With a new evidence phase suddenly opened for Reginald Clemons, the newly appointed special master in the case, Judge Michael W. Manners, will weigh volumes of old and new evidence. He may come across prosecutor Nels C. Moss’ inflammatory and ridiculous comparison of Clemons – who was 19 and had no criminal record whatsoever – to convicted mass murderer Charles Manson, which the trial judge allowed to stand.
We think it would be more fair and accurate to compare Manson to some elements on the St. Louis Board of Aldermen – not because they are murderers or charismatic leaders, but because they profess to believe in elaborate, dangerous conspiracies organized by black people.
Recall the testimony by his followers at Manson’s murder trial that he thought “blackie” had it more “together” than “whitey,” and for this reason Manson was organizing his own little “whitey” conspiracy to pre-empt “blackie” by starting the race war without him. Substitute “racially divisive politics” for “race war” and the rationale for Manson’s mantra has been accepted almost wholesale by some South Side aldermen.
For some time Alderman Terry Kennedy has claimed that Alderman Stephen Conway mutters about a “black conspiracy” on the Board of Aldermen and in local politics generally. In St. Louis, it would be easy for many observers to dismiss a black man talking conspiracy – or even talking conspiracy talk – as bitter, if not unhinged. However, at a recent board meeting Conway himself became a little unhinged in his discussion of the activity and intent of the board’s black caucus, giving credence to Kennedy.
Presumably the board’s black caucus has the intention of any caucus: to strengthen policy stands and consolidated voting strength on behalf of a defined constituency. Given the severe disparities experienced by black people in St. Louis – in terms of employment, wealth, health, safety and electoral representation – it would be difficult to argue that such a caucus is not needed and needed badly. To add the sinister tint of “conspiracy,” however, Conway would have a lot of explaining to do. He could start with the role of Lewis Reed – as board president, by far the most powerful member of the black caucus. Eyes were opened all over the St. Louis political community at the invite list for Reed’s most recent big-ticket fundraiser. His list of core supporters was absolutely indistinguishable from the core supporters of Mayor Francis G. Slay.
This confirmed hunches many of us have harbored for some time. Reed must be expected to support the Slay agenda (we didn’t say “conspiracy”), or Slay would not have opened his wallet of major donors to the man. It is widely speculated that Slay’s inner circle has convinced Reed that the mayor will not finish this term – his preference for a seat on the federal bench is no secret. Perhaps some frank discussions were held with Reed regarding his political future when and if he steps up as mayor after Slay resigns to accept a federal appointment. If this speculation is accurate, then Reed has decided to cooperate with what he takes to be an unbeatable team now rather than face their opposition and interference later.
Conway’s progessed belief in a black conspiracy is further complicated by Comptroller Darlene Green’s quiet (and unsuccessful) finagling for a federal appointment of her own, which would have left it to Slay to appoint her successor. Many in the black political community (we didn’t say “conspiracy”) were appalled that Green was willing to put her own ambitions above the needs of the community – and enlist and receive the apparently sincere support of U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill in this effort.
So, if there is a “black conspiracy” in St. Louis politics, it lacks the active participation of the two most powerful black elected City officials in Reed and Green. Therefore, we take Conway to be just as ridiculous and inflammatory as Nels Moss was when he compared Reginald Clemons to Charles Manson. Unfortunately for our community, reckless, wrongheaded and dangerous claims made by white men in positions of power have a way of being taken seriously in St. Louis.