... while in baton rouge we arranged for a tour of "laura," the creole plantation where colorful west african oral tradition stories were recorded by joel chandler harris as the "uncle remus" tales ... the tour was wonderful, especially due to our charming guide who kept everything light and humerous, until we gathered in the slave quarters, that is, where she made it quite clear that "in regards to slavery the creole plantations were like any other ... there was no such thing as 'better' slavery" ...
... laura's history was fascination, especially the powerful and commanding role that woman assumed in creole life ... "business is family and family is business" ... the house and grounds were beautiful, peaceful, possessing a certain serenity that seemed almost to be saying, "here, you need no clocks or watches," but, still ...
... still, i couldn't get it out of my mind that i clearly recall from my childhood the death of the last black american who was born into slavery ... with that thought, this cabin seemed incredibly dark, and i could feel the presence of those for whom the blue sky outside meant just another brutal day in the fields, and the distant horizon was a dream they struggled to keep alive in the verse of their soulful music ...
NIKON D200 & OLYMPUS E-PL1