Racism in St. Louis (Cuba, Freeman: camps, businesses, cities)

[aragx6]

St. Louis, like most other rust belt and eastern cities, is pretty segregated, but that has far more to do with historical settling patterns than with today's feelings.

I have heard said some very racist things by far too many people, people who assume that just because I'm white I must also be as racist as they are -- but that's not St. Louis specific. Atlanta and Chicago are two prime examples of that.

[ShadowCaver]

Racism is not just a black-white issue either... its both directions, and multi-cultural, including those with similar narrow-minded views of those that are different. Must make them more secure in their own minds, to decry so negatively about others that aren't the same as them; be it race, religion, culture, whatever. Guess my mind is too warped, hoping some day something like Lennon's "Imagine" song, at least some parts of it, could at least become partially true.

[ajf131]

St. Louis County actually is surprisingly more integrated than people think. There are a lot of black people living in Mid-County, specifically in Richmond Heights and Webster Groves, mainly south of Interstate 64, and many white people also reside in these areas. North County also has a decent amount of black people and white people living amongst each other (Hazelwood and Florissant are right next to each other)

[Dopo]

My story is a little long, so I'll make it short,

I lived in Overland Park (KC, Kansas) for 2 years and then lived for a year in West County St. Louis.

At first, it was a little bit of a shock going from white Overland Park to 1/2 white, 1/2 black St. Louis.
But something that I have to say that I liked about St. Louis, is how often I saw black people dressed up as professionals and driving nice luxury cars.

To me that says that black people in St. Louis are more likely to go to college and become successful than in other places that I've been to.
Maybe it means there's less racism in St. Louis.

[♥muslimah4lyfe♥]

A lot of blacks think that somalis and oromos/ethiopians are the same just because they dark skinned and in some ethiopians cultures(not all so dont get crazy) they cook all their food with onions(no offense) so everytime they see a somali person they say "eww somthing stank" so y'all need to get it STRAIGHT WE dont look the SAME any body can tell!! And you guys are africans wether you like it or NOT you just dont know which country of Africa your anciestors came from!!!!!!!!!!! Infact they could've been somalian or ethiopians who knows???? So GET it straight and stop HATING cause y'all dont know where you came from DAAAAAAAAAAAAANG!!!!!!!!!!!!! and dont say im raciast cause im black/african american/somali too and im PROUD.

[pirate_lafitte]

Originally Posted by CharlieL

I've been living in St. Louis for 3 months now and have experienced 3 incidents. I am Asian-American and lived in California most of my life. The first incident was soon after I moved here. I was walking down the street in in the Central West End when a yellow schoolbus full of African-American kids drove past. A bunch of them started yelling "*****" out the window. I couldn't believe it! The second incident occured at a suburban Kmart. I was just shopping when two teenage male African Americans walked behind me and one said to the other "I hate chinks." The third time was at a sandwich shop at the airport. Two African-American women were behind the counter and joking around. I walked up and they ignored me, although I know they saw me because one looked right at me. Then another African-American customer walked up and one of the women said "What can I get for you, honey?" Then I said that I was there first, and she rolled her eyes at me and said "What do you want?" At that point I just left.
I don't know if this is a common occurrance or if I just had bad luck. In all cases it was unprovoked and was directed at me by African-Americans. I also lived in Memphis, TN for a short while, and this never happened there. Is there something about St. Louis? I am seriously considering moving.

Those persons who yelled that at you were wrong for doing so. They were wrong. With that said, don't be surprised if this happens. Racial prejudice isn't confined to St. Louis. I think part of it is that some African-Americans resent people of Asian descent.

[aaronstlcards]

I live in Compton Heights which is a very upper-middle class neighborhood, but the immediate surrounding areas are pretty minority dominated. I currently go to a school that is close enough that I can walk to. And a few times every month, I always get the occasional "Hey white boy", stare, or middle finger from mostly kids in school buses and sometimes from pedestrians while on my way home.

[jlawrence01]

Originally Posted by aaronstlcards

I live in Compton Heights which is a very upper-middle class neighborhood, but the immediate surrounding areas are pretty minority dominated. I currently go to a school that is close enough that I can walk to. And a few times every month, I always get the occasional "Hey white boy", stare, or middle finger from mostly kids in school buses and sometimes from pedestrians while on my way home.

The same thing happened to me at the corner of Magnolia and Compton. Some punk shouted at me telling me to get out of "our neighborhood". Funny, I owned a house in the neighborhood than he was old.

I would probably have responded but the comment from some kid that young blew my mind.

I think that I have heard more racial garbage from BOTH directions in St. Louis than I ever heard in the deep South over the years.

[kshe95girl]

Originally Posted by jlawrence01

The same thing happened to me at the corner of Magnolia and Compton. Some punk shouted at me telling me to get out of "our neighborhood". Funny, I owned a house in the neighborhood than he was old.

What?????

[arch_genesis]

I think he owned a house in the neighborhood longer than the kid has been alive..