If I had a dollar for each time a reader has asked me, “When are YOU going to write a book about East St. Louis?” then I’d have a nice little stash of cash.
I thought of that when I was blessed with the opportunity to be one of the co-authors for the recently released book The Making of an All-America City: East St. Louis at 150 (Virginia Publishing Co.). The book was recently released as a part of the East St. Louis Sesquicentennial Series.
Edited by historian Mark Abbott of Harris-Stowe State University and series editor Andrew Theising of Southern Illinois University – Edwardsville, this book is an extraordinary collection of essays and poetry on a city which is, more often, known for her dysfunction than for her periods and persons of greatness. It is a must-have for those who are fascinated by ESL history.
My chapter, “‘East Boogie’: As American as Cherry Pie” gave me the opportunity to do something that I could never do in the limited space of a newspaper column. That “something” was the opportunity to put meat on a skeleton which I often describe, which consists of the political corruption, politicking, cronyism, nepotism and shameless arrogance of ESL leadership.
Here I had the opportunity to point to those, both white and black, who you probably may not even realize have ESL roots (like tennis great Jimmy Connors or U.S. Senator Dick Durbin), as well as focus on how “All American” ESL has been, historically, from an industrial, economic and political standpoint.
After all ESL was named an “All-America City” in 1960 by the National Civic League and was even featured in Look magazine as a result.
And, yes, no chapter (by yours truly) would ever be complete without more than a casual reference to those whose notorious reputations have also, albeit infamously, put East Boogie on the map.
The rest of the book is a masterpiece in capturing the true historical and contextual essence of East St. Louis – from the 1917 race riots, the rise and fall of industry, ESL politics, to the role of organized crime, the transition from white dominance to white flight, as well as the rise and fall of black leadership, their missteps and many lesser-known realities of ESL life from a historical perspective.
This body of work also underscores just how much of a regional player ESL was in its heyday, which is easily forgotten amidst the modern-day scandals which are most closely associated with a city which has, increasingly, become the laughing stock of the state.
And, as the first in four volumes by the Institute for Urban Research at SIU, Edwardsville, this book promises to be an important work for those who not only want to reminisce about the “good old days” in ESL but, also, for those who will critically study the potential for any resurrection of what was once a thriving and truly “All American” city.
Those interested in receiving their own copy of this timely piece of history may do so by checking with local bookstores or contacting Virginia Publishing Company at www.STL-Books.com, sales@STL-Books.com or 314-367-6612 x32.
Email: jtingram_1960@yahoo.com.
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