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You spend 5 yrs driving around America & some towns linger in your mind, their history, images, & the stories told in them bubbling up to the surface. For me, one of those is Cairo Illinois. (Pronounced Kay-Ro, by locals) (1/N)
A tiny town on a small V shaped wedge of land at intersection of the Mississippi & Ohio rivers, it has dwindled from a peak population of 15,000 in 1920 to 2,000 now. And almost all of them are black & many live in subsidized housing complex that is falling apart (2/N)
Cairo is now a proverbial "ghost town" or the classic "town left behind", but with 2,000 people living there.
Its history is a stark metaphor for a story that has played out across all of the US, one filled with an interviewing of economic upheaval and racism. (3/N)
Its history is a stark metaphor for a story that has played out across all of the US, one filled with an interviewing of economic upheaval and racism. (3/N)
Here the Economy fell apart prior to de-industrialization as its role as shipping hub was bypassed
But the lessons on what happened after are damningly similar
After the decline, much of the white population left, leaving behind a black population with little chance (4/N)
But the lessons on what happened after are damningly similar
After the decline, much of the white population left, leaving behind a black population with little chance (4/N)
This process escalated dramatically after July 16th 1967, when Robert Hunt, a 19-yr old black man, died in police custody
Already frustrated from decades of intense racial inequality, the protest became âriotsâ. Eventually armed groups took aim at each other (5/N)
Already frustrated from decades of intense racial inequality, the protest became âriotsâ. Eventually armed groups took aim at each other (5/N)
The phrasing, riots or protest, depends on race of who you ask, or who is doing the writing. u2028u2028
You can read some of what took place on Wikipedia, but there are wonderful books that also talk about this period. Like, "Let My People Go" (6/N)
https://www.amazon.com/Let-My-People-Go-1967-1973/dp/080932086X">https://www.amazon.com/Let-My-Pe...
You can read some of what took place on Wikipedia, but there are wonderful books that also talk about this period. Like, "Let My People Go" (6/N)
https://www.amazon.com/Let-My-People-Go-1967-1973/dp/080932086X">https://www.amazon.com/Let-My-Pe...
Most black residents didnât have resources to leave or a place that would accept them
Some stayed because family was more important than fighting for a career against long odds
But businesses left & revenues collapsed & nobody could get a bank to loan them $s anyways (7/N)
Some stayed because family was more important than fighting for a career against long odds
But businesses left & revenues collapsed & nobody could get a bank to loan them $s anyways (7/N)
So now Cario has no jobs, beyond working for the city or state, and few stores ("The nearest WalMart is over 40 miles away!")
There is a gas station/Bodega (run by a recent Jordanian immigrant) and a Dollar store. That is about it. (8/N)
There is a gas station/Bodega (run by a recent Jordanian immigrant) and a Dollar store. That is about it. (8/N)
If you read my book you will have read the short poetic rant of this young woman who lives in the "projects". It is a rant in the best sense of that word, a rant that I will never forget (9/N)
I think it is a fitting way to end this. But please, and I rarely say this, it is worth your time to read deeper into Cairoâs history.
It really is a sad & depressing metaphor for so much of our country (10/N)
It really is a sad & depressing metaphor for so much of our country (10/N)
