Wednesday, February 20, 2019

 

At the Women's Center with Patricia and Dr. Amber

This morning we woke up around 8:15, and started our day off with a drive to the Women’s Center for Healing. There we talked with LaToya Johnson, Patricia Stout, and Dr. Amber Picou. We discussed feminism, what the center does or tries to do to help with issues such as domestic abuse and the wage gap. The three challenged us to assess our own perception of feminism. Ms. Myers added that the most important thing we can do to help bring about equality is to use our vote to make our voices heard in the upcoming election.

After the Women’s Center, we returned to the house to eat lunch before making a long drive to the Whitney Plantation. During the drive, we crossed the 24-mile bridge over Lake Pontchartrain. This bridge was so long that you could not see the other side.

Sugar pots used to boil sugar cane

Whitney Plantation, sculptures of slave children in the church

Once we arrived at the plantation, we spent about half an hour perusing the museum and gift shop they had. Then, we started our tour, with Ali, the tour guide. He was a captivating host, as he described to us the struggles of the enslaved on plantations. He also described the economic state of mind that the white colonizers used to organize slavery, and the mental and emotional torture that they strategically used to enforce slavery. We saw the houses the slaves would have lived in, the main house that the owners would stay in, and quotes from the slaves, as the plantation focused on the perspective of the enslaved, especially slave children.

The main house at Whitney Plantation

Then, we returned to the church for a potluck dinner with members of the community. There were many delicious dishes, and we got to talk with the people who live near here. The group split up in order to meet and learn from new people. When dinner ended, we helped clean up, and then walked back to the house, where we are looking forward to our day at the school tomorrow.

At the NSUU Church with Ruth and Colleen

Brendan Downey and Ethan Lunny