James “Protein” Williams can relate to the problems immigrants to America face, which makes emceeing the annual Festival of Nations right up his alley.
A 60-year-old African American, Williams grew up in the first black family to move into what is now the city’s Central Corridor, an all-white community in 1951 when they moved in.
“I know what it’s like to be a stranger on the block, so I know what it feels like for them to move here from a foreign country,” said Williams, who was refused attendance to then white-only Clark School, right across the street from his house.
It wasn’t until a few years later – after traveling to Washington School – that he was able to attend Clark, becoming one of the first to integrate the school.
Thus, his first real memories of school are of TV cameras and unwelcome desegregation.
“You feel like you’re out there all alone and neighbors don’t rush up to embrace you,” Williams said.
Unlike Williams, immigrants to St. Louis can lean on a broker: the International Institute, which, since 1919, has helped refugees and immigrants by teaching English, finding jobs and providing adjustment services.
More than 8,000 new Americans receive services at the institute, and nearly 60,000 area residents benefit from the agency’s outreach efforts, which includes it annual Festival of Nations.
For the past 16 years the institute has leaned on Williams as emcee of the event, to be presented this weekend. He has effectively become the face and voice of the festival.
“The people don’t know who I am or who the president is, but they all know Protein,” said Festival and Arts Program Director Ann Rynearson, also senior vice president of culture and community for the institute.
Known as the leading St. Louis-based multicultural celebration, the Festival of Nations offers a kaleidoscope of dance, music, education and cuisine.
The festival, this year, boasts representations of a record 10 ethnic refuge groups.
“It’s a rainbow of people – all different shades – and I make it my business to point out that there are people there from all over the world,” Williams said.
“It’s wonderful to see what a gift he has for tying all of the people together, which is key to the festival – everyone learning to get along and recognizing their differences, but respecting those differences,” Rynearson said.
The event has changed his life, helping him get a view of the world without blinders. Same for his 6-year-old goddaughter.
“She’s looking forward to seeing the friends she made,” he said.
“The children just gravitate toward one another; they may say something or offer candy and, before you know it, they’re trying to climb up on stage as one.”
Rynearson lauded Williams for his dedication and passion.
“The year of the Million Man March, he delayed his flight to do the festival obligations,” Rynearson said.
A three-sport state high school track-star and a decorated Vietnam vet, Williams worked for Ozark/TWA for more than 29 years. While at the airlines, he became a popular reggae deejay and promoter, going by the name Protein.
It was a chance meeting with Better Family Life, Inc.’s DeBorah and Malik Ahmed at the Dub Club that led to Protein emceeing BFL’s (former) Kwanzaa Expo in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s.
That gig lead to him emceeing the International Institute’s former International Folk Festival and then the Festival of Nations.
The rest of the year, Williams keeps busy with his church, goes fishing or volunteers at Washington School, which he was once forced to attend because of segregation in his old neighborhood.
Last year, the SLPS Board of Education gave him an award as an Outstanding Volunteer for his five-day-a-week work at the school.
Ironically, once all-white Soldan High School – down the street from where he grew up and now lives – is now Soldan International Studies High School.
“It helps bring people together and that’s good, because understanding is one of the things we’re missing in our society today, so we make assumptions,” he said.
“But you get to meet people first-hand at the festival. It’s a source of letting your guard down and enjoying yourself.”
The Festival of Nations runs from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, August 13 and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, August 24 in Tower Grove Park in South St. Louis, near Grand and Arsenal.
“Our Everyday People” is a series of positive reports about friends and neighbors in our community.
