New Orleans is a myriad of dynamic movement on the ground, filled with voluminous aural sensory, cosmical crossings and most certainly movement through the people. In July 2015, I was prepping for full immersion into New Orleans Historic Collection “Purchased Lives” Exhibit and the American Slave Trade 1808-1865 as part of my field-research works; The experience was an awe-inspiring ethereal visual display of artifacts, accounts, bills, ledgers and clothing, citing various landmarks throughout the historic French Quarter once fully immersed in a thriving economy, and said to be the site of the largest Slave Market in antebellum America.
“…more than two million people were forcibly moved within the boundaries of the United States and its territories…Owners and traders in the Upper South—Maryland, North Carolina, Virginia and Washington, DC—sold and shipped surplus laborers to the expanding Lower South.” ~civilrightsmuseum.org
Sounds like the history of any of your folks?! I know NOW that it most certainly does of some of mine — Learn more about my sojourn from a previous blog post :
Purchased Lives: New Orleans *flashback to FALL forward 2016*
#Maafa commemoration March in conjunction with the #BYP100NOLA taking a moment to stand on the corner of Chartres and St. Louis in the French Quarter which was once the site of one of the largest slave markets. Through the efforts of this same movement, the originally “decor” including slave chains and whips were removed after a direct community led action during Essence Fest. A plaque on the restaurant that sits on the corner , “The Original Pierre Maspero Restaurant reads:
“ORIGINAL PIERRE MASPERO’S SLAVE EXCHANGE – EST 1788. Within this historic structure slaves were sold …”
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Working My Lines 