Mayor Cedric Glover heads to Hollywood

Mamie Love Wallace at the African American Awards Banquet. She was among those who walked with Martin Luther King Jr.

Photo by Maggie Martin/The Times


Shreveport Mayor Cedric Glover is mixing and mingling with the glittery Hollywood stars, producers and directors ... and whoever will listen to his plea to come to Shreveport and make movies.

Glover jetted out late last week to Los Angeles with Louisiana Lt. Gov. Mitch Landrieu to attend the Grammys, but also to woo producers and directors to come to Shreveport and make more movies, said mayor’s assistant Gwen Campbell, executive assistant to Glover, during the African American Awards Banquet on Saturday.

"He is out at the Grammys on a hard business trip. He is out wooing folks to come to Shreveport!" said Campbell.

Campbell, dressed in glittery silver, introduced Shreveport Police Chief Henry Whitehorn, who won an award and gave the keynote talk. Campbell is really out and about these days. She also attended the A-List Goodwill Black Tie Bingo Friday at Sam’s Town.

No chance yet to speak to the mayor because he is still in Los Angeles.

I have a call in, though, and as soon as I talk to him, I’ll post.

... Speaking of the Grammys, they didn’t win, but Lisa Haley & The Zydekats were nominated for "Best Zydeco or Cajun Music Album," a new category. Anyway, The Zydekats, based in California, played last week at the Krewe of Highland Masque Grand Bal at Randle T. Moore Center and they wowed the crowd!

... On a more serious note, Whitehorn’s speech, was powerful.

He reminded listeners that this year marks the 53rd anniversary of the Montgomery Bus Boycott, the event that introduced Martin Luther King Jr. to the world when he was only 26.

Some highlights — punctuated by applause from the audience:

"King (and others) did not live and die to create a world in which people kill each other with reckless abandon."

"Something as simple as pulling up our pants and standing with our head high could make the biggest difference in the world’s perception of us."

"Our young men are failing academically, professionally and morally. They don’t understand honor, respect, and duty."

"I tell our youth that they need to remember — all eyes are on them as young black men. All eyes are on them as young black women."

"We have let not only the media, but the government and the world taint the pure essence of us. They have stripped our culture down to the point where we only believe we can become rappers and athletes.

"We are so much more."

And, he reminded them: "I would not be the Chief of police had it not been for the efforts and courage of so many ... ordinary people who were willing to sweat and bleed so that you and I could have a better life."

He discussed the importance of every child equipped to graduate from school; getting drugs and guns off the streets; stopping destruction of the innercities; and the sadness of parents and grandparents being prisoners in their own homes.

And, he added, one voice can make a difference.