Black History

Recognizing Our Black History, A Call to Join the Slave Revolt Reenactment

NEW ORLEANS DATA NEWS WEEKLY — This January 12, 2019 marked the 208th Anniversary of Louisiana’s Heroic 1811 Slave Revolt.

Published

5 years ago

February 20, 2019

Oakland Post

Leon A. Waters, Chair of the Louisiana Museum of African-American History, and Manager of Hidden History Tours

This January 12, 2019 marked the 208th Anniversary of Louisiana’s Heroic 1811 Slave Revolt and the restart of its public commemoration. Before 2005, Hurricane Katrina, annual public commemorations were once organized by Leon A. Waters and Malcolm Suber. The Louisiana Museum of African- American History in partnership with community organizations, performing artists, historians, activists, and small vendors convened this year’s event. Over 200 participants attended which included presentations from Marie-Helene Leotin, historian and author from Martinique; Bayyinah Bello, educator and anthropologist from Haiti; Mark Roudane’, public lecturer and author from St. Paul, Minnesota; and Titos Sompa and Co., master dancer and drummer from the Kongo.

A very exciting feature of the celebration was the call to join the Slave Revolt Reenactment by its artistic organizer, Dread Scott. The SRR will be a two-day reenactment of the 1811 Slave Revolt along the River Road in St. Charles and St. John the Baptist Parishes in November 2019.

This revolt was the largest slave uprising in the History of the U.S.A. involving over 500 people.

It was led by a man named Charles, a laborer on the Deslondes Plantation. The revolt began on the evening of January 8th when slaves led by Charles and his lieutenants rose up near the Plantation of Col. Manuel Andry, which was located about 50 miles north of New Orleans. They overwhelmed their oppressors. Armed with cane knives, axes, machetes and some firearms, the rebels marched down the River Road towards New Orleans. Their slogan was “On to New Orleans” and “Freedom or Death!” They gained in number as they moved from plantation to plantation on the East Bank of the river, traversing about 28 miles between the towns of LaPlace and Kenner. They were intent on creating a slave army, capturing the City of New Orleans, Capital of Orleans Territory, and establishing an independent Black Republic from which they would liberate the tens of thousands of slaves held in bondage in the territory of Orleans.

However, despite their best efforts, they were not able to succeed. The revolt was put down by January 11th and many of the leaders and participants were killed by slave owner’s militia and the U.S. Federal Troops. Some of the leaders were captured, charged with the crime of insurrection, placed on trial, found guilty and executed. Their heads were cut off and placed on poles along the River Road for 60 miles in order to frighten and intimidate the other enslaved.

Yet the sacrifice of these brave men and women were not in vain. The revolt reasserted their humanity and redeemed the honor of their people. The uprising weakened the System of Chattel Slavery, stimulated more revolts in the following years and set the stage for the final battle, the Civil War (1861- 1865) that put an end to this horrible system.

These were people of exceptional courage, valor and dedication; they understood the principle that the emancipation of the masses precedes the emancipation of the individual.

It is only fitting that we show our appreciation for these men and women who represented the best qualities of humanity. You, the reader, are invited to sign up and join the Slave Revolt Reenactment. Contact Malcolm Suber, Outreach Coordinator @ 504-931-7614 or Malcolm.sbr1@gmail.com

Leon A. Waters, Chair of the Louisiana Museum of African-American History, and Manager of Hidden History Tours: www.HiddenHistory.us or 504-432-9901

This article originally appeared in the New Orleans Data News Weekly.

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S.F. Black Leaders Rally to Protest, Discuss ‘Epidemic’ of Racial Slurs Against Black Students in SF Public School System

Parents at the meeting spoke of their children as no longer feeling safe in school because of bullying and discrimination. Parents also said that reported incidents such as racial slurs and intimidation are not dealt with to their satisfaction and feel ignored.

Published

5 hours ago

May 4, 2024

Oakland Post

Rev. Amos C. Brown, president of the San Francisco NAACP and pastor of Third Baptist Church. Photo courtesy Third Baptist Church.

By Carla Thomas

San Francisco’s Third Baptist Church hosted a rally and meeting Sunday to discuss hatred toward African American students of the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD).

Rev. Amos C. Brown, president of the San Francisco NAACP and pastor of Third Baptist Church, along with leadership from local civil rights groups, the city’s faith-based community and Black community leadership convened at the church.

“There has been an epidemic of racial slurs and mistreatment of Black children in our public schools in the city,” said Brown. “This will not be tolerated.”

According to civil rights advocate Mattie Scott, students from elementary to high school have reported an extraordinary amount of racial slurs directed at them.

“There is a surge of overt racism in the schools, and our children should not be subjected to this,” said Scott. “Students are in school to learn, develop, and grow, not be hated on,” said Scott. “The parents of the children feel they have not received the support necessary to protect their children.”

Attendees were briefed last Friday in a meeting with SFUSD Superintendent Dr. Matt Wayne.

SFUSD states that their policies protect children and they are not at liberty to publicly discuss the issues to protect the children’s privacy.

Some parents said they have removed their students from school while other parents and community leaders called on the removal of the SFUSD superintendent, the firing of certain school principals and the need for more supportive school board members.

Community advocates discussed boycotting the schools and creating Freedom Schools led by Black leaders and educators, reassuring parents that their child’s wellbeing and education are the highest priority and youth are not to be disrupted by racism or policies that don’t support them.

Virginia Marshall, chair of the San Francisco NAACP’s education committee, offered encouragement to the parents and students in attendance while also announcing an upcoming May 14 school board meeting to demand accountability over their mistreatment.

“I’m urging anyone that cares about our students to pack the May 14 school board meeting,” said Marshall.

This resource was supported in whole or in part by funding provided by the State of California, administered by the California State Library via California Black Media as part of the Stop the Hate Program. The program is supported by partnership with California Department of Social Services and the California Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander American Affairs as part of the Stop the Hate program. To report a hate incident or hate crime and get support, go to CA vs Hate.