Between November 27 and December 4, 2024, our friends were busy on social media, including these snaps.
Category: Editorial
Our Rich Black Heritage: The Former Black–Owned Insurance Companies in Monroe
By Garry Blanson “If the misery of our poor be caused not by the Laws of Nature, but by our Government Institutions, then great is our sin!” -unknown When discussing the former Black-Owned Insurance Companies in Monroe, Louisiana, I would…
Future of the Bayou Classic lies in the “Black Experience”
The Bayou Classic began in 1974 as a showcase of Black college football excellence, featuring rivals Grambling State and Southern University. What started as a gridiron clash that drew over 76,000 fans has evolved into something far more significant –…
Our Rich Black Heritage: The former Black-owned Barbeque establishments in Monroe
By Garry Blanson The former Black-owned Barbeque establishments in Monroe, featuring Huey “Lil Bob” Nash, “The Black man from Louisiana who broke the color barrier at the Texas State Fair in 1964” Oh boy, do I have a humdinger of…
Five months in, Ellis still avoids black economic parity
In the five months since taking office, Mayor Friday Ellis’s administration has struggled to establish an effective working relationship with Monroe’s black-majority city council. This growing divide presents a challenge that, while difficult, is not insurmountable for a white mayor…
Our Rich Black Heritage: The former Black-owned Barbershops in Monroe
By Garry Blanson Before I give my list of some of the former Black-owned barbershops that use to be in Monroe, Louisiana, I will share a short story about one of the neighborhood barbers who cut my hair when I…
Sending kids to prison for “any crime” is not a good idea
What’s the real reason lawmakers are considering sending children to Angola rather than juvenile lockups? Is it about making us safer, or is it secretly about saving money? No one has said it aloud, but the fact that a proposal…