SPEAKER SPOTLIGHT

The Urgency of Preserving Black History

By Vivian Gibson
February 2025

“Generations do not cease to be born, and we are responsible to them because we are the only witnesses they have.” – James Baldwin

When I stood on the TEDx stage on October 22, 2022 (my mother’s birthday), to share the story of Mill Creek Valley, I spoke for myself and an entire community erased by the sweep of urban renewal. Mill Creek was once a vibrant Black neighborhood in downtown St. Louis, home to over 20,000 residents, including my family. By the end of 1959, it was gone—its homes, schools, and churches demolished, its memories paved over, and its history nearly forgotten.

But history doesn’t vanish with buildings. It endures in the hearts, voices, and memories of those who lived it. That’s why I’m leading the Mill Creek Valley Oral History Project, a race against time to capture the stories of our last living witnesses. Our elders, now in their 70s, 80s, and 90s, hold the rich, unfiltered truth of what it was like to grow up in a community filled with resilience, culture, and love—despite the systemic forces that aimed to erase us.

Black History Month is often a time to reflect on well-known figures and significant moments, but actual history is rooted in the everyday lives of people who never made headlines. The women who organized neighborhood gatherings, the men who built businesses from the ground up, and the children who played in streets now buried under highways—their stories are just as important as the names we find in textbooks.

Our project isn’t just about preservation; it’s about reclamation. We’re reclaiming the narrative from those who decided which histories were worth remembering. We’re sharing our own stories, in our own voices, with our own truth. As we document Mill Creek’s legacy, we reflect on the past and build a bridge for future generations to understand where they come from, helping them navigate where they’re headed.

I encourage you to reflect on the histories surrounding you this Black History Month—those that may fade away without your action. Ask questions and record conversations with your elders. Support initiatives like ours that ensure Black history is not only celebrated in February but also preserved throughout the year.

Because the truth is: history isn’t history until it’s told.

Watch Vivian Gibson’s TEDx Talk here, performed October 22, 2022 at the Kirkwood Performing Arts Center.

The Speaker Spotlight Series celebrates past TEDx speakers from the St. Louis area, highlighting their latest projects, ideas, and sources of inspiration. Join us at our next live event! Follow us on social media, join our email list, and discover how you can get involved at tedxsaintlouis.org.