670. Sophie White

670. Sophie White joins us to discuss her book, Voices of the Enslaved: Love, Labor, and Longing in French Louisiana. Sophie also has a companion website, "Voices of the Enslaved: A Digital Humanities Approach to Encountering the Archive." This website is well worth your time. It has an article on the earliest reference to voudou, for example, with primary documents and detailed analysis. In Voices of the Enslaved: Love, Labor, and Longing in French Louisiana, Sophie White uncovers a rare and startling "soundscape" of the 18th century. While most history books treat enslaved people as silent statistics, White mines the meticulously recorded trial records of the Louisiana Superior Council to find something revolutionary: the direct testimony of over 150 men and women. From the defiant words of Marguerite in a New Orleans courtroom to the intimate "maroon" love story of Kenet and Jean-Baptiste, these are not just legal responses — they are "accidental" autobiographies. Through White’s lyrical analysis, we move beyond the violence of the plantation and into the interior lives of those who refused to be erased, revealing a world of sophisticated material culture, complex kinship, and an unyielding insistence on their own humanity. Sophie White is a Professor of American Studies at the University of Notre Dame, where she holds concurrent appointments in History, Africana Studies, and Gender Studies. A native of Mauritius, her unique perspective on French colonial legacies and "othering" has made her a premier historian of the Atlantic World.

1. Now available: Liberty in Louisiana: A Comedy. The oldest play about Louisiana, author James Workman wrote it as a celebration of the Louisiana Purchase. Now it is back in print for the first time in 222 years. Order your copy today!
2. This week in the Louisiana Anthology. Mary Ashley Townsend 'Down the Bayou,'
   WE drifted down the long lagoon,
   My Love, my Summer Love and I,
   Far out of sight of all the town.
   The old Cathedral sinking down.
   With spire and cross, from view below
   The borders of St. John's bayou.
   As toward the ancient Spanish Fort,
   With steady prow and helm a-port,
   We drifted down, my Love and I.
   Beneath an azure April sky.
   My Love and I, my Love and I,
      Just at the hour of noon.
   
3. This week in Louisiana history. March 20, 1839. Shreveport become a "city" on the northern end of the Red River.
4. This week in New Orleans history. On March 20, 2020, New Orleans recorded its first death from COVID-19, marking a somber turning point for the city. This event prompted Mayor LaToya Cantrell to issue a formal "Stay at Home" order just five days later to combat the rapid spread of the virus.
5. This week in Louisiana.
   St. Joseph Catholic Church Lenten Fish Fry
   204 Patton Avenue
   Shreveport, LA 71105
   March 20, 2026 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM
   Website: stjosephchurch.net
   Email: office@stjosephchurch.net
   Phone: (318) 865‑3581
   Plates typically range from $10'$15, with combo options available.
   St. Joseph's Fish Fry is a long‑running Shreveport Lenten tradition, known for generous portions, friendly volunteers, and a steady community turnout each year:
   
• Seafood Plates: Fried fish or shrimp with classic sides, plus limited combo plates.
• Dine‑In or Drive‑Thru: Efficient service for families and commuters.
• Community Support: Proceeds benefit parish ministries, school programs, and local outreach.
6. Postcards from Louisiana. Florida Street Blowhards at LSU. 

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