Louisiana has more to offer than what lies along the I-10 corridor.
There are many Louisianians who believe if the city doesn’t have a faux-French name, straddle the Mississippi River or have more coonasses than the next town over, then nothing about the region is authentically Louisiana.
This way of thinking permeates Louisiana’s upper regions and can cause some to not consider themselves Louisianians, even though their home is firmly rooted in the Delta fields.
The media, both nationally and locally, also play a role in forgetting about the lives and stories of people who live north of Alexandria and east of Shreveport.
TV and documentaries place a heavy emphasis on telling the stories of people who rise out of storied bayous and live on the storied roads of St. Charles Avenue and Royal Street. Few pay attention to the folks who make a living producing King Cotton off the Ouachita or make sure the people of Northeast Louisiana do not lack art or a good time.
The stories that do gain traction are often painted with a broad brush.
There is more to Northeast Louisiana than Duck Dynasty’s Uncle Si, the Jena 6 and the downfall of the Kissing Congressman.
There are stories to be told of the fierce loyalties and fault lines created each Friday night during football season. Friday night football culture is embedded in Northeast Louisiana and should be appreciated by all who yell “Geaux Tigers” on Saturday nights. Many who have helped to make LSU football the powerhouse it is today hail from NELA.
The breakout star from last year’s Wisconsin game, wide receiver John Diarse, attended Neville High School in Monroe. Greatness can be found at Grambling University, which put the first black starting quarterback to win a Super Bowl in the NFL.
Just like the players on the field, the people in NELA are extraordinary in their own right.
The Long family and its political dynasty hail from Winnfield. Huey Newton, founder of the Black Panther Party, was born in Monroe, and Charles Blow, a rising star at The New York Times, was born in Gibsland and graduated from Grambling.
In a thirty-mile stretch on I-20, there are three universities catering to the specific needs of people in the region.
Grambling University’s original mission was to provide a way for children of former slaves to attain education, and it still provides a crucial avenue for African-Americans and other students.
Louisiana Tech makes sure people who want to earn a degree in advanced fields can gain that knowledge in their backyards. ULM provides a quality education without forcing students to move far away.
Historical sites, like Poverty Point and the serene scenery found at Black Bayou, can take one’s breath away.
Delta Airlines was founded in Monroe, and CenturyLink, one of the two Fortune 500 companies headquartered in Louisiana, is also located in Monroe.
The historical and economic value of NELA are vital parts to the engine that runs this state.
Northeast Louisiana has natural beauty abound, stories as rich as Moonshine Syrup and people who love their state just as much as anyone from Breaux Bridge or Baton Rouge.
It’s time Northeast Louisiana become part of the mainstream cultural fabric of Louisiana and not just “that part up there.”
Garrett Hines is a 21-year-old political science senior from Monroe, Louisiana. You can reach him on Twitter @garrettH_tdr.