Understanding Alice in New Orleans

In regards to the NOLA leader that you researched, what did you learn while we were in NOLA that helped you understand him or her in more depth?

My leader from New Orleans was Alice Dunbar Nelson. She was a newspaper editor, poet, musician, and teacher. She was also a woman of color in the late 1800s to the early 1900s. While in New Orleans, I saw a plethora of artistic expressions. I could hardly turn the corner without seeing another jazz band, street artist, or street performer. When we took our steamboat tour on the steamboat Natchez, the art followed us out there in the form of a jazz band. I learned that this city was all about expression and I understood why Alice decided to pick up a pen and paper. The city of New Orleans was also the perfect place for her line of work as an activist journalist. New Orleans is a city full of injustice and crime. It was very common to hear police sirens nearby or encounter an ex-convict. The prison there, Angola Prison, is know for its incredibly high prisoner count and cruel treatment. It makes sense that people who live in a city housing cruelty like that would try and make a difference. Everywhere in New Orleans you could find passionate people, people passionate about their work or creative doings. Yes, you can find passion anywhere, but in this city, you could see passion up close and everywhere. Alice often wrote about passion, whether in a romantic sense, or in the sense of her work. Everyone who has been a part of that city, including Alice, is full of passion.Read more