‘They crossed the line’
By Meliqueica Meadows
Of the St. Louis American
In the last two weeks, vandals and petty thieves have hit property belonging to Katherine Dunham at least three times. East St. Louis police have reportedly identified 18 suspects, most of them homeless vagrants who have stolen window units to remove the copper and sell it for quick cash.
Those close to Dunham are appalled that citizens would disrespect property belonging to the city’s matriarch. Dunham adopted East St. Louis as one of her homes even though, as ESL Mayor Carl Officer noted in a recent tribute, “she could have chosen to live anywhere in the world.”
“They will be caught,” said Dr. Lena Weathers, president of the Katherine Dunham Centers for the Arts.
Local media have reported that repairing the damage would cost around $25,000, but Weathers said, “I don’t know where that figure came from.” But she is determined to protect the property and Miss Dunham’s legacy at all costs.
“We are enhancing our system of security,” Weathers said. “We are a strong board, and our community counterparts and citizens are helping with surveillance. We get excellent support from the police and the Department of Corrections.”
Several major celebrations were held throughout the city and the nation on June 22, which would have been Miss Dunham’s 97th birthday. She died on May 21 in the assisted living facility where she resided in New York.
A world-renowned dancer, anthropologist and choreographer, Dunham adopted East St. Louis as a “spiritual home” at the height of her fame and established a center there to teach arts to disadvantaged youth.
“It’s absolutely intolerable, after all my godmother has done for the city,” Kati Stovall said about the vandalism.
“Whoever did this is not going far, because the community respects this institution so much,” said Charlotte Ottley, former executive liaison for Dunham.
She said Robert Lee slept in his car all night once to protect the Dunham property and that “Darryl Braddix walked 10 blocks when he heard what happened and was cutting wood in 90-degree weather to cover up the holes” left by the stolen window units.
“East St. Louis has an old-fashioned pride that you just don’t mess with,” Ottley said. “They crossed the line.”
Ottley said the property, located at the corner of 10th and Cottage in East St. Louis, was closed for renovations. She said the building was boarded up in anticipation of making necessary upgrades in electricity and plumbing. She said they hoped to turn the home into space to house three artists-in-residence to work with young dancers.
“We’re not going to have it,” Weathers said. “We want to keep her memory alive, and part of that is keeping her property safe and sound.”