Saturday, February 22, 2014

40. Interview with poet Mona Lisa Saloy, Part 1.

40.  Part 1 of our interview with Mona Lisa Saloy, Author & Folklorist, Educator, and Scholar.  An award-winning author of contemporary Creole culture in poems about Black New Orleans before and after Katrina, as a Folklorist, Saloy documents sidewalk songs, jump-rope rhymes, and clap-hand games to discuss the importance of play.  As a poet, her first book, Red Beans & Ricely Yours,  won the T.S. Eliot Prize and the PEN/Oakland Josephine Miles Award and tied for a third. She's written on the significance of the Black Beat poets, on the African American Toasting Tradition, on Black & Creole talk, on conditions  and keeping Creole after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, and her new book, Second Line Home,  is a refreshing collection of poems that captures the day-to-day New Orleans speech, contemplates family dynamics, celebrates New Orleans, and all in a way everyday people can enjoy.
  1. This week in Louisiana history. Feb 22-23, 1895.  Largest snowfall recorded in Lake Charles - 22 inches.
  2. This week in Louisiana. 
    Cajun Country Mardi Gras
    Downtown Eunice, 300 S. Second St.
    Eunice, LA 70535
    337-457-7389 | Fax: 337-457-2565
    Five day celebration beginning the Friday before Mardi Gras Day. Jam sessions, street dances, cooking demos, Mardi Gras Exhibits and special Liberty Theatre show. Les Jeunes and Lil' Mardi Gras runs for children on the Saturday and Sunday. Old time boucherie on the Sunday. Mardi Gras Day activities include traditional Courir de Mardi Gras and downtown daylong celebration - live Cajun, Creole and Zydeco music and dancing,ff food, children's walking parade and return of revelers.
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Friday, February 14, 2014

39. Interview with Daniel Rasmussen, Author of American Uprising

39.  We talk to Daniel Rasmussen about the German Coast Uprising, January 1811.  It was the largest slave uprising in the United States history, with effects that are still felt.
  1. This week in Louisiana history. February 16 1724 Gov. Beinville was recalled to France in disgrace. 
  2. This week in Louisiana.  February 15, 2014
    Krewe of Janus Mardi Gras Parade
    Streets of Monroe/West Monroe, Monroe, LA 71201
    Family friendly Mardi Gras parade rolling through the heart of downtown West Monroe and crossing the bridge into Monroe.  The Krewe was established in 1984; by 2013, the crowd for the parade numbered around 175,000.   
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Friday, February 7, 2014

38 Interview With Reginald Owens, Part 2

38.  We finished talking to Dr. Reginald Owens, who was a student at Louisiana Tech during the early days of integration and the first African-American editor of the Tech Talk, Tech's student newspaper.  Now he has come full circle, having returned to Tech as the head of the Journalism Department. He is also the director of the news bureau at Louisiana Tech University in Ruston. He is an associate professor and holds the F. Jay Taylor Endowed Chair of Journalism. He teaches news writing, media and culture, advertising, public relations and civic journalism. He also works with The Tech Talk student newspaper and Lagniappe student yearbook. Research interests include the social history of the African-American press, race and diversity in the media, and African-American tourism.
  1. This week in Louisiana history. February 8, 1898 Grandfather clause enacted for anti-voting purposes.Louisiana the first state to enact it. If your ancestor voted in 1867 or before, you didn't have to take tests or pay poll taxes.
  2. This week in Louisiana. February 15, 2014
    Fasching Karneval & Parade
    Downtown Minden
    Minden, LA 71058
    318-371-4258
    Celebrating our German Heritage! "Fasching" is the German version of Mardi Gras. Karneval activities 10am until dark. Parade at 2:00pm. Enjoy German food, music, vendors and fun. 
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