Evidently St. Cloud was devastated again after Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton attended Somali Night at St. Cloud State University (SCSU) this past spring. Dayton’s scathing criticisms certify St. Cloud “White Cloud” as the state’s most dysfunctional community. (“Minnesota Governor Dayton: ‘Don’t like immigrants? Get out of Minnesota;’” National Vanguard, October 20, 2015; “Dayton attends SCSU’s Somali Night;” St. Cloud Times, April 3, 2016)
St. Cloud’s psychological ragamuffins depend on racism more than an addict needs methamphetamines. Black whistleblowers’ evidence for news media sources have cost “White Cloud” as much for racism as Black demonstrations and federal investigations. As Blacks run-up the community humiliation score, racists depend increasingly on lies and propaganda. (“With enough immigrants, the political balance will tip,” St. Cloud Times, July 7, 2015; “‘Culture clash’ stems from immigrants wanting their way;” St. Cloud Times, August 26, 2015)
St. Cloud Mayor Dave Kleis absurdly proclaims his “successes” while carefully ignoring nationally reported failures in race relations. Kleis’ efforts to divert attention from his community’s pathological racism imply agreement with or fear of his racist White constituents. No wonder “White Cloud” can’t get off its cultural, economic, and low self-esteem knees.
Last April, Kleis equivocated again saying, “It’s time to think about what St. Cloud could be, how to best welcome visitors to downtown.” For Kleis and his easily threatened Whites, racism proven by federal agencies, independent study authors, investigative news reporters and Black protesters isn’t the problem. It’s what White “visitors to downtown” think. “Poverty” was Kleis’ only coded reference to racism, yet local Whites have always been among the state’s poorest. (“Kleis calls for community action in State of the City;” St. Cloud Times, April 5, 2016)
Biotech business owners, convention planners, data storage entrepreneurs, LivCom judges and Minnesota Vikings owners, like high school parent-teacher groups, received examples of “White Cloud’s” bad press reports. Details of community racial insanity repulse desperately needed outsiders with spending money. Those “2,200” students of color, each with $8,000 to spend beyond tuition and books, chose campuses in stable communities.
Instead of Kleis’ claimed “10-year successes,” St. Cloud is best known for bigotry, federal investigations, economic failures, four airlines lost, record-breaking rapes, scathing criticisms by Governor Dayton and news media ridicule according to the St. Cloud Times headlines: (1) “Rapes 3 times that of nation;” (2) “St. Cloud tops state in hate crimes, but some dispute methodology;” (3) “Tensions run high in St. Cloud over race relations;” (4) “Tempers flare at anti-racism rally in St. Cloud;” (5) “City rates low on LGBT relationship;” and (7) “St. Cloud area loses jobs amid state gains.”
Do your own research. Using the Internet to search key words “St. Cloud racism” should help. Kleis avoided mentioning the public schools’ melodramatic “White flight” and Somali boy’s talents winning the first state soccer championship. Racist White parents transferred nearly 2,000 children to neighboring school districts to avoid Somalis while 20-30 teachers quit.
Racists hoped to destroy the first Black superintendent, Willie Jett. (“St. Cloud school board lauds Jett, wants to extend deal;” St. Cloud Times, September 24, 2015; “Board gives Jett contract through 2019;” St. Cloud Times, December 18, 2015)
For Kleis, frantic racists, and local politicians, when drowning in your own racist quicksand, logic suggests diversionary efforts won’t save you.
Myrle Cooper is a retired faculty member at St. Cloud State University.
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