"OUR RICH BLACK HERITAGE" : OLLIE MAE HAMILTON BURNS

Aaaah, Snap," is a common expression that's often used in urban slang, as a reaction to a witty comeback, or a surprising event. However, in this instance, I happen to be referring to the government program known as "SNAP," or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, commonly known as the "U.S. GOVERNMENT FOOD STAMP PROGRAM." Recently, in several States, in America, there was a "BAN" placed on several food items, under the SNAP PROGRAM that has made "THE FOOD STAMP PROGRAM A HOT TOPIC," within the Black Community in Monroe, Louisiana! You see, it's "NO GREAT SECRET" that in 2024, Monroe, Louisiana was "RANKED AS THE #1 STATE in The UNITED STATES" for having the highest percentage of Metro Households living below the poverty line, according to a MYARKLAMISS.COM REPORT. Which means that a great number of Monroe Citizens are "CURRENTLY RECEIVING GOVERNMENT SNAP BENEFITS EACH MONTH." For some odd reason, something lead me to go online and do a search on the SNAP PROGRAM. One of the interesting things that I found out was that recently, President Trump, along with many White Political Leaders,Representatives, and Lawmakers of different States recently "DECIDED TO DO A CRACK DOWN ON FOOD STAMP FRAUD IN AMERICA." Oooooops,it seems that "PEOPLE SELLING FOOD STAMPS & SNAP BENEFITS IS CONSIDERED A FORM OF FRAUD, PUNISHABLE BY LAW!" Also, in many states, "SELLING FOOD STAMPS" IS LEGALLY CONSIDERED "TRAFFICKING," which is also punishable by law! As I dug deeper, I found out that the SNAP FOOD BAN and THE FOOD STAMP CRACK DOWN are both a part of "A FIVE POINT AGENDA, WITHIN PROJECT 2025!" The Five Points include : 1. PLACING BANS ON FOODS THAT CAN BE PURCHASED WITH A SNAP CARD 2. CUTTING THE SNAP BENEFITS OF "OVER 40 MILLION RECIPIENTS," THROUGH CHANGES IN THE PROGRAM 3.FORCE STATES TO MAKE DEEPER CUTS IN SNAP BENEFITS, BY RADICALLY ALTERING SNAP'S FUNDING STRUCTURE 4.END SNAP ELIGIBILITY FOR PEOPLE WHEN PEOPLE GET A RAISE IN PAY OR PUT OVER A CERTAIN AMOUNT IN THEIR SAVINGS ACCOUNT 5.EXPANDING WORK REQUIREMENTS FOR VETERANS, HOMELESS PEOPLE, PEOPLE LIVING IN AREAS WITH INSUFFICIENT JOBS, OLDER ADULTS OVER THE AGE OF 50, AND PARENTS WITH SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN!!! By the way, the crazy thing about it is that President Trump, White Politicians, Representatives, and Lawmakers are doing it all "UNDER THE GUISE OF KEEPING PEOPLE FROM EATING SUGARY F youOODS, SO THAT PEOPLE WON'T GET CERTAIN DISEASES! "WELL, AIN'T THAT A BISCUIT!" Enough about all that, let's get to this week's Black Pioneer! Ollie Mae Hamilton Burns was born June 13, 1911, in Ouachita Parish. Ollie attend elementary school at Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church, on Horseshoe Lake. Yes, many of the first schools for Colored People in Monroe and Ouachita Parish were operated through local churches! Upon graduating, she enrolled at Monroe Colored High School in Monroe. In 1929, Ollie graduated after finishing the 11th grade, because at that time, Monroe Colored High only went up to the 11th grade. After attending Southern University for 2 years, Ollie had to dropout of college for a couple of years.However, because there were few or no laws against teaching without a college degree, Ollie was able to teach and earn money for when she got the opportunity to go back to college. In the meantime, Ollie taught at different schools, in different parishes in Louisiana. Although, she married Rev. Alex Burns and started her family, her fire and desire to attend college never left her! Finally, around 1945, Ollie was able to enroll at Grambling State University, the college where she graduated from in 1947. "It may also interest you to know that in 1957, Ollie became the first Negro in History to ever receive a Master's Degree in Library Science from Louisiana State University!" Furthermore, Ollie went on to become a fine librarian and teacher within the Ouachita Parish School System. Among the list of her many accomplishments included : Her work as a dedicated Church Member & Worker at First Missionary Baptist Church in Monroe, where she wrote the initial proposal for the funding of the "NEW WAY CENTER," as well as served as the Director of the center for 20 years, and her work as librarian at First Missionary Baptist Church; Her work as a member of the Monroe Human Right Council ; Her work in helping start the Ouachita Head Start Program ; and Her work in helping to desegregate schools in Ouachita Parish. Without a doubt, Ollie definitely made an impact within the Black Communities of Monroe, Louisiana, Ouachita Parish, and the State of Louisiana! On February 26, 2004, after over 50 years of toiling and sacrificing to give the future generations of Black People in Monroe and Ouachita Parish a chance of a better life ; thousands of people cried, as Ollie Mae Hamilton Burns laid down and died!