Mother Baltimore: On Grief
Since the last time I wrote this newsletter, ten Black people were killed after a shooting at a grocery store in Buffalo, New York, and 19 children and two adults were killed after a shooting at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas—a predominantly Latinx community. These shootings happened within the same month. A month that we’re still in. Ten days apart.
How do you even begin to grieve any of that? How do you process it? How do you grieve when grief doesn’t seem to have an end?
There are no words. There aren’t any answers, either. I don’t have them. I haven’t even been able to thoroughly read coverage on both shootings. The queue in my brain hasn’t reached the “Revisit the news coverage from the two mass shootings we’ve had this month so you can better understand” step yet. There are so many things in the front of the line that I still need to deal with. So much has happened.
I hope you all are taking care of yourselves.
Now, here’s the latest news in southwestern Illinois:
This East St. Louis actor has worked with Tyler Perry and Jennifer Hudson. Who is RobWood?
RobWood has appeared in various films since launching his acting career a couple of years ago. He’s played minor roles in Tyler Perry’s “A Fall from Grace” and last year’s Aretha Franklin biopic “Respect”. BND reporter DeAsia Paige talked to the actor about his career so far and his East St. Louis upbringing. The BND is interested in covering more arts and culture stories in the metro-east, so if you have any suggestions, feel free to fill out this form or contact DeAsia via email dsutgrey@bnd.com or phone (618) 239-2624
More on RobWood:
East St. Louis actor has appeared in at least 12 shows and films. How many have you seen?
Meet East St. Louis native RobWood, actor, coach, father and husband
Turning grief into activism, an East St. Louis mom won’t let people forget about her son’s murder
May 29 marks two years since the death of Gregory Stewart, who was fatally shot in East St. Louis. His case remains unsolved. His mom, La’Tatia, is dedicated to keeping his name alive until her family receives justice. For Mother’s Day, La’Tatia talked about her activism, her relationship with her son and why she’ll never stop bringing awareness to her son’s case.
More on Gregory Stewart:
Mother wants justice for son murdered in 2020 during East St. Louis shooting
Are police efforts to solve more East St. Louis criminal investigations working?
Weeks after union drops East St. Louis Police, Teamsters drop some other city employees
Teamsters Local 50, a Swansea-based labor union, has dropped East St. Louis jailers and one records department employee. The news comes after the Fraternal Order of Police decertified an East St. Louis union that represented all of the city’s police officers with a rank of sergeant or below. BND breaking news reporter Carolyn Smith has closely followed the story.
More on union conflicts in East St. Louis:
In midst of contract fight, East St. Louis cops dropped by Fraternal Order of Police union
After six years of negotiations and promises, East St. Louis cops still waiting on 2% raise
What to do
This section of Mother Baltimore highlights upcoming events in the metro-east that are relevant to Black communities. If you have tips for events, send them to dsutgrey@bnd.com
Janfrey Preston Collection Exhibit
Saturday, June 4 from 12-5 p.m. at East St. Louis Senior High School
Janfrey Preston, an East St. Louis native, was a pioneering contractor in the city. His family formed one of the first Black-owned construction companies in the region, Preston Construction. Preston died in 2020. On June 4, there will be an exhibit of his work reflecting the many construction projects he contributed to in East St. Louis. For more information, contact Elise Preston Mallory at elise@makethedifferencellc.com or (626)-475-7710.
What to watch
Cardi B episode of ‘My Next Guest Needs No Introduction’
I’ve really enjoyed watching “My Next Guest Needs No Introduction with David Letterman.” The former late-night talk host has an interviewing style that is unmatched. You can tell he really studies his guests and cares about what they’re talking about. His series, the latest season of which debuted on Netflix last week, perfectly balances Letterman’s humor and wit with that of his guest’s. The Cardi B episode of the season seamlessly illustrated that. During the episode, the pair visit a bodega, talk about Cardi B’s ultra social-media-friendly rise to fame and her political activism— clearly depicting why the Bronx rapper is a multifaceted superstar. The latest season of “My Next Guest” can be streamed on Netflix
What to read
‘It Takes a Toll: Black Children Struggle to Process Buffalo Massacre
For The New York Times, Lola Fadulu spent a week interviewing over two dozen children and their guardians about the mass shooting in Buffalo.
“I’m there by myself, like it could just happen to me,” said Simier, a 13-year-old who attends a local charter school and is nervous about going to the bus stop alone. “It could happen on the bus, anywhere, me walking to my school.”
That’s all she wrote!
Talk to y’all in two weeks!
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This story was originally published May 27, 2022 at 1:26 PM.
