In the heart of Monroe, Louisiana, a small playground at the corner of Thomas and Jackson streets holds a century of history, pride, and community spirit. Next week, local residents will gather to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Mt. Nebo Rosenwald School, a beacon of education for African American students during the era of segregation.
Frank Taylor, a member of the local committee working to preserve the school’s legacy, has successfully lobbied for a historical marker to be placed at the Nebo playground, which now stands on the former school site. The marker will be unveiled during a grand celebration scheduled for August 2nd and 3rd, 2024.
“This celebration is not just about a building, but about the enduring spirit of our community,” Taylor stated. “It’s a testament to what we can achieve when we come together for the sake of education and progress.”
The festivities will kick off on Friday, August 2nd at 4 p.m. at the Emily P. Robinson Community Center, followed by additional events on Saturday, August 3rd at 2 p.m. at the Mt. Nebo Playground. This celebration also marks the 35th anniversary of the Mt. Nebo Playground Committee, highlighting the community’s ongoing commitment to this historic site.
The Mt. Nebo School, established in 1924, was part of the Rosenwald Schools initiative, a collaborative effort between Booker T. Washington and Julius Rosenwald, president of Sears, Roebuck & Company. This program aimed to improve educational facilities for Black children in the rural South during the early 20th century.
Oscar Augurson, now in his late 80s and one of the school’s first students, shared his memories in a documentary by the Louisiana Trust for Historic Preservation.
“It was congested but it worked,” Augurson recalled, noting the challenges of overcrowded classrooms and limited resources. Despite these obstacles, he emphasized the prevailing atmosphere of respect for teachers and discipline.
It was a Rosenwald school but the Mt. Nebo school was still limited. Augurson remembers that it was “congested” often with two classes in the same room with about four classrooms.
“At the time we had used books that had been passed down from the white schools,” he said.
The Mt. Nebo School, specifically, was one of the many Rosenwald Schools constructed in Louisiana. These schools were designed to provide better educational opportunities and were often built with matching funds from the Rosenwald Fund, the local African American community, and the white community or school boards
The school’s construction was a true community effort, with members of the Mt. Nebo Baptist Church spearheading fundraising initiatives. This collaborative spirit embodied the essence of the Rosenwald program, which required local communities to contribute significantly to school construction costs.
While the Mt. Nebo School was eventually absorbed into the Monroe City School system in the late 1960s, its impact on the community has endured. The upcoming celebration serves as a poignant reminder of the struggles and triumphs of African American education in the South, and the power of community action.
As Monroe residents prepare to honor this landmark anniversary, the story of the Mt. Nebo School stands as a powerful reminder of the importance of education, community engagement, and the ongoing struggle for equality in American society.
