*For the first time in history, one of the most extensive plantations associated with a slave revolt in Louisiana is now Black-owned.
More than two centuries ago, numerous enslaved individuals fled a plantation in LaPlace, embarking on a march along the Mississippi River toward New Orleans. Today, the site of this uprising is owned by The Descendants Project nonprofit, WWL Louisiana reports.
Officials from The Descendants Project recently revealed that they acquired the 1811 Kid Ory Historic House.
“This is an extremely important historic site to this legacy of resistance,” said Joy Banner, co-founder of The Descendants Project, during a livestream of the announcement on Feb. 15.
The Descendants Project was established to safeguard the Black descendant community in Louisiana’s River Parishes, WWL Louisiana reports.
“Throughout St. John the Baptist Parish, important sites like this one were in danger of being erased,” Joy Banner said. “We believe that preservation of these sites is more important than ever because of the attacks on Black history in our education system in particular. Sites like these will have to be the ones telling these stories.”
Joy and her twin sister and fellow founder, Dr. Joy Banner, hope to use the space as a “cultural institution of education” and also for doing “archaeological and genealogical projects on plantation grounds, where they said they believe historical artifacts and information could still be found.”
On the future uses of the plantation, the Banners will seek input from the Black community.
“I know a lot of times we see properties like this used for bachelorette parties or used for banquets and all of that,” Jo said, according to WWLTV. “This plantation will not be used for that.”
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