"OUR RICH BLACK HERITAGE" : OUR RICH BLACK HERITAGE : ORETHA D. ROBINSON & PATRICK H. ROBINSON "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it" – George Santayana It appears that along with the resurgence of Jim Crow Laws in Louisiana, certain groups around Louisiana are returning to the practice of using "THE TOKEN NEGRO" to mislead Black People into believing that Racism is decreasing. You see, most younger Black People aren't aware that "in the late 1960s and early 1970s," there were cartoons & caricatures that depicted the Negroes who were chosen to serve in "TOKEN ROLES" where they were only given those positions to create a sense of inclusion. In other words some Black People were given high ranking positions,"similar to what is happening today," to make it appear that racism is no longer a problem in the workplace. Yes, this trend can be seen all over the United States, and especially in Louisiana. It's like more and more of our Black elected officials and Black leaders in Louisiana are more than happy to accept being used as "A GOOD OLE TOKEN NEGRO," especially when there's money and power involved! Well, I can surely see why George Santayana would say what he said about people being condemned to repeat the past. With that said, let's get on with this week's Black Pioneers. It's extremely puzzling to me that there is hardly any online information about this week's two Black Pioneers, Oretha D. Robinson & her husband Patrick H. Robinson. Well, you would think that considering their lifetime civic involvement and social status within the Black Communities of Monroe, Louisiana, there would be way more information about them online, especially since they spent most of their adult lives helping make sure that the needs of the Black Citizens of Monroe, Louisiana were being met. Oretha D. Robinson was born on October 6, 1931, to Maude Gipson and Robert Douglas. She died earlier this year on January 20, 2024, while her husband, Patrick H. Robinson was born on June 27, 1924, and died on April 25, 1994. Not only were both of them astute Educators, but both were active in the Black Community as well. In 2017, it was fitting that the library at Robinson Elementary School in Monroe, Louisiana was renamed to honor the legacy of Patrick H. Robinson. In closing, I must say that I am totally flabbergasted that We As "Black Citizens of Monroe, Louisiana" aren't recording and passing down more information about the achievements & accomplishments of our leading citizens like Oretha D. Robinson and Patrick H. Robinson "to the current generations of Black People living in Monroe!" Additionally, I feel that Black People in Monroe must continue working to "BE BETTER," in order that We and our Black Children might do better and have better!

Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it" – George Santayana It appears that along with the resurgence of Jim Crow Laws in Louisiana, certain groups around Louisiana are returning to the practice of using "THE TOKEN NEGRO" to mislead Black People into believing that Racism is decreasing. You see, most younger Black People aren't aware that "in the late 1960s and early 1970s," there were cartoons & caricatures that depicted the Negroes who were chosen to serve in "TOKEN ROLES" where they were only given those positions to create a sense of inclusion. In other words some Black People were given high ranking positions,"similar to what is happening today," to make it appear that racism is no longer a problem in the workplace. Yes, this trend can be seen all over the United States, and especially in Louisiana. It's like more and more of our Black elected officials and Bla"ck leaders in Louisiana are more than happy to accept being used as "A GOOD OLE TOKEN NEGRO," especially when there's money and power involved! Well, I can surely see why George Santayana would say what he said about people being condemned to repeat the past. With that said, let's get on with this week's Black Pioneers. It's extremely puzzling to me that there is hardly any online information about this week's two Black Pioneers, Oretha D. Robinson & her husband Patrick H. Robinson. Well, you would think that considering their lifetime civic involvement and social status within the Black Communities of Monroe, Louisiana, there would be way more information about them online, especially since they spent most of their adult lives helping make sure that the needs of the Black Citizens of Monroe, Louisiana were being met. Oretha D. Robinson was born on October 6, 1931, to Maude Gipson and Robert Douglas. She died earlier this year on January 20, 2024, while her husband, Patrick H. Robinson was born on June 27, 1924, and died on April 25, 1994. Not only were both of them astute Educators, but both were active in the Black Community as well. In 2017, it was fitting that the library at Robinson Elementary School in Monroe, Louisiana was renamed to honor the legacy of Patrick H. Robinson. In closing, I must say that I am totally flabbergasted that We As "Black Citizens of Monroe, Louisiana" aren't recording and passing down more information about the achievements & accomplishments of our leading citizens like Oretha D. Robinson and Patrick H. Robinson "to the current generations of Black People living in Monroe!" Additionally, I feel that Black People in Monroe must continue working to "BE BETTER," in order that We and our Black Children might do better and have better!