I want you to think of your favorite photo of you with the people closest to
photo of you with the people closest to
photo of you with the people closest to you in your lives this could be a
you in your lives this could be a
you in your lives this could be a picture of you and your family for you
picture of you and your family for you
picture of you and your family for you and your friends now imagine one day all
and your friends now imagine one day all
and your friends now imagine one day all of them tear you out of that photo and
of them tear you out of that photo and
of them tear you out of that photo and for the rest of your life they gather
for the rest of your life they gather
for the rest of your life they gather without you share stories reminisce
without you share stories reminisce
without you share stories reminisce celebrate their achievements without you
celebrate their achievements without you
celebrate their achievements without you they erase you from their memory how
they erase you from their memory how
they erase you from their memory how would you feel hurt confused angry well
would you feel hurt confused angry well
would you feel hurt confused angry well this is largely how the telling of
this is largely how the telling of
this is largely how the telling of history in cities all across the
history in cities all across the
history in cities all across the southern United States including here
southern United States including here
southern United States including here has treated African Americans at the
has treated African Americans at the
has treated African Americans at the start of this year a friend of mine a
start of this year a friend of mine a
start of this year a friend of mine a black woman asked me to tell her local
black woman asked me to tell her local
black woman asked me to tell her local history to a leadership group I was
history to a leadership group I was
history to a leadership group I was happy to help as a trained and
happy to help as a trained and
happy to help as a trained and experienced scholar I thought it would
experienced scholar I thought it would
experienced scholar I thought it would be easy I check out some books in the
be easy I check out some books in the
be easy I check out some books in the library and put together a presentation
library and put together a presentation
library and put together a presentation how wrong I was
how wrong I was
how wrong I was I found a few key bits of information in
I found a few key bits of information in
I found a few key bits of information in books but I discovered that most of our
books but I discovered that most of our
books but I discovered that most of our region’s black history was hidden
region’s black history was hidden
region’s black history was hidden scattered and countless pieces in
scattered and countless pieces in
scattered and countless pieces in library storage government vaults state
library storage government vaults state
library storage government vaults state archives courthouses and numerous
archives courthouses and numerous
archives courthouses and numerous digital databases
digital databases
digital databases I felt like an archaeologist that was
I felt like an archaeologist that was
I felt like an archaeologist that was searching for long-lost bits of treasure
searching for long-lost bits of treasure
searching for long-lost bits of treasure that had been buried in a cave when I
that had been buried in a cave when I
that had been buried in a cave when I began presenting our region’s black
began presenting our region’s black
began presenting our region’s black history publicly I was surprised at how
history publicly I was surprised at how
history publicly I was surprised at how moved people were both black and white I
moved people were both black and white I
moved people were both black and white I expected anger about the past but I
expected anger about the past but I
expected anger about the past but I didn’t expect shock and gratitude and
didn’t expect shock and gratitude and
didn’t expect shock and gratitude and tears from the audience’s white audience
tears from the audience’s white audience
tears from the audience’s white audience members said things like I never learned
members said things like I never learned
members said things like I never learned this in school I never saw this in any
this in school I never saw this in any
this in school I never saw this in any museum I had no idea this happened and
museum I had no idea this happened and
museum I had no idea this happened and from black audience members I heard
from black audience members I heard
from black audience members I heard things like thank you for telling my
things like thank you for telling my
things like thank you for telling my story
story
story thank you for helping my voice be heard
thank you for helping my voice be heard
thank you for helping my voice be heard once an older black woman stood up in
once an older black woman stood up in
once an older black woman stood up in the audience and told us how she was the
the audience and told us how she was the
the audience and told us how she was the first black student at her high school
first black student at her high school
first black student at her high school and then holding back tears she also
and then holding back tears she also
and then holding back tears she also told us how she had not been invited to
told us how she had not been invited to
told us how she had not been invited to her school reunions for 50 years
her school reunions for 50 years
her school reunions for 50 years another time an elderly black gentleman
another time an elderly black gentleman
another time an elderly black gentleman shook my hand and told me thank you
shook my hand and told me thank you
shook my hand and told me thank you you’re the first honest white person
you’re the first honest white person
you’re the first honest white person I’ve ever met this is how I learned
I’ve ever met this is how I learned
I’ve ever met this is how I learned firsthand the power of historical
firsthand the power of historical
firsthand the power of historical honesty so what caused this history to
honesty so what caused this history to
honesty so what caused this history to be so hidden human nature to demonstrate
be so hidden human nature to demonstrate
be so hidden human nature to demonstrate I want you to clap if you’ve ever told a
I want you to clap if you’ve ever told a
I want you to clap if you’ve ever told a morally embarrassing story about
morally embarrassing story about
morally embarrassing story about yourself where you made your actions
yourself where you made your actions
yourself where you made your actions sound better than they actually were
yeah me too you see we often rewrite our
yeah me too you see we often rewrite our past to make ourselves look better and
past to make ourselves look better and
past to make ourselves look better and we do this collectively as well it’s
we do this collectively as well it’s
we do this collectively as well it’s called historical denial a people invent
called historical denial a people invent
called historical denial a people invent a false history to hide an embarrassing
a false history to hide an embarrassing
a false history to hide an embarrassing fact about themselves this happens all
fact about themselves this happens all
fact about themselves this happens all around the globe and in the United
around the globe and in the United
around the globe and in the United States we have a lost cause of the
States we have a lost cause of the
States we have a lost cause of the Confederacy
Confederacy
Confederacy let me explain at the start of the Civil
let me explain at the start of the Civil
let me explain at the start of the Civil War southern whites explained that the
War southern whites explained that the
War southern whites explained that the reason they were leaving the Union
reason they were leaving the Union
reason they were leaving the Union forming the Confederacy and fighting was
forming the Confederacy and fighting was
forming the Confederacy and fighting was to keep four million people enslaved
to keep four million people enslaved
to keep four million people enslaved based on their skin color out of
based on their skin color out of
based on their skin color out of thousands of quotes from Confederate
thousands of quotes from Confederate
thousands of quotes from Confederate leaders saying this I’ll read just one
leaders saying this I’ll read just one
leaders saying this I’ll read just one Confederate vice president Alexander
Confederate vice president Alexander
Confederate vice president Alexander Stephens publicly declared the Negro is
Stephens publicly declared the Negro is
Stephens publicly declared the Negro is not equal to the white man
not equal to the white man
not equal to the white man slavery subordination to the superior
slavery subordination to the superior
slavery subordination to the superior race is his natural and normal condition
race is his natural and normal condition
race is his natural and normal condition this our new government is the first in
this our new government is the first in
this our new government is the first in the history of the world based upon this
the history of the world based upon this
the history of the world based upon this great physical philosophical and moral
great physical philosophical and moral
great physical philosophical and moral truth and form or of Confederates own
truth and form or of Confederates own
truth and form or of Confederates own words at the time just read any southern
words at the time just read any southern
words at the time just read any southern newspaper from 1860 or early 1861 yet
newspaper from 1860 or early 1861 yet
newspaper from 1860 or early 1861 yet even before the Civil War ended southern
even before the Civil War ended southern
even before the Civil War ended southern whites began erasing and rewriting their
whites began erasing and rewriting their
whites began erasing and rewriting their history to glorify their actions they
history to glorify their actions they
history to glorify their actions they now began the claim that they weren’t
now began the claim that they weren’t
now began the claim that they weren’t fighting for slavery but for liberty
fighting for slavery but for liberty
fighting for slavery but for liberty they themselves called this story the
they themselves called this story the
they themselves called this story the lost cause a narrative and in the
lost cause a narrative and in the
lost cause a narrative and in the decades after the Civil War the Lost
decades after the Civil War the Lost
decades after the Civil War the Lost Cause narrative expanded to include
Cause narrative expanded to include
Cause narrative expanded to include fictional accounts of the Reconstruction
fictional accounts of the Reconstruction
fictional accounts of the Reconstruction era and Jim Crow segregation
era and Jim Crow segregation
era and Jim Crow segregation by 1900 southern governments had widely
by 1900 southern governments had widely
by 1900 southern governments had widely banned accurate history textbooks and
banned accurate history textbooks and
banned accurate history textbooks and required that schools teach only the
required that schools teach only the
required that schools teach only the fictional lost caused by the 1920s
fictional lost caused by the 1920s
fictional lost caused by the 1920s southern governments had widely built
southern governments had widely built
southern governments had widely built lost cause monuments films like Birth of
lost cause monuments films like Birth of
lost cause monuments films like Birth of a Nation actually made the Ku Klux Klan
a Nation actually made the Ku Klux Klan
a Nation actually made the Ku Klux Klan into heroes and the 1939 film Gone with
into heroes and the 1939 film Gone with
into heroes and the 1939 film Gone with the Wind romanticized the Confederacy
the Wind romanticized the Confederacy
the Wind romanticized the Confederacy these and other such films spread The
these and other such films spread The
these and other such films spread The Lost Cause narrative everywhere the Lost
Lost Cause narrative everywhere the Lost
Lost Cause narrative everywhere the Lost Cause was really lost truth the Lost
Cause was really lost truth the Lost
Cause was really lost truth the Lost Cause narrative affected local beliefs
Cause narrative affected local beliefs
Cause narrative affected local beliefs as well I’ve heard many myths about our
as well I’ve heard many myths about our
as well I’ve heard many myths about our region’s history I’m going to share just
region’s history I’m going to share just
region’s history I’m going to share just four of them with you along with the
four of them with you along with the
four of them with you along with the matching facts myth slaves were well
matching facts myth slaves were well
matching facts myth slaves were well treated in this area
treated in this area
treated in this area fact enslaved people lived under the
fact enslaved people lived under the
fact enslaved people lived under the constant fear of rout a law required
constant fear of rout a law required
constant fear of rout a law required that if you tried to escape you received
that if you tried to escape you received
that if you tried to escape you received 25 lashes of the whip and if you tried
25 lashes of the whip and if you tried
25 lashes of the whip and if you tried to resist you could be killed
to resist you could be killed
to resist you could be killed Agatha Babineaux from Lafayette Parish
Agatha Babineaux from Lafayette Parish
Agatha Babineaux from Lafayette Parish and Gordon from st. Landry Parish told
and Gordon from st. Landry Parish told
and Gordon from st. Landry Parish told how their owners beat and whipped them
how their owners beat and whipped them
how their owners beat and whipped them and sometimes even rub salt in their
and sometimes even rub salt in their
and sometimes even rub salt in their wound all this explains why when Union
wound all this explains why when Union
wound all this explains why when Union General banks came through this region
General banks came through this region
General banks came through this region during the Civil War thousands of
during the Civil War thousands of
during the Civil War thousands of enslaved people fled to his forces to be
enslaved people fled to his forces to be
enslaved people fled to his forces to be liberated myth there wasn’t much slavery
liberated myth there wasn’t much slavery
liberated myth there wasn’t much slavery in our region fact according to the 1860
in our region fact according to the 1860
in our region fact according to the 1860 census half the population of Lafayette
census half the population of Lafayette
census half the population of Lafayette Parish was enslaved half of white
Parish was enslaved half of white
Parish was enslaved half of white households had slaves at an average of
households had slaves at an average of
households had slaves at an average of over eight slaves for slave owning
over eight slaves for slave owning
over eight slaves for slave owning household and a majority of our entire
household and a majority of our entire
household and a majority of our entire region of South Central Louisiana was
region of South Central Louisiana was
region of South Central Louisiana was enslaved even most non slave owning
enslaved even most non slave owning
enslaved even most non slave owning whites were heavily dependent on the
whites were heavily dependent on the
whites were heavily dependent on the slave based economy myth after the Civil
slave based economy myth after the Civil
slave based economy myth after the Civil War reconstruction locally was a
War reconstruction locally was a
War reconstruction locally was a non-violent white struggle against
non-violent white struggle against
non-violent white struggle against corrupt black government backed
corrupt black government backed
corrupt black government backed reconstruction was an attempt to create
reconstruction was an attempt to create
reconstruction was an attempt to create racial equality in the south but
racial equality in the south but
racial equality in the south but southern whites block that effort
southern whites block that effort
southern whites block that effort through systematic anti black terrorism
through systematic anti black terrorism
through systematic anti black terrorism including dozens of murders and
including dozens of murders and
including dozens of murders and assassinations by our local area
assassinations by our local area
assassinations by our local area chapters of the Knights of the white
chapters of the Knights of the white
chapters of the Knights of the white camellia and the white lead myth Jim
camellia and the white lead myth Jim
camellia and the white lead myth Jim Crow segregation wasn’t so bad around
Crow segregation wasn’t so bad around
Crow segregation wasn’t so bad around here fact state imposed segregation was
here fact state imposed segregation was
here fact state imposed segregation was intense pervasive and systematic besides
intense pervasive and systematic besides
intense pervasive and systematic besides extensive physical separation there were
extensive physical separation there were
extensive physical separation there were extremely few options for blacks when it
extremely few options for blacks when it
extremely few options for blacks when it came to careers or education they had no
came to careers or education they had no
came to careers or education they had no political se and all this was enforced
political se and all this was enforced
political se and all this was enforced against them by violence when needed and
against them by violence when needed and
against them by violence when needed and most cities in our region went even
most cities in our region went even
most cities in our region went even beyond this Lafayette Parish had several
beyond this Lafayette Parish had several
beyond this Lafayette Parish had several lynchings the city of Lafayette actually
lynchings the city of Lafayette actually
lynchings the city of Lafayette actually made interracial friendship a crime and
made interracial friendship a crime and
made interracial friendship a crime and in 1923 the city passed an ordinance
in 1923 the city passed an ordinance
in 1923 the city passed an ordinance dictating only two areas of the city
dictating only two areas of the city
dictating only two areas of the city where blacks could live or own a
where blacks could live or own a
where blacks could live or own a business in short in our region South
business in short in our region South
business in short in our region South Central Louisiana whites of all
Central Louisiana whites of all
Central Louisiana whites of all backgrounds French Spanish English
backgrounds French Spanish English
backgrounds French Spanish English German and others severely oppressed
German and others severely oppressed
German and others severely oppressed black people yet the Lost Cause hid most
black people yet the Lost Cause hid most
black people yet the Lost Cause hid most of this history for example the leading
of this history for example the leading
of this history for example the leading academic book on Lafayette Parish
academic book on Lafayette Parish
academic book on Lafayette Parish history was published in 1959 out of
history was published in 1959 out of
history was published in 1959 out of nearly 300 pages it contains only a six
nearly 300 pages it contains only a six
nearly 300 pages it contains only a six page chapter on black history just last
page chapter on black history just last
page chapter on black history just last month I visited a museum in our region
month I visited a museum in our region
month I visited a museum in our region that had exhibits to local cotton and
that had exhibits to local cotton and
that had exhibits to local cotton and sugar cane production in the early 1800s
sugar cane production in the early 1800s
sugar cane production in the early 1800s these industries were based on enslaved
these industries were based on enslaved
these industries were based on enslaved labor yet there was not one reference in
labor yet there was not one reference in
labor yet there was not one reference in these exhibits to slavery or any one of
these exhibits to slavery or any one of
these exhibits to slavery or any one of African descent a Confederate monument
African descent a Confederate monument
African descent a Confederate monument in st. Landry Parish was built in the
in st. Landry Parish was built in the
in st. Landry Parish was built in the 1920s as part of the Lost Cause movement
1920s as part of the Lost Cause movement
1920s as part of the Lost Cause movement this monument also happens to stand at
this monument also happens to stand at
this monument also happens to stand at the same location as the Opelousas
the same location as the Opelousas
the same location as the Opelousas massacre committed by White’s against
massacre committed by White’s against
massacre committed by White’s against Blacks during Reconstruction it was one
Blacks during Reconstruction it was one
Blacks during Reconstruction it was one of the worst acts of domestic terrorism
of the worst acts of domestic terrorism
of the worst acts of domestic terrorism in US history
in US history
in US history if there is no memorial to the victims
if there is no memorial to the victims
if there is no memorial to the victims indeed we’ve had no problem remembering
indeed we’ve had no problem remembering
indeed we’ve had no problem remembering Confederate soldiers from our region for
Confederate soldiers from our region for
Confederate soldiers from our region for the last 150 years yet there were also
the last 150 years yet there were also
the last 150 years yet there were also many black soldiers from our region that
many black soldiers from our region that
many black soldiers from our region that fought for the Union such as Auguste
fought for the Union such as Auguste
fought for the Union such as Auguste Bernard from Lafayette Parish and
Bernard from Lafayette Parish and
Bernard from Lafayette Parish and someone we just met Gordon from st.
someone we just met Gordon from st.
someone we just met Gordon from st. Landry Parish indeed a monument in
Landry Parish indeed a monument in
Landry Parish indeed a monument in Washington DC even honors our region’s
Washington DC even honors our region’s
Washington DC even honors our region’s black Union veterans by name yet locally
black Union veterans by name yet locally
black Union veterans by name yet locally we’ve forgotten they even existed a
we’ve forgotten they even existed a
we’ve forgotten they even existed a mural created in the year 2010 showcases
mural created in the year 2010 showcases
mural created in the year 2010 showcases the major white ethnic groups that
the major white ethnic groups that
the major white ethnic groups that founded the city of New Iberia absent
founded the city of New Iberia absent
founded the city of New Iberia absent from this mural are enslaved blacks even
from this mural are enslaved blacks even
from this mural are enslaved blacks even though they were a third of the founding
though they were a third of the founding
though they were a third of the founding population and over 60% of that
population and over 60% of that
population and over 60% of that population by 1860 the only portrayal of
population by 1860 the only portrayal of
population by 1860 the only portrayal of black people is a musical band located
black people is a musical band located
black people is a musical band located in a tiny section of the mirror and this
in a tiny section of the mirror and this
in a tiny section of the mirror and this absence is even more profound in our
absence is even more profound in our
absence is even more profound in our official regional flag which represents
official regional flag which represents
official regional flag which represents only French and Spanish heritage this
only French and Spanish heritage this
only French and Spanish heritage this means that in our most common visible
means that in our most common visible
means that in our most common visible representation of our region’s heritage
representation of our region’s heritage
representation of our region’s heritage African heritage a major part of our
African heritage a major part of our
African heritage a major part of our heritage is invisible and far beyond
heritage is invisible and far beyond
heritage is invisible and far beyond questions of accuracy these symbols have
questions of accuracy these symbols have
questions of accuracy these symbols have enormous meaning just like family
enormous meaning just like family
enormous meaning just like family portraits they reveal who we value or do
portraits they reveal who we value or do
portraits they reveal who we value or do not value as members of our community
not value as members of our community
not value as members of our community now our local historical accuracy is
now our local historical accuracy is
now our local historical accuracy is improving but much of our region’s
improving but much of our region’s
improving but much of our region’s history telling as you can see still
history telling as you can see still
history telling as you can see still treats African Americans almost as if
treats African Americans almost as if
treats African Americans almost as if they’ve never existed here and really in
they’ve never existed here and really in
they’ve never existed here and really in our region there is no such thing as
our region there is no such thing as
our region there is no such thing as black history or white history there’s
black history or white history there’s
black history or white history there’s only our history a history of deeply
only our history a history of deeply
only our history a history of deeply inner woven interaction and so
inner woven interaction and so
inner woven interaction and so historical accuracy means historical
historical accuracy means historical
historical accuracy means historical inclusiveness by telling our shared
inclusiveness by telling our shared
inclusiveness by telling our shared history in schools museums books films
history in schools museums books films
history in schools museums books films murals monuments and cultural tours
historical honesty is so vital because
historical honesty is so vital because historical denial is so dangerous those
historical denial is so dangerous those
historical denial is so dangerous those who forget the past are doomed to repeat
who forget the past are doomed to repeat
who forget the past are doomed to repeat it and historical denial makes extreme
it and historical denial makes extreme
it and historical denial makes extreme beliefs like white supremacy seem not so
beliefs like white supremacy seem not so
beliefs like white supremacy seem not so bad especially when it falsely proclaims
bad especially when it falsely proclaims
bad especially when it falsely proclaims to promote racial harmony just last year
to promote racial harmony just last year
to promote racial harmony just last year at a Lafayette City Council meeting an
at a Lafayette City Council meeting an
at a Lafayette City Council meeting an older white gentleman defending our
older white gentleman defending our
older white gentleman defending our local Confederate monument claimed we’ve
local Confederate monument claimed we’ve
local Confederate monument claimed we’ve never had a race problem around here
historical denial also perpetuates
historical denial also perpetuates discrimination the Lost Cause narrative
discrimination the Lost Cause narrative
discrimination the Lost Cause narrative taught that enslaved blacks were happy
taught that enslaved blacks were happy
taught that enslaved blacks were happy and loyal but free blacks were dumb lazy
and loyal but free blacks were dumb lazy
and loyal but free blacks were dumb lazy and untrustworthy so even though slavery
and untrustworthy so even though slavery
and untrustworthy so even though slavery had ended these beliefs led southern
had ended these beliefs led southern
had ended these beliefs led southern whites to impose yet another hundred
whites to impose yet another hundred
whites to impose yet another hundred years of severe racial oppression this
years of severe racial oppression this
years of severe racial oppression this happened as recently as your parents or
happened as recently as your parents or
happened as recently as your parents or grandparents lives or perhaps your own
grandparents lives or perhaps your own
grandparents lives or perhaps your own life it’s not surprising then that we
life it’s not surprising then that we
life it’s not surprising then that we still suffer in the lingering effects of
still suffer in the lingering effects of
still suffer in the lingering effects of this discrimination as just one of many
this discrimination as just one of many
this discrimination as just one of many possible examples remember that
possible examples remember that
possible examples remember that ordinance I mentioned that the city of
ordinance I mentioned that the city of
ordinance I mentioned that the city of Lafayette passed in 1923 segregating
Lafayette passed in 1923 segregating
Lafayette passed in 1923 segregating blacks to only two neighborhoods that
blacks to only two neighborhoods that
blacks to only two neighborhoods that ordinance was a century ago yet we still
ordinance was a century ago yet we still
ordinance was a century ago yet we still see the same residential patterns today
see the same residential patterns today
see the same residential patterns today in racial maps of the city
historical denial also marginalizes
historical denial also marginalizes people it says you and your experience
people it says you and your experience
people it says you and your experience don’t matter this isn’t just wrong it’s
don’t matter this isn’t just wrong it’s
don’t matter this isn’t just wrong it’s foolish because it hurts everyone we
foolish because it hurts everyone we
foolish because it hurts everyone we can’t come together solve our common
can’t come together solve our common
can’t come together solve our common problems if our shared stories leave out
problems if our shared stories leave out
problems if our shared stories leave out many of us and how can we move forward
many of us and how can we move forward
many of us and how can we move forward together if we can’t even admit the past
together if we can’t even admit the past
together if we can’t even admit the past honesty is a critical foundation for any
honesty is a critical foundation for any
honesty is a critical foundation for any relationship a friendship business
relationship a friendship business
relationship a friendship business partnership or marriage likewise to have
partnership or marriage likewise to have
partnership or marriage likewise to have racial unity we must have racial honesty
racial unity we must have racial honesty
racial unity we must have racial honesty of course we’re not responsible for what
of course we’re not responsible for what
of course we’re not responsible for what our ancestors did but we are responsible
our ancestors did but we are responsible
our ancestors did but we are responsible for what we do now and this
for what we do now and this
for what we do now and this marginalization I’m talking about is
marginalization I’m talking about is
marginalization I’m talking about is happening now so ask yourself how
happening now so ask yourself how
happening now so ask yourself how complete and accurate is your local
complete and accurate is your local
complete and accurate is your local history and how can you improve that
history and how can you improve that
history and how can you improve that luckily the answer is really simple
luckily the answer is really simple
luckily the answer is really simple honest conversation you could perhaps
honest conversation you could perhaps
honest conversation you could perhaps share what you learned today with at
share what you learned today with at
share what you learned today with at least two people and hopefully many more
least two people and hopefully many more
least two people and hopefully many more if you see a local school or museum is
if you see a local school or museum is
if you see a local school or museum is leaving out important history ask that
leaving out important history ask that
leaving out important history ask that it be talked you could write an article
it be talked you could write an article
it be talked you could write an article or book filling in missing local history
or book filling in missing local history
or book filling in missing local history but that’s okay that’s too much just
but that’s okay that’s too much just
but that’s okay that’s too much just update a Wikipedia entry if you see a
update a Wikipedia entry if you see a
update a Wikipedia entry if you see a monument to racial oppression ask your
monument to racial oppression ask your
monument to racial oppression ask your local officials that it be moved to a
local officials that it be moved to a
local officials that it be moved to a museum where the history of that
museum where the history of that
museum where the history of that oppression can be told so that it never
oppression can be told so that it never
oppression can be told so that it never happens again and if you see a symbol of
happens again and if you see a symbol of
happens again and if you see a symbol of your community that leaves out a major
your community that leaves out a major
your community that leaves out a major portion of your community ask that that
portion of your community ask that that
portion of your community ask that that group be included in the symbol insist
group be included in the symbol insist
group be included in the symbol insist that the invisible be made visible as a
that the invisible be made visible as a
that the invisible be made visible as a positive example in 1999 the University
positive example in 1999 the University
positive example in 1999 the University of Louisiana improved the historical
of Louisiana improved the historical
of Louisiana improved the historical accuracy of its official seal so that it
accuracy of its official seal so that it
accuracy of its official seal so that it now reflects our region’s French Spanish
now reflects our region’s French Spanish
now reflects our region’s French Spanish and West African heritage now visibility
and West African heritage now visibility
and West African heritage now visibility is only the first step but it is
is only the first step but it is
is only the first step but it is essential being seen is critical to
essential being seen is critical to
essential being seen is critical to mutual respect and dialogue yet I’ll
mutual respect and dialogue yet I’ll
mutual respect and dialogue yet I’ll warn you if you tell accurate history
warn you if you tell accurate history
warn you if you tell accurate history you may have your character attacked by
you may have your character attacked by
you may have your character attacked by historical deniers this has happened to
historical deniers this has happened to
historical deniers this has happened to me and others I know locally and this
me and others I know locally and this
me and others I know locally and this intimidation often succeeds
intimidation often succeeds
intimidation often succeeds I’ve spoken with local leaders both
I’ve spoken with local leaders both
I’ve spoken with local leaders both white and black who admit privately that
white and black who admit privately that
white and black who admit privately that the lost cause narrative is false but
the lost cause narrative is false but
the lost cause narrative is false but they’re afraid to say so publicly for
they’re afraid to say so publicly for
they’re afraid to say so publicly for fear of losing their jobs their social
fear of losing their jobs their social
fear of losing their jobs their social status no one should be afraid to tell
status no one should be afraid to tell
status no one should be afraid to tell the truth and it’s important that this
the truth and it’s important that this
the truth and it’s important that this truth be told so I’m giving this talk
truth be told so I’m giving this talk
truth be told so I’m giving this talk today let’s end the dangerous lies of
today let’s end the dangerous lies of
today let’s end the dangerous lies of the lost cause of the Confederacy let’s
the lost cause of the Confederacy let’s
the lost cause of the Confederacy let’s end the dangerous lies of any type of
end the dangerous lies of any type of
end the dangerous lies of any type of historical denial anywhere we’ve adapted
historical denial anywhere we’ve adapted
historical denial anywhere we’ve adapted to lies now let’s adapt to truth and we
to lies now let’s adapt to truth and we
to lies now let’s adapt to truth and we wouldn’t be alone all around the world
wouldn’t be alone all around the world
wouldn’t be alone all around the world numerous groups of people have admitted
numerous groups of people have admitted
numerous groups of people have admitted the truth about past wrongdoing
the truth about past wrongdoing
the truth about past wrongdoing committed by themselves or their
committed by themselves or their
committed by themselves or their ancestors in order to bring
ancestors in order to bring
ancestors in order to bring reconciliation between themselves and
reconciliation between themselves and
reconciliation between themselves and the people that were hurt let’s join
the people that were hurt let’s join
the people that were hurt let’s join them in courageously embracing
them in courageously embracing
them in courageously embracing historical honesty along with what
historical honesty along with what
historical honesty along with what honesty brings empathy compassion
honesty brings empathy compassion
honesty brings empathy compassion understanding forgiveness and healing if
understanding forgiveness and healing if
understanding forgiveness and healing if we all come together we can restore
we all come together we can restore
we all come together we can restore everyone to our community portraits what
everyone to our community portraits what
everyone to our community portraits what was torn apart can be made whole and
was torn apart can be made whole and
was torn apart can be made whole and that’s the power that’s the power of
that’s the power that’s the power of
that’s the power that’s the power of historical honesty
”
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