"OUR RICH BLACK HERITAGE" : HERMAN L. FINLEY SR., Minister of Music, Music Director, Gospel Recording Artist, and Music Executive at Jewel Records

                                                      As I was growing up in Monroe, Louisiana, I can remember my mother, Mrs. Jessie Mae Phenix Blanson, attending and graduating from a local vocational school that used to be located at,"700 ROGERS STREET," IN MONROE, LOUISIANA. The name of the school was, DELTA OUACHITA AREA VOCATIONAL SCHOOL, AND IT WAS ACTUALLY LOCATED ONLY A COUPLE OF FEET TO THE RIGHT HAND SIDE OF THE BACK OF CARROLL HIGH SCHOOL. Interestingly, Bernie Dayton Robinson, along with other leading Black Educators, Morris "Henry" Carroll, Lorraine Slacks, Mackie Freeze, and Andrew Julius Mansfield were instrumental in seeing to it that the school was constructed at the Rogers Street Location. At this point of my story, "I WOULD LIKE TO REMIND EVERYONE THAT THIS WAS THE FIRST, LAST, AND ONLY TIME THAT THE CITY OF MONROE AND THE STATE OF LOUISIANA BOTH WENT IN ON A STAND-ALONE VOCATIONAL TRAINING SCHOOL PROJECT, WHICH WAS ACTUALLY CONSTRUCTED WITHIN A BLACK COMMUNITY IN MONROE!" Ok, so many of you would probably  like to know why I'm bringing up a school that's no longer a part of our Black Community. Well, the main reason I'm mentioning this particular school is because so much of our local Black history in Monroe is being erased and forgotten with the changing of the times. Case in point : "FOR INSTANCE, IF YOU WERE TO TAKE A GROUP OF CARROLL HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ON A TOUR OF THE FORMER LOCATION SITE OF THE SCHOOL," which was near Carroll High and Carroll Jr High School ; you will be very lucky if you are able to find any sign that the school had even been there at all!!! Another reason for me sharing this information is,"I WANT OUR LOCAL YOUNG BLACK YOUTH TO LEARN THAT LESS THAN 60 YEARS AGO," Black Students in their own Black Community were able to obtain comprehensive training in various fields that allowed them to rise above their circumstances, and go on to live productive lives! Finally, I feel that it would be very beneficial for the teachers and students at Carroll High and Carroll Jr. High School to know that once upon a time, in Monroe,"OUR BLACK ANCESTORS SAW TO IT THAT A VOCATIONAL TRAINING FACILITY WAS ESTABLISHED DIRECTLY IN THE MIDST OF OUR OWN BLACK COMMUNITIY!" PLEASE NOTE : There's plenty of forgotten "LOCAL BLACK HISTORY" right here in Monroe, just waiting for Black Students and adults to learn about! Now, on to this week's Black Pioneer, Herman L. Finley! Reportedly, Herman was born in Monroe, Louisiana, in 1948, only a few years after World War ll. Additionally, there was mention of Herman living in both Monroe and Union Parish, before graduating high school. Growing up, he always had a ear for music, which helped him decide on what to major in college. Soon after graduating high school, Herman attended several Louisiana Universities, including, Gambling State University, Southern University at Shreveport, and Northeast Louisiana University in Monroe, where he studied music. By the way, Herman was a regular pianist for a good while, at the St. Mary Missionary Baptist Church in Monroe. Later on, he moved to Caddo Parish where he ended up accepting the position of Minister of Music at the Mt. Canaan Baptist Church, in Shreveport, Louisiana, under the leadership of the Legendary Civil Rights Leader and pastor Dr. Harry Blakes. Also, because of his experience, background, and passion for music Herman was offered an Executive position with Jewel Records as Vice-President of Promotions and Production, which was the premier record company for Southern Gospel music, back in the day. A few other interesting things about Herman's accomplishments included the following : Herman founded the Louisiana State Mass Choir ; he was credited for helping the Bright Star Black Male Chorus gain National Notoriety ; and he served as one of the Senior Musicians for The Louisiana Baptist Youth Encampment. Regretfully, on May 28, 2005, God called Herman L. Finley Sr. home to perform in his Heavenly Choir! 

 

"OUR RICH BLACK HERITAGE" : COLORED PEOPLE AND "PACKING AND CRACKING," DURING THE FIRST PERIOD OF RECONSTRUCTION IN AMERICA

 

        As I was going to look up the old nursery rhyme about "St. Ives," you all still remember that old nursery rhyme, something made me realize that the redistricting currently going on in Louisiana and other Southern states today is simply "HISTORY REPEATING ITSELF!"

"What do you mean by that, Garry?" Well, I mean that what Louisiana and other Southern states are trying to do today by restructuring the old maps was being done in Louisiana and other states in the South, during "THE FIRST RECONSTRUCTION PERIOD!" Even though what they're trying to do has been called by other different names, the results generally always end up being the same! Furthermore, they are following in the footsteps of their White ancestors before them. Additionally, I honestly feel that White Louisiana State Congress Members are using similar tactics as back then, in order to sway the outcome of public elections and disenfranchise Black Citizens in the process! Make no mistake about it, what they are doing has been carefully thought out and planned so as to make sure that they control the outcome of nearly every public election. You see, all the current White Congress Members had to do was go back and study the history of what their White ancestors had "ALREADY" done, back during "THE FIRST RECONSTRUCTION PERIOD."  In case anyone was curious to know exactly what techniques White People used during "THE FIRST RECONSTRUCTION PERIOD," here are two of the the more popular "REDISTRICTING TECHNIQUES" that were being carried out by White Members in the Louisiana State Congress, back in the late 1800s. The first technique was called, "Packing and Cracking," which was a technique used to "REDRAW ELECTION BOUNDARIES," to favor one political party 

over another, which is exactly what the new Louisiana "REDISTRICTING MAP" is going to do. While "Packing" was designed to cluster voters within a geographic area to ensure a biased result, "Cracking" was setup to distribute voters across geographic areas to dilute their voting strength in a specific area of the state. Which is exactly what I feel that the White Louisiana Congress Members want to use the "NEW MAPS" to accomplish! By the way, there was also another popular technique known as "FUSION," which was when two or more other political parties would team up, so to speak. Basically, it  involved "A SPECIFIC  MOVEMENT," which occurred primarily in the South and the West, during the late 1800s, when the Populist Party "fused" with the Republican Party in an attempt to challenge The Democratic Party Rule. Today, we are seeing this when either the Republican Party or the Democratic Party decides to "fuse" with an independent  or third Political Party. Well, by looking at what happened in the past, I now have an even better idea as to why the White Louisiana Congress Members are pushing so hard for "REDISTRICTING,"  and I hope that you do too!

OUR RICH BLACK HERITAGE : UNION BAPTIST HIGH/ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FOR NEGRO CHILDREN IN MONROE, LOUISIANA IN THE 1950s

 

"THOSE WHO CANNOT REMEMBER THE PAST ARE CONDEMNED TO REPEAT IT" – George Santayana, The Life of Reason, 1905 It's amazing how not being born during a certain era can keep Black People in Monroe, Louisiana from knowing things that are in plain sight. Take for instance,The Neville Jr. High School that was once named, "ROBERT E. LEE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL." Well, I discovered that back in the 1950s, "THERE  USED TO BE A SCHOOL IN MONROE FOR NEGRO CHILDREN CALLED, UNION BAPTIST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, WHICH WAS LOCATED AT THE SAME LOCATION AS THE CURRENT NEVILLE JR. HIGH SCHOOL!" Last year, I discovered that an unknown School for Negro Children use to be located in Monroe,"NEAR A LITTLE KNOWN NEGRO NEIGHBORHOOD NAMED, BRIGHT OAK." Well, the name of the unknown School turned out to be,"UNION BAPTIST HIGH/ELEMENTARY SCHOOL." Naturally, I went and Googled Union School for Negroes in Monroe, Louisiana, and clicked on one of the  links that pulled up. By the way, the link took me to a site where there was a map showing where Union  School used to be located in Monroe. Low and behold, it was exactly where "ROBERT E. LEE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL," which is currently Neville Jr. High School, was located in Monroe...my oh my!!! You see, within a few decades, Black and White Citizens in Monroe and West Monroe had all but forgotten that "UNION BAPTIST HIGH SCHOOL" FOR NEGRO CHILDREN" had ever existed in Monroe! Well, ain't that a biscuit??? In closing,      I would like to challenge all Black Families living in Monroe and West Monroe to start taking time out to learn more about their family history in Monroe and West Monroe as well as the local "BLACK HISTORY" that transpired locally, such as the gruesome lynching of a Colored Man that took place in front of the "COLORED KNIGHTS of PYTHIAS MEETING HALL BUILDING, "AT 1101 DESIARD STREET IN MONROE ; the lynching of over 200 Black People in front of St. Frances Hospital ; the bodies of Negroes that were tossed into the Ouachita River by the "KLU KLUX KLAN" and other White Citizens of Monroe ; and the Delta Ouachita Vocational Training School that used to located next to Carroll High School, on Desiard Street in Monroe. Finally, I would like to say, just because Governor Jeff Landry has banned the teaching of "CRITICAL RACE THEORY" at the Schools in Our Black Communities, doesn't mean that we can't teach it in Our Black homes, churches, and Communities in Monroe!

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OUR RICH BLACK HERITAGE : UNION BAPTIST HIGH/ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FOR NEGRO CHILDREN IN MONROE, LOUISIANA IN THE 1950s EDWIN TAYLOR, "THE FIRST COLORED MAN TO RUN FOR PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, AFTER THE ABOLISHMENT OF SLAVERY IN AMERICA

"THOSE WHO CANNOT REMEMBER THE PAST ARE CONDEMNED TO REPEAT IT" – George Santayana, The Life of Reason, 1905 It's amazing how not being born during a certain era can keep Black People in Monroe, Louisiana from knowing things that are in plain sight. Take for instance,The Neville Jr. High School that was once named, "ROBERT E. LEE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL." Well, I discovered that back in the 1950s, "THERE  USED TO BE A SCHOOL IN MONROE FOR NEGRO CHILDREN CALLED, UNION BAPTIST ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, WHICH WAS LOCATED AT THE SAME LOCATION AS THE CURRENT NEVILLE JR. HIGH SCHOOL!" Last year, I discovered that an unknown School for Negro Children use to be located in Monroe,"NEAR A LITTLE KNOWN NEGRO NEIGHBORHOOD NAMED, BRIGHT OAK." Well, the name of the unknown School turned out to be,"UNION BAPTIST HIGH/ELEMENTARY SCHOOL." Naturally, I went and Googled Union School for Negroes in Monroe, Louisiana, and clicked on one of the  links that pulled up. By the way, the link took me to a site where there was a map showing where Union  School used to be located in Monroe. Low and behold, it was exactly where "ROBERT E. LEE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL," which is currently Neville Jr. High School, was located in Monroe...my oh my!!! You see, within a few decades, Black and White Citizens in Monroe and West Monroe had all but forgotten that "UNION BAPTIST HIGH SCHOOL" FOR NEGRO CHILDREN" had ever existed in Monroe! Well, ain't that a biscuit??? In closing,      I would like to challenge all Black Families living in Monroe and West Monroe to start taking time out to learn more about their family history in Monroe and West Monroe as well as the local "BLACK HISTORY" that transpired locally, such as the gruesome lynching of a Colored Man that took place in front of the "COLORED KNIGHTS of PYTHIAS MEETING HALL BUILDING, "AT 1101 DESIARD STREET IN MONROE ; the lynching of over 200 Black People in front of St. Frances Hospital ; the bodies of Negroes that were tossed into the Ouachita River by the "KLU KLUX KLAN" and other White Citizens of Monroe ; and the Delta Ouachita Vocational Training School that used to located next to Carroll High School, on Desiard Street in Monroe. Finally, I would like to say, just because Governor Jeff Landry has banned the teaching of "CRITICAL RACE THEORY" at the Schools in Our Black Communities, doesn't mean that we can't teach it in Our Black homes, churches, and Communities in Monroe!

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OUR RICH BLACK HERITAGE : RICHARD "DICK" TURNLEY JR., "The First Black To Be Elected To The Louisiana State House Of Representatives, After Colored People Were first Disenfranchised From Politics In Louisiana, In 1878"

 

                                                                              "WHEN YOU CHECK THE RECORD,YOU WILL SEE THAT IT WAS THE WHITE U.S. CONGRESSMEMBERS and WHITE STATE CONGRESSMEMBERS WHO MADE DISCRIMINATION LAWS, SYSTEMATIC RACISM LAWS, BLACK CODES, JIM CROW LAWS, AND SLAVERY LEGAL IN AMERICA!"                                                                              Well, in the past couple of weeks in Louisiana, the White  Members of the Louisiana State Congress are once again showing just how White they can be! Of course I am referring to two of the recent Bills that were being considered to be voted on. One of the Bills was SB 65, which addresses the conversion of existing public schools into charter schools, and the other Bill is SB 256, which will consolidate the Orleans Parish Criminal and Civil Court clerks' offices, and eliminate the office of a recently elected Black Man named Calvin Duncan, who was just sworn into office on last week! So far, SB 65, a Bill that was sponsored by a "Disturbed White Louisiana Senator" by the name Stewart Cathey, was  returned to the calendar, "SUBJECT TO CALL," meaning it is not currently moving forward but could be brought back up for a Vote later. However, SB 256, a Bill authored by another "Disturbed White Senator," by the name  of John "Jay" Morris was passed by the Senate and could soon be signed into law by Governor Jeff Landry. Once again, time and space prevents me from going into details about how these 2 Louisiana Senate Bills "REEK WITH THE DISTINCT SMELL OF BIGOTRY AND RACISM," but I will say that I am not a bit surprised that "THINGS HAVE ONCE AGAIN GONE SOUTH!" Now that I have gotten that off my chest, on to this week's Black Pioneer, Richard Turnley Jr.! Richard grew up in Plaquemine, Louisiana. While I couldn't find any information about his early education, one article said that he graduated from Southern University in Baton Rouge, and was a strong supporter of the University. "IN 1976, RICHARD MADE HISTORY WHEN HE BECAME THE FIRST BLACK PERSON IN LOUISIANA TO BE ELECTED TO THE LOUISIANA STATE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES SINCE 1878, AFTER THE COLORED PEOPLE WERE DISENFRANCHISED FROM POLITICS IN THE STATE OF LOUISIANA!" By the way, several  Other interesting things about Richard included : in 1976, Richard was one of the founders of The Louisiana Legislative Black Caucas ; in the 1970s, Richard established a food cooperative business in Louisiana ; Richard was instrumental in the founding of the Southern Teachers and Parents Federal Credit Union, The Largest HBCU Credit Union In The Nation ; Richard served 3 consecutive terms in the Louisiana State House of Representatives ; and in 1984, Richard was elected to serve in The Louisiana State Senate.These are just a few of the many things that Richard was able to accomplish during his lifetime. Sadly, on January 19, 2013, Richard Turnley Jr. went home to be with the Lord. NOTE : Richard 's daughter, Tamara Turnley Robinson, is a former President of the Jack and Jill Incorporated Organization.