“The mind is the strongest muscle in your body. If you can overcome the doubt in your mind, you can achieve success.” -Jesse Owens When people talk about former track and field runners who possessed Olympic Class Speed, it’s not…
Tag: Garry Blanson
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…
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…
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…
Our Rich Black Heritage: “The Former Black-Owned Beauty Shops In Monroe”
By Garry Blanson Once upon a time, in the Louisiana Territory, back when it was under Spanish rule.There was actually a Law that made “CREOLE WOMEN” & “FREE WOMEN of COLOR” tone down the beauty of their hair! The law…
Our Rich Black Heritage: The forgotten Black-owned service stations in Monroe
By Garry Blanson “A People without knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without Roots” -Marcus Mosiah Garvey Recently, I discovered that when the “Monroe Civic Center” was built, several streets like “Vicksburg Street” disappeared into the…
Our Rich Black Heritage: “Black Americans have made major strides in spite of oppression and injustice. This Bi-Centennial Booklet is a tribute to Black and White Americans” – Bernie Dayton Robinson
By Garry Blanson “THE BLACK BI-CENTENNIAL COMMITTEE” Before he died, “Mr. B.D. Robinson” assembled A Black Bi-Centennial Committee to put together A Booklet On the History of Blacks in Ouachita Parish & Monroe, Louisiana. The Booklet is Called,”Contributors of Ouachita…