1804 to 1945
The silencing.
What happened to the culture that built the state?
The silencing
Creoles of color built institutions. The state took away their vote and their language.
Free people of color in New Orleans founded schools, a religious order and a French-language press. L’Union first appeared in 1862. In 1892 the Comité des Citoyens sent Homer Plessy, an Afro-Creole shoemaker, to challenge segregation on the railroads. The Supreme Court ruled against him in 1896.
Louisiana’s 1898 constitution cut registered Black voters from 130,344 in 1897 to 5,320 by 1900. The 1921 constitution required public school exercises to be held in English. In 1929, the Creole accordionist Amédé Ardoin made some of the first recordings of South Louisiana French music.
Inside the Record7 entries
1809Saint-Domingue refugees expelled from Cuba reach New Orleans1811German Coast uprising of enslaved people led by Charles Deslondes1862L'Union launches the Afro-Creole French-language press1896Plessy v. Ferguson upholds Louisiana's Separate Car Act18981898 constitution strips most Black Louisianans of the vote19211921 Constitution requires public school exercises in English1929Amédé Ardoin and Dennis McGee make first recordingsNext chapter · 1946 to 1971