Fifteen years and counting

10th June 2011   ·   0 Comments

By Edmund W. Lewis, Editor
Fifteen years ago I embarked on a journey that has brought me great joy, satisfaction and a renewed sense of purpose. That journey began with a single step on Friday, May 29, 1996, that brought me to 1001 Howard Avenue, Suite 2600 — the headquarters of The Louisiana Weekly.

I remember many things about that first day, among them the breathtaking view of the city from my office window, the great energy of the newspaper staff led by Executive Editor Renette Dejoie Hall and the many stories shared with me by the elders at the paper — Louisiana Weekly publisher Henry Dejoie Sr., Tex Stephens, John Roussell and the inimitable Billy Willis.

It was a work environment that was both dynamic and organic, nothing like some of the antiseptic, uninspiring offices of mainstream newspapers I had visited over the years. There were lots of characters, many of whom had a great sense of humor and lots of information about the history of New Orleans to share. Simply put, it was a great place to work.

There was never a shortage of history lessons to be passed down from WWII veterans like Henry “Mr. D” Dejoie Sr. and George “Tex” Stephens. Billy Willis, who was circulation manager when I came aboard, never ran out of stories about his years in the military or his matriculation at Southern University-Baton Rouge. No one else I knew could share stories about going to Southern when Dr. Joseph S. Clark was the institution’s president. Looking back, I had no idea how fortunate I was to be working for the publication when these living legends were still actively contributing to its success. Every day I went to work and was presented with cultural and historical riches beyond my imagination.

During my time at The Louisiana Weekly, I had an opportunity to cover and reflect on some monumental events in the history of the United States and the world: The September 11 attack on the World Trade Center in New York, the capture of Saddam Hussein, the new millennium, Hur­ricane Katrina, the passing of Dr. Betty Shabazz, the untimely death of Michael Jackson, the Department of Justice probe of the New Orleans Police Department, the New Orleans Saints Super Bowl victory and the election of the nation’s first Black president, Barack Obama.

Along the way, I had an opportunity to meet and/or interview many of the men and women I had admired for some time including the late Dr. John Henrik Clarke, the late Rev. Avery C. Alexander, MOVE member Ramona Africa, filmmaker John Singleton, civil rights attorney Fred Gray, the late Grambling State University football coach Eddie Robinson, South African recording artist Jonathan Butler, (who, as it turns out, is a huge “Who Dat” Saints fan), author Nikki Giovanni and Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama,

I also had an opportunity to weigh in on a myriad of issues ranging from color consciousness, misogyny in hip hop, materialism in communities of color, police brutality, public corruption, prosecutorial misconduct, racism, sexism, housing discrimination and disparities in the public school system.

When I revisit some of the columns I’ve written in the past, I can honestly say that I’m amazed and inspired by some of the observations and points I have made over the years. I’m convinced that there have been many cases where my writings were guided by the hand of the Creator, so much so that I am sometimes overwhelmed and have to remind myself that there are many artists and writers who have talked and/or written about channeling the Creator’s divine energy and inspiration to connect with others.

Still, it’s amazing and incredible to see that divine energy, inspiration and purpose manifested in my own writings. I won’t even try to take the credit — it’s all about the Creator and His bountiful blessings.

I am also humbled by the recognition and awards that I’ve received including three A. Philip Randolph Mes­senger Awards for Editorial Writing from the National Newspaper Pub­lishers Association and the first award I received at The Louisiana Weekly — a Community Builder Award from the Xavier University Family Life Center.

Even more inspiring and gratifying than these awards are the wonderful people and organizations who I have crossed paths with over the past 15 years including Herman Piper from the Xavier University African American Males Collaborative, Free­dom Rider and Tambourine & Fan founder Jerome Smith, the New Orleans Marine Institute, the late Dr. Morris Jeff Jr. and Sankofa Com­muniversity, the newspaper staff and journalism students from Bishop Perry Middle School, National Urban League president Hugh Price, Buffalo Soldier historian Hiram Cooke, the library staff at Martin Luther King Jr. Charter School Joyce Francois and the great folks at the U.S. Department of Energy.

Over the years I’ve received many great letters, phone calls and tokens of appreciation from Louisiana Weekly readers and supporters like legendary New Orleans broadcaster and griot Larry McKinley, my friends, fraternity brothers and former classmates, and retired New Orleans educator and longtime Pontchartrain Park resident Jean S. Lang Moore, who wrote a letter to me last year that I revisit when I get weary or frustrated.

I am fortunate to have had many won­­derful colleagues including former La. Weekly writers Cassandra Lane, Dion Norman, Romeo Moore, Mary LaCoste, Arissa Orend, Gilbert Coker, cartoonist and artist extraordinaire Lionel Milton and my boss, Louisiana Weekly Exec. Editor Renette Dejoie Hall, who I’ve watched breathe new life into the publication first in the mid-1990s and again after Hurricane Katrina.

It’s been one heckuva ride, one that I will never forget.

Like many others of my generation, I stand on the shoulders of those who came before me and know that “I am because we are.” I will be forever grateful for the many friendships and bonds that I have formed with the people the Creator sent my way and would like to simply say a heartfelt “Thank you” for all they have meant to me.

This article was originally published in the June 6, 2011 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper