"OUR RICH BLACK HERITAGE" : "THE BLACK BI-CENTENNIAL COMMITTEE"

"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 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 Parish, A History of Blacks To Commemorate the Bi-Centennial of the United States of America." A copy of the Booklet is available as a Reference Book, "meaning that the book cannot be checked out or leave the library," in the Genealogy Department, at the Main Branch of The Ouachita Parish Library on Stubb's Avenue, in Monroe. Somehow, I'm hoping that his daughter, "Lasandre Robinson Starks," and others will work together and get copies of this Bi-Centennial Booklet into the hands of "Black Churches, Black Fraternities & Black Sororities, and other Black Civic Organizations," here in Monroe.You see, it took the Bi-Centennial Committee hours and hours to put this Booklet together, and I really believe that Mr. B.D. Robinson wanted more people in Monroe & Ouachita Parish to learn & know about the Black People who helped paved the way for the Black People living in Monroe, Louisiana today! Also, I feel that in times like these, our Black Children in Monroe need to know more about "OUR RICH BLACK HERITAGE!" Well, the main people who worked along with Mr. B.D. Robinson on the Bi-Centennial Committee included, Rosa Wilbert, Helen Smith, Joe Ella Burton, Ollie H. Burns, Cleventine S. Peevy, Mrs. Willie Bell Taylor, Mrs. Louise Breaux, Agnes W. Brass, and Rebecca Bose. Some of the Black Families mentioned in the Bi-Centennial Booklet included, The Maryland Brooks Family who had one of the first meat & butcher stores in Monroe ; The Medlock Family who owned and operated The Acme Funeral Home, which was bought and merged with Miller Funeral Home in Monroe, Louisiana, in the 1970s ; The Morris Henry Carroll Family who owned several Businesses and Real-estate properties, in Monroe ; The Richard Barrington Family who founded the Wisner School, one of the first Schools for Colored Children in Monroe ; The Issac Burnett Family who owned and operated a local grocery store at 2800 Jackson Street, for over 30 years ; The Herman Henry Marbles Family who owned and operated Marbles Barbeque Stand & Restaurant at 1000 Breard Street in Monroe ; The Raymond O. Pierce Family who owned The Pierce Drugstore, his daughter was Mrs. Frances Pierce Reddix, and his other daughter, Mrs. Arnetta Pierce W. Amin was the first Black female Pharmacist in Monroe ; and his granddaughter is Dr. Ollibeth Reddix, just to name a few. By the way, some of the Black Pioneers mentioned in the Bi-Centennial Booklet included persons such as, Dr. Arthur Hebert Johnson, one of the first and best Black doctors in Monroe ; Businessman and Black leader, Berg Jones, for which "Burg Jones Lane Elementary School" is named for ; Charlie Ballard Sr. who was one of the first Black persons to own land at "Bristle Ridge" in Monroe, an area now known as "Pine Bayou." ; A Wealthy Black Tailor by the name of Ibra January, better known as,"January The Tailor!" ; Joseph Pendleton who owned and operated Pendleton's Texaco Service Station that was located at 1111 Desiard Street in Monroe ; and Columbus Dunn who owned and operated Dunn's Skelly Service Station as well as Dunn's Sandwich Shop that was located at 2000 Texas Avenue in Monroe. Additionally, names of local football players are in the booklet as well as other pertinent information regarding the History of the Black People of Ouachita Parish & Monroe. In closing, it is my sincerest hope that more Black People in Monroe, Louisiana would make sure that our Black Children learn & know more about "OUR RICH BLACK HERITAGE," here in Ouachita Parish & Monroe, Louisiana!