By Garry Blanson
Recently, I learned that several U.S. states are being sued by private prisons, “because the states have failed to maintain the percentage of prisoners agreed upon in the prison contracts.” After watching a short video about the lawsuits, I now better understand just why Governor Jeff Landry came up with “the new law against homeless people in Louisiana!”
You see, the new law not only helps the governor deal with the problem of “housing the homeless,” it also helps the state of Louisiana to “meet the prison contract requirements as well.” However, one of the flaws that I can see right away is that “many of the homeless people in Louisiana are female & male military veterans!”
Furthermore, I feel that “it’s a strange thing” that every year in Louisiana, “Veterans Day” is rolled out like it’s such a big thing, but the very next day, “it’s let’s lock up some of the same veterans that were just honored the day before!” All I can say is, “Shame, shame, shame!!!”
Well, anyways, let me inform everyone about several of the former “Black-owned businesses” that used to exist in Monroe, Louisiana. While there were many, I only included a few that were listed in the “Bicentennial Research Compilation,” published by B. D. Robinson and the Black Bicentennial Committee of Ouachita Parish.
By the way, “it was exactly 50 years ago when the compilation booklet was published!” Also, before he died, B. D. Robinson made sure a copy made it to the main Ouachita Parish Library.
OK, who remembers this one, “Straughter’s Hot Spot,” which was located near North 21st Street in Monroe? What about this one, “Better Homes Realty Company,” that was located just up the street from Carroll High School and was headed by none other than Morris “Henry” Carroll, who was also the principal of Carroll High School?
Well, who remembers “Johnson’s Photography Studio,” which was located on Washington Street in Monroe? Mr. Johnson was still around taking pictures in Monroe into the 1980s, and maybe even the early 1990s.
Alright, what about this one, “The Elite Motel and Lounge,” which was recently torn down in Booker T. and was located near Powell Avenue; H.H. Marbles Barbecue, which was located on Breard Street in Monroe.
Now that I have whet your appetite, here’s a brief list of some of the other former Black businesses: Pierce’s Pharmacy and Luncheonette, which was located in the 1000 block of Desiard Street; Isac Burnett’s Grocery, which was located on Jackson Street in Monroe; Green’s Photography Studio, which was located on Renwick Street near the railroad tracks; A & A Print Shop, which was located on Desiard Street; Bo Jangles Food and Hamburger Stand, which was located near Carroll High School on Renwick Street; Profit’s Seafood Cafe; Butler’s Texaco Service Stations; Stuart McGuire Fashions; and Wards Shoe Shop.
In closing, I would like to mention that many of the Black owners of these Black business establishments were also active in the Civil Rights Movement events and rallies that went on in Monroe. While they felt that running and owning a business was good, they also realized that more needed to be done within our Black communities as well as within the city of Monroe to ensure that future generations of “Blackfolk” in Monroe didn’t have to put up with the terrible things that they had to endure because of the color of their skin.
