Columns & Opinions

Alan Jackson is the appointed council representative for District E.

On one block of Patzman Street in Shreveport’s Allendale neighborhood sits SWEPCO Park, named after the donor of the land. Park grass growing so tall there that it covers the fire hydrant on that block. To live across the street from the hydrant, one would have to trust that the fire department knows the hydrant is near the stop sign, which is a little taller than the grass. There is no paint on the street pointing to the hydrant. Neighbors tell me they have given up asking for the park to be mowed. It won’t be mowed for the Juneteenth holiday weekend and Father’s Day.

Harry Frankfurt started his 1986 essay “On Bullshit” with these words: “One of the most salient features of our culture is that there is so much bullshit.”

Its unfortunate that skin color, as in race, has become a deciding vote factor for several members of the Shreveport City Council.

Retiring City Councilman John Nickelson recently said this: “Racial gerrymandering is wrong, no matter whom it disenfranchises. But our city’s collective challenge is to look past skin color when we choose our leaders.” He is right, but that is easily said and not so easily done.

Today, our faith in the judicial system has been renewed. For the SPOA members who have had to endure this life-changing persecution, you have our utmost respect. The political atmosphere of this country and this state should never be the motivation for any elected official, including the district attorney of Caddo Parish.

Civil rights groups recently filed a lawsuit against Louisiana after the Louisiana Legislature overturned Governor Edwards’ veto of a state redistricting map that didn’t follow law and create a second majority Black congressional district in Louisiana. A similar situation may be playing out in Shreveport after Tuesday’s City Council meeting. The council voted to accept a redistricting map that recognizes five majority Black districts and two majority White districts. In other words, 77% of the nine seats on the dais would be majority Black districts and with only 33% of the seats representing White majority districts.

Long before Juneteenth became a nationally recognized holiday, long before Juneteenth became a marketing and political tool for some, and long before Juneteenth became an organizing and “rally around the community” affair, there were those of us who celebrated this “day” as a family day.