Ten years ago, the Monroe City School Board set up a search committee that bent the rules to make a homeboy its next superintendent. That resulted in a great experience for white students, a failing experience for Black students, and…
Category: Editorial
Our Rich Black Heritage: William Lambert
By Garry Blanson Jim Rohn once said, “If we ignore the lessons of the past, from whatever the source, then we may become victims of the process of trial and error.” You see, there are many lessons to be learned…
City should investigate its role in last month’s mass shooting
The tragic death of 14-year-old Dontavius Wilson at last month’s Renwick Street Block Party is a stark reminder that condolences, while necessary, are not a substitute for action and accountability. In the wake of such violence, some of Monroe’s leadership…
Our Rich Black Heritage: Monroe Alpheus Majors
By Garry Blanson Recently, I heard a story about a school teacher who wanted to emphasize a point about “VOTING” to her students. However, instead of browbeating them, she simply wrote a question on the chalkboard. The question she wrote…
Vidrine is out, the school board should now focus on educational excellence
Monroe City Schools stand at a pivotal juncture with Dr. Brent Vidrine’s retirement. The district should now address a glaring issue: our students’ academic performance. While the tenure of Dr. Vidrine witnessed commendable efforts in infrastructural development and pushing for…
Our Rich Black Heritage: Caroline Still Anderson
By Garry Blanson Caroline was born on November 1, 1848, in the “FREE STATE” territory of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Her father, “William Still,” was a wealthy Negro businessman, philanthropist, and abolitionist. He did his best to instill in her consciousness a…
Was Saturday’s mass shooting avoidable? Where were the police?
Every year, the Carroll High School homecoming festivities transform the city, drawing alumni and supporters from far and wide, but when a tragic event pierces the heart of such celebration, it calls for reflection and accountability. The block party spontaneously…