CHICAGO (April 28, 2022) - Do you celebrate Cinco de Mayo?

And further, do you know why there is a statue of Benito Juarez, the Father of Mexico in the 1200 block of Conti Street in New Orleans?  Both are related to the Haitian Revolution and Jean-Jacques Dessalines.

Benito Juárez, lived in New Orleans in exile from 1853-55 during the Mexican military dictatorship of Santa Anna. Juarez would have another brief exile in New Orleans in 1858. While in New Orleans, this trained attorney lived with "free people of color" of Haitian extraction in the French Quarter and rolled cigars during the day and sold them in saloons at night. During this period, he penned his manifesto, Plan of Ayutla. 

Juárez, along with his immediate Mexican colleagues, were trained in military planning and strategy by the self-liberated slaves of Haiti living in New Orleans.  

Haiti was France's wealthiest colony; Haiti also had a population of 10 Blacks to one white!

The Haitian Revolution from 1791 to 1803 resulted in Haitian Independence. 

These former slaves vanquished not only the French Army but also the English and Spanish in winning their Freedom. 

The Haitian Revolution is the ONLY successful slave revolt in the History of the World!

After the Louisiana Purchase in1803, some "free people of color" believed that they would be unable to retain the liberties that they had attained primarily under Spanish Rule. Simply stated they were suspicious of keeping their freedoms under the United States Government. Therefore over 100 families moved from Louisiana to Veracruz, Mexico. There these Haitian-Americans befriended attorney Benito Juárez. When Juárez had to flee Mexico because of his revolutionary activities he took refugee in New Orleans with the families of the Haitian-Americans he knew in his home country.  

On July 17, 1861, Juárez, then President, issued a moratorium suspending all payments of foreign debt for the next two years. The French under Emperor Napoleon III responded by attacking Veracruz. On May 5, 1862, the Haitian-trained Mexicans and Haitian-born New Orleanians, despite being outmanned 2:1, decisively defeated the French invaders.

There are many families today in New Orleans that are descendants of those Haitians who fled to Veracruz. One very prominent name is Venerated Henriette De Lille-Sarpy. In 1999, a group from Veracruz visited the Sisters of Holy Family Mother House in New Orleans tracing their ancestry. 

Having been popularized by alcohol companies as a day of celebration around the United States since the 1980s, Cinco de Mayo is a crucial link among the Histories of Mexico, Haiti, and Louisiana. 

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Harold E. Doley, Jr. is an investment banker and United States ambassador. He is the founder of the oldest African-American owned investment-banking firm in the United States. Doley left the firm in 2003, taking emeritus status. Harold E Doley Jr. is a Native New Orleanian, he may be reached via email at [email protected] 

NEW ORLEANS (4/25/22) - To bridge the gap between high-paying jobs and expensive education, Rooted School has implemented the Green Balloon Fellowship, a job placement and coaching program, for underserved youth.

This program is aimed at leading young people to career readiness and a debt free future. Students spend half of the school day in general education classes while the other half involves projects where students work on high-technical skills. These skills include practicing with 3-D printer devices, digital media, coding, designing robots, and learning how applications are built.

One of Rooted School’s main goals is for young adults to graduate with industry credentials that could lead to entry-level employment at companies such as Gameloft and Tesla. Teachers want to see their students graduate with a college acceptance letter in one hand and a job offer in the other.

The school’s inaugural class consisted of 38 students. Most who chose to pursue a higher education received ample scholarships to colleges including Tulane University, Villanova University, and Case Western Reserve University.

"The tech courses and certification opportunities benefited me greatly by allowing me to get the knowledge and skillset needed without needing to go to college after high school,” said anonymous source, Rooted School alumni. “It gave me a head start with work since I am younger than most people who have the same skill set.”

Those who wanted to enter straight into the workforce received jobs with a minimum pay of $32,000 a year. Seven graduating seniors participated in the school’s Green Balloon Fellowship, which connected them to jobs with pioneering companies in their local regions.

“Growing up I never had any extra money to spend or save. Through this fellowship, I was hired at Ochsner Health System’s internal services team,” said Jzayla Sussman, Rooted School alumni. “My steady paycheck has helped me to save money for college and a house.”

This program is open to both Rooted School and non-Rooted School graduates. Over 2021, the Green Balloon Fellows worked at companies like Lucid Technologies Inc., Ochsner Health, Square Button, Revelry, Skilltype, Scale Workspace, and Entergy.

Rooted School is widely recognized as one of the most innovative public school models in the U.S. Its vision is to rapidly close America’s inequality gap by providing its high school graduates with a college acceptance in one hand, and a job in the other.

Rooted Schools are in New Orleans, Indianapolis, Vancouver, Washington and proposed in Clark County, Nevada. Graduates attend colleges such as Tulane University, Villanova University, and Case Western Reserve University and work at Fortune 500 companies including Entergy, Ochsner Health and Lucid Technologies Inc.

NEW ORLEANS (4/25/2022) — As a family law professional with over 27 years of experience, one of my main objectives has always been to leave my clients and their children in a better position at the end of a case than they were in at the beginning. This objective has become increasingly more challenging to achieve as a growing number of families enter an already overburdened court system to dissolve relationships and settle conflict. I support the passage of HB 272 as a first step in creating much-needed oversight and implementing more effective strategies that will reduce the impact of high conflict divorce and custody on both the parents and children trapped in a destructive cycle.

It is clear that our courts are overwhelmed by the huge number of families separating, divorcing, and disputing custody. Family courts have essentially become an emergency room for family problems when parents feel as if they have no other viable options to address issues with one another and their children. While high conflict custody disputes only represent a small percentage of cases, the magnitude and long-lasting effects on the children involved are of societal concern. Children caught in the crossfire of parental conflict are at risk for a myriad of emotional, behavioral, and psychological problems.

Mental health professionals are becoming increasingly involved in the child custody arena in a variety of ways, including acting within the capacity of court-ordered, child custody evaluators in high conflict situations. The role of the evaluator is to provide the court with impartial, objective information and informed opinions through a series of methods such as clinical interviews, observations, review of court records and other documents, collateral interviews, and use of formal assessment instruments, if applicable. The report and recommendations of the evaluator aid the court in making custody and access decisions.

Custody evaluators hold an enormous amount of power and influence in the court’s decision-making process. While the state currently has a set of guidelines that recommend that custody evaluators should be appropriately trained and licensed to navigate the complexities of separation and/or divorce upon a dissolving family, there has been no specificity in regards to the language of licensing. Imagine if guidelines such as these were applicable to other professions where life and death situations were at stake. HB 272 provides that the custody evaluator be “a licensed mental health professional who possesses at least a Master’s Degree and who is licensed in counseling, social work, psychology, marriage and family counseling, or exempt from licensing requirements”.

Our current state guidelines also have recommendations regarding impartiality and bias that could be categorized as a “self-check” system. HB 272 integrates specific language regarding ex parte communications and the implementation of requiring both parties or their respective legal counsel to be equally included in all evaluator communications. This change does create a more balanced situation in terms of communication. However, there are multiple other areas in which implicit bias is a possibility, including that of the current provisions that provide one parent directly pays the evaluator for his or her services. I would further suggest that we enact a situation in which the fees are paid to the court and it then distributes the funding to the appointed evaluator. This would further reduce the possibility of bias and would also curtail certain aspects of conflict for the involved parents.

It is imperative that we continue to strive to better ourselves as family court professionals and to be relentlessly dedicated to the improvement of the process of our family court system. We must hold ourselves to a higher standard of professional accountability and continue to finetune the necessary oversight measures to ensure that the best interests of the children involved are at the center of our focus. HB 272 has the potential of being the first step of many in the cultivation of more stringent standards that will improve processes and fix the flaws within the system to achieve better outcomes for the families involved. As this bill makes its way to the Senate, I encourage our committee members and senators to continue its passage.

Democrat  District 11

Homer, LA

NEW ORLEANS (4/19/2022) - Congratulations to the members of Black Men Run New Orleans, Black Men Run Baton Rouge and Black Girls Run! who completed the 51-mile relay race from Selma, Alabama, to Montgomery, Alabama.

The Selma to Montgomery Relay and Bike Ride occurred on March 19, 2022. The Civil Rights Race Series serves as a participatory commemoration of American History. The race serves the following three purposes:

The Louisiana Foot Soldiers (photo above) came in 1st place overall in the relay event with a record time of 6 hours 26 minutes and 07 seconds. Their average time was 7 minutes and 34 seconds per mile. The team members included: CJ Johnson, Valiant Cuilette, Jr., Agustin Gonzales, Jonathan Monnet. Josh LaJuanie & Aaron Hunt.

The Black Men Run NOLA Freedom Runners placed 6th overall in the relay event with a record time of 7 hours and 44 minutes and 57 seconds. Their average pace was 9 minutes 07 seconds per mile. The team members included: Orlandez Pierre, Joshua LaJuanie, Stone Cantwell, Roderick Haley, Reginald LeBlanc, Jervon Tate.

Team 18 Legs (photo above) came in 40th place in the relay event with a record time of 11 hours 47 minutes and 23 seconds. Their average pace was 13 minutes 52 seconds per mile. The team members include: Sharon Draper-Pierre, team captain from Columbia, SC, Linda Wilson form Columbia, SC, Maureen Quzack from Columbia, SC, Kawahna McFadden from August, GA, Howard Jones from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Annette Sims from Florissant, Missouri, Vanessa Murphy from Illinois, Gail Jabber from Columbia, South Carolina, and Heidi Lovett from New Orleans, Louisiana.

The event began in Selma, Alabama and finished in Montgomery, Alabama to commemorate Bloody Sunday, the civil rights march over the Edmund Pettus Bridge. This march was organized 3 times to protest the injustice in voting in the state of Alabama.

The goal of “Black Girls Run” is to encourage and motivate black women to practice a healthy lifestyle. We want to serve as a fitness resource for runners and gym rats alike as well as provide tips and commentary on staying active and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

Norshaun Parker, Diedre Lewis and Heidi Lovett are Ambassadors of Black Girls Run in New Orleans, LA.

At Black Men Run we believe that running/jogging can change these alarming trends and we are here to encourage African American males to get out and be active.

The captain for Black Men Run is Howard Jones. Mr. Jones has been volunteering with Black Men Run New Orleans for many years. You can join any of their gatherings via Instagram @blackmenrunnola.

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Dr. Lovett may be reached via email at [email protected].

On April 15, 2022, when 56,000 fans of the Los Angeles Dodgers head to the famed stadium in Chavez Ravine to watch the Dodgers take on the Cincinnati Reds, they won’t just be eating peanuts and popcorn and celebrating their love of America’s National Pastime. Both fans and players will wear jerseys emblazoned with the number 42 on them in tribute to the one and only Jackie Robinson.

Indeed, the date marks the 75th anniversary of Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier in baseball on April 15, 1947.

His widow, 99-year-old Rachel Robinson — she turns 100 on July 19 — plans to be in Dodger Stadium to commemorate the moment, too.

“She has been dogged about keeping the legacy alive,” says Della Britton the president and CEO of the Jackie Robinson Foundation.

Rachel Robinson founded the nonprofit organization in 1973, one year after Jackie Robinson’s death in 1972. The foundation’s goal is “to promote higher education and the values embodied in the life and legacy of sports and civil rights icon Jackie Robinson.”

Rachel Robinson is also about to see a longtime dream come to the life: the July 26 opening of the Jackie Robinson Museum in New York City.

“I’m very, very focused on when you walk into that museum, you will instantly know that this was a man who did a lot more than play baseball,” Britton says.

“When I had my private conversation with her,” recalls Britton of talking to Rachel Robinson, “she said, ‘You know, I’ve always wanted a fixed tribute to Jack.’ You know, her beloved Jack — and she’s the only one that calls him Jack. No one else.”

Rachel Robinson didn’t want a shrine to her husband, though. Instead, she wanted a place where people in the community could come discover what Jackie Robinson stood for and learn his full legacy.

To that end, the museum will feature fun, engaging content about baseball, and thanks to an anonymous million dollar grant, there will be a character education program called “Be 42”. And, of course, the museum will take deep dive into Robinson’s civil rights activism, including his relationship with the Black press.

When Robinson made his major league debut on April 15, 1947, the Dodgers were still in Brooklyn and baseball was still a racially segregated sport.

Sportswriters at Black newspapers as well as Black politicians had long called for the integration of baseball, but until Robinson signed with the Dodgers, Black players had been restricted to the Negro leagues.

It’s been well documented in media — including in the late Chadwick Boseman’s star turn as Robinson in the film “42” that Jackie Robinson had more courage and fortitude than most in order to endure the threats and racial slurs hurled at him by white players and fans.

The mainstream media didn’t report on this harassment. But the Black press covered Robinson regularly and enthusiastically — and they got into the nuances of what Robinson meant to the Black community.

In 1947, the Baltimore Afro-American ran an interview with Robinson where he acknowledged the pressure he felt about being the first Black MLB player and having to publicly endure racism.

 “I don’t guess anybody really understands exactly how I feel about being signed up,” Robinson told reporter Michael Carter. “I feel sort of as if everyone was looking at me. I feel that if I flop, or conduct myself badly — on or off the field — that I’ll set the advancement back a hundred years. Why, I feel that all the little colored kids playing sandlot baseball have their professional futures wrapped up somehow in me.”

Carl Erskine, 95, one of the only living Major League Baseball players to play with Robinson on the Dodgers saw the racist treatment firsthand.

“Our nation was truly Black and white,” Erskine, who is white, recently told the Los Angeles Times. “That’s the way it was. It was a very distinct cultural divide. So with what Jackie did, people saw what a gentleman he was, and how intelligent he was, and how exciting he was as a player. He broke down lots of social barriers that were ingrained in our society for a couple of centuries.”

Britton wants to keep that barrier-breaking going at the upcoming museum.

“We want to recruit those people who are willing to talk about race relations,” she says — and do it with a spirit of candid goodwill. “We need to have more, you know, well-meaning white folks that are willing to talk about race,” Britton says. “It’s a difficult topic, I understand that. But we are going to do our best to make sure that dialogue happens.”

Dialogue coupled with action is right in line with what Robinson believed. “When you walk into the museum, you will see a section about his civil rights activism,” Britton says.

Starting around 1960, Britton says the Robinsons hosted an annual jazz concert at their home. The first of those concerts raised bail money for activists in the South.

“It was bail money for this group that was led by this young, not well known at the time preacher named Martin Luther King,” Britton says. “And they sent, literally, a duffel bag of cash down South to bail out Freedom Riders.”

It’s no wonder that Martin Luther King once described Jackie Robinson as “a sit-inner before the sit-ins and a freedom rider before the Freedom Rides.”

“He got on a plane and went down to Birmingham after the church was bombed because he knew that would draw the press,” Britton says of Robinson’s activism. He “hoped that the press would cover the fact that there were water hoses and dogs and you know, the kinds of things that were happening in the South.”

Many people don’t know about the relationship between Dr. King and Robinson was so close that the two regularly exchanged letters — letters that will be on display at the upcoming museum. Robinson, Britton says, starts “every letter with ‘Man, I’m so grateful for your work. Thank you for all you do. Now, let’s talk about why we need to go to war to fight.'”

Martin Luther King responds, as expected, by talking about nonviolence. Robinson would reply “But you know, these folks aren’t nonviolent,” she says.

“It’s a great exchange, it really is,” she says, noting that “the white press didn’t cover that they had such respect for each other.”

Robinson also served as the chairman of the NAACP and raised a million dollars for the civil rights organization shortly after he retired from baseball in 1957. He’d begun working as the vice president for human personnel at Chock full o’Nuts coffee, and made again history as “the first African American officer level executive at a major corporation,” Britton says.

“Jackie would say, ‘Look, the Black community buys Chock full o’Nuts,’” Britton says. He “spearheaded the concept of giving back to those communities that support your product. So the whole notion of corporate philanthropy and corporate responsibility was there.”

Britton says the museum will also feature information about Jackie Robinson’s relationship with Malcolm X, his efforts to start a Black-owned bank, and the store he started in Harlem.

Britton’s knowledge about Robinson is encyclopedic. “I’ve read just every book written about him — everything I could,” she says. But it’s clear, learning about Robinson isn’t just an academic exercise or merely something for her job.

She grew up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in a baseball-loving household. “My daddy used to say, ‘You know, Jackie Robinson is royalty.’”

Nowadays, the tagline on Britton’s email is one of Jackie Robinson’s quotes from 1957: “The most important issue of our time is the right of first-class citizenship for all Americans.”

“That’s 1957 and we still aren’t there, folks,” Britton says.

She hopes that on April 15 — Jackie Robinson Day 2022 — people nationwide remember what Jackie Robinson cared about most: Justice, equal rights, and opportunities for Black people.

In his final years, Jackie Robinson was actually estranged from the Dodgers and the sport he loved, in part because he hadn’t seen a commitment by Major League Baseball to put Black people in manager roles. Today there are only two Black managers in the MLB — Dave Roberts of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Dusty Baker of the Houston Astros.

“I think if you look back at why people think of me the way they do,” Robinson told a reporter just days before his death, “it’s because white America doesn’t like a Black guy who stands up for what he believes.”

“People say, ‘Well, you know, he was worn out. You know, he had diabetes at the end,’” Britton says. “But it wasn’t the sports that wore him out. It was that he couldn’t stop trying to do whatever he could to lift up his people.”

It’s clear that this commitment drives Rachel Robinson too. From showing up to the anniversary game at Dodgers Stadium for Jackie Robinson Day to putting her all into the museum, she’s ensured her late husband’s work continues.

Britton sums it up so well: “What a family, what a man, what a legacy.”

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April 13, 2022 - Today, the Bureau of Governmental Research (BGR) releases a new report, On the Ballot: Early Childhood Education Property Tax, New Orleans, April 30, 2022. The report is intended to help New Orleans voters make an informed decision on whether to approve a new 5-mill, 20-year property tax dedicated to programs and capital investments that provide childcare and educational opportunities for children who have not yet entered kindergarten. It also provides BGR’s position in support of the tax. Click here to read the full report or the InBrief summary.

BGR’s report finds that City of New Orleans, through an agreement with the parish’s lead agencies for early childhood education, would allocate revenue from the proposed tax to initiatives designed to increase access to early childhood education, improve the quality of available early learning programs and provide comprehensive child development services. The City’s agreement with the local nonprofit organization Agenda for Children and the Orleans Parish School Board directs the bulk of the estimated $19.4 million net revenue to serving at least 1,000 children annually through City Seats, an existing City-funded program. City Seats provides year-round early childhood education and support services for economically disadvantaged children from infancy to 3 years old.

High costs and limited public funding make access particularly challenging for the children City Seats serves. Currently, publicly funded early childhood education programs support only one quarter of economically disadvantaged New Orleans children under age 4, leaving an estimated 8,400 unserved. At the same time, national research finds that

comprehensive early childhood education for children from low-income households can deliver strong returns on investment through its positive impacts on earnings, health and crime. City Seats incorporates several practices that research has linked to improved child development and laterlife outcomes that benefit participants and society. City Seats’ income and age requirements also ensure that the tax revenue is eligible for State

matching funds for early childhood education, which, depending on availability, could extend the program to an additional 1,000 children.

BGR’ report finds that the agreement includes several financial and programmatic reporting requirements that promote strong financial stewardship and accountability for the revenue from the proposed tax. The report also suggests additional measures that would facilitate public oversight and increase transparency. While the report discusses general accountability concerns with the tax’s 20-year term, it notes advocates’ contention that the duration helps assure the small business owners whose early learning centers provide the bulk of childcare of the security of making investments necessary to increase citywide access to quality early childhood education.

Based on this analysis, BGR takes the following position on the tax proposition:

FOR. The tax would provide a stable revenue stream for significantly expanding City 

BGR is a private, nonprofit, independent research organization. Since its founding in 1932, it has been dedicated to informed public policy-making and the effective use of public resources in the Greater New Orleans area. For more information, call (504) 525-4152 or visit BGR’s website, www.bgr.org.

A key part of any family court proceeding is helping the judge understand your day-to-day life. When that life has included dealing with a narcissist, it can be especially difficult to get beyond their put-together outward appearance and help the judge see their real behavior. Here are some tips for how to deal with a narcissist in a divorce or custody case.

Narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) is a mental health issue that affects the way a person sees themself and others around them. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) defines narcissism as “a pervasive pattern of grandiosity (in fantasy or behavior), a need for admiration, and lack of empathy, beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts.” Narcissism is more common in men than women. It affects approximately 6.2% of the population (including 7.7% of men and 4.8% of women).

Common Narcissistic Traits

NARCISSISTIC RELATIONSHIPS CREATE CHALLENGES IN COURT

Narcissistic behavior can be especially difficult in court because many narcissists are savvy manipulators, and not many people know exactly how to deal with a narcissist. They often appear calm, suave, put together, and successful. They have decades of experience convincing people that they are right and that you are the crazy one. If they feel their power or control being threatened (like when you file for divorce) they will often proactively recruit friends and family members to their side, leaving you feeling isolated and alone when you need support the most.

If you are escaping a narcissistic relationship, the key will be to show the court (and your support team) the truth behind the mask. That will likely include testifying about some of your worst moments confronting this extremely high-conflict personality.

Narcissists love to argue and get you to acknowledge that they are right. You will never win an argument with a narcissist. Fighting will only give them fuel for their claims that you are emotionally unstable.

Cut the narcissist off. Unless you need to communicate about shared children, do not engage with them at all. Rely on your lawyer for all communication. If you must communicate (such as arranging parenting time exchanges), do so in writing and stick to facts rather than arguing.

Your narcissistic partner will not hesitate to use your children as a bargaining chip. They don’t and may not care how their actions are affecting your children. Do what you can to protect your kids from being put in the middle of your custody dispute. Promise to always tell them the truth and invite them to come to you with anything your partner says about you, no matter how negative.

When you are divorcing a narcissist, it is often a good idea to get your children a therapist they can talk to about the process, and about both parents. Find a therapist with experience dealing with narcissism and tell them ahead of time about your partner’s behavior. The therapist can help you and your children address the problems that arise during and after the custody battle.

Most family lawyers encourage couples to mediate or resolve their issues without going to court. But this won’t work in a narcissistic relationship. Narcissists have an all-or-nothing perspective. They will always go for the “win” even on issues that aren’t important to them. That makes mediation difficult. If you are ordered to mediate, be prepared. Know what your must-have issues are and draw a hard line. If mediation doesn’t work, you will likely have more success in court.

A narcissist thrives on your confusion and self-doubt. If they can trap you in a “lie,” they will. If you are going up against a narcissist in court, it is essential that you start documenting everything now. Keep records, bank statements, invoices, photos and videos. Create calendars and journals to remind yourself of what happened when. Download your text messages and chat logs. Gather as much evidence as you can to show yourself, your lawyer, and the judge what it’s like living with a narcissist.

Narcissism is gaining visibility, but many people, including many judges, still don’t know what it means, or how it can affect what they see in the courtroom. You and your divorce attorney should be prepared to explain to the judge what narcissistic personality disorder is and how it affects relationships and behaviors. You may need to hire an expert to testify on your behalf about the disorder. Don’t be afraid to use every tool at your disposal. Your partner certainly will hold nothing back.

Leaving a narcissistic relationship is exceptionally difficult. Doing it alone is almost impossible. At ADZ Law, LLP, our divorce attorneys understand NPD and how hard it can be to escape narcissistic abuse. We help the victims of domestic violence to leave their abusive partners and stand beside them throughout the court proceedings. We invite you to contact ADZ Law, LLP to schedule a consultation to learn more about our team, and how we can help you break free from the narcissist in your life.

NEW ORLEANS (APRIL 4, 2022) - James Beard: Best Chef South Finalist 2022, Isaac Toups, owner of Toups Meatery in New Orleans, is teaming up with award-winning Chef Nina Compton of Compère Lapin and Bywater American Bistro and Chef Mason Hereford, owner of Bon Appetit’s “Best New Restaurants in America 2017” Turkey and the Wolf and Molly’s Rise and Shine, to host a one-of-a-kind curated private in-home dinner for ten to benefit World Central Kitchen’s (WCK) Chefs for Ukraine.

“We’re devastated by the tragic events happening in Ukraine. Having worked with

WCK throughout the pandemic to feed the New Orleans community, we know the

incredible work they do and want to support their efforts on the front lines in

Ukraine,” says Isaac Toups.

Auction winner will enjoy an extravagant culinary experience, tailored to their

preference, from this trio of renowned award-winning Chefs. It will include

multiple courses with wine and/or cocktail pairings, as well as the opportunity to

engage and socialize with some of New Orleans’ culinary greats.

Opening bids start at $10,000 and can be made at Rally Up. Bidding is open now and will close on April 20, 2022 at 11:59 pm CST.

*Experience is valid for 10 persons

*Experience may not be transferred, resold, or re-auctioned

*To be scheduled at a mutually agreeable date

*Open to residents of the continental U.S.

*Any travel outside of the state of Louisiana will require travel and accommodations for Chefs and is the responsibility of the winner

*Expires one year from date of purchase

Founded in 2010 by Chef José Andrés, World Central Kitchen (WCK) is first to the frontlines, providing meals in response to humanitarian, climate, and community crises while working to build resilient food systems with locally-led solutions. WCK has served more than 60 million fresh meals to people impacted by natural disasters and other crises around the world. WCK’s Resilience Programs strengthen food and nutrition security by training chefs and school cooks; advancing clean cooking practices; and awarding grants to farms, fisheries, and small food businesses while also providing educational and networking opportunities. WCK is currently providing meals to people impacted by the crisis in Ukraine. Learn more at wck.org.

Amy Potter and Derek H. Alderman

March 15, 2022, The Conversation

March 19, 2022 - State legislatures across the United States are cracking down on discussions of race and racism in the classroom. School boards are attempting to ban books that deal with difficult histories. Lawmakers are targeting initiatives that promote diversity, equity and inclusion in higher education.

As cultural geographers, we see a potential venue for these kinds of discussions that we believe to be an overlooked and poorly used resource: plantation museums.

If slavery is, as historian Ira Berlin argues, “ground zero for race relations,” then the hundreds of plantation museums that dot the southeastern U.S. landscape seem like natural places to confront the difficult history of America’s slave-owning past.

Exploring that possibility is one of the reasons why – along with fellow tourism scholars Stephen Hanna, Perry Carter, Candace Bright and David Butler - we received a federal grant to research plantation museums across the U.S. South.

We think these plantation museums could be important sites for an educational reckoning with this difficult aspect of America’s past. But that’s only if the people who run these museums are committed to telling the truth about what took place, rather than perpetuating myths about Black life in America under white domination and oppression. This is particularly important as policymakers seek to curtail discussions about racism – or even themes that make people feel “discomfort” – in America’s K-12 schools and colleges and universities.

Usages of these sites have traditionally romanticized life before the Civil War and ignored or trivialized the horrors of slavery. They have also downplayed the resistance and resilience of enslaved communities, thus preventing the nation from getting a fuller and more accurate picture of American slavery.

In order to make better use of plantation museums as places to learn about racism and slavery, the museums must be reformed in a major way and do more than just entertain tourists and sell a heritage experience. Rather, this reform demands a reworking of almost every facet of the museum – from misguided tours that gloss over the harsh living conditions of the enslaved to artifacts and marketing materials that emphasize the opulent and picturesque mansions that belie the horrors of what took place on the surrounding grounds. In our research, we discovered plantation museums where 50% of the tours never mentioned slavery. Our work provides practical guidance to the changes that need to happen.

Many former plantations are now museums. Stephen Hanna, CC BY

Within the United States, there are at least 375 plantations open for public tours scattered across 19 states. Based on nearly 2,000 surveys our research team conducted, visitors have indicated that they go to plantations to “learn about history.” The general public considers historical sites, such as plantation museums, to be trusted sources for historical information. Therefore, they deserve to be held accountable for the educational experience they provide.

School field trips are an important revenue source for these often cash-strapped sites.

At Shirley Plantation in Virginia, field trips accounted for over 15% of total visitors. At Meadow Farm, near Richmond, Virginia, 40% of the site’s visitors are school children. At Boone Hall in South Carolina, 14,000 school children visit the site annually.

At one Virginia plantation museum, we observed school children go on scavenger hunts where they take on the roles of white slave owners. In one case, the children deliver a message between the white slave owner’s son – a Confederate soldier – and his sick mother while their plantation was occupied by Union troops. This, we believe, leads the children to identify and empathize with the white slave-owning family as opposed to the individuals they enslaved.

Our work calls for plantation museums to engage in a more reparative form of education. This education would come to terms with the injustices of the past and correct the way enslavement is actively misremembered in the present, which in turn harms Black well-being and sense of belonging.

Repairing these historical fallacies is not just about getting the facts correct about the enslaved and the enslavers. It also requires the public to learn certain emotional and social truths about how slavery is a source of pain and tension in America. Lessons should show how this tension continues to impact race relations. Often overlooked is how enslaved labor was used to construct buildings, roads, ports and rail lines we use in America.

Our research found that many plantation museums were reluctant to highlight Black lives and histories. But there is promising evidence of change at sites like McLeod Plantation on James Island in Charleston, South Carolina, which opened in 2015, less than a year after the more well-known Whitney Plantation in Louisiana.

We see both museums – Whitney and McLeod – as exceptional in plantation tourism. Combined, our research found these two sites attract a more racially diverse visitorship than many other plantations because of the inclusive stories being told. Our surveys with visitors suggest public interest in the topic of slavery increased after taking guided tours that focused on the experiences of enslaved communities. In our view, this is a needed counterpoint to media reports of some visitors pushing back against hearing these sober discussions. For instance, tour guides at McLeod reported white visitors yelling at them, claiming the tour attacked their ancestors.

Amy Potter, CC BY

We think it’s important to feature slavery and the lives of the enslaved during all aspects of the tour and not keep it separate in a special exhibit.

Visitors should be given an opportunity to make thoughtful connections to those who were once enslaved by learning names and details about their lives. At Whitney, for example, visitors are encouraged to make emotional connections. One way they do this is by receiving a lanyard at the start of the tour that features the words and image of a formerly enslaved child.

We know the plantation can be an especially fraught and emotional experience, particularly for Black visitors. During our fieldwork, Black visitors would often describe the land as sacred and a powerful place to connect to the ancestors. Some of these plantations have even hosted Black family reunions. Whitney Plantation provides opportunities for visitor reflection and contemplation throughout the tour, such as benches near a wall that memorializes and honors all of the people who were enslaved there.

McLeod’s management purposely hired guides who would disrupt romantic notions of the plantation and engage meaningfully with themes of slavery, race and social justice. They also provided ongoing training and support to guides doing the difficult work of challenging or complicating long-held plantation myths.

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Managers at McLeod acknowledged the stress experienced by their tour guides when they focused on enslavement and its aftermath. They took extra steps to ensure that their guides were supported by initiating a “golden hour.” This was a time for staff to come together and reflect on difficult encounters with the visitors, who sometimes challenged guides’ historical knowledge and fairness. It was also a time for the guides to develop strategies to cope with the emotional toll of the hostility they faced while doing their jobs.

Amy Potter, Associate Professor of Geography, Georgia Southern University and Derek H. Alderman, Professor of Geography, University of Tennessee

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

NEW ORLEANS (3/3/2022) - ESSENCE Communications, Inc., the leading media, technology, and commerce company dedicated to serving Black women and their communities deeply, has announced the 100% physical return of the ESSENCE Festival of Culture™ to New Orleans with extended virtual experiences and a commitment to creating opportunities that will economically benefit, invest and contribute to Black-owned businesses. The Festival will host a multi-generational experience entrenched in culture, equity, and celebration.

“As the nation’s largest festival by per day attendance, the ESSENCE Festival of Culture is a staple that celebrates community and empowers equity. We are excited to welcome the family back live to New Orleans and thrilled to connect with more of our diasporic family through new digital experiences,” said ESSENCE CEO Caroline Wanga. “Whether it be those that have three years of outfits reflective of the Festival tradition that was disrupted by the pandemic, or those who will have their inaugural Festival experience in 2022 , all are invited to immerse in the crown jewel of culture known as the ESSENCE Festival of Culture. Our almost three-decade-relationship with the City of New Orleans has been critical to the fiber of the Festival and we fully recognize and appreciate the City and its citizens for all they do to create memorable experiences for all attendees. Lastly, it is critical that we understand that what we deliver with this Festival—live and virtually—also impacts Black economic inclusion. The ability to have those that benefit from this be Black businesses is my favorite manifestation of our 2022 Festival theme, ‘It’s The Black Joy for Me.’ See you in July.”

ESSENCE looks forward to physically returning to the City of New Orleans after a hiatus due to the pandemic. The partnerships with this culture filled city have spanned more than 25 years. As the brand expands its footprint, it will continue to focus on the positive economic impact to the City and Black-owned businesses. As ESSENCE intentionally connects deeper within the City’s culture, it is excited about bringing back new and returning activations, including concerts at the Superdome, Superlounges, ESSENCE Wellness House, ESSENCE Eats Food, Wine & Spirits Festival, the ESSENCE Studios Screening Room, The Men’s Experience, The Marketplace (which economically impacts thousands of Black-owned businesses), the Girls United track which highlights Gen Z experiences, Day of Service, E-Suite, Wealth & Power Stage, The Tech Summit and more.

Festival-goers will witness Black Joy live featuring performances from our stellar headliners including: Janet Jackson, Nicki Minaj, Kevin Hart, New Edition, The Isley Brothers, The Roots & Friends, Jazmine Sullivan, Summer Walker, D-Nice & Friends and many more. Additional talent and experiences will be announced soon.

Tickets are now on sale. For tickets, access and updates on this year’s ESSENCE Festival of Culture, visit www.essencefestival.com. Join the conversation via social @ESSENCEFest. Experience The Festival on ESSENCEStudios.com and ESSENCEFestival.com.  

ABOUT ESSENCE COMMUNICATIONS, INC. 

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