Riots, Books, and Hope
I live in St. Louis, Missouri, which is supposed to be the buckle of the Bible Belt here in the Mid-West of America. It’s a conservative town, like a lot of the middle of the country, but last night parts of my city burned. We sat up last night listening to police scanners and following the news, and social media as we watched the peaceful protests about the Michael Brown case turn into violent riots. Maybe if there had only been people from Ferguson, MO, or at least the St. Louis area, involved it wouldn’t have gotten violent, but there were too many people from outside our state that wanted the protests to be exactly what they were last night. For days I believed that no matter what the grand jury results, there were too many elements in town that wanted to loot and burn, and they were going to do that regardless. Some because they are truly anarchists and believe that change can only happen through such acts; some because they had decided it was an excuse for them to steal from other people in their community; some because they just enjoy the release of violence; some because they got caught up in the mob mentality and they did things last night that they would never have done on their own. I wonder if that last group is embarrassed today, or even ashamed of things they did when the mob had them in it’s thrall? They anarchists and the violent, well, I’ll quote, “Some men just want to see the world burn.”
As far as I can tell through news sources there was only one riot related death last night. Watching last night it seemed like half the city was going up in looting and flames, and surely there would be causalities. Death had to follow such destruction, so to find that we lost only one person to it all seems miraculous. There were enough injuries that we may still lose more people from complications due to injuries sustained last night, but so far only one more person added to the tragedy. I guess people’s guardian angels were holding hands and trading favors.
Our night was full of the harsh crackle of the police scanner as Spike listened for certain numbers to be called off that would let him know if it was a public disturbance, a shooting, an assault, or a riot. I’ve never really mastered listening to the scanner, I often have trouble understanding what’s being said. We listened to it like background music, then he’d turn it up and we’d fall quiet, and we’d all listen. Was the violence growing? Was it getting closer? How bad was it getting? On a scale of Gandhi to L. A. Riots, where was it?
Jon explained on a map where each new event was, and how close it was to us, and those we loved. Genevieve read off which business was on fire now: Walgreens, Beauty Supply, Little Caesars, McDonalds, Public Storage, AutoZone, and several others. People are more important than things, or places, but every business that was destroyed last night was someone’s job, or jobs. The people that were doing their work, doing their best to be productive and happy, are jobless today just before the holidays. So many people live paycheck to paycheck that every lost job, sometimes just a lost week of pay, can mean they can’t pay their rent, which means they and their family could be homeless by Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanza, Winter Solstice. We needed some hope in St. Louis last night and we found it in the Ferguson Library.
The Library stayed open normal business hours yesterday and is open today so the children have some place to go with the schools closed. Libraries were safe places to me as a child, a place full of my very favorite things in the world – books. The librarian near my elementary school let me leave the children’s section early and read from the adult side of things. She never censored me, or questioned my reading material. I am so grateful to her, because I was able to read without being judged, and that is very freeing for a child. Books were a place to hide, a shelter from harsh realties of all kinds. The books I read during late elementary were part of what helped me become who I am, not just as a writer, but as a person. As long as there are libraries full of books where children can go and lose themselves in stories, there is hope. If you woke feeling helpless and wondering what you could do today, donate. I donated to the Ferguson library, because books and the people who love books are my people. It’s not about the color that happens to be on our skin, if you love stories as much as I do, then we have more in common than anything that divides us.
As we all look for things we can do to help rebuild, or reinforce the good things that remain, find something positive that means as much to you as books do to me and put your money, your time, to that. We donated to the Ferguson Library so that they will be there for everyone who understands that stories are part of what makes us human, makes us people, makes us who we are, and helps us to become more.
36 thoughts on “Riots, Books, and Hope”
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I am so proud that you took the time to write about hope with all the despair that is happening around you. I pray that everyone in Missouri will heal and learn that violence does not solve the problem. You are my favorite author and I have not had an author that I look up to in a very long time. Thank you for being the person you are.
Laurell, the more you reveal of yourself the more I love you!
Laurell, I still find refuge and solace in a well stocked book store or library and I’m in my 50s. If I didn’t have my books I’m not sure what I would do with myself. There is always a book with me – no matter where I am.
I, too, live in the midwest and can’t believe what’s going on in Ferguson. You’re absolutely right about there being a riot no matter what the verdict was going to be. It’s a shame that we can’t just “live and let live”! I don’t understand why the color of a person’s skin should make a difference in how you feel about that person. Color me confused……
Goddess bless you, Laurell. Not for what you do, but for who you are.
I watch it on the news and it makes me sad,my stepdaughter on her way home to St Louis from college and I hope everything is ok ,I am in Ohio and we have some gatherings all peaceful so far.♡ peace and hope for all.
Thank you, Laurell, for posting to let us know how you are doing and how your city is doing. My daughter said the same thing you did about the businesses that were burned and looted. She was called a “raciest”. My daughter has never been a raciest. She has 3 uncles that are black and a few cousins that are biracial. I can understand why people get upset and angry. But, why disstroy their livelihood? Times are hard all over the world. This being the holiday season, this violence now has hurt some of the blacks that live and work in those businesses. Now, they will not be able to feed or get gifts for their families. But, did the law breakers think about that? NOPE!! If they had, they wouldnt of distroyed things that do not belong to them. This is what has made me sad about this entire thing. My thoughts and prayers are with you, your family and your city. May things get back to normal as normal can be.
I totally agree with all of you. I don’t understand what went wrong that night where was the nation guard they promised. Why destroy the town? I see the cop car but still thats crazy way of acting. That was not peaceful at all. By destroying the town they didn’t improve the justice system they actual might have made it worst because now all the owners who have to lay their workers off during the holidays may never know who did it because their was to many people around and know they didn’t arrest all of them that was vandalizing things.
YOU GET FARTHER WITH HONEY NOT GASOLINE
That is so wonderful about the library being open and you take on what books and stories meant to you. I too escape into the wonderful world of books. Growing up my mother was mentally ill and sometimes could be abusive. Books were my way to cope and to be out of her way. I also was one of those children who had a reading comprehension level far above my grade level. With that also comes a somewhat more mature outlook than others. My middle school librarian was giving me a hard time about my choice in books saying that my choice (nikolas and alexexadra) was a hard read for many college students therefore it was completely out of my range and i should chose a more appropriate book. I firmly but politely stood my ground and ultimately left with the book. When I returned it I included a report on the book. My intention was to show her that not only did I read the entire book but also that I understood what I had read. She didn’t take it that way I’m afraid, she thought I was trying to be a smarty pants. I may censor some of what my child watches but never what she reads. May the powers that be bless MO and everyone who has to endure atrocities all over the world.
Laurell, I live across the state in St Joseph and I have been watching and worrying about the riots and fires. I am glad that not many were hurt badly or killed and I am so sad that it happened at all. I hope for calmness to come soon. Have a wonderful holiday time and I hope you will be well!
Laurell, thank you for always taking the time to express how you feel and to help others in happy times and in sad times. You make us think about others and different sides to things. Books have always been my safe escape. No matter what was going on in my life I had my books. I had to leave my collection of books several times but I will always buy them again when I can. I also spent so much time in the library when I was a kid. Thank you for being the loving and careing person you are. Know that you are loved by thousands. HUGS
Like others have said, thank you for posting something positive amongst the negative. It is great to see something bright in an otherwise dreary situation.
Great commentary as usual, Laurell. I grew up in in Florissant and mourn the destruction.
What about foodbanks? What about the salvation army? I understand why you donated to a library, but isn’t food and financial help needed more than books?
From a Ferguson resident I thank you for your dontation. It is nice to hear about hope from someone else when things seem so hopeless. Books have always been a refuge for me inside that very library since I was young. Your donation will now help someone just like me with their love of reading.
Thank you for being a voice to our wonderful city. It’s truly saddening to watch our city being torn to pieces physically and emotionally. I to live in St. Louis and will also donate to the Ferguson Library. Being an infant teacher I believe in the power of words and how they effect us. Be Blessed.
I completely agree and I thought of you and your family last night how scary and unsettling. I lived in LA during the riots and it was insane watching the news and hearing the mayhem. I relate to the solice of the library. I used to spend a lot of my time there to escape my home and my love for reading grew. I hope for peace and healing in your town and everywhere!! Thanks for blogging
Laurel – You are my absolute favorite author, hands down, and I highly respect you. I understand your point of view & realize that, if not for those bloodthirsty outsiders, all this madness might have calmed down weeks ago. The rest of our country, I’m sorry to say (I have many friends & family everywhere) are thoroughly disgusted with the deliberate destruction of their own community & the black on black crime that keeps being fueled by the Jacksons & Sharpstons of this ugly world, may they rot in hades for the harm they’ve caused to so many! They are nothing but race baiters, rabble rousers and doing their level best to stir hate to fever pitch and yet they call themselves “preachers”…they are an anethema to that God-called ministry & should be ashamed of the words that spew from their mouths. The people who actually DO live there should wake up and take back their city before those viscious outsiders leave them with absolutely nothing. Ride them out of town on a rail!
I applaud your efforts and kind words to these people in this ugly situation. And it’s a shame that the proverbial hand full of bad apples is ruining so much for so many. I really don’t feel that these people deserve our kindness because our kindness is met with their stupidity. And I understand that people are upset, but that gives them no right to go destroy their town. The ones that are breaking windows, setting fires, etc…….to me they are stupid, ignorant, assholes. And that statement has nothing to do with race, color, creed, religion, etc. They’re mad at the outcome so they rob their neighbors? Upset and the verdict so they burn up their own back yards? What idiots1
All the rioting is tragic. in the mob mentalitly, they forget how much damage they are doing to their own neighborhoods and neighbors and themselves.Lost, is reason for all the upheavel. Rioting took place all over the county, from LA to NY. LA seemed to confine Rioting to the 110 Fwy. Traffic was stoped in both directions as some cars unlucky to not escape, were destroyed. I hope you and yours remained safe and secure.
Laurell, I live about an hour from St.Louis, and I too waited for the verdict and watched as people did exactly what Michael Brown’s family didn’t want them to do, they wanted their son’s death to bring about change and to not fight violence with more violence, Maya Angelu said ” Hate It has caused a lot of problems in this world but it has not solved one yet” and the violence is coming from hate and we hate what we don’t understand. This shouldn’t be a race issue but a human issue, we all should be upset that an 18 year old guy had his life cut short not that an 18 year old BLACK guy had his life cut short. Since its been decided that Officer Wilson is not going to face the consequences of what he did to Michael and no matter how many business are burned, how many attacks on law enforcement that happen its not going to change what happened. Its not going to bring Michael back, its not going to help his family heal and deal with the loss, we need change and lesson to come from this to have something good come from something so tragic. So that Michael Brown did not die in vain. So that he can rest in peace knowing that his death made a difference.
I am donating, too.
It warms my heart to know that you and your family are safe. It is an unfortunate and deeply painful end to a confusing moment. The fact that hate and rage will color a time of happiness and joy for so many people tugs at my empathic heat. Watching the news this morning and having to explain to my daughter Genevieve (thank heaven Abigail is to young to understand) what was going on made me ill, so we turned off the T.V. and read.I read everything from Seuss to Grimm today to put smiles on my daughters faces and remind me to not have such a bleak world view. I hope your community heals and grows stronger.
Reading your blog actually brought me to tears and I’m not usually an emotional person. Since the incident in Ferguson happened all I’ve talked about is what about the children? Nobody is thinking about the children this is effecting. Their day to day lives have been turned upside down and they have no control over that. Children look to adults to see how to act and what to do. These kids have to be stressed out and scared out of their minds. It’s Holiday time, children should be seeing family for thanksgiving and thinking about what they want Santa to bring. Not weather or not if their going to have food and a place to live! I just really feel for these kids. Thank you Laurell for posting this and helping the library, and thank you to the Ferguson Library for doing this for kids and their families. I live in Missouri just not in Ferguson.
I also spent the best hours in the library and also was never censored. I hope that soon the riots and destruction will end. Thank you for your statement. I love your books .
Laurell, you never cease to amaze me! You’re my favest author for so many reasons. I love the vibe I feel whenever I’m in a library, fortunately, my love made me an avid reader instead of a writer. O.o Go figure. XD
Thank you for your perspective as a native St. Louis resident. I hope that the same people that were involved in the destruction will be put to work restoring these buildings and businesses. One of my earliest memories was getting my first library card. before it was issued, the librarian gave a lecture on the importance of books and the correct way to treat the book – ie, do NOT dog ear the pages, do NOT leave the book open face down, do NOT wipe your dirty fingers on the pages, etc. Even though I may not always adhere to those rules on my own books, you can be sure the books I check out of the library are. I, too, donate to my local library. It’s where I came across my favorite writers.
Earlier today I had wondered how you and yours were fairing, and hoping you were far enough away to miss out. Glad to hear you were. Wishing you well from SW Mo.
Maplewood is where I work and many, many friends live in clayton, plus a few in Jennings. It was surreal to hear them talk about not being able to sleep last night because of nearby gunfire and others who are too afraid to stay in their own homes ’till this is over. Do the looters realize they have set back race relations by decades? Or was that their intent? I too love(d) to escape into the world of books. We moved very often when I was growing up but I never felt truly lonely as long as I could tag along on a literary adventure, sharing the lives of the people who lived in books. Great stories make readers more empathetic to those around them; able to walk a mile in their shoes and live in their heads long enough to understand their point of view, even if their own ideology is vastly different. Some may criticize for choosing to donate books rather than food, but empathy, wisdom and understanding is without price. How can you escape your world unless shown another way to live?
I live in St. Louis, and I was up all night monitoring the events, as I have friends on the police force, as I’m sure quite a few of u s do. She kept us updated via text whenever possible. She said there were lots of explosions and lots of bullets, that it sounded like a war zone. I spent the night watching in horror as businesses and cars burned, people’s livelihoods destroyed.
I have no doubt that a majority of that action was outside forces. However, Michael Brown’s stepfather didn’t help matters when he shouted “burn this b—- down”. Brown’s mother and father didn’t do that, they just begged for peaceful protests. I hope tonight is better than last night, and then the real healing can begin.
Just a little note to say, I love your work and I also escaped into books as a child and one book that resonated with me was Matilda by Roald Dahl. Blessings be upon you and your family and my thoughts are with all caught up in this mess. X
When I was 7 the Librarian caught me in the adult section, she wanted to send me back to the kids section. My mother told her that I was reading at a High school level. The librarian then pointed out books that would keep my interest and I would still be a kid. I remember reading Peter Pan and telling my mom Tink curses. Libraries are the best.
So Michael Brown robbed this guy http://imgur.com/gallery/eXaWAMN – I guess the crowd now did what Michael Brown wanted.
So glad you are okay. Thank you for sharing how you are coping with such a harsh experience in your area. It sounds like you are being level-headed and practical.
If you would take a moment, I’d appreciate it if you would straighten out some confusion. Amazon has Jason with a CD option, yet no books are in-stock. There isn’t even a price listed. Will there be a CD of Jason? (Because I have all of your others on CD, you see.)
Happy Thanksgiving to the author I credit with my sanity and, yes, even my life. You mean so much to me!
We love you Laurell-you speak out for those who can’t or don’t have the words. Why is it the bible belt has the most hate related crimes? They obviously don’t read it. The “Religious Right” is neither.
I am very sorry you had to spend that night in fear, it must have been truly terrifying. These words of hope and inspiration are just what is needed in trying days. Thank you for writing this and you have inspired me to dig out my books and take them to my local library and donate them in honor of every side of the Ferguson victims.
I found the riots in Missouri deeply disturbing. How do you prevent violence with violence.
AHA! i have always believed that those of us who read and/or write all the time have librarian angels in their past. Mine did exactly the same things yours did. let me read from the adult section early and never censored my books. I wonder if people really understand how librarians are the legs of free speech in this country.