Local History Trail to Highlight African-American Stories in Louisiana
By Maki Somosot
Staff Writer
Sunday, June 7, 2015 at 6:01 a.m.
Courtesy of Margie Scoby
Mahaly Smith (pictured) was born into slavery between 1835 and 1845 and freed at age 13. Her mother, Matilda Johnson, is believed to be the granddaughter of West African prince Abdul Rahman. The two lived in this slave cabin on the former Waterproof plantation near Houma.
Terrebonne tourism officials are seeking local stories to feature in an upcoming historical trail that will honor African-American culture and history throughout the parish.
"The criteria is simply to have a compelling personal story that has some significance to the history of our area," Houma Area Convention and Visitors Bureau spokesman Joey Pierce said. "You should have supporting materials such as photographs or letters that have a connection to a specific location in our parish."
The plan is to install permanent historical panels throughout the parish to share these stories with visitors and locals alike, Pierce added. Funded by parish and grant money, the project has been in the planning stages for the 12 years.
"We are looking for someone who might have been an inspirational figure during civil rights or segregation or local inventors who might have achieved national acclaim," Pierce said. "We are willing to include modern-day contributions as well."
The goal is to collect as many stories as possible before October, when the tourism agency would ideally like to start designing the panels, Pierce added.
In the meantime, the parish is working on a separate panel focusing on the local film industry, which will include the acting achievements of Houma native Quvenzhane Wallis. That project is expected to conclude by the end of the year.
Local author Margie Scoby, who is spearheading research and collection efforts, said the African-American trail has been a long time coming.
"It's going to enlighten a lot of people as to who African-Americans were, what they stood for and the things they endured as a people," Scoby said. "We don't have anything here so far. At one time, this was all sugar-cane field. Someone had to work those fields. These stories will show that this place benefited not just one race of people but other races as well."
Through her great-great-grandmother, Scoby discovered she was distantly related to West African prince Abdul Rahman, who was taken captive and sold into slavery in 1788 to a Natchez, Miss., cotton plantation owner. Rahman eventually became the plantation overseer before being freed in the early 1800s. Rahman worked to free his own children from slavery, but he died without doing so.
"His desire to find his family is the same drive I have," said Scoby, who was able to connect with a distant relative in Mississippi who happened to read one of her books. "It's amazing to be able to reunite with family you've been separated from for hundreds of years."
Scoby's research has led to other discoveries, including one of the first African-American justices of the peace in the parish, Augusta Coxen. He had been groomed and educated by his slave master in the 1860s.
Through word-of-mouth, Scoby has also connected with other residents of cultural significance, including the biracial son of a former slave-owner and three of the first black educators, athletes and journalists in the parish.
"If you have a story to tell and you want it to come to life for generations and generations, this is the time," Scoby said. "The panels will be here for years to come. And people from all over the world will be able to see those stories."
Staff Writer
Sunday, June 7, 2015 at 6:01 a.m.
Courtesy of Margie Scoby
Mahaly Smith (pictured) was born into slavery between 1835 and 1845 and freed at age 13. Her mother, Matilda Johnson, is believed to be the granddaughter of West African prince Abdul Rahman. The two lived in this slave cabin on the former Waterproof plantation near Houma.
Terrebonne tourism officials are seeking local stories to feature in an upcoming historical trail that will honor African-American culture and history throughout the parish.
"The criteria is simply to have a compelling personal story that has some significance to the history of our area," Houma Area Convention and Visitors Bureau spokesman Joey Pierce said. "You should have supporting materials such as photographs or letters that have a connection to a specific location in our parish."
The plan is to install permanent historical panels throughout the parish to share these stories with visitors and locals alike, Pierce added. Funded by parish and grant money, the project has been in the planning stages for the 12 years.
"We are looking for someone who might have been an inspirational figure during civil rights or segregation or local inventors who might have achieved national acclaim," Pierce said. "We are willing to include modern-day contributions as well."
The goal is to collect as many stories as possible before October, when the tourism agency would ideally like to start designing the panels, Pierce added.
In the meantime, the parish is working on a separate panel focusing on the local film industry, which will include the acting achievements of Houma native Quvenzhane Wallis. That project is expected to conclude by the end of the year.
Local author Margie Scoby, who is spearheading research and collection efforts, said the African-American trail has been a long time coming.
"It's going to enlighten a lot of people as to who African-Americans were, what they stood for and the things they endured as a people," Scoby said. "We don't have anything here so far. At one time, this was all sugar-cane field. Someone had to work those fields. These stories will show that this place benefited not just one race of people but other races as well."
Through her great-great-grandmother, Scoby discovered she was distantly related to West African prince Abdul Rahman, who was taken captive and sold into slavery in 1788 to a Natchez, Miss., cotton plantation owner. Rahman eventually became the plantation overseer before being freed in the early 1800s. Rahman worked to free his own children from slavery, but he died without doing so.
"His desire to find his family is the same drive I have," said Scoby, who was able to connect with a distant relative in Mississippi who happened to read one of her books. "It's amazing to be able to reunite with family you've been separated from for hundreds of years."
Scoby's research has led to other discoveries, including one of the first African-American justices of the peace in the parish, Augusta Coxen. He had been groomed and educated by his slave master in the 1860s.
Through word-of-mouth, Scoby has also connected with other residents of cultural significance, including the biracial son of a former slave-owner and three of the first black educators, athletes and journalists in the parish.
"If you have a story to tell and you want it to come to life for generations and generations, this is the time," Scoby said. "The panels will be here for years to come. And people from all over the world will be able to see those stories."
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