Source: The Washington Post / Getty
On May 1, Gabriel Dickerson, 20, made history as the youngest Black man to be sworn into city council in Cairo, Illinois.
Dubbed the “Ghost Town” of Southern, Cairo has been plagued with economic hardship since the 1960s. Deteriorated shops and boarded-up businesses flood the city’s downtown area due to years of financial struggle.
On Monday, Gabriel Dickerson promised to help fix some of the longstanding issues that have impacted the community.
According to Atlas Obscura, in the mid-1960s protests erupted throughout Cairo after the police allegedly murdered a young Black soldier on leave in the city. The incident prompted riots and years of racial unrest. Many businesses that brought resources and vitality to the community were forced to board up their shops. Since then, the population of Cairo has declined drastically. In the 1980s, around 6,000 people were living in the town. Now, around 1,733 people live in the area.
As the economy continues to bounce back from the rough economic tides caused by COVID, Cairo has been faced with more issues. Housing insecurity is a big problem for residents. Gabriel Dickerson vowed to address the issue under his new position.
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Gabriel Dickerson Becomes Youngest Member To Be Sworn Into Cairo, Illinois City Council was originally published on newsone.com
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