Monroe Dispatch - No Struggle, No Progress

We are facing some pretty trying times as a community here in Monroe. Not only are we dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic that is affecting the world, but some are also now left to clean up after a series of tornadoes struck our community, damaging...

We are living in very interesting times. COVID-19 (or Coronavirus) has disrupted the entire globe, forcing us to take many precautions as we continue to live our lives. New restrictions around how we live and interact with one another can be summed...

Many challenges come with a global pandemic. Not only is our health at risk, but our economy is also very vulnerable. Both will take a hit. Perhaps the hardest hit will be the hundreds of thousands of small businesses and self-employed Americans...

A lot is going on in the world in which we live. The Coronavirus has now traveled around the globe, disrupting travel plans and canceling annual events. More importantly, the virus is killing thousands of people with a fury that is causing people to...

I remember watching tv shows like the Jetsons and thinking a lot of the technologies they had would be nice but never actually saw them really happening. The Jetsons were based in a 2060 futuristic era, and we are now in 2020. Our reality is that we...

I believe while we are on this earth that we should strive to have peace in our lives. Peace comes from many different things, but peace mainly comes from being a whole complete person. When we are whole, we are well and possess a balance of...

In the early 1900s, African-American author, educator, and activist Nannie Helen Burroughs published “12 Things The Negro Must Do For Himself”, which was a comprehensive list of important values and ideologies deemed necessary for Blacks to und...

In the early 1900s, African-American author, educator, and activist Nannie Helen Burroughs published “12 Things The Negro Must Do For Himself”, which was a comprehensive list of important values and ideologies deemed necessary for Blacks to und...

There’s an old adage that says, “You never know where you are going unless you know where you have been.” In the spirit of Black history month, the Monroe Dispatch will highlight stories and history of Black people that are not commonly known. In 13...

There’s an old adage that says, “You never know where you are going unless you know where you have been.” In the spirit of Black history month, the Monroe Dispatch will highlight stories and history of Black people. It is no secret that many Black...

I used to think empathy was a horrible character trait to have. I once thought it wasn't good for me because I could easily receive the feelings and the energy of others around me. I have grown to realize that empathy can be one of my best character...

Prison reform has become a grand topic of conversation in mainstream media over the last several years as celebrities have begun lending their voices to spread awareness about the inhumane conditions of which some prisoners are forced to live. Inhuma...

Visiting New York City is always an exciting adventure for me that births creativity and enlightenment. In the city that never sleeps, there’s always something to see and do that one has never experienced before. When I visit, I often go to the s...

My grandmother Irma Hall DeTiege was a huge advocate for voting because she grew up in an era where elections meant life or death for some Louisianans who were low on the totem pole. I have read many of her articles, and a common theme she often...

I've always loved the thought of cooking. I watched cooking shows and watched my grandmother in the kitchen countless times. As I've gotten older, I've also come to enjoy the process. I most often learn to make things after I've tried it or after...

I remember watching television shows like the Jetsons and thinking a lot of the technologies they had would be nice but never actually saw them really happening. The Jetsons were based in the 2060 future era, and we are only in 2018. Our reality is t...

Last night my dad and I sat and watched Love Is ____, a tv show on Oprah’s OWN TV network. While we watched the latest episode we shared a conversation, and my dad made a comment that I can’t forget. “When I was growing up, you didn’t see Black p...

Years ago, I saw a gorgeous hairstyle on a woman who worked in the same office building as my company was housed. Each morning I saw her I would admire her hairstyle. It was cut in a long bob and she would style it in many different ways. After a...

We experience four seasons each year - fall, winter, spring, and summer. Each season has a distinctive purpose. The spring is the transition between cold and hot weather and most often brings rain, but the rain does not last long. After the rain,...

How do you start your day? Do you roll over to your phone and scroll news or social media? Do you begin by turning on the radio? Do you reach for the remote control to turn on your TV? How does your day end up going? Does it go smoothly or do you...

This past summer NBA superstar Kevin Durant received lots of backlash after revealing he was behind a fake social media account, that shared his true feelings about his former team and coaches. Durant began his career as a professional basketball...