The Uhuru Movement’s Black Power Blueprint project is mobilizing black community recovery efforts in areas of North St. Louis that were devastated by at least one severe tornado on Friday, May 16, 2025. The National Weather Service (NWS) said they believe the tornado was an EF-3 with winds between 100-165 mph and was up to a mile wide at times. More than 80,000 buildings remain without power and at least 21 people have been confirmed dead.
The devastation is concentrated in the northside, the historic African community where the African People’s Socialist Party (APSP) is headquartered and where many of the economic projects first initiated in 2017 are located.
Lifelong residents have lost their homes, businesses or suffered profound property damage. Personal homes of Uhuru Movement members, as well as Black Power Blueprint buildings have also been severely impacted.
Despite the overwhelming destruction left in the wake of this tornado, the African community celebrates our unity as we come together to assess, respond and repair.
Self-determination is the only answer!
Immediately after the storm, the APSP began to mobilize support and resources for neighbors in need, organized through the Black Power Blueprint.
From our Uhuru House black community center at 4101 W. Florissant Avenue, we organized a drive for tools and supplies. We instructed the solidarity movement to go into the white community of southside St. Louis, to win support and contributions from individuals, organizations and businesses.
On Sunday, we set-up a charging station for people to bring their phones and emergency devices, as well as a grill outside of the Gary Brooks Community Garden, where we prepared and gave away hot food (a taste of what’s to be served at our Uhuru Bakery and Café).
Volunteers brought chainsaws, handsaws, brooms, rakes, shovels, trash bags and gloves to help with door-to-door clean-up. We continue to collect and distribute donations of water, non-perishable food items, tarps, ice, coolers, propane, butane, flashlights, batteries, charcoal, fans and first aid items.
Chairman Omali Yeshitela, leader and founder of the APSP, along with Deputy Chair Ona Zené Yeshitela, leader of the Black Power Blueprint and economic development work for the APSP, walked the neighborhood and spoke with community members the day after the storm, as part of the team that went out to assess the damages. Their home is located on one of the hard-hit streets.
This immediate response was possible through political organization provided by the Uhuru Movement for more than a decade following the police murder of 18-year-old Mike Brown.
Much like Ferguson in 2014, the community is coming together in a powerful show of force, clearing roads of debris, pooling together resources for food, clothing and shelter.
The presence of the Party and Black Power Blueprint has contributed to an understanding that African people must take power and do for self, and has made it possible for African people to do so.
City leaves Africans out to dry
Where is the City of St. Louis in all of this?
The people haven’t seen them since the tornado first hit.
Much like the government in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, the City of St. Louis not only hasn’t prioritized the northside community, it is working with the media to cover up the full picture.
The people have been out in North St. Louis cleaning up debris and trees and putting things in neat piles on the curb. The City is telling people they can drop off debris at specific centers. NO, the city needs to be out now picking this debris up!
The City has been calling on people to “donate” to their relief efforts. NO! They have over $800 million including $498 million from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), $290 million from a settlement with the NFL Rams team, interest of $30 million on the Rams settlement and a $42 million surplus from last year’s budget. They can free up the interest and the surplus at MINIMUM and get out in the community.
The City has also called on the people to donate tarps, wood, etc. for preparations for the next storm that is expected for Monday, May 19th, and saying they are working with corporations to donate. But when will the City put money in?
The people are already responsible to pay for snow removal, garbage removal in alleys, sewer lines and NOW the disaster. We are always left to foot the bill.
The only thing the City is doing is imposing a curfew on the black community.
The people aren’t being shown the level of destruction of the African community, in part because the conditions worsened as a consequence of long standing policies. This area of St. Louis was intentionally allowed to deteriorate under the “Team Four” plan of “benign neglect,” resulting in over 30,000 black residents being forced to relocate.
On a regular day walking through northside St. Louis, it’s impossible not to come across abandoned, dilapidated buildings. It’s more than just a food desert, it’s a political power desert suffering from economic starvation.
When traveling to the southside white community, it is clear that the full extent of the tornado’s damage isn’t known to them because they didn’t experience it in the same way. Unlike our neighborhoods, there is regular work to maintain their community, including protective measures against tornadoes.
While speaking with one of the residents, Chairman Omali called out the city, “They could make changes with infrastructure so that you don’t lose your electrical power. They know that tornadoes come through and knock down the power poles. They could do better but they don’t. We saw what happened in New Orleans where the politicians allowed the people to drown. We can’t wait for the City to bring in water and basic necessities. We must organize and build our own capacity to respond to all assaults on our community—whether natural or man-made disasters.”
The reality of the two Americas is exposed in this process. The ongoing assault on the African community is made obvious. The disaster we’re experiencing on the northside is anything but natural, it is orchestrated colonial violence.
We are the emergency response
We’ve launched a fund drive at BlackPowerBlueprint.org/NorthsideDisasterFund to restore damaged buildings, set up community charging stations, continue free food giveaways and provide support needed by local residents.
The Black Power Blueprint and the nonprofit African People’s Education and Defense Fund (APEDF) have invested over $1 million in the revitalization of St. Louis’ Northside over the past seven years, as part of our struggle for an independent, anti-colonial African economy.
The APEDF has acquired and renovated numerous dilapidated properties in North St. Louis, building a community center, low income housing, a community garden, a farmers market and a state-of-the-art basketball court, with plans underway for a women’s health center and the African Independence Workforce Program (job training).
The Gary Brooks Garden has become a model of sustainability and community resilience. Over 1,000 pounds of fresh healthy food is produced annually and given out free of charge to community members on Fridays during the harvesting months. The garden has also played a critical role in neighborhood revitalization, turning once-vacant land into a source of pride and connection.
African People’s Education and Defense Fund President Ona Zené Yeshitela says, “We are bringing Black self-determination and prosperity to North St. Louis. Our Black community won’t get pushed out by the NGA spy agency, greedy developers or sellout politicians. We are here to stay.”
Donate to our relief efforts!
Come to St. Louis as part of the emergency response team!
Black People United Will Never Be Defeated!
