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

7 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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Oakland Post: Week of May 6 – 12, 2026

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of may 6 – 12, 2026

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2 days ago

May 10, 2026

Oakland Post

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Activism

On the Frontlines of Hate: NAACP Links Victims to Critical Support

The NAACP CA/HI has a long and well-established record of supporting victims of discrimination and hate crimes — providing critical referrals and, when necessary, direct assistance through legal advocacy and other forms of support. Beyond responding to incidents, the organization continues to advocate on broader civil rights issues, including voting rights and legal protections. It has also worked to counter efforts at the state and federal levels that could weaken the voting power of communities of color.

Published

2 weeks ago

May 1, 2026

Oakland Post

NAACP members at a recent advocacy day in Sacramento urging lawmakers to protect voting rights. Photo courtesy of California Black Media.

By Joe Kocurek
California Black Media

The California/Hawaii State Conference of the NAACP (CA/HI NAACP) has expanded its efforts to respond to rising hate incidents and civil rights complaints across California, supported in part by funding from California’s Stop the Hate Program

Through that grant, NAACP CA/HI has strengthened its ability to connect individuals experiencing hate or discrimination with critical resources. This includes referring those who file complaints to the CA vs Hate hotline, a statewide, non-emergency hate crime and incident reporting hotline and online portal created to help counter a more than 50% increase in reported hate crimes in California between 2020 and 2024. The system helps ensure incidents are documented, and victims are guided toward appropriate support.

LaJuana Bivens says the work of NAACP is as urgent as ever. Photo by Regina Wilson, California Black Media.

LaJuana Bivens, who has served in a number of roles within the NAACP, said California has seen an increase in civil rights violations and hate-related incidents.

“We have 52 branches, and they are constantly receiving complaints,” she said. “So, without the Stop the Hate, we would not be able to refer those cases up to attorneys at the state level. A lot of the people would not have had an opportunity to be heard.”

Carmen-Nicole Cox helps survivors of hate with their legal options. Photo courtesy of Carmen-Nicole Cox.

Carmen-Nicole Cox, an attorney who works with NAACP CA/HI – as a part of California’s Stop the Hate Program – provides legal consultation to victims of hate incidents and discrimination through her legal practice, the Cox Firm for Law and Policy.

She said the complaints she receives span a wide range of issues.

“People are having home builders and landlords refusing to provide repairs, a student was denied promotion in an academic program, and targeted scrutiny at work,” she said. “It’s typically employment; it’s housing; it’s education.

“We’ll meet and they’ll share their experiences,” she said. “And then I make assessments about possible legal claims.”

According to the California Civil Rights Department (CRD), nearly 1,200 reports of hate against minority groups were submitted in 2024 through the CA vs Hate hotline and online portal for non-emergency incidents.

While the California/Hawaii State Conference of the NAACP, which has tens of thousands of members, does not directly investigate hate incidents or crimes, it plays a key role in connecting victims to the state’s reporting systems and support services.

Beyond responding to incidents, the organization continues to advocate on broader civil rights issues, including voting rights and legal protections. It has also worked to counter efforts at the state and federal levels that could weaken the voting power of communities of color.

Bivens recently traveled to Sacramento to speak with state lawmakers about voting rights during an advocacy day event hosted by the organization.

“It’s just so hard for communities of color to be up to date because of all of the confusing information coming from the federal level,” she said. “I love our great state of California because here it is possible to vote by mail and to vote early.

“And I’m seeing that trying to be eroded. So, I’m here to urge continued support for vote by mail and early voting.”

When Texas moved to redraw congressional districts in ways critics said would dilute minority voting strength, NAACP CA/HI supported the passage of Proposition 50 in California. The organization also intervened in United States v. Shirley Weber, where federal officials sought access to unredacted California voter records, including Social Security numbers, raising concerns about misuse and voter intimidation.

Cultivating the advocacy and leaderships of young people is central to NAACP’s mission to fight racism and dismantle inequality. Photo courtesy of California Black Media.

A federal district court dismissed that case in January 2026.

The organization’s current work builds on a long history of civil rights advocacy. Today, Bivens says, the organization’s mission remains as urgent as ever.

“We are the oldest, boldest, most feared Civil Rights organization,” Bivens said. “What we do every day is fight for better housing, education, economic development and political inclusion. We take it on because there are just so many people who need that support.

“You would be amazed that our phones ring every single day.”

Get Support After Hate:

California vs Hate is a non-emergency, multilingual hotline and online portal offering confidential support for hate crimes and incidents. Victims and witnesses can get help anonymously by calling 833-8-NO-HATE (833-866-4283), Monday to Friday, 9 a.m.–6 p.m. PT, or online at any time. Anonymous. Confidential. No Police. No ICE.

This story was produced in partnership with CA vs Hate. Join them for the first-ever CA Civil Rights Summit on May 11. More information at www.cavshate.org/summit.

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