673. Leslie Bary, Part 1

673. Part 1 of our conversation about prison reform with returning guest Leslie Bary. In this episode, we discuss Leslie Bary’s recent article, “From Angola with Love: Activism, Academics, and the Abolitionist Future,” which chronicles her thirty-year journey providing post-conviction relief and solidarity for death row and maximum-security prisoners at the Louisiana State Penitentiary. Leslie examines the intersection of praxis and theory, the limitations of the prison-industrial complex, and the evolving relationship between academic work and abolitionist activism. Leslie Bary is an Assistant Professor of Spanish and Latin American Studies at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, where she specializes in Latin American literature and cultural theory. A Comparative Literature scholar with a Ph.D. from UC Berkeley, her work often bridges the gap between literary studies and humanitarian support, including recent efforts assisting ICE detainees in Louisiana.

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.
   Kevin Cutrer. 'The School Custodian on the Birds and the Bees.'
   I'd say consult your biology book
   but textbooks never cover looks
   exchanged across the lunchroom table:
   the language is too ' clinical,
   no boy meets girl, just sperm meets egg.
   I guess by now you've discovered legs as if they were a phenomenon never before stumbled upon. This doesn't make you Ponce de L'on. You're just a part of the old pattern everyone sees, but no one learns in time to do them any good.
   
3. This week in Louisiana history. April 10, 1824. French Marquis de Lafayette arrived in New Orleans.
4. This week in New Orleans history. April 10, 1845: The French Opera House opened its doors at the corner of Bourbon and Toulouse Streets, serving as the cultural heart of the city for over 70 years.
5. This week in Louisiana.
   Books Along the Teche Literary Festival.
   102 W. Main Street
   New Iberia, LA 70560
   Hours: Various event times (Friday evening through Sunday)
   Website: booksalongthetecheliteraryfestival.com
   Email: info@booksalongtheteche.com
   Phone: (337) 364-6114
   This festival celebrates the literary culture of South Louisiana with a focus on the works of James Lee Burke:
   
   • Dave Robicheaux's Hometown: Take guided tours of the locations made famous in Burke's mystery novels set in New Iberia and the surrounding bayous.
   • Authors on the Teche: The event features readings and workshops from celebrated regional authors and poets.
   • Cajun Culture): Enjoy live music, local cuisine, and the "Great Southern Writer" symposium held in the historic Sliman Theater.
     
6. Postcards from Louisiana. Felix's Restaurant and Oyster Bar.           

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