hentoff, Circus Harmony artistic and executive director, said.
“You’re up 30 feet, and it seems like it’s really high, and you know what? Every time you go up it seems like it’s not as high as the time before,” Hentoff said. She should know.
During her performing days, Hentoff and a fellow aerialist were the only trapeze artists to do a unique trick they developed and did on a single trapeze.
“It is one of the most exhilarating things you can do,” she said. “You know how being a superhero is a typical dream for people? You’ll get to feel what it’s really like to be a superhero. It’s so much fun.”
Students get a demonstration, safety explanation and instructions first. They can also practice on a low-hanging trapeze before climbing the ladder to get to the platform where an aerialist awaits them. A little more instruction, and they’re off!
“Rather quickly we move you up to where you have your knees on the bar and before you know it, you’re reaching out to the catcher on the other trapeze, and then you get to do a somersault into the net,” Hentoff said.
“Flying” is for people age five and up, she said. And when she says “up,” she isn’t kidding. Her oldest student was an 87-year-old woman. Don’t assume you need tremendous upper body strength to be successful on the trapeze. You don’t, Hentoff said.
“You’re just hanging. You’re not doing a pull-up where you need upper body strength. You just hold on for the length of time of the swing. Pretty much anybody can do it.
“And the more you do it, strength builds up
Toni Alexander, from Kansas City, experiences St. Louis’ newest attraction, Flying Trapeze Center, located at Union Station, 1820 Market St.
very, very quickly. We also have phenomenal contortion classes at circus harmony” for those who want to build up flexibility, she added.
The Trapeze Center’s location makes it easy for tourists and locals alike to find.
“You come to Union Station which is easily accessible,” Hentoff said. “There’s even a MetroLink stop (at Union Station).
She foresees “flying” becoming a favorite date night activity and a fun thing to do with friends.
“It’s also nice that it’s out in the open and people can come and watch it. That’s why we offer the pay for swing. You might come down to watch someone else’s class and then you’re going to see how much fun they’re having, and you’re just going to want to try it. Pretty much everybody who goes up does it again.”
If you go
The Flying Trapeze Center is at Union Station, 1820 Market Street in downtown St. Louis. It’s open April to October. This year it will be open until Oct. 19.
Hours vary; see the website, www.trapezestl. com. The trapeze is suitable for people age 5 and older.
The center is outdoors so flying is weatherdependent. If it’s wet, windy or very cold, the show might not go on.
Cost: $60 per hour-and-a-half class; books of five and 10 classes receive a discount; $20 for a single swing.
What is up with the Gateway Classic?
Vanessa Hughes invites the community to the foundation for an update
By Chris King Of The St. Louis American
Vanessa Hughes knows that many people in the community have questions about the future of the Gateway Classic Sports Foundation. That’s why she is inviting people to the foundation, 2012 Dr. Martin Luther King Dr., at 10 a.m. Friday, May 30 to take questions and address concerns.
Hughes, a niece of founder Earl Wilson Jr., took over the foundation after Dawn Fuller resigned due to health concerns. She and Arthur Tyler, also a nephew of Wilson’s, are serving as volunteers to take care of some pressing foundation business.
The foundation has scholarship commitments to eight students. Hughes said she is “battling” to raise an additional $25,000 to meet those obligations for 2014.
The foundation was left in the lurch, she said, by a disastrous financial outcome of its 2013 Gateway Classic football game. She said the foundation is now out of the HBCU football game business.
What business the foundation will pursue is an open question. She said she is determined to preserve the facility as a community center. The foundation board had put the facility on the real estate market earlier this year, she said, but it is no longer listed for sale.
“I vowed not to let that building on the corner go without fighting for it,” Hughes said.
She said the facility has a computer lab that seats 20 or 30 people, which is currently under-utilized. The facility is available for bookings for birthday parties, weddings and other events. She said Saturdays are booked pretty solid but they are looking to
n “My immediate goal is to see each of these students through under the scholarship program.”
– Vanessa Hughes, Gateway Classic
book Friday nights. The foundation rents a room to Rescue Church and Pastor Shawn Ward on Sundays. It also has a regular tenant, Peoples Community Action Center, that leases 1900 square feet of space that will become available in
October. Hughes, mother of former NBA player Larry Hughes, said she continues to run the Hughes Family Foundation with its mission to increase the organ donor registry. But at the moment, she has another family foundation to save. “My immediate goal is to see each of these students through under the scholarship program that exists,” she said. “My vision is to stay in the community and become a cornerstone in the community.” For event or facility rental, contact Arthur Tyler at Arthur@gatewayclassic. org or 314-621-1994. To contribute to the scholarship fund, contact Hughes at Vanessa@gatewayclassic.org or 314-621-1994 ext. 211.
Vanessa Hughes and Arthur Tyler of the Gateway Classic Sports Foundation are hosting a public forum about the future of the organization 10 a.m. Friday, May 30 at the foundation, 2012 Dr. Martin Luther King Dr.
Anniversaries
Announcing the 45th wedding anniversary of James and Dorothy Sanders on May 31! We also celebrate their 45 year membership at Shiloh Temple Church of God in Christ. The Sanders have a family of three children, a daughterin-law, four grandchildren and one great-grandson.
Congratulations, Aaron and Kalah Hunt on their one-year anniversary. They were married on May 14, 2013 in Washington D.C. Kalah, daughter of Marc and Stephanie Harris, recently received her BFA from Howard University. Aaron, son of Roger and Paris Hunt, currently is serving in the U.S. Navy.
Reunions ~ Celebrations ~
All reunion announcements can be viewed online!
Beaumont Class of 1968 46th Reunion Weekend: Happy Hour, Friday, June 6 and Picnic, Saturday, June 7. Meetings to wrap up plans will be Saturday, April 26, 3-5 pm with final meeting May 24, 2014 2-5 pm, both at STL County Library 7606 Natural Bridge. For more information
email bhsco1968@att.net or call 314-869-8312.
Beaumont High School Class of 1984 is planning its 30 year class reunion for October 3-4, 2014. Reunion dinner will be held Saturday, October 3 at Hilton at the Ball Park. Please check us out on Facebook page “Beaumont Class of 1984” for class updates. The class meets the last Friday of every month. Contact Rochelle Williams at rochellewilliams001@yahoo. com.
Central High School class of 1979 is planning its 35 year reunion for August 29-31, 2014. Please check out our Facebook page, “Central High School Redwings class of 1979” for class updates or call
Birthdays
Happy birthday to Lisa Michell Reid on June 2 with love from her husband of 20 years, Clyde Reid Jr., and their beautiful children Jamal, Jalen and Jayson. She is our SHERO! May God continue to bless her.
Happy birthday to Kayla Pittman on May 30! Wishing a sweet girl a Happy Sweet 16th Birthday. Love, Mom, Dad and Sis
Happy 21st birthday to my son Kevin “Fat Fat” Lamar Windham on May 29. I am very proud of the young man you have become. Wishing you success and many blessings! Love, Mom
Kanisha “Mz Crickett” Gaines—May 24
Katrina Kerr (43)—May 25
Ruth McKissick-Robinson (84)—May 27
Tamera Greer—May 31
314-374-8523 or 314-541-5645 for more information.
Homer G. Phillips Alumni Nurses Inc. has planned a 2014 trip to Chicago, June 23-27. The $450.00 fee includes Motorcoach transportation,four nights lodging, eight meals: four breakfasts, four dinners and transportation for several tours. For more information, please call 636-978-8693, or 3149224756, or e-mail asims4@ charter.net.
Jennings Senior High School’s Class of 2004 will be hosting its ten-year class reunion July 26-27, 2014. If you are a member of the Class of 2004 and you would like to participate, please contact
your Class President, Alona Sistrunk, at alona724@gmail. com with your name (and name at the time of graduation if it has changed), your address, your phone number, and your email address. We will be in touch soon with additional information.
McKinley’s Class of 1984 would like to invite McKinley alumni to come and join them on a three-day, twonight, cruise to the Bahamas to celebrate their 30th year class reunion September 19-22,2014. For Information contact: Ms. Vanessa Thomas (Group Specialist) MonFri 11:30 am-8:30pm at 1-(800)514-9986 Ext: 7565 or email vthomas@vacationtogo. com
Normandy High School Class of 1994 will hold its 20th Reunion Weekend, August 22-24, which will include a Meet and Greet, All White Party, and Ol’ School Field Day. For more information please visit our website at http://nykeawatts.wix.com/ normandy1994.
Riverview Gardens High School Class of 1994 is planning its 20th reunion. Please join us via Facebook: Riverview Gardens Senior High Class of 1994. Please email your name, address, telephone number and/or email to rgclassof1994@gmail.com.
Soldan High Class of 1965 presents Washington, DC: Our Nation’s Capital, June 19-24, 2014. For more information contact: Corinne Parker-Stukes 636-294-4373, Brenda Wallace-Yancey 314-830-1334, Isaiah Hair, Jr. 314-387-7592 or email: soldanclassof65@gmail.com.
Soldan Class of 1966 is celebrating with an “Old School Dance” Sunday, June 15, 2014 at Christian
Hospital’s Atrium Banquet Center, Derrick Building, 11133 Dunn Road 63136 from 5- 9 pm. Dinner Served at 6 pm, cash bar, $50 per person. For ticket information please contact 314-521-8540.
St. Matthew Lutheran School Alumni Association hosts its first all class Alumni Reunion, September 12-14, 2014. Please contact Rita Jackson at 5506945 or rjayplus@ymail.com for further details.
Sumner High Classes of 1954 60-year reunion, August 15 - 17, 2014 at the Sheraton Westport Hotel, Plaza Tower. For more information contact: Audrey Poindexter - (314) 383-7174; email: ajpoin@att. net or Marlene May - (314) 567-9629; email: onelene@ att.net.
Sumner High Class of 1974 will be having its 40th class reunion, July 18-20, 2014 at the Doubletree by Hilton St. Louis Chesterfield Hotel, 16625 S. Swingley Ridge Road, Chesterfield, MO 63017. The dates of the festivities are. Suanday Morning Services will be at New Beginnings M.B. Church, 4055 Edmundson Road, St. Louis, Mo 63134 at 10am with a memorial brunch following services. Contact Joyce Bush Cruesoe at 314-484-1552, or Denise Washington Nicks 314642-3366 for information.
Sumner High Class of 1979 is looking for classmates to participate in activities leading up to its 35th Class Reunion, June 20-22, 2014 in Lake Ozarks, MO. Please forward contact information to sumner1979@ymail.com or call Sara at 314-482-1558. Various activities are planned.
University City Alumni Association invites you to the sounds of Tim Cunningham, Sat., Aug. 2, 2014 at Mt. Pleasant Winery,
Do you have a celebration you’re proud of? If so we would like to share your good news with our readers. Whether it’s a birth, graduation, wedding, engagement announcement, anniversary, retirement or birthday, send your photos and a brief announcement (50 words or less) to us and we may include it in our paper and website – AT NO COST – as space is available Photos will not be returned. Send your announcements to: kdaniel@stlamerican. com or mail to: St. Louis American Celebrations c/o Kate Daniel 2315 Pine St. St. Louis, MO 63103 FREE OF CHARGE
Reunion notices are free of charge and based on space availability. We prefer that notices be emailed to us! However, notices may also be sent by mail to:
Kate Daniel, 2315 Pine St., St. Louis, MO 63103
Deadline is 10 a.m. on Friday. If you’d like your class to be featured in a reunion profile, email or mail photos to us. Our email address is: reunions@ stlamerican.com
Augusta, Mo. $30 per person (Transportation provided.) Seating is a first come basis. Bus accommodates 50 people. This event is open to everyone. (DEADLINE FOR MONEY IS JUNE 17, 2014) More details contact: Denise Weatherford-Bell (314) 4846318.
Vashon High School Class of 1979 has planned our 35th Class Reunion weekend for August 15 - 17, 2014. For more information or to provide your contact information call 314-371-9653 or email vashonclassof1979@gmail. com. Visit our Facebook group: Vashon High Class of 1979 35th Class Reunion, for upcoming activities and updates.
Wellston High School Class of 1994 20th Reunion Weekend: July 25th-27, 2014. For more information, contact Bridgette Lovings at 314-4359534 or bridgettelovings@ yahoo.com or Yolinda Washington at 314-898-2063 or yolinda1225@gmail.com.
Lisa Michell Reid
Kayla Pittman
Kevin Lamar Windham
Pastor and bride-to-be compete for ‘fairytale wedding’
First couple of St. James Bible Fellowship Church make final 10 for online promotion
By Bridjes O’Neil
Of The St. Louis American
Pastor Kenneth Turner of St. James Bible Fellowship Church and his fiancée Paula Dorsey are competing to win an allinclusive wedding. And they need your votes to help them win.
The Innsbrook Resort is sponsoring the giveaway valued at over $30,000 that includes a honeymoon (a seven-night stay in Punta Cana or Mexico) courtesy of the Travel Gals, Apple Vacations and Riu Hotels. The giveaway also includes arrival to the ceremony by horse-drawn carriage and one gift certificate valued at $1,000 towards a bridal gown provided by White Traditions Bridal House.
“We get a fairytale wedding, and we don’t have to pay anything for it,” Dorsey said. Their original wedding date was scheduled for August 30; but if they win, their wedding will be held October 12 at the Innsbrook Resort in Warren County, Mo. Without this opportunity, Dorsey said, they would have been forced to scale down to reduce costs.
“It takes away the stress of trying to prioritize who’s going to be able to come,” Turner said.
If chosen, they may invite up to 175 guests. A panel of judges chose the couple out of more than 600 as a top 100 finalist. On May 4, they were invited to the Innsbrook Resort where their names were entered into a lottery drawing for the top 10. They were the second couple pulled. They are the only AfricanAmerican couple in the top 10. Dorsey said she almost chose not to participate in the contest believing that her chances for winning were not good. Then she saw a billboard advertisement for the giveaway and thought it would be worth a shot. The couple said they are
appreciative of former 6th Ward Alderwoman Kacie Starr Triplett who they said has gone above and beyond to solicit votes on their behalf.
“She has been a very supportive person in this whole thing for us,” Dorsey said.
Outside influences have played a significant role in their relationship. Dorsey’s mother, Jean, introduced the couple at a funeral nearly nine years ago. When asked what their initial impressions of each other were, they laughed. Turner was put off by the nine-year age gap and said Dorsey was not physically his type.
“She had this streak of red going through her hair,” he
recalled. “That definitely was a no-no.”
As a so-called “PK” or pastor’s kid, Dorsey said she had no interest in dating or marrying a pastor, knowing all too well the demands associated with the title. They soon discovered that they had much in common. It was the beginning of a budding relationship, but there was one thing missing – a love connection.
The two separated briefly and remained close friends. Turner said he realized too late what he once had, and he hoped to get a second chance to reconnect. That opportunity came at a church service last April.
“I literally bumped into her,” he said.
He said it was “destiny” that reunited the couple. He proposed to Dorsey before God, his congregation and family members last September at St. James Bible Fellowship, located at 1644 Semple Ave. He said marrying his “best female friend” is more rewarding than winning the wedding package.
“The marriage is the finished product,” he said. “We want to show them what goes on in the shop is what makes it to the showroom. That’s where the work is – in the shop.”
Voting ends May 31 and the winners will be announced June 2 on Innsbrook’s website.
To vote for Pastor Turner and Paula, visit www.innsbrookresort.com/wedding-giveaway/ vote/.
Follow this reporter on Twitter: @BridjesONeil.
The whole idea about blessings is becoming more and more clear to me every day. I don’t know if it’s age or not, but life’s experiences do bring perspective to one’s outlook regarding the notion of being blessed.
Haven’t we all been taught that it’s better to give than to receive? Kindness and goodwill should be characteristics of all of God’s people. Forgiveness and mercy should be staples of the Christian diet. The result is supposed to be a reaping of untold rewards for a life spent of sowing with no expectation of getting anything in return. If that is what you’ve been told and what you believed, then you also know that when life takes over, it ruthlessly attempts to get you to believe none of that is true. Life teaches you at an early age that kindness will be taken for weakness. Generosity is akin to foolishness and is something more apt to be abused. People will use you if you let them. Pain usually comes from an attempt to help somebody who doesn’t really give a damn about you. It can be the source of turning a good person bad because people will find ways to protect themselves. We all learn to survive. Eventually, you learn how to navigate a world in which we see nice guys finish last, takers succeed,
and cheaters win. Now here comes scripture, with the notion that giving is always better than receiving. I thought about this and realized you don’t know what kind of mother you’ll be until you have children. You cannot know what kind of friend you will be until you have a friend. You can’t know the depths of a person giving you love until you find yourself head over heels in love. You really can’t know yourself as a human being until you openly and honestly share your life with others. For a lot of us, this is a tough call because life has been so cruel. But remember, only by being a friend can you know true friendship. Only by giving love unconditionally, can you know unconditional love. Only by being a blessing can you know what being blessed really means. If you go through life existing based on your own definition of love and friendship, then that’s what you get in return; love and friendship with strings attached. You can’t expect your prayers to be answered if they all start and stop with gimme Blessing is the only road to being blessed. May you be a blessing to someone today, and may God bless and keep you always.
The American is accepting Inspirational Messages from the community. Send your column (no more than 400 words) as a Word document and pasted text to cking@stlamerican. com and attach a photo of yourself as a jpeg ile. Please be patient; we will run columns in the order received.
James A. Washington
Pastor Kenneth Turner of St. James Bible Fellowship Church and his fiancée Paula Dorsey
Delux Magazine’s Keith Griffin with Erica Ussery, the St. Louis winner of the Seagram’s Gin Calendar Model Search Thursday night @ The Rustic Goat
Celebrity Swagger Snap of the Week
Bre and Russell had the rare opportunity to meet one of the Original Kings of Comedy Saturday night after D.L. Hughley had folks in stitches following the first show of his two-set gig at Lumiere Theater.
Farewell to a phenomenal woman. Before I get started with my borderline ratchetry, I absolutely must take a moment to honor the life and memory of ST. LOUIS’ OWN Dr. Maya Angelou. Her life served as the epitome of realized potential and that formerly poor little black girls (like yours truly) from St. Louis and beyond could carve a place for themselves among presidents and world dignitaries. Her life, her art and her spirit all speak for themselves but more than anything she showed us that there are many gifts within each person that can be used effectively and simultaneously. And last but not least, Dr. Angelou taught people how to use whatever they had – even their pain – to inspire, uplift, encourage and bless others. As we read the countless statements regarding her legacy and the imprint she left on the world with heavy hearts, I’m certain she would want us all to take note of one thing: what she was able to achieve in her lifetime is possible for all of us.
Seagram’s STL weekend. Okay, my gracefully epic obit ends here…now back to your regularly scheduled disgraceful programming. I was traipsing all over the city on the front end of this weekend thanks to Seagram’s and their calendar model contest on Thursday at the Rustic Goat and a special tasting of their latest line Friday at The Marquee. There were some bona fide beauties that came through for their chance to represent the brand. I was quietly jealous…until most of them opened their mouths. I was like, ‘girl, what are you saying?’ Some of the beauties sounded like that “Cita” character from BET (circa 1998). The more astute ones sounded like they could be anchors for “Live Ratchet News.” In all fairness to them, they may not have known that the term SPOKESMODEL means you have to talk on behalf of the brand. A lovely lady named Erica took home the top prize, and I’m thrilled to report that she can speak in coherent, complete sentences. Let Thursday’s competition be a lesson to those who think killer curves, a cute face and a sickening sew-in are enough to get by –they’re not…even in an industry based on looks. The Seagram’s Marquee takeover on Friday was more subdued than I thought it would be. I expected folks to be lined up to the end of the block trying to get more than a taste of those complimentary drinks. Apparently, free liquor before 10 p.m. is not necessarily worth it.
Bo Dacious with special guest D.L. Okay so for the first time in all of my years of watching comedy shows I have never witnessed what went down Saturday night at the Lumiere. D.L. Hughley decided to give his openers some extra exposure or he didn’t feel like coming up with a full-length act. I don’t know about the late show, but for the 7 p.m. the ticket should have read “Bo Last Name Dacious and Friends with special guest D.L. Hughley” because Bo did a full-fledged comedy special. Good thing he was hilarious. The host dude was kind of regular and rubbed a whole section of folks the wrong way when he started going in on East St. Louis. Didn’t somebody tell him that he was right on the border of the East Side? Clearly not. Anyway, when the opener introduced Bo last name Dacious I thought that Hughley was switching up his show by rotating in a male urban exotic dancer routine. Come to find out Bo Last Name Dacious had no intention of getting naked. His name may not make you think so, but this brother was HEE-LARIOUS. I can’t really tell any of the jokes without getting arrested, but know that he was probably the best relatively unknown comic I’ve seen take the stage in years. Before his set was over folks were looking around for D.L., who was hilarious as usual. Too bad I’ve seen infomercials longer than his set.
Day Party double header. If I learned anything from Sunday afternoon it would be that there is enough Day Party space for everybody. Word on the curb is that the originators of the STL Day Party experience were quietly salty with B Free and the Marquee crew for going toe to toe with them on Memorial Day Eve. I don’t know how the receipts turned out as far as profits, but from where I was standing it looked like both spots clocked a win. The Marquee had Mocha Latte on the mic and DJ Jo Prima was celebrating her b-day. Soho was winding down on a weekend of celebrating their two-year anniversary. Both sets were an extremely good look.
A turned down Teese. As much as I absolutely adore the SYGU crowd, I must say that I was more than quietly underwhelmed with the turnout for the first Teese Party of the year Sunday night at the Pageant. I think what really did me in was the fact that there were so many cars in the parking lots and surrounding area. I don’t know where those people were, but most of them were not at the Pageant. I walked to the door expecting a huge crowd with custom made quietly obscene shirts everywhere, but felt like I was in the Twilight Zone when the crowd didn’t match the capacity of parked cars on the outside. Things picked up at the tail end, but it didn’t feel quite the same. Hopefully the Labor Day edition will be at the usual caliber.
Honest and empty. Poor Future…he brought lights, lasers and smoke to The Ambassador for his STL leg of the “Honest Tour” – but couldn’t bring the people. Even though Memorial Day night was the worst possible day for a late night concert, I expected the “Young and Jobless” crowd to be a little deeper in the place. I’m hoping that he was so busy basking in the birth of his new baby boy that the lack of an actual audience didn’t get him too down. Actually, he’s either blind, delusional or the most graceful gangsta rapper in history because he kept thanking the crowd for coming out, like they didn’t, and getting turned up. But he still fared better than his opening act Rico Love. Folks were looking at him like he was trying to sell vacuum cleaners door to door in an apartment complex with all hardwood floors from his first song to the last.
Toi and Carissa peeped the STL star power that packed into the Rock the Block Day Party Sunday afternoon @ The Marquee
Carri, Ashley, and Katrina kicked it @ the Marquee Friday night for the Seagram’s Gin Launch Party Friday night
Teese party goers Buthaina, Inas, Aliah and Erica were among the faithful SYGU regulars who came through to show off their shirts Sunday night @ The Pageant
Joy, Shonte and Tammy enjoyed the view while waiting for the All White Party to pop off Sunday @ Harry’s
Jamila aka DJ Jo Prima celebrated her birthday with her main man Cornell @ the Rock The Block Day Party Sunday afternoon @ The Marquee
Chuck, Tony Vega and ATL came to party with SYGU @ Teese Sunday night @ The Pageant
Kina and DC made the most of their Memorial Day weekend @ The Rock the Block Day Party Sunday afternoon @ The Marquee
Beauties Shonda, Tamika and Tamiesha soaked in the tastemaker atmosphere @ Soho’s Day Party Sunday afternoon
Nato Caliph and Omar O’Hara played catch up @ the Seagram’s Gin Launch party Friday night @ The Marquee
Photos by Lawrence Bryant