Nearly 60 years ago, a historic Black community founded as a home for people emancipated after the Civil War was demolished for a national park commemorating both the Battle of New Orleans and Civil War casualties
“We may never know for certain” that the flowers were planted by residents, but it seems very likely, said Gary Salathe, who created a group to rescue native irises and who first noticed those on the battlefield.
“Like so many people of his class, he understood that the transition of the enslaved to freedom would be a long and arduous process,” Hyland said. “I think it's a tragedy that a community that had been there for close to 100 years was not considered as important as an event that took place over five days in 1815,” said Keim, who was about 5 years old when Fazendeville was erased and grew up in a white neighborhood, not knowing he was related to free people of color.
First, they were dark purple, not the better known light blue iris that is the state flower. Then came a more startling discovery — crinum lilies. Volunteer Paul Christiansen recognized them as a species from Africa, possibly brought by enslaved people, that could not have been growing wild there.The group then found the slight depression where Fazendeville's road once ran.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Iris on national park battlefield may mark razed Black homesNearly 60 years ago, a historic Black community founded as a home for people emancipated after the Civil War was demolished for a national park commemorating both the Battle of New Orleans and Civil War casualties
Read more »
Bright Black candles honors cities of Black greatnessBright Black is a Black-owned, family-owned company that pays tribute to Black greatness through beautifully crafted scent products.
Read more »
Meet The Black Queer And Trans Women Making History With Radical Approaches Toward Nonprofit WorkThrough shared stories of overwork and underfunding, these ladies managed to warmly convey the undying love they hold for their communities, and what they’ve been able to do with such a resource.
Read more »
NAACP files lawsuit against Tennessee comptroller, claims threat to take over majority-Black town is discriminatoryThe NAACP is representing a majority-Black town in Tennessee and helped it file a lawsuit on Friday alleging that the state comptroller exceeded his authority and racially discriminated against the town in its financial dealings
Read more »
Billionaire Trader Ken Griffin Navigates A Flock Of Black SwansWar In Europe. The China-Russia Alliance. De-dollarization. How $47 billion Citadel is making the best out of the worst of times.
Read more »
These photos celebrate the beauty of Black life in the BahamasPhotographer Melissa Alcena documents the people of her home country at their most pure.
Read more »