“OUR RICH BLACK HERITAGE” - JOHN WESLEY CROMWELL

 Known for his natural ability for creating intellectual organisations and his knowledge of Negro History, John Wesley Cromwell was a  teacher, journalist lawyer, teacher, and civil rights activist. He was born on September 5,1846. Several of his other list of accolades included being one of founders of The Bethel Literary & Historical Society and The American Negro Academy( in Washington D.C.). Being a man in demand, he was also founder, editor, or contributor to a number of newspapers and journals{ including most prominently, “The People’s Advocate.” } Later in his life, John Wesley Cromwell was a strong advocate of black-owned businesses and encouraged black economic success. Additionally, He thought that Blacks should stick together and support Black businesses. He wrote a interesting book in 1914 titled,”The Negro in American History: Men and Women Eminent in the Evolution of the American of African Descent.” His book influenced Carter G Woodson to create The Association for the Study  of Negro Life and History in 1915. John Wesley Cromwell died  on April 14, 1927[ in Washington D.C. ]. Lately, In Monroe, Louisiana there has been much talk and discussion concerning economic development. While Mayor Oliver Ellis has been fervently pushing the Northside’s plan for economic development, The Southside Economic Development District (S.E.D.D.) has come up with a 25 year plan for the economic development of the “SOUTHSIDE” of Monroe. Somehow, Mayor Ellis keeps failing to understand that the Black citizens of Monroe would like see improvements on their side of town too( not just downtown)! As a matter of fact, not only doesn’t Mayor Ellis get it,  the Black members of the Monroe City Council don’t seem to get it either! Recently, the mayor and the city council  completely ignored the recommendations from citizens of Monroe to delay the vote and approval of giving city funds to State Representative Mike Echols private company. In closing, I would hope that the Black Leaders in Monroe, Louisiana would begin working on uniting and organizing the Black citizens of Monroe, so we can get Mayor Ellis and The Monroe City Council to embrace and fully support “THE SOUTHSIDE DREAM,”like they are embracing and supporting “The Downtown Dream!”

“OUR RICH BLACK HERITAGE” - GEORGE B HAMLET

“Only By Knowing Our Past, Can We Better Understand The Present, And Prepare For An Even Brighter Future “ ~ Garry O Blanson 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 Monroe’s first Black Mayor. According to my research, a Negro[ possibly a Mulatto ] by the name of George B Hamlet holds that honor. He was originally from Ohio, but in 1869,he moved to New Orleans.  Around the next year, Hamlet made his way to Tensas parish{ according to government records he moved to Monroe February 3, 1873 }.During Reconstruction, George B Hamlet was appointed by Governor William Kellogg as Monroe’s first African-American Mayor( and then Ouachita Parish’s first African-American Sheriff ). At the end of Reconstruction in Ouachita parish, he went to live in Washington D.C. where he became Chief Postal Inspector of the Post Office( becoming the first African-American to do so ). It was said that the people in Washington D.C. did not realize his race until he had held the post for many years. George B Hamlet died in Landover, MD January 24, 1926, leaving behind a wife and son }.During the period following the American Civil War( known as The Reconstruction Era ), Negroes in Monroe, Louisiana and other parts of the U.S. experienced many social and economic advancements. Combined with the Abolishment of slavery and Negro males being able to vote[ due to the passing of the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments to the Constitution ; plus the fact that many of the White males could not vote, because they had supported the Confederates ], Negroes were able to elect Blacks to Congress in several states in the South & North. Ok, Fast-forward to 2022. Currently in Monroe, Louisiana there are a sizeable amount of Black males and Black females holding government positions. Also, as of 2022, the Black population is documented at 60% - 61.3. Based on these numbers alone, It seems to me that it should be easy for the Black Leaders in Monroe, Louisiana to unite and organise the Black citizens of Monroe and come up with an Agenda to help improve and rebuild our Black Communities here in Monroe, Louisiana.

OUR RICH BLACK HERITAGE” ~ ALFRED LAWLESS

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 destroyed The Alfred Lawless High School. The High School was named for Rev. Alfred Lawless . The Alfred Lawless High School was founded in the lower ninth ward as a public school( Alfred Lawless High School has graduated lawyers, educators, entrepreneurs, nurses, and politicians ).   So who was Alfred Lawless, you might ask? Well, he was born on July 26,1872 in Thibodaux, Louisiana. He attended Straight University in New Orleans and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1900, and a Bachelor of Divinity degree in 1902. In 1903, the American Missionary Association sent Alfred Lawless to “Oscar, Louisiana” to replace Laforest A Planving[ the Negro principal and founder of Pointe Coupe Industrial High School ].After his arrival at the High School in Oscar,Louisiana, Mr. Lawless was shot at and advised to get out of town. He went back to New Orleans, Louisiana . In 1904, he founded the Beecher Memorial Congregational Church. In 1914, he became the principal of Fisk Colored School.  Additionally, Rev. Alfred Lawless became the Superintendent of Negro Congregational Churches in the South in 1917{ Alfred Lawless High School and the Lawless Memorial Chapel on Dillard University's campus were named in his honor }. While writing this article, I got to thinking about the some of the buildings in our Black Communities that were once here, but are now gone and forgotten. Like Mt Nebo School that was on Jackson St in Monroe,the Booker T Washington School that use to be in Booker T on Powell Ave, Johnson Cleaners that was on Swayze St near Carroll High School, and The Negro Knights of Pythias Lodge building that was located near the city graveyard in Monroe.How many can you remember???  

“OUR RICH BLACK HERITAGE ” - LYDIA HAMILTON SMITH

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 Irish father, she was a known as a “quadroon”( she had Caucasian features and a skin of light-gold tint...with Irish eyes, like her Irish father). In 1847, Lydia moved with her two boys to Lancaster, Pennsylvania to work as house keeper for Thaddeus Stevens[ the White Lawyer and Radical Republican who helped craft “The Historic 14th Amendment to The U.S. Constitution” ]. It was by managing Thaddeus Stevens business affairs and housekeeping that Lydia learned the skills that she would later use to run her own Businesses. After Thaddeus Stevens's death in 1868, in addition to buying his house in Lancaster{ partially from money that he left her in his Will }, Smith operated a prosperous boarding house across from the Willard Hotel in Washington, D.C., as well as invested in real estate and other business ventures. Maybe some of you all will remember that S. Epatha Merkerson’s portrayed Lydia Hamilton Smith in the 2012 film “LINCOLN.” In closing,The main reason I started off my series of articles about Black People who owned businesses is because, I feel that there is a great need for more Black Owned businesses here in Monroe( especially on the SOUTHSIDE & Eastside ).There once was a time in Monroe, Louisiana when Blacks had their own thriving economy. Where Blacks could buy and trade goods from one another.Why, I recently heard about how Rev Roosevelt Wright’s father had a taxi stand on Desiard St ; Also Mr Joseph Pendleton had a gas service station on Desiard St ; “THE RITZ,” Negro Theatre was located on Desiard St ; and then who could forget the Historic “MILLER ROY” building that’s being renovated on Desiard St too.! Yes, Black People certainly had it “going on” way back then! Well, now it’s 2022, over a Century later. While businesses are still being started near Black Communities in Monroe, there still aren’t enough Black Owned business establishments. Again, I say…Somehow ,Someway, and Someday soon…we need to start & maintain more Black Businesses to help build and support our Black Communities here in Monroe, Louisiana.