Stand near the western edge of the city of St. Louis. Say, at the corner of North Skinker and Delmar boulevards. Now look east down Delmar. Straight down the Delmar Divide.
If you’ve spent any amount of time in St. Louis, you know that on the left (north) side of Delmar are neighborhoods that for decades have been populated mainly by Black people. And on the right (south) side, are the neighborhoods that tend to be dominated by whites.
Delmar has been perceived as a barrier at least since the mid-20th century. Over time, the term has grown to occupy a place in the public consciousness of St. Louis that goes far beyond any mere strip of asphalt. It’s often used as shorthand to refer to continuing inequalities in areas such as education, health care, and job opportunities.
But now, early in the 21st century, is it possible that the era of the Delmar Divide is coming to a close?