By Garry Blanson
At “700 Rogers Street,” Near Carroll High School, in Monroe, Louisiana
My, my, my, oh how time does seem to fly!
Well, this week of July 2026 just happens to mark the fourth consecutive year of my Our Rich Black Heritage articles by Garry O’Dell Blanson appearing in the weekly publication of The Monroe Free Press! Who would have thought that back in July 2022, when Rev. Roosevelt Wright Jr. left me his phone number on Facebook Messenger to call him following a message I had sent him about an important community issue, he would end our conversation by asking me to write and submit an article to The Monroe Free Press?
By the way, what was so surprising to me about his request is that Rev. Wright didn’t even suggest or imply what I should write about. He simply requested that I write an article and submit it before the printing deadline.
Well, of course, everyone knows by now that I decided to name my article series “Our Rich Black Heritage.” Hey, in case anyone was wondering, the name actually came to me without me really giving it much thought at all.
Furthermore, Our Rich Black Heritage perfectly reflects what I set out to achieve, which is to inform people everywhere about the achievements and accomplishments of many of our Black pioneers throughout the state of Louisiana, Ouachita Parish, Monroe, and the entire United States of America, who paved the way for Black people living in America today.
Now, let me entertain everyone with this splendid idea that recently occurred to me. Yes, it has to do with the land that’s located at 700 Rogers Street in Monroe, Louisiana.
Incidentally, this address, which is located about one block behind the current Carver-McDonald Branch Library, just happens to be the previous site of the old Delta Area Vocational School that was built as a trade school for Negroes over 65 years ago.
While I have to admit that it has been quite some time since the location has been adequately used, I still feel that this location can once again serve as a beacon of light while serving Black students and adults in the Booker T. Washington community.
By the way, there are two main reasons why this particular location is so appealing to me. The number one reason is because of its proximity to the current Carver-McDonald Branch Library, and number two is because the land is currently vacant!
Additionally, when I talked with current Police Jury member Lonnie Hudson about three years ago, I distinctly remember him saying that one of the main reasons why a new Carver-McDonald Branch Library hadn’t been constructed was because there was a problem choosing a particular location for the new library.
Well, I have to say that 700 Rogers Street is that particular location the Ouachita Parish Police Jury has been looking for!
In closing, it is my hope that more Black leaders in Monroe, Louisiana, and Ouachita Parish will step up to the plate and push for the Ouachita Parish Police Jury to acquire the property at 700 Rogers Street so that this dream can become a reality!
