Tilling the land Adam Gordon’s farm story in Amite, Louisiana

Adam Gordon
Photo Courtesy of the 
Gordon Family Collection

His paternal grandmother, Mandy Wheat Jones, was a farmer and herbalist in Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana. Despite this familial connection to agriculture, Adam did not view farming as a viable career path for himself. When an opportunity arose to distance himself from farm labor, he seized it without hesitation. In addition to his agricultural background, Adam was a dedicated community activist and organizer. He actively protested to promote the integration of businesses in Amite, Louisiana, and to secure employment opportunities for many African Americans in Tangipahoa Parish. Notably, he organized a demonstration in front of the Red and White Supermarket to pressure the store into hiring African-American cashiers.

Later, when employed as a supervisor at the Norco Refinery in Norco, Louisiana, Adam played a significant role in providing employment opportunities. He hired numerous individuals from Tangipahoa Parish and even established his own enterprise. This allowed him to create jobs and support workers in both Tangipahoa and St. Helena Parishes. Furthermore, Adam was married to Glynis Vernon Gordon, and together they raised two sons and were grandparents to four grandchildren.

The paternal grandmother of Adam, Mandy Wheat Jones,  was a  farmer and herbalist who resided in Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana. Despite this familial connection to agriculture, Adam did not view farming as a viable career path for himself. When an opportunity arose to distance himself from farm work, he seized it without hesitation. Adam was deeply involved in community activism and organizing, dedicating his efforts to advancing civil rights and economic opportunities for African Americans in Tangipahoa Parish. Among his notable actions, he organized a protest in front of the Red and White Supermarket to compel the store to employ African American cashiers. Later, while employed as a supervisor at the Norco Refinery in Norco, Louisiana, he utilized his position to hire numerous individuals from Tangipahoa Parish, further contributing to local employment. In addition to his supervisory role, he independently created job opportunities and supported the workforce in both Tangipahoa and St. Helena Parishes. Adam was married to Glynis Vernon Gordon, and together they had two sons and four grandchildren.

Bernard Temple the First Child in Louisiana Takes the African Ancestry DNA Test

Bernard Temple 
Mailing his African Ancestry DNA Test 

Bernard was the first child to take the African Ancestry DNA to learn more about his paternal African Ancestry. It was an extraordinary occasion for him. We traveled to Virginia to have him take the test near the Atlantic Ocean. We stood on the beach looking out across the ocean, talking about the day we would travel to Africa.

That summer, we packed the car and drove to North Carolina to museums, antique shops, parks, and having fun as a family. My ex-husband and I shared the driving. While in Greensboro, North Carolina, we met with some Tuareg People Moussa Albaka introduced us to. Dennis and I were planning to travel to Niger, Africa, in a few months.  We wanted to make some connections with people in Niger before we made our trip.

During his forth grade year at Audubon Montessori school in New Orleans, his class was given an assignment to do a special project on his family origins and history. He was extremely excited because I had taken my maternal African Ancestry DNA and my test results revealed that our maternal ancestry could be traced to the Tuareg People of Niger, Africa. 

Moussa Albaka arranged to have a special outfit from Niger sent to New Orleans for Bernard to wear that day. He wore Tuareg handmade Tuareg jewelry made by the Moussa himself, the Tuareg Silversmith. Bernard also had to bring a dish from the native culture. We decided to bring goats cheese because the Tuareg people eat a lot of home made camel and goats cheese.

Audubon Montessori was a school of diversity and many of the students were from different ethnic groups and cultures in his class. That day the students took us around the world. We travel to India, Mexico, Italy,  Asia, Europe, and Africa. We were so proud of him for getting an "A" on his assignment.