Collection:LPB

Genre: Newsmagazine

Place Covered: Louisiana

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 1988-05-15

Duration: 00:17:51

Subjects: Nungesser, Billy, 1929-2006 | Republican Party (La.) | African Americans | Politics

Contributors:

• Masingale, Sonya Host
• Nungesser, Billy Interviewee
• Brown, Andrew Interviewee
• Ladd, Ernie Interviewee
• Ardoin, Linton Interviewee

This segment from the May 15, 1988, episode of the series “Folks” features Sonya Masingale’s report on Black Republicans in Louisiana. She interviews Billy Nungesser, the chairman of the Republican Party of Louisiana, who discusses the party’s progress in attracting African American members and the impact of Governor Dave Treen’s efforts to include African Americans in his administration. Masingale also conducts an in-studio interview with three Black Republicans: Andrew Brown, a businessman from Jeanerette; Ernie Ladd of Franklin, a member of the Steering Committee for Vice President George Bush; and Linton Ardoin of Lafayette, the Assistant Secretary of the Office of State Parks for the Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation, and Tourism. They discuss: how the party can attract more black members; the economy as a key issue; the discrimination they have faced for being a Republican; and their response to the view that the Republican Party is racist.