RIGHTOVER

THEREstories and faces

from smalltowns outside

of east St. Louis

We declare our right on this earth

to be a man,

to be a human being,

to be respected as a human being,

to be given the rights

of a human being in this society,

on this earth,

in this day,

which we intend to bring

into existence

by any means necessary.

Malcolm X

The towns around East St. Louis developed as the Mississippi river did--where there was water, there was power for the factories that smelted, refined and molded metal into things that Americans needed. These factories needed workers, and planned communities sprung up to facilitate that need. And like many other towns built dependent upon the financial wellbeing of one company, once the factories fell, the cities changed. Brooklyn, Madison, and Granite City, Illinois are at the fringe of the city. It’s visible, close, but still far.

Granite City was established in the late 1800’s as a planned community to house employees of the steel and iron mills, namely the production of kitchen utensils.

LEFT: A punching bag outside a home in Granite CityRIGHT: Granite City resident Anthonius Buntyn outside of his grandma’s home

Brooklyn Illinois, a town of less than 600, has 8 churches and 7 strip clubs. It was the first incorporated city in America, founded in the 1800’s, as a way for African Americans to live in St. Louis, without living in St. Louis. Granite City, and much of St. Louis at the time, was restricted as white-only.

Reverend John E. Howell, preaching at the Quinn AME church in Brooklyn, Illinois. Howell has only been in Brooklyn for one year, and says he’s more contemporary than other AME pastors. Howell’s sermon focused on sexual sin before marriage, citing celebrity couples, like Kanye West and Kim Kardashian, that should not be used as examples for relationships in his congregation.

LEFT: Bernita McKire, and her three month old daughter Aniyah Clemons after Sunday church.

LEFT: Valetta Simmons, lifetime resident of Brooklyn, Illinois. Simmon’s parents moved to Brooklyn to retire from farming cotton, and work closer to St. Louis, where there were more jobs available.

RIGHT: Custard stand closed for the season in Granite City

Davion Hayden, 9, watches Carlito Davis, 9, roll a tire to create a makeshift go cart after school in Brooklyn, Illinois. The brothers have only lived in Brooklyn for a year, and their mother said she likes the small-town feel of the area, opposed to their previous residence, a Section 8 housing project in the city of East St. Louis, which didn’t feel like a community.

A vacated home in Granite City.

Renita Simmons after Quinn AME church service in Brooklyn, Illinois.

LEFT: Kwik gas station in Granite City RIGHT: Nigel Simpson, 12, before going to practice at Title Boxing in East St. Louis. “I’m going to be a pro football player, and my cousin is going to play baseball. We’re going to buy a mansion together, and it isn’t going to be here.”

Taurenn Valentine with his older brother Alvin Valentine. Taurenn’s moth-er bought him a jacket to match his older brother.

Granite City parking lot with a Safe Auto billboard advertisement.

Ray-Ray on a smoke break outside of King shoeshine.

Darren Simmons after the Quinn AME church Black History month production. Simmons was dressed as Malcolm X, and performed segments of the speech, “By Any Means Neces-sary” in front of the congregation.