By Garry Blanson For those who didn’t know, the reason why I chose to write my “Our Rich Black Heritage” articles is to highlight other African-Americans besides the ones that we are use to hearing about during Black History Month.…
Category: Editorial
Our Rich Black Heritage: Frances Barrier Williams
By Garry Blanson Ever since before the American Civil War, Civil Rights and Education have been two of the top priorities for Black People in America. Although Black People have more representation today than they had in the early 1970s…
Non-academic extracurricular activities contribute to poor school performance
What can be done to help improve the academic performance of African-American students in the Monroe City School System? Last week, this column focused on frequent vacations and breaks in schedules that disrupt units of study. There are…
Disruptive City school schedule contributes to low achievement problem
Last week, as the school board considered renewing the superintendent’s contract, two Black board members complained about how the district is failing black students academically. They wanted to know what he planned to do to improve. Dr. Brent Vidrine’s response…
Our Rich Black Heritage: Benjamin Bradley
By Garry Blanson During American Slavery, slaves were sometimes allowed to buy their “FREEDOM!” This Week’s Black Heritage Hero was able to do so in an “unusual fashion.” By using “mere ideas,” Benjamin Bradley was able to take common materials…
Sturdivant’s bad advice on rules or order cripples council decision
The Monroe City Council needs a parliamentarian or an attorney that knows the rules of parliamentary procedure. Last week the public received another lesson on how major decisions can hinge on breaches of parliamentary procedure that will have lasting effects.…
Our Rich Black Heritage: Coralie Franklin Cook
By Garry Blanson Much has been said and written about Sally (Sarah) Hemings, the mother of several of Thomas Jefferson’s slave children. However, little is taught in the schools in our Black Communities about Coralie Franklin Cook (a descendant of…