"OUR RICH BLACK HERITAGE" : THE "INVOLUNTARY LOSS" OF "BLACKOWNED LAND" IN LOUISIANA

OUR RICH BLACK HERITAGE :                                                                           THE "INVOLUNTARY LOSS" OF "BLACKOWNED LAND"  IN LOUISIANA                                                                           Well, Well, Well, when it comes to the "WAYS BLACK PEOPLE LOSE THEIR FAMILY LAND INVOLUNTARILY," it seems that "EMINENT DOMAIN" and the "FORCED SELLING" OF HEIR PROPERTY," heads the list!!! While I have included in my past articles how the State of Louisiana has used EMINENT DOMAIN to acquire land from Black People during the 1960s to make way for Highway Systems across the state,"THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I AM WRITING ABOUT THE FORCED SELLING OF HEIR PROPERTY!" Recently, I researched and found out that at much of the land in Monroe, Louisiana that Black People "ONCE OWNED OUT-RIGHT WAS LOST DUE TO THE FORCED SELLING OF HEIR PROPERTY!" Also, I have a friend who often posts on Facebook about how his siblings went against him and sold the Heir Property that his mother had left them. Also, I'm willing to bet that most of the people who read the Monroe Free Press has heard about a Black Family losing Family Property, because they received a letter saying that they had to sell their land. By the way, there was a recorded instance in Louisiana involving the forced selling of Heir Property. The incident involved the "TRUDIE STANLEY FAMILY HEIR PROPERTY, LOCATED IN CLAIBORNE PARISH."          As the story goes, a distant relative within the Stanley’s family sold their interest in the Stanley Heir Property to a timber company. The timber company was then able to "PETITION FOR A PARTITION," which led to a forced sale or auction of the property. Another relative discovered the property was for sale in the newspaper, and alerted family members living on the property. Even though the Stanley Family was able to raise about $500,000 to buy back their land, the timber company outbid the family at $600,000. Therefore, Trudie Stanley and her family had to vacate their land, despite their diligent fight to save their land. Although the story was about a family that most of us didn't know personally, what about the family or families that we are aware of who had to endure such a terrible experience? In closing, it is my hope that the Black Families in Louisiana will think harder when deciding how to deal with their "HEIR PROPERTY!" 

 

"OUR RICH BLACK HERITAGE" : ANSLEY REED SR., FIRST NEGRO POLICE OFFICER ON THE MONROE POLICE DEPARTMENT IN THE 20TH CENTURY

OUR RICH BLACK HERITAGE :                  ANSLEY REED SR., FIRST NEGRO POLICE OFFICER ON THE MONROE POLICE DEPARTMENT IN THE 20TH CENTURY               While so much "FANFARE" was being made over the end of the Louisiana Inspection Sticker, did anyone else happen to notice that something very disturbing is going on in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in the Louisiana State House of Congress? "I MEAN BESIDES THE NEW PROSED BILLS FOR ARRESTING HOMELESS PEOPLE AND NEW VOTING REQUIREMENTS?" Well, I just learned that there's another "OFF THE WALL BILL" that is being tossed around as well! The Bill in question happens to be "HOUSE BILL 608" that's sponsored by State Representative Tehmi Chassion, of Lafayette, Louisiana. By the way, I was informed that the Bill had passed the Senate on a 22-13 vote. However, since the Bill was amended, it has to return to the House of Representatives for a second vote. In case everyone doesn't already know, House Bill 608 will make it legal for Universities and certain organizations to "HIDE DETAILS ON HOW MUCH PUBLIC MONEY IS BEING PAID TO COLLEGE ATHLETES!" Incidentally, the Louisiana Sports and Athletic budget for 2026 is in the neighborhood of,       "A WHOOPING 22 MILLION DOLLARS," and that doesn't even include the "EXTRA 20 MILLION FOR OTHER SPORTS EVENTS AND ADDITIONAL FACILITIES!" Personally, I think that it is "VERY UNETHICAL" of the Governor and the members of The Louisiana State Congress to even suggest such a thing, let alone make it into a Bill that could actually become a State Law. No wonder even the White People in Louisiana are gathering a petition to recall Governor Jeff Landry!!! Now that I have gotten that out of the way, on to this week's Black Pioneer! Before attending Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Ansley Reed Sr. received his early education in Caldwell Parish. In the 1940s, he answered the call to serve in WWll, serving in the South Pacific. Once he returned home from the war, Ansley enrolled in, and eventually graduated from, "THE HISTORIC ROBINSON BUSINESS COLLEGE," in Monroe Louisiana. By the way, Ansley's career took several interesting turns. First he worked as an Accountant, then he became a business partner with Roosevelt Wright Sr.,"IN A THRIVING TAXI-CAB BUSINESS," which was located on Desiard Street, in Monroe. 

"FINALLY, ANSLEY DECIDED TO BECOME A MONROE CITY POLICE OFFICER!" On September 8, 1953, "ANSLEY REED SR. AND ROOSEVELT HATTEN NAMES WERE RECORDED AND CEMENTED IN HISTORY WHEN THEY WERE OFFICIAL SWORN IN AS THE FIRST TWO NEGRO POLICE OFFICERS FOR THE CITY OF MONROE, LOUISIANA!" Some interesting facts to go along with Ansley 's hiring as a police officer in Monroe included : he wasn't issued a gun, the Negro Community took up a collection and bought him a gun ; he was not sent to a police academy, he had to depend on his military experience ; he was not even issued a uniform, his uniform was hand sewn by IBRA JANUARY, aka"JANUARY THE TAILOR" ; and he was not allowed to arrest or investigate a crime if it involved a White Man or Citizen! Additionally, it was in October 1968 when Ansley was promoted to Sergeant, although he had been getting Sergeant’s pay for years "TO KEEP HIM FROM TAKING THE TEST TO BECOME A SERGEANT!" Four years later, on April 1, 1972,"ANSLEY GAINED THE DISTINCTION AND HONOR OF BECOMING THE FIRST NEGRO IN MONROE TO ATTAIN THE RANK OF CAPTAIN WITHIN THE MONROE POLICE DEPARTMENT!" On another note, before he retired from the Monroe Police Force in September of 1973, Captain Ansley Reed Sr. learned that his son, Ansley Reed Jr. had fathered a child, who would later go on to become a professional basketball player in the NBA. THE CHILD'S NAME IS, BENOIT "BIG BEN" BENJAMIN! Sadly, on May 15, 1989, after serving in WWll, and serving another 20 years of on the Monroe Police Department, Ansley Reed Sr. departed this life, on May 15, 1989. 

 

"OUR RICH BLACK HERITAGE" : THE FORGOTTEN BLACK GRADUATES OF "DELTA AREA VOCATIONAL SCHOOL" THAT WAS ESTABLISHED FOR BLACK PEOPLE IN MONROE, LOUISIANA

 

OUR RICH BLACK HERITAGE :                                 Today, when I say the words "Delta Vocational School," most people generally presume that I'm talking about either the Delta school in West Monroe, Louisiana, or the Delta school on Milhaven Road, located a mile or so past the Pecanland Mall. Well, that's when I have to stop them and inform them about the old  "DELTA AREA VOCATIONAL SCHOOL" THAT WAS BUILT FOR BLACK STUDENTS," which was once located at 700 Rogers Street, adjacent to Carroll High School, in Monroe, Louisiana. Since, White Citizens didn't approve of their children attending the same school as Black Children, Black Citizens in Monroe strongly petitioned that a school be built for training Black Students vocational skills. Incidentally, "IT WAS REPORTED THAT DURING THE FREEDOM SUMMER OF 1964,MANY BLACK PEOPLE IN MONROE RECEIVED THEIR NON-VIOLENCE TRAINING AT THIS EXACT DELTA VOCATIONAL SCHOOL LOCATION! Additionally, Delta not only served as "A VOCATIONAL TRAINING HUB," within the Black Community at a time when Black People were being denied equal access to many vocational job opportunities, but the school also helped Black Students gain crucial job skills that enabled them to get better paying jobs, and provide for their families financially as well. In case anyone was curious to know, , the school eventually evolved into the Delta-Ouachita Vocational-Technical Institute, before eventually being consolidated into the Louisiana Community and Technical College System, which was eventually absorbed into the current "Louisiana Delta Community College System." Well, over the past month, I hope that my articles including various information about the former Delta Area Vocational School has paved the way for greater discussions about some of the things that went on at the school, back during the late 1960s and early 1970s. Ok, now on to this week's Black Pioneers! Well, this will be very short, because most of the history about the Black People who graduated from The Delta Area Vocational School have either moved out of Monroe, or have died. Also, the only 3 people that I personally know of who had graduated from the school were ; my mother, Mrs. Jessie Mae Phenix Blanson, Mrs. Florence Jenkins, and Clemary Persons Smith. In closing, I hope that more people will come forth with names of some of "THE FORGOTTEN GRADUATES OF DELTA AREA VOCATIONAL SCHOOL," that was once located at 700 Rogers Street, within the Historic Black Booker T. Washington Community!