Monroe Mayor Oliver Friday Ellis doesn’t understand why two years into his term citizens of South Monroe are signing a recall petition against him. In his mind, he is keeping his promises and doing more for South Monroe than any of his predecessors.
If he has done so much, why are all major organizations in the Black community urging people to sign the recall petition?
What’s behind it all is the tale of two people: One named “Friday Ellis” and the other named “Oliver Ellis.
Friday Ellis offered the community hope that South Monroe’s problems would be addressed in new and aggressive ways with innovative approaches. He offered them the hope that he could forge a solution to South Monroe’s problems with input from its most vocal spokespersons and groups.
In a few months it became obvious that while he hand-picked certain African-Americans to consult, he avoided those with tough questions and those who would hold him accountable for promises made to the community in general.
It became even more obvious when made a promise to channel $25 million a year to South Monroe to target neighborhood development, economic development and crime reduction then asked the Southside to give up its right to vote for a sales tax for 25 years.
Friday made the $25 million offer, and Oliver snatched it back.
Despite repeated public requests, Oliver Ellis has refused to acknowledge the Metropolitan Black Chamber of Commerce, the African-American Chamber of Commerce, the Southside Economic Development District, the Black state legislative delegation, the N.A.A.C.P, and a group led by community activist Marie Brown, as the legitimate representative of Southside views.
He has never met with any Southside organization alone; that’s when those who hang on to hope believe they can talk with the “Friday” Ellis who offered them hope of “One Monroe.” Instead, when he does meet with Black groups, he is surrounded by an entourage of lawyers, accountants, and staff members. In that context, he becomes “Oliver” Ellis, the rookie politician who doesn’t have the faintest idea how to deal with frustrated African-Americans who are losing hope in his administration.
What the mayor fails to understand is that the former administration offered no hope of change for South Monroe, only more of the same.
Friday Ellis offered hope of something better. He caused us to dream of better relations.
Being shut out, ignored, and ostracized, hopes have been dashed, and the Southside Dream is being deferred. Oliver Ellis has stuck a pin in our hope, and it makes us angry.
Langston Hughes asked a question about deferred dreams in a classic poem called “A dream deferred.” It asked: “What happens to a dream deferred? Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun? Does it fester like a sore and run? or does it explode?
For Oliver Ellis, lost hope is fueling the recall petition designed to send a message that, hopefully, “Friday” Ellis will understand.
