East. St. Louis Oral History Project: Neighborhood Activism and Community Change
October Work Weekend -- 26th-27th
October, 2001
Interview with Henry Peete
Interviewed by: Emily Scott, Greg Jones, Lisa Herst, Kevin Butler,
Nadine Walter, Mariah Dell, and Robin Berman
PERSONAL DATA:
Birth date: 1940
Occupation: Horse Groomer
Neighborhood Organizations: Committee of Emerson Park, Zoning and Planning
Committee
BIOGRAPHY:
Mr. Peete was born in Fayette County Tennessee where as a child
he picked cotton alongside his family. In 1959 Mr. Peete left the South
to travel North where he eventually settled in East St. Louis after a brief
stint in Chicago. Currently Mr. Peete is a groom man for thoroughbred racehorses
but has also worked as a machinist in a boat factory. Mr. Peete has a wife
and two daughters and spends his free time involved in neighborhoods organizations
and church groups.
Quotes from the Interview:
Mr. Peete spoke of the importance of youth involvement in community
affairs in order to train leaders to pick up the responsibilities that
will be left when today’s leaders step aside. The dedication and hard work
that has shaped Mr. Peete’s life inspires us to continue to work among
our communities and be those leaders of tomorrow.
"Then factories started movin out, movin out, movin out, movin out. When I came to the East Saint Louis, the population of this town was 86,000" ~Henry Peete
"86,000 when I came here. And it’s been droppin off, droppin off, droppin off." ~ Henry Peete
"Before I leave I would like to see this city back together, like to see it back together, Emerson Park will be one of the richest part of East St. Louis. It will be. And. Emerson Park is fifty-five blocks. And. I’m hoping it will have a green land. If its gunna be green, let it be a park." ~ Henry Peete
GENERAL TOPIC OF INTERVIEW:
The deterioration of East St. Louis and the current revitalization
of the region. What caused the region to end up in its current state and
what can be done to bring about positive changes both economically and
socially for the residents of East St. Louis. Mr. Peete is currently involved
in many neighborhood organizations. He discussed his hopes and dreams for
the community along with his past experiences.
