World peace must represent universal efforts. Anti-war priorities are first. However, since oppression is similarly destructive, informed and purposeful, some of us believe oppressors must be exposed and humiliated, if not punished. St. Cloud racism must be exposed and destroyed like all racism.
Anyone with access to documented facts would likely condemn blatant and continuing racism in St. Cloud, Minnesota. The following information represents fact finding and research efforts by professors Michael Davis and Christopher Lehman, St. Cloud State University (SCSU/SCS) faculty members. Lehman discovered documents involving slaves in St. Cloud (circa, 1853-1865). Davis’ research concentrated on hostility toward Blacks after 1915. Their scholarly contributions are greatly appreciated.
By now, most of you residing in Minnesota for six months or more are probably aware of St. Cloud’s sociopathic preferences for racism, incest, sexism and xenophobia.
In direct defiance of expressed intentions by Louisiana Purchase signers (1812), slaves were first transported from Tennessee to St. Cloud by Sylvanus Lowry (1853). It was estimated that “a few dozen” families had slaves. St. Cloud held 99% of all Minnesota’s illegal slaves. Article 1, Section 2, of Minnesota’s Constitution unequivocally stated, “slavery and involuntary servitude” were forbidden. The Missouri Compromise act (1820) forbad slavery in every portion of Louisiana territory “north of latitude 36 degrees 30’ except for Missouri.”
St. Cloud’s convenient distance from Twin Cities’ abolitionists via cultural isolation and political impotence concealed slavery. St. Cloud’s history of psychosocial problems is more similar with poor Appalachians than most other Minnesota communities. Collective feelings of inferiority prompted efforts to transcend their dysfunctional reputation by keeping slaves (though most whites struggled to feed, clothe and house themselves).
No other Minnesota community and/or institution of higher learning has attracted such scathing media attention for its racism since the lynching of three innocent Black men in Duluth (1920).
St. Cloud’s father-daughter incest (clinically known as “Stearns County Syndrome”) rivaled conditions recently found when the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Days Saints compound was raided by police in Eldorado, Texas.
During the 1960s Black students began referring to St. Cloud as “White Cloud.” They ridiculed the community for its blatant racism, homophobia, sexism and xenophobia. Years later, city hall decided to accept the “White Cloud” label hoping it could be used to warn people of color, particularly Blacks, to stay away.
A brief chronology of “White Cloud” racism includes the following events: (a) Black students at St. Cloud State College first demonstrated against racism (1968); (b) The Black student “walkout” (1991) effectively alerted the five state region about “White Cloud” racism; (c) The mostly white Student Coalition Against Racism created the first racial hate crimes hot-line and promoted a city hall dreaded Civilian Police Review Board (1993); (d) Letters by two Black SCSU professors were sent to high school counselors, parents and pastors warning about blatantly racist conditions; (e) Statewide news media began frequent coverage of numerous racial hate crimes (2002); and (f) Most recently, 30 plus incidents of racist graffiti supported a “We told you so” pride in whistle blowing that has attracted even more media attention. Since “White Cloud’s” Blacks lack creativity, defiance and solidarity, intervention by the Council on Black Minnesotans is necessary.
Nineteen of St. Cloud State’s 22 presidents steadfastly refused to confront community racism on behalf of trusting tuition-paying Black students, if not other residents of color. There is a history of accepted or ignored racism awaiting every “White Cloud” mayor, city council member and politician. Each new SCSU president inherits a legacy of willful dereliction of duty by preceding administrations. Will SCSU presidents ever demand that city administrations attack local racism as vehemently as it is avoided, denied and ignored? (“Is it safe to send our children to St. Cloud?” editorial: Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder, 7 February 2007)
Another humiliating news release recently stated, “Diversity, race relations, hate crimes, and safety are biggest challenges St. Cloud State University faces, according to a recent survey of 504 of its students.” (“SCSU Survey eyes issues;” St. Cloud Times, 30 April 2008)
As factually supported by Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder editor-in-chief, Jerry Freeman, evidence suggests that Blacks and others of color are still not safe in “White Cloud.” Meanwhile, “White Cloud” mayor Dave Kleis, prefers diversionary propaganda to confronting facts.
Mayor Kleis said, “We’ve been recognized internationally as the best in planning for the future, selected as one of the most ‘livable cities in the world,’ named as a top Green city in America, one of the top 100 cities to launch a new business and named as one of the safest cities in the United States.” (Kleis says St. Cloud is “solid;” St. Cloud Times, 13 April 2008)
Notice no claims of recognition for attacking racism, promoting diversity.
St. Cloud Times headlines describe a very different environment: (a) Rapes occur “3 times that of nation.” (18 February 2007); (b) Robberies increased “35%.” (29 July 2007); (c) “Reported local hate crimes up sharply.” (20 November 2007); (d) “SCSU: Sexual assaults double.” (24 November 2007); (e) “Number of employers at job fair drops 35%.” (2 April 2008); and (f) “SCSU Survey eyes issues” (30 April 2008).
Heaven forbid one should mention “credibility,” but Places Rated Almanac, Money Magazine, Forbes and Kiplinger are the most respected authorities for community quality-of-life rankings. As you might assume, St. Cloud appears nowhere among their listings. Author/researcher Dave Gilmartin claimed St. Cloud was one the 50 worst places to live in America. (“St. Cloud makes the best of being the worst;” Star Tribune, 19 November 2006). As of 15 May 2008, the published list of Marketwatch.com and Relocate America.com ranked their 100 best cities. “White Cloud” was ignored.
George W. Bush said, “You can fool some of the people all the time, and those are the ones you want to concentrate on.” The New York Sun editor assured eight year old Virginia O’Hanlon (1897), “Yes Virginia there is a Santa Claus.” “White Cloud” city hall has raised hallucination to an art form.
Tags: America, Anti-War, Community, Green, History, Jesus, Local, Media, money, News, Oppression, Peace, Politics, Race, Racism, St. Cloud, St. Cloud State University, Students, White Cloud
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