Her political trajectory began with an act of kindness and community – Jamilah Nasheed holding up a sheet to shield her godmother, Alderwoman Irene J. Smith, from prying eyes and Francis G. Slay’s political wickedness. In 2013, however, there is neither kindness nor community to be found in the direction that Ms. Nasheed has decided to take her political career.
In 2002 Slay engaged in an epic and divisive strategy designed to weaken the political strength of North St. Louis for generations to come. The plan was to eliminate the 20th Ward. Slay’s official explanation was there had been population reduction in North St. Louis and as a result the 20th Ward had to go.
The true reason for Slay’s decision, however, could be found in his political philosophy and thuggish style. Slay won that battle, and the highest Democratic voting ward was moved south along with millions of dollars attached to it.
It was on the ashes left by the destruction of this African-American ward that Nasheed began to sketch out her political persona: community activist, minority advocate and foe of Slay.
It helped that Slay stayed thuggishly consistent. In his first term, fresh from annihilating the 20th Ward, he turned his attention to personnel by firing, eliminating or undermining an astonishing number of highly placed African Americans: Sheila Banks, Ocie Johnson, Dimitri Gay, Rita Kirkland, Diane Castor, Percy Green and Kenny Jones. Along with the departures and/or removal of Ron Smith, Ruby Bonner, Jack Thomas, came the demotion (that is, constructive termination) of the city’s first African-American Fire Chief Sherman George.
When Nasheed combined the undermining and demotion of Chief George with a recall Slay petition, it was a “seal the deal” moment in the hearts of her constituents.
To win a state Senate seat, you need an enthusiastic base of voters, money and support from other elected officials. Nasheed had the base but little money or political support. So she decided to cash a Slay check and then use all us to pay for it.
Slay paid $5,000 to help get her back on the ballot and right-wing billionaire Rex Sinquefield paid tens of thousands to trash her senatorial opposition, then African-American constituents – who were never mailed the literature with Slay’s picture plastered all over it – voted her into office.
And here we are stuck with a payment on a political bill we never knew about and are not responsible for as Nasheed demands that African Americans vote for the worst mayor the modern African- American community has known. A career that began with promise, honor and commitment to the community ends like many bad deals do.
