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St. Louis American The
CAC Audited FEBRUARY 17 – 23, 2022
Serving, empowering and advocating for equity in St. Louis since 1928
stlamerican.com
North County native sets sights on Congress More than 650 miles separate St. Louis’ North County from southern Dallas County, Texas. But in the heavily African American neighborhoods of the 30th Congressional District, which encompasses Dallas-Fort Worth neighborhoods south and west of downtown, North County native Jasmine Crockett hears echoes of her homeland. “I see the parallels,” said Crockett, 40, referencing successive dilemmas of crime and gentrification. “One goes from inner-city north, and one goes from inner-city south.”
This month, Crockett, who graduated from Mary Institute, St. Louis Country Day School and also attended Rosati-Kain, faces the toughest challenge of her still fairly young political career. Early voting began on Valentine’s Day in what could turn into a slugfest – a crowded Democratic primary to replace the only representative the 30th has ever known, retiring Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson. Crockett and at least eight other Democratic candidates – all African American – are vying to garner at least 51% of the vote by March 2, to avoid a potentially costly runoff. In the reliably
See CROCKETT, A6
COMPLIMENTARY
North County native Jasmine Crockett and at least eight other Democratic candidates – all African American – are vying to win a crowded 30th Congressional District Democratic primary in DallasFort Worth, Texas.
Long-time incumbent handpicks Texas transplant Jasmine Crockett to be successor
By Karen Robinson-Jacobs The St. Louis American
Vol. 93 No. 47
Photo by Fred Sweets / St. Louis American
Bomb threats stain Black History Month
Hockey and history Cardinal Ritter College Prep students Maria Smith, Caitlyn Pointer and Brennan Buchanan checked out the history of women in hockey section on Tuesday when the NHL’s Black Hockey History Mobile Museum visited the campus. The museum also honors Black pioneers in hockey. The Blues will host a Cardinal Ritter College Prep Night during their game against the Winnipeg Jets on Mach 13.
Racists target HBCUs, online events By Alvin A. Reid The St. Louis American
Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American
Downtown memorial to honor enslaved who sued for freedom
By Sarah Fenske St. Louis Public Radio
Before emancipation, and before the Civil War resolved slavery’s questions with bloody finality, enslaved men and women turned to the courts. It wasn’t just Dred Scott. The courthouse in St. Louis saw an estimated 400 “freedom suits” in the halfcentury between the Louisiana Purchase and the Emancipation Proclamation. Two decades ago, handwritten records of that litigation were stumbled upon almost by accident, said St. Louis Circuit Judge David n The memorial Mason. For Mason, who is himself the will include the descendant of enslaved people, that names of the discovery set off a quest for knowledge — and action. enslaved people “That really took my interest,” he who filed suits. explained on Tuesday’s St. Louis on the Air, and led him to a realization: “We have to memorialize this. We have to pay attention to this.” Now, thanks to Mason, those lawsuits are being commemorated with a memorial at St. Louis Circuit Court. In the past two years, a committee of lawyers has been raising funds through the St. Louis Bar Foundation. It’s commissioned a new work by Preston Jackson, a sculptor based in Peoria, Illinois. His memorial is expected to debut this June, part of a $1 million project just east of the Civil Courts Building at Market and 11th streets in downtown St. Louis. Paul Venker, senior counsel with Baker Sterchi Cowden & Rice, is chairman of the Freedom Suits Memorial Steering Committee. He said the committee has raised approximately $620,000 in the past two years and hopes for another $200,000 by the sculpture’s unveiling. He said he is looking forward to people seeing Jackson’s work, See MEMORIAL, A7
Preston Jackson shows off his sculpture in progress, which will anchor the Freedom Suits Memorial Plaza in downtown St. Louis.
Photo courtesy of Freedom Suits Memorial Steering Committee
Black History Month has seen a barrage of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) face bomb threats and online racist hacking attacks disturbing events centering on Black culture and history. The Missouri Black Legislative Caucus released a statement Tuesday condemning racist incidents against Black students on various college campuses in the state. “Since the beginning of the month, we have seen several racist incidents against Black students across the state of Missouri. On February 1, Harris-Stowe State University was one of several (HBCUs) across the country targeted with bomb threats,” Caucus Ashley Bland Chair Ashley Bland Manlove Manlove, D-Kansas City, said in a statement. “On February 8, a virtual panel on Blackowned businesses hosted by Rockhurst University was hacked and invaded by people yelling racial slurs and obscenities and displaying child porn. The MLBC fully condemns these racist incidents n Three separate against Black law enforcement Missouri stuagencies have dents who have become the taropened investigaof hatemontions into the virtu- get gers and bigots al attack, including during Black the FBI. History Month. “We must rise above those who would attack our community and culture amidst a month of celebration and reflection, and work to end the enduring discrimination Black students across the state continue to face.” More than 500 people, including Rockhurst students, faculty, and community members, rallied the day after the hack. Thomas B. Curran, Rockhurst University president, said in a letter to students. “There is no place in our society, in our community, or on our Rockhurst University campus for
See THREATS, A7