June 25 2015

Dylann Roof and the ‘Last Rhodesian’ post

Kyle Rogers of South Carolina maintains a website for a non-profit started in St. Louis where the Charleston mass murderer may have been radicalized as a racist.

St. Louis American Page A11

The

CAC Audited JUNE 25 – JULY 1, 2015

stlamerican.com

Securing the church Lillie Franks felt the spirit at Friendly Temple Missionary Baptist Church in St. Louis on Thursday, June 18, during a prayer service organized in the aftermath of the massacre of nine African Americans at a church in Charleston, South Carolina on June 17.

COMPLIMENTARY

Terrorism in the sanctuary

By Reverend Osagyefo Sekou For The St. Louis American

St. Louis pastors rethink safety in wake of church massacre in S.C.

By Rebecca Rivas and Sandra Jordan Of The St. Louis American

Ever since Ferguson erupted, Rev. Traci Blackmon, pastor of Christ the King Church of Christ in Florissant, has received her share of hate mail and threats for her leadership role in the Black Lives Matter movement.

However, she never thought to increase security at the church – until a white supremacist shot and killed nine people inside the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church in Charleston, South Carolina on June 17.

“Image is important in the church, and I’ve never wanted the imagery of that invasion in sacred space,” said

Blackmon, who was ordained in the AME church.

But since Charleston, she said she’s realized that it’s not only she who could be the target of a hate crime, but also her congregation.

“I’m traveling a lot, and I can think nothing more horrendous than See CHURCH, A6

Photo by Lawrence Bryant

n “We’ve talked with several contractors to come out and do security inventories of the church.”

– Presiding Elder Rev. Edmund Lowe Sr.

Four-peat

American earns fourth straight award as ‘Best Black Newspaper in America’

Rev. Blackmon hosts Hillary for conversation on race at Christ The King

By Kenya Vaughn Of The St. Louis American

By Rebecca Rivas Of The St. Louis American Hillary Clinton got roaring applause from the majority-black audience at Christ the King United Church of Christ in Florissant when she told them that the Confederate battle flag “shouldn’t fly anywhere.”

The former U.S. secretary of state and current Democratic candidate for U.S. president met with about 200 church members and elected officials on Tuesday, June 23, less than five miles from where Michael Brown Jr. was killed in Ferguson last August.

See CLINTON, A7

BUSINESS

African-American startups receive Arch Grants

Million Dollar Scholar was one of 11 startup companies to receive an Arch Grant.

In the wake of the massacre at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church, I offer my deep condolences to the families of those killed and injured, the congregants and community of that sacred and deeply historically resonant church.

We have witnessed an act of evil, nothing less than an act of domestic terrorism – an armed man entering a house of worship and cutting down men, women and children in prayer because of the color of their skin.

They were killed because of their love.

They welcomed a stranger and gave him a home as he plotted their demise. This is the best Reverend of the Black Church – Osagyefo unconditional love. To Sekou love in the face of white supremacy is nothing less than a revolutionary act.

The entire collective history of black existence in the United States has been one of violence, of acts of terror. This very country is built on the blood of people of color, off the profits of human trafficking and slavery, segregation, n To love in the Jim Crow and face of white the tangible and supremacy is intangible fruits nothing less than a of ever-present white privilege. revolutionary act.

Already we see the swift identification of the murderer – well before his identity was even known – as a “lone wolf,” a “troubled” young man, whom pundits and politicians alike will attribute with misguided ideas and mental illness.

The shooter is not a “loner,” but part of a system of white supremacy. To reduce this act to that of a troubled individual is to commit another act of violence. Behind the cloak of individualism is the unexamined legacy of racist state-sanctioned violence.

See SANCTUARY, A6

Clinton visits Ferguson

Page B1

Vol. 86 No. 12

Photo by Wiley Price

Tiffany Anderson, superintendent of the Jennings School District, and Jason Q. Purnell, lead researcher on the “For the Sake of All” study, listened to Hillary Clinton, Democratic candidate for U.S. president, during a community meeting at Christ the King United Church of Christ in Florissant on Tuesday, June 23.

SPORTS

What has Cardinal Nation come to?

Curt Flood will be inducted into the St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame on August 15.

Page B4

DETROIT – The National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) gathered in Detroit last week to mark the 75th anniversary of the black press organization, which has nearly 100 active member publications.

“Black newspapers are a repository of the history of the lives of our people,” said Henry Louis Gates, a professor at Harvard University and director of its Hutchins Center for African and African American Research, during a Thursday afternoon See AMERICAN, A7

FASHION

Sizzling style Local women’s apparel designer Brandin Vaughn of Classic Culture has released his new seasonal collection.

Page C1

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • JUNE 25 - JULY 1, 2015

A2

THE STUFF THAT HAS PEOPLE TALKING Bobbi Kristina moved to hospice care Bobbi Kristina Brown has been moved to hospice care, her family said Wednesday.

“Despite the great medical care at numerous facilities, Bobbi Kristina Brown’s condition has continued to deteriorate,” Pat Houston, Bobbi Kristina’s aunt said in a statement on behalf of the Houston family. “As of today, she has been moved into hospice care. We thank everyone for their support and prayers. She is in God’s hands now.”

The daughter of the late singer Whitney Houston and Bobby Brown has been in a medically induced coma after being found unresponsive in January.

Rapper Rick Ross was arrested Wednesday in Georgia on charges of kidnapping, aggravated battery and aggravated assault, authorities said.

Ross, 39, whose real name is William Leonard Roberts, was taken into custody by the U.S. Marshals Southeast Regional Fugitive Task Force, the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement.

Combs called accounts of the incident “wholly inaccurate.”

“Any actions taken by Mr. Combs were solely defensive in nature to protect himself and his son. We are confident that once the true facts are revealed, the case will be dismissed,” the representative said in a statement posted on Combs’ website Tuesday.

Combs was charged with three counts of assault with a deadly weapon, Sean one count of making terrorist threats “Diddy” and one count of battery, the university Combs said. Bond was set at $160,000, and Combs will have to appear in court on July 13, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said.

Diddy cuffed after claims he swung kettlebell at UCLA coach staff

Music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs was arrested Monday, accused of assaulting someone with a kettlebell at the university where his son plays football.

No one was seriously injured in the incident at the Acosta Athletic Training Complex on the University of California at Los Angeles campus.

Officials did not disclose the alleged victim of the assault. But TMZ, which first reported the story, said Combs scuffled with a coach during a practice session.

RIck Ross A representative for

Rick Ross arrested on kidnapping, battery and assault charges Rapper Rick Ross was arrested last night in Fayette County Georgia for allegedly pistol whipping a contractor working on his house.

Joshua Sole files $10M suit against Tyler Perry TheJasmineBrand.com reports that Joshua Sole filed a $10 million lawsuit against Tyler Perry, Tyler Perry Studios and his supervisor Brett Hendrix in May. The suit, the site notes, involves accusations that the entertainment mogul allowed sexual harassment by Hendrix while Sole was employed as a production assistant with Tyler Perry Studios.

The employee stated that he started working at the Studios in August 2014. It was during this time Sole claimed that Hendrix would inappropriately touch him, call him “baby,” tell him he missed him and offer him drugs in

3

78

anticipation of sexual favors. As a result, Sole labeled Hendrix’s actions as unwarranted and resisted him.

Sole goes on to accuse Hendrix of sending him texts that pertained to a sexual nature and asking him to stay with him at his home. After Sole complained about the unwanted sexual advances, the suit stated that he ended up losing his seniority, being suspended from his employment, somehow arrested for no reason and eventually fired. The retaliation against Sole caused him to suffer mental anguish and loss of income, Sole claims.

News of Sole’s lawsuit comes amid a lawsuit Perry filed to demand a restraining order against Sole after the ex-employee allegedly stalked the entertainment mogul by disabling the alarms and security equipment at the studio and climbing through the ceiling panels as he barricaded himself in Tyler Perry Studios office s in October. A police report on the incident referenced claims from employees that Sole refused to leave the studio without having a conversation with Perry.

Responding to Perry’s lawsuit, Sole’s attorney denied his client had ever harassed the entertainer and claimed that Sole was wrongfully accused and never trespassed or broke into the studios. In all, Sole is demanding $ 10 million dollars in damages.

Sources: TMZ.com, CNN.com, The Jasmine Brand, CBS 46

2FOR$6 Kiss Melons Choose from Sugar, Honey or Summer Kiss.

Driscoll’s Berries 2 lb. tray–Strawberries, 18 oz. tray–Blueberries or 12 oz. tray–Raspberries

1

78 LB

California Plums, Peaches or Nectarines Ground

Ground

Fresh

FRESH

Fresh

IN-STORE!

Ground

Ground

Daily!

Ground

Pick Any 3

MIX & MATCH MEAT & SEAFOOD

Meat Masters Fresh Ground Chuck

Johnsonville Bratwurst Patties 24 oz. pkg.–Original or Cheddar and bacon

SALE!

when you buy 3 or more selected items marked with this orange dot

Meat Masters Fresh Ground Chuck Patties Made fresh in-store

look for the st

nge dots ! ora

PER PKG.

You must purchase a minimum of three packages to qualify.

Additional packages will also ring at sale price of just $5 each.

Purchases of less than three will ring at regular price as stated on the package. Special cuts and special orders not included.

Schnucks Natural Bone-In Fresh Split Chicken Breasts

Pride of the Farm Fresh Assorted Boneless Pork Chops

or more packages & pay only $5 ea.

Ju

GROUND

Ground Fresh

While supplies last.

Auto Home Schnucks Natural Fresh Chicken Wings

Life Health Pride of the Farm Fresh Pork Loin Boneless Country Style Ribs

Tyson Breaded Chicken

25.5-32 oz. pkg.–Nuggets, tenders or patties–All varieties

Fully Cooked Schnucks Signature Fresh Ground Pork Sausage Pork Baby Back Ribs Regular, hot, Italian, blueberry or maple

Jimmy Dean Breakfast Sandwiches 14.4-18.4 oz. pkg.– Selected varieties

17.6 oz. pkg.–With sweet Carolina sauce

Dawson Bay Norwegian Atlantic Boneless, Skinless Salmon Portions

Hormel Bacon

12-16 oz. pkg.–Black label special trim or natural choice

Simply Seafood Fish Fillets

1 lb. bag–Selected varieties

Papa Charlie’s Italian Beef 24 oz. pkg.

Farm Raised Frozen Catfish Nuggets Product of the USA

6 oz. pkg.

2

When 99 You EA Buy 4

or $4.99 Each

Coca-Cola or Pepsi 12 pack-12 oz. cans–All varieties

25

¢

Buddig Wafer Sliced Meats Limit 10 per order–2 oz. pkg.– All varieties–While supplies last

1.88

Nabisco Oreos

Limit 3 per order–9.5-15.35 oz. pkg.– All varieties

PRICES GOOD JUNE 24 THRU JUNE 30, 2015 in our Metro St. Louis, MO stores only

This ad not valid at Culinaria. Some items not available in some stores. We reserve the right to limit quantities.

Do You Need Insurance?

This past year, many people came to know us as the Obamacare signup place. It has been our honor and pleasure to help so many families get healthcare. Over 7 million people now have healthcare because we stood together and helped change the world.

Even though open enrollment is over for now. We can help you year round with your insurance needs. We can cover your auto, your house, and even your life. Give us a try. We’ll give you a fair price and stand behind you in your hour of need. We are always here for you.

Please call us when you need insurance assistance.

M ISSOURI I N SU R AN C E E XCHANGE

1.77

~ Established 1993 ~

Schnucks Butter Quarters

Limit 3 per order–16 oz. pkg.– Salted or unsalted

7532 West Florissant Ave

(at Lucas and Hunt/Next to Walgreens)

314-481-1100

When we stand together - We are Strong.

SCHNUCKS.COM ©2015 Schnucks

www.stlamerican.com

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • JUNE 25 - JULY 1, 2015

U. City superintendent to retire

Pruitt advisors successor stay focused on what matters most to kids

By Stephanie Lecci Of St. Louis Public Radio

Joylynn Pruitt, superintendent of the University City School District, will retire at the end of next school year.

Pruitt, who has spent eight years as head of the U. City schools, said by the end of her ninth year it will be time for someone else to take the district to the “next level.”

“I am a firm believer that people are sent to different places for different reasons,” Pruitt said.

Pruitt spent 16 of her 38 years as an educator in the U. City schools. Lisa Brenner, president of the board of education, said in a statement that Pruitt’s tenure “will be marked by her implementation of Destination U. City Schools,” an effort to improve academic achievement, staff quality, parent and community engagement, fiscal solvency and transparency.

During her tenure, Pruitt said the district of about 3,000 students changed attendance standards, improved its curriculum, built a new library, expanded its early childhood program and brought back a music program.

“That was my mission. That was what I believe I was here to do,” she said.

But while the district is fully accredited, its annual performance for both 201213 and 2013-14 fell below

University City School Superintendent Joylynn Pruitt poses with the University City High School robotics team during a competition. state education standards for accreditation, failing to score 70 percent of the 140 points available on annual performance reviews. (State officials have noted they won’t count this year’s scores if no improvement is shown due to newly implemented English language arts and math assessments.)

Pruitt said her schools face challenges that many others do not have, such as poverty, transience and homelessness among students. Yet the district was able to achieve its first “outright” accreditation under the last incarnation of the Missouri School Improvement Plan.

She admits the district is still trying to meet the latest MSIP standards, and is optimistic the district will meet those standards this year. Even if it doesn’t, Pruitt said her schools have shown continuous improvement, which she calls the “greatest accomplishment.”

“Our ACT scores are going up every year. Our scores in science, particularly in the

high school are really growing.

The number of students in AP classes is growing,” she said.

“We had 205 kids who walked into U. City High School last year as seniors. They all walked across the stage this May. That for me is amazing.”

Still, Pruitt said part of the reason she decided to stay until the end of next school year is that she wants to be there when that data is made public.

“I know that it’s points that count as it relates to whether you’re fully accredited, but in education, it should be about educating kids and giving them a foundation that’s going to help them become lifelong competitive individuals,” she said. “And sometimes that’s not reflected in a test score.”

Pruitt noted that U. City is one of 114 districts across the country that has some form of robotics education at the elementary, middle and high school levels. It’s also one of only three districts in Missouri that is part of the Kennedy Center Partners in Education program.

Achieving more results, however, may happen under her successor’s tenure. Pruitt said her replacement should stay the course on programs that have traditionally worked.

“I want the person who follows me to stay focused on what matters most to kids, and one of the things this community has said to us is they want us to focus on the uniqueness that kids have, and to celebrate the accomplishments that they make, regardless of how small they are,” Pruitt said. “So the kid who is working really hard to get that ‘C’, celebrate that ‘C.’” After retiring, Pruitt plans to travel, work at the university level, consult – and promote the U. City district.

“I will tell our story of the work that we’ve done,” she said, “where we were and where we are now.”

Edited for length and reprinted with permission from news. stlpublicradio.org.

A3

Budget showdown As Illinois voters make their 4th of July holiday preparations, Governor Bruce Rauner and Illinois lawmakers are racing toward what could be a state shutdown if a budget compromise is not reached for the new fiscal year which begins July 1.

Republican Governor Rauner has called for cuts to programs such as home services for seniors and the disabled, childcare for school-age children and heating assistance to low-income people.

Democrats, however, led by longtime state House Speaker Michael Madigan and state Senate President John Cullerton, are pushing for increases to education and other programs and are asking for a tax hike to fix the state’s budget deficit.

Rauner has demanded a balanced budget, minus the tax increases and reforms to workers’ compensation, as well as a property tax freeze and term limits.

So far, compromise and negotiations have been stagnant as the fiscal year draws to a close, looking more like political James brinksmanship, with Rauner even resorting Ingram to TV attack ads to vilify Madigan, characterizing him as unwilling to change.

Meanwhile, Madigan has attacked Rauner as being similar to disgraced former (now incarcerated) Governor Rod Blagojevich in his leadership style.

But if no compromise is reached by June 30, the voters of Illinois will be the ones who truly suffer.

Without a budget compromise new Medicaid provider payments would not be made, state employees would go unpaid, state aid payments to public schools wouldn’t be made, new state vendor payments would go unpaid, small businesses and nonprofits would not receive expedited payments and certain state services and buildings could shut down.

Obviously, neither Rauner nor the Democrats will get everything they want when they eventually reach a compromise. However, being politicians, I’m sure that they’ll agree that they don’t want to do any of the suffering.

That’s why taxpayers should insist that they spread the pain around starting at the top, with the legislators themselves.

Rauner’s staff makes nearly 36 percent more (about $380,000) than his predecessor’s staff. Why not cut their salaries?

And while we have the axe out, why not reduce the salaries of the legislators and reduce some of their perks?

I think state Senator James Clayborne and his colleagues could get around just as efficiently in a Chevy, as opposed to a Cadillac (which burns more gas at taxpayer’s expense).

I’m sure voters have a plethora of budget cutting suggestions for their overpaid representatives. Give them a call at 1-844-311-CUTS and tell them that you would prefer that the state budget not be balanced on the backs of the poor and middle class.

Email: jtingram_1960@yahoo.com; Twitter@ JamesTIngram.

Editorial / Commentary A4

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • JUNE 25 - JULY 1, 2015

Confederate Memorial belongs in a museum President Barack Obama rightly said the Confederate flag belongs in a museum, not a public space in the United States of America – and certainly not flying high at the capitol of one of these United States, when the national standard and state flag are flying at half-mast in mourning over nine black victims of white racist violence. And that is because the Confederate flag is a symbol of white racist violence against black people, given that the institution of slavery that the Confederate states fought to defend was maintained by white racist violence against black people.

The slave South was an occupied territory where human beings were kept in bondage through systematic acts of violence, including the “paterollers,” the armed white vigilantes who policed the roads of the slave South, the antebellum ancestors of George Zimmerman – or Michael Slager, the North Charleston police officer who pulled Walter Scott over on the side of the road, then shot him in the back when he ran away.

Here in St. Louis, the Confederate Memorial in Forest Park belongs in a museum, not in our most prized and beautiful public space. It belongs in the Missouri History Museum, where it can be properly interpreted by historians who understand the brute reality of American slavery and what it meant for states to wage a war of treason to preserve their slave economies (notwithstanding attempts to revise the real root cause of the South’s treasonous uprising). Take the Confederate Memorial out of the public park, put it in the history museum. Do it – or, at least, start doing it (moving a statue is more difficult than lowering a flag). Do it – or, at least, start doing it – now.

In April, Mayor Francis Slay asked the Missouri History Museum, Forest Park Forever and the Incarnate Word Foundation to assemble “a centennial reappraisal committee” to reconsider the Confederate Memorial, which was presented to the City of St. Louis in December 1914 by the Daughters of the Confederacy of St. Louis. In a post on his campaign site, Slay said this committee “should address whether the monument represents a peculiar memorial to what euphemistically was referred to in the American South as a ‘peculiar institution’ – slavery – and wherever ultimately situated, whether the monument should be accompanied by a description of the reality and brutality of slavery, over which the war was waged, including in this city, and the bitter badges of slavery, Jim Crow and de facto discrimination and segregation, that are its continuing legacy.”

This is, of course, St. Louis, where committees are frequently formed to study something, with all appointed committee members knowing full well in advance what their outcome is supposed to be. The mayor’s strong, candid wording

The Confederate Memorial, located on Confederate Drive in Forest Park, bore the shadow of an X on Wednesday, June 24 after it was spray-painted overnight. It was also tagged with the phrase “Black Lives Matter.” Photo by Wiley Price (“the reality and brutality of slavery”) clearly suggests what he expects from this committee – he expects them to suggest that the monument be moved – and the involvement of the History Museum also hints at its intended destination.

The mayor was commended for raising this issue – proactively, it must be said, not in response to public clamor over the monument – but we don’t think a committee is needed to decide whether a memorial to the Confederacy is a monument to the brutality of slavery (which still resonates in our society today). Clearly, to us, it is. The Confederate Memorial in Forest Park claims to depict “The Angel of the Spirit of the Confederacy.” For African Americans, that is no angel, but rather a demon.

The evils of racism, dating back to slavery, have traumatized our people and remain an entrenched part of our present reality. That is why this monument belongs, at best, in a museum – specifically, in a museum dedicated to the history of Missouri (a slave-holding state, though not a member of the Confederacy). The best museum of Missouri history happens to be located in the same park as this racist memorial.

Move it – or, at least, start moving it – there.

Move it now.

As I See It - A Forum for Community Issues

White supremacy and jihad If American racism were a thing of the past, nine men and women who went to church last Wednesday evening would be alive.

What happened in Charleston is not unfathomable or even ambiguous. It’s a story much older than the nation, a story that began when the first Africans were brought to Jamestown in 1619: the brutalizing and killing of black people because of the color of their skin.

The weekend displays of multiracial unity throughout the saddened city were inspiring, but they cannot be taken as a sign that the country has moved beyond its troubled racial past. The young man who so coldly killed those innocent worshipers at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church did not exist in a vacuum.

The alleged assassin, Dylann Roof, left behind a manifesto that said he drew inspiration from the website of the Council of Conservative Citizens, a prominent white supremacist group. The organization’s proudly racist “statement of principles” declares that “the American people and government should remain European in their composition and character” and opposes “all efforts to mix the races of mankind.”

The Southern Poverty Law Center, which tracks hate groups, describes the council as a modern-day incarnation of the “White Citizens Councils” throughout the South that fought so tenaciously against desegregation during the civil rights era.

The council’s membership is thought to be small but its reach is vast, thanks to the internet. Like hateful jihadists,

white supremacists use cyberspace as a bulletin board and a meeting place.

Some conservatives have been quick to absolve society of blame by pointing out that the Charleston shooter was mentally disturbed. But of course he was mentally disturbed; normal, welladjusted individuals do not commit mass murder. And the fact is that the Charleston killings were intended to advance a specific cause. To look past Roof’s racism would be like ignoring the fact that the Tsarnaev brothers, who committed the Boston Marathon bombing, believed in a Columnist violent, twisted Eugene version of Islam.

Robinson “You rape our women and you’re taking over our country,” Roof reportedly said to his victims before opening fire. This sick narrative comes straight from the Council of Conservative Citizens website, which inflates isolated incidents of black-on-white crime into some kind of race war and portrays the nation’s “European heritage” as being in dire peril.

President Obama chose an unusual forum – a podcast with comedian Marc Maron – to deliver his most candid remarks to date since the Charleston massacre. Race relations have clearly improved in our lifetimes, he said, but “we are not cured” of racism “and it’s not just a matter of it not being polite to say ‘nigger’ in public.” Slavery and Jim Crow discrimination cast “a long shadow and that’s still part of

our DNA that’s passed on.”

Obama’s election in 2008 undoubtedly marked a milestone, one I never dreamed I’d live to see. I wrote at the time that it felt like morning in America.

What I didn’t fully appreciate at the time was the extent to which the mere fact of a black family living in the White House would heighten racial anxieties and conflicts. I didn’t see that the spectacle of African Americans in power would apparently lead some whites to feel powerless, aggrieved and victimized.

In the long run, I’m an optimist. But a post-racial future will not just appear.

There is urgent work to do.

By all means, South Carolina, get rid of the Confederate flag, which has become an emblem of the white supremacist movement.

The flag first flew over the statehouse in Columbia in 1961, not 1861; it was essentially an act of defiance, a raised middle finger toward a federal government that was forcing the end of Jim Crow.

But we need to go beyond speeches and symbols. Law enforcement should subject white racist organizations to the same surveillance and scrutiny as groups devoted to jihad. Governments at all levels should enforce fair housing and employment laws as vigorously as they enforce the Patriot Act. Police departments and court systems must be compelled to administer justice equally – with African Americans, too, considered innocent until proven guilty.

Our society will end racism when it stops being racist. Not a minute sooner.

As I See It - A Forum for Community Issues

What we must tell our children Last Wednesday night, a 21-year-old white supremacist terrorist walked into Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina and massacred nine black people simply because they were black.

No matter how many white commentators say it, this was not a crime perpetrated by some demented, evil individual.

It was an act of terrorism, and the murderer is a terrorist.

Neither he nor this heinous crime against humanity is some anomaly or aberration. He and his kind are as organic a part of America as the Rocky Mountains or the Mississippi River, and these violent outbursts are to be expected with the historical consistency of the Old Faithful geyser in Yellowstone National Park. As President Obama stated in the Marc Maron podcast, racism is in America’s DNA. Because of the scale and viciousness of the massacre, we were all shocked, but none us should have been surprised.

Not to have been shocked by this massacre means you lack a moral compass. But to be surprised, you would have to be actively ignorant of American history.

Hate crimes are a function of the extreme hatred of the perpetrator for some inherent characteristic of the victim – race, ethnicity, sexual

orientation. The choice of victim is usually random and the timing opportunistic.

Terrorism is the use of violence to intimidate a group of people as a way of achieving a political goal. This means that terrorism is a planned act. The terrorist chooses victims as a conscious, rational decision in order to change or control the behavior of the group he is targeting.

The victims are picked, not as individuals, but because of their Guest Columnist membership in the targeted Mike Jones group. In addition, the location tends to have important symbolic value to the targeted group.

In America, the terrorists are typically white males whose objective is white male supremacy. Blacks’ insistence on full humanity in America is an existential threat to white supremacy. It also explains historically why the soldiers of white terrorism tend to be undereducated, economically disadvantaged whites at the bottom of white society, because they feel their white privilege is at risk.

Dylann Roof allegedly drove 100 miles to get to Emanuel

Letters to the Editor Correction Vince Schoemehl has no board role at Grand Center Arts Academy, as we reported last week in the story about St. Louis Language Immersion Schools. We regret the error.

An unspeakable act I wish to extend my sincerest condolences over the tragedy that struck Charleston, South Carolina. This heinous and unspeakable act of violence is an attack on the very core of our shared American values.

I encourage all Americans, no matter creed or color, to unite in prayer for the families and friends of those fallen and to condemn the practice of hate, wherever it may be found.

State Sen. Jamilah Nasheed St. Louis

Time of grief Emanuel AME has long stood as a place of refuge in times of distress and comfort in times of sorrow. It is where congregants joined together to worship, celebrate and find peace. It is difficult to comprehend that a house of worship known for joy and tolerance could become a scene of hate and tragedy.

My deepest sympathies and heartfelt condolences are with the families of the nine parishioners who lost their lives to cowardly and despicable violence. I ask that we come together in prayer for the victims’ families and the entire Charleston community, and hope that the swift pursuit of justice will provide some comfort in this time of unimaginable grief.

U.S. Rep. G. K. Butterfield, chairman, Congressional Black Caucus

Detracts from years of healing The American Civil Liberties Union of South Carolina expresses its profound condolences to the victims’ families in the wake of this senseless tragedy. Events like this are further evidence that we need to be fighting for racial equality in our daily lives. Although the motives are unclear at this point, this attack against black people in an institution that has such historical and cultural

AME. If he just wanted to murder black people in a black church because he hated them, he drove past other opportunities many times on the way to Emanuel. It seems likely that he picked Emanuel because of its symbolic importance, not just to the black community of Charleston, but to the history of black resistance to white supremacy. It’s the same reason the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church in Birmingham was bombed.

We must educate our children about the massacre at Emanuel AME Church. Here is what I propose that we tell them.

You live in an America that is changing exponentially, but it’s also an America that has not changed. Which means you simultaneously live in a place of extraordinary individual opportunity and a place of great collective personal danger.

And as long as you are black, here is what you must understand about America: you will always have enemies, your enemies are dangerous, and your enemies are relentless.

But if you stay connected to the spirits of your ancestors, your enemies cannot prevail.

Mike Jones is a member of the Missouri State Board of Education and The St. Louis American editorial board.

All letters are edited for length and style.

importance detracts from years of healing undertaken by our communities. State Senator Clementa Pinckney stood for civil liberties, and we mourn his loss with the other victims.

Victoria Middleton, executive director ACLU of South Carolina

Another mass hate crime The NAACP was founded to fight against racial hatred, and we are outraged that 106 years later, we are faced today with another mass hate crime.

Our heartfelt prayers and souldeep condolences go out to the families and community of the victims at Charleston’s historic Emanuel AME Church.

The senselessly slain parishioners were in a church for Wednesday night bible study. There is no greater coward than a criminal who enters a house of God and slaughters innocent people engaged in the study of scripture. Today, I mourn as an AME minister, as a student and teacher of scripture, as well as a member of the NAACP. The NAACP South Carolina State Conference and

The largest weekly newspaper in Missouri 70,000 copies - CAC Audited 100% Independently owned & operated Continuously published, without interruption since 1928

Donald M. Suggs Publisher & Executive Editor Kevin Jones - Sr. Vice Pres. & COO Dina M. Suggs - Sr. Vice Pres.

Nathan B. Young (1894 -1993) - Founder N.A. Sweets (1901-1988) - Publisher Emeritus Bennie G. Rodgers - (1914 - 2000) Executive Editor Emeritus Melba Sweets (1909 - 2006) Editor Emeritus Editorial Chris King - Managing Editor Kenya Vaughn - Website Editor Earl Austin Jr. - Sports Editor Sandra Jordan - Health Reporter Rebecca S. Rivas - Senior Reporter Wiley Price - Senior Photojournalist

Charleston Branch have been working on the ground with police and the community to bring this case to a close. We remain vigilant while the local police and FBI investigate this hate crime and bring the shooter to justice.

Cornell William Brooks, president, NAACP

Dismantling discrimination As we mourn the victims, we stand in solidarity with the community of Charleston and the entire A.M.E family.

And while mainstream news outlets rush to explain away the alleged behavior of Dylann Roof, we must not refrain from talking about the obvious racial motivations from a white man who articulated those intentions as he reloaded. We must call racism and white supremacy what it is, and continue the work toward dismantling all forms of discrimination in our society.

Judith Browne Dianis, co-director Advancement Project

Lawrence Bryant - Photojournalist Denise Hooks -Anderson, M.D. Health Editor Jami Ballentine-Dolby Entertainment Danie Rae - Style Editor Dana G. Randolph Contributing Editor Fred Sweets - Contributing Editor Sales / Marketing Onye Hollomon- Sr. Acct. Exec.

Barbara Sills - Sr. Acct. Exec.

Pam Simmons- Sr. Acct. Exec.

Nevida Medina - Classified Ad Mgr Angelita F. Jackson - Graphic Artist Production Mike Terhaar - Art Director Melvin Moore - Graphic Designer Administration Robin Britt - Controller Cathy Sewell - NIE Manager Ishmael Sistrunk - Web/IT/ Promotions Coordinator Kate Daniel - Exec Assistant Loistine McGhee - Acct. Assistant Mary Easter - Receptionist

The St. Louis American

2315 Pine Street, St. Louis, MO, 63103.

Phone: 314-533-8000 / Fax: 314-533-2332

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • JUNE 25 – JULY 1, 2015

A5

Police reform and mental health

By U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore For The St. Louis American

Photo by Worsom Robinson

Four-peat

Kenya Vaughn of The St. Louis American (second from left) was joined by Jocelyn Denson of The Windy City Word; Pluria Marshall, publisher of Wave Newspapers and NNPA Foundation vice chair; Mary G. Denson, publisher of Windy City Word and NNPA Foundation chair, and Kimberly Johnson, executive director of the NNPA Foundation, when The American received its fourth consecutive General Excellence Award from the NNPA on Thursday, June 18 at the NNPA Foundation’s 2015 Merit Awards, held at The Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center.

Small Press Expo seeks participants The St. Louis Small Press Expo is accepting applications from publishers to participate in its 2015 show. This year’s expo takes place 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, September 26, in the Grand Hall of the Central St. Louis Public Library, 1301 Olive St. New this year, SPEx hopes to host panel discussions and hands-on workshops. All events will be free and open to the public. The application deadline is July 1. Application is free; tables are $50 (six feet) or $25 for a half table (three feet), due at time of acceptance. For information, visit stlouissmallpressexpo.com.

Deadline nears for Gaines Literary Award The deadline for submissions to the 2015 Ernest J. Gaines Award for Literary Excellence is August 15. Sponsored by Baton Rouge Area Foundation donors, the Gaines Award honors outstanding fiction, including both novels and short-story collections, from rising African-American authors published in 2015. Galleys for 2015 publications are also accepted.

Information on criteria and entrance forms for the award, which includes a $10,000 cash prize, is available at www.ernestjgainesaward.org.

Education begins at home

Parents as Teachers is a free parent education and family support program serving families through pregnancy until their child enters kindergarten. Offered through the FergusonFlorissant School District, this program helps parents learn about their young child’s development and windows of opportunity to develop skills at the most beneficial time. It also encourages the idea that parents shape their children’s future through the kinds of experiences they provide. For information or to enroll in the program, call 314-506-9069 or visit earlyeducation@fergflor.org.

The life of a man with schizophrenia, Dontre Hamilton, 31, ended after he was struck by 14 bullets from a Milwaukee police officer’s handgun on April 30, 2014.

The fatal confrontation sparked a firestorm in my city, resulting in several massive protests and the notification of the National Guard. A year later, many of my constituents still ask what is being done to address concerns about police reform and how we can fill the gaps in our mental health safety net.

According to reports, Hamilton was taking a nap in a popular public park when Officer Christopher Manney woke him in response to a complaint made by a local Starbucks employee. Despite assuming Hamilton had mental health issues, Manney ignored department protocol in dealing with these individuals and proceeded to frisk Hamilton.

The search aggravated Hamilton – it was the second time in just a few hours that he had been confronted by police for sleeping in the park. The two men quickly became embroiled in a physical clash. Manney reportedly struck Hamilton with his baton during the scuffle, but soon Hamilton grabbed it and allegedly struck Manney in the neck. Seconds later, Hamilton was on the ground with multiple gunshot wounds to his neck, back, chest and extremities. He died hours later.

After the fatal shooting, Manney was fired for failing to comply with department procedures in frisking Hamilton. The Milwaukee County district attorney chose not to press charges, saying Manney had killed Hamilton in self-defense.

Like many Americans, Hamilton struggled with his schizophrenia. At times, he was plagued by auditory hallucinations, which became so overwhelming that he once stabbed himself in the neck. Antipsychotic medications successfully suppressed the voices, but at the time of his death, Hamilton hadn’t taken the drugs for about five months.

While many people with schizophrenia find it difficult to keep up with their treatment regimens, Hamilton had reportedly foregone his medication because an insurance mix-up prevented him from obtaining it.

Access to mental health services like therapy and drugs is even more limited than other types of medical care. In 2012, the Washington Post reported 89.3 million U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore Americans living in federally-designated mental health professional shortage areas, compared to 55.3 million Americans living in similarly designated primary-care shortage areas.

States throughout the country are still trying to recover from $4.35 billion in cuts to their mental health budgets between 2009 and 2012. State momentum to enhance funding and improve the quality of mental health services slowed notably in 2014. Sadly, such services are often the first to get cut during tough economic times.

Untreated sufferers on our streets, like Dontre Hamilton, often end up entangled in our criminal justice system. Unfortunately, our broken mental health infrastructure has turned our local police officers into first responders for individuals in crisis.

Earlier this month, The Guardian reported on the death of Denis Reyes, another mentally ill man who went into cardiac arrest as New York City police officers took him into custody. His family recently filed a complaint against the police involved in the encounter, claiming they caused his sudden death.

Proper training of our law enforcement officers is crucial to help prevent tragedies before they occur. This is why I recently offered and passed an amendment to the Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriations bill for fiscal year 2016. The amendment will increase funding for the Mentally Ill Offender Treatment and Crime Reduction Act, which could provide assistance and training for police departments to safely and appropriately deal with individuals with mental health issues.

It is my hope that my legislative efforts will help prevent more tragedies like those of Dontre Hamilton and Denis Reyes.

Local law enforcement officials routinely put their lives on the line to uphold public safety. But illequipped police officers are at risk for causing more harm than good. Federal lawmakers need to pick up the slack on funding for critical police training where states and local municipalities have failed.

I can’t think of a better way to honor the life and memory of Dontre Hamilton than to prevent others from sharing a similar fate.

U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore represents Wisconsin’s 4th Congressional District and serves as ranking member on the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Monetary Policy and Trade.

A6

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • JUNE 25 – JULY 1, 2013

CHURCH

points within and outside of the church and installing realtime security cameras and Continued from A1 monitors, both inside and out.

The church has never something happening to experienced any kind of hate someone because of the work crime previously, he said, that I’m doing,” she said. but they are also looking to Many black churches deepen their relationship with throughout the region now law enforcement. have a “heightened sense of Some area police awareness,” said Presiding departments have been Elder Rev. Edmund Lowe proactive in contacting AME Sr., of the St. churches, Lowe Louis Cape said. n “I can think Girardeau District St. Louis nothing more of the Missouri County and Conference of the horrendous the City of than something AME Church.

Wentzville In the Missouri happening to police have Conference, Lowe someone because asked if they said he has done need help, Lowe of the work that some preliminary said.

I’m doing.” checks with all “I’ve had the pastors and several calls – Rev. Traci made sure they asking what type Blackmon felt comfortable of help do we with their security need,” Lowe measures. said, “so they’ve “We’ve also been responsive talked with – not overly, but several contractors to come they’ve extended themselves out and do security inventories to us.” of the church,” Lowe said, Blackmon said the “and where needed and where St. Louis County Police feasible, we’re going to put up Department’s North County cameras and video recorders Precinct has always been around the churches.” responsive whenever the Rev. Anthony Witherspoon, church calls. pastor of Washington Churches are also talking Metropolitan AME Zion about what they can do from Church (just north of Grand within. Lowe said the “best Center), said they are “beefing thing” is that most of their up security throughout the churches have either retired church and externally.” or active policemen in their He said they are now congregation. They now placing officers at various plan to offer security and

Photo by Lawrence Bryant

A diverse group joined in prayer at Friendly Temple Missionary Baptist Church in St. Louis on Thursday, June 18, during a prayer service organized in the aftermath of the massacre of nine African Americans at a church in Charleston, South Carolina on June 17. protection training to members.

The St. Paul AME congregation practices active vigilance, said James Chester, a retired lieutenant colonel in the Kinloch Police Department who works as head of security at St. Paul.

“Security is basically

everyone,” Chester said of the church near Skinker Parkway and Page Boulevard. “We’re observant and aware of people.”

Pointing toward a fellow female church member, Chester said that a threat could look non-alarming and

therefore, church members should also be attentive of people’s “spirit.”

St. Paul AME currently has licensed security officers working detail during services.

“It behooves me to say to all pastors and congregations to be vigilant, protect your

church and secure it,” said Rev. Spencer Booker of St. Paul.

“But it also behooves me to ask the community to stop the killing. Stop the hatred. Stop the profiling. It must stop.”

SANCTUARY

served to tear the scales from the eyes of those who refused to see, the unceasing statesanctioned brutalization and murder of unarmed black men, women and children, combined with increased visibility via a generation equipped with camera phones and an unrelenting commitment to justice, has created a new moment in the history of our struggle.

The horror of the assassinations in South Carolina and the subsequent response (and lack thereof)

from police, politicians, media and the legal system will starkly expose the hollow justifications offered by those intent on continuing a regime of enforced inequality, the inanity of respectability politics, and the near-absurd precariousness of breathing while black in “post-racial” America.

The shooting at historic Mother Emanuel – a freedom church – is a reminder of our ever present struggle. We who believe in freedom can never rest.

Continued from A1

His acts are borne out of the lethal conflagration of near unfettered access to weaponry, deeply ingrained systemic racism and backlash to the national and global movement against extrajudicial police killings and brutality.

Just as the 1963 murders by white supremacists of four children in the 16th Street Church bombing in Alabama

Mariah Stewart contributed to this report.

A7

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • JUNE 25 – JULY 1, 2013

CLINTON Continued from A1

Rev. Traci Blackmon, pastor of the church, said the community meeting with Clinton was meant to discuss the impacts of racism, including the June 17 murder of nine men and women at a historic African-American church in Charleston, South Carolina.

Clinton called the massacre at Emanuel AME Church “an act of racist terrorism perpetrated in a house of God.” Blackmon said that our nation’s leaders need to recognize the policies that are “pulling the trigger daily.”

Clinton commended the response of South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, who on Monday called for the Confederate flag to be removed from the state capitol. Soon after, following a CNN report, large retailers including Walmart, Sears, eBay and Amazon announced that they have stopped selling Confederate flag merchandise.

Clinton said the Confederate flag is “a symbol of our nation’s racist past that has no place in our present or our future.”

Blackmon invited four panelists to speak to Clinton about the work they have been doing in the community to address racial inequality. Jason Q. Purnell, a professor at the Brown School at Washington

AMERICAN Continued from A1

luncheon.

“I’m so glad to be here to tell you how much I admire you and how much of my career I owe to black newspapers, the people who published them and the people who loved black newspapers.”

Gates spoke of the care and attention black newspapers have dedicated to a people who are often either ignored or demonized by mainstream media.

“The history of our people’s minds is in the black newspaper – starting with The Freedom’s Journal in 1827 (the first African-American newspaper) through today,” Gates said.

Publishers and editors convened in Detroit to share ideas, stay abreast of trends and technology, and celebrate the competitive 2015 Merit Awards.

This year, The American

Photo by Wiley Price

Rev. Traci Blackmon, pastor of Christ the King United Church of Christ, Brittany Packnett, executive director of Teach for America-St. Louis, Chris Krehmeyer, CEO of Beyond Housing, and Rev. Karen Anderson, pastor at Ward Chapel AME Church, listened to Hillary Clinton, Democratic candidate for U.S. president, during a community meeting in Florissant on Tuesday, June 23.

University, spoke about health disparities among African Americans in St. Louis, which is the focus of a study he leads called “For the Sake of All.” In the St. Louis region, he said there is an 18-year gap in age expectancy within less than 10 miles, and an African-American baby is three times more likely to die in St. Louis city and county.

Clinton said his work is

important because legislators need evidence-based research to push forward policies that address disparities.

Tiffany Anderson, superintendent of the Jennings School District, talked about changes in their schools that have helped improve academic performance, including providing free lunch to every student and going to a year-round schedule.

Chris Krehmeyer, CEO and

president of Beyond Housing, talked about the “24:1” initiative to holistically address problems in the majority-black municipalities that “you’ve probably heard in the news.”

He noted that the group has started $500 college saving accounts for kindergarteners in the Normandy schools.

Clinton looked Brittany Packnett in the eye and continuously nodded as the executive director of Teach

for America-St. Louis spoke about the damning effects of criminalizing AfricanAmerican children in schools.

“We can’t move forward until we are consistently incentivizing culturally responsible leadership training for all public servants, especially people who have the ability to impact the lives of children,” said Packnett, who is also a Ferguson Commissioner and served on President

garnered awards in 14 categories, including the coveted General Excellence Award, which comes with the bragging rights of “the Best Black Newspaper in America.” This marked the fourth NNPA General Excellence Award in a row for The American – the first time a newspaper has won four straight – and its eleventh in 20 years.

“I’d like to congratulate The St. Louis American team, and acknowledge support from our community, in achieving this unprecedented recognition from our national association by bringing this prestigious national award home to St. Louis for the fourth consecutive year,” said Donald M. Suggs, publisher and executive editor.

“We will continue to work hard to bring our audience credible, relevant news content, as well as a voice for our community’s needs, grievances and aspirations.”

The General Excellence award is named in honor of John B. Russwurm, senior

editor and co-publisher The Freedom’s Journal, and John Sengstacke, who was also a founding member of the NNPA. The American took home top honors for Best News Story, Best Entertainment Section, Best Sports Section, Best Use of Photographs and Best Special Section. (This also marked the paper’s fourth award in a row for Best Use of Photographs and Best Entertainment Section.) The

paper received second place awards for Best Business Section and Best News Pictures.

“The second half of 2014 at The American was unlike anything any of us has ever seen in terms of journalism because of the uprising in Ferguson,” said managing editor Chris King.

“For half of the year, we had sleep-deprived people covering nothing but police-involved shootings, protests and policy

initiatives resulting from protests. Though I think our coverage of Ferguson was tremendous, I worried if overall we had enough range and balance to compete with other papers that weren’t covering the world’s biggest story in their back yard for half of the year. So I’m excited and relieved to hear this good news from our peers.”

Other multiple award winners for the 2015 Merit

Obama’s police reform taskforce.

During Clinton’s introductory remarks, she said, “All lives matter” while telling a story about her mother. Immediately, members of the Ferguson movement in the audience took to Twitter, condemning Clinton for using a phrase that is often criticized as a dismissal of “Black Lives Matter.”

Clinton said about her mother: “Her own parents abandoned her. By 14 she was out on her own, working as a housemaid. Years later, when I was old enough to understand, I asked her, ‘What kept you going?’ Her answer was very simple: Kindness along the way from someone who believed she mattered. All lives matter.”

John Gaskin III, a member of the NAACP national board and of St. Louis County NAACP, said he did not feel the remark was offensive, but it did give him pause when he heard the often-criticized phrase.

“She was honest about race today,” Gaskin said.

“She spoke about what many people in this demographic want to hear, and that is for advancing civil rights, health care and issues that affect our folks disproportionately. As we look at her campaign trail, we haven’t seen any meeting like this in a house of faith.”

Awards included The Houston Defender, The Houston Forward Times, The Final Call and The New Pittsburgh Courier.

“We are humbled and appreciative – and extremely grateful – for these awards,” said Suggs. “But the real joy comes in knowing that we are being of service to our readers and the community as a whole.”

A8

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • JUNE 25 - JULY 1, 2015

Anheuser-Busch, St. Louis American host Young Leader alumni reception Last week Anheuser-Busch and The St. Louis American Foundation hosted the first Young Leader alumni reception. The event, held at Anheuser Busch’s Biergarten, marked the anniversary of five years of The St. Louis American Foundation’s Salute to Young Leaders Networking Awards Reception, and each year’s class of 20 awardees, and their guests, were invited to this special inaugural reception.

Laninya Cason, Stan Williams Jr. and Zundra Bryant, all of the Young Leaders Class of 2011

Bill (Class of 2014) and River Fronczak with Charlie Cooksey (Class of 2015)

Photos by Wiley Price

Vanessa Cooksey (Class of 2014), Sarajeni Hammond (Class of 2015) and Christian Bonner (Class of 2015) Yvonne Gordon and Darcella Craven (Class of 2011)

A-B’s Julio Suarez with Kenneth and Courtney Stewart (Class of 2013)

Deanna Shipley, Mansel Simmons, Sarajeni Hammond (Class of 2015) and Irasa Downing (Class of 2014)

Desiree Coleman (Class of 2012) and Jared Boyd (Class of 2013)

Courtney Hinton (Class of 2015) chats with Lowell Daniels and Dominique Davis–Craven

Michael Whitley (Class of 2012) and Jimmie Howlett (Class of 2013) flash their “Best Pocket Square Holder” created by Cedric Cobb (Class of 2014), not pictured.

A9

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • JUNE 25 - JULY 1, 2015

Guest Commentary

Can Maria beat Lacy for Congress?

By Elbert Walton Jr. For The St. Louis American U.S. Rep. Wm. Lacy Clay has been showing up at public places in anticipation of a rumored election contest with state Senator Maria ChappelleNadal (D-St Louis County). He appears highly fearful that Maria is going to run against him in the Democratic primary in August 2016 – and rightfully

so.

Clay has angered many elected officials in the city, in one way or the other, and many of them will support Maria if she runs for Congress next year.

Moreover, for the most part, the county elected officials and political operatives have absolutely no loyalty to the Clay family, and thus will be easily persuaded to endorse Maria for Congress.

Conjuring the spirit of Denmark Vesey Dylann Roof allegedly traumatized by the attack. went into sacred space last Roof reportedly police that week pretending to he “almost didn’t go fellowship with the through with it because unsuspecting members everyone was so nice to of Emanuel AME him.”

Church. Roof reportedly From all accounts, sat next to the church’s these victims were some minister, Rev. Clementa of our best and brightest.

Pinckney, for nearly When Roof reportedly an hour of the prayer chose 87-year-old meeting before he Susie Jackson as his carried out his terrorist first shooting victim, attack. (Pinckney was her nephew Tywanza Jamala also a long time state Sanders reportedly Rogers senator.) asked to be shot instead.

Before the bullets This young brother had stopped flying, nine Africangraduated from college last American church members year and had his whole life perished and others were ahead of him. Yet, according

Share

your loved one’s obituary message with the community

Contact Vida @ 314-533-8000 or vmedina@ stlamerican.com to place an obituary listing or In Memoriam

www.stlamerican.com

Plus, 50 years of a Clay in the was running for the seat that U.S. Congress is more than too was being vacated by his dad, long. As was said when Lacy’s thus he ran as “Bill Clay,” not dad, Bill Clay, first ran for “Lacy Clay,” so that voters Congress some 50 years ago: might think they are still voting “It is time for a change!” for his father.

Lacy has been living off of Because Lacy Clay has his father’s civil rights interfered in several city legacy, but those ward’s political business, voters are now mostly such as his usurping the deceased and thus he Carter family’s state has to stand on his rep seat, he will not own. He does have be endorsed by those a track record of his wards. They will endorse own, by now, but it is Maria, something that not anything that will Dooley was unable to inspire voters to vote for accomplish. him like the Civil Rights Lacy has gone against Elbert Movement inspired Walton Jr. several Democratic voters to vote for his committeepeople in St. dad. When I first ran for Louis County, such as office in the city, in the midYolonda Fountain Henderson, 1970s, the voters made it clear when she ran successfully for that they were for Bill Clay. mayor of Jennings, and Tony That is not true of Lacy Clay in Weaver, when he tried to get the year 2015. the Democratic nomination in Lacy’s only real challenge to the special election to succeed date was from Charlie Dooley, Steve Webb. but Dooley did not have any These are actions that his base in the city. Plus, Lacy dad declared as taboo. “You

don’t publicly go against committeepeople, unless they are going against you,” his dad once told me, when I was a fledgling politician. Lacy has violated that rule on numerous occasions, going against committeepeople who have supported him over the years in favor of people who had not been among his supporters. That will come back to bite him in 2016.

When a sizeable number of black voters, but most of all black activists, came out against Steve Stenger for St. Louis County executive, Lacy publicly went against that constituency and endorsed Stenger.

Moreover, Lacy was visibly absent from the frontlines in the Ferguson protests, unlike his dad, who was a leader of the Jefferson Bank sit-ins of the 1960s. Bill Clay, as a city alderman, personally sat in to protest employment discrimination at Jefferson

Bank – and spent 105 days in jail as a protestor. Those 105 days in jail made Clay Sr. invincible when he decided to seek election to Congress – and reelection every two years thereafter, until he retired – as far as the black community was concerned.

Maria is sitting on almost $200,000 in her state Senate campaign fund. This cannot be directly used to fund a congressional race; however, under the Citizens’ United ruling, she can probably put it in a non-profit or spend it indirectly in such a manner as to boost her candidacy.

Add the fact that Maria is a female, that females are the majority of voters, and that females have been voting for females, and Lacy will have a hell of a race on his hand.

Can Maria beat Lacy Clay for Congress? She certainly can!

Elbert Walton Jr. is an attorney and political strategist in St. Louis County.

to news accounts, there he bonfire of white supremacy. stood asking to take a bullet for And while some members his aunt who, for all practical of the church have already purposes, had already lived her forgiven Roof for his reported life. terrorist actions, others in Both Jackson and Sanders Charleston have been moved were shot dead, but what a by the acts of resistance of a compassionate act in the face proud and determined Denmark of a merciless coward. I get Vesey nearly 200 years ago. choked up just writing about it.

In a state that seceded from Denmark the Union to Vesey, one n Denmark Vesey, continue the of Emanuel’s practice of one of Emanuel founders, slavery, South organized a slave Carolina has AME Church’s revolt in 1822. continuously The revolt was challenged the founders, exposed when full citizenship organized a slave and participation a couple of members of the of its black revolt in 1822. church shared residents. This massacre is an the plot with extension of authorities before South Carolina’s it could be carried past and current out. Vesey and 34 others were executed for the history of white supremacy.

Black South Caroliners have revolt, and the original church endured the flapping of the was burned to the ground.

Confederate flag in their faces For decades, the as they fought for the right to congregation was forced to vote, to get access to health go underground, but remained care or to have decent housing. unwavering in its desire to The Anti-Racist Collective be free and proud citizens of Charleston. Later, Emanuel (ARC) is a local group of AME was a key institution for white activists who organize organizing during the Civil around issues of racism. In its statement, ARC reminds Rights Movement. us that the Charleston tragedy The Emanuel AME Church “is not just the extremists, but massacre is another log on the

something infused into media, criminal justice, education, and countless other mainstream institutions.” Arc points out the massacre didn’t happen in a vacuum but “within the context of hundreds of years of lynchings, mass deaths and violence towards black people in our society.”

I agree with ARC’s call for “white people to end their silence and raise their

voices against the continued legacy of violence that our community perpetuates against communities of color.”

This country cannot survive when one sector of the society is violently restricted from attaining their human and civil rights. History has shown us that where there’s repression, there will always be resistance.

Another U.S. is possible.

A10

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • JUNE 25 - JULY 1, 2015

South Carolina honors racist terrorist

By Ryan J. Reilly Of The Huffington Post Benjamin Ryan “Pitchfork Ben” Tillman was a popular politician, a campaign finance reformer, a wealthy landowner, a successful farmer, one of the founding fathers of a university, the governor of South Carolina, a U.S. senator and was even once considered a potential Democratic presidential candidate.

Yet much like Dylann Roof – if indeed he killed nine people at an AfricanAmerican church in Charleston on June 17, as charged – Tillman was a racist terrorist.

While authorities in South Carolina have one of these men behind bars, the state is simultaneously honoring the other racist terrorist with an eight-foot statue on the grounds of the statehouse.

There has been a lot of discussion about the Confederate flag that flies on the grounds of the South Carolina statehouse in Columbia, which was still at full mast after the U.S. and state flags were lowered to half-mast. But just steps away from that flag, South Carolina is honoring Tillman, who – as columnist Will Moredock wrote for Charleston City Paper last year – most historians today regard “as a fire-breathing racist, opportunist and demagogue

Ben “Pitchfork” Tillman who played on the worst of human nature to promote himself to the highest levels of state government.”

As has been reported about Roof, Tillman was proud of the role he played in slaughtering African Americans, and Tillman was involved in killing a black state senator. The black state senator who Roof allegedly killed, Clementa C. Pinckney, was shot at a Bible study at a church. The black state senator killed under Tillman’s watch, Simon Coker, was – according to Tillman’s own account – on his knees praying when he was shot. Tillman said that while it may “appear a ruthless and cruel thing,” the struggle he was involved in “meant more than life or death. It involved everything we held dear, Anglo-Saxon civilization included.”

Tillman said on the floor of the U.S. Senate that the South had “never recognized the right of the Negro to govern white men, and we never will.”

Tillman said he and others had “done our level best” to stop black citizens from voting, and that white supremacists had “scratched our heads to find out how we could eliminate the last one of them. We stuffed ballot boxes.

We shot them. We are not ashamed of it.”

Speaking about the Hamburg Massacre of 1876, when his militia killed black Republicans, Tillman said he and his men intended to “strike terror,” and that leaving “seven dead Negroes lying stark and stiff” had the impact they desired.

The white supremacist group Stormfront calls Tillman one of “the greatest men South Carolina and indeed this nation has ever produced.”

The statue honoring Tillman was unveiled in 1940, just 75 years ago. A bill to remove the statue from the grounds of the statehouse stalled in 2008. But the statue isn’t the only way Tillman is still being honored: Just a few months ago, in February 2015, the board of trustees at Clemson University voted not to change the school’s clock tower, which is named Tillman Hall.

Reprinted with permission from The Huffington Post.

Prayer for all fathers

By Leonard Warner For The St. Louis American On Father’s Day, I think of the many fathers, who like me, experience another wave of grief at the loss of a young child to senseless gun violence.

Becoming a father to my son, Tamir, was truly a special gift. He was the pinnacle of love and a constant reminder from God that life could be beautiful. But after Tamir’s life was senselessly taken this past November, the thought of Father’s Day is just another unpleasant reminder of the worst day of my life.

There is not a day that goes by that I do not think of my

son and the joy he brought to us all. Visiting his memorial each week breaks my heart.

The pain is overwhelming at times, but I find comfort in the love of my community, who continues to stand with my family, and activists such as the Cleveland 8 Leonard who all seek Warner to bring my son’s killers to justice.

Witnessing my son’s brutal murder on videotape is one of the most difficult images I have been forced to cope with.

I will never go back to normal,

because I will never get my son back. I can only cherish his memory and join in the fight to ensure that everyone knows that #BlackLivesMatter.

As I continue to hold onto my faith in God, I wanted to pray for all the fathers around the world, that you might never have the unfortunate experience of burying your child and sharing in this grief.

Please keep me lifted up in your prayers as I hold onto hope that, in due season, things will begin to change.

I love you, Tamir, and I can’t wait to see your smiling face when we meet again in paradise.

Leonard Warner is the father of Tamir Rice.

‘Building a relevant, credible community newspaper’

American publisher’s 2015 Media Person of the Year speech

By Donald M. Suggs Of The St. Louis American I want to thank the Press Club of Metropolitan St. Louis for this prestigious and coveted award and offer my hearty congratulations to this evening’s other awardees – two highly respected and esteemed journalists, Jennifer Blome and Don Marsh.

I am even more grateful and appreciative because this is an award from other communications professionals.

So I accept on behalf of the dedication and hard work of so many members of The St. Louis American team, current and past, who have contributed to our ongoing mission of building a relevant, credible community newspaper.

The American is an advocacy newspaper that is committed to constructive reform and change – change that is essential because, while we see some increased diversity, we are far from a post-racial society. The problems we face are deeply embedded in our history and in our economic and political structures and are a barrier to a more just and equitable society.

As the president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, which is currently meeting in St. Louis, said, “We mourn those tragic events in which African Americans and others have lost their lives in altercations with law enforcement. Racism is an evil which endures in our society and in our church.”

His outspoken statement added that there must be change – change that “must address root causes of these conflicts: a violent, sorrowful history of racial injustice, accompanied by a lack of educational, employment and housing opportunities.”

Pope Paul VI said: “If you want peace, work for justice.”

These words have resonated with the courageous, young, black millennials and their

St. Louis American publisher Donald M. Suggs accepted the Press Club of Metropolitan St. Louis’ 2015 award for Media Person of the Year, along with Jennifer Blome and Don Marsh, on June 11 at Edward Jones Headquarters in St. Louis County. Photo by Lawrence Bryant supporters who have provided much of the driving force behind a sustained protest movement that seeks and demands transformational change.

As a community newspaper, we see ourselves as a journalistic enterprise that is strongly identified with its community, its unique experiences and concerns. As a case in point, The American was covered in an article in the Harvard University-based Nieman Reports entitled, “Local Weeklies Are Covering the Communities Big Dailies Ignore.”

Nieman Reports noted that staff “had an advantage over the journalists who flocked to Ferguson in the wake of the shooting of Michael Brown Jr. on August 9, 2014.” I will quote this report at length.

The African-American community of greater St. Louis already knew and trusted the paper, which has covered that community since 1928. Missouri State Senator Maria Chappelle-Nadal, who represents Ferguson, calls The St. Louis American “the only source of information we have that’s balanced and of interest.”

And Adolphus M. Pruitt II, president of the local NAACP, says, “They cover those things that are truly emotionally charged for the black community, in ways that go into detail on the subject and the issue.”

In addition to its news reports, editorials, and widely read Political EYE column, The American’s coverage of churches, community organizations, and social events

has helped keep the AfricanAmerican community tied together as it dispersed from the central city to the suburbs, says University of Missouri journalism professor Earnest L. Perry Jr. “Say you grew up in one part of St. Louis that was heavily African-American and moved to another part that wasn’t, you’d still have a link back to that community” through the weekly paper, Perry says.

That kind of connection is a hallmark of the community journalism that weeklies provide. Often, local newspapers are the top source for news about a community, a source that has grown in importance as regional papers have pulled back from covering outlying communities over the past 15 years. Weeklies with a strong editorial voice bring communities together - or stir debate – over issues of great local import.

Some weeklies, like The American, cover not only a geographical community but also a “community of interest,” the term used to describe groups with a shared orientation, whether racial, ethnic, occupational, or otherwise.

Yet, we share, along with all of our colleagues in media, an interest in and commitment to the collective well-being of our region.

These remarks were delivered June 11 upon acceptance of the Press Club of Metropolitan St. Louis’ awarding Suggs 2015 Media Person of the Year, along with Blome and Marsh.

A11

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • JUNE 25 - JULY 1, 2015

Dylann Roof and the ‘Last Rhodesian’ post Dylann Roof has now entered a criminal justice process where the State of South Carolina will prosecute him for nine murders, with the federal Department of Justice conducting its own investigation of the hate crimes committed on June 17 at Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina.

The rights of the accused – even the accused that have reportedly confessed – even the accused that have reportedly confessed to a hate-crime massacre – are such that for some time it should be difficult to confirm many things about these crimes and the young, white man with a “soup-bowl haircut” and a Glock who committed them.

Take the “Last Rhodesian” website, discovered by two independent investigative reporters who use Twitter (@HenryKrinkle and @ EMQuangel​) as a primary medium. The site was registered to Roof, they discovered through internet searches, and it includes a Zip file of photos of a young, white man who seems to be Roof.

Other than the photos (of the young man posing with his gun and Confederate paraphernalia at sites that would appeal to a white supremacist), the “Last Rhodesian” site has a rambling, racist rant. Many have reported this as “Roof’s manifesto,” though it is unsigned and it’s not a manifesto. It is racist rambling, at the low level of thought and organization typical of racist internet posts and comments.

The “Last Rhodesian” web domain name connects the racist post to Roof, because a photograph on his Facebook page – seen in wider scope in a photo Zipped on the Last Rhodesian site – shows Roof wearing a jacket with patches for Rhodesia and apartheid South Africa. Rhodesia was a white supremacist colonial state in southern Africa that was dissolved through negotiations forced by an armed black revolution. The result was Zimbabwe, which celebrated its independence in 1980 – recently enough for Rhodesia to remain a white supremacist icon.

“Rhodesia plays a particular role within right-wing

American militia culture, linking anti-communism and white supremacy,” Mathew Cheney writes in a long, informed post on his Mumpsimus blog. “The downfall of white Rhodesia has its own sort of lost cause mythic power not just for avowed white supremacists, but for the paramilitarist wing of gun culture generally.”

So the Rhodesia patch on Roof’s jacket may show his absorption of the most raw, militant and racist ideas available in right-wing culture – or that he picked up a colorful racist patch at a right-wing table at a gun show. The “Last Rhodesian” post being unsigned leaves open the possibility that Roof is not the author – or the sole author – of the post. The Department of Justice should right now be performing every variety of forensic investigation to determine whether Roof had a mentor or support system in developing his white supremacist ideology – and his alleged massacre of the people who showed up at Emanuel AME’s Bible study on June 17.

The screed posted on the “Last Rhodesian” begins, not as a manifesto, but as an autobiography. The opening is presented here without any editing or corrections: “I was not raised in a racist home or environment. Living in the South, almost every White person has a small amount of racial awareness, simply because of the numbers of negroes in this part of the country. But it is a superficial awareness. Growing up, in school, the White and black kids would make racial jokes toward each other, but all they were were jokes. Me and White friends would sometimes would watch things that would make us think that ‘blacks were the real racists’ and other elementary thoughts like this, but there was no real understanding behind it.”

This is consistent with BBC interviews of people who claim to be Roof’s friends.

These reported friends show a “superficial awareness” of the world around them and of themselves. The post is consistent with Roof having “superficial” friendships with “white and black kids” while developing different, deeper,

A South Carolina Republican named Kyle Rogers maintains the website for the Council of Conservative Citizens (CCC), a non-profit incorporated in Missouri with roots in the white racist fight against school desegregation in St. Louis. Rogers implied to the New York Post that he believes the “Last Rhodesian” post was written by Dylann Roof, who authorities say committed the mass murders in Charleston on June 17.

That post claims the CCC website radicalized the author to “drastic action,” which is not specified in detail, other than that the target is located in Charleston.

darker ideas about race.

The “Last Rhodesian” post continues: “The event that truly awakened me was the Trayvon Martin case. I kept hearing and seeing his name, and eventually I decided to look him up. I read the Wikipedia article and right away I was unable to understand what the big deal was. It was obvious that Zimmerman was in the right. But more importantly this prompted me to type in the words ‘black on White crime’ into Google, and I have never been the same since that day.

The first website I came to was the Council of Conservative Citizens.”

If Dylann Roof wrote this, we have here the answer to how he became radicalized: He became radicalized through the white, racist backlash against the black-led, diverse civil rights movement provoked by the Trayvon Martin case, which is maturing into the Black Lives Matter movement.

And he became radicalized through reading racist, rightwing internet-based media, beginning with the Council of Conservative Citizens website.

St. Louis enters the action here. The Council of Conservative Citizens (CCC) is incorporated – as a tax-free non-profit entity – in Missouri.

Its roots lie in St. Louis white supremacists Gordon Baum, who is deceased, and Earl P. Holt IIII, who has moved to Texas. Baum and Holt were radicalized to fight desegregation in the St. Louis region, so the racist radicalization that led

to the massacre at Mother Emanuel passed through arch segregationists right here in St. Louis, if the post was written

by Roof.

That said, the website where the “Last Rhodesian” poster learned to focus his racism and develop his white supremacist ideology is now maintained by a South Carolina Republican named Kyle Rogers. In fact, Rogers’ work plays a role in both aspects of the “Last Rhodesian” poster’s radicalization, since it was his coverage of Martin’s killing for the CCC’s website that led the racist backlash against media coverage of the incident and the budding protest movement.

The New York Post cornered Rogers at his home in Summerville, South Carolina, where he denounced the massacre as “an atrocity” and distanced himself from the killer, saying, “This guy is just warped and on drugs.” Rogers does accept as fact that Roof is the “Last Rhodesian” poster, saying, “He just says the council’s Web site is the first one that he saw.”

A spokesman for CCC has since emerged in Jared Taylor.

According to the Center for Public Integrity, Taylor runs his own white-nationalist organization and website called American Renaissance. And he has his own tax-exempt organization, called the New Century Foundation. Since 1994, the IRS has granted New Century Foundation publiccharity status, meaning even contributions made to it are tax exempt. The group has assets

of nearly $1.6 million.” The mailing address for American Renaissance is Oakton, Virginia.

Rogers and Taylor both claim that the massacre was a bad thing, but that the ideas expressed in the “Last Rhodesian” post are accurate.

So both men are endorsing and promoting the ideas that could radicalize someone to commit racist murders, while distancing themselves from this act of racist mass murder.

In fact, the contact page for a media spokesperson for the CCC is basically a recruiting tool for readers of their racist sites. That CCC media contact page states the CCC is “one of perhaps three websites in the world that accurately and honestly report black-on-white violent crime, and in particular, the seemingly endless incidents involving black-on-white murder.”

The “Last Rhodesian” is silent on how radicalization as a white supremacist led to the militant decision to kill black people. It is important to note that the “Last Rhodesian” poster does not claim to have chosen a shooting target – he only has chosen a city. Here is the only remark suggestive of any violent action to come, presented under the heading “Explanation” (again, unedited): “I have no choice. I am not in the position to, alone, go into the ghetto and fight. I chose Charleston because it is most historic city in my state, and at one time had the highest ratio of blacks to Whites in the country. We have no skinheads, no real KKK, no one doing anything but talking on the internet. Well someone has to have the bravery to take it to the real world, and I guess that has to be me.”

If the person who hurriedly posted this “explanation” immediately went to kill black people in Charleston, it would be consistent with what the young men claiming to be Roof’s friends told the BBC, as well as with Roof’s previous arrest record. Roof’s reported friends claimed that he was talking about “shooting up” a university campus in Charleston. His arrest record suggests that he was casing a shopping mall in Charleston.

One of Roof’s reported friends surmised that Roof didn’t like the looks of security at the university or mall, so chose a nearby target where black

people would be much less likely to be protected by armed security: a black church.

The Department of Justice should be exploring what would be amazing coincidences, if indeed Dylann Roof wrote the “Last Rhodesian” post alone and only accidentally came to kill nine black people at Emanuel AME Church on June 17 – when he could just as easily have started killing the first black people he saw at a university or shopping mall in the same city on another day.

One of the founders of Mother Emanuel is Denmark Vesey, who plotted a slave rebellion, partly out of the church, in 1822. The plot was foiled, but the armed revolution of black people in Charleston would have happened on June 17, 1822.

“The original plan for Denmark Vesey’s uprising is July 14, Bastille Day,” historian Douglas Egerton told The Atlantic. “It is moved back to midnight on June 16.

They plan to free the slaves, and fight their way down to the docks, meaning the fighting will be on June 17. Historians don’t like coincidences. Either it’s a terrible coincidence, or he knows this history. The fact that June 17 would have been the day of the fighting is troubling.”

Criminal investigators also should not like coincidences.

Neither should federal officials who investigate terrorism networks.

It is crucial to note that the reported friend of Roof who said Roof was planning to “shoot up” a university in Charleston told the BBC that Roof had chosen June 17 as his action date at least one week in advance. On June 10, this friend said, Roof claimed his targets had “a week to live.”

“Whites still refer to Vesey as a terrorist in Charleston; he was fighting for freedom,” Egerton said. “It looks like the terrorist was this young white man who shot up the church.”

By all accounts, authorities have found the Emanuel AME mass murderer in Dylann Roof.

But who was responsible for the “Last Rhodesian” post?

Roof? Roof alone? Who, if anyone, alerted him to the significance of June 17? Who, if anyone, turned him in the direction of Emanuel AME Church? Who influenced Roof to go from internet racist to mass-murderous race terrorist?

A12

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • JUNE 25 - JULY 1, 2015

Karen Miller and Leslie Russell, 2015 Ariya Program Co-Chairpersons

Deltas Sponsored 21St Rites of Passage Ariya Program On Sunday, April 26, 2015, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. , St. Louis Alumnae Chapter, sponsored its 21st Rites of Passage Ariya Program at the Renaissance Grand Hotel, 800 Washington Avenue. The seventeen young ladies that participated, and their escorts, were presented to the community at the Ariya. This event was the conclusion of a six month Pathway Training Program. Participants will be awarded scholarships to assist with postsecondary education. The program is based on the Nguzo Saba, the seven principles of Kwanzaa. Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. is a non-profit public service organization dedicated to Social Welfare, Cultural Enrichment and Academic Excellence. Karen Miller and Leslie Russell were Ariya Co-Chairs and Mitchelle Price is Chapter President.

First row: Monica Smith, Kyara Green, Jonnae McCray, Cayla Jackson, Kandis Myton, Rayda Lathon, Kacey Tatum Second Row: Maya Lucas-Clark, Charity Jones, Kennedi Lee, Timberlyn Jones, Ke-La Harris, CeCilya Johnson, Anissa Perkins, Sherrica Campbell, Ka-La Harris, Sydney Green

Anissa Perkins, Leader of the Ariya Kwanzishas

Kwanzisha Kandis Myton bowing to the community

Group picture of the Ariya Court (Escorts, Kwanzishas, and Queen Mother, Ida Casey)

Business

B1

JUNE 25 – JULY 1, 2015

People On The Move Lester Holt was named permanent anchor of “NBC Nightly News.” He becomes just the fourth solo anchor in the program’s 45-year history, following John Chancellor, Tom Brokaw and Lester Holt Brian Williams, who was benched in February following revelations that he embellished a story. He is the first African-American man to solo anchor a nightly news broadcast.

Jovita M. Foster was elected to serve a three year term on Armstrong Teasdale’s 10-person executive committee.

She leads the firm’s Employment and Labor group and its Diversity Committee.

Jovita M. Her clients include Foster Fortune 100 and 500 companies, government agencies, municipalities and higher education systems. She also serves as general counsel to the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis.

Photo by Charlie Barnes

Chris Motley (co-founder and CEO), Kunal Parbadia (co-founder and VP of operations) and Fredric Mitchell (VP engineering) of Better Weekdays are receiving $50,000 from Arch Grants to develop their company, which offers a career management platform.

African-American startups receive Arch Grants Million Dollar Scholar, Better Weekdays each get $50K and pro bono support

By Rebecca Rivas Of The St. Louis American Derrius Quarles, CEO and co-founder of the start-up company Million Dollar Scholar, narrowly escaped a path of crime growing up in the foster care system on the South Side of Chicago.

However, a biology teacher saw potential in him and helped to change his trajectory.

Ultimately, he was able to earn more than $1.1 million in scholarships and financial aid to attend Morehouse College in Atlanta. Now his company’s product, a financial-aid search software, hopes to help parents do the same for

n “We are proud to support the next generation of entrepreneurs and immigrants who are, once again, defining our region’s future.”

– Ginger Imster, Arch Grants

their college students.

On June 18, the nonprofit Arch Grants announced that Quarles’ ed-tech company would receive $50,000 through the 2015 Global Startup

Competition.

Million Dollar Scholar was one of 11 startup companies to receive an Arch Grant.

The organization provides $50,000 in equityfree grants and pro bono support services to entrepreneurs willing to locate or retain their early-stage businesses in St. Louis.

Ras Asan, the company’s COO and co-founder, said both he and Quarles are “millennial age” black men.

“There’s not too many of us out here in the tech space,” Asan said.

Aside from relocating their business to St. See GRANTS, B6

Business Brief

Airport credit ratings holding steady American staff Moody’s Investors Services (Moody’s) and Standard & Poor’s have affirmed their ratings on Lambert-St. Louis International Airport debt, St. Louis Comptroller Darlene Green announced last week.

Moody’s Investors Service rated Lambert’s long-term debt “A3 with a stable outlook.”

Standard & Poor’s rated Lambert’s long-term debt “A- with a stable outlook.”

“Lambert-St. Louis International Airport’s credit ratings from Moody’s and Standard & Poor’s are both in the single ‘A’ category and holding steady,” Green said. “Bond ratings like

these are critical to accessing the capital markets at the lowest possible interest rates to reduce debt-service costs.”

Rhonda Hamm-Niebruegge, airport director, said the airport “has worked diligently to grow revenues, reduce costs and stabilize our finances. We St. Louis are pleased that Moody’s and Comptroller S&P recognize these efforts Darlene and these ratings reflect that Green positive trend.”

Green said she remains committed to generating revenue for the City of

n “I recognize that the St. Louis region is largely dependent upon a successful Lambert Airport.”

– Comptroller Darlene Green

St. Louis, safeguarding the city’s credit rating and ensuring that taxpayer money is spent wisely at all times.

“I recognize that the St. Louis region is largely dependent upon a successful Lambert Airport,” Green said.

‘Show Me’ the equity

By Mark Esters For The St. Louis American According to a recent article in The St. Louis American, “eliminating racial income gaps would boost the St. Louis economy by $14 billion.” The article cites a recent report released by the Public Policy Research Center at University of Missouri-St. Louis entitled, “An Equity Assessment of the St. Louis Region.”

The report found that “whites in the St. Louis region out-earn blacks in the region at every level of educational attainment. In other words, for African-American workers in this region

it doesn’t matter if you are a high-school dropout or a PhD – white workers at that level still make more money, on average, than black workers.

What does the report recommend be done to address this disparity?

“The researchers advocated Mark for policy changes designed Esters to grow jobs and wages in minority populations. To build a strong next economy, leaders in the private and public sector need to advance

an equitable growth agenda: a strategy to create good jobs, increase human capabilities, and expand opportunities for everyone to participate and prosper,” the report’s authors claimed.

“Equity will make America, and the St. Louis region stronger.”

Organizing – community and worker organizing – is the only way for black workers to challenge the structural racism that maintains and perpetuates black social, political, and economic inequity. To advance racial and economic justice, and make black economic See EQUITY, B6

Tim Fuller has joined Harris-Stowe State University’s Athletic Department to advise the president on sports-related matters.

He was chosen by ESPN.com as one of the top 10 assistant coaches under the age Tim Fuller of 40 in May 2012.

He has previously worked on basketball staffs at Elon College, Miami, Fla., Wake Forest, Fairfield and Louisville and coached football at Missouri.

Kimberly McKenzie is the new director of Communications and Media Relations for the Hazelwood School District.

She joined the district in 2013 as a communications and community relations Kimberly specialist. Previously McKenzie she served as vice president, Public Relations and Communications for Citigroup’s Credit Cards division in Elk Grove Village, Illinois. She is finishing a master’s degree in Management and Leadership from Webster University.

Craig M. Lucas has been appointed by Missouri Governor Jay Nixon to the Professional Engineering Division of the Missouri Board for Architects, Professional Engineers, Craig M. Professional Lucas Land Surveyors and Professional Landscape Architects. He is vice president of KWAME Building Group and a member of the Construction Management Association of America, the Associated General Contractors of America and the St. Louis Council of Construction Consumers.

Hattie Jackson was elected to serve as chair of the St. Louis Community College Board of Trustees for a one-year term. Jackson, who represents Subdistrict 2, previously served as board vice chair.

Hattie She was elected to Jackson the board in 2011.

Joan McGivney, who represents Subdistrict 3, was elected board vice chair.

On the move? Congratulations! Send your professional news and a color headshot to cking@stlamerican.com

B2

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • JUNE 25 – JULY 1, 2015

Personal Finance

Money management for ‘boomerang’ household

By Jason Alderman Due to recent economic realities, multi-generational living has been on the rise for many families.

A 2014 Pew Research Center analysis (http:// www.pewsocialtrends. org/2014/07/17/in-postrecession-era-young-adultsdrive-continuing-rise-inmulti-generational-living/) showed that a record 57 million Americans, equal to a little over 18 percent of the U.S. population, lived in multi-generational family households in 2012 – double the number in 1980. The major driver was young adults aged 25-34. According to Pew, nearly 24 percent of these older millennials lived in multi-generational households, increased from nearly 19 percent in 2007 and 11 percent in 1980.

It’s possible the “boomerang” family trend will remain in place for some time to come. For homeowner parents who may also be juggling the “sandwich” responsibilities of caring for older relatives, paying attention to the financial and

behavioral details of taking in family is critical. Here are some suggestions to consider: Your finances come first.

Operating a full house means higher utility and food costs and additional wear and tear on the property. Taking in family also shouldn’t derail a parent’s career goals or retirement planning, nor should it diminish other necessary financial objectives like maximizing savings or eliminating debt. That’s why dual- or single-parent households might begin with a complete financial assessment before welcoming kids or elders back home.

A discussion with qualified financial and tax advisors might be worthwhile to determine how much expense you can take on. For arrangements that go beyond free lodging to direct cash support of family members, gift tax issues should be explored.

Make a real agreement. A home is stability and therefore something of significant value.

That is why it is appropriate to consider rent or request

you receive as well as local tenant law and personal preferences, you may be signing an official lease for your family member’s stay with a specific timeline of months or years. Whatever the requirements, make sure you have an effective framework that sets specific financial and behavioral rules you want met.

in-kind services in exchange for room and board. Young adults – particularly those who were fully under parental support in college – need to learn this important lesson even if they are moving home to save money to pay off loans, to buy a car or put a down payment on a home. Ask trusted advisors about what makes sense in your situation.

If you decide to accept rent, know there are potential tax

issues (http://www.irs.gov/ taxtopics/tc415.html) based on the structure, timeframe and expenses related to such an agreement. Legal paperwork may be required, but there also may be rental expenses you can deduct.

Establish timelines. In the real world, financial arrangements are rarely openended. Depending on the financial, tax and legal advice

Start with a family meeting. Before moving trucks arrive, family members should meet for a discussion about the impending move. Start by letting your child or family member talk through why they want to move in, whether they have financial goals tied to the living arrangement and how long they plan to stay. Share the structure you envision, including the payment details you would consider.

No matter how agreement is struck, it should begin with a full discussion of needs, preferences, financial terms, and most of all, ways to make the arrangement successful and smooth.

Once the move happens,

regular conversations should continue about the living arrangement. After all, boomerang families have unique, ongoing financial issues that will require discussion.

Prepare to track expenses. Once agreed, retrofit your household budget to keep track of higher food, utility and related expenses for costsharing and potential tax purposes. Having people you love living with you will hopefully have many rewards that go beyond simple dollars, but always know what the arrangement is costing you.

Bottom line: Opening your home to returning family members is a real financial commitment. Think through money, tax and household issues before you say yes.

Jason Alderman directs Visa’s financial education programs. To Follow Jason Alderman on Twitter: www. twitter.com/PracticalMoney.

Diversifying labor ‘one way or the other’

By Rebecca Rivas Of The St. Louis American About 140 mechanics – a majority of whom were white – at Metro, the St. Louis transit agency, joined together this spring to try and pass a state bill. That bill would allow them to negotiate their salaries and benefits independently from

other workers at Metro, said Michael Breihan, president of the Amalgamated Transit Union Division 788 – which represents 1,600 Metro workers.

House Bill 1361 states that “a collective bargaining unit may independently represent different classes of workers within the Bi-State Development Agency.”

n “Why would a faction of the union that is predominately white want to separate from a faction that is predominately black?”

– Adolphus Pruitt, NAACP

At the “Blacks & Labor: A Call for Change” town hall meeting held on June

15 at the Omega Psi Phi Center, community members discussed how this action would affect AfricanAmerican workers.

Breihan, who attended the meeting, said the largely white group of mechanics felt they could “get a better deal if they get away from the drivers,” who are mostly black.

“It’s outright racism and classism,” said Adolphus Pruitt, president of the St. Louis City NAACP. “Why would a faction of the union that is predominately white want to separate from a faction that is predominately black? Where is the union brotherhood in that?”

Meeting attendees also discussed a list of recommendations that the NAACP recently presented to labor union leaders. It included diversifying the executive boards of the St. Louis Labor Council, Missouri AFL and St. Louis Building Trades Council with black union representatives.

Pruitt said this process has already begun, and they have been sitting down with the leaders of these groups.

The list of recommendations came after state Rep. Courtney Curtis’ “right to work” bill, which

targeted the building trades, started to gain some traction.

Curtis was a panelist at the town hall meeting, along with Mark Esters (president of the Coalition of Black Trade Unions), Thomas Kitchen (community service chair of Omega Psi Phi) and state Sen. Maria Chappelle-Nadal.

Many of the union members present at the meeting spoke in opposition to Curtis’ bill, which was passed out of the House but stalled after that. Many said that “right to work” bills lower worker wages and benefits, particularly for black labor.

NAACP is opposed to right to work. However, Pruitt said Curtis accomplished his goal – to strategically push labor leaders to diversify their leadership ranks.

“They can say what they want about Courtney Curtis,” Pruitt said, “but up until the bill was introduced, these folks were not at the table. All of the sudden, blacks were elevated to three or four positions. That is a direct response to the ‘rightto-work’ legislation.”

CWA passes ‘Black Lives Matter’ resolution Attendees gave a nod to union members at the Communications Workers of America (CWA), who passed a “Black Lives Matter” resolution at their national convention on June 10 to address the issues of “systematic racism” in the United States.

“Part of our goal in passing the resolution is to start active

members of CWA talking about these issues,” said Bradley Harmon, president of the CWA Local 6355. “That has already started. I think it deepened our commitment towards working for racial justice.”

Chappelle-Nadal commended CWA’s resolution. She also talked about her research on racism in the unions. She said in the early 1900s, some unions passed some resolutions to push for more equality among workers.

“But as soon as there was some distress in the economy, African Americans always got the hit,” she said. “Change is incremental.”

The CWA resolution points out the “widening gap of trust” between law enforcement and minority communities.

It states that union members opposed policies designed to marginalize minority communities and people of color. This includes privatizing education, attacks on public services and “voter suppression laws that suppress the rights of minorities to vote.”

Pruitt said they will continue to hold the meetings, and African Americans inside labor unions are going to continue to organize to make sure that their rank and file is diverse.

“Or we are going to do it from the outside,” Pruitt said.

“It’s going to happen one way or the other.”

Follow this reporter on Twitter @rebeccarivas.

n “I watch LeBron James for example.

He might travel every other time he catches the basketball.’’

– New York Knicks president Phil Jackson

Sports

INSIDE

What has Cardinal Nation come to? ~ See ‘SportsEye’ page B4 ~

B3

JUNE 25 – JULY 1, 2015

Prep Sports Year In Review

Rams Roundup

With Earl Austin Jr.

What a great year

It was another terrific year of high school sports in the St. Louis metropolitan area during the 2014-15 season. Before we look forward to the upcoming season, it is time to take a look back at what was a great year for the young athletes of St. Louis.

Here is The St. Louis American’s Annual Prep Year in Review.

As the stadium turns Who gets it?

Oakland?

Inglewood?

St. Louis?

CBC wins Class 6 ShowMe Bowl: The Cadets were the dominant team in Missouri large school football during the fall.

CBC was a juggernaut on both sides of the ball as they averaged 49 points a game and gave up only nine. The offense was led by big-time playmakers such as Calen Taylor, Tre Bryant and Mike Million while the defense was led by Eric Carrera, Qunintin Earl Wynne and Austin Jr. Kevin Williams.

CBC completed a 15-0 season by defeating Kansas City Rockhurst 31-24 to win the Class 6 state championship, thus bringing the trophy back to St. Louis after a long absence.

Terry Beckner stays home: East St. Louis Senior High football standout Terry Beckner, Jr. was ranked as high as No. 1 in the nation in the ESPN. com rankings. The 6’5” 298pound Beckner had his choice of several major college programs, but he chose to stay close and attend the University of Missouri. Beckner’s press conference was carried live on ESPNU. He chose the Tigers of Ohio State, Auburn and Florida State; which were the teams that had played for the national championship during the past two seasons.

Napheesa Collier: The 6’1” senior forward concluded one of the best prep careers in the history of the Show-Me State by leading the Incarnate Word Academy to its third consecutive Class 4 state championship.

Collier averaged 26.7 points, 13 rebounds and 4.1 blocks in leading IWA to a 29-2 record.

In her three seasons, the Red Knights finished with a 91-3 record and won three state titles. Collier also won a gold medal with USA Basketball and participated in the McDonald’s All-American Game. She is

With Palmer L. Alexander III

Photo by Wiley Price

Napheesa Collier concluded one of the best prep careers in the history of the Show-Me State by leading the Incarnate Word Academy to its third consecutive Class 4 state championship.

Collier averaged 26.7 points, 13 rebounds and 4.1 blocks in leading IWA to a 29-2 record. headed to NCAA women’s college basketball champion Connecticut.

St. Charles Comeback: The Pirates staged a comeback for the ages in winning the Class 4 state championship in boys’ basketball.

In the state championship game

against Springfield Hillcrest, St. Charles trailed by as many as 21 points in the second half before staging their dramatic comeback to take a 74-69 victory. Senior guard Casey Teson spearheaded the comeback with 35 points, including 29 in the second half.

Teson and fellow senior Chase Morfeld formed one of the top backcourts in the state of Missouri.

The Pirates had great experience with eight seniors which served them well throughout their See REVIEW, B4

This NFL offseason is one of a kind. The next stadium update swings the pendulum in one direction. The fan base in one market can feel the excitement of a roller coaster going up a hill, while the fan base in a market competing for the same stadium feels their stomach drop like when a coaster plummets.

Starting in Oakland, SB Nation reported that Oakland Athletics Owner Lew Wolff signed a 10-year deal with the coliseum. Oakland Raiders owner Mark Davis said that he wanted a new stadium built on the site of the current stadium. His vision for a new stadium is considered relatively cheap compared to the cost in Carson, Inglewood or St. Louis. It appears that the A’s owner has no intention to share the land there. So what are the Raiders to do? Move to Carson.

Carson City, California Palmer L. suddenly has a legitimate shot Alexander at becoming the new home of the Chargers and Raiders. The NFL has always been fond of Carson, despite its once being a landfill site. And even though all the waste has been cleaned up, there are still remnants of rubbish going on in city hall.

As former Mayor Jim Dear was quoted in the L.A. Times, “They are showing the NFL and the world that Carson is rampant with corruption.

Which football team ownership builds a stadium in a city with corrupt council members?”

The City of Inglewood is interesting too. The kinship between the city of Inglewood and St. Louis Rams owner Stan Kroenke is suspicious.

According to the L.A. Times, Hollywood Park Land Co. and Kroenke have donated $118,500 to the city’s mayor and councilmen.

The San Diego Chargers are at a crossroads now, and it appears that there is no possible way to get a local stadium ballot measure in front of voters until the end of 2015 – too late for the NFL. As NFL VP Eric Grubman has said, “Time is of the essence.”

Unfortunately, it’s shaping up like the Chargers and Raiders are likely to move, giving their current stadium situations. But, this story is far from over.

For more Rams Roundup, please subscribe to our page at youtube.com/stlamericanvideo and follow on Twitter @thelegendkil.

In The Clutch With Ishmael Sistrunk

Goodbye Broner, welcome back Ward

Nowadays, the best and “Money’s” protégé should have brightest don’t always find been studying the immense themselves in the spotlight. In work ethic, the perfectionist the sports and entertainment mentality and the dedication to worlds, it’s seemingly more his craft, he was blinded by the lucrative to talk a good antics and the lifestyle game than to actually that make Mayweather put forth one. How else the fighter everyone can one explain the loves to hate. rise and fall of Adrien Broner was hitting “The Problem” the club circuit instead Broner? of hitting the pads.

A few years ago, Rumors suggest he was Broner (30-2, 22 KO) eating (and drinking) was a flaming hot good instead of eating Ishmael H. right. He was so busy prospect with lightSistrunk ning-fast fists and practicing his interconcussive power. As views and dance moves a super featherweight (130 that he forgot to practice his lbs.), Broner possessed all defense. As the competition the physical traits to build a and weight classes got higher, lasting legacy in the sport of Broner performances became boxing. He linked up with mediocre at best. pound-for-pound king Floyd Saturday night versus the Mayweather Jr. and some tough-but-limited Shawn proclaimed him as heir to the “Showtime” Porter (26-1-1, throne. The problem is, while 16 KO), Broner looked down-

Adrien Broner (right) spent plenty of time clenching or retreating to the ropes to try to escape from Shawn Porter’s relentless attack. Porter won a unanimous decision.

Photo by Premier Boxing Champions

right terrible. As Porter mounted his aggressive and sloppy

attacks, Broner had no answer.

Instead of channeling his “Big

Bro” and using movement, angles and counter-punching

n Broner was hitting the club circuit instead of hitting the pads.

Rumors suggest he was eating (and drinking) good instead of eating right.

to pick Porter apart, Broner just held. He initiated so many headlocks, neck locks, arm bars and clenches that he would’ve been better served fighting Ken Shamrock at the Bellator MMA match at Scottrade Center. At least Shamrock had the decency to get knocked out early by Kimbo Slice to spare fans of watching two old dudes See CLUTCH, B5

B4

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • JUNE 25 – JULY 1, 2015

SportsEye With Alvin A. Reid

What has Cardinal Nation come to?

Flood in the Cardinals Hall of Fame? Parliament at Baseball Village?

There are two things involving the St. Louis Cardinals this season that I would never have dreamed – and neither is that the team is under investigation for allegedly snooping on the Houston Astros illegally through cyberspace.

Call me surprised that Curt Flood will be inducted into the St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame on August 15 as a member of its second class.

His on-field play should make him a shoo-in for the Cards’ highest honor (not to Alvin A. mention number Reid retirement).

Playing centerfield, Flood helped the Cardinals advance to three World Series during the 1960s.

The Cards topped the Yankees in seven games in 1964 and beat the Boston Red Sox in seven games in 1967.

Had Flood’s foot not got stuck in the mud in Game 7 of the 1968 World Series, turning a fly ball into an extra base hit, the Redbirds might not have lost that game to the Detroit Tigers.

Flood won seven consecutive Gold Gloves and made three All-Star Game appearances.

So why I am surprised he was elected by fans to the Cardinals Hall of Fame?

Flood refused to be traded to the Philadelphia Phillies in October 1969 and legally challenged Major League Baseball’s reserve clause.

Neither America nor baseball would have stood for this from a white player in 1970, let alone a black one.

As Flood’s suit grinded

Curt Flood will be inducted into the St. Louis Cardinals Hall of Fame on Aug. 15 as a member of its second class. its way to the U.S. Supreme Court, Flood was – no pun intended – blackballed during the 1970 season.

Here was the trade: Flood, Tim McCarver, Byron Browne and Joe Hoerner to the Philadelphia Phillies for Dick Allen, Cookie Rojas and Jerry Johnson.

All the players began the 1970 season with their respective new teams. Flood could either report or not play.

Backed by Marvin Miller and the players union – which financed his suit – Flood stood his ground. He forfeited more than $100,000 in salary that season (the equivalent of $661,442 in 2015). He played briefly in 1971 for the Washington Senators, and he wrote in his biography that many teammates shunned him and he felt unwelcome. After a woeful start to the season, Flood retired.

There was no pity for Flood in St. Louis. As a youth, I remember fans calling him an ingrate and saying that no one was bigger than the game. I heard more than a few N-words attached to Flood’s name while at Busch Stadium.

Here’s what upset many white fans. In Flood’s letter to Commissioner Bowie Kuhn, he wrote, “I do not feel I am a piece of property to be

bought and sold irrespective of my wishes. I believe that any system which produces that result violates my basic rights as a citizen and is inconsistent with the laws of the United States and of the sovereign states.”

Flood compared his situation to slavery – and that would mean team owners were masters.

This letter was sent to the same commissioner who

refused to be in attendance when Henry Aaron hit his 715th home run to break Babe Ruth’s all-time career mark.

MLB ultimately prevailed at the U.S. Supreme Court level in 1972 by a 5-3 vote. Just four years later, a federal arbitrator ruled that playing a season without a contract entitled pitchers Andy Messersmith and Dave McNally to become free agents.

MLB as much as admitted Flood’s challenge was legitimate, because in 1970 - as the Flood case progressed – it adopted the “Curt Flood Rule,” which allowed a player with 10 years of experience (and five years with the same team) to veto any trade. That rule stands to this day.

Ironically, Dick Allen was literally chased out of Philadelphia by its fans, and race played a major role.

Allen would be received with a thunderous standing ovation when the Cardinals played their first game at home in 1970. My father and I were there.

A lot has changed since 1970. Years after his death, the Cardinals honored Flood at the previous Busch Stadium.

His former wife Jude Pace was here for the ceremony.

But there are still some old-school feelings among Cardinals fans. I thought it would be many years before Flood was elected to the team’s Hall of Fame.

I’m glad I was wrong.

Now, here is the second thing I never thought would happen.

George Clinton and Parliament are performing at Baseball Village on Sunday night, July 12. I’ll be “Knee Deep” in it. What has Cardinal Nation come to?

Compton Drew teams win title

REVIEW Continued from B3

championship campaign.

Jayson Tatum Reaches No. 1: It is very rare for a basketball player from St. Louis reach the No. 1 ranking in the country, but that is what the 6’9” All-American

from Chaminade College Prep accomplished during the season. Tatum is also a two-time gold medalist for USA Basketball and arguably the most gifted high school basketball player in the country today. As a junior, he led the Red Devils to a third place finish in the Class 5 state tournament.

Althoff Reaches the

Finals: Known as a football powerhouse for many years, the Althoff basketball team reached new heights as they reached the state championship game of the Illinois Class 3A state tournament. The Crusaders finished with a 29-3 record and finished as the state’s runner-up behind their talented young trio of Jordan Goodwin, Brendan Gooch and Tarkus Ferguson.

The Crusaders are loaded once again to make another state tournament run in 2016. Watch out.

The Cahokia Dynasty Continues: The Cahokia Comanches made it five state titles in a row as they took the Illinois Class 2A championship in dominating fashion. Cahokia rolled up a near-record 119 points, which was 82 points more than their nearest challenger. The top performer was All-American jumper Ja’Mari Ward, who won the long jump and triple jump and set state records.

Talented athletes such as Korrion Sessions, Keveion Akins, Anthony McRoberts and Daniall Akins also came up with big performances at the state meet.

Edwardsville Track Makes History: The Tigers great all-around athletic program added a state championship in boys track to its growing list of great accomplishments. It was the first in the school’s history for the Tigers, who took the Illinois Class 3A title. Senior Fontez Davis won the state championship in the

The Compton Drew boys and girls eighth grade basketball teams won the St. Louis Public Schools Middle School League and competed in the Show-Me State Games in Columbia. The boys won the championship while the girls finished in third place. The boys team finished the season with a 17-0 record while the girls were 13-3 this past season.

The boys teams members are: Ahian Barnett, Yuri Collins, Douglas Tobias Hall, Kaleb Helms, Keith Jones, James Little, Jesse

Little, Torrez Mitchell, Martis Molton, Resean Pate, Michael Rice, Trevion Robinson, Lamar Schaffer, Jalen White, and Nathaniel White.

The girls team members are: Destini Bobo, Amari Dampier, Liah Evans, Amanda Galli, Briana Farris, Micah Goldman, Shaila Jones, Jayanna Key, Savannah Mason, Alayah Qualls, Deayvion Smith, Diamond Sullivan, Jacqueline Thomas and Kya Washington.

The boys are coach by Ronald Turner Jr., while the girls are coached by Whitney Washington.

long jump while sophomore A.J. Epenesa took All-State honors in both the shot put and discus. Standout hurdler Isaiah Michl also took home All-State honors as the Tigers talent and balance won out over a talented field of teams.

at the state meet. Hudson won the 100, 200 and 400-meter dashes while Lewis was a state-champion in the long jump.

McCluer North Girls go Back to Back: The Stars added a Missouri Class 5 state title in track and field to the Class 4 state championship that they won last year. North was led by star hurdler Jasmine Barge, who repeated as a state champion in both the 100meter high hurdles and 300meter intermediate hurdles.

Demetria Anderson was also a stalwart performer in the hurdles while Sydney Rogers was an All-State performer in the 400-meter dash.

Cahokia Girls Repeat: The Comanches made history in 2014 by winning their first ever state championship in girls’ track and field. In 2015, Cahokia went back-to-back as it won another Illinois Class 2A state crown. The dynamic duo of Mariya Hudson and Raynesha Lewis accounted for all of the Comanches’ scoring

McCluer South-Berkeley Takes the Gold: The Bulldogs added to their great championship tradition by winning another Missouri Class 3 state title. McCluer South-Berkeley had a talented unit, led by 110-meter high hurdles champion Tuvone Clark and 400-meter state champion Michael Miller.

The Bulldogs also won the 4x200 and 4x400-meter relays to cement their state title.

John Burroughs Girls: The Bombers made history by winning their first state title in girls’ track and field.

Sophomore Lailah Elliott was a dominant performer in the field events as she won the long jump and triple jump.

She also earned medals in the high jump and hurdles. More field event dominance was added by Jordan McClendon, who won the discus for the third consecutive year and finished second in the shot put.

B5

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • JUNE 25 – JULY 1, 2015

From The East Side With Maurice Scott, Jr.

Terry Beckner Jr. makes the grade ESL star qualifies academically for Mizzou, despite the haters

If anyone doubted that Terry Beckner Jr. wasn’t going to qualify academically to play college football at the University of Missouri, then you don’t know Terry Beckner Jr. The 6’4” 293-pound fivestar defensive lineman made it clear that in his last semester at East St. Louis Senior High School, he was going to make the grade off the field as well.

Terry, his parents and the people Maurice in his tight Scott circle never doubted that he would qualify to play as a freshman. I coached this young man in high school, and I’ve been around him since he was in middle school. He’s a bright young man who can do whatever he wants when he has his mind made up to be successful. And he will be a heck of a player for the Tigers.

First, let’s set the

CLUTCH Continued from B3

roll around on the ground for an extended period of time.

Broner was completely unprepared for Porter’s relentless style. Nothing Porter did was a surprise, so I think it’s safe to that Broner just isn’t that good. Add him to the list of fighters blessed with physical gifts who could never put it together. To make it worse, even after embarrassing losses, Broner sticks with the tired, cocky and disrespectful shtick in his interviews and on social media. After a second loss and another lackluster performance, Broner’s spotlight is going dim. I’m sure “AB” wishes now he would’ve accepted Jay Z and Roc Nation’s offer for a five year, $40 million fight deal back in January. At the time, Broner cursed at Jay (and Rihanna) and talked about how disrespected he felt at the offer.

Now the only way Broner will see $40 mil in his career is if he tags along on a bank trip with Mayweather.

Ward shines in comeback Speaking of Roc Nation, around the time Sprewell Broner was turning down big money from Jay Z, Andre Ward was opening his arms and collecting it. In his first bout in nearly two years, Ward (28-0-0, 15 KO) reclaimed his rightful place at the right hand

record straight. Terry Beckner Jr. always had the necessary grade point average to get into school.

It was the biased ACT test that was keeping him from being cleared by the NCAA. But the rules are the rules, and

our youth have to get it done to compete.

Second, Missouri head coach Gary Pinkel and assistant coach Cornell Ford never blinked when rumors surfaced that the First Team AllAmerican wouldn’t make it

academically. There were plenty of doubters around here who turned on Terry Beckner Jr. and assumed the worst.

People who would make Archie Bunker sound reasonable were

running their mouths all over that’s what a fair person the place – some not even who really cares and who knowing what the NCAA understands the pressure being Clearinghouse or the ACT test put on student-athletes these are! Even some crab-in-thedays should say. bucket parents (only a few) Make no mistake, there is a who have an responsibility on agenda at East our students to n People who Side wished the would make Archie get the work worst for the done, whether the Bunker sound Mizzou recruit. tests are biased or reasonable Then there not. The level of are some former and wished the society’s playing coaches and field isn’t fair; worst for the hangers on therefore, we Mizzou recruit who just want must tell our were running their to be around youth to strive for when things are mouths all over the excellence, both going good for in the classroom place. our youth – and on the field. only to tear However, them down it is time to or find a way put an end to make a dollar off them to the crab-in-theif they can. They also had bucket mentality of people a lot to say when they within the black community. thought Terry wouldn’t make We should want our youth to it. achieve their goals and to get Pinkel said in an interview a good education. Our youth a few months ago: “Terry has need to get away from the some work to do, just haters and get an education and like some of the other top become productive citizens. players being recruited Forget the NFL or the NBA, across the country. We’ll see just be a productive person how it all plays out.” And and forget the naysayers!

of the pound-for-pound throne.

If there’s such a thing as an anti-Broner, Ward fits the bill.

Ward is humble, respectful, hard-working and might very well be the most complete fighter in the game.

Despite his lengthy absence due to a contract dispute, Ward got in the ring like nothing ever changed. He destroyed Paul Smith over 9 rounds with stiff jabs and laser-guided right hands. Ward hit his opponent whenever and however he wanted. By the time Smith

tried to punch back, Ward was out of range and preparing his next attack.

For the second straight bout, the man across the ring from Ward did not make weight.

Despite having a significant weight advantage, it didn’t matter. In fact, it might have worked against him. As Ward locked in, it was clear he intended to close the show.

Ward not only shut out Smith, but he pummeled and pounded Smith until his corner begged for mercy by throwing in the

towel.

It will be interesting to see Roc Nation’s strategy in promoting Ward’s career. At 31 years old, he’s still in his prime, but not a spring chicken. Ward is arguably the best fighter in the world but his fan base does not reflect it. After his victory, Ward discussed the possibility of moving up to light heavyweight where saliva-inducing matchups versus

champions Sergey Kovalev or Adonis Stevenson lay waiting in the wings. Unless he’s able to lure knockout artist Gennady Golovkin to super middleweight, there’s no question that the big money bouts are in the 175 lb. weight class.

However, money doesn’t seem to be the driving factor behind the man whose boxing nickname, S.O.G., stands for Son of God.

Terry Beckner Jr. signing his commitment to play college football at the University of Missouri in February.

Photo by Wiley Price

If Ward was willing to sit on the sidelines for nearly two years during his prime over a contract dispute, something tells me he’d have no problem biding his time at 168 lbs. until a legitimate threat emerges in his natural division. Regardless of where he fights, I’ll surely be tuning in.

Follow Ishmael and In the Clutch on Twitter @ IshmaelSistrunk

B6

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • JUNE 25 – JULY 1, 2015

GRANTS

continued from page B1 Louis, Asan said, they are also looking forward to working in the community to inspire young entrepreneurs. He said they want to teach students how to solve their own problems because, “that’s what entrepreneurism is all about.”

Another African-American entrepreneur who received an Arch Grant is Chris Motley, who founded Better Weekdays – a job-matching platform that helps universities improve jobplacement outcomes for their graduates, and helps companies hire these candidates based on job compatibility and culture fit.

When he got the news about the grant, Motley said he was “speechless.”

“We applied last year, and we didn’t even make it to the finalist round,” Motley said.

“We weren’t ready last year, but we are definitely ready now.”

With the grant, Motley plans to hire a salesperson who is from St. Louis.

Motley believes that that every school in the state should be using Better Weekdays’ product.

“It helps to solve a big problem of tracking students in their careers,” he said. “State institutions are getting funding

EQUITY

continued from page B1 equity a real possibility in the 21st century, black workers must build enough political and institutional power to challenge inequality, change policies and transform the country.

We will not be able to train or educate our way out of the black jobs crisis, particularly if employers still regard black workers as less desirable than workers of other races. Policy research and advocacy are necessary, but not sufficient, solutions to the dual crisis of low-wages and too few jobs.

Photo by Wiley Price

Derrius Quarles, CEO and co-founder of the start-up company Million Dollar Scholar, and Ras Asan, the company’s COO and co-founder, are “millennial age” black men who are receiving $50,000 from Arch Grants to develop their company, which offers financial-aid search software. that is tied to job-placement outcomes.”

Arch Grants has awarded $3.65 million to grow 66 early-stage businesses since the organization launched in 2012. These companies have created more than 250 jobs in Missouri, generated $16 million in revenue, and raised $49 million in capital funding as of March 31, 2015.

“St. Louis was founded by entrepreneurs and immigrants, and we are proud to support the next generation of entrepreneurs and immigrants who are, once again, defining our region’s future,” said

Ginger Imster, executive director, Arch Grants.

Since the launch of the competition, Arch Grants has attracted applications from entrepreneurs from 62 countries and, in the United States, from 41 states and the District of Columbia.

Another set of Arch Grants recipients will be announced in November. The cycle to identify the winter cohort is underway with rolling application deadlines of July 10 and Aug. 30. For more information, visit archgrants. org.

Black communities themselves must have the resources and capacity to build the power to determine what economic development looks like in their communities and who will benefit.

But this urgent powerbuilding and organizing needed to address this crisis will not happen if black worker organizations around the country continue to receive little to no resources. In order to educate and train in our black communities, we need financial and political support, as well as community advocacy working together to create new job opportunities.

The St. Louis region can no

longer afford to look the other way on income inequality or disparity. If we are an equal opportunity community, this is time to “Show Me” the equity.

Organizing AfricanAmerican workers in unions is the first step. Supporting St. Louis City Board of Alderman Bill 83 is the second step.

Our area businesses should move accordingly in the right direction by increasing wages to boost our economy by $14 billion.

Mark Esters is president of the Coalition of Black Trade Unions (CBTU) St. Louis Metro Region.

Check out this week’s

PARTYLINE See Page C8

C1 • ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • JUNE 25 - JULY 1, 2015

Ferguson restaged

Gitana dramatizes crisis between cops and community in ‘Black and Blue’

By Kenya Vaughn Of The St. Louis American

Sunday afternoon, the curtain closed on one of Gitana Productions’ most ambitious effort in the organization’s nearly 20-year history.

Organized to use the arts and creativity to promote cross-cultural engagement, Gitana’s subject matter hit especially close to home in “Black and Blue,” which wrapped at St. Louis Community College- Florissant

Valley’s Terry M. Fischer Theatre.

Actors stood on a stage in the heart of Ferguson, merging fact and fiction in writer/director Lee Patton Chiles’ dramatic response to the Michael Brown Jr. tragedy and subsequent

n Staging Ferguson before a local audience so close to real time, with fresh wounds and raw memories, was a delicate undertaking.

unrest.

Staging Ferguson before a local audience so close to real time, with fresh wounds and raw memories, was a

Actors in a scene from the Gitana production “Black and Blue.

delicate undertaking with little margin for error. Chiles tells the story through moments ripped from the headlines, personal narratives drawn from interviews, fictionalized experiences and a few spoken word pieces in between. We hear all sides of the story – cops, blacks and others caught in the crossfire between the two.

True to its title, much of the play focuses on conflicts between elements of the African-American community and law enforcement. The play opens with a black teen in an unfamiliar neighborhood being nurtured by a police officer who knows the boy and his family well.

Following a helpful – even somewhat heartfelt – exchange between the officer and the young man, reality hits in the next scene. A woman speaks of the precautions she See PLAY, C4

Summer swag with Classic Culture

By Danie Rae, Style Broker For The St. Louis American

W

e’ve swung into summer, full speed ahead. I’m more of a fall/winter person, myself, but I do look forward to longer days and shorter shorts, amongst other perks of the season. Many of us have made the big wardrobe switch from sweaters and socks to sun dresses and sandals.

Local women’s apparel designer Brandin Vaughn of Classic Culture has released his summer collection. His mission is to provide trendsetting color and fabric combinations for the “classic” yet bold client. Founded in 2013, Classic Culture (CC) is also an umbrella for other designers.

“CC is a lifestyle brand catering to its customers for every See FASHION, C4

Photos: Lawrence Bryant Styling/ Hair : Danie Rae, Style Broker @ style_brokers MU: Kiesha Reece @ beautybyreecey Wardrobe provided by: Brandin Vaughn for Classic Culture, Available at Create Space, 6323 Delmar @bvclassicculture Models: Taviah Chan, Armanda

Black

•Only Online •

& Single

‘Senufo: Art and Identity in West Africa’ opens at Saint Louis Art Museum

Trapped in the booty call box

By Kenya Vaughn Of The St. Louis American Woman meets man. Woman and man have wonderful conversations when they cross each other’s paths in social settings over several years.

Out of the blue, man confesses that he has a huge crush on woman, loves their exchanges and wants to get to know her better.

Woman is thrilled.

“Let’s hang out sometime?”

Woman’s thrill instantly subsides.

He said “hang out” as opposed to “go out.”

There is a flag on the play.

Because he seems like a nice guy, she gives him the benefit of the doubt – even though “let’s hang out” is typically code for “let’s meet at a remote location” or “I’ll stop by your house when my girlfriend falls asleep.”

“Where do you want to go?” she says, taking the initiative to change the language and redirect the nature of his mackdown to something more appropriate for a lady of her reputation.

“I don’t know, maybe I could come over and we could watch a movie.”

See SINGLE, C6

Starting Sunday, St. Louis audiences will have the opportunity to view a rare selection of one of the most popular and best studied forms of African art from the West African countries of Côte d’Ivoire, Mali and Burkina Faso when Senufo: Art and Identity in West Africa opens at The Saint Louis Art Museum. The exhibit continues through Sept. 27 and will include plenty of related programming.

www.stlamerican.com

Calendar

C2

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • JUNE 25 – JULY 1, 2015 performers include Kool & the Gang, Morris Day and the Time, Melissa Ethridge, and more. Art Hill in Forest Park, Fine Arts Dr., 63112.

For more information, call (314) 434-3434 or visit www. fairsaintlouis.org.

How to place a calendar listing 1. Email your listing to calendar@stlamerican. com OR 2. Visit the calendar section on stlamerican.com and place your listing

Fri., July 3, 5 p.m., Fireworks on the Mississippi. Enjoy food, beer, a fireworks display, and live entertainment by the United States Air Force Band of Mid-America, all set against the beautiful Clark Bridge. Liberty Bank Alton Amphitheater, 1 Riverfront Dr., Alton, IL. 62002. For more information, call (800) 2586645.

Calendar listings are free of charge, are edited for space and run on a space-available basis.

concerts Thur., July 9, 7 p.m., 100.3 The Beat presents Summer Block Party feat. Jill Scott, Common, and special guest DJ Jazzy Jeff. Peabody Opera House, 1400 Market St., 63103. For more information, call (314) 499-7600 or visit www.peabodyoperahouse.com.

Sun., July 12, 6 p.m., Ballpark Village and Old School 95.5 present District Rhythms Summer Concert Series feat. George Clinton and ParliamentFunkadelic. Ballpark Village, 601 Clark Ave., 63102. For more information, call (314) 345-9481 or visit www. stlballparkvillage.com.

Tues., July 14, 7 p.m., Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre presents the Boys of Zummer Tour feat.

Fall Out Boy, Wiz Khalifa, Hoodie Allen, and DJ Drama.

14141 Riverport Dr., 63043.

For more information, call (314) 298-9944 or visit www. ticketmaster.com.

local gigs Fri., June 26, 6 p.m., The Legend Singers present Family Affair. Help us celebrate African-American music genres and family performers with a reception and concert. The Ethical Society of St. Louis, 9001 Clayton Rd., 63105. For more information, call (314) 5249086.

Sun., June 28, 6 p.m., The Whitaker Foundation presents Free Summer Concerts in Ivory Perry Park feat. Coleman Hughes Project with Adrianne Felton-King. Hear some of the best local R&B, soul, jazz and gospel coming at your from the Commerce Bank stage in a beautiful park. Bring chairs to sit under the tent or a blanket to spread on the lawn, then open your picnic basket

or buy from vendors on-site.

800 N. Belt Ave., 63112.

For more information, call (314) 725-3077 or visit www. ucministries.com/concertseries.

Sat., June 27, 4 p.m., University City Municipal Commission on Arts & Letters presents The Starlight Concert Series: Ladies’ Day with Anita Jackson, Tiffany Elle, and Theresa Payne. This concert is free and open to the public. Heman Park, 1028 Midland Blvd., 63130. For more information, call (314) 863-6333.

Mon., June 29, 6:30 p.m., University City Municipal Commission on Arts & Letters presents The Starlight Concert Series: Charles Glenn. This concert is free and open to the public. Heman Park, 1028 Midland Blvd., 63130. For more information, call (314) 863-6333.

special events June 26 – 28, Gateway Classic Cars and Collector’s Corner present 3-Day Super Sport Show. We are proud to host St. Louis’ greatest in sports history for an exciting three days of personal superstar signings. More than ten historic athletes will all be gathering together for a weekend of thrilled fans, merchandise sales from local businesses, and of course vintage vehicles.

Michael Wacha , Kolten Wong and Lou Brock to name a few, will all be prepared to meet fans and sign merchandise, such as sports memorabilia and/or sentimental items for inscriptions. Along with this action – packed event the ‘Law Enforcement Torch Run Car Show’ will be hosted outside in the spacious parking lot. A ‘Best of Show’ portion will be included in this segment of the event that will be benefiting the outstanding organization,

Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre presents the Boys of Zummer Tour feat.

Fall Out Boy, Wiz Khalifa, Hoodie Allen, and DJ Drama . See CONCERTS for details.

‘Special Olympics.’ Gateway Classic Cars, 1237 Central Park Dr., O’Fallon, IL. 62269.

For more information, call (618) 726-2210 or visit www. collectorscornersports.com.

June 26 – 28, Pride St. Louis, Inc. presents PrideFest 2015. PrideFest is an annual celebration of gay, lesbian, and transgender culture. The festival includes a parade with floats and contingents, twenty hours of live entertainment ranging from pop, disco, jazz, rock, country and rap. A commitment ceremony will be held on June 27 at 3 p.m. in the City Hall rotunda, with a reception to follow. There will be Pride Parade, beginning at 11 a.m. on June 28, coming down Market Street – starting at 8th Street and ending at 18th Street. Soldiers Memorial Park, 1315 Chestnut St., 63103.

For more information, call (314) 772-8888 or visit www. pridestl.org.

Sat., June 27, 7 p.m., 1st Annual All-PHL STL Throwback House Party Reunion, Calling all City Alumni, The Ambassador, 9800 Halls Ferry. For more information, call 314-2295267.

June 27 – 28, 10 a.m., Midwest Natural Hair Health & Beauty Expo. We will have workshops, styling demonstrations, natural hair products and distributors, holistic health and wellness tips, entertainment, vendors,

and more. Ramada Plaza, 811 N. 9th St., 63101. For more information, call (314) 6437336.

Sat., June 27, 1 p.m., 2015 St. Louis Underground Music Festival. The Biggest Hip Hop Festival in the Midwest returns for it’s 6th year of showcasing all four elements of the Hip Hop in a twelve hour event with: over seventy performers on three stages, more than twenty of the area’s hottest Hip Hop DJ’s, graffiti artists doing live displays, producer beat battle for a cash prize, freestyle battle for cash prize, and much more. 2720 Cherokee Performing Arts Center, 2720 Cherokee St., 63118. For more information, call (314) 4428749 or visit www.slumfest. com.

Sat., June 27, 7 p.m., Thrill Entertainment and Inphyniti Enterprise presents 1st Annual All Public High League St. Louis Throwback “Houseparty” Reunion.

The Ambassador, 9800 Halls Ferry Rd., 63136. For more information, call (314) 4969358 or (314) 229-5267.

Through June 28, Circus Flora: “ One Summer on 2nd Street. Circus Flora, St. Louis’s own intimate onering theatre circus where audience members are as close as two-feet and never more than 40 feet from the ring.

Enter the Big Top and travel to the Roaring Twenties, to a typical block on a typical

day, and meet a very atypical set of families. 3511 Samuel Shepard Dr., 63103. For show time information, visit www. circusflora.org.

July 1 – 4, Webster Groves Community Days. One day just isn’t enough to celebrate Independence Day. This old-fashioned event is a fourday celebration featuring a carnival, BBQ, parade and fireworks. The carnival and food booths are open all four days of the festival. There will be a fireworks display July 3-4 at 9:30 p.m. The parade, a traditional patriotic celebration with dozens of floats, marching bands, clowns, cars and more, will begin at 10 a.m. on July 4. Memorial Park, 4 E. Lockwood Ave., 63119.

For more information, call (314) 963-5300 or visit www. webstergroves.org.

July 2 – 4, 35th Annual Fair St. Louis. This Independence Day Celebration offers local and national entertainment, family entertainment in the Family Festival Zone, zip line rides along Lagoon Drive and other activities. Music performances every night beginning at 8:00 p.m. and concludes with a spectacular fireworks display at approximately 9:15 p.m. The Schnucks Freedom 4 Miler and Family Fun Run kicks-off on the morning of July 4 at 7 a.m. followed by the 133rd annual Veiled Prophet Parade stepping off 9:45 a.m. Musical

Sat., July 4, 10 a.m., Ferguson Fourth of July Festival. Enjoy the parade, opening ceremonies, a plethora of unique vendors, games, and other fun activities. Cap off the evening with a fireworks display planned for 9:15 p.m.

January-Wabash Memorial Park, 110 Church St., 63135.

For more information, call (314) 521-4661 or visit www. fergusoncity.com.

Sat., July 4, 7 p.m., Kirkwood Community Freedom Festival and Fireworks.

Come out for live music, and a fireworks display at dusk.

Kirkwood Lions’ Club will be on hand, selling beer, ice cream, and soda, along with glow necklaces. Tropical Moose will be open, and there will be several food trucks.

Kirkwood Park, S. Geyer Rd., 63122. For more information, visit www.kirkwoodmo.org.

Mon., July 6, 11 a.m., Project Cope invites you to their 11th Annual Golf Tournament.

Special Guest Jim Holtgrieve, the 2011 and 2013 captain of the United States Walker Cup Team, will serve as the honorary tournament chairman.

The day will include a live and silent auction, lunch, goodie bags, dinner, and more. Glen Echo Country Club, 3401 Lucas-Hunt Rd., 63121. For more information or to register, call (314) 389-4804 or visit www.projectcopestl.org.

July 6 – 10, 1 p.m., Ozzie Smith’s Sports Academy Multi-Sport Camp. This multi-sport camp will focus on reactionary drills, down and back diagonal, and front to back quickness development.

These drills will aide in the participants overall athleticism.

In addition, we will play dodgeball and soccer games.

All of Ozzie’s instructors have played collegiately

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • JUNE 25 – JULY 1, 2015 or professionally, and truly enjoy training athletes. Preregistration is required.

Brentwood Park, 9100 Russell Ave., 63144. For more information or to register, call (314) 963-8683 or visit www. brentwoodmo.org/parks.

Thur., July 9, 5 p.m., Dot Foods Recruiting and Networking Event. Dot Foods, the nation’s largest food industry redistributor, is hiring for careers in sales and business development and 2016 internships. Come out and learn more about the company and available career opportunities. Sheraton Clayton, 7730 Bonhomme Ave., 63105. For more information, call (636) 5374002. To register, visit www. dotfoods.com/stlcareers.

literary Sat., June 27, 7 p.m., UrbArts presents Surreal Sista live recording. Surreal Sista will be recording her latest works in a CD entitled, Hyper Focus: Driven to Abstraction. Included will be all original poetry, stream of consciousness, lyrics and spoken word written and performed by Surreal Sista with other local accompaniment. 2600 N. 14th St., 63106. For more information, call (636) 3464823 or visit www.surrealsista. wordpress.com.

Wed., July 8, 7 p.m., St. Louis County Library hosts author Tom Engelhardt, author of Four Turbulent Decades. Longtime St. Louis Post Dispatch political cartoonist Tom Engelhardt presents a retrospective look at his distinguished career and discusses many of his most evocative cartoons which cover subjects ranging from the President Kennedy assassination to the 9/11 attacks. Engelhardt will also offer insight into the field of newspaper cartoons in the twentieth century. Library Headquarters, 1640 S. Lindbergh Blvd., 63131. For

more information, call (314) 994-3300 or visit www.slcl. org.

The Saint Louis Art Museum presents Senufo: Art and Identity in West Africa.

For more information, see ART.

theatre Through Aug. 1, Missouri History Museum presents Unlocking the Golden Door: The Fight for Sumner High School. In 1875, 10 years after the abolition of slavery, St. Louis had a strong group of African American activists and community leaders who were doing the hard work of civil rights. This performance focuses on their efforts, including the fight for Sumner High School, the first African American high school west of the Mississippi. Dates Vary. 5700 Lindell Blvd., 63112. For more information, visit www. mohistory.org.

June 26 – 27, COCA presents Bring It On The Musical. Bitingly relevant and sprinkled with sass, this show takes audiences on a high-flying journey filled with the complexities of friendship, jealousy, betrayal, and forgiveness. Recommended for ages 12 and up. Edison Theatre, Washington University, 6445 Forsyth Blvd., 63130. For more information, call (314) 725-6555 or visit www.edison.wustl.edu.

Through June 28, Robert G. Reim Theatre presents Smokey Joe’s Cafe. Welcome to the neighborhood for a nostalgic exploration of the lives, loves, and aspirations of a group of friends who know how to rock 60s style.

Featuring nearly 40 charttopping hits that span over three decades of popular American music, this thrilling Grammy award-winning song celebration will knock your socks off. Relive the glory days of rock and roll with such pop standards as “Stand

By Me”, “Jailhouse Rock,” “I’m A Woman,” “Hound Dog,” and “On Broadway.”

111 S. Geyer Rd., 63122. For more information, visit www.

stagesstlouis.org.

Through June 28, The Playhouse at Westport Plaza presents Disney’s The Aristocats. Madame’s furry felines have been cat-napped!

Luckily, Thomas O’Malley and his rag-tag bunch of Alley Cats are ready to spring to the rescue of Duchess and her Aristokittens. What happens next is anyone’s guess. This modern version of the familiar Disney classic is just purrrrrfect for the entire family. 635 West Port Plaza, 63146. For more information, visit www. stagesstlouis.org.

Through June 30, The Muny presents Hairspray. Set in the changing times of 1960s Baltimore, join Tracy Turnblad and “the nicest kids in town” as they reach for their dream of performing on the Corny Collins Show and creating a perfect integrated world.

Featureing incredible dance numbers and a blazing set of pop tunes including “Good Morning Baltimore” and “You Can’t Stop The Beat!” 1 Theatre Dr., 63112. For more information, call (314) 3611900 or visit www.muny.org.

July 6 – 12, The Muny presents Holiday Inn. Happy holidays - all of them! Irving

Berlin’s Holiday Inn comes to joyous and extravagant life on the Muny stage. A Muny premiere, this will be only the second production in the world of this new musical based upon the beloved 1942 film. With thrilling dance numbers and lively comedy, this wonderful new show features Irving Berlin classics like Easter Parade, Steppin’ Out With My Baby, Shakin’ The Blues Away, Be Careful, It’s My Heart, and more. 1 Theatre Dr., 63112.

For more information, call (314) 361-1900 or visit www. muny.org.

arts June 28 – Sept. 27, The Saint Louis Art Museum presents Senufo: Art and Identity in West Africa. This exhibition introduces visitors to the poro and sandogo societies, the primary settings for the production and use of works of art in the Senufo-speaking region of northern Côte d’Ivoire. However, drawing on recent research in Mali and Burkina Faso, the exhibition also includes sculptures not usually attributed to Senufospeaking artists or patrons, thus shattering the boundaries of the corpus typically identified

C3 as Senufo. Featuring nearly 170, the exhibit examines the shifting meanings of the term Senufo since the late 19th century and investigates assumptions underlying the labeling of art as Senufo; revealing the shortcomings of labels tied to limited cultural or ethnic groups. One Fine Arts Dr., 63110. For more information, call (314) 7210072 or visit www.slam.org.

Through June 30, St. Louis Public Library hosts 365 Days with Dad Exhibit. In 2012 Cbabi Bayoc set out to paint images of black fathers and their children every day.

His project shows positive images of black fathers and their interactions with their children. Central Library, 1301 Olive St., 63103. For more information, call (314) 2412288 or visit www.slpl.org.

July 10 – Aug. 2, Urban Wanderers Faces of Survival.

Featuring artwork inspired by hopeful recovery stories of Stray Rescue’s abandoned and abused companion animals.

Paintings, photographs, sculptures and more will be displayed and available for auction. All proceeds benefit Stray Rescue of St. Louis.

There will be an opening reception on July 10, at 5 p.m. Come meet the artists on Friday July 24 at 5:30 p.m.

The Tail End, closing day and celebration will take place Sunday, Aug. 2, at 11 a.m.

Gallery 400, 400 Washington Ave., 63102. For more information, call (314) 7716121. To bid on exhibit pieces, visit www.blacktie-Missouri. com/auctions.

lectures/ workshops Thur., July 23, 9 a.m., JCI Symposium on Social Equality. This empowering and free symposium will focus on the search for human dignity in the 21st century.

We will unite local, regional, national and international

leaders and experts and provide constructive conversation on how we can sustain social equality for all people. These important conversations and engaging discussions aim to empower active citizens and inspire community action to ensure human dignity for all.

Blanche M. Touhill Performing Arts Center, UMSL, 1 University Blvd., 63121. For more information, call (636) 449-3100 or visit www.jci.cc/ ourevents.

health Sun., June 28, 8 a.m., 2015 Head for the Cure 5K Run & Walk. The Head for the Cure Foundation mission is to raise awareness and funding to inspire hope for the community of brain cancer patients, their families, friends, caregivers and other supporters, while celebrating their courage, spirit and energy. The Muny, 1 Theatre Dr., 63112. For more information, call (816) 218-6871 or visit www. headforthecure.og.

Tuesdays Through July 7, 6 p.m., Free Diabetes SelfManagement Class. This 6-week course is part of “Health for Your Life: An Everyone With Diabetes Counts Initiative.” Facilitator, Jo Lena Johnson, Trainer & Managing Partner, Absolute Good Training & Life Skills Management will help you learn more about healthy habits and have a little fun as well.

Spouses, partners, and family members are encouraged to attend. All classes are free and diabetes friendly snacks will be provided. Elder Shirt Lofts Building, 711 N. 13th St., 63103. For more information or to sign up, go to www.

ShowMeLifestyle.com or call 314-537-9954.

July 17, Community Women Against Hardship 10th Annual Golf Tournament, Forest Park Golf Course. For more information, call Ron Bradley (314) 629-2681 or Carolyn Barnes (314) 3037985.

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • JUNE 25 - JULY 1, 2015

C4

PLAY Continued from C1 and her husband will take as they prepare for vacation – including a visit to the police station for preventative measures in case her two teen sons, who may be seen as physically intimidating, have an encounter with law enforcement while they are away.

Legitimate fear and concern are translated as the woman runs down her explanation to officers. She tells them her two teen sons, who usually catch rides from their parents, will be walking for the next week, in case anyone reports the presence of unfamiliar, presumably dangerous black males.

In another scene, a young college grad is given the drill of what to do if pulled over by police – though it does little good when he is pulled over.

An element of the police perspective is given as a young officer voices his frustration with meeting ticket quotas instead of fulfilling his childhood dream of

using his badge to serve the community.

Then hell breaks loose with the death of Michael Brown Jr. The attempt to stage the unraveling of Ferguson after Brown’s death was the weakest link of “Black and Blue.” The several months of direct action, political protest and civil unrest were just too to intense and multifaceted for Chiles to condense, and added embellishments for dramatic effect did more harm than good.

A major strength was the ensemble’s performances. For an organization that proudly owns its status as community theater, some of the portrayals could hold their own against the more consciously professional theatre troupes in the region.

But “Black and Blue,” as presented by Gitana, was more than just theater. Through the play, accompanying panel discussions and related programming over its fourweek run, Gitana achieved its mission of creating a safe and vibrant space for multicultural conversation and healing through the arts.

n “Rich fabrics are the main focus of the line. I let the fabric instead of the silhouette do the talking when I’m designing.”

– Brandin Vaughn Photo by Lawrence Bryant

FASHION Continued from C1 occasion, bridging the gap between suburbia and urban cultures while remaining classic – elegant, with an edge,” Vaughn said.

This season, he has a full range of apparel types, including denim tops/dresses, knit cropped sweaters, colorful patterned skirts and tailored pants. When asked what his inspiration for this season’s line was, Vaughn highlighted his love for fabrics.

“For this particular line, I was inspired by my surroundings of color and different prints,” Vaughn said.

“Rich fabrics are the main focus of the line. I let the fabric

www.stlamerican.com www.stlamerican.com www.stlamerican.com

www.stlamerican.com www.stlamerican.com www.stlamerican.com

instead of the silhouette do the talking when I’m designing.”

In partnership with Vaughn, we have highlighted some of the summer’s hottest trends.

Denim on deck. Denim can be worn all year round. And even though the temperatures have taken the sweat factor up a notch, one can still throw on any item that is made of denim, whether it be a skirt, shorts or a top. Paired with a pop of complimentary color, like red, orange or yellow, the denim look screams “summer is here!”

Prints are it. Now, I know prints are a no-brainer trend when it comes to summer fashion, but it is important for one to choose wisely while playing with prints. Know what works best for the silhouette.

If one is top-heavy, try prints on the bottom. If one doesn’t

want to attract attention to the bottom portion of the body, opt for wearing printed dresses.

Also, printed accessories are always the safe, but still eyecatching, way to incorporate the style into the summer wardrobe.

Go with the flow(y) tops.

When it is 90 degrees outside, the last thing I want is clothes clinging to my body. Tops made out of lace, jersey or even a chiffon blend will provide one with optimum circulation.

These tops are not just for casual wear either. They can be worn underneath a blazer or suit jacket to have a versatile business-day to party-night look. Tops made out of those particular fabrics can come in a wide variety of styles, ranging from tunics to crop tops.

Summer glam. Summer is not the time to wear 10 layers

of concealer, foundation, bronzer, etc. One should opt for the least makeup possible. Even if you have acne or problem skin, focus on investing in quality skin care products from an esthetician rather than spending money on cover-up products that only clog the pores. “For this season, less highlight and contouring are definitely a must,” said local makeup artist Keisha Reece.

“You want to opt for a more bronzed glow. Nude lips are still in, as well as colorful smoky eyes.”

For more information about Classic Culture, follow Brandin Vaughn on Instagram @BV4classicculture or email at CCmail4BV@gmail.com.

Follow Danie Rae, Style Broker @style_brokers on Instagram and Twitter.

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • JUNE 25 - JULY 1, 2015

C5

Forest Park Forever’s 25th Annual Leffingwell Award “Hat” Luncheon attracts record crowd, raises more than $400,000 On Thursday, June 4, Forest Park Forever welcomed more than 1,100 guests in fine spirits and fanciful hats to the organization’s 25th Annual Leffingwell Award “Hat” Luncheon, held at the World’s Fair Pavilion in Forest Park. The popular annual event raised more than $400,000 for St. Louis’ beloved Forest Park. The funds will support Forest Park Forever’s ongoing restoration and maintenance efforts, essential to ensuring that Forest Park remains beautiful and accessible for more than 13 million visitors each year.

Photos courtesy MultiMedia PR News

Wanda Ware, Gwendolyn Packnett and Lillian Curtis

Ramona Tumblin Rucker and Nicole Adewale

Stacy Edwards, Betty Reed and Mary Polk

Shelia Jones, Addie Tompkins and Mildred Anderson

Winner Marilyn Gooch Raqelle Wallace, Andrea Topps and Margie Bartley

Ruby Christensen and Rosalyn Fulton

THEY'RE HERE...

ARE YOU READY?

Promotional Partners:

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC STUDIOS Presents “ROBOTS” A DAY’S END PICTURES PRODUCTION A FILM BY MIKE SLEE

Narrated by Simon Pegg

slsc.org/robotsstlamerican

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • JUNE 25 - JULY 1, 2015

C6

SINGLE Continued from C1 Red flag number two.

“I don’t like to invite guys over when we haven’t been out anywhere socially first,” woman says. “I really don’t like for men to invite themselves over without even offering a dinner, a movie or at least a beverage of some sort.”

She got a little too snippy and she feels bad for being so rigid – mostly because he’s been such a nice guy to talk to and laugh with.

But she doesn’t want to get caught up in blurry boundaries that often get one unwittingly trapped in the booty call box.

“Come on, girl, you know me,” he said, trying to charm her guard back down. “Don’t be like that. You’ve seen me out here for years. We’re friends. How about just give me your number so I can talk to you without all these people around?”

It was a smooth move – almost too smooth – but it worked. Well, kind of.

She decided to give him her rarely used land line as a part of his probationary period. By the time she got home, he had already called.

“I think you misunderstood me, I’m really looking forward to getting to know you and I figured that since we knew

each other we didn’t have to be formal,” he said. “My bad.

Let’s start over. ‘A beverage?’

You don’t even drink. Call me back.”

She sat on the message for a few days. Before she could get around to calling him back, he beat her to the punch.

“Are you playing me?

Because I’m for real,” he pleads.

“If it was like that, I wouldn’t have picked up when you called,” she said. “Time just got away from me, that’s all. What’s up?”

n She doesn’t want to get caught up in blurry boundaries that often get one unwittingly trapped in the booty call box.

“That’s what I’m trying to find out,” he said. “When can I see you?”

As bad as she wanted to be wrong, she knew her instincts hadn’t failed her.

Too bad she let a drought influence her judgment, and things went just as she expected. He was looking for her casual company and seemingly nothing more. Out of boredom, loneliness, an affinity

for his conversation – or all of the above –she thought she could redirect their relationship.

It didn’t happen.

Three “dates” in, she shut it down. He couldn’t understand why.

She tried to explain to him that she was grown – and beyond the point of sneaking boys in and out of her house between midnight and morning.

“I hope you don’t think I have a girlfriend or anything, because it’s not like that at all,” he said. “What did I do wrong?”

As horrible as this may sound, she would have actually felt better about the situation if he had one. At least then she’d feel like he didn’t have a choice as far as them not dating like adults and constantly being on a creep mission.

“I’m sorry, but this isn’t what I’m looking for,” she said.

“I don’t do one-night stands – even when they are in a series.”

He seemed a bit stunned, but he accepted it. He fell off the scene – yes, because he found a girlfriend.

Three years later, she runs into him again.

“I need to talk to you,” he says.

“Okay, what’s up?” she says, trying to prove there’s no ill will.

“I miss you, let’s start over,” he says. “Maybe I can stop by tomorrow night after I get off work?”

Be a Tourist in Your Own Town St. Louis Convention and Visitors Commission

Fair Saint Louis returns to Forest Park, July 2-4

Fair St. Louis in Forest Park returns to Forest Park, July 2-4.

Wait there’s more, when Slide the City comes to downtown St. Louis.

Photo by Dan Donovan

and Chris Young; Friday, July 3: Blondie and Melissa Etheridge; Saturday, July 4: Morris Day and the Time, and Kool & the Gang.

The STEAM exhibit, the Wake Challenge watersports show & zip lining will be available daily during the fair. The new STEAM exhibit features interactive family entertainment that encourages science, technology, art, engineering, and math educational initiatives for children.

By Kiara Bryant On Friday and Saturday, the fair will start at For the St. Louis American noon and stunt cyclist Chris Clark will perform.

Singer/songwriter, Noah Guthrie, will take the The 35th Annual Fair Saint Louis Celebration stage on Friday and there will also be a salute to is back at Art Hill in Forest Park this year. the troops before Friday’s evening performance.

America’s biggest birthday party will return More acts have been added on the original to Forest Park on Independence Day weekend, line up including Hip Hop pioneer MC Lyte, the opening Thursday, July 2 at 5 p.m. through platinum selling artists of Tony! Toni!

Saturday, July 4. The fair will feature Tone and the local band Dirty Muggs local and national entertainment, family which are all scheduled to perform activities, and musical performances. before Saturday’s evening performance.

The Veiled Prophet Organization’s For more detailed information about the legacy from 1981 lives on today, with daily festivities, transportation and more new additions including a STEAM fun at Fair Saint Louis, please check out exhibit, zip lining rides on Lagoon Drive www.fairsaintlouis.org. (open until 10 p.m.) and more. After the July will be a big month for us, when momentum of St. Louis’ 250th birthday we also welcome Slide the City to St. last year, you don’t want to miss this Guest Columnist Louis this summer. On the weekend of year’s celebration. From the Louisiana Purchase Exposition of the World’s Fair Kiara Bryant July 11 and 12, 1,000-foot water slide will take over downtown St. Louis. Slide which took place in Forest Park in 1904 the City will feature a giant 3-lane slipto the annual St. Louis Exposition that and-slide on Market Street from Jefferson to took place from 1856 to 1902 in what is now 20th Street. Tickets are available now when you Fairground Park, it is clear that St. Louis knows register online at www.slidethecity.com. Along how to party.

Market Street, there will be family-friendly Fair Saint Louis is free. Performances on events, booths and vendors, live music, and the main stage will begin at various times with giveaways. A portion of the proceeds from the evening performances preceding a fascinating Slide the City event will benefit the St. Louis fireworks display that will start at 10:00 p.m.

Area Foodbank. Local Shop ‘n Save stores are closing each night at the fair. The 2015 Freedom offering special access to the slide through the 4 Miler & Family Fun Run will take place Wipe Out Hunger summer program. For more Saturday morning July 4 at 7 a.m. followed by information, you may also visit www.y98.com/ the 133rd annual VP Parade at 9:45 a.m. The slide. evening main stage performers are: Thursday, July 2: Natalie Stovall and the Drive, Parmalee,

C7

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • JUNE 25 – JULY 1, 2015

Celebrations Anniversaries

Birthdays Happy Birthday to Rosalyn McKissick, who celebrates her 67th birthday on June 25!

Gregory and Telisa Gates marked their fifth anniversary with a vow renewal ceremony on May 23, 2015.

Reunions All reunion announcements can be viewed online!

Beaumont High School Class of 1965 will celebrate their 50th Class Reunion on September 26, 2015 at the Royale Orleans, 2801 Telegraph. Dinner dance with open bar is $65/person. For additional information contact Geraldine Carter-Reid at 314868-8284 or bluejackets65@ gmail.com.

Richard O. and Brenda B. Brooks of O’Fallon, IL celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary on June 19, 2015. Richard is a retired principal of Miles D. Davis School in East St. Louis and Brenda, also a retired teacher from East St. Louis Public Schools, formerly taught at Marshall School in St. Louis. They have two children, Bari Lynne Brooks (dec.) and Richard Jr. and one grandson, Sky M. Brooks, both of New York, NY.

Beaumont High School class of 1975 is in the planning process for its 40th year reunion! Reunion dates: August 14-16, 2015, contact: Gale (314) 838-8493 or Cynthia (314) 869-4049.

Reunion on Facebook for more details. Deadline to register is June 30, 2015.

Berkeley High School Class of 1990 25th Reunion, July 24-26, 2015. Contact Alisa at 314-614-4972, sonshyne2n1@ yahoo.com or Shonte’ at 314341-7734, harmonyoung@ aol.com. Please look on our Facebook: Berkeley Sr. High Alumni Class of the 90’s.

Kinloch High will host a Kinloch Reunion Dinner Dance on July 24, 2015 at the Catering to You banquet center, Florissant Mo. For more information, please contact Arlene Owens Davis at 314-792-0659, Lester Wilson at 314-863-2180, Reuben Melton at 314-239-5202, Mc McKinnies at 314-5240126 or Darryl Henderson at hendodh@sbcglobal.net.

Gateway High School class of 1995 will host its 20th class reunion July 24-26, 2015.

Individual registration is $55 ($90 for couples). Visit Gateway Class of 1995/20yr

Northwest High School Class of 1973 has planned a 60th Birthday Bash for September 5, 2015 at the Renaissance St. Louis Airport Hotel. If you have not received an email

James A. Rodger turned 106 on June 18, 2015. He is a WWII veteran and retired from a 30 year career with the government. He has two sons, 11 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren.

He enjoys watching baseball and wrestling and lives by the motto: “Treat people right, and try to live right.”

Ruthye Harris—June 16 Kadyn Parker (2)—June 19 Emerine Stewart—June 19 Cooper C. Boyd—June 20 Larry Johnson (64)—June 22 Shelesa Harris (24)—June 26

with the details, please email northwesths1973@gmail. com or contact Cornelia Clark Stephens 314-580-1114.

Soldan High Class of 1964 will be celebrating its 51st reunion on August 28-30, 2015 at the Airport Marriott Hotel.

For more information, please contact; John Bennett at 314503-3541, George Gholston at 314- 831-1801 or DeOnne Hudson at deonne1024@ comcast.net.

Soldan High School Class of 75, 40th Reunion Celebration, September 11-13, 2015, Contact: Terese ColeMarshall, (314) 640 9611 or AnnieSue Preston (314) 606 5618, Email: Soldanclass75@ gmail.com.

Sumner Class of ‘76, 40th Class Reunion Announcement, Meeting Dates and Location: Thursdays, June 25, July 23 and August 20, 2015, 6-8:30 p.m., as needed at the St. Louis County Library Natural Bridge Branch (Small Meeting Room), 7606 Natural Bridge Rd., StL 63121. For questions or to leave current contact info, please contact B. Louis at 314.385.9843 or email: sumnerclassof76@yahoo.com.

Vashon Class of 1970, 45th Reunion, July 24-26, 2015, Renaissance Hotel - St Louis Airport, Send $75 payment now: Vashon Class of 1970, P. O. Box 300519, St. Louis, MO 63130. Contact: Rose Mary Wilson 314-327-9521 or Wayne Mason 314-401-6416.

FREE OF CHARGE Do you have a celebration you’re proud of? If so we would like to share your good news with our readers.

Whether it’s a birth, graduation, wedding, engagement announcement, anniversary, retirement or birthday, send your photos and a brief announcement (50 words or less) to us and we may include it in our paper and website – AT NO COST – as space is available. Photos will not be returned.

Send your announcements to: kdaniel@stlamerican. com or mail to: St. Louis American Celebrations c/o Kate Daniel 2315 Pine St. St. Louis, MO 63103

Reunion notices are free of charge and based on space availability.

We prefer that notices be emailed to us!

However, notices may also be sent by mail to: Kate Daniel, 2315 Pine St., St. Louis, MO 63103 Deadline is 10 a.m. on Friday. If you’d like your class to be featured in a reunion profile, email or mail photos to us.

Our email address is:

reunions@ stlamerican.com

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • JUNE 25 - JULY 1, 2015

C8

Celebrity Swag Snap of the Week Marlon Whitfield of Hawk Time LLC and Lamont George of K&LG Enterprises backstage with Floetry. The British soul duo felt the love after hitting the stage as a group for the first time in eight years as their sold-out St. Louis leg of The Reunion Tour Friday night came to The Pageant.

Caralotta Black was beyond excited to pose with the one and only Tom Joyner @ Radio One St. Louis’ meet and greet Friday afternoon @ Elmo’s Love Lounge

‘Love and Hip-hop Atlanta’ star Mimi Faust made time to pose with fans like Jaylon Griffith Saturday night @ HG

We did it again! For those of you who haven’t heard, The St. Louis American was once again named “Best Black Newspaper in the Nation.” And by again, I mean fourth year in a row. I don’t want to spend too much time on this – okay, I really do, but I won’t. However, I must thank the tireless, dedicated staff of The St. Louis American – from top to bottom – for their commitment, especially in the wake of Ferguson. Y’all don’t know how many sleepless nights were spent trying to make sure that the full story of the Ferguson unrest was told to offset the rumors of wild riots and “thug” stereotypes. In addition to our contributors and community partners, I also think the community of St. Louis as a whole shares in the honor with us because of the trust you have granted us and the sense of ownership you take as we attempt to tell your stories. Okay, now on with your regularly scheduled Partyline programming.

Reunited and it felt so good. Thursday evening I was able to fellowship with all five classes of the St. Louis American Foundation Young Leader Honorees thanks to the Alumni Reception held at the Anheuser-Busch Indoor Biergarten.

When I tell you it was everything … The rooftop party scene from “Brown Sugar” couldn’t even hang! And we didn’t even have to bother with the lopsided chemistry of Taye Diggs and Sanaa Lathan! But anyway, folks from each year were in the building slaying the game with corporate power player swag. And as much as I love to give the ladies props for their bawse style game – they were overmatched by the fellas. Sorry girls, but Michael Whitley, Jimmie Howlett (who were both rockin’ fellow Young Leader Cedric Cobb’s Best Pocket Square Holder), Stan Williams Jr. and Jared Boyd absolutely served in their suit and tie game. Style aside, it was a great feeling to be amongst those young people working towards taking our city to the next level on all fronts.

Jerica and Jermeka kept it cute with their stunners as they stayed with the theme of Liquid Assets 50 Shades of Shades day party Sunday @ Mike Shannon’s

Hosts Snap Babei and Fat-fat kept the crowd crackin’ for Liquid Assets’ 50 Shades of Shades Day Party Sunday @ Mike Shannon’s

Fair to midland for Floetry. Before I do anything, I want to express my eternal gratitude to K&LG Enterprises for bringing one of my bucket list live shows back to the Lou. I didn’t think I would get a chance to see Floetry live considering that they broke up eight years ago and were said not to be on speaking terms. Now that I’ve said that I can get the fact that I was quietly underwhelmed off of my chest. I mean it was a cool show, but I think I hyped it up too much in my head.

The artist formerly known as Telisha Lee opened up the show, and the folks were polite enough but not necessarily bothered. But when that poor girl from New Zealand came out as the latest R&B appropriation act, all the common courtesy and decorum went out the window. DJ Kut said it best when he was like “man, y’all were playing spades and dominoes during her show.” Yessss! By the time Floetry took the stage, the energy level had taken a bathroom break or two. They came out and they sounded well enough, but it seemed like they still couldn’t stand each other for the first hour of the show. They were good enough sports about it, and it didn’t officially affect their performance – but I think whole experience would have been better if it didn’t feel like they had just had a preshow chat that went something like “okay, you stay on your side, I’ll stay on my side and we’ll give each other space so we can keep cashing these checks.” Seeing them live gave me insight on just how much of an odd match they are as a group. The Floacist was talking to the crowd about ancestors, energy, self-esteem and personal growth during her solo segment. But when Marsha had the stage to herself, she confessed to “sophisticated rachetry” in a manner that I can’t really say without my job being at stake. They sounded great, but I wish they hadn’t labored the length of the songs so we could have had some more hits. Especially with “Getting Late” – I was like “It is getting late, because you’ve been singing that song for 18 minutes.”

Café Soul for Black Music Month. I don’t know how I missed it last month, but Angie and Nichol know by now to charge it to my head and not my heart.

But instead of me bringing up old stuff I’ll go ahead and let y’all know that Café Soul is teaming up with T Beats to present some of the brightest young talent in town for their June edition tomorrow (Friday, June 26). Gabbii, Brianna Elise, Dakota, Joaquin, Marty Griptite, Blair Logik and Diamond Doll will all be ripping the stage at The Rustic Goat. Doors open at 8 p.m. And I would suggest you get there early.

Celebrity doubleheader at HG. I’m so glad that I went with my instincts Friday night even though my soul fought against taking two trips to HG in one weekend so that I can at least attempt to somewhat evenly distribute the love and the shade on the nightlife scene. I thought “who’s gonna be checking for that random warm vanilla sugar from ‘Power?’”… Turns out everybody. Juelz Santana wishes he coulda set that club off like it was poppin’ Friday night thanks to Joseph Sikora – though known to most as “Tommy Eagan.” I had decided I would just save my HG visit for MiMi Faust’s walkthrough on Saturday. Believe it or not, her crowd couldn’t even hang with the numbers he packed in – which further proves my theory that the “Lust and Hotpockets” brand is headed to dust.

MiMi had a nice sized group that came through to check for her, but I remember the days when Chrissy packed out the Loft. Her makeup was flawless, even though that bedazzled hat had her looking like a seductive slot machine regular or like she had just left the bingo hall on a sugar daddy-snatching mission.

Sierhah and Alexis continued their weekend unwind Saturday night @ Mood Photos by Lawrence Bryant & John Scott

Fifty Shades of Day Party. Phil Assets gave the folks a change of scenery by taking his day party game over to Mike Shannon’s for the Fifty Shades of Shades Party (his title, not mine) Sunday. Now granted Mike Shannon’s outdoor area is twice the size of their regular stomping grounds over at Harry’s. Even factoring in the fact that it was Father’s Day and Tropical Storm Billy Ray hadn’t decided if it was gonna let up, they had a crowd that I would declare respectable.

J. Anthony Brown of Tom Joyner Morning Show with his Sigma frat and Radio One fam Boogie D Friday afternoon @ Elmo’s Love Lounge

Tamika and Samyra stopped through HG Friday night to show love to Joseph Sikora, star of the Starz Network hit “Power”

Television star Joseph Sikora proved he had the “Power” when he packed out HG for Niddy and the gang Friday night

Erika and Cassiday came to the club to check out ‘Love and Hip-Hop Atlanta’ star Mimi Faust Saturday @ HG

Erica and Alnita @ The 50 Shades of Shade Day Party Sunday @ Mike Shannon’s.

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN THE

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN

Career Center

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN

•

JUNE 25

THE

- JULY 1, 2015

D1

$29 $22.50/week $19.50/week

BUS DRIVERS

Kitebridge is hiring school bus drivers!

For more information, please visit: www.kitebridge.com/home/careers/

We are proud to be an equal opportunity affirmative action employer. Women and minorities are encouraged to apply.

“JANITORIAL”

Possible Full, Part-Time positions, background check.Steady work history for 3-5 years, forklift or equipment operating experience preferred. MUST apply in person at 314 N. Jefferson at Olive. Monday - Friday 9A to 5P. Two forms of I.D.

IMMEDIATE OPENINGS Earn EXTRA MONEY $$$ NOW HIRING PT evening positions M-F, call us today! Proud to offer a drug free Environment! Clean criminal background required. Call now 1-888-645-1505

BILLING SPECIALIST

Thompson Coburn LLP is seeking a full time Billing Specialist with two years of experience.

Preferred applicants will have an Associates degree and above proficiency in Microsoft Outlook, Word, and Excel. This position is responsible for ensuring that bills and the billing process adhere to Firm guidelines, quality standards, deadlines and procedures.

For more details and to complete our online application, visit

www.thompsoncoburncareers.com Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/D/V

SENIOR MANAGER OF PRACTICE SUPPORT SERVICES Thompson Coburn LLP has a position available in our St. Louis office for a full time Senior Manager of Practice Support Services to provide supervisory oversight and management.

Qualified candidate will possess a Bachelor degree and five years in a private law firm.

For more details and to complete our online application, visit

www.thompsoncoburncareers.com Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/D/V

METROPOLITAN ST. LOUIS SEWER DISTRICT

Notice is hereby given that the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District will receive sealed bids in the Purchasing Division, 2350 Market Street, St. Louis, Missouri 63103-2555 until 10:00am July 28, 2015 for Purchase of: Turbo Blower and Intake Filter

Specifications and bid forms may be obtained from www.stlmsd.com - click on “MSD At Work”, then “Bidding on Projects”. The bid document will be identified as 6005 RFQ. If you do not have access to the internet, call (314) 768-6314 to request a copy of this bid.

Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS

Sealed bids for Baxter Road Infrastructure, St. Louis County Project No. AR-1408, will be received at the Office of the Director of Procurement for the County of St. Louis, County Government Center Administration Building, 41 South Central Avenue, 8th Floor, Clayton, Missouri 63105, until 2:00 p.m. on July 15, 2015.

Plans and specifications will be available on June 22, 2015 from the St. Louis County Web Site (www.stlouisco.com), or by contacting County Blue Reprographics, Inc., 1449 Strassner Drive, St. Louis, Missouri 63144, (314) 961-3800.

DIRECTOR OF PROCUREMENT AND

ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES ST. LOUIS, COUNTY

Visit our website to find a career & an apartment. www.stlamerican.com Click classifieds

Eagle Bank and Trust is currently seeking candidates Teller and Customer Service Representatives throughout the St. Louis area.

Flexible hours, competitive benefits, and a great team environment welcome the perfect candidate. Call 635-461-3500 or visit www.EagleBankAndTrust.com to apply.

Assist Manager of Afterschool Programs with implementation and planning of daily afterschool activities, including design and execution of lesson plans, activities and events.

2:00pm – 6:30pm $10.50 per hour For full job description and to submit your cover letter and resume, contact Ms. Edmondson at

Equal Opportunity Employer. Member FDIC.

www.stlamerican.com

DOCKETING MANAGER

sedmondson@nsyssc.com.

SENIOR PROGRAMMER ANALYST

Thompson Coburn LLP has a position available in our St. Louis office for a full time Docketing Manager to provide oversight to the firm wide docket system and staff. Qualified applicants will possess a Bachelor degree and have experience in IP practice workflow, docketing procedures and software. Experience with Project Management is required.

For more details and to complete our online application, visit

Thompson Coburn LLP has a position available in our St. Louis office for a full time Senior Programmer Analyst with experience in C#.Net, T-SQL, SSRS, must possess strong knowledge of database and application development best practice methodologies.

For more details and to complete our online application, visit

Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/D/V

POLICE OFFICER:

UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL MISSOURI,

Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/D/V

This position is located in Warrensburg, MO. Protects students, faculty, staff, visitors and University of Central Missouri property.

Officers enforce state statutes, city ordinances, University rules and regulations, and policies of of Conservation and Community Service University of Central Missouri. Helps to ensure Posted: June 24, 2015 that University of Central Missouri maintains an Great Rivers Greenway, your regional parks atmosphere that is supportive of the educational and trails district, is seeking a full-time Director process. Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice of Conservation and Community Service. This or related field required. The starting pay for position serves as the public face of the this position is $15.29/hr. Applicants without organization and a major responsibility is to the Missouri Peace Officer Standards and establish and maintain critical partnerships and Training (POST) license will be required to be collaborations throughout the region to achieve commissioned as a University Police Officer and the mission of Great Rivers Greenway. The be sent to a (POST) certified academy. The Director of Conservation & Community Service UCM Department of Public Safety will pay to will be focused on efforts that help ensure the send the applicant to the Central Missouri Police long-term perpetuity of the greenway system.

Academy in Warrensburg, which must be sucA degree in parks and recreation administration, cessfully completed. While in the academy the urban planning, public administration, applicant will be paid a reduced rate of $13.12 landscape architecture, nonprofit management per hour. For further qualifications/application or a related field, plus 5 to 7 years of procedures visit our web site at jobs.ucmo.edu or progressively responsible experience is call 660-543-4255. Priority will be given to required. For the full position description, visit applications received by 07/05/2015. The our website, www.greatriversgreenway.org.

University of Central Missouri is an Equal Resumes with a cover letter must be submitted Opportunity Employer and specifically invites to Barbara Bernthal (bbernthal@grgstl.org) applications from women, minorities, veteran

by July 10th, 2015. status and people with disabilities.

www.stlamerican.com DIRECTOR

NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS

vmedina@stlamerican.com

Notice is hereby given that The Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District (District) will receive sealed bids for Whitehaven and Raleigh Storm Sewer under Letting No. 11350-015.1, at this office, 2350 Market Street, St. Louis, Missouri 63103, until 02:00 PM on Tuesday, July 28, 2015, at a place designated.

Bids will be received only from companies that are pre-qualified by the District’s Engineering Department for: SEWER CONSTRUCTION – St. Louis County drainlayer’s license required Plans and Specifications are available for free electronic download. Please go to MSD’s website and look for a link to “ELECTRONIC PLANROOM.” Plans and Specifications are also available for viewing or purchase at Cross Rhodes Reprographics located at 1710 Macklind Avenue, St. Louis MO 63110. All bidders must obtain a set of plans and specifications in order to submit a bid in the name of the entity submitting the bid.

NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS

NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS

Specifications and bid forms may be obtained from www.stlmsd.com - click on “MSD At Work”, then “Bidding on Projects”. The bid document will be identified as 6002 RFQ. If you do not have access to the internet, call (314) 768-6314 to request a copy of this bid.

Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Need a quote?

Send your ad text to

The Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Notice is hereby given that The Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District (District) will receive sealed bids for Lackland I/I Reduction under Letting No. 11712-015.1, at this office, 2350 Market Street, St. Louis, Missouri 63103, until 02:00 PM on Tuesday, July 21, 2015, at a place designated.

Bids will be received only from companies that are pre-qualified by the District’s Engineering Department for:

Notice is hereby given that The Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District (District) will receive sealed bids for Pickwick-Bernadine-Bimini Sanitary Relief under Letting No. 11698-015.1, at this office, 2350 Market Street, St. Louis, Missouri 63103, until 02:00 PM on Thursday, July 23, 2015, at a place designated.

Plans and Specifications are available for free electronic download. Please go to MSD’swebsite and look for a link to“ELECTRONIC PLANROOM.” Plans and Specifications are also available for viewing or purchase at Cross Rhodes Reprographics located at 1710 Macklind Avenue, St. Louis MO 63110. All bidders must obtain a set of plans and specifications in order to submit a bid in the name of the entity submitting the bid.

Plans and Specifications are available for free electronic download. Please go to MSD’s website and look for a link to “ELECTRONIC PLANROOM.” Plans and Specifications are also available for viewing or purchase at Cross Rhodes Reprographics located at 1710 Macklind Avenue, St. Louis MO 63110. All bidders must obtain a set of plans and specifications in order to submit a bid in the name of the entity submitting the bid.

The Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

www.stlamerican.com

HARRIS-STOWE STATE UNIVERSITY

POSITION VACANCY NOTICE CAMPUS PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICER-PART TIME

Harris-Stowe State University has immediate openings for experienced part-time Public Safety Officers. Duties: enforcing campus regulations, federal, state and city statutes; protecting the University’s property and persons; controlling campus traffic; providing security escort service; and conducting emergency evacuation of the campus, if necessary.

Qualifications: Excellent oral and written communications skills, experience with traffic control preferred; ability to work flexible hours; ability to follow detailed oral and written instructions; and excellent human relations skills. May be required to use protective devices such as pepper spray or baton. Must possess a high school degree or GED, be at least 21 years of age, possess a valid driver’s license and be licensed to/ be eligible to carry a firearm through the Watchman’s Division, St. Louis County Private Security Section. Applications will be accepted until July 15, 2015. Candidates should send a letter of application, a HSSU employment application, resume, high school transcripts and names of three professional references to: Harris-Stowe State University, Human Resources Dept.

3026 Laclede Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63103 Fax: 314 (340-3395)

Application for employment may be downloaded off our web site at: www.hssu.edu “Please No Phone Calls.”

An application for employment form may be downloaded off our web site www.hssu.edu Due to the large number of applications submitted and the high volume of applicant inquiries we receive regarding the status of applications, we are unable to accept phone calls or walk-in inquiries regarding applicant status.

AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY/AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPLOYER

BIDS & PUBLIC NOTICES

Notice is hereby given that the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District will receive sealed bids in the Purchasing Division, 2350 Market Street, St. Louis, Missouri 63103-2555 until 10:00am July 24, 2015 for Purchase of: 4-2016 Mini Vans and 10-2016 Cargo Vans

SEWER CONSTRUCTION – St. Louis County drainlayer’s license required

SLDC offers a full range of benefits including deferred comp, 401(a), and medical insurance. SLDC is an equal opportunity employer. Successful candidate must be a St. Louis city resident or establish residency within 180 days of completing a probationary period. Employees in this position are subject to drug testing.

Apply online at www.stlouis-mo.gov/sldc click on Careers or apply in person at 1520 Market Street, LRA Reception 2nd Floor, St. Louis.

Deadline for submission: June 26, 2015.

www.thompsoncoburncareers.com

www.thompsoncoburncareers.com

METROPOLITAN ST. LOUIS SEWER DISTRICT

PROPERTY MAINTENANCE WORKER

St. Louis Development Corporation has an opening for a Property Maintenance Worker. Qualified candidates must have a H.S. Diploma or G.E.D, two + years exp. in general grounds maintenance, and the ability to operate maintenance vehicles, equipment, and power tools. Must have or be able to obtain a Class E Drivers License and knowledge of City of St. Louis streets. Position requires the ability to lift 50 lbs frequently and 100 lbs occasionally throughout the day. Maintains LRA-owned property: by cutting grass, trimming trees, clearing trash, boarding up windows and changing locks, and other duties as necessary. Assists in the maintenance and protection of equipment/tools.

Bids will be received only from companies that are pre-qualified by the District’s Engineering Department for: SEWER CONSTRUCTION – St. Louis County drainlayer’s license required

The Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

www.stlamerican.com

DISPATCHER

Webster University has a position available for a Communications Dispatcher. Please visit our website at www.webster.edu for a complete job description. No phone calls please.

NOW HIRING:

STARS Afterschool Program

PROGRAM COORDINATOR

E-BID

for St. Louis Community College on Bid No. B0003356 for a contract for Turf Management Chemicals and Supplies will be received until 3:00 P.M. (local time) on July 10, 2015 at the Dept. of Purchasing, 300 So. Broadway, St. Louis, MO 63102, and immediately thereafter opened and read. Bid documents can be accessed on our website at www.stlcc.edu/purchasing or call (314) 539-5225. EOE/AA Employer.

METROPOLITAN ST. LOUIS SEWER DISTRICT

Notice is hereby given that the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District will receive sealed bids in the Purchasing Division, 2350 Market Street, St. Louis, Missouri 63103-2555 until 10:00am July 22, 2015 for Purchase of: Pump Skid for Ferrous System

Specifications and bid forms may be obtained from www.stlmsd.com - click on “MSD At Work”, then “Bidding on Projects”. The bid document will be identified as 6000 RFQ. If you do not have access to the internet, call (314) 768-6314 to request a copy of this bid.

Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Requests subcontractor bids for the following project:

Powers Insurance Tenant Improvements new construction, due July 15, 2015 3 PM including the following scopes of work: • Masonry • Asphalt and Concrete Paving • Flooring • Painting • Electrical • HVAC • Plumbing • Doors and Hardware • Carpentry • Foundations & Flatwork • Elevators • Drywall • Storefront & Curtainwall Glazing The pre-bid meeting for Powers has been scheduled for July 7, 2015 10AM at the project site located at 6828 Oakland Ave. Contact Jackie True, Project Manager 314-382-7717 Jackie@roanoke-construction.com Section 3, MBE and WBE firms are encouraged to bid.

NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS

Sealed bids for Sedan Park Court Retaining Wall, St. Louis County Project No. CR-1581, will be received at the Office of the Director of Procurement for the County of St. Louis, County Government Center Administration Building, 41 South Central Avenue, 8th Floor, Clayton, Missouri 63105, until 2:00 p.m. on July 8, 2015.

Plans and specifications will be available on June 22, 2015 from the St. Louis County Web Site (www.stlouisco.com), or by contacting County Blue Reprographics, Inc., 1449 Strassner Drive, St. Louis, Missouri 63144, (314) 961-3800.

DIRECTOR OF PROCUREMENT AND

ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES ST. LOUIS, COUNTY

Email your ads to vmedina@stlamerican.com

NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS

Notice is hereby given that The Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District (District) will receive sealed bids for Consul Ave 9036 Storm Replacement (IR) under Letting No. 12377-015.1, at this office, 2350 Market Street, St. Louis, Missouri 63103, until 02:00 PM on Wednesday, July 29, 2015, at a place designated.

Bids will be received only from companies that are pre-qualified by the District’s Engineering Department for: SEWER CONSTRUCTION – St. Louis County drainlayer’s license required Plans and Specifications are available for free electronic download. Please go to MSD’s website and look for a link to “ELECTRONIC PLANROOM.” Plans and Specifications are also available for viewing or purchase at Cross Rhodes Reprographics located at 1710 Macklind Avenue, St. Louis MO 63110. All bidders must obtain a set of plans and specifications in order to submit a bid in the name of the entity submitting the bid.

The Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN THE

D2

www.stlamerican.com CLICK CLASSIFIEDS INVITATION TO BID:

E.M. Harris Construction Company (EMH), 2600 Delmar Boulevard, St. Louis, MO 63103 is seeking subcontractor bids for construction of the East Fox Homes located in St. Louis, MO. Scopes of work include, but are not limited to gut rehab of 12 existing buildings into 47 dwelling units.

Section 3, Minority, Women and Disadvantaged Business Enterprises are strongly encouraged to bid.

Project plans & specifications are available for viewing online through an Invitation to Bid and at: MOKAN Planroom – 4666 Natural Bridge, 63115 – 314-565-9675 SLDC Planroom - 1712 Macklind Ave., 63110 – 314-678-0087 EMH Planroom – 2600 Delmar, 63103 – 314-436-4426 All bids are due to EMH office by Thursday, July 9th, 2015 at 5pm (314) 296-5237 or (314) 436 – 6691.

PREVAILING WAGES (as set by US Department of Labor and Missouri Housing Development Commission immediately prior to start of construction) MUST BE PAID TO ALL WORKERS; CERTIFIED PAYROLL REPORTS REQUIRED.

For questions or additional information, please contact Vic Hoffmeister at: vic@emharris.com.

Need a quote?

EMH is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Send your ad text to

vmedina@stlamerican.com

NOTICE OF REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR FIRMS SEEKING PROJECT FINANCING THROUGH THE NEW MARKETS TAX CREDIT PROGRAM ISSUED ON BEHALF OF THE ST. LOUIS DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

BILL SEDDON ST. LOUIS DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION 1520 MARKET STREET, SUITE 2000 ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI 63103 (314) 657-3705 (PHONE) (314) 613-7011 (FAX) seddonb@stlouis-mo.gov

Proposals are due no later than 4:00 P.M. Central Standard Time on Friday, July 24, 2015.

ATTENTION:

MBE/WBE Contractors and non-minority contractors

Insituform Technologies USA, LLC , 17988 Edison Ave. Chesterfield, MO 63005, is seeking subcontractor quotes for The Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District BCMM Public I/I Reduction (2016) Contract A, Letting No. 12060-015.1, Bidding July 17, 2015 at 2:00pm. Potential subcontracting opportunities available for consideration on these projects include: Lab testing services, Closed-circuit television inspection & cleaning of existing sewer lines, Interstate hauling with a reefer truck, Protection and site restoration, Concrete & asphalt restoration, Manhole location, Manhole cover remove & replacement, Cementitious manhole rehabilitation, CIPP lateral connection repair and/or Point repairs. All in accordance with project specifications.IMPORTANT: QUOTE LINE ITEMS ON A TURNKEY BASIS AND INCLUDE PERMITS, TRAFFIC CONTROL, SEWER BY-PASSING, ETC, IF REQUIRED.All MWBE and non- minority contractors should contact Greg Patton or Mark Reeves in writing (certified letter, return receipt requested) to discuss bid opportunities. In lieu of a certified letter, contact can be made by e-mail to gpatton@insituform.com and mwreeves@insituform.com. Acknowledge in your quote your company will meet the workforce per trade minority requirements per the project specifications. A pre-bid conference for the bid will be held at Insituform Technologies USA, LLC’s Training Center, 580 Goddard Avenue, Chesterfield, MO 63005 on Tuesday, July 7, 2015 at 9:00 AM. Quotes must be completed and submitted to Kenny Pipitone at kpipitone@insituform.com by 11:00 AM, Tuesday, July 14, 2015, along with a copy of your current MWBE Certification.

Please complete EPA form attached with your quote. All quotations will be evaluated for overall compliance with the project specifications, scheduling availability and pricing. Subcontractors should review and meet the Work Force Utilization requirements of the project.

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN

•

JUNE 25

INVITATION FOR BID

- JULY 1, 2015

Sealed bids for Basement Waterproofing at three (3) homes, located in St. Louis County will be received at the Purchasing Office, Housing Authority of St. Louis County, 8865 Natural Bridge, St. Louis, Mo. 63121, until 10:00 A.M., local time, July 21, 2015 and then publicly opened and read aloud. A certified or cashier’s check, or bid bond executed by the bidder and an approved Surety Company, in the amount of 5% of the total bid (refundable) shall be submitted with each bid. Specifications can be secured from address above, starting June 29, 2015 from 8:30 A.M. until 4:30 P.M. (Closed Noon – 1:00 P.M.) A representative of the Authority will be at 1325 Milford, St. Louis, MO 63133 on July 07, 2015 at 10:00 A.M. for a walk through. Bidders shall agree to comply with Prevailing Wage Rate Provisions and other statutory regulations referred to in the specification. Section 3, MBE and WBE contractors are encouraged to participate. The Housing Authority of St. Louis County reserves the right to reject any and all bids, waive any informality, and to choose the bid most advantageous to the Authority.

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN

Lillian Avenue Improvement Project Pine Ridge Drive to Edgewood Boulevard Northwoods, Missouri

NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS

Sealed bids for the Lillian Avenue Improvement Project, STP-5503(605) and SRTS-INF-H31F (101) will be received at: The City Of Northwoods City Hall, 4600 Oakridge Boulevard, Northwoods, Missouri 63121, until 2:00 o'clock P.M. (Prevailing Local Time) on the 2nd day of July, 2015, in the Board of Aldermen Chambers of City Hall, and at that time will be publicly opened and read. All bids shall be submitted sealed and clearly marked: Lillian Avenue Improvement Project - STP-5503 (605) and SRTS-INF-H3.

The proposed project consists of installing new concrete curb and gutter system for proper stormwater drainage will be constructed on both sides of Lillian Avenue from the east side of Nelson Drive to approximately 150 feet east of Melwood Drive, approximately 0.48 miles with a new asphalt overlay in between the new concrete curb and gutter system. The limits of the STP roadway improvements are between Nelson Drive and Melwood Avenue (approximately 2422 linear feet). The limits of the STP sidewalk improvements are between east of Seattle Street and Edgewood Boulevard Sealed requests for qualifications will be received by Forest Park Forever, (approximately 1375 linear feet) and between Nelson Drive and Pine Ridge Inc., David Lenczycki, P.E. Project Engineer, located at 5595 Grand Drive in Drive (approximately 795 linear feet). Other improvements consist of Forest Park, St. Louis, MO 63112 until July 10, 2015, at 4 PM for the decorative street lighting, landscaping and street furniture. SRTS Lillian Forest Park Connectivity Study located within the City of St. Louis, MO as Avenue Sidewalk Project: The limits of the SRTS sidewalk improvements described in Request for Qualifications (RFQ) including other related RFQ are between Nelson Drive and east of Seattle Street (approximately 1615 requirements. Requests for Qualifications are available by “pdf” format at no linear feet). Additionally, all amenities listed within the SRTS application cost at www.forestparkforever.org/bids or made available for paper copies such as concrete bus stop pads and new ADA compliant curb ramps and at Forest Park Forever during office hours. crosswalks along Lillian Avenue within the combined projects limits and any incidental work as deemed by the City. The duration of the project shall This project is funded by Forest Park Forever in partnership with the City of be limited to 150 calendar days.

St. Louis and administered under each agencies oversight which requires Plans and specifications are available through Drexel Technologies each consultant to comply with the City of St. Louis rules and regulations to eDistribution Plan Room web site (http://planroom.drexeltech.com). Log participate in this scope of professional services. on using your email address as your Username, and first initial followed by your last name as your password. If you do not already have an account, This is an equal opportunity event. Women and Minority in Business are setting one up is free of charge. Once you are logged in, click on Public encouraged to participate.

Jobs and then scroll down to the St. Louis Plan Room for this particular City of Northwoods project. Any addendum to the plan set will be forwarded to all plan holders.

CITY OF ST. LOUIS labor used in the construction of this public improvement shall be REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP) NOTICE paidAlla wage no less than the prevailing hourly rate of wages of work of a 2016 Community Development Block Grant Funding similar character in this locality as established by the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations (Federal Wage Rate), or state wage rate, whichever is higher.

The City of St. Louis will be accepting proposals for 2016 CDBG funding The City of Northwoods hereby notifies all bidders that it will beginning July 6, 2015 and ending at 4:00 p.m. CST on August 7, 2015. affirmatively ensure that in any contract entered into pursuant to this Beginning July 6, 2015, the RFP and related documents can be found on the advertisement, businesses owned and controlled by socially and Community Development Administration (CDA) website at economically disadvantaged individuals will be afforded full opportunity to www.stlouis-mo.gov/cda. submit bids in response to this invitation and will not be discriminated against on the grounds of race, color, religion, creed, sex, age, ancestry, or CDA will host a workshop to answer questions on the RFP on Monday, national origin in consideration for an award.”

July 13, 2015 at 9:00 a.m. The workshop will be held at the CDA office, All bidders must be on the Missouri Department of Transportation’s 1520 Market Street, Suite 2000, St. Louis, MO 63103. Other questions (MoDOT’s) Qualified Contractor List per Section 102.2 of the Missouri concerning the proposal process may be directed to Alana Green at Standard Specifications for Highway Construction, 2011 Edition including CDBG@stlouis-mo.gov . all revisions. The contractor questionnaire must be on file 7 days prior to bid opening.

Grants Management System Training Contractors and sub-contractors who sign a contract to work on public works project provide a 10-Hour OSHA construction safety program, or In order to streamline grants processes, CDA is pleased to announce the similar program approved by the Department of Labor and Industrial implementation of the first phase of EGrAMS, our new grants management Relations, to be completed by their on-site employees within sixty (60) days system. Starting in July 2015, organizations will be able to (1) search for of beginning work on the construction project. existing CDA grant opportunities; (2) apply for CDA funding online; and A certified or cashier’s check or a bid bond in the amount of 5% shall be (3) review funding status online. submitted with each proposal. The City of Northwoods, Missouri reserves To assist in navigating the new system, CDA will offer a 2-hour online the right to reject any or all bids. training for organizations preparing to apply for 2016 CDBG funding.

The DBE Goal for this project is 14%. No 2nd tier The training will be offered at three times: subcontracting will be allowed on this project.

• July 6, 2015 (9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.)

July 7, 2015 (12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.)

• July 7, 2015 (3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.)

• Space is limited. Please visit www.stlouis-mo.gov/cda/egrams for Sealed bids will be received by the Construction Manager, S. M. Wilson & additional information.

Co. & the City of Brentwood at The Office of the Deputy City Clerk, (2348 South Brentwood Blvd. Brentwood, MO 63144), at 9:00 AM on CDA is an equal opportunity agency (employer). Minority participation is Thursday July 7, 2015 for the Bid Package(s) described herein. Bids will encouraged. be opened publicly and read aloud at 9:15 AM at Brentwood City Hall. The date and time of receipt of bids as noted by the City of Brentwood shall be Visit us on the web @ www.stlamerican.com final, conclusive and binding on bidders for all purposes.

Bids MUST be delivered to the above address by 9:00 AM on July 7, 2015. All copies of the bid, and any other documents required to be submitted with the bid shall be enclosed in a sealed envelope. The envelope shall be addressed to Office of the Deputy City Clerk, 2348 South Brentwood Blvd., Brentwood, MO 63144 and shall be identified with the E.M. Harris Construction Company (EMH), 2600 Delmar Boulevard, Project name, the Bidder's name and address and the designated Work St. Louis, MO 63103 is seeking subcontractor bids for construction of the Package # for which the bid is submitted. If the bid is sent by mail, the Bear Creek Apartments located in Columbia, MO. sealed envelope shall be enclosed in a separate mailing envelope with the Scopes of work include, but are not limited to: moderate rehab of 76 units in notation "SEALED BID ENCLOSED" on the face thereof.

39 existing buildings including selective demolition, carpentry, finishes & Brentwood Recreation Complex – Building Renovation furnishings, MEP and site work.

Bid Package #5 A pre-bid meeting with be held on Tuesday, June 30th at 10AM at Work Package #26 – Signage 1105 Elleta Blvd. (laundry area behind 1109 Elleta Blvd.), Columbia, MO 65202 There will NOT be a Pre-bid Meeting held for this Bid Package Section 3, Minority, Women and Disadvantaged Business Enterprises Bidding documents will be available as of June 24, 2015 and can viewed are strongly encouraged to bid. and/or downloaded from the following link.

Project plans & specifications are available for viewing online through an https://secure.smartbidnet.com/External/PublicPlanRoom.aspx?Id=182494&i=1 Invitation to Bid and at: MOKAN Planroom – 4666 Natural Bridge, 63115 – 314-565-9675 Bidding documents may also be viewed and/or purchased at the following SLDC Planroom - 1712 Macklind Ave., 63110 – 314-678-0087 locations.

EMH Planroom – 2600 Delmar, 63103 – 314-436-4426 AGC Plan Room – 3806 Buttonwood Dr., Suite 106 – Columbia, MO 65201 Builders Association – 1907 Pennsylvania – Columbia, MO 65202 County Blue Reprographics Smartbidnet Missouri ISQ Plan Room – 78 Weldon Parkway – Maryland Heights, MO For access to SmartBid.net contact 1449 Strassner Drive Debra Sheahan at S. M. Wilson.

63043 Brentwood, MO debra.sheahan@smwilson.com 314-961-3800 McGraw Hill Construction – 4300 Beltway Place #180 – Arlington, TX 76018 REED Construction Plan Room – 30 Technology Pkwy, Suite100 – Norcross, City of Brentwood, MO website GA 30092 www.brentwoodmo.org/bids.aspx

NOTICE OF REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS

SEALED BIDS

for HVAC, PLUMBING & ROOF, REPLACEMENTS, VARIOUS, TROOP GHQ & CRIME LAB, WILLOW SPRINGS, MO, TROOP E HQ, POPLAR BLUFF, MO, Project No. R1403-01 will be received by FMDC, State of MO, UNTIL 1:30PM, 7/23/2015.

For specific project information and ord e ri n g plans, go to

http:// www.oa.mo.gov/ fmdc/dc/list.htm.

SEALED BIDS

for State School for the Severely Handicapped, Replace HVAC Systems, Mapaville, Missouri,Pr o j e c t No. E1404-01 will be received by FMDC, State of MO, UNTIL 1:30 PM, 7/23/2015.

For specific project information and ordering plans, go to

http:// www.o a.mo. gov/fmdc/dc/ list.htm.

INVITATION FOR BIDS

INVITATION TO BID:

All bids are due to EMH office by Thursday, July 9th, 2015 at 5pm; (314) 296-5237 or (314) 436 – 6691.

PREVAILING WAGES (as set by US Department of Labor and Missouri Housing Development Commission immediately prior to start of construction) MUST BE PAID TO ALL WORKERS; CERTIFIED PAYROLL REPORTS REQUIRED.

For questions or additional information, please contact Vic Hoffmeister at: vic@emharris.com.

EMH is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Visit our website www.stlamerican.com Click Classifieds to find a great career & the perfect living space!

Construction Managers Office S.M. Wilson & Co. 2185 Hampton Ave. St. Louis MO 63139 314-645-9595

Hampton Printing Services 2185 Hampton Avenue P.O. Box 5210 St. Louis, MO 63139 314-633-9623

The City of Brentwood is a TAX EXEMPT entity. All bids are to be submitted without tax.

The City of Brentwood reserves the right to reject any and all Bids, to waive informalities therein to determine the lowest and best bid, and to approve the Bond (if applicable). The prevailing wage law is in effect on this project. No Bid may be withdrawn for a period of sixty (60) days subsequent to the specified time for receipt of Bids.

The Statutes of the State of Missouri require that not less than the prevailing rate per diem, legal holiday and overtime wages in the locality where the work is to be performed, be paid to all laborers, workmen and mechanics employed in the execution of the Contract. All other Statutes of the State of Missouri covering employment shall apply to any Contract awarded.

Bidders must be in compliance with the rules and regulations of the Fair Employment Practices Commission.

The Construction Management Agency for this project is S. M. Wilson & Co. The Senior Estimator is Mrs. Debra Sheahan, email debra.sheahan@smwilson.com, phone 314-645-9595, or fax 314-645-1700, Pre-Construction Director is Mr. Brian Nuehring, e-mail brian.nuehring@smwilson.com, phone 314-645-9595, or fax 314-645-1700, and the Project Manager is Mr. Bret Zlatnik, email bret.zlatnik@smwilson.com 314-645-9595, or fax 314-645-1700.

S. M. Wilson & Co. is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

www.stlamerican.com

The St. Louis Development Corporation (“SLDC”), a Round 12 New Markets Tax Credit allocatee, hereby requests proposals from firms wishing to receive project financing from SLDC’s New Markets Tax Credit allocation. For a copy of the RFP please visit our website at http://stlouis-mo.gov/sldc by selecting the RFP/RFQ link for a complete copy of the RFP, or contact:

Bids & Notices

THE

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN THE

Section 8!

LARGE ROOMS FOR RENT

Centrally located newly remodeled shared house $135/wk + Dep, w/d, cable, internet, all utils. included.

314-741-1951 leave a message.

City Sec 8 Welcome

3313 Salena 4 bedroom house $950.00, appliances, large fenced yard, newly remodeled, large rooms, C.A. 7 no application fee.

Sect. 8 accepted

FOR SALE

St Louis City!

FOR RENT

314-532-9891

Large 5 bed, 3 bath house, frosty a/c, Spacious 4 bdrm, 2.5 bth hardwoodfloors,fenced North City 2 car gar. tuckedaway in yard, appliances, main floor laundry! $900 1-2-3-4 bdrm houses "The Knolls"; call Karel Woods Realty

314-374-4388

314-772-4563

50 GRAND APTS NORTH CITY

620 Chain of Rocks Dr. 63137

Lg 1 & 2 BR $495-$595 + Dep,C/A, C/H, Wall to wall Carpet, Blinds, Stove, Refrigerator, Off Street Parking & Cable included

314-868-1811 or 314-369-8467 FOR RENT Roomy2U-City! bedroom, hard-

2 BR hardwood fls, 1 full ba, living rm, dining rm w/d hk-up in basement. $550 a month 44xx Floriss pl

woods, cold a/c, basement storage, all appliances, w/d hookups, off street parking! $625

MARK TWAIN HOTEL

Winter Garden Apts.

rs-stl.com AGPBM 314-309-2043

314-780-9263

North City... Clean

2BR Available TODAY for qualified applicant 62+ and/or disabled Sec. 8 housing avail, income restrictions apply. ADA. Pet friendly, gated, near Metro Link 5708 Kingsbury Place St. Louis, MO 63112

Winter discounts avail.

314-421-2980 (Downtown)

314-925-9406

TTY 800-735-2966 Equal Housing Opportunity

Professionally Managed by NHPMN Management, LLC

w w w. s t l a m e r i c a n . c o m

Centrally Located & Connected to Metro and Buses, Short Term Weekly RentalsNo credit check $110.50 and up per week (utilities and Housekeeping svcs included) Other terms and conditions may apply.

**SPECIAL**

1 BR Apt Fully furnished electric provided Nice Neighborhood Delmar & Union Area $600/mo

1510 Knollway Dr., $116,900

2 - 3 bdrm apts

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN

All-electric 6 bed, 2 bath house, walk-out basement, central air, all appliances, thermal windows, pets! call

rs-stl.com AGPAH 314-309-2043

FEMALE ENVIRONMENT

FOR RENT

Real Estate & Rentals

PAGE PROPERTIES 4 BR in nice neighborhood, Large Yard $550/mo + Dep.

618-781-7968

rs-stl.com AGPAG 314-309-2043

FOR RENT

5255 ST. LOUIS AVE APT. 1st fl,1 br, hw fls., stove, fridge, w/d, c/a, $450/mo Ask Fred Fletcher

314-460-0626

Lindbergh Schools!

2 bedrooms, full basement, garage, central air, appliances, w/d hookups, off street parking! only $575

rs-stl.com AGPBQ 314-309-2043

314-681-3008

Fully Furnished Free Cable, Quiet, $115/wk City & County

314-532-0928

Sec 8 Welcome North City

1 BR apt 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 + BR single family homes

314-518-5898

APARTMENTS & FURNISHED ROOMS FOR RENT North City 1 BR apts. $425/mo CLEAN FURNISHED ROOMS a/c & Cable $100 weekly

314-863-2399

FOR RENT Total Rehab 1-3 bedroom homes & apts. C/A, w/d hookups & private yards.

APTS. & HOUSES FOR RENT

APT. FOR RENT

Park Place Apts

Section 8 Welcomed

314-534-3863

Recently Renovated 3.5 BR 2 BA Full kitchen,Good public transportation Delmar & Union Area $800/mo

314-532-9891 ROOMS FOR RENT

All utils. included, Fully Furnished, major bus lines Men/Women All Ages Starting at $100/wk

314-629-1220

Looking for a few great tenants to live in a God fearing environment.

Sec. 8 welcome with open arms.

314-629-5051

South City!

All-electric 1 bedroom, all kitchen appliances, cold a/c, off street parking, ready to rent! only $375

rs-stl.com AGPAF 314-309-2043

HOUSE FOR RENT 4 BR stove fridge, microwave, basement, covered porches & fenced yd, no pets (service animals OK) Non-smoking Environment Sec 8 OK

314-540-3092 Florissant!

4 bed, 2 bath house, full basement, fenced yard with deck, appliances, no app fee, flexible deposit! $700

rs-stl.com AGPAI 314-309-2043

APT. FOR RENT 29XX HARPER 2 BR 1st fl, stove, fridge, tile, hwd fl $500/mo + 1st & Last Month's rent

314-258-4859 South City!

2 bedrooms, hardwoods floors, cold a/c, basement storage, all appliances, ceiling fans, w/d hookups! $450

A Senior Community www.stlamerican.com Now Accepting Apps!

62+ Sec 8 housing FOR SALE avail, income restr.

St. Eugene Lane, apply 1-bdrm apts, A/C, $112,900 on-site laundry Cute cottage ranch Free gas/water/trash 3 bdrm, 2 bth, in Old Town Florissant 4399 Forest Park Blvd serenity at its best with St. Louis, MO 63108 fenced backyard!

314-925-9405 large This one is yours!

TTY 800-735-2966 Karel Woods Realty Equal Housing Opportunity

1Br @ $405/mo 2Br @ $505/mo Extensive Renovations, Stove, Refrigerator, AC, gas & elec., App Fee $25; 1sm pet allowed, nearby schools, shops, businesses & parks; laundry facility, park-like setting; credit friendly, rent credit special Call

(314) 869-5033

for further details.

8869 Maya Lane, St. Louis MO 63136

JUNE 25

- JULY 1, 2015

FURNISHED ROOMS FOR RENT

South City, nice & clean, c/a, utilities included, near bus line

314-921-3708 South City!

Spacious 3 bed, 2 bath house, finished basement, all kitchen appliances, pets allowed, ceiling fans! only $750

rs-stl.com AGPBP 314-309-2043

University City!

APT FOR RENT

rs-stl.com AGPBN 314-309-2043

$600/mo+Dep. Negotiable Sec 8 welcome

Newly remodeled Updated 4 bed house, 5231 Lotus 2nd fl full basement, 2BR apt, new Spacious hardwoods, central air, fenced yard, appliances, hardwood fls through out, some utils incl. covered porch $850

CWE Near Loop, bus, and L-Rail SUPER NICE 1br, 3rd fl $500 1br, 1st fl $625

314-805-1406

www.stlamerican.com

ROOMS FOR RENT

Good heating and cooling. Fully furnished & Cable

314-484-3147 314-717-9966

APARTMENTS FOR RENT 5203 Northland Ave 2 BR & 3 BR Stove & Fridge

Section 8 ONLY

314-283-3839

314-724-2054 South City!

4 bed, 2 bath house, central air, full basement, fenced yard, appliances, pets, recent updates! only $775

rs-stl.com AGPAJ 314-309-2043

ROOMS FOR RENT

314-687-0111

FOR RENT

Freshly remodeled 2 BR Apt. $650/mo + Dep. All appliances incl.

Near downtown

FOR RENT

D3

4249 MARTIN LUTHER KING DR 1,2, & 3 BR apartments

314-570-2959

Appls available, Section 8 Welcome Call Leroy Hayden

314-323-3429

GORGEOUS ROOMS

for rent in the U-City Area Central Air & Cable $125/wk & up *Shared Bathroom & Kitchen*

314-575-2665 (Nothing Like Your Own)

Summer is Fun with us!!

Move-In Special

McCormack House Sr. Living Apartments

Heat included - 24 Hour Desk Attendant Fully Equipped Kitchens - Walk-in Showers

Beautiful! A must see for those 62 yrs or older!!

www.mccormackhouseatwestminsterapts.com

ATTENTION!

866-347-8650

PRIVATE BATH & KITCHEN

FURNISHED KITCHENETTES FOR RENT

$149/wk & up!

314-575-2665

(Nothing Like Your Own)

rs-stl.com AGPBO 314-309-2043

314-374-4388

Professionally Managed by NHPMN Management, LLC PLEASE NO RENTAL CALLS!

www.stlamerican.com

Rolling Hills Apts.

•

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN THE

SAN REMO APARTMENTS Move-In Special!

1BR $475 2BR $575

848 N. Kingshighway St. Louis, MO 63108

314-454-9305

Mon-Fri 8:30am-5:00pm Saturdays 10:00am -2:00pm

Need a Job? Check out page D1.

OWN YOUR HOME In North County FOR ONLY $499 PER MONTH

Houses are MOVE-IN READY

636-532-5487

Brick House, 2 & 3 Bedrooms With Finished Basements CALL FOR DETAILS With Credit Score Of 620 & $3000 Down

PUBLISHER’S NOTICE:

Advertised herein is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Act, which makes it illegal to advertise any preference, imitation, or discrimination because of race,color, religion, sex, handicap, familial\status, or national origin, or intention to make any such preference, limitation, or discrimination “We will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law.

All persons are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised are available on an equal opportunity basis.”

Call Vida at 314-289-5406

SERVICE DIRECTORY 314-289-5406

to place your rental/real estate ad today!

MEDICARE & MEDICAID ACCEPTED Dental

$1000/year

Dentures, Partials, Crowns, Root Canals & Other Dental Services

Hearing Aids

As low as $150/Pair Co-pay

Glasses

As low as $15/Pair Co-pay

Call 1-800-733-1912 to see if you qualify.

Summer Clean-up Man & His Truck

Light Hauling & Yard Work, Moving & Gutter Cleaning REASONABLE

314-583-6971

Do you have medicare and medicaid?

If so, then you can qualify for $1,000 of preventiative and comprehensive dental benefits every year at no cost to you. Including oral examinations, cleanings, x-rays, fillings, root canals, and full or partial dentures. Must have both medicare and medicaid aslo known as Mo. Healthnet.

Also offering Life Insurance Plans.

For more info call Mike:

314-285-2198

Religion

ST. LOUIS AMERICAN • JUNE 25 - JULY 1, 2015

D4

‘Mother Emanuel is more than a church’ Stop teaching hate

President Obama speaks about massacre in Charleston, South Carolina

By Pres. Barack Obama

Washington, D.C. – Michelle and I know several members of Emanuel AME Church.

We knew their pastor, Rev. Clementa Pinckney, who, along with eight others, gathered in prayer and fellowship and was murdered last night. And to say our thoughts and prayers are with them and their families, and their community doesn’t say enough to convey the heartache and the sadness and the anger that we feel.

Any death of this sort is a tragedy. Any shooting involving multiple victims is a tragedy.

There is something particularly heartbreaking about the death happening in a place in which we seek solace and we seek peace, in a place of worship.

Mother Emanuel is, in fact, more than a church. This is a place of worship that was founded by African Americans seeking liberty. This is a church that was burned to the ground because its worshipers worked to end slavery. When there were laws banning all-black church gatherings, they conducted services in secret.

When there was a nonviolent movement to bring our country closer in line with our highest ideals, some of our brightest leaders spoke and led marches from this church’s steps. This is a sacred place in the history of Charleston and in the history of America.

Until the investigation is complete, I’m necessarily

Rev. Clementa Pinckney, pastor of Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina, was one of nine people killed in the church during a prayer meeting on Wednesday, June 10. constrained in terms of talking about the details of the case. But I don’t need to be constrained about the emotions that tragedies like this raise. I’ve had to make statements like this too many times. Communities like this have had to endure tragedies like this too many times.

We don’t have all the facts, but we do know that, once again, innocent people were killed in part because someone who wanted to inflict harm had no trouble getting their hands on a gun.

Now is the time for mourning and for healing. But let’s be clear: At some point, we as a country will have to reckon with the fact that this type of mass violence does not happen in other advanced countries. It doesn’t happen in other places with this kind of frequency.

And it is in our power to do something about it. I say that recognizing the politics in this town foreclose a lot of those avenues right now. But it would be wrong for us not to acknowledge it. And at some point it’s going to be important for the American people to come to grips with it, and for us to be able to shift how we think about the issue of gun violence collectively.

The fact that this took place in a black church obviously also raises questions about a dark part of our history. This is not the first time that black churches have been attacked. And we know that hatred across races and faiths pose a particular threat to our democracy and our ideals.

The good news is I am confident that the outpouring of unity and strength and

fellowship and love across Charleston today, from all races, from all faiths, from all places of worship indicates the degree to which those old vestiges of hatred can be overcome. That, certainly, was Dr. King’s hope just over 50 years ago, after four little girls were killed in a bombing in a black church in Birmingham, Alabama.

“They say to each of us, black and white alike, that we must substitute courage for caution. They say to us that we must be concerned not merely with [about] who murdered them, but about the system, the way of life, the philosophy which produced the murderers.

Their death says to us that we must work passionately and unrelentingly for the realization of the American Dream,” Dr. King said.

“And if one will hold on, he will discover that God walks with him, and that God is able to lift you from the fatigue of despair to the buoyancy of hope, and transform dark and desolate valleys into sunlit paths of inner peace.”

Reverend Pinckney and his congregation understood that spirit. Their Christian faith compelled them to reach out not just to members of their congregation, or to members of their own communities, but to all in need. They opened their doors to strangers who might enter a church in search of healing or redemption.

Mother Emanuel church and its congregation have risen before – from flames, from an earthquake, from other dark times – to give hope to generations of Charlestonians.

And with our prayers and our love, and the buoyancy of hope, it will rise again now as a place of peace.

Edited from remarks made at the White House on June 18.

Like most Americans, I woke up June 18 to the news of another attack on a black church. Nine people were shot to death during Bible study in Charleston, South Carolina. The alleged shooter is a 21-year-old white male, and early reports indicate that this was another hate crime.

FBI statistics from 2013 show, of 3,407 single biased hate crime incidents, 66 percent were motivated by anti-black bias.

Black churches have been under attack for hundreds of years, dating back to slavery. Be it bombings during the Civil Rights Movement or black churches being set on fire, the Black Church has been under perpetual attack since its inception. Why is a place that is supposed to be a sanctuary constantly under attack by people who want to exercise their racial hatred? How can people be that evil to go to a house of worship to murder and vandalize?

Do those who attack and vandalize churches do it because they feel churchgoers are peaceful, non-violent and weak, or do they do it because of the symbolism and to break their victim’s spirit? Since as early as 1758, the Black Church has played a major role in the black community, at times being the only place where black people could get a break from oppression and express themselves.

What would make a 21-year-old shoot and kill nine people in a black church in 2015? Trained hatred is likely the cause of this attack. A person born in 1994 Guest Columnist cannot possibly hate persons of another Matthew R. race enough to murder them in cold blood, Drayton unless they were taught that hatred from the time they were a child.

It’s clear the Black Church is still viewed as the foundation of the black community. It’s also still a prime target for those who want to hurt the black community and make a strong statement while doing so. The difference now is black churches can do more to prevent these attacks than they could during slavery and the Civil Rights Movement.

The time has come for black churches to implement security measures to protect themselves. I realize locked doors, metal detectors and armed security don’t look good at a house of worship, but black churches have been victimized too long. Churchgoers should be allowed to worship without fear.

If the alleged shooter in the Charleston murders is found guilty, his life and his family’s lives will change forever. The people who are responsible for his views and behavior will have to live with that. The nine victims of this tragedy have already paid the ultimate price, and their families’ lives will never be the same.

Retired Army Sergeant Major Matthew R. Drayton is a corporate speaker, life coach, consultant, leadership expert and author of “Succeeding While Black.” He is executive director of Great Oak Youth Development Center, a North Carolina -based non-profit organization that mentors at-risk youth.