"OUR RICH BLACK HERITAGE" : TERESA GARLAND LEW

During the month of May, it's common for schools in America to hold graduations. Every May, thousands and thousands of Black students graduate from elementary schools, high schools, and colleges. So, with all of the graduating going on, what is the likelihood that "40% or MORE" of Black Graduates are "FUNCTIONAL ILLITERATES?" The use of the term functional illiterate is linked to a Caucasian educator by the name of William S. Gray. For those who don't know, William S. Gray and A female Caucasian lady by the name of Zerna A. Sharp were the ones who introduced the "Dick and Jane," reader series of books to the American school system, during the "GREAT DEPRESSION ERA" in America. Generally, a person who is functional illiterate has a limited vocabulary, has difficulty expressing simple ideas or abstract concepts, and prefers to memorize information rather than write it down. By the way, as of March 2025, there are reportedly between 48 million to 60 million people who are functional illiterate in America. Well, on to this week's Black Pioneer. Teresa Garland Lew was born in an area known as Pawtucketville, a neighborhood within the city of Lowell, Massachusetts, in 1894. Also, her great-grandfather, Barzillai Lew,was a Freedman who "fought in the American Revolution," how about that!!! Additionally, her father, William Lee, owned a dry cleaning business in Pawtucketville. Although there isn't any mention of Teresa attending grade school, it was reported that she graduated from Lowell High School in 1912, where she was the Class Salutatorian! At the time when she graduated, school policy mandated that a female couldn't be Class Valedictorian, only Salutatorian.Next, Teresa enrolled in Lowell Normal School, where she graduated and received her teaching degree in 1914. Her teaching stops included teaching at a segregated school in Virginia, teaching at The Colored Orphan Asylum, New York City's oldest orphanage for children of color that was founded by Quakers in 1836, and teaching in the Lowell Public School System. In the 1930s, just when everyone got use to looking at Teresa as only a teacher, she went and earned her law degree from Portia Law School, located in Boston, Massachusetts! Tragically, Teresa Garland Lew didn't live to see her 47th birthday, she died in 1941 at the tender age of 46. Even though she only lived to be 46 years old, Teresa helped paved the way for millions of Black Women in the field of Law & Teaching! In 2008, Teresa was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Alumni Award by Lowell High School for her dedication and commitment to equality and education.

"OUR RICH BLACK HERITAGE" : ABRAHAM LINCOLN DAVIS

More and more each day, it seems as if we're at the dawn of "A NEW CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT" in Louisiana! Last Friday, May 10th marked the "FIFTH YEAR ANNIVERSARY" of the murder of a Black Louisiana citizen by the name of Ronald Green, at the hands of Louisiana State Troopers. On Friday, May 10th, Mona Hardin, the mother of Ronald Green, helped lead a rally at the Union Parish Courthouse, and a memorial was held later that afternoon in Monroe. Also, when we look at all of the new "Jim Crow" like bills that are being presented and passed by the Louisiana State Congress,"All I can say is "DEJA VU!" Additionally, the fact that Black residents of Louisiana are under represented in the Louisiana State Congress, doesn't help present matters at all. Finally, there's the unresolved issue of the congressional map. As of now, due to a federal court panel's divided decision to throw out Louisiana's congressional boundaries, the state is left without a map to hold the Nov. 5 election, and less than two weeks to produce one before the state's chief elections officer's deadline to conduct a fall ballot. Oh well, on to this week's Black Pioneer. Abraham Lincoln Davis was born in an area of Louisiana known as Bayou Goula, in 1914. Sometime between 1917 & 1921, his family moved to New Orleans, Louisiana. Young Abraham graduated from McDonough 35 High School around 1931. In 1935, he was ordained as the minister at the New Zion Baptist Church in New Orleans. Abraham went on to earn his BA degree from Leland College in 1949. Among the interesting facts about Abraham Lincoln Davis are : in 1957, he was one of the founders of the Civil Rights group known as "The Louisiana Leadership Conference," which was a satellite organization of the SCLC organization headed by Rev Martin Luther King Jr. ; on September 30, 1963, he led a march of over 10,000 people, including Black & White people, on the New Orleans City Hall ; in 1975, he won the appointment race to replace a White City Councilman named Eddie Sapir, making him the first Black Man to serve on the New Orleans City Council since the "RECONSTRUCTION ERA!" Three years later, Abraham Lincoln Davis died at the age of 63.

OUR RICH BLACK HERITAGE" : DR. GILBERT R MASON

"A boy is born in hard time Mississippi ; Surrounded by four walls that ain't so pretty ; His parents give him love and affection, to keep him strong, moving in the right direction, Living just enough, just enough,for the City!" - Stevie Wonder Often during the year, and especially during the summer months, many Black People from Monroe, Louisiana take trips to Biloxi, Mississippi to get away and enjoy the beach environment. Sadly, many go and come back without even realizing that they have just visited a site that held such significance for Black People during the Civil Rights Movement. You see, the Biloxi beach is where the "BILOXI WADE-INS," which were 3 protests conducted by local Blacks on the beaches of Biloxi, took place between 1959 and 1963. Well, I must admit that without the internet, I wouldn't have known about the Biloxi Wade-ins either. By the way, the Biloxi Wade-ins were led by a local Black doctor by the name of Gilbert R. Mason. During the first demonstration, Dr. Mason led 9 Black Biloxians onto a restricted spot along the Biloxi beach that was reserved for "WHITE'S ONLY!" Additionally, about a year later at a different Biloxi Wade-in, a literal "blood-bath," took place between Black citizens & White citizens of Biloxi, while White Biloxi police officers just stood by and watched! The race-riot was so bad that it led the U.S. Justice Department to initiate the first-ever federal court challenge of Mississippi’s segregationist laws and practices. In the Spring of 1963, about two weeks following the assassination of Medgar Evers, Gilbert led a third Biloxi Wade-in. This time, the Black protesters faced a group of about 2,000 White People, but the Biloxi police on the scene were instructed to keep the peace and keep the two groups apart. Even though a legal challenge had been initiated by the U.S.Department of Justice in 1960, it wasn't until 1968 that the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that Mississippi beaches were indeed public property, and not private property! Up until the ruling, White private homeowners had insisted that the Biloxi beach was private property. So, the next time you visit Biloxi, Mississippi, please be sure and remember to visit the beaches where the "BILOXI WADE-INS & RACE-RIOT" took place between 1959 and 1963! Now on to this week's Black Pioneer. Gilbert R. Mason Sr. was born on October 7,1928 in Jackson, Mississippi to Willie A. Mason and Adeline J Mason. He was raised and received his childhood education in Jackson, Mississippi. In 1949, Gilbert left Jackson to attend Tennessee State University in Tennessee. After graduating from TSU, he enrolled at Howard University, a historically Black college in Washington D.C.. In 1954, Gilbert received his M.D. degree and moved to St. Louis, Missouri to serve his internship. In 1955,he completed his internship and moved to the Mississippi Gulf Coast, where he opened a family medical clinic in Biloxi, Mississippi. Not long after being in Biloxi, Gilbert met a fellow Black doctor by the name of Felix Dunn, who had a office in Gulfport , Mississippi. They found out that they were both interested in the Civil Rights Movement, and both of them were members of the NAACP. Additionally, they set up a Black Citizens Action Committee to address the discrimination practices and Jim Crow Laws that were going on in Biloxi. Furthermore, the two doctors resented the fact that the Biloxi beach was reserved for the White citizens of Biloxi. Therefore, in 1959, Dr Gilbert R. Mason, Dr. Felix Dunn, and a group of other Black residents of Biloxi decided to organize a non-violent protest that became known as "THE BILOXI WADE-INS!" On July 8, 2006, Gilbert R. Mason died in Ocean Springs, Mississippi, and was laid to rest in Biloxi City Cemetery.

"OUR RICH BLACK HERITAGE" : LAWRENCE C JONES

. In Late November of 2023, at a Baton Rouge press conference, Republican Jay Dardenne, who was then the Commissioner of Administration in Governor John Bel Edwards administration, stated that he was "PRETTY SURE" that Governor Elect Jeff Landry wouldn't have to "MAKE ANY DRASTIC CUTS" in the Louisiana state budget when he takes office. The complete article can be read at this website site : https://www.thewestsidejournal.com/news/jbe-administration-leaves-state-in-much-better-shape-dardenne-says/article_0f4e81ba-8e6a-11ee-9b1f-a318d4daf31b.html . Mr. Jay Dardenne also touted the replenishment of the state’s “Rainy Day” fund, which has reached the "ONE-BILLION DOLLAR" threshold under Governor Edwards. Well,"FAST FORWARD" to April of 2024, and Governor Elect Jeff Landry is "cutting funding" for Education, teachers pay, and just about anything else that he can think of!!! Also, to go along with his extreme budget cuts, Governor Landry has issued a couple of Executive Orders to bully Congress into going along with his outlandish plans! However, in regards to his latest Executive Order, he offered few specifics as to what his plans entails. Furthermore, many Louisiana residents would like to know how come Governor Landry is constantly stating that Louisiana is going to be at a "$64 MILLION DOLLAR" deficit, when Republican Jay Dardenne, a person who has actually worked in the administration of former Governor John Bel Edwards has "spoken publicly" that there is NO CURRENT NEED for Governor Landry to be making ALL these INSIDIOUS budget cuts! Well, let get to this week's Black Pioneer. Laurence C. Jones was born in St. Joseph, Missouri on November 21,1882. While there is no record of where "or if" Lawrence attended grade school, in 1908, he was listed as a graduate of the University of Iowa. After graduating from UOA, he accepted a teaching position at Utica Institute, a small school for Colored children that was located in Utica, Mississippi. Not too long after he had been teaching at Utica, Lawrence was approached by a group of church people to found a school in Rankin County, Mississippi, a school which would become known as "Piney Woods!" He started Piney Woods with just $2 dollars and 3 Colored students. Also, a local freed slave named Ed Taylor, donated 40 acres of land and an abandoned sheep shed to help get the school going. The school functioned similar to how Booker T. Washington ran Tuskegee Institute. Additionally, in 1929, the Mississippi Blind School was started on the campus of Piney Woods School to educate blind Negro children in Rankin County. In edition to being the school's founder, first principal, and long-time president, Lawrence and his wife , Grace A. Jones served as the school 's chief fundraisers. On July 13, 1975, after completing his mission here on earth, Laurence C.Jones was laid to rest in Jackson, Mississippi. Isn't it wonderful that after all these years the Piney Woods School, which is known today as "Piney Woods Country Life School" is still in existence Today! NOTE : The Piney Woods Country Life School is a co-educational, independent historically African-American boarding school for grades 9 – 12. It is one of four remaining historically African-American boarding schools in the United States and is the largest (and second oldest) African-American boarding in the United States Today.

"OUR RICH BLACK HERITAGE" : VIRGINIA ESTELLE RANDOLPH

While doing a recent research online concerning the ACT TEST, I found 2 surprising things! First, I found out that fewer and fewer high school students are taking the Act Test, and Secondly, more and more 4 year American Colleges & Universities are "NO LONGER" requiring students to take the Act Test as a requirement for admissions. Well, when you think about it, the decline in students taking the Act Test makes perfect sense. Why should a student take an exam to get into a University when the University "NO LONGER" requires them to? Also, here's another thing to think about. For years and years, the ACT Organization has been operating their business as a Non-profit, and has had a "MONOPOLY" on the ACT Test. Therefore, they have been able to accumulated millions & millions of dollars,so much in fact that the ACT Organization will "NO LONGER" be operating as a Non-profit organization. You see, recently the ACT Organization officially announced that the company will soon be merging with a large California investment company, and will officially change its status from "Non-profit to For-profit." Well, ain't that a hoot !!! Anyways, let's get to this week's Black Pioneer. Virginia Estelle Randolph was born on May 1860, in Henrico County, Virginia. She is noted as being the "First Official Colored Jeanes Supervising Industrial School Teacher in Virginia," who was hired through the Jeanes Foundation to provide industrial training to Colored children in the South. Virginia began her formal schooling at Baker School in Virginia, and then attended Richmond Colored Normal School, which was founded by the Freedmen's Bureau in 1867. It was at Richmond Colored Normal School that she received training to become a school teacher. In 1886, "at the tender age of 16," Virginia was able to officially become a school teacher! Around 1887, Virginia accepted a teaching position at a school in Goochland, County, a county in Virginia. A few years later, she taught in Hanover County, before securing a teaching position in Henrico County, in 1894. The school she taught at in Henrico County was a one-room schoolhouse, named the Mountain Road School. Virginia had to travel throughout the county recruiting students for her little school. She taught there up until 1906 when she was officially named the "First Official Colored Jeanes Supervising Industrial School Teacher in Virginia!" In 1949, after putting in over 60 years of dedicated service,"57 years in Henrico County alone," Virginia went ahead and retired! On March 16,1958, Virginia Estelle Randolph passed away on March 16, 1958 in Richmond , Virginia. In 1954, The Virginia Randolph Foundation was established to horon her and award scholarships to Henrico County high school students who will be attending a four-year college or university.

"OUR RICH BLACK HERITAGE" : CHESTER ARTHUR FRANKLIN

By the time this article goes to press, a federal three-judge panel may have already ruled on whether Louisiana's new congressional map that created a second Black district will stand or not! Well, for the past 2 or 3 years, the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, the ACLU ,and others have been fighting to secure a second Black majority district. What's surprising to me about the case is that the plaintiffs in the case are claiming that the map's boundaries were "gerrymandered" solely based on race to create a second Black district. You see, all through school whenever I heard the term "gerrymandering," it was mostly used to describe White politicians manipulating voting districts, in order to favor one party or class against Black People and minorities. However, this is "one of the few cases" where I can recall that White plaintiffs in the case are the ones claiming that gerrymandering was used against them based on race! Oh well, on to this week's Black Pioneer. Chester A. Franklin was born on June 7,1880 in Denison, Texas.His parents were George and Clara Franklin.In 1887, Chester 's family moved to Omaha, Nebraska. His father was very business minded, and he owned a barbershop as well as a local newspaper called the Omaha Enterprise. Watching his father run his newspaper planted seeds in the mind of young Chester! After graduating high school, Chester attended the University of Nebraska at Lincoln for two years.However, due to the failing health of his Dad, he had to return home to help run the family newspaper with his mother, Clara. In 1898, as George Franklin 's health continued to deteriorate,so for the sake of his health, the Franklin family decided to move to Denver, Colorado. Soon after their arrival in Denver, the Franklins purchased a local newspaper and changed the name of the newspaper from the Colorado Statesman to The Star.Three years later, his father passed away,leaving Chester and his mother to run the family newspaper. The mother & son duo ran The Star newspaper up until 1913 when Chester 's ambitions and drive triggered his move to Kansas City, Missouri. Chester went on to become a leading Negro newspaper figure, Civil Rights Activist, and an outstanding civic leader for Black People in America! Chester A. Franklin died on May 7, 1955, while attempting his recovery from a heart attack less than 10 days before his demise.

"OUR RICH BLACK HERITAGE" : DOROTHY ALICE WILLIS NEWMAN

A popular topic these days just happens to also be an item that the Louisiana House of Representatives is grappling over. The item has to do with whether or not to let students attend private schools using public funds. Currently, there are at least 6 states that have made it lawful for students to receive public money to attend private schools. It's dumbfounding to believe that Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry and Republican politicians have the audacity to even bring up this item for discussion! Especially since there are so many people who are in strong opposition to using public funds to pay for private schooling. To add to that, many universal ESA programs don’t require students to undergo standardized testing as they would in public schools. Plus, if passed, the public schools could possibly experience a drop in state funding! If you ask me, this is just another attempt at restoring segregation in Louisiana! Well, let's get to this week's Black Pioneer. Dorothy Alice Willis Newman was born on October 9,1927 in West Monroe, Louisiana. C Her parents were Roy Oliver Willis and Naomi Boley Willis of West Monroe. Also, she had a first cousin by the name of Morris "Henry" Carroll, who became the principal of Carroll High School in Monroe, Louisiana. As a child, Dorothy attended Trenton School in Trenton, which is now West Monroe, Louisiana. From there, she enrolled and graduated from Monroe Colored High School in Monroe, Louisiana. Next, Dorothy decided to further her education at Southern University. In 1946, she earned her bachelor's degree in English from Southern. Upon, graduating from Southern, Dorothy accepted a teaching position at Tillotson College in Austin, Texas. Sometime between 1948 and 1950, she moved to Grambling, Louisiana to teach at Grambling College.While working at Grambling, she began dating Rogers J. Newman. They were married on July 2, 1951, and their marriage lasted for the rest of her life! In 1953, the couple moved to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where Dorothy ended up taking a teaching position in the English Department at Southern. At the time, little did she know that she would spend almost half a century teaching at Southern University! Finally, in 1998, after serving "45 YEARS" at Southern, and over 50 years as an Educator, Dorothy was able to officially retire. On Wednesday, January 21, 2004, Dorothy Alice Willis Newman transitioned from earth to glory, at her home in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Her contributions to society,Tillotson College, Campbell College, Southern University, Grambling University, and the entire state of Louisiana are a part of the Legacy she left behind for us to remember her by.