The Price of Paper: A Franklinton Family’s Fight Against the Bogalusa Mill

The Price of Paper is a powerful memoir that blends history and lived testimony to uncover the hidden costs of industry, racism, and resilience in Washington Parish, Louisiana. For generations, families in Bogalusa and Franklinton lived under the shadow of the paper mill. Promising jobs and stability, the mill instead brought poisoned air, unsafe water, and systemic discrimination that touched every corner of daily life. This book follows one family’s journey through poverty, prejudice, and perseverance - weaving together fact and narrative to capture the truth of what it meant to survive. From the rise of the Deacons for Defense, who stood armed to protect their communities, to the migration of families seeking hope in cities like Chicago and Houston, to the strength of those who stayed rooted in the parish, The Price of Paper preserves a vital chapter of American history. More than a record of injustice, it is a testament to endurance. Through ash and soil, through smoke and song, this is the story of a people who refused to be silenced. For readers of memoir, history, and social justice, The Price of Paper is both a family story and a national reminder: freedom has always carried a price.