318. Nick Douglas, part 2

318. Part 2 of our interview with Nick Douglas, author of Finding Octave. With a flash of recognition, the author meets the gaze of his ancestor in a sepia-toned photo. Knowing next to nothing about this man, his great-great-grandfather Octave, he follows two families that lead to his own. On a journey stretching from Haiti to India, and back to the 16th century, the author's adventures strangely echo those of his ancestors. Finding Octave finds an America where "free people of color"-unfettered blacks, Indians and Creoles-had power and wealth that whites struggled to claim as their own. In this pre-Civil War America, blacks negotiated their own freedom from slavery. Some chose to be slaveholders themselves. Confronting the terrible truth about slavery within his family, the author uncovers an American secret.

1. This week in Louisiana history. June 22, 1983. Louisiana repeals last racial classification laws.
2. This week in New Orleans history. June 22, 1947. Pistol Pete Maravich is Born.
   
3. This week in Louisiana.
   June 28-29, 2019
   Beauregard Watermelon Festival
   Louisiana Fun, Sugartown Sweet
   313 W. 1st St.
   DeRidder, LA 70634
   (337) 463-5534
   Friday 4 pm - 12 am
   Saturday 10 am - 12 am
   Watermelon carving, seed spitting and eating contest, biggest watermelon contest, frozen t-shirt contest, watermelon pageant.
   
4. Postcards from Louisiana. Bruce interviews Anonymous for the Voiceless in Jackson Square. They're an animal rights group.

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