THE MODERN SLAVERY OF NEW ORLEANS

Some readers may be upset with what I have to say today.  I respect your right to be upset and disagree, dears.  Regardless, I feel the need to express my opinion and that of my friends.  Have you ever come home to find that a neighbor, walking his/her dog, had not cleaned up after the animal?  We have and poor Rhett went and got the scooper and removed it.  Such a problem to keep the old plantation looking its best considering the heat.  We can only give thanks that we have not, as of this time faced another storm and pray for those who have and people in other states in which there has been major flooding.  I digress and must go back to the main issue: modern day slavery.

The history of New Orleans and the state of Louisiana is filled with this issue as are those of other states.  People bought and sold, bred, used, beaten, etc. by their owners.  Owners!  Many were sold to slavers by people who had caught them in tribal warfare in Africa.  Here in New Orleans, they were sold again to people to do the same and use them in the fields or in the houses.  Many of these slaves formed families of their own but would later be separated by the sale of members to others.  Genetic studies of people would bring about many a surprise to some people as to where their ancestors came from and what happened to them over the centuries. 

In the nineteenth century we see the history of states leaving the union over the issue of slavery.  Louisiana was one of these states, including what we call New Orleans.  In addition we see the history of the Civil War (what some people to this day call the War of Northern Aggression), The Emancipation Proclamation freeing many slaves, and the list could go on. 

Eventually, there would be union of all states, including, Louisiana.  The total history can be found in any good textbook and online, dears.  However, what happened afterwards was segregation in which people of color (African Ancestry) would be denied the ability to enter certain places, including schools and churches or forced to sit in a special section, etc.  Who can forget the signs in buses and streetcars, marking where people could sit.  Rhett remembers moving a sign so that a lady could sit and the remarks of his fellow students from a prominent school.

There were prior acts attempting to give people of all ancestries equal legal rights.  However, they were not completely successful until the Civil Rights Act of 1964 which clearly "forbade discrimination on the basis of sex as well as race in hiring, promoting, and firing."  For a better examination of this act go to http://www.archives.gov/education/lessons/civil-rights-act/.  An online search will give you a clearer picture of the various provisions.  Before that were many individuals who acted - to name but two Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King.  There were others who died to gain civil rights for all.  Do some research and learn, learn, learn.  I will never forget the words of Dr. King when he said in 1963 at the Lincoln monument: " Let freedom ring. And when this happens, and when we allow freedom ring -- when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children -- black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics -- will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual: "Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!"

In New Orleans Archbishop Rummel stated:  "Racial segregation as such is morally wrong and sinful because it is a denial of the unity and solidarity of the human race as conceived by God in the creation of Adam and Eve."  That was in 1956 but there was much disagreement between then and 1962 when the Catholic Schools of the Archdiocese of New Orleans were actually integrated.  Two years previously the public schools in New Orleans were integrated and I will never forget the courage of those young girls - six (4 of African ancestry and two of European ancestry) entered Frantz Elementary.  The courage of conviction by their parents and the determination of the essential recognition of the right to equality will never be forgotten. 

However, we cannot forget the hatred shown by many. Remember the Archbishop excommunicating three main leaders - Leander Perez, Sr., Mrs. B.J.. Gaillot, and Jackson Ricau.  The records of Archbishop Rummel and other clergy relative to these issues would be important, if they were ready for inspection in the archives of the Archdiocese.

At the same time the flight to the suburbs by people of non-African ancestry began and more Catholic parishes were established.  How many schools in the suburbs, public, private, and parochial are truly integrated even today.

However, even today slavery exists but in a different form.  It arises with the lack of a true family unit.  This was clearly discussed by Daniel P. Moynihan in his report of fifty years ago.  This is further analyzed by Ta-Nehisi Coates in his article in The Atlantic in June of this year.  Take some time to read this at http://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2013/06/revisiting-the-moynihan-report/276936/.  However, it crosses all racial lines but still points out that Moynihan was correct.  The slavery still exists and is exacerbated by the lack of education, lack of morals, lack of medical assistance, unrecognized mental issues, etc.  Why is this so? We as a nation have created the problem by not making demands for improvements in the lives of all citizens, regardless of ancestry.

Now in this city of New Orleans, children are being killed as a result.  Blame it on ourselves, the churches, etc. of this city and the metropolitan area are at fault also.  I am sure that you would have more to add to this, if you have the guts to do so.  Damnation, dears, it is time to act.