Reflections in the Wake of the Gulf Coast Spill -Part 2
It’s ironic that the BP spill happened the week that we were celebrating the 40th anniversary of Earth Day. 40 years ago a dreadful oil spill washed up on the wide sandy shores of southern California. That will not be the case on the Gulf Coast.
read moreReflections in the Wake of the Gulf Coast Spill -Part 1
It’s ironic that the BP oil spill happened only a month after the Upper Big Branch Mine accident in West Virginia. The towns and hamlets along Louisiana’s marshy coast line have, as it turns out, some commonality with the coal mining towns of Appalachia.
read moreFrom Ain’ts to Saints- the Soul of New Orleans
A couple of nights ago, I posted a question of my Facebook page asking what people were planning to serve on Super Bowl Sunday. I got a response back from a friend saying, “This is going to come as a shock…but I have never seen a football game. Not in person. Not on television. My husband doesn't watch football. I bet he doesn't know the teams who are playing. I know- un-American.” Many probably do think it is un-American, no doubt, but a shock? Not exactly. I myself have always said Super Bowl is the perfect day to go out to a restaurant (they’re empty and quiet), and have never known before what teams are playing. But this year’s Super Bowl is about way more than football. The Saint’s have become the symbol and metaphor for the city of New Orleans, and its journey to recovery. Although the Super Bowl has been held many times in New Orleans, the Saints have never played in the Bowl. Now, this team made up of rejects, and often referred to in the past as the Aint’s, whose fans could be seen wearing paper bags over their heads at games, will be competing for the NFL championship. They have are now being referred to as “The Soul of New Orleans.” Wright Thompson of ESPN.com writes “They are a motley group, undrafted guys and late-round fliers, players cast off from other teams. (Drew) Brees landed in town after an injury convinced the Chargers that his best days were behind him. ‘When we came here,’ he has said, ‘I was in the process of rebuilding, as well.’” Fr. Tony Ricard of Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church, says as he finishes saying Mass in a Saints jersey, “the Saints have lifted the spirits of the whole city.” Even President Obama has cautiously weighed in saying, "You know, I think both teams are terrific. I guess I am rooting a little bit for the Saints as the underdog, partly just because when I think about what's happened in New Orleans over the last several years and how much that team means to them. You know, I'm pretty sympathetic." It’s an understatement to say the city is overflowing with civic pride, and all of us expatriates here in Los Angeles, will be glued to our television sets, as well. So next Sunday, my brothers, my uncle, my cousins and yes, even I, who has barely seen a football game in my life, will gather to celebrate my mother’s (a NOLA expatriate of over 50 years) birthday and to cheer on the Saints. We’ll be eating jambalaya, shrimp po’boys, potato salad, and red beans and rice- thanking God for Mother, and cheering on our Saints. So, I have two things to say- 1) don't rain on our parade, and 2) what will you be serving? Click on this link to hear Wright Thompson talk about "The Soul of New Orleans"...
read moreHaiti and New Orleans
I listened with empathy and a measure of recognition today, to newscasts interviewing Haitian expats in the U.S. Their voices tremble as they speak of anxiously awaiting news of the fate of their loved ones, and recounting a night of little or no sleep. Haiti and New Orleans have historic connections. Their people share a past of brutal plantation culture, slavery and a racial caste system under French colonists in the 17th and 18th century. The present day country of Haiti was formed in 1801, after an extremely bloody period of slave rebellion on the island of Saint Domingue in the 1790’s. The island was split into two countries (the other being Santo Domingo, or the modern day Dominican Republic), and many post-rebellion refugees from Saint Domingue eventually found a home in New Orleans. Ned Sublette, author of The World That Made New Orleans: From Spanish Silver to Congo Square writes “The southern United States was in a panic. The slaves of Saint-Domingue had risen up and killed slavery itself.” He further states that “Haiti was central to every major event in the hemisphere at the time, and most especially to the Louisiana Purchase. Slavery continued for in the southern United States for another 70 years…but the Haitian revolution was the turning point.” He also connects the slave rebellion with the French Revolution as a fundamental event in shaping the modern world. So perhaps, in some way, we all owe a debt to Haiti. New Orleans is often referred to as a Caribbean city, and many of its distinctive rhythms (along with the voodoo culture) arrived there directly from the islands of Saint Domingue and Cuba. It traded with the newly established nation of Haiti, long before the government of the United States recognized it as a nation. Unfortunately, the nation of Haiti has not fared well, suffering dictatorial governments, bruising poverty, and I might add, little or no help- and sometimes harm- from its huge northern neighbor. And the news of today’s earthquake is heart wrenching. As I said, I can empathize having seen my beloved city of New Orleans face an unprecedented disaster, and yet this is oh so much worse. I hope that if you have stuck with me this far, you will do whatever you can to help the citizens of Haiti now. I’ve listed below a few organizations that are on the front lines helping. Doctors without Borders Habitat for Humanity Oxfam The Clinton Foundation Yele Haiti Also, you may text "Yele" to 501501 and $5 will be charged to your phone bill and given to relief projects through the...
read moreKing’s Day, King Cakes and the Beginning of Carnival Season
King’s day- the Feast of the Epiphany- marks the beginning of Carnival season when King Cakes grace every table in New Orleans.
read moreAll Cuisine is Fusion Cuisine- and Asian Spiced Duck Tamales
A New Mexico Chef shares his Asian/Latin duck tamale recipe.
read moreOff to Dillard University
A farewell to my young cousin as he goes off to historic Dillard university in New Orleans.
read moreNew Orleans 4 Years Later
This weekend marks the 4th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina’s hit on the Gulf Coast, and today the 4th anniversary of New Orleans’ awakening, in spite of being spared a direct hit, to being flooded by the effects of waters surging up the Mississippi River Gulf Outlet. And this week marks the 4th year since the startling “Third World” images were broadcast across our airwaves from one of our nation’s most beloved cities.
read moreMy Father’s Day Tribute
My father moved us to Los Angeles from New Orleans, when I was young, in search of a better life for himself and his family. He took us back to visit as often as he could, and I have many fond memories of steamy summers spent there.
read moreThere Will Always Be a Need for Parties!
In June of 1969, Stephanie Mills created quite a stir by announcing in her valedictory speech at Mills College’s graduation ceremony, that the future was a cruel hoax, and that she would not be bringing children into this world. I was graduating from high school that same month, and about to go off to Mills College in the fall. My mother wrung her hands, not quite sure what she was sending me off to. I’ve just finished reading a personal perspective by Ms. Mills in my latest alumnae publication, entitled “the brighter side of doom and gloom” where Ms. Mills states that we must begin to distinguish between wants and needs to survive. I’m so glad that she includes conviviality as a need, along with water, food, shelter, clothing and dignity. Indeed, there will always be a need to gather with friends and family to celebrate the special moments in our lives, to share each others’ company and great conversation. Sometimes we’ll need to gather to support each other and reassure ourselves in tough times. And sometimes we’ll just need to kick back. We’ll always need great food and drink, along with great music, entertainment and storytelling to remind ourselves of our humanity. So in spite of what’s going on in our economy, parties, whether casual or more formal, large or small, are still on the...
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