The Time Has Come

It is time to speak up and not shut up. It is time to show up. It is time to boycott West Monroe by not shopping at any of the city's stores and not eating in any of its restaurants. Blacks in northeast Louisiana should not spend any of their dollars in West Monroe until the city makes its government, educational systems, and businesses operate in ways that value Black residents.

Some White people from the area think it is okay to say anything they want. They believe that other races, specifically Blacks, are supposed to lie down and take what they dish out. Well, that is a lie. History has shown that some Whites have made dogs attack us, hung us from trees, sprayed us with water hoses, beaten and killed our people, thrown us in jail, and lied on us. Despite the new era, some still try to use unfair policing and laws to control minority races. Once entangled in legal issues, some Whites support biased and unfair sentencing for Blacks more than any other race. History has proven West Monroe to be one of the most racist places to live. The city has lured companies to move from Monroe to West Monroe. The city is collecting many resources that should be divided more fairly throughout Ouachita Parish to continue to support private businesses and create a more uneven divide of the pie. West Monroe and Monroe Chambers of Commerce have not done anything to help the less fortunate communities. Almost every state and town has addressed the "Rebel" name and removed it, but the city of West Monroe still remains complicit in many ways. It is time to show up—Boycott West Monroe by not shopping or dining in the town's restaurants. Do not spend your hard-earned dollars to support those who do not support you. It is time we demand that West Monroe city and community leaders step up. A start can be true, open dialog. Remember to choose your leaders wisely! Choose leaders who have a proven commitment to fairness and integrity. Do not let others continue to choose who they think should be Black community leaders.

Martin Luther King did an excellent job, but not by himself. It took people like Malcolm X and Shirley Chisholm to bring change too. So many more courageous Blacks have stood up to help create change. Let us continue to pray, but we must push for action! We should forgive, yes but, still push for action. There is a time to fight and a time to heal, and that time for Blacks in northeast Louisiana has now come!