By Garry Blanson Part Two of a Two-Part Series. Although, Maryland Brooks had customers in Ouachita and Morehouse Parishes, his home was located here in Monroe, Louisiana, and his address was listed as 2305 Breard Street. Out of curiosity, I…
Category: Editorial
Next parish NAACP leader must lead the fight
As the Ouachita Parish NAACP prepares to select a new leader following Reverend Ambrose Douzart’s resignation, it’s crucial to reflect on the organization’s storied history and consider its future direction. For nearly a century, this branch has been at the…
Our Rich Black Heritage: Maryland Brooks, “The Colored Cattle King” & Meat Grocer of Ouachita & Morehouse Parish
By Garry Blanson Part One of a Two-Part Series As I was researching the other day, I ran across an old article that mentioned that there was once “A LAW or RULE” that strongly prohibited Colored People in Ouachita Parish…
Board’s Financial Negligence Betrays Public Trust, heads should roll
The recently released audit of the Monroe City School Board paints a damning picture of financial mismanagement and neglect that should outrage every taxpayer and parent in our community. The sheer breadth and depth of the failures uncovered reveal a…
“Our Rich Black Heritage”: Coleman College – the first “HBCU” founded in Northern Louisiana
By Garry Blanson “When it comes to learning things, I have found that it’s not so important that you know everything, just so long as you know and remember that you have the power to learn anything” -Garry O. Blanson…
As shootings continue, city would be wise to take first study steps
Monroe is a violent community, with a spiraling crime rate that far exceeds state and national averages. By some estimates, our violent crime rates are 600% higher than the national average for cities our size. Although it was reported last…
Our Rich Black Heritage: Leland University/College
By Garry Blanson Part Two of a Two-Part series Well, hopefully some of you all who read my last week’s “OUR RICH BLACK HERITAGE” article went online and found out that Leland opened “in 1870,” in New Orleans, Louisiana, as…