Well, it hasn’t been such “a beautiful day in the neighborhood,” to quote the late Mr. Rogers, at least not in East St. Louis. In fact, as of late, it has been more like Eddie Murphy’s old SNL skit Mr. Robinson’s Neighborhood, in which it was always “a hell-of-a-day in the neighborhood.”
It all started back on January 22 when YouTube showed several women fighting in an East Boogie food stamp line as if they were on an episode of WWE Monday Night Raw. One woman allegedly even wielded a pair of scissors. Unfortunately the video went viral, showcasing their ignorance (and ESL’s embarrassment) for the entire world to see.
The following Sunday, three masked gunmen staged an armed robbery of the IRA Grove Freewill Baptist Church, pointing a gun at the minister and forcing worshippers to the floor, demanding wallets, jewelry and cell phones. Three teens were arrested (and two charged) in connection with that case.
Then, on the next evening, two black males wearing hoodies and bandanas over their faces robbed the Auto Zone store at 26th and State Street, taking between $400 and $500 at gunpoint before escaping in a crème-colored Buick.
Later that night, a 32-year-old woman was robbed, raped and beaten after walking a couple of blocks from the Emerson Park MetroLink station. The perpetrator was described as a black male in a hoodie.
The only good news in this hellacious week of lunacy and criminality is that no one was killed in any of the incidents.
Since that time ESL Mayor Alvin Parks, area ministers and city leaders met and strategized regarding a plan of action following the church robbery.
ESL Police Chief Michael Floore wants to get to the bottom of the food stamp brawl and has encouraged the women to make a report with the police department. Floore also believes that additional security measures (including metal detectors) are needed to enhance the safety of those utilizing the Department of Human Services offices.
None of that, however, speaks to the mentality of the brawlers, thugs, robbers and rapists involved in this spree of terror in East Boogie. Did I use the word terror? Yes, I did.
You see, the common misconception (in most mainstream media) is that these types of goings-on are to be expected in the ‘hood and that African Americans, in particular, should expect and be unaffected by the terror aspect of such travesties.
In fact, the only time you hear the word “terror” is, typically, in association with “unexpected” shootings and tragedies in “lily-white” suburbs or enclaves (like the Sandy Hook Elementary School killings) or in the case of foreign militant groups who have been identified as “terrorist” because of their potential to threaten their people or America’s interests.
What about the terror of East St. Louis citizens who go to church seeking peace, but find themselves faced with the prospect of being robbed as they kneel to pray?
How about the terror in the mind and hearts of ESL women who must take MetroLink to work every day, but now fear that some armed degenerate might attempt to rape them as they simply attempt to walk home to their families?
Or what about the terrorized merchants who took the gamble of opening businesses in ESL, only to be robbed in such brazen fashion by gun-wielding thugs who see them as easy prey?
And is it not terrorizing to go to a government office to seek public assistance, only to be sent fleeing for one’s life because of a beef between a few female hoodlums?
No, it’s not a beautiful day in East Boogie and until we can restore some modicum of self-respect and sense of outrage at the disintegration of our community, it’s going to continue to be a “hell-of-a-day in the neighborhood” for some time to come.
If you like my column, then you will love my radio show on WGNU-920am every Sunday from 4-5 pm. Please tune-in and call-in. I love to hear from my St. Louis American readers.
Email: jtingram_1960@yahoo.com Twitter@JamesTIngram.
