This is the legendary Voodoo queen Marie Laveau's obituary from the New York Times. She was a free Black woman in New Orleans and her grave as well as tales of her are part of New Orleans legend. She is probably the most famous Black woman in New Orleans history. Mitch Landrieu proudly posed by a statue of her last year. She is a cornerstone of New Orleans history, folklore and the tourist industry.
But according to the logic of Mayor Landrieu and others, that needs to change. No praise or homage should ever be given to her... as she was a rabid supporter of the Confederacy!
From her obituary:
"Marie always remained true to the people of her section, and during
the war of the rebellion, she did all in her power to assist the
Southern interest,hiding and caring for the devotees of the "lost cause"
and their property, at the risk of her own goods and liberty."
THE DEAD VOUDOU QUEEN - MARIE LAVEAU'S PLACE IN THE HISTORY OF NEW-ORLEANS. - View Article - NYTimes.com
A most interesting woman with a most interesting life. Hard to believe out of
ReplyDeletefifteen children only one lived to adulthood.
Yes, very bad luck and although many children did not live to be adults, zero out of 15 is unheard of, I believe.
DeleteRev. Asbury Visits My (G,G,G Grandfather In 1801)
http://www.namsouth.com/viewtopic.php?t=42&highlight=pippen
"A dreary ride of 30 miles without food for man or beast, brought us to Joseph Pippen's; here we were kindly entertained: Our friend Pippen hath been settled in the Connecta Swamps for twenty years: he hath six children, and about fifty slaves, and never has had a death in his family: mercy and miracle, may they praise the Lord!"