Category Archives: racism

His Name Was Mr. Jesse Harris

Posted on November 22, 2011 by darlajune

I posted an article last month about a man called Sam, who often walked through the old South Sprigg neighborhood. He was the subject of false rumors spread by the adults who lived there, simply because he was a black … Continue reading →

Posted in 1960, Cape Girardeau, Missouri, racism, Ranney Street | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Does Anyone Remember a Man Named Sam?

Posted on October 9, 2011 by darlajune

Does anyone else from the Sprigg Street neighborhood remember an African-Amercan man named Sam? He had mostly white hair from what I could see, although he always had on a hat with a droopy brim. He always had a pole … Continue reading →

Posted in 1960, Cape Girardeau, Missouri, Neighbors, racism, Ranney Street, Sprigg Street | Tagged , , , , | 7 Comments

‘Living in Smelterville’ Written by a Reader of Sprigg Street Memories

Posted on September 13, 2011 by darlajune

American Environmental Photographs Collection, [AEP Image Number, e.g., AEP-MIN73], Department of Special Collections, University of Chicago Library. The above photo, although not taken in Cape, looks familiar to those who lived in or near Smelterville. The main difference between what … Continue reading →

Posted in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, Neighbors, racism, School, Sprigg Street | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Disclaimer: For Anyone Offended by My Use of the Word ‘Lies’

Posted on September 6, 2011 by darlajune

“To be clear, my mother would never purposely teach me a lie. I use the word lie because it refers to an untruth; my mother’s motivation was not to lie to me but she did pass on untruths unknowingly.” The … Continue reading →

Posted in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, racism | Tagged , , , | 20 Comments

My Brother Didn’t Buy the Lies – Part 3

Posted on September 5, 2011 by darlajune

  This is a continuation of a series of posts: Late 50’s – May Greene School – and the Lies I believed – Part 1 Lies I Believed – Part 2 (He’s gonna’ kill me! 🙂 Don’t you just love … Continue reading →

Posted in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, Neighbors, racism, School | Tagged , | 4 Comments

Lies I Believed – Part 2

Posted on September 4, 2011 by darlajune

Continued from Late 1950’s – May Greene School -And the Lies I Believed: I am conflicted about writing on the subject of racism because I don’t wish to dishonor anyone, especially my family, but I think that the story needs … Continue reading →

Posted in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, racism | Tagged | 6 Comments

Late 50’s – May Greene School – and the Lies I Believed – Part 1

Posted on September 3, 2011 by darlajune

I began attending May Greene School when I was in the 4th grade. Up until that time I had gone to schools that had only white students because the schools were located in white neighborhoods. However, May Greene School had … Continue reading →

Posted in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, racism, School | Tagged , , | 20 Comments