Going to the South is always a breath of fresh air in a way. I always feel overwhelmed, thinking of what my life could’ve been, if I was going to be the same person (thoughts like that).
Summer 2016 was adventurous. I explored, and worked in the lovely city of New Orleans (Louisiana). All of Louisiana is beautiful and sacred. I served as a group leader to high school students. We assisted in building new homes for the survivors of Hurricane Katrina, and helping local schools prepare for the upcoming school year. (It’s been 14 years since Hurricane Katrina and the city still has a long way to go).
While helping families, we also went to concerts, festivals, sports games and historical sites. (Fast Forward). I decided to visit a very important site: The Whitney Plantation in Wallace Louisiana. It was a hot, sunny Saturday morning. The destination is an hour outside of New Orleans. It was such a nice drive as I was alone. As we were getting closer, I took the time to simply take in the surroundings, observe everything. It’s nice to go to a rural area for a little while for a break. It seemed that the families lived a simple life. I felt as if I was in a different era.
I finally arrived at my destination: The Whitney Plantation. I can’t describe the feelings that I have as we started the tour. I can’t help but imagine our ancestors being buried alive and stabbed in their hamstrings so they couldn’t run to escape. I felt that pain. The entire tour had me silent. While I was looking around in the gift shop, I couldn’t help but think: What if I grew up during these times? In the South? Like my grandparents did. What if we switched roles? People always claim that they’re born in the wrong era, but are they really?
I’m always grateful for those that came before me, they raised their voices and now I have the right to live my life the way I want to.
Loray’s Journeys 