D I T O R I A L S & O P I N I O N S
Dr. Norman Francis remembered
There was an ironic local joke, at one point, two decades ago. “Is there a board or commission that Norman Francis isn’t on?” The implication was that they were other African Americans who could serve, so why did the Xavier University chancellor always get the call? Because, only he could.
Dr. Norman C. Francis possessed the unique ability to bring people of all races together in common purpose. He was often called upon in a city divided by race and class as the sole fair arbiter whom all parties could trust and heed.
When Dorothy Mae Taylor instituted the Carnival desegregation ordinance in 1991, the first move the Rex Organization made in response was to offer Norman C. Francis membership. Today, as last Tuesday’s ball can attest, more than a few African Americans claim
membership in the “School of Design” (even if the Krewe’s general composition does not fully reflect the state’s general population statistics), yet the once unthinkable desegregation occurred because of Dr. Francis. The door was opened for other African-American business and civic leaders into the pinnacle institution of Mardi Gras because Norman Francis was considered a “fair set of hands” by the past Kings of Carnival.
Dr. Francis exuded reasonableness and tolerance, a living embodiment of his hero St. Katherine Drexel, and through his calm demeanor and careful countenance, he changed the culture of New Orleans. Xavier University stands as a monument to his legacy, the school that he expanded and championed into a national status of excellence, yet it is only one of
the many landmarks of opportunity thanks to Dr. Francis. Yet, in the end, his public monuments matter less than the smile of a freshman at Xavier whom he impacted or the gratitude of the New Orleans school child aspiring to a college education, in whom Dr. Francis personally took an interest. Thousands of young people went on to success because Francis seemed to have limitless time for them.
A man who raised millions for his university, whose impact will be felt for decades not just locally but internationally, never forgot that he was a teacher first. This was his ministry, a charge given to him through the example of St. Katherine Drexel, and Francis never forgot his basic vocation. Thousands embarked on a different life because of it, and millions were impacted through his example.
In memory of the Rev. Jesse Jackson
The many eulogies of the Rev. Jesse Jackson have focused on his civil rights marches, his inspirational speeches, his time at the side of MLK and the pathway he forged as a presidential candidate in 1988, which heralded the election of Barack Obama 20 years later. Yet to those alone and forgotten in New Orleans in August 2005, trapped by post-Hurricane Katrina floodwaters, they remember the pastor who came into the aftermath with his own money and volunteers to rescue and revitalize. Citizens of this city saw a man who emptied the bank accounts of his organization, the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, to help thousands of individuals –including most of the Xavier University student-body, faculty, staff and their relatives – evacuate to Baton Rouge, where he personally
greeted them with open arms upon their arrival.
The Rev. Jackson arrived on the scene in Louisiana before FEMA or the Department of Defense managed to send the first bit of help. Katrina stood as but one example of many where Jackson proved he was not just a politician in love with his own rhetoric, but a Shepherd in love with his flock – willing to labor and suffer to save the least among them. His service to the evacuees allowed Jackson, with an authority few other national figures possessed in the aftermath of the storm, to critique the government’s mishandling of a catastrophe that disproportionately affected so many poor and Black residents. As Xavier President Reynold Verret eulogized, “From the front lines of the 1960s to the halls of interna-
tional diplomacy, Rev. Jackson fought every day to create – what our founder, Saint Katharine Drexel calls – a more ‘just and humane society.’”
As he continued, this “titan of the Civil Rights Movement and a tireless advocate for the marginalized” held a unique understanding of the “intersection of faith and social justice…recognizing that the fight for equity is both a moral imperative and a civic duty.”
It was 20 years from Jesse Jackson standing beside Martin Luther King at his assassination to campaigning for president and 20 more years until he beheld the fruit of his own efforts, the election of the nation’s first Black president. Equally, 20 years later, the many who benefited from his kindness and advocacy, lived to rebuild New Orleans because of it.◊
Tucks gives Mardi Gras a black eye
During the waning days of the 2026 Carnival Season, and little more than a week before New Orleans’ Mardi Gras Day (Fat Tuesday), on February 17, 2026, the greatest show on earth continued to titillate locals and visitors alike. It was Black History Month, and
on the same day that locals were commemorating the 69th anniversary of the organizing and incorporation of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) by the Rev. Dr. Martin L. King Jr. and others in New Orleans, the Krewe of Tucks was rolling. It was also
L ETTERTOTHE E DITOR
A call for equity and accountability for Black veterans in New Orleans
From the earliest conflicts to today’s modern force, African Americans have played various crucial roles in defending the nation, often while confronting discrimination both within and beyond the ranks. Black History Month - observed every Februaryprovides an opportunity to honor their legacy. Yet in New Orleans, Louisiana, this commemoration alone does not reflect the realities they face after service. In a city where more than half of the residents identify themselves as Black and where defense operations have long shaped lives, persistent health needs as well as equity gaps demand more than symbolic recognition. Currently, the state of Louisiana is home to more than 220,000 veterans—many of whom rely on the Southeast Louisiana Veterans Healthcare System, based in New Orleans. But despite this existing structure, outcomes remain uneven. To this day, veterans in the state and beyond continue to experience elevated rates of post-traumatic stress disorder, with estimated prevalence reaching over 23 percent. National data further revealed that Black personnel are more likely to report disconcerting mental health symptoms while facing struggles in accessing vital medical services –creating delays that can worsen both medical and financial instability. Also compounding these challenges are the long-term impacts of toxic exposure common in military settings. Historically, along the Gulf Coast, veterans
were routinely exposed to asbestos, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), lead, and numerous other hazardous substances lurking at military sites like the Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base New Orleans. As a result, service members once stationed at these sites have become too susceptible to air pollution and a range of life-altering conditions—an issue that has severely impacted African Americans.
Heeding this growing concern, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) previously implemented diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives to provide vital services tailored to minorities, including Black veterans. But recently, a federal executive order mandated the end of these programs, raising serious questions about how disparities like these will continue to be identified and resolved. Concerns have likewise escalated following the temporary removal of some content recognizing Black service members from official platforms. Although much of this material was later restored, it already demonstrated how quickly history can erode amid this policy shift—even as structural inequities remain unresolved. At this point, Black History Month serves as a strong reminder that recognition of Black veterans’ service carries meaning only when it is matched by accountability. As such, federal and
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When the new Xavier-Ochsner College of Medicine soon takes its place as one of the leading teaching and research institutions for physicians, literal lives will be saved thanks to Dr. Francis’ vision. No wonder local leaders respected him and called upon him in the most contentious of situations. He held the gravitas to bring peace, as his faith was demonstrated through works, and the people he impacted heeded his counsel.
It remains hard to articulate what a profound figure Dr. Norman Francis became in this city. Renaming of Jefferson Davis Parkway was clouded with controversy across racial lines, in the wake of the Confederate monuments removal, yet dubbing the street after Norman C. Francis (as it did border the Xavier campus) quelled most of the controversy. Even the greatest defenders of the statue of the Confederate president never argued about the righteousness of the Xavier Chancellor receiving his due on the main street next to his educational home.
They calmly accepted the solution as Dr. Norman C. Francis embodied the beatitudes.
“Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.” Or as St. Katherine Drexel advised us, perhaps prophetically speaking of her greatest servant, “When we love greatly, we grieve greatly.”◊
The Louisiana Weekly (USPS 320-680)
One of the oldest publications in the United States specifically for the African-American community.
Valentine’s Day. The Krewe of Tucks, known for its satirical themes, saw onlookers delighted by the clever turns of phrases. That was until the klanish display of Tucks’ 22nd float that displayed two Black Barbie-type dolls, hung by their necks with the sign “Crack Pipe,” followed by the mendacious explanation by a selfidentified Krewe member that its quite common to wrap beads around trinkets for the added weight thus making it easier to throw to their chosen onlookers. The ignorance is astounding. We leave it up to you to determine if the act was fraught by a lack of knowledge and understanding or a “willful” choice to display white nationalism.
Racism has existed in carnival krewes from the inception of parading organizations. In 1991, City Councilwoman Dorothy Mae Taylor authored an ordinance requiring Mardi Gras krewes to desegregate to receive city permits otherwise segregated krewes would not be allowed to parade at the expense of taxpayers in predominantly Black New Orleans.
Krewes of Comus, Momus and Proteus stopped parading. They chose to withdraw from public parades rather than comply with the new anti-discrimination laws, arguing that they violated their free association rights, according to news accounts.
Fortunately, city and state officials and even Tucks’ Krewe’s captain deemed this unconscionable display to be racially insensitive. Activists are demanding fines and enforced regulations to prevent this from ever happening again. They are right in their demands. We need to see action and not just words. It won’t erase the visual for Railyn Lee, the 7-year-old Black girl, who was thrown one of the hanged dolls. Or the fact of her parents having to tell their daughter about the darker side of racism on a day meant for joy, laughter and camaraderie.◊
RENETTE DEJOIE-HALL
President/Publisher
DAVID T. BAKER
CHRISTOPHER TIDMORE
Associate Editors
C.C. CAMPBELL-ROCK
Editorial Associate
EMEKA DIBIA FRITZ ESKER MASON HARRISON MEGHAN HOLMES KELLY HARRIS ZOE SULLIVAN RYAN WHIRTY NAYITA WILSON
GERALDINE WYCKOFF
Contributing Writers/ Columnists
CHRISTOPHER D. HALL
Business/Circulation
Published
POSTMASTER:
Publication Date: February 23 - March 1, 2026
Client Name: Christina Johnson, Letter Advertiser: Christina M
Page No : 4 No of Sect(s) : 1 of 1 Sect : General