Black History Profile: Rene C. Metoyer

Rene Metoyer, one of Louisiana's first black notary public, and descendent of a prominent Louisiana family, was born in Natchitoches on Sept. via Daily World

[Buzzzzzie Bee]

Rene Metoyer, one of Louisiana's first black notary public, and descendent of a prominent Louisiana family, was born in Natchitoches on Sept. via Daily World

[scott_lumry]

Buzzie:
Give us some more information about Rene Metoyer. I find our history in Natchitoches to be very fascinating with characters of all colors and political stripes. Fill us in.

Was Rene male or female? Again, we've had so many females who have played important roles, but the French (and many times, English) can make it confusing.

What year did the appointment/election occur?

I've got all kinds of questions, so dig out the book.

[Fig Street Studio]

Full story is at the Daily World which is in the link in the little blue box upper right that says read full story. The Buzzie post was a repeat of the headline only.

"Rene Metoyer was born in Natchitoches on Sept. 7, 1858. He died in New Orleans Oct. 27, 1937."

[HOLDTHEFCKON]

I thought "they" were "creole" not "black"

[Freeman]

HOLDTHEFCKON wrote:

I thought "they" were "creole" not "black"

Yes. That is an important distinction.

[Rex]

Curious that the story highlights his becoming a notary but not his being admitted to the bar some thirty years earlier.

[Bayou Ron]

I think it is important to remember that during that period of our history, if you had one drop, you were black PERIOD according to the ruling European classes. The term Creole, which is much abused and whose real meaning is utterly lost, has been used much in the recent past to draw an unnecessary distinction and as a signifier "I'm better than you are because...". Once you leave Louisiana, that distinction and signifier loses its luster. Basically, only those who want to perpetuate the "myth" care. Everyone else says you're black. PERIOD.

Rene C. Metoyer had a long and illustrious career as a lawyer and notary. The reality is that it was indeed his lighter skin that afforded him the opportunity to gain the skills necessary to become a professional.

Freeman wrote:

<quoted text>
Yes. That is an important distinction.

[Bayou Ron]

Rene C. Metoyer
September 7, 1858-October 27, 1937
Rene Metoyer, one of Louisiana's first black notary public, and descendent of a prominent Louisiana family, was born in Natchitoches, Louisiana on September 7, 1858. During Reconstruction Metoyer went to New Orleans to work as a page in the Louisiana Legislature. He received his law degree from Straight University in 1886 and was admitted to the Louisiana Bar that same year. Before opening his own law office in the Pontalba Building, he clerked in the law office of Rouse and Grant. In 1917, he was appointed to the position of notary.

Rene Metoyer was active in several organizations in New Orleans and was grand commander of the Supreme Council of the 33rd degree.

He died in New Orleans on October 27, 1937. He is buried in St. Louis Cemetery No. 3.

[Inquiring Mind]

Bayou Ron wrote:

I think it is important to remember that during that period of our history, if you had one drop, you were black PERIOD according to the ruling European classes. The term Creole, which is much abused and whose real meaning is utterly lost, has been used much in the recent past to draw an unnecessary distinction and as a signifier "I'm better than you are because...". Once you leave Louisiana, that distinction and signifier loses its luster. Basically, only those who want to perpetuate the "myth" care. Everyone else says you're black. PERIOD.
Rene C. Metoyer had a long and illustrious career as a lawyer and notary. The reality is that it was indeed his lighter skin that afforded him the opportunity to gain the skills necessary to become a professional.
<quoted text>

"to draw an unnecessary distinction and as a signifier" "Once you leave Louisiana, that distinction and signifier loses its luster"; You denigrate the "signafier but appear to endorse the one drop and you are black "signifier".

That is a distinction without a difference.

[Bayou Ron]

au contraire! Those words were chosen intentionally because they cancel each other out. It was to show the absurdity of it all. I'm no black signifier as you say. I was trying to engage in an honest and intelligent discourse. Small minds always take things to a personal level.

Inquiring Mind wrote:

<quoted text>
"to draw an unnecessary distinction and as a signifier" "Once you leave Louisiana, that distinction and signifier loses its luster"; You denigrate the "signafier but appear to endorse the one drop and you are black "signifier".
That is a distinction without a difference.

[Inquiring Mind]

Bayou Ron wrote:

au contraire! Those words were chosen intentionally because they cancel each other out. It was to show the absurdity of it all. I'm no black signifier as you say. I was trying to engage in an honest and intelligent discourse. Small minds always take things to a personal level.
<quoted text>

Never mind. You don't get it and it is not worth my time trying to further simplify it for you.

[scott_lumry]

Inquiring Mind wrote:

<quoted text>
Never mind. You don't get it and it is not worth my time trying to further simplify it for you.

It sounds as if it is not simple enough for you. His Bayou Ron's statement is an important issue in our community today, and your ineffective attempt to put him down is an indication of the unwillingness of our white community to takle these issues in a manner that would help to bring the whole of Natchitoches closer together.

Bayou Ron, your indication that Mr. Metoyer was a lighter colored individual which allowed for his ability to succeed in an environment that usually found color corrupting is important. But, I have a small feeling that there were individuals who were willing to overlook such a label partially because of his proven talents and abilities. How much would you contribute to each factor?

Thanks for your information because I hadn't had an opportunity to do research on Mr. Rene. Do you happen to know where he lived or was raised in Natchitoches? We seem to have little in the way of public information about important blacks who changed our community, atate, and nation for the better. Here's hoping that the Railroad Depot Museum will help put some light on these topics.

[hmmmmmmm]

And look where the Railroad Depot Museum is. Who the hell will feel safe going there? Forget it.....it will be another expense that we all pay for. You want to contribute Scott to the city of Natchitoches......clean up the neighborhood there.

[scott_lumry]

hmmmmmmm wrote:

And look where the Railroad Depot Museum is. Who the hell will feel safe going there? Forget it.....it will be another expense that we all pay for. You want to contribute Scott to the city of Natchitoches......clean up the neighborhood there.

I feel safe in that area, without question. I know individuals who live in that area. And letting a group of people feel a little pride in who they are and what they can be might even make for big changes in that community. I can see black owned businesses who cater to tourists flourishing, and, with proper policing and oversight, a community flourishing where they have been denied access to economic stability. And much of the expense is being picked up by local individuals, businesses, and community groups. Yes, a portion is going to be my tax dollars. Better they be spent in my community than in Iraq.

[Bayou Ron]

Scott,

Thank you for your common sense and intelligent post. I had decided not to engage any further on this topic after the somewhat personal attack, but I shall continue; besides, I like talking about these things. I'm a huge genealogy and history buff, particularly history for American persons of African descent in Louisiana.

Rene Carl Metoyer graduated from Straight University's Law Department in 1886, a good 3 years after the the Emancipation Proclamation. Americans of African descent in the South didn't get the word of the proclamation or minimally begin to benefit from it's existence until around 1865. Here is one area I believe where lighter skin color and thus class distinction allowed him an enviable opportunity. Prior to law school he had worked as a law clerk in the office of Rouse and Grant and worked in New Orleans for over forty years.

According to Tureaud, a legal scholar who published many articles on US Supreme Court decisions that affected black people, Rene Metoyer was so outstanding and so well respected at the criminal bar that his race was of no consequence to the court. Rene Metoyer was a classmate of James Madison Vance, another American of African descent who was a fearless advocate for the civil rights of his people and given some prominence through the Bonseigneur incident. Vance's work on this case which rallied citizens of all color to the side of right and his strong support of the Republican party was rewarded when he was given the honor of seconding the nomination of William McKinley for president of the United States during the Republican National Convention.

And there dear friends is your history lesson for today. Thanks for allowing me to prattle on!!

[scott_lumry]

Bayou Ron:
Thanks for the information. Although not a historian, I do find the stories of individuals intriguing and do my best to try and remember important stories that tell the history of a place and time.

Is there any possibility of finding out where in Natchitoches that Mr. R. Metoyer was raised? I am better at remembering stories when associated with a place.

Who knows, maybe a historical marker could find it's way to the location.

[Hmmmm]

like the historical marker for Ben Johnson. That is a joke! Right there were the prostitutes, druggies, alcoholics all hang out? I believe someone else has posted something on another forum saying the same words.
ALSO...I recall a year or so ago where it was on the front page of the rag The Natchitoches Times that the cops were afraid to go on 4th, 5th and 6th street after dark because of the hoodlums. AND you want to spend tax payers money on a damn museum that no one can attend or will attend? I give the museum two years at the most before it will be completely vandalized. And if you think for one moment there will be "black owned business flourishing" you are crazy.
Better clean up the area first.....including Texas street and surrounding areas.
YOU Scott can make a difference if you get out...gather enough people and take charge and do something. Starting with the pastors, the congregation....march march to clean up that area. Report the prostitutes & druggies. Report the big guys. Tell the guys they can no longer hang out across the street from Turners. Fill the empty buildings on Texas with business or have them condemed. Have a dream Scott. Do it!!!

[Hmmmm]

bump

[scott_lumry]

And we start by doing what we individually can. But these are outside the thread. My comment in regard to a marker is still pertinent. I've stpped and read the marker for Ben Johnson. I admire the work he did to improve the community. But there seems to be a dramatic number more markers to individuals of white male Christian heritage when we do have individuals from this very community who could also serve as dramatic statements of hard work and good values of ALL ethnicities, religious/non-religious, and sex.

I do have a dream. Perhaps you will come along with me to speak to the churches, to the individuals....

Wait a minute, we getting off the topic again.

[BABY GIRL]

Big Sammy from Many wrote:

<quoted text>
I can get a prostitute for a "bump"?
I thought they preferred crack, not powder?

IT WAS CALLED A BUMP MANY YEARS AGO..HA HA