Hello everyone! My name is Daniel Schekorra. If you have read my introduction post, then you know that we will be heading to the Whitney Plantation on March 10, 2014. I was a participant on last year's New Orleans Alternative Break, and my favorite part of the trip was visiting the Whitney Plantation. The first thing I did as the new trip leader was set up our visit to Whitney for this year.
The plantation was founded in 1752. It was added to the National Register of Historical Places in 1992. Since then, Jon Cummings has purchased the land and is rebuilding it into a museum to honor the slaves who were forced to work there and elsewhere in the southern United States.
Last year's visit to Whitney set the mood for the entire trip. In particular, Mr. Cummings wants to give an image of slavery through the eyes of the children who were forced to grow up there. Particularly, I remember the Field of Angels. This is an area that Mr. Cummings created to honor children who passed away before their third birthday. Visiting the plantation and hearing Mr. Cummings talk about the history and those who were there is truly a moving experience, and I am sure that will show in the blogs that will be posted the night of our visit.
Mr. Cummings wants to "create confusion" among visitors by sharing the miseries of life in slavery. His goal is to tell individual stories and humanize those who suffered. When the museum finally opens up (maybe later this year), visitors will surely have an emotional experience.
I have so much respect for Mr. Cummings. He has been working on the plantation since 1998 and has spent over $6 million. I think that his work will lead to a lot of good things. By acknowledging and honoring those who have suffered in the past, I think we will be able to correct some of the current problems in our culture today.
It really is a beautiful area. Has anyone seen Django Unchained? A portion of that movie was filmed at Whitney? Part of Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter was, too, but I assume (and hope) more of you have seen Django; however, the powerful emotional experience far surpasses the looks. At this time, Mr. Cummings has not told us what our service work will involve, but I am very excited to return.
Thank you!
Daniel Schekorra
Whitney's website: http://whitneyplantation.com/
NY Times article discussing Mr. Cummings vision for the museum: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/26/arts/design/a-restored-louisiana-plantation-and-its-lifeblood.html?_r=0
Thursday, February 20, 2014
Introduction: Our plan for the trip!
Hello everyone! My name is Daniel Schekorra. Kelly Mazzoni and I are very excited about the alternative break trip that we have planned! Our topic is Urban Development and Oppression. We are going to be examining the impact of racism in New Orleans' past, present, and future. Additionally, we are going to assist in the ongoing rebuilding process resulting from Hurricane Katrina. Katrina caused an estimated damage of $108 billion, and the rebuilding process is still very much underway. Our topics will combine as we examine if racism played a part in Katrina's aftermath.
Our 14 students will be heading to New Orleans on March 9. We will begin our week by exploring how racism has shaped New Orleans' culture through service at the Whitney Plantation. The owner is renovating the plantation to become a museum honoring the people who were forced into slavery at the location. The following post will give much more information on Whitney. Follow this link if you would like to see the website http://whitneyplantation.com/. Continuing our focus on racism, we will be serving at a community center the following day to speak with people who have lived in New Orleans their whole lives and can tell firsthand experiences. For example, a woman that will be there was the first person to be integrated into her school district.
The following day we will be going on a field trip! An environmental science professor from Tulane University will be taking us to the Lower Ninth Ward to discuss Hurricane Katrina. Among other things, we will learn about why Hurricane Katrina was so devastating. We will round out the day with renovation service work at a local youth center.
On Thursday we will be exploring New Orleans' culture in the French Quarter! We will be visiting the Katrina and Beyond museum (http://www.neworleansonline.com/news/2010/Nov/katrina.html) in the morning. As a participant last year, I can say that walking through the museum is a powerful experience. We will spend the remainder of the day in the French Quarter.
We are planning to round out our service on Friday with renovation work in the Wetlands! Restoration of this area will provide protection to New Orleans the next time a hurricane strikes.
Kelly and I are so excited for our visit to New Orleans! Thank you to everyone who was involved in designing the trip. Please continue to visit our blog from March 10-14 as different students will be blogging about their experiences every night!
Thank you!
Daniel Schekorra
Our 14 students will be heading to New Orleans on March 9. We will begin our week by exploring how racism has shaped New Orleans' culture through service at the Whitney Plantation. The owner is renovating the plantation to become a museum honoring the people who were forced into slavery at the location. The following post will give much more information on Whitney. Follow this link if you would like to see the website http://whitneyplantation.com/. Continuing our focus on racism, we will be serving at a community center the following day to speak with people who have lived in New Orleans their whole lives and can tell firsthand experiences. For example, a woman that will be there was the first person to be integrated into her school district.
The following day we will be going on a field trip! An environmental science professor from Tulane University will be taking us to the Lower Ninth Ward to discuss Hurricane Katrina. Among other things, we will learn about why Hurricane Katrina was so devastating. We will round out the day with renovation service work at a local youth center.
On Thursday we will be exploring New Orleans' culture in the French Quarter! We will be visiting the Katrina and Beyond museum (http://www.neworleansonline.com/news/2010/Nov/katrina.html) in the morning. As a participant last year, I can say that walking through the museum is a powerful experience. We will spend the remainder of the day in the French Quarter.
We are planning to round out our service on Friday with renovation work in the Wetlands! Restoration of this area will provide protection to New Orleans the next time a hurricane strikes.
Kelly and I are so excited for our visit to New Orleans! Thank you to everyone who was involved in designing the trip. Please continue to visit our blog from March 10-14 as different students will be blogging about their experiences every night!
Thank you!
Daniel Schekorra
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