On July 1, 2023 around 3:20pm vendors at the One Africa One Nation Farmer’s Market were shutting down and packing up their merchandise and equipment when out of nowhere a tornado touched down and caused destruction and scared everyone who was at O’Fallon Park. The winds were really violent and people ran to the brick restroom building for shelter. I also was at the scene and filmed some footage on my phone. Dust was everywhere and the wind was blowing very hard horizontally. No one was hurt but four vendors incurred damage to their tents, merchandise and equipment.
The Northside was devastated and majority of families were without power for nearly 5 days post tornado. Four weeks later there are still hazardous fallen trees and debris all throughout the Black community in St. Louis’ northside. Many northside residents had to throw away all of their groceries from their refrigerators because they had no electricity.
The market team of the One Africa One Nation Farmer’s Market set up produce tables right outside of the Gary Brooks Black Power Community Garden at 4031 West Florissant Ave. The produce giveaways are every Friday from 4-5:30pm.
Other parts of St. Louis that are non-black have already been cleaned up weeks ago but the northside still looks like a war zone. The lack of response from the city is further evidence for why African Americans need self-determination which is the ability to feed, clothe and house ourselves in case of crisis situations.
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