The Scene staff
Many years ago, North St. Louis flourished with booming businesses and big Victorian and New England-style homes. Business owners, teachers and journeymen lived in the affluent neighborhood, and many walked to work.
The area suffered a considerable loss with the deterioration of streetcar service after World War II. It became less enjoyable and convenient for residents, who no longer had easy access to amenities in the city.
The once thriving neighborhood started to decline. Many residents moved out to the suburbs, while people who didn’t have the income or time to invest in the community moved in. Buildings that once housed doctors, lawyers and other professionals slowly deteriorated into abandoned homes and businesses.
Darkness has moved into North St. Louis, settling upon the community and its residents. There are now only remnants of the old days. Run-down buildings and poorly maintained properties line the streets.
The impoverished area has one of the highest crime rates in the country. (In fact, the whole city of St. Louis is considered a dangerous place to live.) It seems to be on a continuous downturn, with no safety net to catch it at the bottom.
The public school system is a part of the downward spiral. Several schools have lost accreditation due to poor performance and testing. North St. Louis, in particular, is in desperate need, with no Superman around to save the day.
This community is my community, so I feel a personal connection to this tragedy. Not just because I am a resident of North St. Louis, but because I am united with most of its occupants by the color of my skin.
The issues in this community go beyond its fall from a rich history. The people have deteriorated over time as well. We’ve lost our passion to fight for things that matter, such as social issues and education, and we’ve replaced it with hatred and greed.
I often wonder how our ancestors would feel about the current state of our society. It saddens me to think that so many lost their lives for the educational and social freedoms we have today, yet so many in the black community won’t take advantage of them.
When will the vicious cycle end? How do we get back to being a people who joined together to make positive changes for the community and future generations?
In the words of the late Martin Luther King Jr., I have a dream, too. I see a community that grows and flourishes just as the old North St. Louis did, with rehabilitated homes and businesses replacing abandoned and dilapidated ones.
I see doctors and lawyers rising from the schools in North St. Louis. I see crime rates drastically dropping, and young men respecting each other instead of killing each another.
But change doesn’t happen overnight. Those of us who see the troubling conditions of our people must continue working where our ancestors left off. We must help strengthen the community by strengthening individuals through education and resources.
We can build a strong community again, but we must start with one person — and one family — at a time. Let’s pick up the torch we’ve been handed.