“ODE” FOR EAST ST. LOUIS

EVERYTHING...BUT “HOME”! THEY CALL IT “GHETTO”, “INNER CITY”, “EAST BOOGIE” EVERYTHING...BUT “HOME”! THEY CALL IT A “FOOD DESERT” OR ” FOOD INSECURITY”, A “DIGITAL DIVIDE”, A “HEALTH CARE CRISIS”, “EDUCATIONAL / CULTURALLY DYSFUNCTIONAL”, “A RAT HOLE” EVERYTHING...BUT “HOME”! THEY CALL IT ”BELOW-THE-HILL”, CRIME / CORRUPTION RIDDLED, A “WAR ZONE” EVERYTHING...BUT “HOME”! HOWEVER, EAST ST LOUIS IS MY “HOME”! “HOPEFUL”, “PRAYERFUL”, “FAITHFUL”, “THANKFUL”, “TALENTED”, “TUF”, “TRUE”, “COURAGEOUS”, “CARING”, “LOVING”, “PROTECTIVE, “FRUITFUL” ; A “BLACK HERITAGE” ! THAT’S...MY “HOME” ... MY “BELOVED EAST ST. LOUIS”!

DARNELL THOMPSON; NATIVE SON; 2/24/14