"OUR RICH BLACK HERITAGE" : COLORED BUSINESS-OWNER T.J.DAVIS,THE DAVIS MARKET, and THE CENTRAL CA'FE

One of the things that makes this week's article extra intriguing is that it's sheds light on 2 Colored-Owned Businesses that opened after Colored Businessman John Robert Patterson Sr., who owned Patterson's Million Article Store and Market that was located at North 18th and Grammont Street in Monroe, Louisiana, closed his businesses and moved to New Orleans, around 1930. Although the exact address of his 2 businesses seem to differ in reports, the thing that's agreed upon is that it was during "THE GREAT DEPRESSION ERA!" The name of the 2 new businesses were,"THE DAVIS MARKET, and THE CENTRAL CA'FE." Both businesses were owned by a young Colored Man by the name of T.J. Davis. Reportedly, T.J. was only 23 years young when he opened his businesses. Another interesting fact is that this was around the time-frame that Maryland Brooks, "THE COLORED CATTLE KING," owned his meat market on Desiard Street, at Young's Bayou, and it was also around the time that Abraham Bowie Sr. owned and operated his restaurant,"Town House," which was located on Desiard Street. Furthermore, it was close to when "THE HISTORIC MILLER-ROY BUILDING WAS BUILT, BACK IN 1929!" Sadly, very little is known about the owner, T.J. Davis, or the businesses that he owned. However, an online article did say that T.J. Davis was a very forward thinking individual to even risk such a venture, during such a desperate time in America as well as in Monroe. By the way, there's a single picture online of The Davis Market, along with mention of the Central Ca'fe. Also, a man by the name of Henry Washington is listed as being the Manager of the Central Ca'fe. Finally, I found out that during the time that his businesses were around, the one and only,LOUIS "SATCHMO" ARMSTRONG came to Monroe, Louisiana to perform in the "FAMOUS SAVOY ROOM," which was housed in the Miller-Roy Building that was recently renovated and reopened as an apartment complex in 2023.

"OUR RICH BLACK HERITAGE" : "THE FORGOTTEN" - Council for United Civil Rights Leadership

l "In Order for Situations to Change for Black People in Monroe, Louisiana, Black People in Monroe, Louisiana Are Going to have to Change" -Garry O'Dell Blanson We'll begin this week's article with a story about an incident that took place, back when I was in elementary school. One day, during the 1970s, at "Swayze Elementary School," while several of the students and I were throwing "friendly mixes on one another" ; mixes are when a group of guys try and catch some guys from another group off guard and hit one another with open palms, just for fun. Well, after I had finished mixing and was trying to get away from the action, J.J. grab my arm and I accidentally hit my head up against the boys bathroom wall. It hurt, but I was still trying to get away from J.J.'s grasp. Suddenly, he let go of my arm and put his hand on my head and said, "man you're bleeding!" You better believe that got my attention! I placed my hand on my head and sure enough, I saw a hand full of blood. The guys told some of the teachers about my head bleeding.Next, the teachers led me all the way down the main hall to where we washed out hands, before eating in the school cafeteria. Fortunately, for me on that day, there was an off-duty Monroe Police Officer by the name of Richard L Jackson,"who was also the director of the SOUTHSIDE BOY'S CLUB in MONROE that was ran out of the Swayze School Gymnasium." Officer Jackson turned on the cold water and told me to put my head under the faucet. Also, he applied pressure to where the blood was leaking out of my head, and after about 10 or 20 minutes, the bleeding had stopped. The hole in my head was actually large enough for me to stick my finger in the wound! By the way, I got to go home early, but our principal, Charles H. Johnson told me that there was to be no more mixing going on, while we were at school. With that said, I would like to share a little information about "The Forgotten Council For United Civil Rights Leadership." Surprisingly, it was President John F. Kennedy who encouraged and helped organize the main funding for the organization. It was often called an "UMBRELLA GROUP," because it consisted of 6 of the most influential Black Organizations in the United States. The main Black Organizations involved were: The Southern Christian Leadership Conference, headed by Martin Luther King Jr ; The National Association For The Advancement of Colored People,led by Roy Wilkins ; The National Urban League, led by Whitney Young ; The National Council of Negro Women, headed by Dorothy Height ; The Student Non-violent Coordinating Committee, led by James Forman and John Lewis ; and The Congress of Racial Equality headed by James Farmer, and advised by Bayard Rustin. By the way, it was only five months after the forming of The Council For United Civil Rights Leadership that "U.S. CITIZENS AND THE WHOLE ENTIRE WORLD" witnessed the gruesome assassination and death of President John F Kennedy in Dallas, Texas on November 22, 1963! Amazingly, one of the good things that resulted from the formation of the group was that many White Owned Corporations, including the Rockefeller & Ford foundations, agreed to provide funding for the organization. At a fundraising event, held on "JUNE 19TH, in 1963, at a hotel in New York, representatives from 96 Corporations were successful in raising "approximately $800,000 dollars" that was later divided amongst the Black Groups in The Council For United Civil Rights Leadership Organization. However, on the other hand, once the Black Leaders of these Black Organizations agreed to accept the money from the American White-owned Corporations, the Civil Rights Groups and the Civil Rights Movement itself experienced more and more regulations and restrictions from outside sources. Nevertheless, the organization was instrumental in helping organize and funding the Historic March On Washington, in August of 1963. Finally, it was rumored that it was lack of adequate funding, along with disagreements and several conflicts between the Black Leaders of the organization, which ultimately led to the dissolvement of the short-lived organization that was known as,"The Council For United Civil Rights Leadership Organization, in January of 1967."

"OUR RICH BLACK HERITAGE" : RICHARD L. JACKSON and THE SOUTHSIDE BOY'S CLUB.

Recently, it has been brought to my attention that A familiar symbol,"Fleur-de-Lis," which is displayed on LOUISIANA'S STATE FLAG and on the FOOTBALL HELMETS of the NFL FOOTBALL PLAYERS OF THE NEW ORLEANS SAINTS FOOTBALL TEAM, and was also designated as the official state symbol in 2008,"WAS USED DURING SLAVERY IN BRANDING COLORED SLAVES, LIKE CATTLE!" They say, the practice was a way of identifying slaves who had escaped from various plantations, as well as helping determine whether a Colored Person was a SLAVE or a "Free Person of Color." Wow, I wonder how many of the Black New Orleans Saints Football fans will "feel differently about the "Fleur-de-Lis symbol,"after reading and hearing about how it was used during slavery! With that said, let me inform everyone about a former Black Organization that helped save many Young Black Kids in Monroe from the streets. The organization was known as "THE SOUTHSIDE BOY'S CLUB." The director of The Southside Boy's Club was a police officer by the name of Richard L. Jackson. Since the Boys Club was housed in the gymnasium of Swayze Elementary School, you can say that the Boy's Club was a Community Partnership Project. Back when the Club existed, Charles H. Johnson was principal of Swayze, and he would visit the Boy's Club on a regular basis. By the way,me and my brothers were members of The Southside Boy's Club. Along with basketball, the club offered other game opportunities such as, table tennis, pool, and bumper pool. In addition to providing Young Black Kids from several local Black Communities a place to play and get to know each other, during the summer, Officer Jackson collaborated with Ervin Peter Turner, who was the director of "THE TRI-DISTRICT BOY'S CLUB" in Monroe to make sure that the children from both clubs were provided with nutritional meals for lunch.Officer Jackson would load us all on a bus, and we would travel up the highway to Tri-District Boy's Club, where we got to break bread with other Young Black Kids from across the City of Monroe. Yes, The Southside Boy's Club helped save and changed the lives of many Young Black Kids in Monroe,"Myself Being One of Them!" In August 2023, a special "Thank-you Program" was held in Monroe, Louisiana to honor Richard L. Jackson for his dedicated service and the wonderful things he accomplished as the director of The Southside Boy's Club!

"OUR RICH BLACK HERITAGE" : HATTIE MCGRAW MCCLANAHAN, wife of Dr. G. McClanahan

"GOT MILK?" What a way to begin this week's article! Well, I thought that I would use the question to remind everyone, especially the younger generation, that the idea of food delivery service to our homes in Monroe, Louisiana was around before Domino's and Johnny's Pizza ever became popular. I guess you can say that it was one of the first types of "FOOD TRUCKS" to hit the streets and neighborhoods of Monroe, Louisiana. Of course, I am referring to the "FOREMOST DAIRY FOOD TRUCK." In the early 1970s, I can remember our neighborhood Milk-man, dropping off milk, eggs, and other dairy products to our house. Back then, my family lived in Bryant's Addition, on the Southside of Monroe. Our Milk-man's name was,"Alex Butler Jr., the husband of Edna Butler of Monroe,they have been happily married for approximately 62 years." By the way, here's an interesting story involving me and Mr. Butler's milk-truck that taught me a valuable lesson, when I was around the age of eight. The incident happened one morning, while I was walking to school. You see, since we lived close to Swayze Elementary School, we had to walk to school. For some reason, I decided to take the route that took me down Ford Street. After I got on Ford Street, I happened to spot Mr. Butler 's milk-truck sitting by the side of the road. All of a sudden, a crazy idea got in my mind. My mind told me that I could hop on the back of Mr. Butler's truck and get a free ride to school. "Oh yeah, I got a free ride alright!" Once Mr. Butler started up the truck and started to pull away, my foot slipped off the back bumper rail, and instead of catching a free ride, I ended up getting dragged a couple of feet up the street, Lol! Additionally, for some reason, my mind wouldn't let me release my hand from the hand rail. Fortunately, Mr. Butler stopped the truck in time for me to escape any serious injuries. So, with the exception of a few scratches on my knees, my pants being torn, and a bruised ego, I was fine...and YES, I MADE IT TO SCHOOL ON TIME TOO!!! Now on to this week's Pioneer! Hattie McGraw McClanahan certainly left her mark & footprints on the Black Community of Monroe, Louisiana. First, as a local teacher, where she taught at Monroe Colored High School, and she also helped out at North Louisiana Industrial High School, also known as Monroe Academy, which was a school established for Negro Children in Monroe. Next, Hattie once served as President of the Sunday School Convention that was organized in 1892. Finally, not only was she a pianist for Zion Traveler Baptist Church, but Hattie also served as President of the Zion Traveler Church Choir. Also, because Hattie believed so strongly in helping people in need, "she formed the Goodwill Charity Club at her church." Hattie and her husband, Dr. G. McClanahan, not only donated food and clothing, but they donated their time and money too! In closing, it is my hope that more and more people will come forth with names, events, and stories about "THE LOCAL BLACK HISTORY OF THE PAST, IN MONROE LOUISIANA."

"OUR RICH BLACK HERITAGE" : THE FORGOTTEN "SLOW GO" DESEGREGATION POLICIES OF THE PAST

"The only thing worst than being ignorant is being ignorant and not knowing it" -Rev. O'Dell Blanson Once again, I have come across something from the past that many people of the "YOUNGER GENERATION" in Monroe, Louisiana are "CLUELESS" about! The thing that I am referring to began after the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in the "BROWN vs BOARD of EDUCATION CASE," back in 1954. It seems that many White Politicians and White Citizens resented being told that they had to permit their White Children to attend public schools with Black Children. Therefore, they organized programs and created policies that became known as "SLOW GO," Policies, which were policies designed to slow down, delay, and derail the school desegregation court orders. Well, one of the "SLOW GO" policies that was enacted in Monroe, Louisiana involved Neville High School and Carroll High School. According to a court decree, White Students in the 9th grade at Neville had to complete their entire freshman year of schooling at Carroll, while Black Students in the 9th grade at Carroll had to attend Neville. By the way, this initiated what many people in Monroe referred to as "WHITE FLIGHT!" Meaning that many White Parents decided to withdraw their White Children from public schools and enrolled them into private schools, "WHICH IS ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS THERE ARE SO MANY WHITE PRIVATE SCHOOLS IN LOUISIANA TODAY!" Interestingly, some of these "SLOW GO" programs and policies lasted well into the 1970s. In closing, I hope that people will take a closer look at Governor Jeff Landry's La.Gator Scholarship Program and the Neville Charter Proposal and see if there is any resemblance of the former "SLOW GO" programs and policies of the past. Additionally, it will do us well to remember the following statement,"ignorance of the past, excuses us not!"

"OUR RICH BLACK HERITAGE" : SAM EDWARDS, "A Forgotten Black Pioneer in Monroe 's Bryant's Addition"

So just when did schooling first become compulsory in Louisiana? What a great question! Recently, while performing research at the main library in Monroe, Louisiana, it came to my attention that during the Agricultural Age in America, when many Black People in Monroe, Louisiana were still sharecropping on the farms, public schooling "WASN'T MANDATORY IN MONROE!" However, as the Industrial Age was ushered in, and with children between the ages of 13 - 17 acquiring jobs and working in the factories, many Louisiana city & state officials pushed for laws to mandate compulsory schooling in Monroe as well as other cities in Louisiana. Therefore, in 1910, a law was passed by the Louisiana State Legislature requiring youth between the ages of "7 - 18" to attend private or public schools. Although the law was passed, "it wasn't strictly enforced!" You see, the Industrial Age brought about a change in the labor force and structure in America. While agriculture and farming had been the mainstay, now people were deciding to pursue work in the American factories. At first, the factory owners were excited to hire young workers, but more and more frequently, the young workers were being hurt, and sometimes killed on the job. Also, some of the unemployed adult factory workers felt that the young workers "were taking jobs away from them!" So, little by little, city and state officials felt the pressure to enforce the compulsory schooling law that was passed in 1910. From that point on and to this day, schooling has been strictly enforced in the State of Louisiana. Furthermore, in 2021, Louisiana State Legislators passed into Law, Senate Bill 10, which "MANDATES KINDERGARTEN ATTENDANCE FOR MOST 5 YEAR OLDS IN LOUISIANA!" Finally, let it be noted that the bill was introduced by Senator Cleo Fields. Well, on to this week's Black Pioneer! Sadly, at the time of print, the little information that I can report about Mr. Sam Edwards is the little that I remember about him as I saw him in the "BRYANT'S ADDITION COMMUNITY." Since we both lived on Bethune Street, I would see Mr. Sam almost every other day. One of the things that I remember and admired most about him is that even though he was well past the age of retirement, you almost always saw him either working or pushing his lawn mower up the street, on his way to render service. By the way, Mr. Sam was an early riser. As early as 7:00 am, he would be getting started with his yard mowing marathon. During the summer months, it seemed as if he mowed 8 - 12 yards a day. While I never got or went out of my way to talk to Mr. Sam, I will say that he was definitely a strong pillar of our Black Community! In closing, I can honestly say that I never saw Mr. Sam get upset with anyone in our neighborhood, and I strongly feel that our Black Communities would be much better places to live, if we had more strong Black Men like Mr. Sam Edwards!

"OUR RICH BLACK HERITAGE" : THE FORMER COLORED INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION - Today known as Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association

If you were to ask most Black College football fans in Monroe, Louisiana if they were fimilar with The "S.W.A.C. Sports Conference," many of them will say that they have heard of it. However, if you were to ask them what's the "OLDEST BLACK COLLEGE SPORTS CONFERENCE IN AMERICA," few of them would know the name of the conference! Well, to be honest, I just recently found out myself. During my visit to a book fair in Monroe, Louisiana,I found and purchased a book titled, "The Young Negro in America 1960 - 1980" that use to be the property of the Library at the old Richwood High School, written by a Black Man by the name of Samuel D. Proctor. The book led me to what I found out is actually the "OLDEST BLACK COLLEGE SPORTS CONFERENCE IN THE UNITED STATES!" The name of the conference is " THE CENTRAL INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION." Up until 1950, it was known as the "COLORED INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION." The conference was founded on the campus of "Booker T. Washington's Alma Mater, Hampton Normal and Agricultural Institute, which is now Hampton University, in 1912." The Colored Intercollegiate Athletic Association was originally formed to organize and facilitate athletic competitions between Colored Colleges and Universities. Some of the original Colored Universities included Howard University, Hampton Institute, Lincoln University, Virginia Union University, and Shaw University. Many of the Colored Universities offered Colored Student-athletes the opportunity to compete in football and basketball as well as baseball. As a matter of fact, "many of the baseball players went on to play in the famous Negro Baseball League!" Today, the conference is composed of 12 Historically Black Colleges and Universities spanning the East Coast, from Pennsylvania to South Carolina. Interestingly, the conference plays host to 14 annual Championships. "Additionally, the conference is nationally known for its annual CIAA Basketball Tournament,which is held in late February and early March." Furthermore, the Central Intercollegiate is affiliated with the NCAA at the Division ll Level, whose member institutions has nothing but Historically Black Colleges and Universities. By the way, it's current conference members include Shaw University, Lincoln University, Virginia Union University, Bowie State University, and Bluefield State University, along with several other Historically Black Colleges and Universities. In closing, based on the past history and success of Colored, Negro, and Black Interscholastic & Intercollegiate Athletic Associations, "the African-Americans of the 21st Century may just want to see about starting our Own Athletic Associations, just as Our Colored, Negro, and Black Ancestors once did!"