Educating tomorrow: Sharing Rondo’s legacy with today’s youth

The Rondo neighborhood in St. Paul has a rich cultural history. As a proud daughter of Rondo, I share this history during bus tours. Each tour takes participants on a historical journey through the Rondo community.

Throughout the tour, I delve into how the Rondo neighborhood has evolved over time. The event begins at the Hallie Q. Brown Community Center, which has been a cornerstone of Rondo for over a century. In the early 1900s, the Community Center served as a place for members of the community to build strong connections and bonds. The Center also provided access to valuable resources like housing, jobs, education, and healthcare for neighborhood residents.

The history discussed during the tour dates back to Rondo’s first settler, Joseph Rondeau, in 1858. Rondeau purchased 40 acres of land which was called the “Rondo Addition.” Over the next decade, he sold parcels of land to real estate developers. Homes were built and families relocated to Rondo. The community continued to evolve into a welcoming community that naturally grew over time due to its reputation of hospitality, hope and unity. 

African American churches, businesses and communities began to settle in the late 19th century. Since then, the Rondo neighborhood has been the center of St. Paul’s African American community.

In the 1910s, the Rondo community started to grow. African American newspapers such as St. Paul Recorder, The Appeal and The Northwestern Bulletin spoke about Rondo’s community interests and provided representation for the needs of residents. Shortly after, Rondo community members banded together to create the St. Paul chapter of the NAACP in 1913. One Rondo resident, Roy Wilkins, would later lead the NAACP at the national level.

Around the 1930s, the railway industry began booming, and local businesses flourished. Students flourished academically, as evidenced by high literacy rates. Networking opportunities and social clubs began to open up for residents. Affordable housing became much more accessible with the strong economy. The community was thriving, and many Rondo families were upper-middle and middle class as a result. By the 1950s, around 85% of the African American population in St. Paul lived in the Rondo neighborhood. For much of the 20th century, Rondo was a thriving cultural and art hub of the Black community in St. Paul.

Following the enactment of the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956, also known as the National Interstate and Defense Highways Act, the Department of Transportation started construction on Interstate 94 to link the downtown areas of Minneapolis and St. Paul. City administration decided that the highway would run through the Rondo neighborhood, which threatened to displace hundreds of Black families. Despite strong resistance from prominent community leaders like Reverend Floyd Massey Jr. and Timothy Howard, the city moved ahead with the project, causing at least 700 Black families to lose their homes and forced closure of over 300 Black-owned businesses. Leveraging the power of eminent domain, residents were approached by the city and forced to relocate. In the 1960s, the completion of I-94 split the Rondo community in half, destroying most Black-owned homes and businesses.

After the destruction of the Rondo community, Marvin Roger Anderson and Floyd G. Smaller founded Rondo Days in 1983. This is a yearly celebration of the Rondo community, which includes a parade, festival, dinner, and several events to bring the community together.

The spirit of the Rondo community has continued to live on all these years later. Talented entrepreneurs have built a new business district which includes Two Scoops, Lip Esteem, Flava Coffee and Café, Golden Thyme Restaurant and Bar, and Life Juices amongst many others. The arts and culture district has been revitalized through the Walker West Music Academy and Penumbra Theatre.

This is just a small sampling of the rich history of the Rondo community that the neighborhood bus tours spotlight. The tour provides a unique opportunity for participants to meet Rondo residents, and explore the arts, culture, history, and businesses that are at the heart of the Rondo community. The tour continues to highlight the inspiring legacy of Rondo.

Honoring Rondo history and values is a call to action. It is an opportunity for all caring adults to serve as first educators and support our children as they learn, grow and lead. 

A “First Educator” refers to the primary role of parents and caregivers in a person’s early development and education. They instill essential life skills, morals, and behaviors.

As a First Educator, you can connect children to enriching Rondo learning opportunities:

Discuss the concept of community: Start a discussion with a young person where you define community and reflect on collective values.

Participate in community service projects: Encourage youth to volunteer at clean-ups, help a local community elder, or organize a food drive.

Encourage civic engagement: Attend a city council meeting and involve youth in community planning discussions.

 Read books about Rondo: Add Rondo inspired books to your story time with these titles: "Mr. Rondo Spirit," "Violet Loves Rondo," and "Joey and Grandpa Johnson’s Day in Rondo."

Through her organization, Planting People Growing Justice Leadership Institute, Dr. Artika Tyner offers resources to foster literacy and education.