James Baldwin said, “He had no future in the past, because once you leave, you cannot really go back.” The late, great activist was referring to a lifelong detachment from one’s ancestry. However, every year this same detachment manifests itself in a microcosmic image in the form of Black History Month. Black History Month is […]
Posted inColumnists
Class actionBy: Jesse Jackson
The feeding frenzy has begun in Washington, as corporate lobbies line up to collect their payoff for helping Republicans retain control of the White House and both houses of Congress. The first legislation that George Bush signed into law this year was literal class action legislation. It limits the ability of consumers to hold corporations […]
Posted inBusiness
Demetrius the Jeweler etches his niche in stones
The summer after his sophomore year at O’Fallon Technical High School, Demetrius Ball literally stumbled upon jewelry design. He had recently enjoyed success in baseball and acting, but his mother advised him to consider a field outside of sports and theater. So he started doing some reading. “I even went into the garage looking for […]
Posted inBusiness
The power of Bracy
Adrian E. Bracy, right, vice president of finance for the St. Louis Rams (and recent subject of the American’s “In Your Business” column), was listed among the “50 Most Powerful Blacks in Sports” in the March issue of Black Enterprise.
Posted inAutomotive news
Cruisin Q & A: Preparing for your car’s emissions test
Many states require exhaust-gas emissions tests on all road vehicles. Your state’s emissions or car-inspection facilities will take a sample from your car’s tailpipe and run it through a computerized analysis. You car will “pass” or “fail” depending on the percentage of toxic emissions in your car’s sample. The only real way to prepare your […]
Posted inLetters to the editor
Boxing back in the day
I am an avid reader of the St. Louis American, and I would like to comment on misinformation contained in “The Way I See It” by Jamala Rogers. She asserts that, “Established in 18th century England, boxing originally had a definite class component, as working-class men were selected to duke it out before aristocrats making […]
Posted inLocal sports
It’s the big time for the small schools
The winners this week’s Missouri Class 4 and 5 district basketball tournaments will advance to the sectional playoffs, which will be held on Wednesday, March 3 around the area. As the large schools wrap up district play, the small schools will begin the postseason in district competition, which will run all of next week. Here […]
Posted inHot sheet
Wallace sued for tattoo display
Tattoo artist Matthew Reed is suing Detroit Piston forward Rasheed Wallace to stop displays of his work in ads for Nike basketball shoes. Reed claims he owns the copyright for the design of the tattoo, an Egyptian-themed family design with a king and queen and three children and a stylized sun in the background. The […]
Posted inPolitical eye
Clay fiery on Irons
U.S. Rep Wm. Lacy Clay sent a smoldering letter this week to Darnetta Clinkscale, president of the St. Louis Board of Education, taking up a cudgel in the case of legendary Coach Floyd Irons of Vashon High School. Clay said he had caught wind from some incensed constituents that “certain administrators have isolated Coach Irons […]
Posted inCommunity
Honoring early childhood advocates
On Sunday, February 27, Child Day Care Association (CDCA) will honor five Early Childhood Success Advocates at its second annual fundraiser to benefit the Pathways to Success-Kathryn Nelson Scholarship program. The event will take place at Christ Church Cathedral, 1210 Locust Street in downtown St. Louis, beginning at 3 p.m. The public is invited to […]