After her life was tragically cut short earlier this month, Baton Rouge activist and civil rights advocate Sadie Roberts-Joseph is being remembered by her community and those throughout the country.
According to CNN, the 75-year-old was the founder of the Odell S. Williams Now and Then African American Museum in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and she was the founder of the non-profit organization, Community Against Drugs and Violence. The New York Times reports that in the midst of educating others about the history and contributions of African-Americans in this country, and more specifically in Louisiana, Ms. Roberts-Joseph also gave away free bikes at her museum to those in her community.
“She’s an icon. And she was our hero,” her niece Pat LeDuff told CNN.
In a statement remembering the late activist and community leader, State Representative C. Denise Marcelle called Roberts-Joseph an amazing woman who “loved her history.”
“She never bothered anyone, just wanted to expand her African American museum downtown, where she continually hosted the Juneteenth Celebration yearly,” Marcelle said. “I loved working with her and am saddened by her death.”
In a post on Facebook, Marcelle continued to share her thoughts about Roberts-Joseph’s tragic death by calling on the community to keep her work and impact alive.
“It’s not enough that we talk about her infectious smile, nice demeanor or knowledge she possessed about our history,” she said. “Let’s make sure that her museum is kept open and expanded for future generations.”
Photo credit: Felicia Leggio Braud