STL Black History: Sumner High School

In the wake of all the violence that have plagued Sumner High School I think that people are forgetting the importance of this school. Sumner was the first African American public school west of the Mississippi River. That fact alone should be enough for kids to have some respect for this school. I didn't say first school in St. Louis or even Missouri, first African American school this side of the water. The school was established in the late 1800's and have been at the current location we all know since 1908. Sumner had the pleasure of knowing some of the world's great entertainers before super stardom. Such as Tina Turner, Chuck Berry, Robert Guilliaume (Benson), Arthur Ashe, Dick Gregory, William L Clay, and a host of many more. I think that children today should look at it as a privilege to walk those halls. Just knowing that so much history is built into that school, attending should be like a badge of honor. Hopefully the violence can stop and the school can continue to birth future talents. Although the list that we named of entertainers is impressive, I bet there are equally doctors, lawyers, activist, police officers, and hard working people alike who have come across those doors.

STL Black History: Chuck Berry

Chuck Berry was born here in St. Louis. Raised on the north side he attended Sumner High. Chuck left St. Louis with his guitar and a sound that would soon change the world. At the time they were not sure how to classify his music, so it was put in a category of its own, Rock & Roll. Early on several of his records were stolen by white artist to sell to the white crowd. Chuck and his unique sound soon were able to break color barriers and he was playing to a mixed audience. He was arrested at the height of his career and watched as Elvis Presley, The Beetles, and The Rolling Stones became mega stars by emulating his style. He was one of the first musicians inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Although Berry's life has been somewhat plagued by legal problems, his continuing performances in front of a sold out audience shows that his gift of music is one of a kind.

STL Black History: Central Baptist Church