WUSTL creates Center for the Study of Race, Ethnicity & Equity
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St. LouiS AmericAn The
CAC Audited FEB. 28 – MAR. 6, 2019
Vol. 90 No. 49 COMPLIMENTARY
stlamerican.com
‘She’s the change agent The fight to save we need in St. Louis’ public
Lezley McSpadden endorses Jamilah Nasheed Jamilah Nasheed was given permission to speak when she attended a meet and greet for candidates in the race for 18th Ward alderman at the Deaconess Center on Child Well Being on Monday, February 25. Nasheed is trying to upset incumbent Lewis Reed in the Democratic primary for president of the St. Louis Board of Aldermen on Tuesday, March 5. The Democratic nominee for alderman in the even-numbered wards also will be decided on March 5.
housing Legal Services and Wellston vs. HUD By Rebecca Rivas Of The St. Louis American
Photo by Wiley Price
By Lezley McSpadden For The St. Louis American My son, Michael Brown, did not volunteer to be a catalyst for change. But, for many, my son’s death was their first glimpse into the harsh realities of race and justice in America. When we remember Michael’s life and tragic death, we are reminded of just how much change we need in the St. Louis region. But change is not easy. At every turn, there are forces aligned against progress. The entrenched interests too often control the levers of power, leaving the rest of us without a voice and without hope. What we need is a leader who is not afraid to fight for us, a leader who will stand up for the people
– not the insiders and wellconnected. For years, state Senator Jamilah Nasheed has been a fearless leader in the fight for equal treatment, racial justice, and fundamentally changing the way things work. I’ve watched her reach across the aisle, Lezley McSpadden bridge differences, and build consensus in order to get important things done. I’ve watched as she’s fought for the people and given hope to those of us who felt there was little left to hope for. Now Nasheed is running for president of the St. Louis Board of Aldermen. I know how
effective she’s been in the state Senate, and I know how effective she’ll be as aldermanic president. We need Nasheed’s leadership to bring our community together. We need her legislative skills to push forward an agenda that puts people at the center. And we need that fight that she has within her to accomplish the kind of big changes our region needs. I wholeheartedly endorse Nasheed to be the next president of the Board of Aldermen. I know she cares about people like me and my son, people who didn’t have power or money or access. But she listened and she cared, and – most importantly – she fought for us through thick and thin. She’s the change agent we need in St. Louis.
Call for recall of Mayor Krewson over Better Together support Bosley, Collins-Muhammad say plan is ‘slap in the face of democracy’ and ‘racist’ Aldermen Brandon Bosley and John CollinsMuhammad were joined by eight citizens in calling for the recall of St. Louis Mayor Krewson because of her support of Better Together’s proposal to merge St. Louis city and county governments during a press conference in City Hall on Tuesday, February 26.
By Chris King Of The St. Louis American Two St. Louis aldermen called for the recall of St. Louis Mayor Krewson during a press conference in City Hall on Tuesday, February 26 because of her support of Better Together’s proposal to merge St. Louis city and county governments, though they were cryptic about their plans. “You never show the lamb the blade when you’re coming for them,” 3rd Ward Alderman Brandon Bosley said when asked for specifics about a recall effort. 21st Ward Alderman John Collins-Muhammad joined Bosley for the announcement, along with eight citizens who
See KREWSON, A6
Photo by Wiley Price
Retired truck driver Herman Lee White, 75, lives in a neighborhood in Wellston where he knows everyone’s face, if not their name. White found his apartment after realizing he wouldn’t be able to retire unless he lived in public housing. When he moved in 17 years ago, it was a complex for seniors, and now some families with children live there as well. It’s In August, retired the kind of place where truck driver Herman Lee White, people check up on each other, he said. 75, learned that In August, White his apartment learned that his was among the apartment was among the approximately 200 approximately 200 public public housing housing structures in structures in Wellston proposed Wellston proposed to be demolished. to be demolished “A lot of my by HUD. neighbors are thinking that they don’t want to move,” White said. “We’ve been together since 2002. If you go somewhere else, people don’t know you.” About 530 people (or 174 families) reside in the low-income housing units – about one-fourth of
See HOUSING, A7
‘We are part of the lineage’ Young Leaders praised as return on 400 years of community investment By Kenya Vaughn Of The St. Louis American “I want to place their accomplishments within context – so I’m going off script for a moment,” Rebeccah Bennett said at the St. Louis American Foundations’ 9th annual Salute to Young Leaders reception at The Four Seasons on Thursday, February 21. Before she called out the 20 exceptional individuals of the 2019 class of honorees, she acknowledged another group from a time when assuming a position of leadership was not an option for African Americans. The year was 1619. Enslaved men women
See LEADERS, A6