Monroe Dispatch - No Struggle, No Progress

This past January, Florida state GOP lawmakers introduced and advanced a bill prohibiting schools from 'encouraging' talk of sexual orientation and gender identity in some classrooms. On March 8, 2022, the Florida Senate passed the Parental Rights...

In October 2021, Facebook creator Mark Zuckerberg announced the name change of Facebook and the creation of Meta and the Metaverse, an extension of the social media organization into the virtual reality space online. Prior to the introduction of...

There is an adage that states, “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 the history of Blacks that are not commonly known. Janette H...

There is 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 the history of Blacks that are not commonly known. Don...

Conversation about drug use within the Black community is a restricted conversation. Beyond hearing the occasional sad story of how some OD'ed and ended up in jail for explicit behavior or witnessing someone exhibit obnoxious erratic mannerisms, we...

The best way to truly know how you feel about the ‘hood (the sides of town that Black and people densely populate) is to visit a 'hood in another city. When I first enter a 'hood, I immediately realize I have entered a not-so-good side of town by w...

Welcome to 2022! If you are reading this, you are in the number of the most fortunate to make it to a new year. As I prepare for what is to come for this new year, the story of Job comes to mind. Surely Job never expected what would happen in his lif...

This year I have thought a lot about faith. What it is, how it works, and why I need it are a few of the many questions I have been asking myself. I believe I have been called to gain a deeper understanding of my faith in this season. I know I am...

Home training can and will take one a long way in this world. It has opened many doors for many successful people and is considered by many of those to be a gateway to opportunity. When one has home training, they possess the ability to interact...

We use three simple ingredients: lemons, water, and sugar. Lemons, in taste, are very bitter fruits. The fruit is in the citrus family and contains high acidic properties. They are versatile fruits that can be used in cooking and even cleaning....

The scripture “For all things work” from the book of Romans takes on another meaning for me in the fall of each year. Fall is my favorite time of the year because it reminds me of God’s intentions. It’s so interesting to me how the seasons change....

My grandfather ( the late Frank DeTiege Sr.) loved gardening and grew lots of fruits and vegetables. In observing him doing his hobby, I realized gardening was a daily chore. He would put on his gardening uniform - old lightweight blue jean pants...

It is so interesting how a once taboo thing is now one of the most en vogue things to do. Weed is now one of the most popular topics of conversation, buzzing throughout entertainment, business, and health conversations heard throughout our country...

It is so interesting how a once taboo thing is now one of the most en vogue things to do. Weed is now one of the most popular topics of conversation, buzzing throughout entertainment, business, and health conversations heard throughout our country...

The start of a new school year is the mark of a new beginning for a child. During this time they get new clothes, new shoes, new school supplies, and sometimes even a new hairdo all with the premise of starting with a clean slate. This is big for a...

A few years ago I was able to travel to Cuba, a country located in the Carribean. The country is about an hour's journey from Miami, FL. Stepping off the plane revealed a small airport, with minimal modern efficiencies, but just enough that the snobb...

The pandemic has brought many changes in the lives of lots of people across the globe. The most significant thing that is changing is the way we work and the work that we do. The first computer in the US was created in 1946, invented by J. Presper...

It is so interesting how a once taboo thing is now one of the most en vogue things to do. Weed is now one of the most popular topics of conversation, buzzing throughout entertainment, business, and health conversations heard throughout our country...

Over the weekend, I counted coins that I have been saving over the past few years. As I went through the money, I sifted through each penny, checking the year they had been produced. Pennies made before 1983 are worth more than one cent because they...

After a year like last year, I knew we all could use a reminder of who God is. How he loves us all. He told me His people needed encouragement and a reminder of what is most important. Who is most important? JUBILEE! (this year's recital theme) was...

Last year brought many disruptions to our lives. The experience of living through a global pandemic has had a tremendous impact on how we live now and in the future. I am so glad we have turned a corner, and it is now safe to gather, travel, and be...

On yesterday Tuesday, April 19, 2021, Derek Chauvin was found guilty for the murder of George Floyd. I spoke to friends before the verdict was announced, and many were nervous to hear the outcome. We have been conditioned to mourn the many lost at th...

There are road signs that signal important messages as we drive. They are important to us because they give clarity on if we are going in the right direction or need to make a detour. They even sometimes alert us if there are pending obstacles in...

Whenever you go to take a test for a certification or graduate level education there is a test that you need to pass in order to prove you have what it takes to move to the next level of success. When you enter the testing facility, you walk into a...

I hate to see abandoned vehicles along highways. I instantly empathize with the driver and always wonder what happened to force someone to abandon their car. I am always confused when I see a nice shiny car idly sitting because I feel like it should...

Although I do not always agree with all the laws and rules that the government imposes, I understand that in theory the rules are in place to keep us all safe. Difficulty ensues when rules change for individuals who get more lenient punishment when...

I remember the feelings I had when I was younger and experienced heartbreak, embarrassment, or shame, and thought surely my world is about to end or that I would never be able to recover. I felt the pain of what I experienced was so great that it...

Last week the world watched as Republican extremists walked through the United States Capitol building wreaking havoc after receiving marching orders from the country's current leader. To date, the 45th president has not owned up to telling his...

This year I have thought a lot about faith. What it is, how it works, and why I need it are a few of the many questions I have been asking myself. I believe I have been called to gain a deeper understanding of my faith in this season. I know I am...

Years ago I saw a gorgeous hairstyle on a woman who worked in the same office building 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 few...

Two weeks have passed since this year's Presidential election and the current sitting president, Donald Trump, still refuses to concede. The electoral college count is now 290-Biden, 232-Trump. While everyone, including Trump's current White House...

I enjoy the holidays because it's a time of year when the pressures of life are subdued and I get a little reprieve from the norm. Since I am home more, I have more time to do things I enjoy like cooking. I presume most Americans are like me during...

The scriptures teach us that, “pride comes before a fall”, which is a lesson that one shouldn’t place so much emphasis on themselves as someone who claims to be a “self-made” individual. There is a modern-day expression that convey that thought,...

As a child, I remember seeing movies and documentaries about racism and the civil rights era, thinking they were horror stories. Graphic scenes depicted Blacks being hung, raped, severely beaten, tortured, and shot dead as they fought for simple...

By Jessica DeTiege We have come a long way in the fight for equality as it relates to voting rights. Our rights have come after lots of sacrifice, mainly carried on the backs of our ancestors, who endured much adversity and abuse. Despite many tactic...

Last night the United States presidential candidates were seen on the world stage in the first debate between Donald Trump and Joe Biden. The entire country took a collective sigh as the debate went from 0-100 within the first question, leaving...

So much has happened since the founding of the United States of America over 200 years ago. There have been changes that are necessary and inevitable. After all, life – our personal lives and collective lives and experiences that shape our world ...

Many types of voter suppression tactics were implemented in the U.S. during the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries as outlined in my column in last week's Monroe Dispatch. Despite the progression of time and significant advancements provided by Black...

Another innocent black man was shot by the police. On Sunday, August 23, 2020 Jacob Blake, an African-American man, was shot by police as his attempted to enter his car in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Eye-witnesses revealed that Jacob was seen trying to...

Do The Right Thing I want to think that very few people wake up feeling their day’s work should include hating or harming another person. The reality, however, is that crimes based on hate are committed every day. Spike Lee’s Do The Right Thing, is...

Home training can and will take one a long way in this world. It has opened many doors for many successful people and is considered by many of those to be a gateway to opportunity. When one has home training, they possess the ability to interact...

Have you ever tried cutting something with dull scissors? Or try cutting thick meat like steak with a butter knife? Despite all of the tugging or manipulation one may try, the wrong knife or scissors aren’t a bit of good. As a young girl, I would o...

The most important question I have asked myself in these last few weeks is what message God is trying to send to us in all of this we are facing? I ask this question because I try to make Christianity the most important thing in my life. Although I...

In the summer of 2002, I picked up the book, This Little Life of Mine, a biography of Mrs. Fannie Lou Hamer (1917-1977). At the time, I was entering my sophomore year at Wossman High School, and I had reached a point in life where I longed for more...

We always seek to eat fresh things. When we reach for an apple at the grocery store, we always feel around to make sure we grab one that isn’t bruised or spoiled. Processed foods, including canned foods, crackers, juices, cured meats, and breads also...

Lately, I’ve observed mannerisms and attitudes from both my parents that mimic the same as their parents. I’ve noticed that my dad can fall asleep on the couch seconds after he’s sat down and how he scratches the top of his head the same as my grand...

There are many resources in the world that can enhance our lives. Resources are granted to those who have access to information. Information is shared through educational opportunities, involvement in social and civic programs, and networks. In addit...

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...