"OUR RICH BLACK HERITAGE" : LEONA TATE

We know today that there are flaws, so why can't we correct the flaws before we adopt the new policy?”- Louis Voiron Jr., Iberville Parish Schools Superintendent Although many Black People in Monroe, Louisiana have long forgotten about it, I still remember when the Monroe City School System raised the graduation credits requirement for high school seniors from 20 units, for the seniors who graduated in 1982, to "22 UNITS" for the seniors who "graduated in 1983." While some people would say that two additional credits shouldn't have made a big difference, the new requirement helped changed the course of many lives in Monroe! Sadly, a lot of students were not able to receive their diploma that year, and some even had to attend summer school, while others had to endure an additional year of high school, back in 1983. Plus, to add insult to injury, the reasons for the new requirement wasn't even explained to the students. It was just,"You're going to have to earn two extra credits and that's that!" Well now, fast forward to June 2024. Within the past two weeks, Louisiana State Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley and members of the state board of education have gotten the go ahead to do an over-haul of the rating and grading system for the schools in Louisiana. State Superintendent Cade Brumley has been pushing this agenda since 2022, even though school district leaders and several district school boards vehemently oppose the revamp! Although several district school superintendents asked Brumley to postpone the new changes, he refused to do so. To me, it's quite disturbing that students in Monroe have to keep going through such drastic changes, like we did back in 1983, all because some of the leaders over the Education System in Louisiana want to play games with their lives and their future!!! Anyways, on to this week's Black Pioneer. Leona Tate was born and raised in the city of New Orleans, Louisiana lower ninth Ward. Although most Black People in Louisiana have heard about Ruby Bridges integrating an ALL-WHITE school in New Orleans, few know that Leona Tate and two other Black girls helped integrate the McDonough 19 Elementary School in New Orleans, in the very same year as Ruby Bridges. They were known nationally as the "McDonough Three." Later on, Leona and the other two Black girls also helped desegregate another formerly ALL-WHITE school in New Orleans, which was known as T.J. Semmes. Interestingly enough, Leona Tate and her partners purchased the old McDonough 19 building in New Orleans, and since have reopened it as the "Tate, Etienne, and Precost Center!" The center's Gande Opening & Ribbon Cutting Ceremony was held on May 4, 2022, at 5909 St Claude Ave, in New Orleans, LA 70117. Also,the center's founder and Executive Director is Leona Tate, the Black Lady who was the little BLACK girl, who helped integrate those two formerly ALL-WHITE schools in New Orleans, Louisiana,back in 1960.