"OUR RICH BLACK HERITAGE" : ELLA NORA P. STEWART

As you all know by now, this past weekend many of the local colleges held their graduation ceremonies, and students received their college degrees. As I thought about the graduations, my mind began pondering this question,"In our rush to get college degrees and jobs, are we as Blacks losing much of "OUR RICH BLACK HERITAGE?" Personally, I believe that we are, which is very disturbing to me! Well, In one of my previous articles, I informed everyone about how Dr. John Reddix , the President of the Monroe Chapter of the NAACP had wrote a letter to the C.O.R.E. Organization requesting them to send some of their people to help with Voter Registration and Civil Rights Protests in the Monroe area. Also, I included how "Black Youth" in Monroe were called on to participate in some of the demonstrations. By the way, I recently found the names of a couple of the Black Youth who took part in the library protest at the Anna-Meyer Branch and were put in jail for doing so. Their names were Jimmy Andrews, Bennie Roy Brass, Dorothy Higgins, and Etta Faye Carter. All of the participants were coached on what to do when the police came to arrest them. The police took them and held them in juvenile cages for 3 days, before they were released on $200 bonds. The protests led to three of the young protesters filing a Lawsuit in the Monroe division of the federal district court. After a year of court battles between the City of Monroe officials and Civil Rights Activists, the city officials gave in, and the Ouachita Parish Public Libraries we're integrated in 1965! What's so surprising to me is that all through my days in elementary & high school, I never heard any of my school teachers, Black or White, ever say "one word" about the "Black Youth" Library Protests that took place in the "Summer of 1964!" Furthermore, I feel that we as Black adults need to get busy Educating our Black Youth about the "Summer of 1964," and other Civil Rights Events that took place in and around Monroe, West Monroe, and surrounding towns. If we don't, who will? Anyway, let's get to this week's Black Pioneer! Ella Nora P. Stewart was born , in Stringtown, Virginia. When Ella Nora turned 6 years old, she was sent to live with her grandmother to attend grade school in Berryville, Virginia. After Ella Nora graduated, she was awarded a scholarship to attend the Storer Normal School, in nearby Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. From there, she entered a teacher's training program at However, before Ella Nora could finish the teaching program, she fell in love with and married her classmate, Charles Myers. Once they were married, they moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In Pittsburgh, Ella Nora took a job as a bookkeeper at a local pharmacy. While working at the pharmacy, she decided that she wanted to become a pharmacist. In 1914, she enrolled and gained admittance into the University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy. When Ella Nora received her degree in Pharmaceutical Chemistry, in 1916, she became the first black female to graduate from Pitt's pharmacy program. Well, Ella Nora wasn't satisfied with just earning her pharmacy degree. Therefore, she went took and passed the Pittsburgh State Licensing Exam, making her the first Negro female pharmacist in the state of Pennsylvania and one of the first Negro female pharmacists in the country! Later on, Ella Nora and her second husband William Stewart opened Stewarts' Pharmacy, located at the corner of Indiana and City Park Avenues (566 Indiana Avenue), in Toledo, in July 1922. They operated theIr pharmacy until 1945, when they sold the business. Also, their pharmacy became a popular neighborhood gathering place. In fact, the Stewarts actually owned the building and lived in the spacious eight rooms above the Furthermore, they often hosted visitors from out of town, including W.E.B. Dubois and Mary McLeod Bethune. In addition to being a pharmacist, Ella Nora participated and became a leading member of several civic groups in Toledo, Ohio. A few of them included the Young Women's Christian Association, the Enterprise Charity Club, and she served as President of the National Association of Colored Women's Club. After living a full & fruitful life, Ella Nora P Stewart died at the ripe old age of 94! In her honor, a new school in Toledo was named the Ella P. Stewart Elementary School (later: Ella P. Stewart Academy for Girls). In subsequent years Stewart volunteered there regularly, and in 1974 the school created a museum to house Stewart's plaques and awards, and memorabilia she collected on her international tours.

"OUR RICH BLACK HERITAGE" : JOHN EDWARD BRUCE

The Negro essayist, novelist, and playwright James Baldwin once said, “Know from whence you came. If you know whence you came, there are absolutely no limitations to where you can go.” As we're about to exit 2023 and enter 2024, there's a lingering question that just won't go away. The question is, "What did our Black ancestors fight. bleed, and die for?" Before Rev. Harry Blakes died, he did an interview where he talked about the things that he, his family, and other Negroes had to endure in Louisiana during the 30s,40s, and 50s. Also, he explained how he lived and was reared on two different plantations. One was located in Madison Parish, in Tallulah, Louisiana, and was known as "The Ashley Plantation." In 1951, his family left there and moved to Caddo Parish, and lived on a plantation north of Shreveport, known as "The Woodspur Plantation." What was surprising about many of the things that he brought up in the interview is that some of them took place in the late 50s and early 60s. I'm talking about less than "75 years ago" ; about places & times that most of our "Black Youth" in Monroe, Louisiana have no recollection of! Additionally, he talked about his father being a share-cropper and how the White owner of the land always reminded his family that they were inferior to White People. Furthermore, they were required to purchase just about everything they needed to farm the land with from the White Owner. Long story short, Rev Blakes said that back then everything was setup to keep Negroes in debt, and that America is very much on that style today, because they keep Black People "slaves" with "credit cards.". Please Note that the interview with Rev Blakes is still available online to read or download. Now to this week's Black Pioneer! John Edward Bruce was born a slave on February 22, 1856, in Piscataway, Maryland. When John was three years old, his father was sold to a White slave-owner in Georgia, and John never saw or heard from his father again! Around 1873, he took a 3 month course at Howard University, which was the last time John received any formal schooling. Although he received some public and private schooling, John was mostly self-taught. When John turned 18, he was hired as a messenger for the associate editor of the New York Times. While working for the New York Times, he got the idea to start his own newspaper. So in 1879, John and Charles Otley founded the Argus Weekly newspaper. They decided that the paper would be a fearless advocate of the true principles of the Republican Party, and the moral and intellectual advancement of the Negro American. By 1908, he had followed the Great Migration of Negroes to New York, where he settled in Yonkers. Also in 1908, he established The Yonkers, New York Weekly Standard Newspaper. Along with establishing numerous newspapers, he worked with Marcus Garvey's Organization, "The Universal Negro Improvement Association." Need-less-to-say, John was a strong proponent for civil rights for Negro Americans. Additionally, he would lecture and give speeches that addressed lynching, the condition of southern blacks, and the weak American political system that failed to protect the rights of its Negro citizens. Among his many accomplishments included being elected as President of The National Negro Council, the first Nationwide Civil Rights Organization in the United States, his founding of The Negro Society for Historical Research, which for the first time brought together African, West Indian and Negro Americans Scholars, and his work in the Civil Rights Movement. On August 10, 1924 , John Edward Bruce passed away at the Believue Hospital in New York City Furthermore, he received an impressive state funeral at the UNIA Liberty Hall in New York City.

"OUR RICH BLACK HERITAGE" : CHARLOTTE FORTEN GRIMKE'

Well, it comes as no surprise that when you poll 100 Black People about the assassinations of Malcolm X, Martin Luther King Jr, and President John F Kennedy, about the only two things that everyone can agree on is that they were shot, and that they all died. Also,due to the numerous documentaries, movies, and conspiracy theories, who can rightly tell you what happened between them being shot and them being pronounced dead at the hospital? Furthermore, trying to say what happened would be like trying to say exactly what happened at the end of the siege at the "Battle of The Alamo." Now, let's get to this week's Black Pioneer! Charlotte Forten Grimke' was born on August 17,1837 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to prominent Negro abolitionists, Robert and Mary Forten.They were members of the "Underground Railroad," an anti-slavery network that rendered assistance to people who escaped slavery. By the way, Robert B Forten and his family were a part of Philadelphia's "Negro Elite" Community. In 1854, Charlotte attended the Higginson Grammar School, a private academy for young women. She was the only NON-WHITE student in a class of 200. Once she graduated from Higginson, Charlotte's father sent her to live with a free Black family living in Salem Massachusetts.The Remonds, John and Nancy, were the famous & influential "resident family" of Hamilton Hall, named for Alexander Hamilton, Secretary of the U.S. Treasury. Today, Hamilton Hall is widely recognized as one of the most important Federal buildings in America! Once in Salem, Massachusetts, Charlotte attended Salem Normal School, which trained school teachers. When Charlotte graduated from Salem Normal School, which is now Salem State University, she became the first Black to graduate from the school. After graduating, Charlotte took a teaching position at Eppes Grammar School, becoming the first Black female hired to teach White students in a Salem public school! During the American Civil War, Charlotte taught school to Freedmen in South, Carolina. After the war, she taught at Paul Laurence Dunbar High School. Besides having a reputation as a teacher, Charlotte was known for writing poetry, her work as a Women's Rights Advocate, her work as a civil rights activist, and being "First Lady" at the prominent Fifteenth Street Presbyterian Church in Washington D.C., alongside her husband, Francis J. Grimke'. Also, two of the organizations she helped found were The Colored Women's League, along with Ida B. Wells, Mary Church Terrell & The National Association of Colored Women. Although Charlotte didn't live to see Black Women vote, her efforts as a Women's Rights Advocate helped paved the way! At the ripe old age of 76, Charlotte Forten Grimke' earned her wings on July 23, 1914.

"OUR RICH BLACK HERITAGE" : SMITH WENDELL GREEN

It's strange how so many of the accomplishments & achievements that were achieved by Black People during the "RECONSTRUCTION PERIOD" and the early 1900s in America were deliberately not included in any of the history books at the public schools in Monroe, Louisiana, West Monroe, Louisiana, and Ouachita Parish. Case in point, The Pythian Temple Building that was built in New Orleans, Louisiana, in 1909, and The Miller-Roy Building that was built in Monroe, Louisiana, in 1929. Both of the buildings helped comprise the Black Business Districts within their respective Black Communities, as well as feed and support the Black Economy. It's a terrible shame that the stories about The Pythian Building and The Miller-Roy Building are not included in any of the school history or library books in Louisiana. Now to this week's Black Pioneer, Smith Wendell Green! Smith was born in the Louisiana Delta town of Waterproof, Louisiana, on August 12, 1861. Although there is little mention about his early education, based on his knowledge and business savy that he displayed when he moved to Lake Providence, Louisiana to start his mercantile business, you could tell he had received above average schooling. Nevertheless, it did not take long for Smith to become a part of the "Elite Negroes" in all of Northeastern Louisiana! While living in East Carroll Parish, he ran a mercantile business, invested heavily in real-estate, and attended to his other business interest. Out of all his achievements, it was the accomplishments he achieved while working in the Fraternal Organization known as "The Knights of Pythias," also known as "The Colored Knights of Pythias," that were some of his best! There was even a "branch" of The Colored Knights of Pythias that met in Monroe, Louisiana, in the early 1900s and was located on Desiard Street. Well, Smith officially joined The Colored Knights of Pythias in July of 1883, and became a charter member of "Pride of Tensas" Lodge #21, located in St Joseph, Louisiana. He was immediately elected to the office of Vice-Chancellor, but sometimes served as Chancellor when needed. Throughout the years,Smith was elected to serve at different levels and capacities within the organization. On June 30, 1886, he was elected as the Grande Representative from his lodge to the Grande Lodge of Louisiana. Additionally, at the 1906 Grande Lodge Session held in Alexandria, Louisiana, Smith recommended that a Pythian Temple be built in the city of New Orleans, Louisiana. It was eventually approved, and a seven-story Pythian Temple building was erected in New Orleans, in 1909. After more than 30 years of dedicated service in The Colored Knights of Pythias, Smith Wendell Green, the fifth Supreme Chancellor of The Colored Knights of Pythias died on the evening of January 10, 1946. .

"OUR RICH BLACK HERITAGE" : EDWARD FRANKLIN FRAZIER

During a recent conversation, a friend of mine alerted me of two "NEGRO CLASSIC" books written by a Black man named Edward Franklin Frazier. The first book is,"The Negro Family In The United States," and the second book is,"The Negro Family in Chicago." Well, I was quite surprised to find out that his two books were published around the same time that Carter G Woodson published another great Negro Classic titled,"The Miseducation of The Negro." Also, In addition to writing his other two books, in 1927, Edward published his "SMOKING" article titled "The Pathology of Race Prejudice" in the Forum Magazine, an American magazine founded in 1885 by a German-American businessman named Isaac Rice. What's astonishing about the article is that it took Edward over 3 years to find someone to publish his article, but it took less than a month for people in Atlanta and at Morehouse College to turn on him! Not only did a local newspaper run an editorial against Edward's article, but Edward received death threats against his life and was forced to resign his position at Morehouse College. As a result, Edward decided to move his family to Chicago, where he earned his PhD in Sociology in 1931. Edward Franklin Frazier was born in Baltimore, Maryland on September 24, 1894. In 1912, he graduated from the Colored High and Training School in Baltimore. Also, Edward was awarded a scholarship to attend Howard University, where he graduated with honors in 1916. After graduating from Howard, he attended Clark University in Massachusetts, where he earned a master's degree in 1920. It was at Clark University that Edward developed his interest in Sociology. He felt that his interest in Sociology and his deep interest in Negro History complimented each other very well! From 1920-1921, he studied in New York, at the New York School of Social Work, which later became a part of Columbia University. Next, he took a teaching position at Morehouse College in Atlanta,where he taught Sociology. At Morehouse, he established the Atlanta University School of Social Work. Following his abrupt departure from Morehouse College, Edward moved to Chicago, where he was able to teach at Fisk University of Chicago. In 1934, Edward decided to move to Washington D.C. to take a position at Howard University. A position that he held up until his death in 1962. Edward Franklin Frazier died on May 17, 1962 in Washington D.C., at the age of 67. A significant part of his legacy includes Howard University naming its E. Franklin Frazier Center for Social Work Research after him, and Clark University creating a chair and professorship in his name: The E. Franklin Frazier Chair and Professor of English. Furthermore, it is worth mentioning that many Black People today consider Edward to be among the most important & influential Black Men of his era.

"OUR RICH BLACK HERITAGE" : NELLIE A.R. LESLIE

In a recent conversation,it was again brought to my attention as to how "more and more" of our "Black Youth" in Monroe, Louisiana are getting caught up in the city & ouachita parish court system. Also, I have personally seen hundreds of incarcerated Black Youth appear before Monroe City Court Judges who had little to "no idea" as to how the criminal court system is setup to work. Furthermore, I feel that we As Black Adults need to do a much better job of informing our Black Youth about the city & ouachita parish court systems, juvenile laws,traffic laws, civil laws, and all other aspects of the law as it pertains to juveniles & juvenile crimes within the city of Monroe & Ouachita Parish. Now, back to this week's Black Pioneer! Nellie A.R. Leslie was born in Virginia, around the early 1840s. After being emancipated, Nellie was educated in Ohio, but moved to Louisiana to teach for the Freedmen's Bureau. Additionally, she was able to attend Straight University in New Orleans, and gained additional training as a music teacher. Nellie became a wonderful music teacher, plus she could also compose and perform music too! In 1874, Nellie married Rev. R.A. Leslie, a Creek Indian & Presbyterian minister. The couple ended up moving to Mississippi, and taught at a school in Osyka, Mississippi. Around 1880, the couple decided to move again. This time they moved to Indian Territory in Muskogee, which is now the state of Oklahoma. In Muskogee, they setup many schools for Creek Freedmen. After teaching & living in Indian Territory for several years, the couple moved back to Mississippi. In 1884, her husband died, and Nellie decided to resume her studies in music. She enrolled at the Boston Conservatory of Music. Once she completed her training at the Boston Conservatory, Nellie moved to Paris, Texas. Some her many accomplishments included, founding a music school in Texas, founding a girls academy school in Muskogee, founding the Afro-American International Institute and School of Arts, and her achievements as principal of the Tullahasse Mission School for Creek Freedmen. It was reported that Nellie A.R. Leslie died sometime in the early 1920s, in Muskogee, which is now the state of Oklahoma.

"OUR RICH BLACK HERITAGE" : WILLIAM LAMBERT

Jim Rohn once said,"If we ignore the lessons of the past, from whatever the source, then we may become victims of the process of trial and error." You see, there are many lessons to be learned from the experiences and events of the past. For instance, the lessons that are to be learned from "Slavery and The Underground Railroad." It is sad that Black students at schools in our Black Communities aren't being taught the lessons learned from Slavery and The Underground Railroad. Furthermore, I feel that it is a travesty that so little is taught in public schools about the Underground Railroad escape routes, Underground Railroad conductors, and many of the White abolitionists that hid Negro slaves in their homes and on their property, allowing them to make it to freedom! Well, this week's Black Pioneer is William Lambert. William was born a "FREE NEGRO" in Trenton, New Jersey, in 1817. At a very young age, he was introduced to a group of White People known as Quakers. A Quaker by the name of Abner H. Francis became a mentor to William. In addition to serving as his school-master, Abner introduced young William to the Abolition Movement. Around 1830, they ended-up in Buffalo, New York. They helped the local abolitionists as much as they could. However, from 1832 - 1836, William went to work as a cabin-boy on commercial steamer boats. Around 1839, William decided to make the city of Detroit his permanent place of residence. His first job in Detroit was at a tailor 's shop. While working at the tailor shop, William met several people involved in the local abolition movement. In 1842, William and two other Negroes formed The Colored Vigilante Committee. The committee would lobby for the rights and freedom of the Negroes in Michigan. "One of the main things for which the committee lobbied for was the right of the Negro Males to Vote!" As time went on, William became a conductor in the Underground Railroad. In 1847, a Negro slave by the name of Robert Cromwell was just short of crossing over into Canada to freedom. He had just made it to Detroit, but his slave master was close behind him. William stepped up and not only helped the slave escape, but he used his influence with the local police to have the White slave master detained long enough for the slave to escape to Canada! Around 1888, it became noticable that something wasn't quite right with William 's mind. Nevertheless, in 1890, after everyone else in his household had gone to bed, William hanged himself in the shed. On April 30, 1890, he was laid to rest at Elm Wood Cemetery, where many of the best well known abolitionists we're buried.