By Garry Blanson
ONCE upon a time, in old Monroe, Louisiana( back when White people “ literally owned” Negroes as their private property ), there lived a respectable Negro slave named Richard Barrington. It is reported that he came to America via a slave-ship called, “The Hunter.”
At the tender age of 16, young Richard was sold to Solomon Downs of Ouachita Parish in Louisiana. He went back to Monroe, Louisiana with Solomon Downs to live on the Down’s Plantation about 3 miles south of Monroe. It was on the Down’s Plantation that Richard learned to read and write.
He took full advantage of his master’s extensive library. When Solomon Downs was elected as Senator of Louisiana in 1847, he took his trusted slave, Richard Barrington, along with him. Richard would serve Senator Downs in many capacities, including cook, butler, barber, body servant, private secretary, and treasurer. Upon his death, Senator Downs granted “FREEDOM” to Richard and his family.
It was also reported that Richard Barrington bought the tombstone for his former master’s grave (the grave is here in Monroe at Riverview Cemetery).
Richard Barrington is also known to have operated a fine barbershop, which was located on South Grand St. in Monroe.
Richard Barrington died on November 19, 1904. Some of the White folks were said to have liked Richard Barrington so much that they had his obituary printed in The New Orleans Times newspaper.
Some of the citizens of Monroe, Louisiana, who can be traced back to Richard Barrington include Maurice Johnson, a former band director of Carroll High School and Grambling State University, and Richard Zemry Johnson Sr, a former band director of Richwood High School.
In closing, it is saddening that many Blacks in Monroe do not know that Richard Barrington was the founder of one of the first schools for Negroes in Monroe, Louisiana. The school was named “ The Wisner School.” It was located on the same site as the Charter School founded in Monroe by Roosevelt Wright (Excellence Academy).
It’s a shame that our young Black men in Monroe, Louisiana know more about the history of the National Football League than they know about their black ancestors that lived and paved the way for us today!
