What are 
you thinking?

I’ve lived in DePue almost all of my life before proudly serving in the military, then moving back to DePue. I’ve had the opportunity to read the articles about Negro Creek and have made my assessment of everyone’s thoughts. I’ve come to the conclusion there are more racists in our communities than I ever thought, regardless of what they may think.

How could some of you be so naive to think there is nothing wrong with being called Negro unless you truly were African-American? If it wasn’t offensive, then that name would still be used today. Unfortunately it is only used in our communities because you still have individuals who think they still live in the ‘60s.

My children are proud African-Americans and still call DePue home. When I first relocated my daughter to DePue, she was blindsided by someone telling her they named a creek after her: “Nigger Creek” is what she was told. She was furious, but we discussed it in length explaining that through the years that was the name that was instilled in us as kids and with time it will eventually change, but it never has.

Someone said the word originated from the word “nigar” from the black coal that was mined in Cherry. Unfortunately that word turned to “nigger” along the way. So why not call the creek “Black Coal Creek?” Who actually came up with the name “Negro Creek?” I’m sure it wasn’t an African-American because he loved hearing the name Negro. Negro was a term that was used until the mid-1960s. It was changed to African-American because after years of degradation it became offensive to African-Americans.

History is forever changing. Why as a community would you even like to be looked upon as racists? You’ve never had to grow up as African-Americans, so I’m sure you’ll never realize what it’s like to have people constantly look at you differently, lock their doors when you walk by, or clutch their purse a little closer when you are around, but my children have all felt that at one time or another because of the color of their skin. They’re very respectful and well-mannered, but that never seems to be enough.