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I’m literally in tears! Years ago my car caught a flat on Christmas Eve traveling to my dads funeral and a sheriff told me to get my children together and he’d have my car towed to his father who owned a tire shop but had closed early for the holiday..When we got there his elderly father greeted us as if we were his own guest rather than customers. He offered coffee, drinks & snacks for the kids while we waited. Not only did he change the tire free of charge he gave my kids a 20 dollar bill a piece for Christmas.. Here’s the creepy part, the son( Sheriff) followed us out the town and about 5 miles before he turned around! Now I understand why🤧 I kept the dads business card and mailed him an thank you card and a appreciation token because he refused to take it in person.. There’s still angels in this world and in the town of Anna.. I’m glad I ran across this post..
Saw a comment on Reddit, searched on google to see what it meant and found this video. Less than 10 minutes into it and I already appreciate the effort you put in it.
They still use that acronym. Stopped in there with a black co-worker to grab a bite to eat an a older gentleman behind us in line asked him if he knew what Anna stood for then told him. We left cause we didn't need any problems cause we'll we all know small town cops!
@Tim Cahill....the key word in your comment is [ older ] gentleman. He was probably younger during the riots in southern Illinois. So was I, but do not have the same opinion. Please, don't let one bad apple spoil the whole bunch. We are all equal.
@@ChrisHarden Please don't judge us ...he's one. Anna is a friendly town. We have residents from all walks of life. Much respect from Southern Illinois
I’m 32 a black male from Chicago. I went to college at southern Illinois university in edwardsville. A nice amount of white friends I met freshman year were from Anna and they were all great guys with a friendship that was genuine and always felt accepted amongst them all. And even though they never came off as racist to me they told me that the long time nickname for Anna was Ain’t.No.Niggas.Allowed. It was shocking when they told me and it was obvious they didn’t live life feeling that way. And always invited me to Anna and promised I would be the safest with them while there. But yea long story short after they told me that I never took a trip to Anna to visit 🤣😬. I believe they woulda made sure I was okay but I passed on it. Shout out to all my anna friends I miss those guys
They couldn't help you though especially in sundown towns you were smart for not going back even if you have some friends there since you're not friends with everyone there.
Yea went southern Illinois university and had to drive through Anna to get to work got pulled over everyday by the same cop to the point we actually got kinda friendly I would say but it still was profiling
The same cop pulled you over everyday? Did he give you a ticket or warning every time that he pulled you over everyday? Do you have any proof that you were pulled over every single time that you passed through this town? Did this cop learn your schedule just so he could pull you over every single day? Did you start leaving early for work in order to accommodate extra time for your daily police stop? Everyday? That's a very believable story.
My father was from Illinois, my mother from Tennessee. I was born in the early 60's. I was raised to believe color doesn't matter and not to judge people by color. I raised my daughter the same way. Her bff from before we left the bigger city for a quieter life was a girl of color. They're both grown now. We're still in touch. She's part of our family, the girls were that close. It was heartwarming to watch them together. They were truly sisters. It's a shame everyone can't be like they are.
You were truly blessed. That’s the way it should be. My liberal parents wouldn’t allow me to have my best friend in grade school spend the night. Here was their answer. What would the neighbors think? Don’t like making anything political because it’s on both sides. With that being said everybody knows Illinois history. Read about Southern Illinois KKK and highly recommend Bloody Williamson book.
@@sealyoness Key word: Example! People complain about not enough whoopings and beat downs today, but examples are far more important. Adults today are not enough of example regardless of age.
I have family all over the state of Illinois, and I was born and raised in the deep South. I can honestly say when I visited family up north, I experienced more racism than you can ever imagine. The worse and the most frightening experience is when I visited my sister who lived right outside of Boston. I swore I would never return there ever again. My home town was not perfect, but I never felt afraid or threatened when out and about.
I’m embarrassed to admit that I grew up in Anna. Their bigotry was/is the norm, not the exception. When I went away to college, I had to unlearn that bigotry and replace that with morality. For over 40 years, I’ve only returned to that community for weddings and funerals.
I work with a guy from Anna. After I watched this video I asked him about it. He said it's not as bad as it used to be. If Iron Kettle was still there I would like to take my girlfriend there, but not after I saw this video.
Don't be embarrassed. Take the past with humility and grace. Never forget the chapters of our lives, even the pages we think are dark and violent. Certainly it isn't good the ignorance was rampant and you were not at fault swept in the gloom. Yet it can become a fault for having the pride to say I'm far better than those. . .egos simply can get the better of us quickly and we then become no better than what we claim to be above.
My parents moved from Cairo to Chicago as young adults. We would visit my grandmother and extended family in Cairo over the summers. As a kid I enjoyed but didn't understand why my mom would prepare a lot of food for the trip. But learned that there weren't many places for black families to safely stop for food, gas or restroom breaks with kids. This ugly sore on American will never be healed until we have an honest dialog about our history. Chris, thanks for your contributions to the dialog.
If dialogue hasn't worked thus YET... it'll never work. No talking. It's already prophesied their will be war and bloodshed ...as it's always been inorded for another to take over or rule over the majority. Which is going to be happening very soon, if you haven't noticed the days and times were in. ⌛
Cairo used to be like some Jim Crow town in Mississippi. Then about 1969, the blacks got fed up with it and fought back. The racist whites even started their own school Camelot High, so their kids wouldn't have to go to school with black kids. Now all the white people are gone. Bye Felicia 👋!
wow I really enjoy ALL your post. These are amazing, and love them. This is the part of amreica that often for real thanks!!! Please stay safe and be careful :-)
I moved from Carbondale to a Chicago suburb halfway through high school. One of my teachers was asking me about SIL and I mentioned Anna being a sundown town. She genuinely didn’t know what the term meant and I had to explain it to her. I was about as shocked that there were people who hadn’t ever heard of sundown towns as she was that sundown towns even existed lol
Sad to say I’m 55 years old and probably learned of sundown towns only a few years ago 😔 Our education systems do not teach us the truth, which keeps us ignorant, the opposite of what it is intended to do… We can’t learn from a history that is kept from us 💔
Tbh I just found out about sundown towns on Reddit today, so here I am now investigating on TH-cam. Lol Lived in California my whole life so I feel like I've been kinda sheltered from the reality of the type of in-your-face racism that exists in other states.
I don't know why I love these drive through videos, but they keep me rapt. I live in southern Illinois. One of the smallest town in the middle of no where. Your Detroit stuff is cool too. I can't stop watching
My maternal family is from Vienna (20 miles east of Anna), another sundown town. Growing up I heard so many stories about the local history. Like what the name Anna stood for, stories about lynchings and black settlements being burned to the ground... As a kid, I thought they were just made up town legends, turns out they were absolutely true.
@@judasz1427 and there are still 2 times the amount of blacks on unemployment than whites. Yet only 13% of the US population is black. Facts, look it up.
I have driven/riden through this town since the 80s when I was a kid, going to Cape Girardeau to visit my Grandmother. Not too much has changed but it has certainly been a well kept town to say the least. Thank you for the videos of the Souther Illinois and Southern Missouri. As for the town changing the name, I think if you try to gloss over what use to be, or try to cover up the past with a name change you diminish the history of those that lived it, endured its struggles, and not learn from it. To teach others in the future you have to have something to show, and a path way to educate to make better.
Thank you for saying that coolhand501. Changing things like names solves very little. We need to learn from the good and the bad from the past. Avoiding controversies makes people weak and breeds bad ideas.
@@_HellYeah ehhhhh considering this acronym I’ve been hearing if it was named solely on the premise of racism I don’t see why it couldn’t be changed...especially if it’s not racist anymore (which we know it is)
@@mimi7574 Go back and watch the video again. The town is named after a woman named Anna. In order to claim that it is still racist you would need to go over there and prove that and not just speculate. We as a people need to stop lumping things together and assigning some sort of attitude or behavior to it.
@@_HellYeah I said, which we know it still is because there’s a database of sundown towns accessible to the public and this database gets updated when incidents occur and when I clicked on Anna the last incident was someone being advised not to stay in 2014 and when they didn’t know why the acronym was said. It can be argued that we don’t know the validity of the claim or that 2014 was a while ago but racist ideology doesn’t just disappear. Even when suppressed, there’s people in that same town teaching it to their kids. To say that it’s not when we know racism has really been apparent lately would be naive. I saw the video title then looked at the database before watching, btw
Changing the name will do nothing, the name is not at fault. What is at fault are the hearts of those who bore such hate within themselves towards others, for simply being a shade or two different in pigment. And they will have the hardest time coping with such change. But it's still possible nonetheless. Thanks for the content.
This video makes me forget it's8 degrees out right now with a foot of snow on the ground and a wind chill advisory for pretty much all this week. Thank you for that.
9:17 So in 2020, Anna, IL, a poor town that also has a history of being a sundown town with a population of around 4000 residents, has a crime rate twice the national average? Imagine that.
I've lived in Southern Illinois since 1987, and lived in Union County through junior high/high school. Anna and Jonesboro are basically the same town. You just drive down a street in the middle of town and there's a sign that says Jonesboro city limits. Your GPS took you on scenic route! When I was in high school a Mexican family moved into town, and a certain group of people in town threatened to burn them out... in the 1990's...Having moved here from Dayton, Ohio, I just couldn't believe it.
Back in the 1960's up until about 1970 or so, the city of Glendale CA. had signs on the freeway offramps and on major streets that read: "All Negroes and Mexicans must be outside of the city limits of Glendale by sunset. Anyone found after that will be subject to arrest". Then they gave the city ordinance number followed by the names of the mayor and chief of police. I asked my Mom about that back in '67 or thereabouts, and she explained to me what it meant. Then in about 1970 the signs came down, as they were unenforceable. Now you go to Glendale and it's a mix of all races and colors, which is as it should be. Glad to have found your channel Chris. The old racist mentalities died hard in this country.
Not totally gone yet. Therefore we get a trump mentality voting still. Angry the laws have changed, determined to " make merrikka great AGAIN?". HMMMM. For WHO?
There are quite a few towns in southern Illinois that are still living in the past.And need I say most Trump support in Illinois comes from down there.
NT, I saw your Cairo and Benton videos, then this one. Great stuff: informative, interesting, unique approach and becoming more refined. Really great work. Thanks for the videos!
I’m black and have been to Anna a ton of times. I’ve heard about its reputation but have luckily never experienced anything bad there except for maybe some weird looks and an incident where someone at their courthouse almost got my license suspended because they forgot to submit something. My parents always tell me to be careful when I go there to see friends though. I hear more stuff regarding racism coming from West Frankfort
Not worth the risk... they still the way they were in the past ,don't let tranquility fool you... once someone is spotted the whole town knows, they use technology, cell phones, I've traveled through them towns and I've seen the residents picking throughout their windows, when you think nobody is watching you there's when you're wrong...leaving the past behind "my eye"
Glad you didn't have any troubles in Anna. According to Wikipedia, Anna was 1 percent Black/African American in 2010. Hopefully this means that there is now some racial harmony in Anna.
@@jomarz1828 experienced the same,, nothing has changed it just got more sophisticated, your employees, employers, churches, schools, and regularly frequented establishment have been doing the same for a very long time.
First time we watch one of your videos we live in Illinois and we had been through Anna and 127 we are subscribed and we enjoyed how you present everything going on😊
Thank you so much for all of the work and research you put into these videos! I am a life long Chicagoland resident and its so interesting to see the history of towns I would drive past while going on road trips. As a white person its also very important for me to understand the struggles black people have went through and are still going through. The story about the BLM peaceful protest in Anna was a nice one that gives me hope.
Yeahhh... I live 26 mins from Anna... I have lived in Southern Illinois for 15 years, only been to Anna ONCE & NEVER will again! At red lights they all the cars will stare at you. People walking by will stare at you in confusion, lol. Experienced this in Benton, IL, as well. Let's just say i keep my azz in the town of SIU! You all be safe out there. ❤
I was surprised you didn't touch on the subject of the state mental institution, Choate. I was raised in Anna and our government teacher in high school had given us a brief overview of the way Anna and Carbondale had negotiated to establish either the institution in one town and Southern Illinois University in the other. Growing up we went to Carbondale (30min outside of Anna) for anything more recreational, like malls or movie theaters. Since SIL had been established in Carbondale rather than Anna, thats the city which ended up thriving more economically and in diversity. Since I left in 2018 it seems to be declining more rapidly than I would've expected. I moved to Las Vegas and most people look at me funny when I tell them, I moved to escape a toxic home environment. I understand why though. When you think of someplace lacking in toxicity I don't think most people would think of Vegas especially if you've been or live here. There's plenty of toxicity in Vegas, no doubt. For me though it was about the people I was surrounded by creating a toxic headspace and thats the unfortunate side of a small town. Young adults don't have much option for stimulation, which is why if you aren't stoned all day other people are smoking meth back home. Bored kids park their trucks in empty parking lots getting drunk and gossiping, if there's someone of a minority group in town, theyll be gossiping about them. Everyone tells everyone they know the latest crap they heard about whoever so everyone thinks they know your business and if they don't they're trying to find out. Personally, I wouldn't socialize with many people, im just not naturally gifted at things like that but because I'm a quieter person and also was one of the 3 Asian people in town, it was easy to ostracize me. All that I could handle but I realize now it put me in a guarded kind of mindset, which lead to crippling depression, and my home life was turbulent as well which the added outside negativity combined equalled three hospitalizations on suicide watch and a substance dependency I still battle. People in small towns like Anna are completely unaware how sheltered and narrow their view of everyone else and the world is. I come to Vegas and I can't believe the level of corruption and poverty I see even as we speak. I tell my mother, who still lives in anna, and she refuses to believe me. Its the people though, that make the real difference in any place you call home. Vegas, with all its flaws, I choose over living in a place where people are content settling for what they have, and closing off to the realities of the world. Thats why the BLM protest they participated in is so significant in my mind. Southern Illinoisians In general aren't okay with the injustices they see but they aren't gonna go out of their way to shake up anything. A protest like that in such a small town is so important because these kinds of towns are usually complacent in allowing social injustice to continue because they're not affected the way bigger metropolitan areas are, at least not in any immediately noticeable way. Whatever injustice you may find in larger areas can only be addressed when everyone in the nation is speaking out against it. Simple things like finding a job or getting around has been and still is a real and disproportionately difficult feat in Vegas compared to back home, and while my husband and I are struggling to survive with our first child on the way, ill take the struggle over living in a closed off community. Small towns breed a type of person with a smaller mindset in many ways. The fight to get on our feet is 10x harder out here but when we do, i know we will find more contentment for also being apart of a larger community with more opportunities for personal fulfillment.
I dislike living in small towns for the exact reason that you mentioned! I know that feeling quite well. Hope things turn out well for you in Vegas. About the mental institution, yeah, I messed up on not including that one.
I came across your comment on the video about Anna, IL sundown . You provided a lot of details of your experience. Thanks for your input. Have you thought of writing book about your experiences. You have a gift of story telling.
My family lived in Anna. I kept hoping you would drive past my dad’s house but you didn’t. I liked your videos except for your suggestion to change the name of the town an I am about as “woke” as they come. I have been a “woker” since I was ten and I am now retired. Maybe coming up with a new acronym or some just don’t change the name. That is silly plus it will never be done.
First, I was watching world of briggs, then I came a-crossed this video talking about Anna, IL, which I thought was some normal small town. A few weeks later in school, I was reading a book about the unequal history of America when I saw Anna, IL in the book. Then I thought that Anna, IL is famous for something. So I came back to this video to watch it and learn all about it, great video!
Chris you do such a great job of giving context of the town's history and explaining local landmarks. I haven't watched very many of your videos, but I really enjoy when I do. Keep up the great work man I love the videos!
I just learned about sundown towns I had no idea! Its crazy to know this sorta stuff still exists This little town is so cute tho (sad history) I love the houses! Thank you for sharing!
@@victordejung5675 This world is bad regardless, whether it’s a sundown town or drug infested town, hard to find anything good, honest, or safe these days!
I was born in Anna in '52 while my father was in Korea. We moved to the StL area for work when he got out in '53. Still have lots of family there that we visited often as I grew up. You drove right by my grandfather's home in Jonesboro where he lived when I was a boy, and the cemetery in Anna where he now rests. In all my 72 years, this is the first time I ever heard that 'Sundowner' reference, or the Anna acronym. A real bucket of cold water on my boyhood memories...
Why did you take the long way to Jonesboro Illinois. It would have been shorter if you had gone through downtown Anna. Which is only 5 minutes a way from Walmart.
instead of changing names and forgetting history, maybe we should be proud that things have changed and are not like they used to be....to forget history is to repeat it!
I have to admit this was my grandmother's hometown and was settled by many of my ancestors. My great grandfather was a Sheriff here and my 3rd great grandfather was a judge. My grandmother left after she married around 1920, but other family members remained in the family home on Vienna Street. Last time I checked google street view the house was still there but looked abandoned and dilapidated. I never knew the dark history of the town until I started researching the town for genealogy research.
How about the audacity to actually think you own land. It's all in the legal and banking dictionary under title and deed. We have legal title, not owner ship.not even your cars do you own. The deal sold them MCO to the DMV before you bought it. Now you know why you have to register it. Get your MCO and you don't have to register it.
I just found this video. It's September 24th 2022. I was raised in southern Illinois. The house that we lived in , most of my life , was the oldest house in the town. My father remodeled the house , and found a tunnel under our house. It was a big part of the Underground Railroad. We were told not to talk about it to anyone. The old man that my father spoke to that helped in building the house and tunnel, gave my father strict orders to stay out of the tunnel. My father was a policeman in the town. My father questioned that old man until all that man would say is,"it's better to let sleeping dogs lye ".
@@jtozuna when my Dad removed the coal burning furnace, he found the entrance to the tunnel. He didn't know how safe it was, so he put a bright flashlight down there and a mirror , to look how far it went out.
Watching from Northern Ireland here. Places I will most likely never see in real life. To an outsider, so many of these towns all look like they are straight out of Lanford in Roseanne sitcom. I don't mean that with any offense. I always wanted to live in that house. Although the sundown mentality would scare me off. Even though I'm white. I cannot abide racism or bigotry in any shape way or form.
@@katherinevandervort6402 What a lovely, kind and caring thing to say. Should I be lucky enough to visit Illinois, and that is a state I have always wanted to visit! It would be an honour to meet and learn more.
@@katherinevandervort6402 I really hope you get a chance to visit 'our wee place' as we say! The better half and I both did the dna thing, I'm adopted, so it was interesting to see the majority of my living blood kin residing in Canada and the US. Two of my sisters live in British Columbia, got to attend one of the weddings, it was a really special and emotional visit. Also have family in Indiana, New York state, Maine, Ohio, Oregon, Washington state and more (no Illinois yet though!)
The best music you've played on any of your videos! Being from Central Illinois, it is amazing the different cultures you encounter throughout Illinois. Demographically, Southern Illinois is basically in the southern US. Illinois could have been 3 states, north of I 80, I 80-I 64 and South of I 64
The movie Fugitive with Harrison Ford had a scene filmed in Anna. An ambulance was crossing RR tracks on S Main St then turning right onto E Vienna St 20:54
The timestamp of your video at 5:42 shows the property where I grew up on the right. Now I had heard the stories about Anna being a sundown town, however that's not the way I was raised like a lot of others in the Anna Jonesboro community. I understand that maybe you are trying to tell a history of a place however you need to make it clear that it's HISTORY and not the views of this community as of present times.
Love this channel , great video bro, love your attention to detail and not only your historical facts , but your unadulterated opinions or commentary as well, keep going bro !! 🙏🏾… oh yeah now subscribed !!
Its not like everyone is saying Its definitely not a ghetto. No gangs. Or riots.Just good country folk not looking for trouble Why is that so wrong? I do y go to areas were I do y fit on. So why can't prove live like they want. There not out victimizing people.
Your not dumb. Just want you to know that some people want people and the world should live.think.breath.smell look for dirt. That is what the left democratic party is looking for. They want to be victims and people that don't think as they do ate victimizers.
I don't know how I came across your channel, but I'm glad I did. Being raised in Peoria, IlL and growing up in the projects, I've never even heard of the city of Anna. Thanks for the education and highlighting things that need to change as we evolve as people and a nation. 27 years of active duty military service will change your outlook on the color of a Man's skin. And yes I am a BLACK MAN. Thanks for the content.
Thank you for this video....we need more people like you, im from illinois....do more videos like this......i need to know this to protect my family....
We have to keep in mind that there are Sundown Towns all across the United States, not just in the south. I was aware of the southern areas, but i was curious to see if there were more, and unfortunately YES!
In the early 1970s I was a photography student at SIU, Carbondale. I drove frequently to Anna to photograph buildings and streets in the late afternoon. This was where I finally discovered and was able to express the beauty of the sun lights in photographs. I snooped around, walked around the streets with a large format camera but nobody bothered me. Back then, I was a young Asian male (from S. Korea) in the 20s. Those B&W photographs taken in Anna are proudly on display in my living room.
Because your skin is closer to theirs, you probably didn’t stand out as much. Had you been a black or darker Latino person, they could’ve given you a rough time.
@@whyme3772 ?? Now that's a double stereotype. There are gradations of skin hue among both blacks and Koreans. Why can't you just take his experience for what it is?
Living in Illinois for the last 8 years, the taxes aren't as much the problem as the poor economy. The cost of living in the state is high and the pay isn't good enough. Chicago is the fastest depopulating city in Illinois. The taxes don't help the situation, but if the rent was half of what it is now people wouldn't be moving to more affordable places. At least the people that I know moving out of Chicago have said it was rent and looking for a better job why they left.
Right makes sense. I think ultimately the high taxes help contribute to the higher rent. The property owners paying high property tax causes them to raise rent.
Everytime I was coming east I got gas in Iowa I just drove through illinois never slowed down until I hit Indiana. Got gas in Indiana. The amount fuel is in illinois they should pave EVERY road EVERY year. The amount of crooked deals in illinois is insane. So I always try not to stop/ do business there.
Interesting!! My mom was born in Anna and my grandparents grew up and lived there until moving away before WWII. I spent many holidays there with extended family growing up and no one ever mentioned this aspect of Anna’s history.
I've lived in Illinois all my life, born and raised...not always proud of that fact for certain reasons. However, I can honestly say that I've never heard of sun down town's in my life, but racism is wrong and shouldn't even exist...no matter where you are or the color of your skin...people are people and should be equal and treated fairly.
I'm from the Chicago area... a friend of ours convinced us to move down there near the lake. We lived in Benton, and I made a friend from a town called Colpe. It'd just outside of Herrin which isn't far from Anna... he was a young black man and explained the racial history of the area and how African Americans built Colpe in response to not being able to get housing or buy homes in Herrin or "in town". Colpe is just about the size of a small subdivision. I only lasted down there about 2 years. Had a black roommate and experienced a lot of racist activity. I had to call the police once because a group of grown men were trying to mess with these young boys then tried to make it seem like the boys were being aggressive and had a knife... I genuinely feared for the kids. I walked them down the beach road and called the police for them. I couldn't deal. Moved back.
needless to say I was raised in Colp , Illinois in the mid 80s and there was something different about the place not seeing many Caucasians around until I got to Herrin, Illinois to school. It was very segregated back then .
I think that if you drove through almost any rural area of Kentucky, Missouri, Arkansas, Kansas and most any other of the "fly over states" you will see the same amount of closed stores and factories. I live in Missouri and used to ride a motorcycle and have ridden all over this area, yes there is population decline in Illinois and property taxes doubtlessly led to that. Missouri has lower property taxes but outside of the few main cities all the smaller towns are drying up. Western Tennessee and Northern Arkansas are drying up too. We let small to medium industry offshore, this "free trade" sent it all to low wage and third world countries starting in the late 70s and accerating in the 80 and up until today when there is no small industry. Anna had a bakery that employed many people but it closed, most of the bread now come from a larger bakery east of St. Louis in Illinois.
We can blame the Greed Monsters for this outcome. The offshoring continues throughout many industries today, including my own employer (who just laid off a lot of knowledgeable, hard-working people in tech jobs, only to open those positions up again halfway around the world where workers make Far Less pay). This is how Millionaires becomes Billionaires, and that's ALL that matters to the Powers That Be. But we truly Don't need more Billionaires. It's actually the Last thing we need, as a society, unless our own disenfranchisement is the goal. The perks of the past (like pensions, or successful one-income family units) no longer exist for most of the middle class, which has shrunk considerably as more people slid into poverty. Heck, our Social Security funds aren't even safe from political pillaging anymore (SS was once a separate, protected fund, but is increasingly open to raiding, to pay off govt debt). The wages of the middle class have inched up only 10% in terms of buying power, over the past 4+ decades. In that same time, top exec pay has grown by over 970%. These changes weren't accidental. They allowed the Greed Monsters to BUY our political system, making it work Only for themselves. That's why today most of us still pay taxes, while the richest find loopholes & off-shore accounts, shifting their burden to our shoulders. They even erased the Fairness Doctrine, replacing it with...nothing but a "Fake News!" channel that could not have been launched if such a protective regulation was still in place. How ironic that this channel blares that phrase constantly. It's pure projection. Changes in Education also reveal the plan. The cost of a 4-year, in-state degree has risen over 1,200% since 1980, on average. And the college loan system has been thoroughly corrupted, making such loans a trap that will prevent much of today's younger generations from ever being able to afford a home purchase (keeping them locked into paying rent, in a market where corporations have scooped up as many homes as they could). Look at how the well-paid shills on that afirementioned TV "news" show try to undermine public ed, promoting efforts to funnel $$ from public schools to support private schools instead... using OUR tax dollars to save the rich even more on the cost of an education option that Isn't an option for most citizens. The Filthiest of the Rich Still want slaves, and are determined to get them. They don't care what it does to our nation, b/c they frankly don't believe in Democracy. They want serfs, instead, forever indebted to them & filling their coffers. Certain "news" segments have gone so far as to declare that a college education "isn't worth the cost" anymore. It's certainly unaffordable (& made so on purpose), yes. But it remains a crucial element for most members of our society, to be able to earn more than just a living-paycheck-to-paycheck wage. The rich know that. They're simply making sure their own precious scions don't have as much competition in gaining the finer things in Life, to which they feel Entitled. It's revolting, and Evil. Wonder why other things most Americans once enjoyed, like traveling, have become so very expensive? Or why prices continue to rise, even for products made by companies that enjoyed "banner years" during the pandemic? Price-gouging is a profitable way for rich schmucks to cement their Power by bleeding the rest of us dry. We used to have more regulations in place to prevent things like business monopolies, but then the folks who envision themselves as Barons fooled simple minds into seeing such safety measures as "bad for business" when they were only bad for Billionaires. Having guardrails to prevent abuse is actually a Good thing. But good luck convincing someone of that Fact (or most other facts) if they've littered their front yard w/ tribalistic political signage. Wonder how a company can shed hundreds or thousands of workers, but still grant its top level execs millions in bonuses? Blame Greed. It's also what will send a lot of souls to an unexpected destination, if there truly is an afterlife. "For what does it profit a man to gain the world, but lose his soul?". Racist towns have been around forever, it seems, b/c so has bigotry & hate. Today, this toxic mindset is being promoted in certain sectors, as a way to continue controlling the masses. Give people a hall-pass to proudly be their Worst selves, and you can get them to do damn near Anything. Having scapegoats is preferred by those who are incapable of deeper thought... the kind needed to find humane solutions to life's troubles. So, Nazis are once again ascending (but are called "very good people" by a longtime Hitler fan, as they march across a once-peaceful town carrying torches). Things like Fairness & Kindness are ridiculed as "woke" by a guy trying to scuttle his state's largest employer. Will Floridians suffer w/o the wages & tourist $$s they've long enjoyed, if the Mouse moves elsewhere? Do we really think Ron cares, or has even thought that far ahead? Kids get their faces blown off in class, and None of us are safe anywhere in public anymore, even at church. Yet fearful, ignorant people remain focused on banning books, or on who gets to use which restroom. They won't allow gun-safety measures b/c they've been fed endless lies by the gang who profits Hugely from lying (the NRA). We, as a nation, have been tricked into fighting a culture war to prevent us from fighting a class war. But even fooled people wake up, eventually, when the pain becomes intolerable. Any deposed dictator would agree w/ that statement, if they were still breathing & able to speak. Will the Former USA (well, we sure as 💩 are Not "United" anymore, as planned) be able to reverse these trends before the streets once again run red to cries of "Eat the Rich!"? We shall see. I hope our leaders, on both sides of the aisle, come to realize the foolishness of this vast corruption. Esp if they believe in God as much as they claim. A well-educated nation is better able to compete in the world. People who can afford to purchase things like homes, food, clothing & shelter drive a healthy economy far more than a bunch of rich a-holes w/ tons of cash locked away in an offshore bank. To lift kids out of poverty, don't fund schools based on the taxes of the local economy, but on a set amount spent *per child*, across the nation. If rich people want private schools instead, they can pay for them Without using the tax $$$ that used to pay for safety nets for the most destitute. Don't like homelessness? Stop supporting the corrupt system that has allowed it to explode. Fight it w/ decency & Fairness instead. Real Christians also realize that doing so was basically JC's main message. Greedy pr*cks won't get past those pearly gates. Folks w/ hate-filled hearts likely won't fare any better. Being kind & Fair are the requirements to enter Paradise. The wealthiest people may lack the skillset needed in Heaven...esp compassion for others. Those who blame others for being victimized by such corruption need to take a good, long look in the mirror. If they won't, it may be b/c they know, deep down, that they won't like what they see.
@@winkyhere8697 I came across your comments on the video about Anna the sundown town. Excellent points and presented in great detail. You should forward these comments to newspaper or create a youtube channel. America would benefit from hearing them. Thank you for your info and thoughts.
Also the Wabash River flows the borders of Indiana and Illinois easterly from Terre Haute down into the Ohio River where Indiana meets Kentucky south of Mt. Vernon, IN. at Union Dam
Dont change the name , Anna Illinois is a beautiful little town and everyone treated me like i lived there. I was very comfortable but unfortunately i live 685 miles from Anna
Have a good friend who’s Grandfather was born and raised in Anna and the stories are 100% true. Her Grandparents didnt like me too much when I came around me being of Mexican descent but after a while they loosened up. Unfortunately its just the way some people are raised.
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TH-cam is great...the timestamps are a nice feature too! Thanks. ... channel looks really good.
Thanks for the kind words, Doug!
Grew up there. Ran far far away 20 years ago. Union co. IL is still a very racist stuck in 1950's ways.
This whers they kilt Jelani Day a few months ago
@@ChrisHarden Pekin Illinois near Peoria maybe the worst in Illinois
I’m literally in tears! Years ago my car caught a flat on Christmas Eve traveling to my dads funeral and a sheriff told me to get my children together and he’d have my car towed to his father who owned a tire shop but had closed early for the holiday..When we got there his elderly father greeted us as if we were his own guest rather than customers. He offered coffee, drinks & snacks for the kids while we waited. Not only did he change the tire free of charge he gave my kids a 20 dollar bill a piece for Christmas.. Here’s the creepy part, the son( Sheriff) followed us out the town and about 5 miles before he turned around! Now I understand why🤧 I kept the dads business card and mailed him an thank you card and a appreciation token because he refused to take it in person.. There’s still angels in this world and in the town of Anna.. I’m glad I ran across this post..
are you black?
Sheriff Brian Watkins is a great man!
Wow. Blessings to him for being a blessing to The Most Highs people.
Are you white? No disrespect
God was surely with u. Thank u Jesus!
Saw a comment on Reddit, searched on google to see what it meant and found this video. Less than 10 minutes into it and I already appreciate the effort you put in it.
They still use that acronym. Stopped in there with a black co-worker to grab a bite to eat an a older gentleman behind us in line asked him if he knew what Anna stood for then told him. We left cause we didn't need any problems cause we'll we all know small town cops!
I would’ve left too. Maybe would’ve told him some not so nice things on the way out. I’m speechless.
I am so sorry that happened to you. Please know that not everyone feels that way. I am ashamed for the ignorance and hate that you were shown.
@Tim Cahill....the key word in your comment is [ older ] gentleman.
He was probably younger during the riots in southern Illinois. So was I, but do not have the same opinion.
Please, don't let one bad apple spoil the whole bunch. We are all equal.
@@ChrisHarden
Please don't judge us ...he's one.
Anna is a friendly town. We have residents from all walks of life.
Much respect from Southern Illinois
My Lord, when did this happen?
I’m 32 a black male from Chicago. I went to college at southern Illinois university in edwardsville. A nice amount of white friends I met freshman year were from Anna and they were all great guys with a friendship that was genuine and always felt accepted amongst them all. And even though they never came off as racist to me they told me that the long time nickname for Anna was Ain’t.No.Niggas.Allowed. It was shocking when they told me and it was obvious they didn’t live life feeling that way. And always invited me to Anna and promised I would be the safest with them while there. But yea long story short after they told me that I never took a trip to Anna to visit 🤣😬. I believe they woulda made sure I was okay but I passed on it. Shout out to all my anna friends I miss those guys
smart man 😭✊️
Smart. I trust no one. You prob would be on the news
They couldn't help you though especially in sundown towns you were smart for not going back even if you have some friends there since you're not friends with everyone there.
Good choice, you would've never returned back home.
My wife was raised and went to school there. she told me that Anna stood for what you'd said.pretty sad.
If yall watched "lovecraft country" .. and was paying attention... they highlighted this.
Yes they did
@@dominicandream4898 facts
I watched that. It was good.
I loved that show
That's probably why it was cancelled.... To much truth
Yea went southern Illinois university and had to drive through Anna to get to work got pulled over everyday by the same cop to the point we actually got kinda friendly I would say but it still was profiling
That’s wild that they profiled you often enough to get to know you. Sounds like a Dave Chappell sketch or something
I'm sorry you had to deal with that. I used to live in southern Illinois and it sucks
you'll have that
Should of sued him for a illegal stop
The same cop pulled you over everyday? Did he give you a ticket or warning every time that he pulled you over everyday? Do you have any proof that you were pulled over every single time that you passed through this town? Did this cop learn your schedule just so he could pull you over every single day? Did you start leaving early for work in order to accommodate extra time for your daily police stop? Everyday? That's a very believable story.
Great coverage and historical facts! Your channel is the best virtual travel channel I’ve come across.
Thank you!
My father was from Illinois, my mother from Tennessee. I was born in the early 60's. I was raised to believe color doesn't matter and not to judge people by color. I raised my daughter the same way. Her bff from before we left the bigger city for a quieter life was a girl of color. They're both grown now. We're still in touch. She's part of our family, the girls were that close. It was heartwarming to watch them together. They were truly sisters. It's a shame everyone can't be like they are.
See laws that effect colors
I know that feeling.
I lived in Birmingham and my best friend was black. We didn't see white & black, just people. His family treated me like family.
It is a shame. My mom taught us (mostly by example) to be respectful everyone. White, Black, Hispanic, etc, didn't matter.
You were truly blessed. That’s the way it should be. My liberal parents wouldn’t allow me to have my best friend in grade school spend the night. Here was their answer. What would the neighbors think? Don’t like making anything political because it’s on both sides. With that being said everybody knows Illinois history. Read about Southern Illinois KKK and highly recommend Bloody Williamson book.
@@sealyoness
Key word: Example!
People complain about not enough whoopings and beat downs today, but examples are far more important. Adults today are not enough of example regardless of age.
I have family all over the state of Illinois, and I was born and raised in the deep South. I can honestly say when I visited family up north, I experienced more racism than you can ever imagine. The worse and the most frightening experience is when I visited my sister who lived right outside of Boston. I swore I would never return there ever again.
My home town was not perfect, but I never felt afraid or threatened when out and about.
Facts, people think the south is racist (I'm in FL) but I never experienced such blatant racism until I went to Chicago.
I'm an hour south of Anna and never knew about this. Never witness blatant racism in real life until I went north towards chicago and up to Michigan
@@JoeyLegendd You must have went thru Cicero. You won't necessarily experience it directly in the city of Chicago
@@Chevyboiz nah man it was in the city of Chicago. The trains, the stores.
@@JoeyLegendd Oh so black folks don't operate the liquor stores no more in Chicago?? Wow
I’m embarrassed to admit that I grew up in Anna. Their bigotry was/is the norm, not the exception. When I went away to college, I had to unlearn that bigotry and replace that with morality. For over 40 years, I’ve only returned to that community for weddings and funerals.
I work with a guy from Anna. After I watched this video I asked him about it. He said it's not as bad as it used to be. If Iron Kettle was still there I would like to take my girlfriend there, but not after I saw this video.
Wow.
And we should believe you?
@@charlessedlacek5754 - Do you have an opposing viewpoint? Let’s hear it.
Don't be embarrassed. Take the past with humility and grace. Never forget the chapters of our lives, even the pages we think are dark and violent.
Certainly it isn't good the ignorance was rampant and you were not at fault swept in the gloom. Yet it can become a fault for having the pride to say I'm far better than those. . .egos simply can get the better of us quickly and we then become no better than what we claim to be above.
Chris I really appreciate you for putting together this video. Great history. Important lessons and beautiful cinematography.
Just discovered this channel, amazing quality and very interesting history provided. Love this style!
Chris you have presented an excellent video and your stories about Anna is enlightening and encouraging. Thank you and be safe.
My parents moved from Cairo to Chicago as young adults. We would visit my grandmother and extended family in Cairo over the summers. As a kid I enjoyed but didn't understand why my mom would prepare a lot of food for the trip. But learned that there weren't many places for black families to safely stop for food, gas or restroom breaks with kids. This ugly sore on American will never be healed until we have an honest dialog about our history. Chris, thanks for your contributions to the dialog.
Kinda like white folks in the inner city
If dialogue hasn't worked thus YET... it'll never work. No talking. It's already prophesied their will be war and bloodshed ...as it's always been inorded for another to take over or rule over the majority. Which is going to be happening very soon, if you haven't noticed the days and times were in. ⌛
Cairo used to be like some Jim Crow town in Mississippi. Then about 1969, the blacks got fed up with it and fought back. The racist whites even started their own school Camelot High, so their kids wouldn't have to go to school with black kids. Now all the white people are gone. Bye Felicia 👋!
Wow, these personal stories are always great to read and hear. Thanks for sharing.
I was born in cairo
wow I really enjoy ALL your post. These are amazing, and love them. This is the part of amreica that often for real thanks!!! Please stay safe and be careful :-)
Thanks for the kind words!
Thank you for having a very clean youtube channel
I moved from Carbondale to a Chicago suburb halfway through high school. One of my teachers was asking me about SIL and I mentioned Anna being a sundown town. She genuinely didn’t know what the term meant and I had to explain it to her. I was about as shocked that there were people who hadn’t ever heard of sundown towns as she was that sundown towns even existed lol
Sad isnt it
If she was white she knew
Sad to say I’m 55 years old and probably learned of sundown towns only a few years ago 😔
Our education systems do not teach us the truth, which keeps us ignorant, the opposite of what it is intended to do…
We can’t learn from a history that is kept from us 💔
Tbh I just found out about sundown towns on Reddit today, so here I am now investigating on TH-cam. Lol
Lived in California my whole life so I feel like I've been kinda sheltered from the reality of the type of in-your-face racism that exists in other states.
She's LIE'N to YOU..All racist WHITE supremacists in WHITE America knows about SUN DOWN TOWNS..And THATS a FACT!
I don't know why I love these drive through videos, but they keep me rapt. I live in southern Illinois. One of the smallest town in the middle of no where. Your Detroit stuff is cool too. I can't stop watching
My maternal family is from Vienna (20 miles east of Anna), another sundown town. Growing up I heard so many stories about the local history. Like what the name Anna stood for, stories about lynchings and black settlements being burned to the ground... As a kid, I thought they were just made up town legends, turns out they were absolutely true.
sad stuff :(
I bet it was named after Santa Anna he would burn 🔥 White Texan settlements.
@@AK47_414 But..It Is THE [TRUTH]
This is what kids need to be learning abt in school.
Oh shit I was from goreville moved away asap to Missouri
I ran the Coca-Cola warehouse in St. Louis. We didn't send our black drivers to Anna. For a reason.
Surprised to hear of a black with a job.
@@DJ-rt5ls grow up it’s 2023
@@judasz1427 and there are still 2 times the amount of blacks on unemployment than whites. Yet only 13% of the US population is black. Facts, look it up.
Good...not wanted.
"Our" black driver's???
I am born and raised in Chicago…at 71 years old, I have never heard about this town or the acronym. I wish I hadn’t. DISGUSTING!
I have driven/riden through this town since the 80s when I was a kid, going to Cape Girardeau to visit my Grandmother. Not too much has changed but it has certainly been a well kept town to say the least. Thank you for the videos of the Souther Illinois and Southern Missouri. As for the town changing the name, I think if you try to gloss over what use to be, or try to cover up the past with a name change you diminish the history of those that lived it, endured its struggles, and not learn from it. To teach others in the future you have to have something to show, and a path way to educate to make better.
i love this comment
Thank you for saying that coolhand501. Changing things like names solves very little. We need to learn from the good and the bad from the past. Avoiding controversies makes people weak and breeds bad ideas.
@@_HellYeah ehhhhh considering this acronym I’ve been hearing if it was named solely on the premise of racism I don’t see why it couldn’t be changed...especially if it’s not racist anymore (which we know it is)
@@mimi7574 Go back and watch the video again. The town is named after a woman named Anna. In order to claim that it is still racist you would need to go over there and prove that and not just speculate. We as a people need to stop lumping things together and assigning some sort of attitude or behavior to it.
@@_HellYeah I said, which we know it still is because there’s a database of sundown towns accessible to the public and this database gets updated when incidents occur and when I clicked on Anna the last incident was someone being advised not to stay in 2014 and when they didn’t know why the acronym was said. It can be argued that we don’t know the validity of the claim or that 2014 was a while ago but racist ideology doesn’t just disappear. Even when suppressed, there’s people in that same town teaching it to their kids. To say that it’s not when we know racism has really been apparent lately would be naive. I saw the video title then looked at the database before watching, btw
Changing the name will do nothing, the name is not at fault. What is at fault are the hearts of those who bore such hate within themselves towards others, for simply being a shade or two different in pigment. And they will have the hardest time coping with such change. But it's still possible nonetheless. Thanks for the content.
Good thought. Thanks for the comment.
Hate towards thugs?
@@jaxxone4907 yall the last ones to call anybody thug
@@StlJvl say that again!!
@@jaxxone4907 bully behind a keyboard and wouldn’t know what to do in a room full of thugs.
This video makes me forget it's8 degrees out right now with a foot of snow on the ground and a wind chill advisory for pretty much all this week. Thank you for that.
9:17 So in 2020, Anna, IL, a poor town that also has a history of being a sundown town with a population of around 4000 residents, has a crime rate twice the national average? Imagine that.
It’s true about Anna . I lived in Cairo. Racism was the area’s demise!
What happened?
I've lived in Southern Illinois since 1987, and lived in Union County through junior high/high school. Anna and Jonesboro are basically the same town. You just drive down a street in the middle of town and there's a sign that says Jonesboro city limits. Your GPS took you on scenic route! When I was in high school a Mexican family moved into town, and a certain group of people in town threatened to burn them out... in the 1990's...Having moved here from Dayton, Ohio, I just couldn't believe it.
Racists.
Back in the 1960's up until about 1970 or so, the city of Glendale CA. had signs on the freeway offramps and on major streets that read: "All Negroes and Mexicans must be outside of the city limits of Glendale by sunset. Anyone found after that will be subject to arrest". Then they gave the city ordinance number followed by the names of the mayor and chief of police. I asked my Mom about that back in '67 or thereabouts, and she explained to me what it meant. Then in about 1970 the signs came down, as they were unenforceable. Now you go to Glendale and it's a mix of all races and colors, which is as it should be. Glad to have found your channel Chris. The old racist mentalities died hard in this country.
Not totally gone yet. Therefore we get a trump mentality voting still. Angry the laws have changed, determined to " make merrikka great AGAIN?". HMMMM. For WHO?
That's crazy! Glad I don't live there!
It was like that in Pasadena too.
They don’t die
Racism is a spiritual entity & stronghold in some places. Laws alone won't do away with it.
Thanks for these videos. I am originally from Chicago and the information you have is eye-opening because I never knew the history downstate.
There are quite a few towns in southern Illinois that are still living in the past.And need I say most Trump support in Illinois comes from down there.
@@panchog2552 Almost the whole state is conservative other than a few counties in the north.
Cicero, and oak park used to be sundown towns too.
@@marcmo7138The cities tend to be more liberal. And because Chicago has so many people, it completely outweighs the small towns.
@@whyme3772 Unfortunately I know this but thanks.
Also let's not be in denial. People are just more silent and on code today but not much has changed in lots of Americans minds.
I love watching you drive around. Since I can't afford to leave my own town anymore
Biden prices
NT, I saw your Cairo and Benton videos, then this one. Great stuff: informative, interesting, unique approach and becoming more refined. Really great work. Thanks for the videos!
It’s amazing how society refuses to talk about America’s sun down urban cities 🤷♂️
😂 You mean ghettos
Reservations too
@@samuraisaxon6800 From my experience, white people are safer in poor black neighborhoods more than other black people.
Rural..Not Urban
Thank you for putting time stamps in your videos!
Amazing videos. I can tell you work really hard on these!
Thank you!
Your videos are as if I/ 🌍🌎 are in your passenger seat riding & chatting, well done thanks for the tours!
I’m black and have been to Anna a ton of times. I’ve heard about its reputation but have luckily never experienced anything bad there except for maybe some weird looks and an incident where someone at their courthouse almost got my license suspended because they forgot to submit something. My parents always tell me to be careful when I go there to see friends though. I hear more stuff regarding racism coming from West Frankfort
Be careful and be safe
Not worth the risk... they still the way they were in the past ,don't let tranquility fool you... once someone is spotted the whole town knows, they use technology, cell phones, I've traveled through them towns and I've seen the residents picking throughout their windows, when you think nobody is watching you there's when you're wrong...leaving the past behind "my eye"
Glad you didn't have any troubles in Anna. According to Wikipedia, Anna was 1 percent Black/African American in 2010. Hopefully this means that there is now some racial harmony in Anna.
@@jomarz1828 this comment need more view. That's why you won't get it
@@jomarz1828 experienced the same,, nothing has changed it just got more sophisticated, your employees, employers, churches, schools, and regularly frequented establishment have been doing the same for a very long time.
Illinois is a sundown state! Southern illinois is bad, but central, western, eastern, & northern illinois is just as bad if not worse!
First time we watch one of your videos we live in Illinois and we had been through Anna and 127 we are subscribed and we enjoyed how you present everything going on😊
Thank you!
Thank you so much for all of the work and research you put into these videos! I am a life long Chicagoland resident and its so interesting to see the history of towns I would drive past while going on road trips. As a white person its also very important for me to understand the struggles black people have went through and are still going through. The story about the BLM peaceful protest in Anna was a nice one that gives me hope.
I hope and Ef 5 tornado larger than the city hits it
Hell yea
@@BigSoulja69 .......NO H8
@Daily .......NO H8
@Maggot "Shallow minded"
@Maggot ill deal with not having clean hands if it meant my future kids didnt have to deal wit racism tbh
Yeahhh... I live 26 mins from Anna... I have lived in Southern Illinois for 15 years, only been to Anna ONCE & NEVER will again! At red lights they all the cars will stare at you. People walking by will stare at you in confusion, lol. Experienced this in Benton, IL, as well. Let's just say i keep my azz in the town of SIU! You all be safe out there. ❤
I would've stared too but that's because you look hot.
I appreciate your video content. It really shines a light on a dark and foreboding past.
I was surprised you didn't touch on the subject of the state mental institution, Choate. I was raised in Anna and our government teacher in high school had given us a brief overview of the way Anna and Carbondale had negotiated to establish either the institution in one town and Southern Illinois University in the other. Growing up we went to Carbondale (30min outside of Anna) for anything more recreational, like malls or movie theaters. Since SIL had been established in Carbondale rather than Anna, thats the city which ended up thriving more economically and in diversity. Since I left in 2018 it seems to be declining more rapidly than I would've expected. I moved to Las Vegas and most people look at me funny when I tell them, I moved to escape a toxic home environment. I understand why though. When you think of someplace lacking in toxicity I don't think most people would think of Vegas especially if you've been or live here. There's plenty of toxicity in Vegas, no doubt. For me though it was about the people I was surrounded by creating a toxic headspace and thats the unfortunate side of a small town. Young adults don't have much option for stimulation, which is why if you aren't stoned all day other people are smoking meth back home. Bored kids park their trucks in empty parking lots getting drunk and gossiping, if there's someone of a minority group in town, theyll be gossiping about them. Everyone tells everyone they know the latest crap they heard about whoever so everyone thinks they know your business and if they don't they're trying to find out. Personally, I wouldn't socialize with many people, im just not naturally gifted at things like that but because I'm a quieter person and also was one of the 3 Asian people in town, it was easy to ostracize me. All that I could handle but I realize now it put me in a guarded kind of mindset, which lead to crippling depression, and my home life was turbulent as well which the added outside negativity combined equalled three hospitalizations on suicide watch and a substance dependency I still battle. People in small towns like Anna are completely unaware how sheltered and narrow their view of everyone else and the world is. I come to Vegas and I can't believe the level of corruption and poverty I see even as we speak. I tell my mother, who still lives in anna, and she refuses to believe me. Its the people though, that make the real difference in any place you call home. Vegas, with all its flaws, I choose over living in a place where people are content settling for what they have, and closing off to the realities of the world. Thats why the BLM protest they participated in is so significant in my mind. Southern Illinoisians In general aren't okay with the injustices they see but they aren't gonna go out of their way to shake up anything. A protest like that in such a small town is so important because these kinds of towns are usually complacent in allowing social injustice to continue because they're not affected the way bigger metropolitan areas are, at least not in any immediately noticeable way. Whatever injustice you may find in larger areas can only be addressed when everyone in the nation is speaking out against it. Simple things like finding a job or getting around has been and still is a real and disproportionately difficult feat in Vegas compared to back home, and while my husband and I are struggling to survive with our first child on the way, ill take the struggle over living in a closed off community. Small towns breed a type of person with a smaller mindset in many ways. The fight to get on our feet is 10x harder out here but when we do, i know we will find more contentment for also being apart of a larger community with more opportunities for personal fulfillment.
I dislike living in small towns for the exact reason that you mentioned! I know that feeling quite well. Hope things turn out well for you in Vegas.
About the mental institution, yeah, I messed up on not including that one.
I came across your comment on the video about Anna, IL sundown . You provided a lot of details of your experience. Thanks for your input. Have you thought of writing book about your experiences. You have a gift of story telling.
My family lived in Anna. I kept hoping you would drive past my dad’s house but you didn’t. I liked your videos except for your suggestion to change the name of the town an I am about as “woke” as they come. I have been a “woker” since I was ten and I am now retired. Maybe coming up with a new acronym or some just don’t change the name. That is silly plus it will never be done.
First, I was watching world of briggs, then I came a-crossed this video talking about Anna, IL, which I thought was some normal small town. A few weeks later in school, I was reading a book about the unequal history of America when I saw Anna, IL in the book. Then I thought that Anna, IL is famous for something. So I came back to this video to watch it and learn all about it, great video!
Chris you do such a great job of giving context of the town's history and explaining local landmarks. I haven't watched very many of your videos, but I really enjoy when I do. Keep up the great work man I love the videos!
I live in Chicago, and I’ve never heard of Anna Illinois until today , very interesting subject
I just learned about sundown towns I had no idea! Its crazy to know this sorta stuff still exists This little town is so cute tho (sad history) I love the houses! Thank you for sharing!
Isn’t That Just Crazy! Sorta Ike how illegal drugs
💊💊💉🥄💦🔥🥴🤤😵 just appeared🇺🇸big cities..🤔💭❓
@@victordejung5675 This world is bad regardless, whether it’s a sundown town or drug infested town, hard to find anything good, honest, or safe these days!
Now you know where to move, a nice sundown town. No gangs, crime, or rape. Just hard working white people.
@33Donner77 the thing is that sundown town will literally unalive, attack, etc. Outsiders. Its pure degeneracy and evil.
Damn bro you thought of everything....
I like the way you handle your videos it's informative to the point and factual
I was born in Anna in '52 while my father was in Korea. We moved to the StL area for work when he got out in '53.
Still have lots of family there that we visited often as I grew up. You drove right by my grandfather's home in Jonesboro where he lived when I was a boy, and the cemetery in Anna where he now rests.
In all my 72 years, this is the first time I ever heard that 'Sundowner' reference, or the Anna acronym.
A real bucket of cold water on my boyhood memories...
Love your videos and your commentary! I appreciate your dry humor
Why did you take the long way to Jonesboro Illinois. It would have been shorter if you had gone through downtown Anna. Which is only 5 minutes a way from Walmart.
Walmart is in Anna Illinois
instead of changing names and forgetting history, maybe we should be proud that things have changed and are not like they used to be....to forget history is to repeat it!
Have they changed? Sundown towns still exist in 2022. Let that sink in.
@@taymangaming it jus saying it is racist without saying tho..... Don't fall for that b.s
@@taymangaming Livonia Mi is still a sun down town.
I have to admit this was my grandmother's hometown and was settled by many of my ancestors. My great grandfather was a Sheriff here and my 3rd great grandfather was a judge. My grandmother left after she married around 1920, but other family members remained in the family home on Vienna Street. Last time I checked google street view the house was still there but looked abandoned and dilapidated. I never knew the dark history of the town until I started researching the town for genealogy research.
Sry sir your great grandfather was a racist and yo grandma
@@patroberts9497 you would be still living in your moms basement you coward
@@patroberts9497 what ???
@@patroberts9497 bro… what?
Some deep racist roots in your family huh
the audacity to think you own land when it was stolen to begin with 😂😂 DISGUSTING
How about the audacity to actually think you own land. It's all in the legal and banking dictionary under title and deed. We have legal title, not owner ship.not even your cars do you own. The deal sold them MCO to the DMV before you bought it. Now you know why you have to register it. Get your MCO and you don't have to register it.
Conquered*
@@bretthousman8317 Stolen. and everybody knows it. 😂🤣
Love it! Great channel!
Thank you!
I just found this video. It's September 24th 2022.
I was raised in southern Illinois.
The house that we lived in , most of my life , was the oldest house in the town.
My father remodeled the house , and found a tunnel under our house.
It was a big part of the Underground Railroad.
We were told not to talk about it to anyone.
The old man that my father spoke to that helped in building the house and tunnel, gave my father strict orders to stay out of the tunnel. My father was a policeman in the town.
My father questioned that old man until all that man would say is,"it's better to let sleeping dogs lye ".
THANK you for posting and sharing this. This is an important part of American History, and 'American growing up'.
Wow. Did you go down to the tunnel? You have a very interesting story
@@jtozuna when my Dad removed the coal burning furnace, he found the entrance to the tunnel. He didn't know how safe it was, so he put a bright flashlight down there and a mirror , to look how far it went out.
Wtf
Watching from Northern Ireland here. Places I will most likely never see in real life. To an outsider, so many of these towns all look like they are straight out of Lanford in Roseanne sitcom. I don't mean that with any offense. I always wanted to live in that house. Although the sundown mentality would scare me off. Even though I'm white. I cannot abide racism or bigotry in any shape way or form.
Peace walls
Sir u r more then welcome to come and visit we r a beautiful little town and it has changed
@@katherinevandervort6402 What a lovely, kind and caring thing to say. Should I be lucky enough to visit Illinois, and that is a state I have always wanted to visit! It would be an honour to meet and learn more.
@@cocteaut I have relatives that live in Ireland and going to the emerald isles would be a dream
@@katherinevandervort6402 I really hope you get a chance to visit 'our wee place' as we say! The better half and I both did the dna thing, I'm adopted, so it was interesting to see the majority of my living blood kin residing in Canada and the US. Two of my sisters live in British Columbia, got to attend one of the weddings, it was a really special and emotional visit. Also have family in Indiana, New York state, Maine, Ohio, Oregon, Washington state and more (no Illinois yet though!)
The best music you've played on any of your videos!
Being from Central Illinois, it is amazing the different cultures you encounter throughout Illinois. Demographically, Southern Illinois is basically in the southern US. Illinois could have been 3 states, north of I 80, I 80-I 64 and South of I 64
These piano compositions are gorgeous. I'd love to know the name of them.
The movie Fugitive with Harrison Ford had a scene filmed in Anna. An ambulance was crossing RR tracks on S Main St then turning right onto E Vienna St 20:54
I'm still try'n to find that dam ...
@@582tird lol, me too !
@@582tird The dam is actually in North Carolina
The cleanest looking poor town I have seen yet.
beautiful house , beautiful countryside view , thank you mr.chris
The timestamp of your video at 5:42 shows the property where I grew up on the right. Now I had heard the stories about Anna being a sundown town, however that's not the way I was raised like a lot of others in the Anna Jonesboro community. I understand that maybe you are trying to tell a history of a place however you need to make it clear that it's HISTORY and not the views of this community as of present times.
Love this channel , great video bro, love your attention to detail and not only your historical facts , but your unadulterated opinions or commentary as well, keep going bro !! 🙏🏾… oh yeah now subscribed !!
My congratulations the video is excellent.The video has great images.Good Job :)
I live in Joliet Illinois and didn’t even know southern Illinois was like this. I feel dumb
I’m in Illinois too, near the city. I went to the bar and there were proud boys there, it’s not just in the south.
Its not like everyone is saying
Its definitely not a ghetto. No gangs. Or riots.Just good country folk not looking for trouble
Why is that so wrong? I do y go to areas were I do y fit on. So why can't prove live like they want. There not out victimizing people.
Why be upset with people
Just being who they are. O have to much to worry about in my own life. I do have time look for fault.
@@novapier7260 and it’s not just white areas. There are areas where white people should not be found.
Your not dumb. Just want you to know that some people want people and the world should live.think.breath.smell look for dirt. That is what the left democratic party is looking for. They want to be victims and people that don't think as they do ate victimizers.
I really appreciate the content and the scenic view; I just hope your vehicle is fuel efficient.😇 Thanks.
Well done, I truly enjoyed this video. Good luck with your channel, excellent format.
I remember being in this town late one night helping a friend who’s car stopped coming from Cape we were so terrified
Did anything happen, or did locals help you?
I don't know how I came across your channel, but I'm glad I did. Being raised in Peoria, IlL and growing up in the projects, I've never even heard of the city of Anna. Thanks for the education and highlighting things that need to change as we evolve as people and a nation. 27 years of active duty military service will change your outlook on the color of a Man's skin. And yes I am a BLACK MAN. Thanks for the content.
you people ruined Peoria
Im from Peoria I also never heard of Anna certainly wouldn’t ever go there
@@richardvoncline😂😂😂😂 it’s 2023 baby get over it
@@richardvonclineGROW UP!!
@@tyleashia714Thank you for that response!
Thank you, dude for speaking the truth.
Yes. Thank you for being honest and speaking the truth. I live near Anna and it is notorious.
@Maggot - Found the KKK apologist
Anna, Illinois is where the Annabelle Hydrangeas was originally found. Also the state hospital has some family history for me
Thank you for this video....we need more people like you, im from illinois....do more videos like this......i need to know this to protect my family....
Informative video Chris! Keep em coming.
Its 2022 and the fact that places like this still exist is astonishing
Pfft look who's doing the killing in the US. It ain't in the sundown towns.
Not really. This is the usa
And very necessary
@@davidballard5841 wow! Smh Caucasians are allergic to the Sun! And u feel that way?
@@davidballard5841 How is it very necessary?
We have to keep in mind that there are Sundown Towns all across the United States, not just in the south. I was aware of the southern areas, but i was curious to see if there were more, and unfortunately YES!
In the early 1970s I was a photography student at SIU, Carbondale. I drove frequently to Anna to photograph buildings and streets in the late afternoon. This was where I finally discovered and was able to express the beauty of the sun lights in photographs. I snooped around, walked around the streets with a large format camera but nobody bothered me. Back then, I was a young Asian male (from S. Korea) in the 20s. Those B&W photographs taken in Anna are proudly on display in my living room.
Umm that's because you are Asian. Try being me. A black man
So what’s your point? You like small white racist towns?
Because your skin is closer to theirs, you probably didn’t stand out as much. Had you been a black or darker Latino person, they could’ve given you a rough time.
@@whyme3772 ?? Now that's a double stereotype. There are gradations of skin hue among both blacks and Koreans. Why can't you just take his experience for what it is?
@@africkinamerican Still plausible. You know these sundown towns.
Thank you for this video and all your research.
I pulled up by myself around midnight. They was like we liked Obama. Lol
who the hell would want to live there?
It’s nice here, but the people are whack.
@Maggot I mean if You like being isolated go for it. 👍🏼
@Maggot I literally can't change that. Most everyone in my class is a POS, not to mention all the idiots who I have to deal with on a daily basis.
i'm sure [conservative] white people
White people....???
Living in Illinois for the last 8 years, the taxes aren't as much the problem as the poor economy. The cost of living in the state is high and the pay isn't good enough. Chicago is the fastest depopulating city in Illinois. The taxes don't help the situation, but if the rent was half of what it is now people wouldn't be moving to more affordable places. At least the people that I know moving out of Chicago have said it was rent and looking for a better job why they left.
Right makes sense. I think ultimately the high taxes help contribute to the higher rent. The property owners paying high property tax causes them to raise rent.
They're not leaving Chicago just because of the cost of living you're lying
Chicago and NYC has the best layout and public transport in North America. It is a shame high taxes and political bs is running them down.
@@AIDAHAR210 it's more than just that it's the crime rate and who is committing the majority of those crimes
I'm happy to view these driving videos during the $5/gal gas price times!
P.S. I left Illinois over 20 years ago due to the high cost of staying during retirement....
Did you notice the price of gas in the video? about half as much a gallon as it is now.
Everytime I was coming east I got gas in Iowa I just drove through illinois never slowed down until I hit Indiana. Got gas in Indiana. The amount fuel is in illinois they should pave EVERY road EVERY year. The amount of crooked deals in illinois is insane. So I always try not to stop/ do business there.
History shows that both those who do not learn history are doomed to repeat it that's why we can't change the name of the town!
Interesting!! My mom was born in Anna and my grandparents grew up and lived there until moving away before WWII. I spent many holidays there with extended family growing up and no one ever mentioned this aspect of Anna’s history.
I've lived in Illinois all my life, born and raised...not always proud of that fact for certain reasons. However, I can honestly say that I've never heard of sun down town's in my life, but racism is wrong and shouldn't even exist...no matter where you are or the color of your skin...people are people and should be equal and treated fairly.
I'm from the Chicago area... a friend of ours convinced us to move down there near the lake. We lived in Benton, and I made a friend from a town called Colpe. It'd just outside of Herrin which isn't far from Anna... he was a young black man and explained the racial history of the area and how African Americans built Colpe in response to not being able to get housing or buy homes in Herrin or "in town". Colpe is just about the size of a small subdivision. I only lasted down there about 2 years. Had a black roommate and experienced a lot of racist activity. I had to call the police once because a group of grown men were trying to mess with these young boys then tried to make it seem like the boys were being aggressive and had a knife... I genuinely feared for the kids. I walked them down the beach road and called the police for them. I couldn't deal. Moved back.
I couldn’t live in that type of culture ever
It’s spelled “Colp”.
needless to say I was raised in Colp , Illinois in the mid 80s and there was something different about the place not seeing many Caucasians around until I got to Herrin, Illinois to school. It was very segregated back then .
I think that if you drove through almost any rural area of Kentucky, Missouri, Arkansas, Kansas and most any other of the "fly over states" you will see the same amount of closed stores and factories. I live in Missouri and used to ride a motorcycle and have ridden all over this area, yes there is population decline in Illinois and property taxes doubtlessly led to that. Missouri has lower property taxes but outside of the few main cities all the smaller towns are drying up. Western Tennessee and Northern Arkansas are drying up too. We let small to medium industry offshore, this "free trade" sent it all to low wage and third world countries starting in the late 70s and accerating in the 80 and up until today when there is no small industry. Anna had a bakery that employed many people but it closed, most of the bread now come from a larger bakery east of St. Louis in Illinois.
We can blame the Greed Monsters for this outcome. The offshoring continues throughout many industries today, including my own employer (who just laid off a lot of knowledgeable, hard-working people in tech jobs, only to open those positions up again halfway around the world where workers make Far Less pay). This is how Millionaires becomes Billionaires, and that's ALL that matters to the Powers That Be. But we truly Don't need more Billionaires. It's actually the Last thing we need, as a society, unless our own disenfranchisement is the goal.
The perks of the past (like pensions, or successful one-income family units) no longer exist for most of the middle class, which has shrunk considerably as more people slid into poverty. Heck, our Social Security funds aren't even safe from political pillaging anymore (SS was once a separate, protected fund, but is increasingly open to raiding, to pay off govt debt). The wages of the middle class have inched up only 10% in terms of buying power, over the past 4+ decades. In that same time, top exec pay has grown by over 970%.
These changes weren't accidental. They allowed the Greed Monsters to BUY our political system, making it work Only for themselves. That's why today most of us still pay taxes, while the richest find loopholes & off-shore accounts, shifting their burden to our shoulders. They even erased the Fairness Doctrine, replacing it with...nothing but a "Fake News!" channel that could not have been launched if such a protective regulation was still in place. How ironic that this channel blares that phrase constantly. It's pure projection.
Changes in Education also reveal the plan. The cost of a 4-year, in-state degree has risen over 1,200% since 1980, on average. And the college loan system has been thoroughly corrupted, making such loans a trap that will prevent much of today's younger generations from ever being able to afford a home purchase (keeping them locked into paying rent, in a market where corporations have scooped up as many homes as they could). Look at how the well-paid shills on that afirementioned TV "news" show try to undermine public ed, promoting efforts to funnel $$ from public schools to support private schools instead... using OUR tax dollars to save the rich even more on the cost of an education option that Isn't an option for most citizens.
The Filthiest of the Rich Still want slaves, and are determined to get them. They don't care what it does to our nation, b/c they frankly don't believe in Democracy. They want serfs, instead, forever indebted to them & filling their coffers. Certain "news" segments have gone so far as to declare that a college education "isn't worth the cost" anymore. It's certainly unaffordable (& made so on purpose), yes. But it remains a crucial element for most members of our society, to be able to earn more than just a living-paycheck-to-paycheck wage. The rich know that. They're simply making sure their own precious scions don't have as much competition in gaining the finer things in Life, to which they feel Entitled. It's revolting, and Evil.
Wonder why other things most Americans once enjoyed, like traveling, have become so very expensive? Or why prices continue to rise, even for products made by companies that enjoyed "banner years" during the pandemic? Price-gouging is a profitable way for rich schmucks to cement their Power by bleeding the rest of us dry. We used to have more regulations in place to prevent things like business monopolies, but then the folks who envision themselves as Barons fooled simple minds into seeing such safety measures as "bad for business" when they were only bad for Billionaires. Having guardrails to prevent abuse is actually a Good thing. But good luck convincing someone of that Fact (or most other facts) if they've littered their front yard w/ tribalistic political signage.
Wonder how a company can shed hundreds or thousands of workers, but still grant its top level execs millions in bonuses? Blame Greed. It's also what will send a lot of souls to an unexpected destination, if there truly is an afterlife. "For what does it profit a man to gain the world, but lose his soul?".
Racist towns have been around forever, it seems, b/c so has bigotry & hate. Today, this toxic mindset is being promoted in certain sectors, as a way to continue controlling the masses. Give people a hall-pass to proudly be their Worst selves, and you can get them to do damn near Anything. Having scapegoats is preferred by those who are incapable of deeper thought... the kind needed to find humane solutions to life's troubles. So, Nazis are once again ascending (but are called "very good people" by a longtime Hitler fan, as they march across a once-peaceful town carrying torches). Things like Fairness & Kindness are ridiculed as "woke" by a guy trying to scuttle his state's largest employer. Will Floridians suffer w/o the wages & tourist $$s they've long enjoyed, if the Mouse moves elsewhere? Do we really think Ron cares, or has even thought that far ahead?
Kids get their faces blown off in class, and None of us are safe anywhere in public anymore, even at church. Yet fearful, ignorant people remain focused on banning books, or on who gets to use which restroom. They won't allow gun-safety measures b/c they've been fed endless lies by the gang who profits Hugely from lying (the NRA).
We, as a nation, have been tricked into fighting a culture war to prevent us from fighting a class war. But even fooled people wake up, eventually, when the pain becomes intolerable. Any deposed dictator would agree w/ that statement, if they were still breathing & able to speak. Will the Former USA (well, we sure as 💩 are Not "United" anymore, as planned) be able to reverse these trends before the streets once again run red to cries of "Eat the Rich!"? We shall see.
I hope our leaders, on both sides of the aisle, come to realize the foolishness of this vast corruption. Esp if they believe in God as much as they claim. A well-educated nation is better able to compete in the world. People who can afford to purchase things like homes, food, clothing & shelter drive a healthy economy far more than a bunch of rich a-holes w/ tons of cash locked away in an offshore bank. To lift kids out of poverty, don't fund schools based on the taxes of the local economy, but on a set amount spent *per child*, across the nation. If rich people want private schools instead, they can pay for them Without using the tax $$$ that used to pay for safety nets for the most destitute.
Don't like homelessness? Stop supporting the corrupt system that has allowed it to explode. Fight it w/ decency & Fairness instead. Real Christians also realize that doing so was basically JC's main message. Greedy pr*cks won't get past those pearly gates. Folks w/ hate-filled hearts likely won't fare any better. Being kind & Fair are the requirements to enter Paradise. The wealthiest people may lack the skillset needed in Heaven...esp compassion for others. Those who blame others for being victimized by such corruption need to take a good, long look in the mirror. If they won't, it may be b/c they know, deep down, that they won't like what they see.
@@winkyhere8697
I came across your comments on the video about Anna the sundown town. Excellent points and presented in great detail. You should forward these comments to newspaper or create a youtube channel. America would benefit from hearing them. Thank you for your info and thoughts.
thank you for sharing i love see old towns in different states
Okay ya got me hooked! As our home is watching the Market, we are processing buying land.
Also the Wabash River flows the borders of Indiana and Illinois easterly from Terre Haute down into the Ohio River where Indiana meets Kentucky south of Mt. Vernon, IN. at Union Dam
Dont change the name , Anna Illinois is a beautiful little town and everyone treated me like i lived there. I was very comfortable but unfortunately i live 685 miles from Anna
Well in Arcola they were trying to put me in jail so bad and to this day I still don’t know why.
Wow
Is there the “Coon” Club somewhere around Anna and Pickneyville?
9:18 is where he starts to talk about Anna in case anyone is wondering
Thank you
What is this piano piece I love this
By the ash tree by Slow Meadow
Have a good friend who’s Grandfather was born and raised in Anna and the stories are 100% true. Her Grandparents didnt like me too much when I came around me being of Mexican descent but after a while they loosened up. Unfortunately its just the way some people are raised.
It’s also ungodly. There are a lot of folks I fear for who think they are Christian but are not.
They still had that hate in their heart for you. They just learned how to deal with you. That hate still existed.
Its really interesting seeing how the houses in the Unites States are. Truly different.
"not political - moral." love it, brother