Louisiana Plantation honors 1811 slave revolt with commemorative events

Published 7:56 pm Monday, January 6, 2025

By Amos Abba

The Woodland Plantation. Credit: The Decendant Project
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Over two centuries ago, hundreds of enslaved individuals fled from a plantation in LaPlace, and embarked on a march along the Mississippi River toward New Orleans which led to an uprising. This historic site, also known as Woodland Plantation or 1811 Kid Ory Historic House, will be open to the public on Jan. 8-11 to commemorate the 1811 Freedom Fight of the Enslaved – where enslaved people organized, fought for their freedom, and dozens died.

Officials from The Descendants Project say this is first public event at the historic site since the non-profit group announced the purchase of the Woodland Plantation in 2024 which put it under Black ownership for the first time in its over 200 year history.

“This event is historic because it acknowledges the freedom fight that many of our enslaved ancestors contributed to in the 1800s and still impacts our lives today,” said Joy Banner, co-founder of The Descendants Project, in an interview with The L’Observateur. “ It is an important part of history that often goes unrecognized and we believe their fight should be honored, which is ultimately their fight for liberation.”

The Descendants Project was established by Joy and her twin sister and co-founder, Dr. Jo Banner, to safeguard the Black descendant community in Louisiana’s River Parishes, also said they worked with Woodland Plantation area descendants to plan the events for the opening.

On Jan.8, a panel discussion focused on the history of the 1811 uprising will take place at Woodland Plantation in Laplace, with historian Dr. Ibrahima Seck; educator and Woodland Plantation descendant Derron Cook; and artist Dread Scott.  

The events are scheduled to coincide with the 214th anniversary of the uprising in 1811. The revolt culminated at Woodland Plantation, where the Freedom Fight of the Enslaved took place—believed to be the largest uprising of the enslaved in American history.

It will also feature the ceremonial unveiling of a new temporary exhibit focused on the history of Woodland Plantation and the 1811 Uprising. And also include musical performances by local artists, tours of Woodland Plantation, and a community lunch.
“This will be our first time and that’s because we thankfully have the space and the grounds, we should expect to see some of the costumes that were used for the reenactment in 2019 that was organized by Dred Scott, the artist,” Joy said. “We’ll have musicians participating because music is also a big part of our history so the Yellow Pocahontas, who’s a black masking Mardi Gras Indian clan in New Orleans will be here to honor the ancestors.”
Woodland Plantation was also the birthplace of jazz musician Edward “Kid” Ory, who played with Louis Armstrong.
The  Woodland Plantation will be open to the public for the first time on Wednesday, January 8, at 6:30 p.m. CT and will be open on Saturday  from from 10:30 am to 3 p.m.

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