Collection:LPB

Genre: Newsmagazine

Place Covered: Opelousas, St. Landry Parish, Louisiana, Shreveport, Caddo Parish, Louisiana

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 1987-10-4

Duration: 00:23:09

Subjects: Education | African Americans | Protest movements | School integration. | School boards

Contributors:

• Masingale, Sonya Host
• Gradney, John Interviewee
• Renaud, Charles Interviewee
• Jeanmarie, Glenn Interviewee
• Eaglin, Elinor Speaker
• English, Larry Interviewee
• Casey, Billy Interviewee
• Sinitiere, Linda Interviewee
• Lee, Walter Interviewee
• Brooks, Jerry Interviewee
• Pugh, Mildred Interviewee
• Jackson, Alphonse Interviewee

This segment from the October 4, 1987, episode of the series “Folks” features Sonya Masingale’s report on African Americans protesting alleged racial discrimination by the St. Landry Parish and Caddo Parish School Boards. Masingale first reports on the protest march from Opelousas to Baton Rouge against the St. Landry School Board’s decision to locate two of three parish schools in predominately white neighborhoods. She interviews John Gradney and Charles Renaud of Citizens United for Better Education and Father Glenn Jeanmarie. Her report also includes highlights of march organizer Elinor Eaglin’s speech at the rally on the steps of the State Capitol. Next, Masingale reports on a protest outside the Caddo Parish School Board office in Shreveport following their decision to declare the school system racially unitary, or racially balanced. She interviews: Larry English, president of the Shreveport chapter of the NAACP; Billy Casey, NAACP attorney; Linda Sinitiere, president of the Caddo Parish School Board; Caddo Parish Superintendent Walter Lee; and Jerry Brooks and Mildred Pugh, members of the Caddo Parish School Board. Lastly, Masingale conducts an in-studio interview with Charles Renaud, the vice president of Citizens United for Better Education in Opelousas and State Representative Alphonse Jackson of Shreveport. They discuss the ongoing efforts to oppose these decisions.