Mr. James ‘ ‘Snookums Snookums’ ’ Bell Bell Mr. James East St. Louis Action Research Project East St. Louis Action Research Project th of 2006 October 14 th October 14 of 2006 Alfonso Cervantes Alfonso Cervantes David Rivera David Rivera Alberto Miranda Alberto Miranda Rush City’ ’s Culture s Culture Project Description Rush City Project Description � Historically an African � Historically an African- -American community in American community in � � Discovering what individual people are Discovering what individual people are economic disinvestment, environmental pollution, economic disinvestment, environmental pollution, doing to create positive change in their doing to create positive change in their and industrial encroachment and industrial encroachment neighborhoods. neighborhoods. � Surrounded by industry, railroads, and highways � Surrounded by industry, railroads, and highways � People have faint southern dialect, strong belief � People have faint southern dialect, strong belief system, outstanding hospitality, family oriented system, outstanding hospitality, family oriented � Documenting the lives of individuals who � Documenting the lives of individuals who � � East St. Louis has constant environmental East St. Louis has constant environmental have dedicated many years to neighborhood have dedicated many years to neighborhood problems and unfavorable conditions problems and unfavorable conditions improvement efforts. improvement efforts. � � Known for having all major types of pollution Known for having all major types of pollution -air, soil, water - air, soil, water The Exploration of a Forgotten The Exploration of a Forgotten East St. Louis: Once the East St. Louis: Once the “ “land of land of City opportunity” ” City opportunity � A Place of Thriving Industry � Using the interview as a tool of research � � Using the interview as a tool of research A Place of Thriving Industry � Personal testimony of the history of Rush City -Blue Collar - Blue Collar � Personal testimony of the history of Rush City -Industrial Companies buying land (Employment Industrial Companies buying land (Employment - � Rush City: � Rush City: “ “at one time East St. Louis best little at one time East St. Louis best little Opportunities ) Opportunities ) city in Illinois” ” – –James Bell James Bell city in Illinois � � 1960s 1960s � 1940s Physical changes � 1940s Physical changes -Whites Moving to Suburbs=Black Housing - Whites Moving to Suburbs=Black Housing – “ – “white flight white flight” ” Opportunities Opportunities – Northern Migration – Northern Migration � City moved from Residential Zone to Heavy � City moved from Residential Zone to Heavy – Industry decline – Industry decline Manufacturing and Industry Zone Manufacturing and Industry Zone � The Effects of Negligence � The Effects of Negligence – Environmental Deterioration and Population Decline – Environmental Deterioration and Population Decline 1
Last Few Decades… Last Few Decades … Goals & Objectives Goals & Objectives � Sharp decline in population � Acquiring a first � � Sharp decline in population Acquiring a first- -hand experience of a day in hand experience of a day in East St. Louis East St. Louis � white population declined sharply � white population declined sharply � Discovery of neighborhood activism to � Discovery of neighborhood activism to � Black Population has risen, Median age is � Black Population has risen, Median age is create positive change in their create positive change in their rising rising neighborhoods neighborhoods � � unemployment rising unemployment rising � Understanding the effects of socio � Understanding the effects of socio- - � percentage below poverty level has slowly � percentage below poverty level has slowly economic, political, and racial barriers economic, political, and racial barriers decreased. decreased. Community Partner Community Partner � � Born in 1926 Born in 1926 “ “in a house down the alley. in a house down the alley.” ” – –James James Bell Bell � Father was a railroad worker from Rush City. � Father was a railroad worker from Rush City. Mother moved north from Mississippi and was a Mother moved north from Mississippi and was a community aid worker. community aid worker. � Attended Lincoln High School with Miles Davis � Attended Lincoln High School with Miles Davis � Served in the military from 1950 to 1952 � Served in the military from 1950 to 1952 � Married for 53 years and retired in 1999 � Married for 53 years and retired in 1999 � Enjoys the quiet and close community � Enjoys the quiet and close community � � Moved out of Rush City for housing purposes but Moved out of Rush City for housing purposes but still considers it home still considers it home 2
Project Process Project Process Reflections Reflections � Substance of the project process was in the � Substance of the project process was in the � Pre � Pre- -interview preparation interview preparation conversation conversation -Rush City background - Rush City background � � East St. Louis is in state of urban decline due to a East St. Louis is in state of urban decline due to a variety of factors variety of factors -development of questions - development of questions � Offers for property buyouts from ethanol producing � Offers for property buyouts from ethanol producing -assignment of roles assignment of roles - companies. companies. -$50,000 dollars for each property $50,000 dollars for each property -mock interview and analysis - mock interview and analysis - -Is that enough??? - Is that enough??? � James Bell interview � James Bell interview - -Does a community only have monetary value??? Does a community only have monetary value??? � Transcription � Transcription � “ � “Money talks, if those people want it, they Money talks, if those people want it, they’ ’ll get it. ll get it.” ” � Interview analysis � –James Bell James Bell Interview analysis – Our Road Trip to East St. Louis Our Road Trip to East St. Louis Thanks Stacy!!....and Emilio and Emma Thanks Stacy!!....and Emilio and Emma 3
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