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St. Louis American See page B1
The
CAC Audited SEPTEMBER 11 – 17, 2025
Serving, empowering and advocating for equity in St. Louis since 1928
stlamerican.com
Vol. 97 No. 23 COMPLIMENTARY
Breaking barriers
Salute to Excellence in Education
Illini District sees comeback of topranked scouts after decades without one By Wendy Todd St. Louis American
Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American
Bob Fox with wife Maxine Clark. Beyond her ventures, Clark remains active in giving back through the Clark-Fox Family Foundation, which she co-founded with her husband.
A legacy of impact By Sylvester Brown, Jr. St. Louis American
For Maxine Clark and Bob Fox, success has never been measured only by profits or titles. It’s also measured by what they give back — and in how they use their success in business to increase opportunities for others. They have touched the lives of scores of people across the St. Louis region through their contributions to numerous educational initiatives and their involvement in issues that intersect with education or expand pathways to success, including public health, immigration, social and racial equity, criminal justice reform and entrepreneurship.
Maxine Clark and Bob Fox honored for widening pathways to success
See SALUTE, A14
Relief greets Spencer’s reversal on contracting program By Sylvester Brown, Jr. St. Louis American Mayor Cara Spencer’s sudden reversal on minority contracting has been met with relief — and a touch of exasperation — from critics who say the program never should have been shelved in the first place. Aldermanic President Megan Green said she was glad to see Spencer put the decades-old effort back in place but questioned the need for the detour.
“It probably wasn’t necessary to pause the program, but we got it figured out and most of us who were grumpy with the initial decision are happy with this one,” Green said after Spencer’s announcement last week. Others were more blunt. Alderwoman Shameem ClarkHubbard (Ward 10) said she was never convinced the Trump administration posed a credible legal threat to the program, despite its efforts to eliminate diversity, equity and
See SPENCER, A15
HEALTH
Black women and the Pivot: Rewriting the rules of success
When more than 350,000 Black women were let go from the workforce in the first 90 days of 2025, the staggering number sent shockwaves through communities already battling systemic inequities.
Page A7
St. Louis Mayor Cara Spencer meets with the press after reversing her decision on minority contracting.
After going more than two decades without a single Eagle Scout, the Illini District of Scouting America has seen a surge. One scout earned the top rank in 2022, another followed in 2023. This summer, something even more rare happened: Three scouts earned the organization’s highest rank, a distinction achieved by only 4% to 6% of scouts nationwide. Sultan Al-Uqdah Jr. and twins Khalif and Khalil Morehead were recently honored for the achievement at a ceremony at New Life Church in East St. Louis. For these three young men, the milestone carries even more weight because just 7% of scouts across the country are Black. “To see them working hard, staying dedicated and persevering to achieve the rank of Eagle Scout through this challeng-
See SCOUTS, A15
Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American
Sultan Al-Uqdah Jr., center, and twins Khalif Morehead, left, and Khalil Morehead.
Ovarian cancer disparities in Missouri Devastating for Black women, highlighting need for awareness
By Ashley Winters St. Louis American Ovarian cancer is the deadliest of all gynecologic cancers, and for Black women, its toll is especially devastating. They are more likely to be diagnosed at later stages, less likely to receive full and timely treatment and face lower survival rates than their white counterparts. In Missouri, the disparities are growing, with incidence rates on the rise in the Black community and outcomes that
See OVARIAN, A14
Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American
SPORTS
Black quarterbacks make history in Week 1
Of the 32 NFL teams, 14 had an African American starting quarterback in Week 1. This was just over 43%, and that number included two former MVPs.
Page B5