Sikeston is finding solutions

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sikeston

By Michael Jensen

SIKESTON, Mo. -- Separating fact from fiction, myth from reality sometimes isn't so simple. Beginning today and running for the next three days, the Southeast Missourian will explore the issues of race and drugs, conflict and resolution, progress and stagnation in my hometown of Sikeston.

Why, you might ask, is a Cape Girardeau newspaper examining issues in Sikeston? The answer is so painfully obvious. If it can happen in Sikeston, it can happen too in Cape Girardeau.

So where do I begin?

Sikeston is a polarized community just like thousands of others in this state and nation. It is polarized along racial and economic lines, polarized between old money and new, newcomers and generational residents.

But Sikeston has more trouble with its reputation than with its reality. That's why separating the myth from the reality is so important.

Here's the reality. Over 90 percent of the minority residents of Sikeston live below the federal poverty level. Sikeston has a disproportionate amount of subsidized housing. Drugs, especially crack cocaine, have gained a foothold that has spawned murders and countless acts of violence. Minorities have remained isolated geographically, economically, socially.

These are realities.

Yet there are other realities that offer hope.

The city next spring will likely adopt a ward form of government which will give all areas of the community a voice in city government. The Department of Public Safety has regained respect within the community and is having a major impact on the number of crimes in Sikeston. An active core of minority leaders has begun the difficult task of retaking their neighborhood.

These are all positive signs.

It would be impossible to detail the number of initiatives undertaken in Sikeston to bridge the gap between the races and between all income and social groups. Black and white congregations are combining church services. Nearly 300 mostly white volunteers gathered last fall for a daylong cleanup campaign in the predominately minority Sunset Addition. Outreach programs abound to help bridge this age-old gap in our community.

Under all of these efforts, however, remains a mistrust of authority by many within our community. Some of that mistrust is surely justified. Yet each year Sikeston will experience a small number of incidents where police cars are pelted with bottles and rocks and officers are placed in danger. Those incidents push the positive community agenda one step backwards.

Cape Girardeau is not without similar stories, similar divides. Perhaps Sikeston's makeup differs from that of other communities, but our problems are universal.

And our solutions are just as elusive.

One myth that must be erased is that Sikeston residents are doing little to solve our social problems. That is patently incorrect. Massive efforts involving manpower, finances and collective reasoning have been placed into play. Sikeston's future is bright because the residents -- all residents -- are beginning to work together to reduce crime and increase participation. As trite as it sounds, our problems did not occur overnight, nor will our solutions come overnight.

Michael Jensen is publisher of the Standard Democrat, Sikeston's daily newspaper.