By Garry Blanson One of the pioneers of the Black Press was “ETHEL L. PAYNE.” Many people referred to Ethel as The “FIRST LADY” of the Black Press. Well, interestingly enough, her career didn’t begin as a journalist at all.…
Tag: Garry Blanson
Our Rich Black Heritage: Richard Barrington
By Garry Blanson ONCE upon a time, in old Monroe, Louisiana( back when White people “ literally owned” Negroes as their private property ), there lived a respectable Negro slave named Richard Barrington. It is reported that he came to…
Our Rich Black Heritage: Mary Church Terrell
By Garry Blanson When you think about any of the long-term Black Civil Rights Organizations in Monroe, Louisiana, one of the first that comes to mind is The National Association For The Advancement of Colored People …
Our Rich Black Heritage: John Wesley Cromwell
By Garry Blanson JOHN WESLEY CROMWELL Known for his natural ability to create intellectual organizations and his knowledge of Negro History, John Wesley Cromwell was a teacher, journalist, lawyer, teacher, and civil rights activist. He was born on September 5,…
Our Rich Black Heritage: George B. Hamlet
By Garry Blanson GEORGE B HAMLET was the first African-American mayor of Monroe, La. Before 2022, I was told and thought that Abe Piere was the first Black Mayor of Monroe, Louisiana. However, while doing research, I discovered that Abe Pierce wasn’t…
Our Rich Black Heritage: Alfred Lawless
By Garry Blanson Recently, I read about A Petition. The Petition read, “Change Our School Name back to Alfred Lawless High School.” You see when Hurricane Katrina devastated the lower 9th Ward Black Community in New Orleans, Louisiana. It also…
Our Rich Black Heritage: Lydia Hamilton Smith
By Garry Blanson Lydia Hamilton was born at Russell Tavern in Adams County, Pennsylvania. She was the widow of a Gettysburg Negro barber named Jacob Smith, who died in 1852; by whom she had two children. Since she had an…