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'We’re surrounded by murders': a day in St Louis’s most dangerous neighborhood 'We’re surrounded by murders': a day in St Louis’s most dangerous neighborhood
(35 minutes later)
“We Googled the worst place in America to live, and St Louis came up,” says Johnel Langerston, the president of Urban Born, a nonprofit youth organization. “So we expanded our program to College Hill almost three years ago.”“We Googled the worst place in America to live, and St Louis came up,” says Johnel Langerston, the president of Urban Born, a nonprofit youth organization. “So we expanded our program to College Hill almost three years ago.”
Located in St Louis’s impoverished north side, the neighborhood of College Hill is known as the most dangerous in the city. Shootings and homicides are a regular occurrence. In a year that has seen homicides in St Louis rise nearly 60%, College Hill was declared a crime “hot spot”, prompting an influx of 80 extra police officers in February – most of whom have since departed.Located in St Louis’s impoverished north side, the neighborhood of College Hill is known as the most dangerous in the city. Shootings and homicides are a regular occurrence. In a year that has seen homicides in St Louis rise nearly 60%, College Hill was declared a crime “hot spot”, prompting an influx of 80 extra police officers in February – most of whom have since departed.
In College Hill, houses without roofs or windows stand next to long-boarded businesses and churches. Piles of bricks lie on the sidewalks, sold by desperate residents for a small profit. Teddy bears lie in rows outside abandoned homes, marking the sites of slayings.In College Hill, houses without roofs or windows stand next to long-boarded businesses and churches. Piles of bricks lie on the sidewalks, sold by desperate residents for a small profit. Teddy bears lie in rows outside abandoned homes, marking the sites of slayings.
Ninety-two per cent of College Hill’s roughly 1,800 residents are black. But the people of College Hill are tired of being treated as statistics. As the murder rate climbs, residents are struggling to find ways to protect the neighborhood’s youth and create opportunity in a region left to rot.Ninety-two per cent of College Hill’s roughly 1,800 residents are black. But the people of College Hill are tired of being treated as statistics. As the murder rate climbs, residents are struggling to find ways to protect the neighborhood’s youth and create opportunity in a region left to rot.
“We’re surrounded by murders,” says Langerston. “We hear gunshots going off all the time. That’s normal here. The children of the people being murdered are in our program, so we deal with it a little more intimately than the average nonprofit.”“We’re surrounded by murders,” says Langerston. “We hear gunshots going off all the time. That’s normal here. The children of the people being murdered are in our program, so we deal with it a little more intimately than the average nonprofit.”
In October 2012, Langerston, a black business and marketing executive, moved from Los Angeles and invested a million and a half dollars of his own money to build Urban Born on one of the most decimated blocks of College Hill – buying out a crackhouse and a burnt-down building in the process. His sprawling compound is guarded by bull mastiffs, and he plans to plant thicker trees “to keep the kids from being hit by bullets”.In October 2012, Langerston, a black business and marketing executive, moved from Los Angeles and invested a million and a half dollars of his own money to build Urban Born on one of the most decimated blocks of College Hill – buying out a crackhouse and a burnt-down building in the process. His sprawling compound is guarded by bull mastiffs, and he plans to plant thicker trees “to keep the kids from being hit by bullets”.
Every school day, dozens of children come to Urban Born to play sports, do theater, and learn about conflict and resolution. The program is free.Every school day, dozens of children come to Urban Born to play sports, do theater, and learn about conflict and resolution. The program is free.
“The impact we’ve had has been remarkable because of the drug dealers – their children are in our program,” says Langerston. “Those are the children whose parents are attracted to the program, because they don’t want their kids to have the life they have.”“The impact we’ve had has been remarkable because of the drug dealers – their children are in our program,” says Langerston. “Those are the children whose parents are attracted to the program, because they don’t want their kids to have the life they have.”
Langerston says his organization helps children cope with the brutality of life in College Hill. He recalls a beautiful autumn day when the children strolled through the neighborhood, a little girl telling him the things she noticed about fall. “Her daddy pulled up at 6pm to pick up his daughter,” he recalls. “By 8pm that night he was shot eight times and killed, right on this block.”Langerston says his organization helps children cope with the brutality of life in College Hill. He recalls a beautiful autumn day when the children strolled through the neighborhood, a little girl telling him the things she noticed about fall. “Her daddy pulled up at 6pm to pick up his daughter,” he recalls. “By 8pm that night he was shot eight times and killed, right on this block.”
A few blocks away, next to a 150-year-old water tower that harkens back to the neighborhood’s 19th-century glory days, is Fresno’s Diner, one of the few legal business establishments in College Hill.A few blocks away, next to a 150-year-old water tower that harkens back to the neighborhood’s 19th-century glory days, is Fresno’s Diner, one of the few legal business establishments in College Hill.
The restaurant opened in December 2014 after its owners spent eight years saving money. In a corner booth is a laptop computer and a dictionary. That’s where La’Keith Woods works on his novels about the area.The restaurant opened in December 2014 after its owners spent eight years saving money. In a corner booth is a laptop computer and a dictionary. That’s where La’Keith Woods works on his novels about the area.
“I grew up in College Hill, right down the street,” Woods says. “It’s a depressed area. But there are people trying to find a better life, trying to find a better way. When I was in jail I was thinking ‘How could I make some money for my family?’ The only thing I had was a pocket dictionary, some stamps and a pencil. My first book was a novel, 55,000 words. I’m trying to do a series.” “I grew up in College Hill, right down the street,” Woods says. “It’s a depressed area. But there are people trying to find a better life, trying to find a better way. When I was in jail I was thinking: ‘How could I make some money for my family?’ The only thing I had was a pocket dictionary, some stamps and a pencil. My first book was a novel, 55,000 words. I’m trying to do a series.”
A poster for Woods’s crime novel, Cornerstone, is proudly displayed on the wall of the restaurant, which is owned by his mother. “I live in St Louis Missouri, also known as number one murder capital in the nation,” a note of explanation reads. “Everyday life is threatened with crime, drugs and murder.” A poster for Woods’s crime novel, Cornerstone, is proudly displayed on the wall of the restaurant, which is owned by his mother. “I live in St Louis, Missouri, also known as number one murder capital in the nation,” a note of explanation reads. “Everyday life is threatened with crime, drugs and murder.”
Like everyone with whom the Guardian spoke in College Hill, Woods has a prison record, and like all of them, he cites education and economic empowerment as the keys to turning College Hill around. He describes NGOs who enter the area and “take their grant money and run” and a rapacious policing system that profits off the poverty of residents.Like everyone with whom the Guardian spoke in College Hill, Woods has a prison record, and like all of them, he cites education and economic empowerment as the keys to turning College Hill around. He describes NGOs who enter the area and “take their grant money and run” and a rapacious policing system that profits off the poverty of residents.
Related: Inside St Louis's lurid crime tabloid: 'There's a callousness about the value of life here'Related: Inside St Louis's lurid crime tabloid: 'There's a callousness about the value of life here'
“If we didn’t have no crime, they wouldn’t have no jobs – the police, the lawyers,” he says. “That’s the industry of College Hill. If College Hill weren’t ‘the bad area’ they wouldn’t have no money to benefit themselves. That’s the American Dream right there. They live that dream, but people in College Hill, instead of going to college we go to prison.” “If we didn’t have no crime, they wouldn’t have no jobs – the police, the lawyers,” he says. “That’s the industry of College Hill. If College Hill weren’t ‘the bad area’ they wouldn’t have no money to benefit themselves. That’s the American dream right there. They live that dream, but people in College Hill, instead of going to college, we go to prison.”
In the neighborhood, some residents are double victims, losing family both to criminals and to the police.In the neighborhood, some residents are double victims, losing family both to criminals and to the police.
Prince Carter, a resident of College Hill who owns a barbecue stand, lost his brother Garland to a shoot-out at a liquor store. Garland Carter’s son, Garland Carter Jr, was shot and killed by police years before, dying in his father’s arms. “My brother was never the same,” recalls Carter, who cites “poverty, despair, and no jobs” as well as “ineffective political leadership” as the causes of violence in College Hill. Prince Carter, a resident of College Hill who owns a barbecue stand, lost his brother Garland to a shootout at a liquor store. Garland Carter’s son, Garland Carter Jr, was shot and killed by police years before, dying in his father’s arms. “My brother was never the same,” recalls Carter, who cites “poverty, despair, and no jobs” as well as “ineffective political leadership” as the causes of violence in College Hill.
When asked about the future of College Hill, no one had an answer, because they say it is hard to see past the next day. They are frustrated by a political system that they say has abandoned them – including absentee political representatives who will not return their calls – and some are taking matters into their own hands.When asked about the future of College Hill, no one had an answer, because they say it is hard to see past the next day. They are frustrated by a political system that they say has abandoned them – including absentee political representatives who will not return their calls – and some are taking matters into their own hands.
“This used to be a drug drop-off and pick-up,” says Langerston, gesturing around his compound. “And it’s gone. And it’s not gone because I came to whup on them, it’s gone because I came here with love. And with love, you get more respect.”“This used to be a drug drop-off and pick-up,” says Langerston, gesturing around his compound. “And it’s gone. And it’s not gone because I came to whup on them, it’s gone because I came here with love. And with love, you get more respect.”
“People aren’t seeing the struggles of the people in College Hill,” says Woods. “They’re not seeing that people have dreams and aspirations to do better, to do great things. They come here treating us like crime statistics. But we’re no different than anyone else in the community or the world or anywhere else. We’re human beings.”“People aren’t seeing the struggles of the people in College Hill,” says Woods. “They’re not seeing that people have dreams and aspirations to do better, to do great things. They come here treating us like crime statistics. But we’re no different than anyone else in the community or the world or anywhere else. We’re human beings.”