"Overcoming obstacles, learning from mistakes, staying focused on goals despite challenges, discovering and taking advantage of our strengths, are some of the teachings of Marguerite"
WHO WAS MARGUERITE?
In the shadows of the Destrehan plantation's history, the name "Marguerite" emerges, a whisper that transports us to a time of injustice and resistance. Although historical records do not reveal specific details about her life, her name evokes a world of possibilities and invites us to reflect on the countless experiences of a women who lived and fought in that context.
Marguerite may have been an enslaved woman, subjected to forced labor and family separation, but also a bearer of hope and strength. Her name symbolizes the beauty and courage that resided within her, despite the adversities.
She was a woman of color, navigating a world of discrimination and legal limitations, but with unwavering determination. Her name, like a delicate but resilient flower, represents the ability to flourish even in the most difficult conditions.
Without doubt, she was a sweety girl, facing the challenges of childhood on the plantation Destrehan with courage and resilience. Her name, like a ray of light in the darkness, reminds us of the innocence and hope that persists even in the darkest moments.
Marguerite's Legacy
Although her individual story remains shrouded in mystery, Marguerite invites us to explore the lives of the women on the Destrehan plantation and to recognize their strength, resilience, and contribution to history.
Through her name, we can:
Honor the memory of women who faced slavery and discrimination with courage and dignity.
Recognize the importance of their stories, even if they are not recorded in history books.
Commit to fighting injustice and inequality in all its forms, so that the legacy of Margarita and all women like her is not forgotten.
The Search Continues
Although the details of Marguerite's life remain an enigma, her name inspires us to continue researching and learning about the history of slavery and resistance at the Destrehan Plantation and elsewhere. Through exploring historical records, secondary sources, and visiting historic sites, we can discover more about the experiences of women like Marguerite and honor their legacy.
A name whispered in the wind of history, Marguerite reminds us that even in the darkest of times, hope and resistance can flourish. Her legacy inspires us to continue fighting for a world where freedom and equality are a reality for all, no matter their background or circumstances.
LEARNING FROM MARGUERITE
Mentoring is a supportive and learning relationship in which a person with more experience and knowledge (the mentor) guides and advises another person with less experience (the mentee) to help them develop their personal and professional potential.
Without a doubt, Marguerite is a Mentor from the past, for the people of the present, because we can learn the following from it
1. Resilience and overcoming adversity, developing skills to overcome obstacles, learning from mistakes and staying focused on goals despite challenges.
2. Empowerment through knowledge and skills, discovering and leveraging strengths.
3. Finding purpose and meaning in work, discovering passion and meaning in activities, both professional and personal.
4. Importance of active listening and empathy, these skills are essential to establish a relationship of trust and mutual support.
By applying these principles, Maggie’s case can serve as an inspiring guide for mentors and mentees, fostering personal growth, empowerment and social transformation.
THE MEETING WITH MARGUERITE
In March of this 2024, I had the opportunity to return to New Orleans, a vibrant and multicultural city, where African, Latin American, Spanish and French influences intertwine in a rich cultural fusion. Famous for its festivals, infectious music and flavorful cuisine, New Orleans is a must-see tourist destination. Events such as Mardi Gras, Jazz Fest and the Sugar Bowl attract visitors from all over the world, keeping the city in constant celebration.
VIEW OF DOWNTOWN NEW ORLEANS FROM A STEAMBOAT
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Although this was my third visit to cosmopolitan New Orleans, it was at the urging of my daughters that I finally explored the plantations, a historic treasure trove that houses Louisiana’s most impressive collection of former plantations. Each one transports us back to a bygone era, surrounded by stately pre-Civil War mansions, working fields, and meticulously maintained gardens and grounds.
NEW ORLEANS Blends Unique Culture and Vibrant Music Environment
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The city was a melting pot of cultures, where African, European and Caribbean influences fused. African slaves brought with them their musical traditions, such as work rhythms and songs, which mixed with European music, giving rise to new forms of musical expression.
In the early 20th century, New Orleans had a very active music scene, with bands playing in bars, clubs, and dance halls. This atmosphere of constant musical exchange fostered experimentation and innovation. It was home to some of the most influential jazz musicians in history, including Louis Armstrong, Jelly Roll Morton, Buddy Bolden, and Sidney Bechet. Their talents and contributions helped establish jazz as an important musical genre.
It is important to note that Congo Square in New Orleans was a key public space for the development of jazz. African slaves gathered there on Sundays to play music and dance, keeping their traditions alive and creating new forms of musical expression. New Orleans musicians developed new techniques and styles of playing, such as collective improvisation and the use of instruments such as the trumpet, trombone and clarinet. These innovations laid the groundwork for modern jazz.
As New Orleans musicians traveled to other cities, they brought jazz with them, which quickly spread throughout the United States and the world.
On this revealing cultural immersion trip, in addition to exploring the most authentic corners of New Orleans, we visited several plantations. Among them, the "Destrehan Plantation" which had a profound impact on me. There I learned the story of Marguerite, an enslaved woman who lived and died on the plantation at the end of the 18th century, which moved me to the point of feeling her spirit and presence. In a gesture of affection and respect, I called her "Maggie."
The Dark History of Louisiana
Louisiana is deeply intertwined with the transatlantic slave trade. Beginning in the late 17th century, enslaved Africans began arriving in the region, brought to work on the burgeoning plantations of cash crops like sugar, cotton, and indigo. These people, separated from their families and cultures, faced unimaginable hardships. Yet in the face of oppression, they found ways to resist, maintain their traditions, and even leave their mark on Louisiana’s unique cultural fabric.
It was a period of immense upheaval and suffering for Africans who were forcibly removed from their homelands and enslaved in the burgeoning colony of Louisiana.
Amidst this systemic brutality, stories of resilience, survival and preservation of cultural identity emerged.
One such story is that of Maggie, a woman whose life as a cook and laundress on the Destrechan plantation offers insight into the complex lives of enslaved individuals.
Maggie's story offers a glimpse into slavery in the United States of America. The first Africans brought to Louisiana were part of a desperate effort by the French Crown to introduce enough population to the new colony to prevent it from failing.
It is known that a large percentage of Africans who arrived in French Louisiana between 1720 and 1740 came from the area between the Gambia and Senegal rivers. The Bambara and the Mandingo were the two main tribes living in this area.
Many were skilled workers in agriculture and the manufacture of dyes and textiles. They also included doctors and nurses, carpenters, potters, tanners and builders.
Upon reaching the mouth of the Mississippi River, the captives learned of their new status as enslaved settlers. Louis XV's 1724 Edict called the Code Noir or Black Code regulated the legal status and treatment of black settlers arriving in Louisiana.
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Code Noir or Black Code
The first enslaved Africans built their own shelter. Their homes had dirt floors and were arranged in groups called camps. The relationship between the enslaved and those who owned them seemed to vary widely. For example, French and German families, who owned relatively few slaves, seemed to be the most likely to free them. Plantations with larger numbers of slaves rarely mentioned freeing a slave. On large plantations, slaves were more likely to be punished harshly. The Code Noir said that slaves could be shackled for punishment or beaten with a rope or rod.
The French government took its duty to bring enslaved blacks to Catholicism very seriously. Sunday was a day off. A slave could only work on Sunday with the consent of his master and was to be paid for Sunday work. Some slave couples were married in church, but most were not. Since the Black Code prohibited the separation of husband and wife, owners discouraged religious marriages, as they limited a slave's opportunities for sale.
In the mid-1760s, the shift from French to Spanish rule in St. Charles Parish began. The Spanish government opened the Louisiana colony to slave traders, and ships filled with abused human cargo began arriving in the port of New Orleans. Robin Delogny, the first owner of Destrehan Plantation, purchased land in the parish in 1783 to build a house and at the same time acquired 10 enslaved men, women, and two children, who were currently living on the land. One of them was Marguerite, a skilled cook and laundress, who came with her two sons Charlo and Noel.
After 1804, the sale of Louisiana to the United States of America brought changes to slavery in St. Charles Parish. Changes to the Black Code as Louisiana adapted to American rule brought more restrictions on the enslaved. The introduction of sugar cultivation meant that new residents such as Jean Noel Destrehan needed a larger workforce. Fifty-nine slaves were sufficient for indigo on Destrehan's plantation under Robin DeLogny, but Destrehan needed 100 for the cultivation and processing of sugar cane on the same land.
There was no legal recognition of marriages between slaves in American Louisiana. Slaves, among themselves, formed family groups and lived as husband and wife, with or without the formality of marriage allowed by the master.
Like most French Creole plantations in St. Charles Parish, Destrehan operated under the Creole management system. Evolved from the Code Noir, slaves worked from sunrise to 3:00 p.m. in the afternoon with the exception of harvest season, which was the most labor-intensive time for the enslaved. The plantation's slave laborers were divided into "gangs" or work groups based on their strength and ability.
The main gang consisted of about 20 of the strongest and most intelligent men on the plantation. The hoe gang consisted of both sexes, and women who nursed their children were placed on the nurse gang, which always worked closest to the living quarters. The trash gangs were children aged 10 years or older who picked peas, corn, raked hay or fodder, or performed other light tasks under the supervision of two or three older people.
Records indicate that there were over 200 slaves on the plantation before the Union took it over during the Civil War. In 1863, the Emancipation Proclamation freed those people who were enslaved in areas controlled by the Confederate States of America, but New Orleans and nearby river parishes were an exception as they were under Union control.
The Thirteenth Amendment passed by Congress on January 31, 1865, and ratified by the states on December 6, 1865, formally abolished slavery and involuntary servitude in the United States.
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From chains to culinary legacy: The resilience of Margarita and enslaved Africans in 18th-century Louisiana
Marguerite’s story, while shrouded in the limitations of historical records, is a testament to the ingenuity and strength of enslaved women. As a cook and laundress on Destrechan Plantation, her work was essential to the functioning of the plantation family. While she had no legal freedoms, Marguerite likely used her culinary skills to infuse her dishes with flavors and techniques from her African heritage. This subtle act of cultural preservation not only nourished the bodies of those she served, but also kept a connection to her past alive.
A legacy of resistance and resilience
Marguerite is like a seed planted in the fertile soil of memory, which blossoms into a garden of justice and equity. Her story, though fragmented, inspires us to weave a tapestry of humanity where every thread, every life, is valued and remembered. Her legacy impels us to build a future where freedom and dignity are not privileges, but inalienable rights for all.
Marguerite, though lost in the mists of time, reminds us that hope can flourish even in the darkest of places. Her spirit, like an unquenchable flame, lights our way to a better world.
During the Chicago Freedom Movement, Mahalia Jackson joined her friend, the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., when he was preaching a sermon on justice and equality in the Church. Jackson, known as the "Queen of Gospel Music," sang the spiritual "Joshua Fit/Fought the Battle of Jericho."
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REFERENCES:
1️⃣ The official travel site of the USA https://www.visittheusa.mx/experience/the-plantation-region-of-new-orleans-history-and-culture-of-louisiana
2️⃣ Desrtehan Plantation: https://www.destrehanplantation.org/history/the-enslaved
3️⃣ Herald AA Guide / Destrehan Plantation tells the whole story of slavery at the antebellum home / https://www.heraldguide.com/lifestyles/destrehan-plantation-tells-the-whole-story-of-slavery-at-the- antebellum-home/
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