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A sign covers the writing later that day, Dec. 5.
A number of Jefferson County residents were appalled and angered to learn their local courthouse still bears signs of its racially segregated past Dec. 5, with the words “colored” and “white” visible above a pair of water fountains.
“It’s 2022 and the water fountain in the Jefferson County Courthouse still says ‘colored!’” wrote Shalonda Hendrix-Smith, who found the out-dated signage on the second floor of the Jefferson County Courthouse – where family court proceedings are held. “The entire wall should have been taken down, not covered. The other one says ‘white!’”
It’s also where the county’s annual Adoption Day celebration takes place – a time when families of varying races are often forged.
Smith, who is black, called attention to the matter in a social media post, drawing mostly astonished and irate reactions from those who saw.
When asked for his opinion on the matter in a comment, Beaumont City Councilman AJ Turner replied, “This is a county venue, not city, but it’s not acceptable at all. I have contacted the county officials in reference to this.”
Later that day, The Examiner found two “cold water” signs covering the once-segregated water fountain.