Savage Inequalities by Jonathan Kozol, East St. Louis

[1needzAname]

thumbs up if kipp sent you here for hw

[dragonben14]

i have to write a 7 min. essay over savage inqualities and this help a lot. its so sad how the kids in East St. Louis basically have no chance at an education.

[jelfrank286]

Good work. I live in NYC and teacher there since 1984. I am from St. Louis, my ex-wife did a social working stint at East St. Louis High. Everything Kozol and your presentation says about East St. Louis and it's relationship with St. Louis is true. St. Louis has more than its share of White bigots (not everyone of course, but way too many to count). I know I was raised with them. Much of the opposition to light rail in St. Louis was fear of integration it would facilitate.

[MrGrevy]

@jelfrank286 Yet the blacks commit the majority of crime.

[momnbenntly]

so its terra 4 white people lol

[momnbenntly]

i loved the music

[bizakis9]

Excellent! Thank you!!!

[cobraman96]

Funny how some the worlds smartest people either dropped out of school or went to a one room school house.Just throw some more money at the problem...lol

[massilivefly]

Let's not be to critical of the video considering, for the most part the stuff is true. Although there isn't a school in Farview Heights to go, I had to lie about my address to go to Belleville West. If it wasn't for that, I wouldnt have got a degree from one of the hardest liberal arts schools in the nation. So many people are trying to delegitimize the social argument the video should produce. Its not meant to say that white people don't have problems...its meant to say that E Saint does.

[MrGrevy]

Maybe blacks need to address their "culture" of thinking that being successful is "acting white". Freaking racist pieces of trash.

[flipadiddle]

@MrGrevy hey, cool! you're a dumbass who likes to post basically the same comment(s) on different videos. nice! you're awesome.

[MrGrevy]

@flipadiddle hey, cool! You're a stalker who cannot refute anything I say. You're awesome!

[flipadiddle]

@MrGrevy wasn't stalking you, i just happened to notice as i watched several related videos. I

'm not bothering to actually engage you in argument, because there would be no point. your arguments are irrational. it's similar to the idea of trying to convince a religious person that god doesn't exist, using science. it's pointless, as the two parties would be arguing on two completely different planes. your irrational racism is hidden behind an extremely thin veil of pseudo-logic and rationality.

[MrGrevy]

@flipadiddle Nothing racist or untrue in anything I said. Don't blame me because you are uninformed. You take the stance of not arguing because you are not able to. Acting as if it would be pointless to argue is a coward's way out. Silly, arrogant goofball.

[jackfire55]

2001 Cincinnati Race Riots - Over 100 whites assaulted

[1stladycashout]

so sad

[yunsok80]

@xcellant please read the context of the video.

[thunderdragon14]

Fairview Heights doesn't have a high school. Although there is a grain of truth, this video is mainly fabricated.

[LostBallTallWeeds]

Very moving.

I'm struck with a thought. Do you suppose the illegal hispanics, are being used in the same way the black strike breaker's were used in St Louis ??

[dlahug]

@LostBallTallWeeds Very good you got it.

[LostBallTallWeeds]

Very moving.

I'm struck with a thought. Do you suppose the illegal hispanics, are being used in the same way the black strike breaker's were used in St Louis ??

I look forward to seeing more of your work.....it is excellent.

[DDixon1000]

East St. Louis is trash and the product of the black ghetto community that knows nothing but to slang crack, pimp ho's, and sit around collecting welfare.

[iSpurtz]

@DDixon1000 It's a never ending circle and there is no reason to call the whole population of them trash. What they are raised up in, what their school's are/are not made up of, doesn't help and that goes for any ghetto area, whether you're Pacific Islander, Black, White, Native American, ETC. 

[New2thegame100]

Totally sad! I dont like the video. It's a bad interpretation of East St. Louis and whoever made it sucks!

[nosam12957]

very well done

[MrSimonGirty]

Another example of racist propaganda. They close the Eads bridge to vehicular traffic because there are food stands on it. Theres a bridge 1/8 of a mile to the north and a a bridge 1/8 mile to the south of the one thats closed for the fair which remain open to everyone. Also the metro which travails the bridge still continues to operate during the fair. This vid is a pack of lies.

[flipadiddle]

@MrSimonGirty regardless of the statement about the eads bridge, it would be impossible to say that the decayed state of east st louis has nothing to do with racism, yes? surely you must concede that.

[mondrion1]

i LOve thIs City IdKy Pll fRom St LOUIs All wAys TaLKIN sHT aBOUT Us

[tashaletta]

This is my new Comment and not a reply.

BUT about a yr ago i save this cite as a form of my entertainment to my life and from

since i 1st began commented on one of these types of things i was the one to receive a +3thumbs down in the GREEN and about a month or so when ever I got the 1st 2nd response directed especially 4 mE Since ALL u TALKING BAD ABOUT THIS AND THAT! well I'M Back tEXT ME cALL ME &LET ME know what it is that you think about TIGER WOODs? estl

[donnymiller1978]

quit complaining

[NuJoiseyMAN]

IT'S NOT ABOUT RACE. It's not White Vs. Black, it's Rich Vs. Poor. That's the way it has been and that's probably how it will stay.

The same video could be shot in a poor white neighborhood in the Appalachias.

[PoeticTragedy182]

read the book.

[NuJoiseyMAN]

Don't need to.

[gswarner]

esl wouldnt be half so bad if if wasnt run by a bunch of corrupt bastards.

[mondrion1]

You Damn rite =)

[stlrepin314]

east st louis is not st louis' prob, theyre bot even in the same state as each other. st louis has its own probs and out dated school buildings, lack of text books, poor ghetto ppl... let illinois and east st louis take care of their own probs. but things will never change unless they do something about it themselves and we can see how thats working out, they want someone else to take care of them instead of doing it themselves

[Lawndale1984]

Yawn!!! You have a african -American president .... these people would rather have a handout. Excuses excuses

[samstephen8]

@Lawndale1984 you need to take a sociology class and study up on the matter before you make such an ignorant statement... you just look like a fuckin idiot when you do that. douche bag.

[mondrion1]

WTF YOU MEAN BITCH

[bartjebeltegoed]

It's really something to see the American system is failing miserably (look at detroit). I always thought there would be one point in time their egocentric system would start to fail...

If the would just look and learn at how some European countries are run...

For example, fox always critizes Holland for their liberal drug-policies. But the US has more than twice the amount of hard drug users! (as % of course). Or what about the inequality in education due to enormous entry fees?

[TheTollundWoman]

Many European countries have the same problems of racism and the injustice that springs from it, and their governments have failed to address these problems and in some cases have made them worse. De facto segragation exists in the UK"s major cities, and racism and brutality on the part of the police is as much of a problem in London as it is in Los Angeles.

[TheTollundWoman]

The American system of which you speak is modelled off the European system; like the nations of Europe in the 1800s, America today is defining itself as an empire and acting accordingly. This has led to a disregard for human rights and even human life, and a glorification of profit and property.

[TheTollundWoman]

The American system itself is not failing; it is serving those it was intended to serve perfectly well. The system is failing for the people it has always failed; racism and all its effects are nothing new, they are as old as the political entity of the "United states" itself.

[bartjebeltegoed]

I am in no way stating that European countries are perfect. But in west European countries like Sweden, Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium the primary focus is still on the poeple and their wellbeing, and not so much on the profits for the rich. Although i agree it's not watertight.

My feelings say we could be at the start of a revolutionary period. Changing the political landscape. China is now rapidly converting their dollars into natural resources (3% in july!).

[SZKID123]

Unfortunately racism is far from dead, and worse, it's not naturally on the collective mind, it's another joke from the system, and the free market economy's way from 40's to grow and go out of crisis and depression... Your american way of life!

[007rft]

This video clearly does not depict East St. Louis. There was no truth associated with this poorly documented "project" other than stereotyping still exists.

[DDixon1000]

I hope you failed the class. This video doesn't touch on the true reality of the situation at all. I grew up in East St. Louis and the real problem is the fostering of the drug and thug culture. The race card should be put away. Financial aid is available to all yet some choose to sell drugs, get shot at, shoot at others, and blame it all on race. You aren't helping by issuing a video like this, you are contributing to the problem. What you should have done was a true documentation.

[fnulnuakas]

I agree. If you look at the Illinois

Department of Education website, it is apparent that money is being dumped into East St. Louis by the State and Federal goverment such that more money is available per student than in other districts with far superior rates of academic achievement.

[mm89f]

Remember that East St.Louis is not part of Missouri (Geographically and Financially Speaking). Therefore obviously, Missouri tax money won't fund any ILLinois project, and ILLinois won't spend money there considering they have Chicago as their money maker. If Missouri funded any redevelopment in East St.Lous, IL would only benefit from the taxes acquired.

[scrumptious1983]

This video was telling nothing but the truth. The truth is, if East St. Louis was full of white kids and parents. The bridge during the independence fair would have never been closed. The school ten miles away would have been the same as the schools in East St. Louis. My question is is racism really dead? Have things changed so much in two years?

[handle342618]

Wow, as you said, it's like going into a totally different country.

[taboo69]

all east st louis people are nasty in from east st louis and im soooo clean that you can eat off my flooor sleep on my carpet sleep and tent out in my yard i was born an raised in east st louis i know it just been 3 murders during this year thats bad and it truley always been corrupt 50/50 % people dont know how to keep it real but im oned of those that was brought up a decnt person no trouble ect drug free im not a bad east st louisan

[elleneready]

well u might as well say u nasty 2 cuz u frm there..since u wana put it like dat

[glamatomic]

Nope, not the solution. It needs a major revitalization project, that's for sure, but turning it into another Edwardsville or St. Claire isn't the answer.

[T3hTr00Ski]

Eh, Lived in Fairmont all my life..It's not as bad as people make it out to be.

[xterrorizinboys88]

all im going to say is estl is pretty much 90% black, and it is a complete shit hole, i mean that place is like hell. Now there is a part of stl called lemay. It is 90% white, and its small houses, uneducated whites, everything that estl is. yet lemay is actually fine. Why is it that a all black areas kill them selves from within? I dont want to bring out the stereotypes but if blacks want to make a better living for themselves then go out and do it.Dont wait for the government!

[anduarto]

My sister taught at a catholic school in ESL in the 70's.

My friends and I used to drive to a gay bar called Faces there in the late 70's, early 80's.

ESL always sort of broke my heart. Whatever the accuracy of this video, here's hoping ESL can rise up and that we can fix our broken public school system in general.

ESL is part of the StL metro but does its fate lie more with STL or the state of Illinois? I'm guessing 40% STL, 60% Illinois.

I love Barack, but I wonder what he did for ESL?

[acalled]

For those of you saying the video is incorrect, you need to read the book the quotes are taken from.

[S0SAINTL0UIS]

Come on man. Fairview Heights High? Word?

[RonnieDobbz1978]

exactly, I got a thumbs down for posting the truth about this very false video. The pictures dont relate, there never was a fairview heights high, Its all complete BS. I guess its easy to get a MA in Education, becuase ther sources cited are not even close to accurate. I'm giving you a thumbs up.

word.

[alejandrox3]

glad its across the river, if it were to join with west stlouis it would be like a leech, draining away what little wealth st louis has.

get a better government, fix your city and stop killing the gay people that live there. what went wrong and why.

[bnlda]

ESL is my hometown and I'm always proud to correct people who think it's part of St. Louis MO.

One day - someday soon, ESL will RISE as a phoenix from the ashes.. to live up to it's potential as the most prime and undeveloped riverfront property - possibly in the world!!

When it does, I want to have enough money to live there - in a luxury apartment overlooking the ST Louis riverfront.

As we used to say when the East St. Louis Flyers football team was 100-0... Hell Yeah!!

[camtrist2]

OMG @ first I was not going to comment on your video but I had to because some of what is in your video is just not true. Although I no longer live in ESTL I was born and raised there and it is not as bad as this video represents it to be. First off yes the school system could be better, but the part about whites being afraid to drive through unless they are passing by way of highway is crap. Please believe that people in ESTL can care less about any white person passing through town. It's crap!

[acalled]

The quotes were taken from the book "Savage Inequalities" which was published in the 1980's. Not today, but the underlying message of segregated schools is still the same.

[RonnieDobbz1978]

Im calling BS on this. for one not all the pictures are from emerald city, and two, there is no such place as fairview heights high (those kids go to highschool in Belleville). Nice Try but you video is BUSTED.

[stanmugs]

For pitys sake!

[PYROKID1000k]

dont cross that bridge dogg

[CrystalsChannel]

everyones comments below are soooo long :O

:D

[kmfloyd45011]

It seems that every time we have a conversation about race, it aways brings out the worst. I spent more than 20 yrs growing up in ESL from the late 60s until the mid 80s. My years were spent with some wonderful people have been major influences in my life and helped shape the person I am today. It pains me to hear of the negative image outside people have about ESL and black people in general. We are not an "average" nor a statistic. Treat us with the same respect you would want.

[NewMoon333]

east saint louis is for black people who shank you loser.

[tashaletta]

To all you white niggers. I am a East St. Louis native and I am proud. The government is helping you to shorten your days with this idea of a 'race' and inferiority and superiority. There is no scientific evidence that prove whites a the superior race. There isn't no cranium size or I.Q. test that will prove that as truths. God made you and God mad me. On the flip side of things the government know that East St. Louis could be an economic powerhouse. What will happen to the white cities?

[pac13086]

NO shit man u sayin whites have it all easy? I grew up on the west side of chicago and i know alot of black people who had it easier than me man u know wat its like to be the only white? I dont hate black peeple all my friends were black most of them still are but still not wll whites got it easy

[HerrGroobee]

Sick nigger children always cheer me up!

[icecole12]

Thats the ignorant thinking that has screwed up society for years.

[mm89f]

East St.Louis is an Illinois problem that Illinois does not want to deal with because their money maker is Chicago. Its East St.Louis, Illinois.

[jimthecelt]

I am a White man raised in ESL and my parents taught at East Side High and at Landsdowne Jr. High. The city was ruined not by the Blacks, but by the WHITE politicians, corrupt union leaders, and the gangsters who preceded them. Best argument for Marxian socialism!

[hahajohnnyb]

Yeah commie-ism always works, hahahaha. Fact is that niggers fuck up everything everywhere they go. They are stupid because of their genes. What the Black community really needs is a good eugenics program to clean up that left end of their bell curve.

Communism can only work in a society of equals, as long as blacks are genetically inferior to white inequity will always exist.

[jimthecelt]

You make me embarrassed to be a White man! You poor, stupid White-trash. You obviously don't know the first thing about genetics! Or, about Marxism, for that matter. OBAMA IN 2008! Long live Afro-Americans!

[hahajohnnyb]

Yeah, Marxism! Let's subsidize our most retarded and violent citizens to reproduce at the highest rate, lowering the average IQ of the entire nation. Yeah, that would be a brilliant way to destroy a great nation!

Welfare mammies are a great contribution to society, look at all of the good seeds they have born, raping and murdering good people before they go to prison.

Nah, best possible thing to do with niggers is to sterilize them, if you don't believe me, go to your local niggerhood.

[icecole12]

There are more whites on welfare than blacks. And as stated before you should be sterilized.

[hahajohnnyb]

Average nigger IQ in America is 85, which is border line retarded. The 1/3rd of nigger that are either on welfare or in prison, make children that go on welfare or to prison or both. They are nothing but a dysgenic drag on society constantly producing less than they consume making everyone else work hard to subsidize more nigger babies being born, which perpetuates the cycle of crime, poverty, STDs, drug abuse and an ever increasing prison population. Enough is enough! Niggers are not equals

[wernew1]

do the world a favor and stick a gun in your mouth. please. people like you should be thrown off a boat in the middle of the pacific ocean with a five hundred pound anchor tied to your neck. i don't care if you're white, yellow, brown, black, or orange. anyone with that amount of ignorance to another race doesn't deserve to even to exist. ...and i'm positive that given how well you spoke above, you aren't "border line" retarded, you just ARE retarded. glad you have an IQ of 25

[icecole12]

Such a large vocabulary. You speak so well. NOT!!!!!! WHITES were in East St. Louis long before blacks. Do some research. And since nigger means an ignorant person I guess you would be a nigger too.

[189King]

East St. Louis...born and raised.

[jaymcb]

Thing is East St. Louis is in Illinois. Not much Missourians can do to help.

[nel1122]

nice project.

[maskofvenice]

The facts in this particular video might be out of date, but segregated schooling is still very much a reality in this country. Kozol has written several influential books since "Savage" namely The Shame of a Nation which I recommend. The poor, black and hispanic residents of this country still are not given the opportunity to succeed.

[stanmugs]

Ugh! How revolting!

[willow2947]

i hope someone will do a current type video using this awesome song. i wish i knew how

Love You Stevie!!

Ron Paul 2008!

[garretwf]

i think this is great however out dated the information is. its still a reality in many public schools and if you are a teacher and you dont see the inequality in this country you are blind. its not about the teachers pay its about the money put towards students learning.

[drsrv2000]

As assistant professor of sociology, and our textbook (which is excellent) refers to Kozol's book, Savage Inequalities, as providing good information. I have done some research (informal) that seems to support that even though the book is not of recent publication, it is still very accurate in it's description of education in some cities of the US. Remember--the book is NOT just about E. St. Louis. There are a number of cities addressed.

[icecole12]

As a native of ESL and having read Kozol's book it would seem accurate to someone who did not grow up in the city. From the outside looking in it does appear to be a terrible situation but having lived in several other states including being school briefly in another country (Canada). This book is a very negative regarding the school systems. Children educated in district 189 received great educations. Much better than the system I teach in.

[drsrv2000]

As a native, you probably are more able to speak to the issue, but I married a native, and have visited often. He and his family attended Lincoln High School, and did not speak ill of that experience, but watching his sister be frisked at the front door before going in to a dance with a gun lying on the counter (and that was way back in '85) left a lasting impression on me. Terribly economically depressed area. I'm frightened when I am there; the family has been the victim of crime many times.

[DubStackG]

Beautifully Done Yunsok, Great Vid, Bravo.

[mydialogue]

please update this or get rid of it come on now I'm a teacher and parent here in 2007 we havent lost what St. Louis City and County schools are losing everyday this bull is so outdated and the pay is sometimes twice more than surrounding cities East Saint Louis has principals making 95+ yearly get real

[RMCrowley]

Stevie WOnder Big Brother..

[estlrep]

This was a good idea but some of the facts are a bit out dated. Not that things are any better but your facts lend to the credability of the project.

[yunsok80]

definitely i agree. it was a project i did for a grad course on kozols book, which was written a couple decades ago. most of the facts were taken from the book, not current...

[MrGrevy]

@yunsok80 Not much of a grad program if you're using outdated, inaccurate, decades old tripe from this moron.

[blktenor]

@estlrep I was going to ask the same thing. Where are the dates for these quotes?

[RMCrowley]

Kill the Man a great movie and idea

[larryfowler40]

This was a brilliant piece of work utilizing one of my favorite books. I have often though about ways to get others to read important books I have read. This combination of quotes, visuals and music is just perfect.  I hope I can do something up to this level.

[MindFuLL]

I love this song. I'm glad someone decide to make a video. I love "You've killed all our leaders/ we've done nothing to you/ you'll cause your own country