Final weekend of prep regular season football
@stlouisamerican
@stlouisamerican
St. Louis American See page B3
The
Serving, empowering and advocating for equity in St. Louis since 1928
CAC Audited OCTOBER 24 – 30, 2024
stlamerican.com
A challenge to some misguided Black men
See BLACK MEN, A6
COMPLIMENTARY
Second that emotion
By Keith Boykin
The firestorm that former President Barack Obama ignited concerning Black men and manhood while speaking in Pittsburgh on Oct. 17, 2024 is still raging. Obama warned about the attitude of “sitting out” of the election “or supporting somebody who has a history of denigrating you because you think that’s a sign of strength.” “Putting women down” is “not acceptable,” he said. His comment sparked criticism from those who felt Obama was scolding Black men again. I have a more nuanced take with two key points. First, Black men are a success story for Kamala Harris and the Democratic Party. After all the gaslighting from Republicans about Black men leaving the Democratic Party four years ago, Joe Biden won 87% of the vote from Black men in 2020. That makes us the second most loyal constituency of the Democratic Party. Only Black women, who voted 95% for Biden, are more supportive. A Washington Post-Ipsos poll last month found Black men overwhelmingly support
Vol. 96 No. 29
Robbie Montgomery invests in St. Louis again
By Sylvester Brown, Jr.
Photo courtesy of the AP
Attendee hold signs as former President Barack Obama speaks during a campaign rally supporting Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris, Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024 at the University of Pittsburgh’s Fitzgerald Field House in Pittsburgh.
Former entertainer and restaurateur, Robbie Montgomery, plans to invest millions in North St. Louis … again. More than 30 years ago, Montgomery opened Sweetie Pie’s soul food restaurant in Dellwood followed by a location in the Grove area (now closed) and another, Sweetie Pie’s Upper Crust, on Delmar in the Grand Arts District, which closed in 2022. Her estimated $7 million vision will be in north St. Louis on Dr. Martin Luther King Drive near Kingshighway. The venture will include “Sweetie Pie’s 2nd Act,” an event space next door and other commercial and residential projects. A part of Montgomery’s comeRobbie back is based on a Montgomery $1.5 million grant she was awarded from the city of St. Louis’ $37 million in federal pandemic money dedicated to North Side businesses and nonprofits. Unfortunately, she said, because the program is currently under scrutiny, she hasn’t received a check yet. The holdup, Montgomery asserts, is all about politics and race. “It’s a shame,” Montgomery said. “When the ‘other’ people ran this city, nobody opened their mouths when they put no money over on the north side. Now that there’s money available, everybody’s jumping up and acting all crazy over it.”
See MONTGOMERY, A7
McDonnell Foundation funds stalled GBI program
Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American
Both back home
Texas congresswoman and St. Louis native Jasmine Crockett along and Mo. State Sen. Brian Williams meet with students at Jefferson Elementary School in the Normandy Schools Collaborative District Wednesday morning. It is the same school they attended together as children.
Amendment 3 supporters battle ‘misinformation’
By Sylvester Brown, Jr. St. Louis American
Billboards, a Catholic Diocese and right-wing politicians have resorted to desperate, last-minute campaigning to undermine support for Amendment 3, say supporters of the Missouri abortion rights initiative on the November 5
ballot. Missouri has one of the strictest bans of any state, outlawing abortions throughout pregnancy with no exceptions for rape or incest. Passage of Amendment 3 would legalize abortion up to fetal viability, which is usually around 24 weeks. This month, ProPublica featured
BUSINESS
Realtor Keaira Anderson shares STL love on TV show
Born and raised in St. Louis, Keaira Anderson decries the negative narratives about her hometown. On “American Dream TV,” she highlighted the lifestyle, culture, and real estate of St. Louis.
Page B1
an article noting billboards that have “popped up” in Columbia, St. Charles, Cape Girardeau and other areas in the state, that spread “claims designed to undermine support” for the amendment. Some of the billboards warn voters
See AMENDMENT, A6
By Alvin A. Reid St. Louis American Basically, an area non-profit is being healed as the savior of a city income distribution plan that was challenged in court and stalled by a judge. The James S. McDonnell Foundation (JSMF), in collaboration with other local private funders, is providing $1 million to extend the St. Louis Guaranteed Basic Income (GBI) program through December 2024. The program offers $500 per month to 540 households and data is being gathered to determine the effects on the lives of the recipients and the St. Louis economy. In July after a judge’s ruling, Mayor Tishaura O. Jones said, “The City of
See GBI, A7
HEALTH
New blood test approved for colorectal cancer
The FDA recently approved Guardant Health’s “Shield” blood test for colorectal cancer screening in adults aged 45 and older who are at average risk for the disease.
Page A8