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St. Louis American See page B3
The
CAC Audited SEPTEMBER 5 – 11, 2024
Serving, empowering and advocating for equity in St. Louis since 1928
Vol. 96 No. 22 COMPLIMENTARY
stlamerican.com
Black Voters Matter launches national bus tour
Honoring a beloved icon’s work in education Stewards to co-chair 37th Education Salute By Kenya Vaughn The St. Louis American If the phrase “never forget where you come from” was a person, her name would be Jackie Joyner-Kersee. Hailing from the “City of Champions,” Joyner-Kersee has become an indisputable icon. For three generations and counting she has served as the standard for excellence in sports – particularly for Black women. And when the Olympic gold medalist hung up her cleats as the one of the most celebrated athletes in history, Joyner-Kersee came back home, rolled up her sleeves and got about the business of pouring back into underprivileged youth in the community where it all began for her.
See SALUTE, A7
By Laura Onyeneho Word in Black
Photo courtesy of JJK
Jackie Joyner-Kersee will receive the 37th Lifetime Achievement Award.
Healthcare affordability and equity top a list of Black voter concerns, according to the organization Black Voters Matter (BVM), which has introduced a plan to counter ongoing attacks on voting rights and mobilize Black communities ahead of the 2024 elections. BVM leaders recently announced the launch of the “We Fight Back” campaign and bus tour, which will traverse the nation to educate, mobilize, and empower Black voters. “We have recently joined the Harris campaign to lead their Black polling,” said Terrance Woodbury, co-founder of HIT Strategies and BVM member. “We’ve heard a lot about how Black voters are showing up, who Black voters are supporting, and how much support has increased with Donald Trump.” The other issues of concerns for Black voters include inflation/cost of living, anti-Blackness/racism/discrimination, and crime/violence. Kristen Powell, principal for Black Futures Lab, said getting Black people to the polls is a path to a Harris victory, and there must be a Black economic agenda. “We know that rural Black voters and Black voters in the Midwest are typically
Photo courtesy of the Steward Family
Thelma and David Steward have agreed to serve as co-chairs for the 2024 Education Salute.
See VOTERS, A6
Race, class play role in maternal mortality rate By Sarah Fentem St. Louis Public Radio
Painting The Lou
frat brothers and sorors raise the roof to support the awardees and their accomplishments – and their service to the St. Louis region. There is also the pride of answered prayers. “You are truly living out your ancestors’ wildest dreams,” said KMOV-TV 4 reporter/anchor and 2023 Young Leader honoree Melanie Johnson. She served as mistress of ceremonies for this year’s program. “We are sitting where Dred Scott was declared property. But if you look around this
Pregnancy-related mortality for Black women in Missouri is 2.5 times the ratio of their white counterparts, according to a report by the Department of Health and Senior Services. Hypertension and cardiovascular ailments were the most n People common cause of pregnancy-related with higher deaths in Missouri education between 2017 degrees were and 2021. African less likely Americans have higher rates of both to die than those without those issues than white Americans, college diplo- and the mortality mas. rate is also higher. The report outlined class and race disparities. People with higher education degrees were less likely to die than those without college diplomas. Those on Medicaid were also more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes. During that period, for every 100,000 births in the state, more than 32 people died because of pregnancy-related com-
See LEADERS, A6
See MORTALITY, A7
Photo by Taylor Marrie / St. Louis American
Kayla Kemp adds details to a collaborative mural at Paintlouis, a graffiti festival established in 1997, in downtown St. Louis on August 31, 2024.
STL American Foundation honors Young Leaders ‘Thank you for being the change we want to see’ By Kenya Vaughn St. Louis American There’s an energy permeating through the room that words can’t quite define when honorees and supporters gather each year for the St. Louis American Foundation’s Salute to Young Leaders Networking Awards Reception at The Four Seasons. The closest one can get is to liken the experience to a bite-sized HBCU graduation. Family, friends, coworkers,
LIVING IT
HEALTH
Hip-hop infused ‘Hamilton’ wows in return to the Fox
Heman Bekele’s soap helps fight skin cancer
The cosmic boom of American History and hip-hop culture that is Lin-Manuel Miranda’s “Hamilton” made its St. Louis return on Wednesday night at the Fabulous Fox Theatre.
Bekele’s curiosity and desire to make the world a better place through chemistry resulted in a firstplace finish in the 3M Company’s 2023 Young Scientist Challenge.
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