By Dr. Jacquelyn Simmons
Father, this child of Yours lives in a well-planned all African American citizenry neighborhood. When these undeveloped lots were sold to us, homes not constructed, we “grabbed” an opportunity to improve our living environment. As far as I know, these were the first sectional housings built solely for African Americans in Monroe, Louisiana that I am aware of. It previously consisted of cotton fields and one school, Carver Elementary, an improvement of Newtown Grammar Elementary School, which was located where the United Theological Seminary is located now.
As is the present unspoken, unwritten laws we only traversed on Your only white children’s inhabited section in town which still is a law as workers who had for the most part, to make sure they were south inhabited before dark.
We were not warned before our “lot” purchases that freight trains with trained personnel playing their favorite tunes on their engines would keep us awake all night. They do not blow in downtown Monroe or when they reach the mall but we, as African Americans live between those two places and they blow loudly especially at a place that is no longer a crossing at Booth Street and Millhaven roads. We also absorb loud traffic noises day and night and inhale deadly gas fumes.
Lord, it seems that people of a different color from us but not the color of Your white children monopolize our neighborhood stores, service stations, beauty supply stors., etc. At one time, we owned our own neighborhood cleaners, beauty and barber shops, service stations, pharmacies, restaurants, etc. We provided our own doctors, taught and coached our own children (now most of whom have been deliberately cast into Special Education classes). In those days, we had no special education classes. We taught our children and they learned. But, now many of them are earning attendance diplomas and if they attend and graduate from College/Universities, they are not allowed to pass an evil contrived certification test which Your white children usually pass. Some of our children end up washing dishes, working in fast foods places. Why, Lord, Why? How long will we be forced to live in this Your created world this way because You created us darker than some of Your other children.
Any race in America is treated better than we are. Even the Indian nation which was already here when the Europeans arrived and yet are disregarded on Columbus Day as not already occupying this, Your land.
Father, we cannot change our color.
Love,
Jacquelyn Simmons
