OUR RICH BLACK HERITAGE : LOUISE "Pudden" GILBERT TUCKER

                                                                                                                              "MARY JANE HARPER CRIED LAST NIGHT!"          In case you all were wondering who is Mary Jane Harper, and why should you care about her crying last night ; she was a child character in A 1977 Television Movie, which depicted the "CRUEL REALITY OF CHILD ABUSE IN AMERICAN SOCIETY," and how things were getting out of hand! Well, as the years have gone by, we all can now see how right the movie was about many of the things that "ARE STILL HAPPENING TO CHILDREN IN AMERICA," in 2026. Also, to make matters  worst, several  reports  keep stating that Child Abuse in America has decreased,"BUT THEY NEVER REPORT EXACTLY HOW HIGH CHILD ABUSE CURRENTLY IS IN AMERICA!" Furthermore, one report stated,"THE CHILDREN HIGHEST AT RISK AND THAT HAVE THE HIGHEST RATE OF ABUSE ARE CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF ONE YEARS OLD!" Therefore, I will go out on a limb and say,"SEVERAL MARY JANE HARPERS CRIED LAST NIGHT!"   Well, with that said, on to this week's Black Pioneer!                 Louise "Pudden" G. Tucker was born in 1910 to Tommy and Julia Gilbert, in Wisner,Louisiana. Louise was a Black Pioneer in Monroe and Ouachita Parish in the area of Healthcare. Interestingly, "NOT ONLY WAS SHE THE FIRST BLACK FEMALE LICENSED PRACTICAL NURSE IN OUACHITA PARISH, BUT LOUISE WAS ALSO THE FIRST BLACK FEMALE LICENSED NURSING HOME ADMINISTRATOR IN OUACHITA PARISH AS WELL!" To this very day, it is noted that many Black People have said that Louise helped set the bar for Black Nursing Home Administrators in Monroe and Ouachita Parish.By the way, additionally to serving as "NURSING HOME ADMINISTRATOR OF THE MARY GROSS NURSING HOME, IN MONROE, LOUISIANA FOR MORE THAN 40 YEARS," Louise was a pillar of her community. After uniting with The First Missionary Baptist Church on March 2, 1975, she served faithfully in different areas of the church, including Chairperson of the Dorcas Missionary Circle, and as a dedicated Sunday School Teacher. When Mrs. Louise "Pudden" G. Tucker passed away on March 27, 2005, she passed the torch and task of running the Mary Gross Nursing Home to her granddaughter, Louise Davis, and her great-grandson, Tony Wilson.

 

OUR RICH BLACK HERITAGE : AUGUSTA SAUNDERS

 

 

                                       Recently, I had the opportunity to talk with "MONROE'S LIVING LEGEND, FRANK TAYLOR!" As we talked, he mentioned  that there used to be a White-owned Company that once employed many Negroes    in Monroe. Surprisingly,    the name of the company was,"THE LOUISVILLE COOPERAGE COMPANY."      The company was actually  located at 2500 Jackson Street, on the Southside of Monroe, Louisiana, near the railroad tracks. By the way, it's been reported that in the COMPANY'S HAYDAY, it employed "OVER 135 PEOPLE, AND PROCESSED  SEVERAL MILLION TONS OF WHITE OAK & COW OAK TREES A YEAR." As I end this portion of my article,    I would like to say that it sure is strange how a  company as large as " THE LOUISVILLE COOPERAGE COMPANY," which employed so many Negroes and White  People in Monroe, was never mentioned at any of the schools in Monroe, while I was in school! With that said, on to this week's Black Pioneer! Augustus Leon Saunders Jr. was born on August 9, 1909, in Whistler, Alabama. Also, he was married to Mrs.Rosaline Parker Saunders. After playing a season of baseball for the Monroe Monarchs, Augustus decided to stay in Monroe, and make Monroe his home. While there isn't much information online about Augustus, I was able to find out that he played in The Negro Baseball League from 1927 to 1932. For the first 3 years of his career, he played second baseman for the Cleveland Hornets. Next, Augustus played a year with the Detroit Stars, before finishing his career with the Monroe Monarchs. By the way, The Monroe Monarchs played their home games in Monroe at "CASINO PARK," which was located in the area between Carroll High School and the railroad tracks along Renwick Street in Monroe, Louisiana. A couple of years ago, I was able to view the City marker for the Monroe Monarchs Baseball Team, which was located near Carroll High School. For those who didn't know, in 1932, Augustus and the Monroe Monarchs played "A CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES AGAINST THE LEGENDARY PITTSBURGH CRAWFORD NEGRO LEAGUE BASEBALL TEAM." Incidentally, two of the Negro players on the Pittsburgh Crawford Team just happened to be "SATCHEL PAIGE AND JOSH GIBSON!"  Additionally, the Championship Series was dubbed as "THE NEGRO WORLD SERIES!" For a moment, I would like for everyone to just Imagine that it's "GAME ONE OF THE SERIES, IN THE TOP OF THE  SECOND INNING."  Satchel Paige is pitching, and Augustus Saunders comes up to bat. Satchel throws his first pitch, and Augustus swings and misses, and the umpire Yells..."STRIKE ONE!" Next, Satchel throws a fast ball straight down the middle, and this time Augustus gets a hit off of the famous Satchel Paige that Augustus would remember for the rest of his life!      Well, as far as the series went, the Pittsburgh Crawford Team went on to win the 1932 Championship Series over the Monroe Monarchs, 5 games to 1. Finally, years later when Rev. Roosevelt Wright was producing a play about the Negro Baseball League, at the Monroe Civic Center, Augustus Saunders made a special appearance, where he signed several baseballs for some of the Black Youth. Sadly, in February  of 1999, at the ripe old age of 89, Augustus Leon Saunders Jr. went home to be with the Lord. 

"OUR RICH BLACK HERITAGE" : GARTH C. REEVES SR., Publisher Emeritus of The Miami Times Newspaper

                                          While I was online reminding my Facebook Friends that "TWO NEGRO NEIGHBORHOODS" were once established on the land near, around, or maybe even on the land where the "OLD HOLIDAY INN" use to be located, it was brought to my attention that "MOST BLACK AND WHITE PEOPLE'S KNOWLEDGE OF THE PAST HISTORY OF MONROE, LOUISIANA,  SIMPLY DOES NOT GO BACK THAT FAR!" Well, for those who didn't know, the two former Negro Neighborhoods that I am speaking of are : THE OLD BRIGHT OAK and THE OLD JACKSON QUARTERS NEIGHBORHOODS. Sadly to say, had it not been for my rigorous research efforts,    I probably would of never known about these two former Negro Communities either! By the way,"THE LAND WHERE THE OLD HOLIDOME HOTEL USE TO BE LOCATED USE TO BE OWNED BY BLACK PEOPLE TOO!" It seems that due to "THE EMINENT DOMAIN LAWS," many Negroes who lived in the area of "THE BOOKER T. WASHINGTON SUBDIVISION AND HIGHWAY 165," were forced to sale their homes and land,"FOR PENNIES ON THE DOLLAR!"Needless to say, I feel that going forward, it is imperative that the older generation of Black Citizens of Monroe do a better job of passing down the legacy as well as the History of our Black Ancestors who once lived here in Monroe and helped pave the way for us today!"  With that said, on to this week's Black Pioneer, Garth C. Reeves Sr.! Anyone familiar with the "MIAMI TIMES NEWSPAPER" has probably heard of the name,Garth C. Reeves Sr., "SOUTH FLORIDA'S LARGEST BLACK-OWNED NEWSPAPER," which was founded in 1923, by Henry Ethelbert Sigismund Reeves. For over two decades,Garth
oversaw the day-to-day operations of the Miami Times Newspaper after taking ownership of the paper following his father’s death in 1970. When it came to defending the civil rights of Negroes, Garth was a fearless fighter for the Negro cause as well as a staunch supporter!  In 1949, Garth and a group of his Negro friends filed a lawsuit over the city's unfair policy toward Black citizens using it's public golf course, which led to the desegregation of the "Miami Springs Golf Course" in 1959. Interestingly, during the "Civil Rights Movement Era," Garth was one of the leading Negro figures in Miami, Florida.YOU SEE, GARTH BELIEVED AND SOMETIMES PARTICIPATED IN THE PRACTICE OF CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE." In 1957, Garth, a group of Negro Leaders, and a few Negro Citizens decided to challenge the City of Miami's Beach Policy of not allowing Negroes to swim or sit on the beach. The morning that the group of Negroes went to the public beach in Dade County, Florida, they were met with a parade of armed policemen. Although there was plenty of police presence that day at the beach, Garth and everyone else were allowed to stay and swim, and Negroes have been attending the beaches of Florida every since! Upon his retirement  from To his surprise, when Garth retired from his duties at the Miami Times in 1994, he was officially named "Publisher Emeritus." Additionally, in 2017, Garth was inducted into the "National Association of Black Journalists Hall of Fame. Finally, in 2019, after his wife Rachel passed away, Garth's health went down hill. Sadly, on November 25, 2019, after living for a little more than an "ENTIRE CENTURY," Garth C. Reeves went home to be with the Lord! 

 

"OUR RICH BLACK HERITAGE" : ROSALIND PARKER SAUNDERS, "Esteemed Negro Music Teacher in Monroe, Louisiana"

 

                                                                                                                                        Once Upon A Time in Monroe, Louisiana, when Negroes weren't allowed to shop at White Owned Grocery Stores,"NEGROES ESTABLISHED THEIR OWN GROCERY STORES TO HELP TAKE CARE OF THE NEEDS OF THE PEOPLE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES!" Reportedly, EACH BLACK COMMUNITY had between 3 to 7 groceries stores, which were owned and operated by BLACK MEMBERS of the BLACK COMMUNITY. Also, in addition to grocery stores, many Black People owned  their own chickens, goats, and cows as well as their own gardens, where they grew their own fruits & vegetables. Why, even Professor Madison James Foster sold milk and eggs to members of his community, to help families survive the rough times! Additionally, there were Black Grocery Store & Meat Market Owners like Maryland Brooks,The Colored Cattle King ; Isac Burnett, who operated his store at 2800 Jackson Street for approximately 50 years ; and T. J. Davis, a young 23 year old Negro who opened up his grocery store a couple of years after John R. Patterson closed "The Million Article Grocery Store," which was located near North 18th Street and Grammont Street, in Monroe. Fortunately, these Black Grocers stepped in and filled the gap, so that Black People in Monroe didn't go without groceries! You see, back when BLACKS couldn't shop at "WHITE OWNED GROCERY STORES" in Monroe, Black People in Monroe learned that "IF THEY POOLED THEIR RESOURCES AND SUPPORTED ONE ANOTHER," they could makeout just fine, and didn't have to depend so much on other races. By the way, "IT HAS BEEN STATED THAT FOLLOWING THE AFTERMATH OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1964," BLACK PEOPLE in America lost 70% of Their Black Schools, 75 % of Their Black Businesses, and between 75% - 85% of the land that they once owned!!! With that said, let's get to this week's Black Pioneer, Rosaline Saunders! While I wasn't able to learn anything about her birth and early childhood education, I found out that her mother, Mrs. Bertha Medlock Parker, was also a local music teacher as well. Although Rosaline Saunders taught music locally for "MORE THAN 30 YEARS," you will be hard pressed to find any information about her and her contributions to the Black Communities of Monroe, Louisiana, online or elsewhere! Interestingly, some of her many students went on to become local teachers, lawyers, and other business professionals, right here in the City of Monroe. By the way, in 1970, Rosaline became the first, "AND THE ONLY BLACK ACTIVE MEMBER" of The Monroe Center of The National Guild of Piano Teachers, American College of Musicians U. S. A.! Additionally, in 1975, she was elected to complete the unexpired term of Dr. Frank Carroll, and became the "FIRST BLACK" to serve on The Louisiana Music Certification Board. In addition to her receiving notable honors and accomplishments, several of her students made some too! One of her top students was, CRAYTONIA DAVIS, who was declared the overall District Winner, with an "A SUPERIOR RATING," at a Louisiana Music Teachers District Rally, which was held at Northeast Louisiana University, in Monroe, Louisiana. NOTE : Not only did his winning the competition at NLU make "A BOLD STATEMENT FOR LOCAL BLACK EXCELLENCE IN MUSIC," it also qualified him to compete for state honors. It may interest everyone to know that the "STATE FINALS" was held in Monroe, at the now defunct, Holiday Inn that was located on Louisville Avenue. Of course, as his outstanding music teacher, Rosaline Saunders expected,"CRAYTONIA HANDLED HIS BUSINESS, AND HE TOOK HOME THE STATE TROPHY, MAKING HIM THE FIRST BLACK TO EVER ACHIEVE THIS HONOR!" Well, another thing that most people in Monroe didn't know about Rosaline Saunders is that she didn't just teach her students,"SHE WENT THE EXTRA MILE" and saw to it that many of her students received "HIGH SCHOOL CREDITS" for putting in music practice time with her,"LIKE MANY OF THE WHITE STUDENTS AT HIGH SCHOOLS IN MONROE WERE RECEIVING AT THE TIME. Among the Black Students that she helped to receive credits were : Wossman High School Students : Wiletta Sanders, daughter of William and Idella Sanders  ; Clarinda Andrews, daughter of Darrell and Clara  Andrews ; Karen Brown, daughter of Australia Gualman ; and  Carroll High School Student, Rita Hegwood, daughter of Naomi Hegwood. In closing, I'm hoping that more of her former students and people who knew her will come forth with more information on her, so that students at the schools in Our Black Communities can read about her achievements and contributions online,"SINCE NONE OF THIS INFORMATION IS CURRENTLY AVAILABLE AT 

Was

"OUR RICH BLACK HERITAGE" : THE 1980 JUDGE STAGG COURT RULING

 

                                                                                       "You have to Know the Past to Understand the Present" -Carl Sagan                                                                                                             .                In order to better understand why a small klan of White People, The Neville Charter Association,"ARE SO ADAMANT ABOUT PUSHING FOR NEVILLE HIGH SCHOOL TO BECOME A CHARTER SCHOOL, WE NEED TO GO BACK TO THE YEAR 1931,THE YEAR WHEN NEVILLE HIGH SCHOOL OPENED AS A WHITE ONLY SCHOOL!" Once we visit the past history of Neville High School, we can fully understand why "A SMALL GROUP OF WHITE CITIZENS IN MONROE" would be so concerned about taking a High School, "WHOSE CURRENT STUDENT-BODY IS "APPROXIMATELY 60% BLACK," and making it a Charter School! You see, around 1929, the former old "WHITE ONLY" HIGH School,  "CITY HIGH," was becoming too small to accommodate the amount of White Students attending the school. Therefore, White People decided to have a new school built. By the way, I haven't been able to confirm that this new school opened as "CITY HIGH," but I have reason to suspect that it could of been. Nevertheless, it's a fact that when the school was first built,"NEGRO STUDENTS" were not allowed to attend Neville High School. As a matter of fact, "THE SCHOOL ACTUALLY OPERATED IN MONROE FOR ALMOST FOUR WHOLE DECADES AS A WHITE ONLY HIGH SCHOOL!" These days, some people don't like it when I bring up the racism that Black Students had to endure in Monroe. It's seems as though they can't relate to, or don't want to relate to Black Children being told that they couldn't attend a school, simply because of the color of their skin. However, when I ask them how they would feel if they were discriminated against, because they were White, all of a sudden, they tend to get pretty quiet! With that said, let me inform everyone about the "1980 Judge Stagg Court Order Ruling," that Triggered the last "WHITE EXODUS" at Neville High School. You see, Judge Stagg's ruling included "REZONING" of the high schools in Monroe, however, it didn't take effect until 1981. So in 1981, when Judge Stagg 's Consent Decree went into effect,      it disrupted the lives of many students in Monroe, Black and White! Interesting, it was Judge Stagg 's ruling that sent many new Black Students to Neville High School, and as I eluded to earlier, the departure of many White Students as well. Now, let's fast forward to the year 2024, when The Neville Charter Association presented its proposal to make Neville a Charter School to the Monroe City School Board for approval, under the "GUISES" that they want to avoid  financial bureaucracy, and for Financial & Operational Autonomy, when they really are trying to make Neville High School A Charter School, so they can "CHERRY-PICK" the students they want attending Neville! FURTHERMORE, LITTLE  HAS BEEN MENTIONED PUBLICLY ABOUT THE REZONING OF SEVERAL MONROE CITY SCHOOLS, AND THAT MANY OF THE BLACK STUDENTS NOW ATTENDING NEVILLE WILL HAVE TO ATTEND OTHER SCHOOLS! In closing,I would like to state what everyone in the City of Monroe already knows to be a true fact,"AIN'T NO WAY IN WEST HELL ARE A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF WHITE PARENTS LIVING IN MONROE, LOUISIANA GOING TO ENROLL THEIR WHITE CHILDREN AT NEVILLE HIGH SCHOOL,AS LONG AS THE CURRENT PERCENTAGE OF BLACK STUDENTS ATTENDING NEVILLE REMAINS AT 60%!

"OUR RICH BLACK HERITAGE" : THE 1969 DESEGREGATION COURT CONSENT DECREE, IN THE HISTORIC JIMMY ANDREWS VS THE CITY OF MONROE, LOUISIANA DESEGREGATION COURT CASE THAT LEAD TO THE INITIAL ENROLLMENT OF BLACK STUDENTS AT "NEVILLE HIGH SCHOOL"

 

                                                                                                                                                                                             "Segregation has, No Place in the American Education System"  -Richard Dawkins                                                                                                                According to reliable sources,"THE MONROE CITY SCHOOL SYSTEM IS ACTIVELY DISCUSSING SIGNIFICANT REZONING CHANGES THAT COULD POSSIBLY PAVE THE WAY FOR NEVILLE HIGH SCHOOL TO BECOME A CHARTER SCHOOL!" Well, the first thing that comes to mind is that a couple of weeks ago, there was an article in The Monroe Free Press about how the Neville Charter Association was getting ready to REINTRODUCE their proposal to have Neville High School become a Charter School. You see, as I see it,  it was by CHOICE that "WHITE PARENTS" CHOSE to withdraw  their "WHITE CHILDREN" from public schools and enroll them into PRIVATE SEGREGATED SCHOOLS, IN THE FIRST PLACE! Also, up until the Louisiana State Congress refusal to allocate MILLIONS of DOLLARS in funding for Governor Jeff Landry's  FLAGSHIP PROGRAM, "THE LOUISIANA GATOR SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM," there was very little discussions about A NEW REZONING PLAN FOR MONROE CITY SCHOOLS. Additionally, the REZONING DISCUSSIONS seem to be mainly centered around transferring Black Students OUT OF SALLIE HUMBLE, LEXINGTON, AND NEVILLE TO MAKE ROOM FOR WHITE STUDENTS, whose parents are having problems paying the HIGH COSTS of sending their children to PRIVATE SEGREGATED SCHOOLS! Furthermore, I feel that Black Parents who have children at Sallie Humble, Lexington, and Neville should be paying close attention to what the Neville Charter Association and other White Organizations are plotting behind close doors!!! With that said, let me inform everyone about The 1969 Court Decree in Monroe Louisiana. Well, let's start with the Desegregation Lawsuit Case that led to the court decree. Back on August 5, 1965, Jimmy Andrews and Tommy Robertson filed a lawsuit against The City of Monroe, the Mayor, and the members of the Monroe City School Board, through their mothers, Ms. Etta Mae Andrews and Ms. Odell Willis, alleging racial segregation and discrimination in the operation of the Monroe City Public Schools. After months of deliberations, Judge Ben C. Dawkins Jr. issued a court order for the Monroe City Schools to desegregate, establishing a plan that mandated an end to bi-racial systems, requiring the city and parish districts to merge plans to integrate students and staff. One of the things that caught my eye is that since Judge Dawkins original court ruling in1969,"HIS CONSENT DECREE HAS BEEN SUBJECT TO AT LEAST TWENTY-TWO MODIFICATIONS," within the last 55 years! Finally, I would like to share this last piece of information,"WHAT I CONSIDER TO BE THE SMOKING GUN," behind the Neville Charter Association's scheme to make NEVILLE A CHARTER SCHOOL!                  Come to find out,"CHARTER SCHOOLS IN LOUISIANA CAN BYPASS TRADITIONAL DISTRICT MANDATES LIKE THE THE 1969 DESEGREGATION COURT CONSENT DECREE IN MONROE, LOUISIANA," because CHARTER SCHOOLS often operate under different state oversight rules and policies,"WHICH ALLOWS THEM TO SIDESTEP OLDER COURT-ORDERED DESEGREGATION PLANS AND CONSENT DECREES!" In other words, Louisiana Charter Schools are allowed to CLAIM PUBLIC SCHOOL STATUS, even though they are SEGREGATED AS HELL, and receive public funding as well! In closing, I would like to say that it is discouraging to say the least that many of our Black Public Elected Leaders and other Black Representatives in Monroe have decided to remain quiet, instead of speaking out on pertinent issues such as THE NEVILLE CHARTER ASSOCIATION'S  SHAMEFUL ATTEMPT to BYPASS the CURRENT DESEGREGATION LAWS and CONSENT DECREES that have been in place for DECA

"OUR RICH BLACK HERITAGE" : WHARLEST JACKSON SR., FORMER TREASURER OF THE NATCHEZ, MISSISSIPPI BRANCH OF THE NAACP

 

                                                                                               "Before Black People Die, We Multiply"            -Garry Blanson                                                                                                                                     It saddens me dearly when I think about all of the Black People who were killed at the hands of Police in America; those who were innocent, and those who were guilty, "BUT SHOULD NOT OF BEEN MURDERED BY VIGILANTE JUSTICE!"          On You-Tube, there is a video from 1969 of Civil Rights Activist/Actress Ruby Dee reading off a long list of the names of Black People who were killed by Police in America.You know what's even sadder than the Police killing Black People? What is even sadder is how so many of the guilty Policemen and Policewomen are allowed to escape punishment! By the  way, two of the most hideous incidents of Police killing Black People occurred right by here in Northeast Louisiana! The first incident that  I remember was the murder of "RONALD GREEN" by White Louisiana State Police Officers. Strangely enough, if it had not been for a LEAKED VIDEO of the "HORRIBLE BEAT DOWN" that "RONALD GREEN" received from the State Police Officers,    "WE WOULD NOT KNOW THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BRUTAL WAY THAT RONALD GREEN DIED!"The second incident is the murder of my cousin,"WILLIAM HENDERSON," by White Monroe Police Officers. Yes, my cousin put himself in a bad situation, but I know that he didn't deserve to be executed by a firing squad of White Monroe Police Officers! These are just two on the many recorded times that Black People lives have been wrongfully taken by Police."WELL, THE GOOD NEWS ABOUT IT ALL IS THAT THEY CAN'T KILL US ALL!" Nevertheless, on to this week's Black Pioneer, Wharlest Jackson Sr.! Wharlest Jackson Sr. was born in 1929, the same year as previous "OUR RICH BLACK HERITAGE BLACK PIONEERS," Martin Luther King Jr. and Pythina "Pye" Brown. Similar to many other Black Pioneers, there's no information online about Wharlest early life. As a matter of fact, the only information that I was able to find centered around his job and the bombing of his vehicle, which brought about his untimely death!     However, his oldest son praised Wharlest as being a good fisherman, hunter, and family provider. In addition to his being a fine sportsman, Wharlest was noted as being a fearless Civil Rights Activist.            By the way, at the time of his death, he held the position as treasurer for the Natchez Chapter of the NAACP. Additionally, Wharlest was employed at The Armstrong Rubber and Tire Company in Natchez, Mississippi. About week or so before Wharlest was killed, he received a promotion as well as a raise in pay at his job, which didn't sit well with the White workers at his job. You see, two other White workers had applied for the position, but Wharlest, a Negro was chosen for the position instead! Furthermore, it is rumored that two members of the local KLU KLUX KLAN had attached a bombing device under the frame of Wharlest vehicle, below the driver's seat.On the night of February 27, 1967, after working a full shift, and putting in a couple of hours of overtime, Wharlest exited the building of The Armstrong Rubber and Tire Company, got in his vehicle, and drove off. Wharlest was only a couple blocks away from his home when the bomb exploded, blowing off the roof of his vehicle, and thrusting Wharlest body from his vehicle! When his oldest son, Wharlest Jackson Jr. heard the loud blast from the yard of the Jackson home, he got on his bike and rode toward the sound of the blast. Once Wharlest Jr. made it to the site, he found his father's disfigured body lying in the street! Following a local investigation, and several FBI investigations, the case was closed, without anyone ever being arrested at all! On that dreadful day when Wharlest Jackson Sr. died, he left behind a wife and four children, which substantiates my quote at the beginning of this week's article,"BEFORE BLACK PEOPLE DIE, WE MULTIPLY!"