Over the
years, dating back to 1980, I have done several columns here in
The American suggesting that St. Louis, and the
surrounding municipalities on both sides of the river, display
street and area names that reflect the makeup of the district,
especially in African-American neighborhoods.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>Today’s column appeared in the paper in nearly a decade ago. How much has changed? Not very much!
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>The region as a whole does not reflect or honor the first African-American President Barack Obama. There are a few streets with a special sign attached to the main road honoring the president, but a very few who have actually changed the name of the street or thoroughfare.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>Why? I have a theory as I am sure you have one also, but let me reprint what I wrote in 2002.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>Neighborhood streets should reflect its people “font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>For years I have been appealing to area residents to request the city’s Board of Aldermen, and other community lawmakers, to rename streets in predominantly African-American neighborhoods for persons who have contributed to our uplifting.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>I notice Seventh Street in downtown St. Louis will before long be named Jack Buck Place. It is a fitting tribute to a person who was so well liked and respected in the community.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>In the city we have Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Dick Gregory Place, Redd Foxx Lane, Annie Malone Drive, and streets honoring Dr. Sam Sheppard, Kenneth Billups, Leroy Tyus, Robert Hayes, Bishop P. L. Scott, T. E. Huntley Drive and James ‘Cool Papa’ Bell. There is a portion of a highway honoring Rosa Parks, which was achieved with the purpose of offsetting a promotion by the KKK; and there is the Martin Luther King Bridge. In the county there is a thoroughfare named for Rev. Jesse Jackson.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>I am sure I have missed a few, but there are certainly not nearly enough.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>I am not suggesting that every street be renamed, although most of the streets and highways are named for white people. There is the Daniel Boone Expressway, the Mark Twain Expressway and Mark McGuire Expressway. I am proposing that an adequate amount be renamed, acknowledged and identified as appreciation for the contributions of African Americans.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>The city, state and federal government destroyed Mill Creek Valley, but in the Ville, certainly a street should honor Homer G. Phillips and Dr. Julia Davis. There are other areas that should reflect the community as well. I think we should pay homage to Nelson Mandela, Malcolm X, Muhammad Ali, Paul Robeson, Adam Clayton Powell, Jr., Marcus Garvey, Booker T. Washington, W.E. B. Dubois, Shirley Chisolm and Ralph Bunche.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>Locally streets should bear the names of Ernest and Daverne Calloway, Marion Oldham, Morris Henderson, Katherine Dunham, Judge Nathan Young, Judge Clyde Cahill, Nathaniel Sweets, Percy Green, Norman Seay, Freeman Bosley Jr, William L Clay Sr. and hundreds more.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>In East St. Louis we should have streets and thoroughfares named for Miles Davis, Rufus McCollum, Gordon Bush, Richard Mark, Kenneth Hall, James Williams, Carl Officer, William Mason, Richard Reynolds, Yvetter Younge, Dr. Katie Wright, Peggy LeCompte and others.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>Webster Groves
should have
streets honoring Walter and Henrietta Ambrose, Dr. Eric C.
Donnelly, Harvey J.Simms, J. C. Lewis, A.D. Pierson, Frank Stone,
Annie Polk, Emanuel Cartwright and other pioneers of this community
who contributed so much to the development of Webster Groves,
Kirkwood and the entire county.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>I understand it takes a lot of examination, discussion and exertion to name and rename city and county streets, but with the effortlessness with which 7th S treet was renamed, and the way Highway 70 was specified Mark McGwire Expressway, I am almost certain changes can be made when the legislators feel it is necessary and merit a change.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>Wouldn’t it be nice while walking on Jack Buck Place, you would cross Lou Brock Lane and Bob Gibson Avenue, which is located next to Ozzie Smith Terrace? It should be adjacent to Satchel Paige Drive and Josh Gibson Circle.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>I realize that I have omitted thousands of names I should have included locally, but I hope you will forgive me.
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“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>This is the column as it appeared in The American in 2002. I know many of you think I am beating a dead horse, or perhaps advocating for an unimportant cause, but I feel it is essential we pay homage to our ancestors and our living pioneers. And improving the special and distinct qualities of neighborhoods could serve as a part of the city’s neighborhoods’ overall vision. In my opinion, we should be open-minded to improving the city of St. Louis as a whole.
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“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>This might only be a rumor but I heard that some officials at St. Louis City Hall and in St. Louis County are proposing naming a street honoring Nelly. That is all right but please not before Norman, Percy or Freeman. Please.
“font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: Verdana;”>Please listen to the Bernie Hayes radio program Monday through Friday at 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. on WGNU-920 AM or at
“http://www.wgnu920am.com/”>
“text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;”>www.wgnu920am.com Please watch the Bernie Hayes TV program Saturday Night at 10 p.m. and Friday Morning at 9 a.m. and Sunday evenings at 6 p.m. on KNLC-TV Ch. 24. I can be reached by fax at (314) 837-3369 or e-mail at:
“text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;”>berhay@swbell.net
