The Making of Meaningful Lives at Pruitt-Igoe
- Item sets
- AFAM Historic Sites
- Title
- The Making of Meaningful Lives at Pruitt-Igoe
- Description
- Life is often determined by one’s perspective, by a certain point of view. The perspective many have of Pruitt-Igoe is that of failure. The narrative of Pruitt-Igo is wrapped in racism, and tales of gangs, shoddy workmanship, vacant apartments, and the image of the worst of the worst. For many residents, this is not their point of view. Their perspective is of love, family, community, and memories that cannot be replaced. Construction on Pruitt-Igoe began in 1951, total demolition of the site occurred in 1976. Pruitt-Igoe should not be remembered as the center of urban blight, white flight, and systemic racism. Pruit-Igoe should be an example of hope. The hope that those who made what they could out of questionable circumstances. May this plaque be a reminder to take the good with the bad and to use obstacles as the impetus to overcome anything.
- Creator
- Brian Thomas
- Semester
- Intro to Public History
- Subject
- Historic Marker Nominations
- Pruitt-Igoe Housing Complex
- Racism
- Pruitt-Igoe
- St. Louis History
- Neighborhood History
- Community Memory
- Urban Blight
- White Flight
- Language
- English
- Publisher
- UMSL Digital Humanities Lab
- Date
- 2020
- Identifier
- Coordinates: 38.643, -90.213