247. Jeremy K. Simien, part 1

247. Black History Month. Part 1 of our interview with Jeremy Simien. Jeremy studies the history of Louisiana's Free People of Color. He has also gathered a large collection of their personal possessions, especially pictures and portraits. Les gens de couleur libres were people of variant degrees of African descent who were either born free, liberated, or purchased their own freedom during the antebellum period. In their height, these people of African descent accounted for 1/5th of the population of New Orleans, owned ¹⁄₃ of the property in the Vieux Carré or “French Quarter” and had an 80% literacy rate. This important group consisted of planters, skilled tradesman, inventors and real-estate developers/speculators.

1. This week in Louisiana history. February 10, 1763. The Treaty of Paris gave Louisiana Colony to Spain.
2. This week in New Orleans history. The port of New Orleans and the Louisiana Territory west of the Mississippi were ceded to Spain on February 10, 1763, by Article 7 of the Treaty of Paris.
3. This week in Louisiana. Mardi Gras, Fat Tuesday, will next be celebrated in Louisiana on Tuesday, February 13, 2018. Included here is a list of highlights of the extensive Mardi Gras carnival season scheduled in Louisiana during 2018, focusing on long-running Krewes and those with widespread appeal. Laissez le bon temps rouler!
   
4. Postcards from Louisiana. Bruce listens to the brass band Baby David and the Freeloaders in the Buckshot Bourbon St. Drinkery.

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