"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!