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In researching his New Orleans neighborhood, Times Picayune columnist Lolis Eric Elie stumbled across the story of the nation's first African-American daily newspaper, The New Orleans Tribune. Elie's new film shows how the paper thrived during Reconstruction and played a large role in legal challenges to segregation, culminating in Plessy v. Ferguson.
that photo you're using for this story is from Bliss Broyard's "One Drop: My Father's Hidden Life - A Story of Race and Family Secrets". If I'm not mistaken, the fellow on the far right is one of her father's relatives.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0316163503/folio/
About the photo: yes, Bliss Broyard's relatives in New Orleans shared that family photo with us. Our interviewee, the carpenter Irving Trevigne's maternal family is Broyard, who were important members of the building trades in New Orleans. Many of New Orleans' old Creole families are interrelated. PLease come see the film to learn more!
It seems as if America needs to be reminded of the Reconstruction and post-Reconstruction eras of our history. Of course, there are many walking around among us that should remember the rioting across the country that accompanied the civil rights struggle as the threatening twin of Rev. King's more noble-minded efforts, in New Haven, Detroit, Watts. They do not, as the recent court ruling in New York shows.
Whatever pain is now being felt in the majority community, with higher food and gas prices, falling home prices, and jobs disappearing (something like 500 were announced, at two closing employers, on local news tonight), be assured it is felt ten fold in minority communities and the most powerful want us to find excuses such the illegal immigrant issue and the well-justified if poorly expressed anger of a Rev. Wright to tear into each other. Unfortunately, they may get what they want.
I'm glad to hear OTM and other NPR programs air and promote knowledge of some of that history. The struggle is by no means over.
As I drove around Milwaukee, I radio surfed and tuned into the local NPR Milwaukee affiliate - WUWM 89.7 FM - and by blessed happenstance, THE FORGOTTEN PAPER , was being discussed. This interview was really an enlightening and education Black History note.
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