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24-JUL-2005

EastStLouis1f.jpg

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Guest		21-Jan-2014 00:56
Blue, I don't agree with you on that statement. Although East St. Louis was a racially divided city for many years, I remember growing up there in the fifties and early sixties and did not see much racial disharmony. In fact I read somewhere that an African-American living in East St. Louis had a much better chance to have a better life than any other city in the country. We had one of the best educational systems in the state if not the country. Not one bank had failed during the Great Depression and good paying jobs were available for both whites and blacks. In the late 1960's there was a dramatic influx of poor black families from the South trying to flee from Jim Crow policies. Most of these families were unable to find meaningful jobs in East St. Louis due to a lack of skills and proved to be a strain on the city's limited housing inventory. They tended to migrate to the historic black neighborhoods South of State Street. Many old black residents started to see an increase in crime in their neighborhood and attempted to move cross the State Street barrier. They were just as concerned as many white residents about the city's downward spiral. This encroachment into the "white" neighborhoods created much friction since at the time most of the white residents didn't understand the underlying dynamics that had caused this mass black migration into their neighborhoods. These people were only trying to move to a safer place to raise their families in peace. The white people became frightened by the reports of increasing crime and violence leading them to flee East St. Louis in droves. In actuality, both black and white families were the victims of a situation that they could not control or understand.

Guest		07-Jan-2012 17:22
Blue, Apr. 2011: E.St.Louis did not die because we would not live by black people. My parents stayed (I left for college). Dad died there and Mom & some neighbors were mugged on the way home from the bus stop after work. One 80-something friend was raped in her home, an 80-something man shot in the head in his home, cars vandalized while people were in church, they were mugged after church. The main problem was the meat-packing plants closed and no jobs. Dad was unemployed for 18 mos., finally found a job in St. Louis.

Daniel		09-Aug-2011 18:36
I was not born in East St. Louis, nor did I live there. I will say I have always been drawn there and the city just has always held a magical excitement for me. During the 80's I lived in St. Louis and wandered the streets of East St. Louis in awe many times. No one ever bothered me...NOT once. After being away for 20 years I am back and still love to go there. It's so very sad to see it being torn down building by building. It is still very majestic and awesome even in it's decilne. I'd like to live there someday.

blue		22-Apr-2011 19:29
East Shitty: That was the Washington Park mayor. Get your facts straight. East St Louis "died" because folks like you could NOT live side by side with black people, who had been oppressed and treated like crap for decades. Or did you forget this..http://www.blackpast.org/?q=aah/east-st-louis-race-riot-july-2-1917 ???

Guest		22-Mar-2011 17:48
Fix the city for the people to destroy again? You need to get to kick the politicians OUT! They are the ones who steal taxe payers money, and federal money with no money left to help the city...Heck...they didn't have a trash departmen of many years...and even the police were crooked, dope dealers!!!

East Shitty		15-Apr-2010 02:20
Hey "Guest 14 Apr", they shot and killed the Mayor. Wake the "F" up! East St. Louis is one of the five worst cities in the country. I would never come back and invest my money. Good riddance!

Guest		14-Apr-2010 02:54
If everyone who made it out of East St. came back and invest in it own we would be alot better off. how can you be afraid of where you are from. that makes no sence to me. I love East St. and i hope a change come but I also no that if you sit back and make dumb ass comments like you have being wht the hell do you expect. 1 love E St.

Guest		24-Feb-2010 19:19
omg cecil i honest to god agree with you im in bloominton normal now / chicago n would love to see nothing more but 4 my home town to be fixed

Cecil		19-Sep-2008 08:28
WOW!!! I've read comment about how bad the city looks...This didn't get like this by itself...This can change,but do we want change for the city? it starts with The People of East St. Louis...Sure the Government can,but do we really have time to sit around and wait on them while the city really goes to slum? This particular picture of Union Bank built in or around 1977 or maybe 1978 was one of the newer developments in this area..McDonald's across the street followed by KFC,Wendy's,Doubles Hamburgers and Popeye's...I left East St.Louis on several occasions..My Mom lost her family home in 1997 due to fire..I left and moved to St.louis,Chicago and Bloomington,Il..I pray for more change for the city...It has potential....It can come back..

662bywayof618		16-Apr-2008 01:21
My lord!!!!!!!!!!! It has been a while since i have last been to my hometown, not because i dont have the means to go, but because i dont have the courage to. It's a shame to be afraid of where you come from. i just pray that there will be a change.