"Historical ignorance.” That was the poignant phrase expressed at the second installment of trilogy held recently at Washington University. Dr. Cornell W. Brooks delivered a powerful address that wove together black and American history, biblical scriptures and contemporary issues. The trilo…
With so much political and social stratification in a system by which people depend on resources for upward mobility and, in some instances, survival, it is alarming that St. Louis is without a daily black talk and information radio station or program.
The Lessie Bates Davis Neighborhood House is a faith-based nonprofit agency in East St. Louis that has provided myriad services to low-income residents and others within the community for decades. Its mission is to improve the quality of life for residents of all ages, with the ultimate goal…
Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt recently released the 2018 Annual Report on vehicle stops, and once again people are outraged by the raw data. Currently, Missouri uses Census data as the benchmark for determining what the raw data means. Census benchmarking is inexpensive and uncompli…
I made myself a promise not to follow or comment on the Democratic presidential campaign until October or November, primarily because it a pointless exercise that will have nothing to do with who will win the Democratic nomination and whether or not that person can successfully defeat Donald…
The proposed demolition of the Wellston Housing Authority, a public housing development that serves almost entirely Black St. Louisans, paired with an insufficient plan for maintaining the Wellston community repeats a troubling pattern of disinvestment in historic black neighborhoods. We cal…
Ask Farragut Elementary School fifth graders to name the first African-American licensed pilot, and they will tell you Emory C. Malik. How do they know? The answer is an exciting, interactive curriculum and great community partners.
After having just completed my very first session as a freshman legislator in the Missouri House of Representatives, I wanted to share some thoughts and observations.
As Benjamin Franklin was leaving the Constitutional Convention he was approached by a woman who asked, “What have you given us, a monarchy or a republic? Franklin replied, ”A republic, madam, if you can keep it.”
What your children don't know about money will cost them – dearly.
Did you know the president signed the historic act for African Americans back in January 2018? Oh, I guess you didn’t hear about the 400 Years of African American History Commission Act designed to acknowledge the four centuries plus of Africans being forced into U.S. chattel slavery. And yo…
We’ve all seen them. Driving around our city, they stick out—and not in a good way. You could say they’re broken, dilapidated or run-down. You could also call them what they are: a nuisance.
Mr. Governor, take your fingers out of Missouri’s vagina.
The decisions made in the Missouri State Legislature at the end of this past legislative session will serve as a stain on America’s history of progress and equality.
They say that everything in life comes full circle; I am a living witness to this truth. My story is that of a prodigal son who went halfway around the world to escape my homegrown ministry, only to return to St. Louis and continue in the legacy of my progeny.
I told you some years ago that these conservative folks would make being a “gleam in yo’ daddy’s eye” the start of conception. Fast forward and we see the aggressive attack on abortion rights by Republican lawbreakers. Several southern states have just passed “heartbeat” laws, a draconian me…
North St. Louis is a living testament of a city in decay. There have been five people shot in the 4000 block of Shreve and Kossuth in one night with four now dead. There was another death in the 4800 block of Kossuth and another man shot in the leg on Shreve and Anderson – all within less th…
Justin Amash finally said out loud what many other Republicans know but will only whisper: "President Trump engaged in specific actions and a pattern of behavior that meet the threshold for impeachment." Amash's party may never forgive him. His nation ought to thank him.
The Missouri Legislature just concluded session. It can be difficult to keep up with the many changes and shifts that occur in our state’s Capitol. Everyone is aware of the nationally publicized house bill 126 that limits abortions at eight weeks from conception. This is a blatant attempt to…
The National Urban League’s 2019 State of Black America report, “Getting 2 Equal, United Not Divided,” an unprecedented examination of the state of the black vote, was unveiled this week amidst a new push in Congress to protect voting rights and secure democracy.
It is with sadness that I announce this will be my last session in the Missouri House of Representatives. This was a difficult decision that I have made for the sake of my health, particularly mental.
The Missouri Section of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists strongly opposes HB 126, a medically unjustified and dangerous bill. It represents unnecessary political interference in the patient-provider relationship, granting politicians final decision-making power over in…
When I look at the immigrant child – a beautiful, young, seven-year-old girl – my heart breaks. They showed her picture over and over again on the news, and I looked at that little girl and thought of my biracial granddaughter of the same age.
I want to applaud St. Louis Treasurer Tishaura O. Jones’ decision to raise the minimum wage to $15 for the working people of her offices. Her decision will lift families and communities across St. Louis and shows fellow elected leaders that supporting working people takes more than talk – it…
What drew St. Louis’ civic leadership and professional class to Better Together like moths to a flame? It’s their belief that the single biggest impediment to St. Louis’ ability to grow and prosper is its fragmented local government structure. The way St. Louis city and county are politicall…
Most of my experience in St. Louis has evolved around work and exposure to large network groups. I am originally from Illinois, so most of my education has been from that state. However, because of the short distance for transportation, I was able to commute to St. Louis for better opportuni…
Over the 25 years of writing my column, readers have told me what they learned from my columns. I know that we don’t always have time to read many different viewpoints to come up with our own conclusions, so I work hard to present both information and knowledge. The goal is once readers have…
In 1992 David Halberstam wrote a new introduction for the 20th anniversary edition of “The Best and the Brightest.” He wrote that his favorite passage of the book was a conversation between Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson and House Speaker Sam Rayburn.
If you’re like me, every time you hear a news reporter or anchor talk about how great the nation’s economy is, you wonder what world they are living in. Certainly these journalists are not referring to the ongoing struggle to make ends meet that so much of Black America faces. For every dail…
Local control is under attack, in rural and urban Missouri
On May 1, the era of East St. Louis mayor Robert Eastern III began in East Boogie. Fresh from an election in which he defeated Mayor Emeka Jackson-Hicks by nearly 1,000 votes, his “Heart for the People” ticket swept him into office on a promise of progressive change.
We can all objectively recognize that the current state of St. Louis city and county is unsustainable. The original sin of the City-County Divorce in 1876 has scarred our region. It has divided us economically, politically and morally. It has forced our municipalities to race each other to t…
On May 1, the era of East St. Louis mayor Robert Eastern III began in East Boogie. Fresh from an election in which he defeated Mayor Emeka Jackson-Hicks by nearly 1,000 votes, his “Heart for the People” ticket swept him into office on a promise of progressive change.
Hatred, resentment, white supremacy and victimhood are deadly political tools. President Trump wields them with no thought to the consequences – and people die.
As a member of Better Together’s City-County Governance Task Force, I concur with the general sentiment that our cause needs a serious restructuring.
Protecting fair, impartial adjudication is always essential and, for African Americans, now more than ever. Courts protect the rights of everyone, including businesses, individuals and even people who do not have access to the courts. Courts do this by making sure both sides are heard – whet…
I didn’t know Michael Brown personally, but I knew of Michael Brown. I went to high school with his mother and uncle. I worked with kids from the St. Louis County Juvenile Justice system from 2005-2014 as an Adolescent Care Specialist lead, and some of them knew Michael Brown. They were like…
The idea for a new park in Ferguson – Halpin Park, at 7533 Halpin Dr. – generated from a conversation Ella Jones, Ferguson City Council member for Ward 1, had with one of her constituents regarding an existing park (at 7486 Halpin Dr.) in Ward 3. The Ward 1 resident expressed concerns about…
Forget everything else for a moment and behold infinity.
From the streets of our local communities, where we aid in the advancement of black boys and men, to shaking hands with President Barack Obama, young men and organization leaders from all over the country convened at the Scottish Rite Temple in Oakland, California for the Obama Foundation My…
Imagine the following headline: "President Trump denies equitable funding for all children." If this story were real, the outrage and grandstanding would be unconstrained and land prominently in our daily automated news feeds. While the president has no involvement, this injustice has existe…
On April 15, I joined Washington University in St. Louis graduate workers and housekeepers in protest for a $15 wage and childcare for more than 1,000 working people on campus. Inspired by the Civil Rights Movement, we held a sit-in at Wash U Chancellor-Elect Andrew Martin’s office to bring …
The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), the 2015 reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, establishes civil rights standards for educating students from historically underserved populations – like children of color, students with disabilities and those learning English a…
There are a lot of challenges facing the City of St. Louis, from crime, to affordable housing, economic development and more. While there are many daunting challenges facing our city, there is one that I believe we can accomplish in the near future – one that doesn’t need funding, but the ex…
I can recall the day St. Louis County Prosecutor Bob McCulloch announced his decision not to prosecute Ferguson Police Officer Darren Wilson. I remember the news announcements that the schools, banks, and area stores would be closing early. I saw video of the streets surrounding the Ferguson…
As a black person it seems often in this world of today that we matter less, not more, and I wonder how do we really make a difference and what is that difference all about.
Daily we see how Trump plows through our fragile American democracy – unaware or uncaring of the laws, principles, structures and protocols he tramples. While his destruction happens on a national and international stage for all to see, similar actions are also happening on the local and sta…
The African-American response to Better Together’s proposal to merge St. Louis city and county
April is Fair Housing Month, when the nation celebrates the Fair Housing Act which was passed in the wake of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination 51 years ago. At a time of increasing racial division, a rise in hate crimes, and persistent disparities in the housing market, we must reco…
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