According to The New Orleans Agenda,The A.P. Tureaud Sr. Legacy Committee
is petitioning
to rename Jefferson Davis Parkway to Norman C. Francis Parkway to support
African Americans.
Jefferson Davis, the president of the Confederate States
during the Civil War, had no real connection to New Orleans, and he also owned
slaves. In an effort to emphasize the importance of black lives, citizens are
signing the petition to honor an American hero, Dr. Norman C. Francis.
Francis served in the U.S. Army and was a strong advocate
during the civil rights movement. As the former president of Xavier University,
her housed Freedom Riders and helped create the state's first African American bank:
Liberty Bank.
Not only can we thank him for these triumphs, but we can also
acknowledge him for having helped bring the Saints to New Orleans. Francis also
led the Louisiana Recovery Authority to help bring back our city after
Hurricane Katrina. He made it a mission to educate African Americans and has
rewarded more African American college students than any other college
president.
Dr. Francis was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in
2006.
Norman C. Francis has done a tremendous amount of work for
our great city. Petitioners hope to honor his name by renaming Jefferson Davis
Parkway. To sign the petition, go to change.org.
