Sandy B. Hooks

(1888-1961) Sandy B. Hooks was the first Black postman in Blanchard, LA. He was husband to Georgia Primus (Hooks), and father of famed photojournalist and Shreveport, LA native-Henry L. Hooks-the first African-American photojournalist to have photos of Black Americans published in the San Bernardino Sun Telegram. Sandy B. Hooks covered a 20-mile radius daily-eventually with his son Henry in tow-during an era when African-Americans experienced vast racism and discrimination not only in general society, but also in the employment hiring process for postal employment. However, Sandy B. Hooks defied the odds by becoming the first Black postman in Blanchard, LA, and subsequently, an instant community leader who was called upon to render motivating speeches to the Black youth of the time. He was employed with the Blanchard, LA postal service until 1937, while President Franklin D. Roosevelt was in office.