"OUR RICH BLACK HERITAGE" : SAM EDWARDS, "A Forgotten Black Pioneer in Monroe 's Bryant's Addition"

So just when did schooling first become compulsory in Louisiana? What a great question! Recently, while performing research at the main library in Monroe, Louisiana, it came to my attention that during the Agricultural Age in America, when many Black People in Monroe, Louisiana were still sharecropping on the farms, public schooling "WASN'T MANDATORY IN MONROE!" However, as the Industrial Age was ushered in, and with children between the ages of 13 - 17 acquiring jobs and working in the factories, many Louisiana city & state officials pushed for laws to mandate compulsory schooling in Monroe as well as other cities in Louisiana. Therefore, in 1910, a law was passed by the Louisiana State Legislature requiring youth between the ages of "7 - 18" to attend private or public schools. Although the law was passed, "it wasn't strictly enforced!" You see, the Industrial Age brought about a change in the labor force and structure in America. While agriculture and farming had been the mainstay, now people were deciding to pursue work in the American factories. At first, the factory owners were excited to hire young workers, but more and more frequently, the young workers were being hurt, and sometimes killed on the job. Also, some of the unemployed adult factory workers felt that the young workers "were taking jobs away from them!" So, little by little, city and state officials felt the pressure to enforce the compulsory schooling law that was passed in 1910. From that point on and to this day, schooling has been strictly enforced in the State of Louisiana. Furthermore, in 2021, Louisiana State Legislators passed into Law, Senate Bill 10, which "MANDATES KINDERGARTEN ATTENDANCE FOR MOST 5 YEAR OLDS IN LOUISIANA!" Finally, let it be noted that the bill was introduced by Senator Cleo Fields. Well, on to this week's Black Pioneer! Sadly, at the time of print, the little information that I can report about Mr. Sam Edwards is the little that I remember about him as I saw him in the "BRYANT'S ADDITION COMMUNITY." Since we both lived on Bethune Street, I would see Mr. Sam almost every other day. One of the things that I remember and admired most about him is that even though he was well past the age of retirement, you almost always saw him either working or pushing his lawn mower up the street, on his way to render service. By the way, Mr. Sam was an early riser. As early as 7:00 am, he would be getting started with his yard mowing marathon. During the summer months, it seemed as if he mowed 8 - 12 yards a day. While I never got or went out of my way to talk to Mr. Sam, I will say that he was definitely a strong pillar of our Black Community! In closing, I can honestly say that I never saw Mr. Sam get upset with anyone in our neighborhood, and I strongly feel that our Black Communities would be much better places to live, if we had more strong Black Men like Mr. Sam Edwards!