This article originally appeared in the St. Louis Beacon: The summer of 1963 was a pivotal time for race relations in the United States. On Aug. 28, in the nation’s capital, more than 200,000 people gathered in a unified call for racial equality. They listened to speeches. They sang songs. They prayed. Although President John F. Kennedy had summoned the National Guard as a security measure, the event was peaceful, as people, black and white, joined together in a call for change.
Two days later, in St. Louis, a much smaller group was taking more direct action. In front of the Jefferson Bank, they came to demand the bank hire black professionals. At first, they simply walked up and down the block. Accounts vary on the number of protesters, ranging from 150 to 300. In short order, police told them to disperse. Some linked arms and sat down, blocking the bank's entrance. While most complied with the police order, about 20 remained. They were arrested and taken away.
Much has changed in the 50 years since then. African Americans in St. Louis and across the nation hold many positions of authority and power, among them, President Barack Obama. Yet many challenges remain. For example, many Americans remain divided over the acquittal of George Zimmerman of murder and manslaughter charges in the shooting death of Trayvon Martin in Sanford, Fla. Martin, 17, was African American. Zimmerman, 28, is Hispanic. Many believe race, or even racism, contributed to Zimmerman’s actions and the outcome of his trial.
The Beacon, through the Public Insight Network, asked readers to share their perceptions of where the nation stands today, 50 years after Rev. Martin Luther King spoke at the Washington march. Ranging in age from 22 to 40, these respondents have only second-hand knowledge of a time when black people could not enter such public facilities as department stores, hospitals, hotels and restaurants that were frequented by white people. Nor did they bear witness to the time when establishments that did serve black customers forced them into inferior balconies or back entrances.
So what does the civil rights movement look like to the people of today? Where are the successes, and what challenges remain? Here is a sample what they had to say. Responses have been edited for length and clarity.
Tony Barsanti, 28, Fenton
The milestones of the civil rights movement 50 years ago are incredibly relevant, and we are seeing the proof of it all across the country, and the world: Trayvon Martin, the repeal of a key provision of the 1965 Voting Rights Act and the new Russian law that effectively bans homosexuals from coming out in public.
Clearly, there is much still to be accomplished, but we do have some achievements to celebrate, like the increase in minority involvement in public office, i.e.: President Barack Obama and that workers' rights have drastically improved since the 1960s.
The movement still exists, but it is far less focused and collectively motivated than it was in the time of MLK.
The challenges to achieving racial equality in St. Louis are basically the same for the rest of the country. Segregation still very much exists, and while the laws don't specifically aid segregation as much as they have in the past, they haven't been able to fix the problem. That is because economics play a huge role in why St. Louis, for example, is divided along racial lines.
Everyone's heard the history of how so many north St. Louis neighborhoods were thriving through the early part of the 20th century, but then "white flight" devastated their tax bases, and today the largely minority home values are still dropping, and school districts are losing their accreditation. If we figure out a way to bridge these massive economic divides, perhaps we can then have more racially equal communities.
Gabriall Moore, 22, St. Louis
I feel the state of the civil rights movement is a bit stagnant. We aren't moving forward, but we aren't moving backward.
Racial inequalities are taught. None of us is born distinguishing race. We are taught that certain people are "such and such" way. I think as a society we should work to show that stereotypes and the status quo never fit the majority. We should continue the conversations with more action.
I have faced many challenges and found myself under tremendous pressure trying not to fit a stereotype that is formed about me because of the color of my skin and my gender.
Charles Hinderliter, 34, Maplewood
Rev. King's speech was remarkable, but too often today we leave the civil rights movement there — a safe, comfortable place. The civil rights movement, including King's later speeches, remains uncomfortable, as the United States still struggles with race. De jure segregation has been eliminated and de facto segregation has been combated, but racial issues persist.
In St. Louis the top issue is residential segregation. It is the patterns we individuals have in where we decide to live. Nationwide, the income gap between blacks and whites has been dramatically reduced, but a wealth gap persists and likely will for years to come.
Much of the work that remains to be done must be done by individuals and groups in society, not by the Congress, the courts or the states. One exception is education. There must be excellent primary and secondary education in poor African-American communities to ensure that those children will be afforded equal opportunity to compete in our society.
Michele Fontaine, 29, St. Louis
The anniversary of these events serves as a reminder that we have come a long way in terms of overt, public, and frequent expressions of racism, but that we still have a long way to go. Fifty years after trailblazers worked and died for the rights of African Americans (and others), we still find ourselves facing issues that involve racism at the core. Anniversaries are wonderful and should instill pride, not complacency.
Unfortunately, I do not perceive there to be a "civil rights movement" currently in existence. There doesn't seem to be a true and effective national strategy to target racism. Fortunately, we have organizations such as the Urban League, which do great work to help citizens beyond the designation of race. However, I don't perceive the zeal and sense of urgency among individuals working collectively as probably existed 50 years ago.
There is a lack of willingness here to even discuss race and race relations. We have to get beyond the discomfort and start dialoging honestly before we can even think of seeing people behave differently.
While the government certainly can play a role in abating overt expressions of racism or any other "isms," I don't think sanctions will change people's hearts. Once people begin behaving differently of their own volition, hopefully, their motivation to do so will move from a self-centered one to one with intrinsic value.
I am a black Hispanic woman. I have experienced a spectrum of racism and sexism, being a part of predominantly white, male-dominated institutions for most of my life. Over the years race and/or gender have played a role in having my competence, intelligence, and integrity questioned, and I have been ignored, underestimated and undervalued. The barometer I use to gauge whether race and/or gender is involved is to note how others of similar stature but different race/gender are being treated. If there are stark differences in treatment with no apparent or just cause, I can come to a conclusion, however subjective.
Steve Smith, 40, St. Louis
There are aspects of this dream that we see in younger people. There have been some improvements, but there are still very severe streaks of built-in racism in our cultural structure, businesses and institutions.
The state of the civil rights movement is not strong enough. Most white folks have been lulled into believing that there is not really a need to stress this need. Most believe it is generally over. This is so far from the truth. We can see this every day in the U.S. with the racial ghettoization of large areas of this country. The act of racism, even if not consciously overt, is practiced all the time.
There is an economic and social boycott of north Saint Louis by the overwhelming majority of St. Louisans. Even after we can overcome this craziness, there will still be major hurdles. But we will at least have a generally stable base to start the work.
The criminalization of entire generations of people for non-violent crime is damaging to people and a waste of resources. There is a role of the courts along with the congress to restructure this injustice.
It has been easier for me to get the positions I want in certain circumstances due to my race and gender. I know very specifically of one job when I was very young I would not have gotten if I were not a white boy.
