I, Mrs. Latreacia Matthews from Monroe, La., am a proud member of Grambling State University’s Class of 2026, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology after beginning my academic journey in 1989. My path reflects resilience, faith, and an…
Author: Free Press
Obituary for Pastor Hulon Leon Benjamin, Sr.
Pastor Hulon Leon Benjamin, Sr., a devoted servant of God, beloved husband, father, and respected leader, was born on November 22, 1952, in Winnsboro, Louisiana, to the proud parents, George B. Benjamin and Elizabeth Jackson. He departed this life on…
Our Rich Black Heritage: Union Baptist High/Elementary School for Negro Children in Monroe, Louisiana, in the 1950s
By Garry Blanson “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” – George Santayana, The Life of Reason, 1905 It’s amazing how not being born during a certain era can keep Black people in Monroe, Louisiana, from…
The tassel is worth the trouble
By Rusty Potter Across the state, graduation caps are being tossed into the air. Families are cheering, and cameras are flashing. Graduation season is more than a ceremony. It is proof that perseverance still works. Last week, I wrote about…
Our City, Our Community
By Marie Brown 8,538 early votes were cast in Ouachita Parish for the May 16 election for the US Senate and House candidates, amendments, and Monroe City 2 tax propositions. The demographics voting consisted of 5,242 whites, 3,096 blacks, and…
A Godly-Mother’s greatest joy is God fearing children
By Lisa Wilmore As I watched my daughter walk across the stage to receive her Master’s degree in Public and Educational Policy at Vanderbilt University in Nashville TN, it was truly a proud moment. What made the occasion even…
The Choir Stand Pulpit
A Weekly Column for Musicians and Song Leaders MOTHER’S DAY EDITION • MAY 10, 2026 What Mama Hummed, the Choir Stand Must Carry When a preacher testifies in past tense, the musician answers in present tense — a real-time reflection…