We are officially in “It’s safe to be black month.” For 28 days, the black community can explore its culture, history, successes, and failures without risking being labeled racist. During “Black History Month,” we can safely be “Black” until March…
Category: Editorial
Our Rich Black Heritage: Sarah Elizabeth Goode
By Garry Blanson So, whose name comes to mind when you think about who was the first Black female inventor to receive a patent from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office? Well, her name was Sarah Elizabeth Goode. Around 1870,…
The Southside Dream will be the litmus test for Ellis Administration next year
Three years ago, candidates for Monroe City Council and Mayor all sang a song of working together to build a new Monroe, most notably a united Monroe. Even though we’d heard that song before, for some reason, people believed Mayor…
Our Rich Black Heritage: Edward C. Berry
By Garry Blanson Let me tell you about the Negro Businessman who opened a hotel that served White People and Black People. His name was “Edward C. Berry.” He was born in Oberlin, Ohio, in 1854. When his father died…
New city school board must find solution to black “brain drain” problem
As the Monroe City School Board begins a new year with new members, it will face the same problem that has plagued the system for the last ten years: the failing academic performance of African-American Students in the system.…
Our Rich Black Heritage: Rebecca Lee Crumpler
By Garry Blanson During my recent research into Black History, I found some interesting information about a Black female doctor named “Rebecca Lee Crumpler.” She was born on February 8, 1831, in Christiana, Delaware. While tagging along with and watching…
The Monroe Chamber of Commerce owes Karl Dhaliwal an apology
Suppose the Monroe Chamber of Commerce intends to mend its image in the minority community. In that case, its recent efforts to remove Karl Dhwaliwal from the Southside Economic Development Board are a giant step backward. Dhaliwal is the owner…