American Creole: New Orleans Reunion
New Orleans Reunion
9/9/2024 | 1h 26m 4sVideo has Closed Captions
Follow Musician Don Vappie in the months after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina.
From 2006, this documentary from filmmakers Glen Pitre and Michelle Benoit follows jazz musician Don Vappie in the months after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. Vappie finds his sidemen scattered, his flooded-out mom sleeping on his couch, and his 8-year-old grandson clamoring to join the band.
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American Creole: New Orleans Reunion is a local public television program presented by LPB
American Creole: New Orleans Reunion
New Orleans Reunion
9/9/2024 | 1h 26m 4sVideo has Closed Captions
From 2006, this documentary from filmmakers Glen Pitre and Michelle Benoit follows jazz musician Don Vappie in the months after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. Vappie finds his sidemen scattered, his flooded-out mom sleeping on his couch, and his 8-year-old grandson clamoring to join the band.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
How to Watch American Creole: New Orleans Reunion
American Creole: New Orleans Reunion is available to stream on pbs.org and the free PBS App, available on iPhone, Apple TV, Android TV, Android smartphones, Amazon Fire TV, Amazon Fire Tablet, Roku, Samsung Smart TV, and Vizio.
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You ask ten people what Creole means.
You get ten different answers.
Mostly you hear about the food and what I call Creoles or New Orleans.
People who aren't white or black either.
We're a mix of French, Spanish, African and American Indian.
And that mixture made this city what it is.
Now, when you hear and speak.
You only hear the three.
This is me, Don Bapu.
And your me.
You see, it might come a second time.
This wedding is one of my first gigs in New Orleans since Hurricane Katrina.
Pieces, mansions on this flooded out street.
This is the only house that's been fixed up.
It's my second biggest and five now.
Things I thought would always be here aren't here anymore.
Neighborhoods where jazz was born and I was raised are wrecked.
Do you know what it means to miss New Orleans traditions that define who I am as a Creole?
A New Orleanian, a musician.
Are barely hanging on all that I if my culture's been washed away.
Oh, me.
Can I still call New Orleans home?
Where you are.
Where are you from?
I don't think New Orleans can be sold down river.
There's too much strangling culture.
It apparently can't be washed down the river.
Yeah, but I just feel like this.
People are pretty resilient here.
But, you know, the culture.
And so the Katrina moment is like, it's a test.
Especially since the Civil war, since the predations of slavery.
I mean, this is like a serious moment that my first time in Germany because I hired the band to do it themselves.
I have to ask you, are you black or what?
Yeah.
I could be that I was old enough then to have experienced I wasn't white enough.
Wasn't black enough right in the middle kind of thing.
So this is often more like this kind of stuff.
Yeah.
I've met people that say, well, man, you got no right to speak about that because you're not one of us.
No.
Right.
And I'm, you know, and I'm so much one of everybody, right?
I've met cousins that are blond haired, blue eyed cousins at a very dark thing about grill.
I mean, clearly, when you define it in terms of the African, French, Spanish Catholic and the mingling of cultures and people, you know, yeah, in a place like this and you say, these are Creole folks, and everybody knows that you know what you mean?
But Creole is really as much more about culture than about color.
We have this mixing and making fun to be able to make a shared culture, whether it's jazz or cuisine or the architecture that we're always going back to.
When you have a member and instead of thinking about saving Rome now.
So, so, yeah.
Oh, yeah.
Right, right.
All right.
So I could say you're right.
Have a good day.
I'm an expert.
So this is American roots.
You know, I've always thought of this.
Shows as having a Creole point of view.
And Don Pappy is the Creole banjo man here from New Orleans who's brought back an instrument, the banjo that really isn't heard as much in jazz these days.
Welcome to America.
Roots done back.
Alabama lot back.
And I'm passionate.
This is my old neighborhood.
The levee breach put six feet of water in my mom's house.
Well.
We're here.
We found out the other day that three of our neighbors drowned here.
Joe was like the neighborhood dad.
You know, he was like everybody's uncle.
He drowned in the water, came up in the middle of the night.
I remember Joe telling me one time because he used to always say, you know, man, I'm so proud of you.
You travel.
I don't know, it's completely messed up.
It's just completely messed.
Mom evacuated.
Oh.
Mother ain't going to see this.
This is more than I can deal with right now.
What you do.
You press this button.
Mom's staying with Millie in me.
Hello, Millie.
Oh, yeah.
Goodbye, Millie.
Did you get it figured out?
Yes.
I finally figured out how to hold it down and talk to.
So many had it worse than us.
Half my band lost their homes.
Even folks who came out all right have stories to tell.
Wish.
I wish you are just going down the street.
And we.
You go all the way across by using John.
We saw people who are up to their neck with garbage bags, their belongings.
And that water was coming up by the Superdome.
We thought, okay, it would be okay in a day or two once the pumps stop.
But we're gonna go down.
Yeah, but the pumps never started rolling.
And with the helicopters flying around.
Did y'all have trouble getting them to stop here?
How did we.
Yes, indeed.
I was out on the roof with a sign that say help.
Trying to flag them down is about 200 people left here.
Happy?
The guy say, you know, go down and find somebody white.
Somebody looked like white.
I say to John, you go say why I did this.
Oh, and well, is that true?
Yes it is.
And he come running back, you say get the thing.
National guard had they gone straight up people or it's you scared?
I think they were more afraid to be there.
I think if somebody has a boo, they would have taken out a few hundred people.
You know, just like a third world country under siege.
What side do you like to be on?
A lot of musicians say they're not coming back.
Not enough work.
Too many uncertainties.
Am I crazy to stay?
I say, what's the difference between a banjo and a who's whose?
The Uzi only repeats 40 times.
They both love but lose it.
You can.
Say these people have minor fantasy.
Seven.
You know.
Yeah.
Before Katrina, I had it figured out.
I was making a living bringing back the Creole jazz my ancestors helped create.
Now, I don't know.
What you can get at jazz.
Creole.
That, Danny Barker's on.
Okay.
Slow down and, Exactly.
Oh, that is like the I think for most musicians who want to try to find out what the Creole jazz connection is, right?
That's the album.
Young Creole is, like a little more.
They're embracing the American blues culture.
It's coming down the Mississippi River.
That's really what jazz comes into the story.
That Creole sound just like them, was flown.
People want to dance to that.
Something's wrong with it.
This content of that stuff.
I mean, even singing this song.
So you're into.
You know, do all three of them?
Yeah.
The subject matter.
It's amusing to a little racy, but what was.
What would be the English translation?
Woman on the bed.
Man under the bed.
Don't like that.
But, you know, I got some I think you might be interested in.
We have an oral history interview with Papa John Joseph, my great uncle.
That's it.
That's your family background?
Professional musicians have been part of my family for over a century.
I have relatives who backed up Elvis, toured with Paul McCartney.
One cousin plays recorded with everybody from Sinatra to Marvin Gaye.
Then there's Randall.
He was Ray Charles first bandleader, co-wrote I Got a Woman.
He's down from New York.
You saw this stuff on TV, I would imagine.
Oh, yeah, I saw stuff on TV.
They were telling me about how I knew I wanted to destroy this is the end of New Orleans and all of that.
I see, I know those Creoles.
Are they going to rebuild?
They'll be right back in it.
When y'all was growing up, you consider yourselves Creole?
We were.
We were not referred to as Creoles.
We were as colored people.
This era in one man.
This band.
And he.
Man.
But, front had to be a force in the war.
Came and then just blow that out and, you know, as we call it, when you can see the radio or something just up there like nothing's this kind of depressing.
That kind is very, very depressing when I go.
Yeah.
When you start asking the question.
It reminds me, what of those ghost towns in the west of the movie?
You know, you don't see anyone.
Nobody's there.
Where are we going next?
Well, I want to show you where my mother lived.
Yes.
The house.
The house right here.
Are we getting out?
I don't want to get sick.
This is heartbreaking.
You know?
Heartbreaking.
Well, bad luck through the window.
And she said that, the van is still together.
I couldn't even open a door.
So break it open.
Like my gold chain and my medallion.
So you heard from us?
The older she.
All right?
She had to be rescued, you know.
Really?
You know, and the war came in on that 17 canal.
It was after the Katrina, and she was looking at TV, and the water was on the floor, and she had to go upstairs, and the helicopter had to rescue them.
We were in the 10% overhead, didn't get damaged, which is lucky, because we got a place for you to stay.
Oh, yeah.
We made the best of it down.
Thank God for the life, right?
You already lost everything.
So what?
Musicians travel since Katrina.
I need to even more.
One week club in Denmark, the next the festival in Oregon.
Today it's New York City teaching a master class with my old New Orleans bandmate.
Oh, you're.
When we ended the dance, we always played the New Orleans jazz tune.
And this was it.
You know, Joey looks like the amp for the Portland, because the time it was, we had to.
Every move you do that, that was a sign that the lights were about to come on.
The 40 year old.
Hey, so, you know, this is at the time this is very relaxed.
It is very expressive.
Do it individually.
There's a lot about because now I have to pay and.
I have and I found out that it was the three of us.
Yeah.
Saxophone plays keyboards.
You play guitar, bass, keyboard wherever else we play.
And this was a funky was going to find it.
It will play a celebration ball.
And how the Rock, yes, indeed.
Oh well, the the days.
Oh, man.
You know, I think of moving.
I mean, I went home, you know, I just I'm still not absolutely sure.
I mean, being able to go do my, my own self, you know.
Yeah, I don't know.
Well, you truly fall under the umbrella of many of those musicians who, Hey, great opportunities in other places and promise of, financial gain, but they just should never leave Crescent City, you know, which is good for New Orleans, because otherwise it will fall to the wayside, or it will be overtaken by people who don't understand.
And I don't feel like starting over, but it almost feels like I'm almost starting over at home, you know?
Yeah, yeah.
If you were me, what would you do?
That is a loaded question, but what would you do?
Playing music is what you do.
Yeah.
You know, figure out how to further the history of the band with what you do.
The reality is, is that New Orleans music is not expected to be played with.
Louis Armstrong played anymore.
What is will never be rebuilt after he took an environment that was not the most positive place for him to be at the time, but then he made something that was historical and no one else can ever take away from them.
And I think that's what other people for the city can do.
They can take his time in now, which is not a great time.
No.
And we can use it to make something as great.
If you love films like this, become a member right now to help LPB produce the next great story about Louisiana we have.
Fantastic.
Thank you gifts available for you during this broadcast.
For $25 a month sustaining membership, choose the American Creole combo that includes the Dooky Chase cookbook, featuring a collection of Creole recipes from Leah Chase and memories about her celebrated restaurant, plus the book Becoming American in Creole New Orleans and a festive New Orleans mug.
Support LPB at $10 a month and receive the book Becoming American and Creole New Orleans.
Perfect for history buffs and anyone who appreciates Louisiana Creole culture.
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LPB is monthly program guide and LPB passport to stream the very best of LPB and PBS.
You know, I'm good to you.
Don't hurt yourself.
Don't hurt yourself.
Wow, those are some great membership.
Thank you gifts that you just heard about and they are yours for the choosing when you become a member to support Louisiana Public Broadcasting.
Hello and welcome, everyone.
I'm Clay Ferreira and you're joining us for another remarkable Louisiana story right here on LPB.
You've just seen the first part of American Creole New Orleans reunion.
We're taking the short intermission to give you a chance to call us at the number you see on your screen.
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More stories about Louisiana.
This program is produced by the award winning husband and wife team of Glenn Petrie and Michelle Bingwa, and they have worked with OPB on many great projects in the past, and I'm sure you folks have seen.
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We need your help to continue presenting the homegrown Louisiana stories that you've come to love so much.
The main gift you will receive when you become a member is the programing.
And that's what makes OPB your favorite broadcasting network.
And right now, we're excited to introduce to you the American career filmmaker Duane Patrick.
Welcome.
It's always a pleasure.
It's always a pleasure.
It's a special pleasure with this film because this is one where it's not just that LPB helped out or showed it when it was done.
This film would not exist in any form had it not been for Louisiana public Broadcasting.
That's one of the things that we do, is there are many ways that we can help independent filmmakers.
Now.
A lot of it will have to be with looking at your scripts or or if it's something that we feel we want to add or something like that, we will help in the content development of that.
Like that.
We we love being a co-producer on projects as well as presenting independent completed productions.
And here was a case where they took an idea we had right and made it a much bigger national project.
I mean, it was a Louisiana story, but talk about how your contributions get multiplied.
They took this very Louisiana story and went out and got national funding for us from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
So this became neutral once we could actually pay the musicians who were paying it.
See that this is it was usually so we could go places.
We wouldn't have been able to go, would anybody showed up it up the whole thing.
And and it was done by taking your dollar and that you send in and, and multiplying it with federal dollars and out of state dollars.
And to tell Louisiana story to a, to a worldwide audience, exact wide audience.
We did mention, of course, we should mention that, the one year anniversary of Katrina, this was the PBS program.
This was the PBS official one year anniversary special.
We them one of the quotes I love is the Washington Post, you know, had their daily things.
They called it the TV pick of the day.
There you go.
They show.
And it was usually a commercial network.
And we got it for PBS that, yeah, hits a lot of people that OPB is going to pick up the networks.
As a matter of fact, the channel that you're watching right now is Louisiana Public Broadcasting, Network Channel.
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Ready Martin.
You fabulous in November.
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So instead, I'm going to tell you that, for your treasure support, we got some great thank you gifts.
Let's take a look.
If you love films like this, become a member right now to help LPB produce the next great story about Louisiana.
We have fantastic thank you gifts available for you during this broadcast.
For a $25 a month sustaining membership, choose the American Creole combo that includes the Dooky Chase cookbook, featuring a collection of Creole recipes from Leah Chase and memories about her celebrated restaurant, plus the book Becoming American and Creole New Orleans and a festive New Orleans mug.
Support LPB at $10 a month and receive the book Becoming American and Creole New Orleans.
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You know I'm good to you.
Don't hurt yourself.
God, so great.
Thank you gifts, great programing.
And speaking of to programs, this program I here, you know, it's the story that every person in Louisiana can relate to.
It's the resilience in the face of adversity isn't it gloom.
It absolutely is.
You know growing up we didn't call it public television.
We called it educational television.
Oh yeah, I remember those days to change that because it sounded too much like homework.
Right.
Oh yeah.
But here's this.
Here's a case where it is education.
But you also see how that, you know, you've got all the music in there and you got compelling characters to follow.
You meet all these interesting people, but it's still educational in the sense that it's a lesson that all of us can use about how do you come back?
Because we live in a state that suffers from hurricanes and they come every few years and create disasters.
I mean, there wasn't that long ago, Ida, hurricane Ida took my family home.
The home I grew up in.
It's gone.
It's gone.
And how do you recover?
What do you hang on to?
How do you rebuild that life when everything's swept out from under you?
And.
And if we can tell those stories and give examples of how other people do it and and make it still fun and compelling.
That's right.
Thing to watch.
That is so valuable.
And that's something you're not going to necessarily get on, on Netflix or on HBO Max, because, I mean, you growing up here, you have the passion for so many of those students that you're teaching now.
They have the passion for filmmaking, and they want to tell Louisiana story, too.
And so the way.
But we can only do it.
Here we go.
Well, yeah.
Thank you.
Supports absolute.
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Great programing like yours like we're seeing right here tonight with American Creole.
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The gifts.
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That's right.
Gifts.
Yeah.
Those gifts are not the nice.
If you love films like this, become a member right now to help LPB produce the next great story about Louisiana.
We have fantastic thank you gifts available for you during this broadcast.
For a $25 a month sustaining membership, choose the American Creole combo that includes the Dooky Chase cookbook, featuring a collection of Creole recipes from Leah Chase and memories about her celebrated restaurant.
Plus, the book Becoming American and Creole New Orleans and a festive New Orleans mug.
Support LPB at $10 a month and receive the book Becoming American and Creole New Orleans.
Perfect for history buffs and anyone who appreciates Louisiana Creole culture.
Or for just $8 a month, receive a festive New Orleans mug with iconic logos of Louisiana brands.
All of this, plus visions LP, B's monthly program Guide and LPB passport to stream the Very Best of LPB and PBS.
You know I'm good.
As it is a big old place that.
I can't fix the whole city, but I need to do something.
And, Don has got something special for all of us who are music fans out there.
We're gonna have a red party.
That's right.
We thought, you know, a red party would be perfect.
Yeah.
So many musicians we've talked to, they want to come home so bad, and the gigs need to be here for them to know that there's.
You can come back for a place to live, you know.
All right.
1143 on the Crescent City and you're listening to w w o z music from the world and the town over the weekend.
I know you said you couldn't make it, but it'll show the community that you have to create things.
You have to do something to get all these musicians back because we we're an important part of what New Orleans is, right?
Right.
Leroy Jones plays with Harry Connick Jr.
Leroy staying at a friend's place in the French Quarter.
I'd like him to play at the rampart, but.
Yeah.
Hey, I'm pushing it for.
I try to do too much at once, so at least say it.
Yeah, yeah.
This is one of the parade caps that we were able to sell this.
You know, they had a lot of mold on the structures and Gentilly.
Yeah.
2017 Jasmine Street near about three feet of water in it.
You know, enough to rust the bikes in the water.
My mom is 16.
Look, I want to talk to you about this really tough.
I mean, it's this is a situation, and nobody really understands what's happening here except the people who are backing living here, trying to try and get it.
Yeah.
I mean, you really think you you got to stay home.
Is there any doubt that you might leave or have to leave?
You know, not sounding like a home, but, I mean, I'm not leaving all this.
If the other musicians decide that they're not going to come back, well, then there's more work for me.
The other issues, because we were talking about what makes New Orleans what it is, and Creole culture came up.
You know, that mix.
I think because geographically where we are and historically where we are in laws because of the slave trade, because of the intermingling of different cultures and races here.
It happened in this part of the United States.
How do you feel?
You feel like you Creole from here?
Well, I wouldn't consider myself Creole.
For one thing, I think my nose is a bit too wide, my skin is a little bit too dark, and my is a little bit too curly.
You know.
Well, Lillian, Beauty's back in town.
If I can get Leroy and Lillian to play the red party, that would be a good start.
You know, I'm mad because everybody's okay.
Everybody's going up in a family reunions, social parties, club parties, balls and things here.
Playing form and going for you.
And it was always people that I don't know.
I never thought of them as being white or looking white or looking black or whatever, but I just thought of them as New Orleans being, I guess Creole.
I never use that word.
I guess that term is the gumbo that we make because in a room, you know, normally when you make a dog gravy, they say that that's how you make a rule.
But that's not true because we have a white rule, we have a saw the next light rule we have.
So the next one kind of like lighter.
I mean, my dog like us, you know, and then we got the brown and then got really dog.
So we have five stages of rule that we actually cook with.
So for, for me, Creole was way more than the French and the, and the Spanish and the, the Haitians and the Africans and the Acadians.
You know, really, for their part of us to was to deal with the separation.
Our friends couldn't understand.
Is it really black?
Yeah.
We black we definitely black males.
You know, we have such a mixture.
We went with United Nations in one person walking.
And you see the people from about about.
Wow, man, I love you.
I love it sounds like my Spotify.
You all know why I want.
My girl is in the seventh war.
Creole part of town.
It got hit pretty hard.
Hey, Mark.
Mark, hey, hey.
Is, this man made that?
Oh, yeah.
Man could see.
All right, man, you just.
You all right, man?
This is going to be a famous shoe.
Oh, sweet home for a minute.
Like living in a boat.
Yeah.
This is your bedroom?
Yeah.
This is the master bed.
You know, the dining area, I think.
I mean, area, the, kitchen.
This is a bunk bed for kids.
You know, I expected to come right back home.
A few days later.
I was just going back.
We come back home.
This area never floods.
So did you lose, I guess everything.
What did you think?
What did you do?
Well, I, my wife sort of got me prepared.
She called me.
She said our house was just destroyed.
So when I walked in here and saw what she described, it really did soften the blow a little bit.
But I was like, oh, everything is destroyed.
I was I was going through everything.
I can't take that.
I can't take that and leave everything.
Okay.
We have a rent party Monday after Easter, so why don't you come up and play with us?
Yeah, I'd love to.
Yeah, it would be great.
You know, traditionally a red party.
It was only in the community where you couldn't pay your rent.
You cook some food, got somebody come play some music, shows you a little admission, help you make your light, bill.
You rent.
Well, we have us a little red party for New Orleans for New Orleans musicians.
We want them to know that there's work and they can come home.
At least start looking for a place to come on.
Because when the music come back, everybody's going to come back.
And you're smiling when you smiling, the whole world smiling.
When you're laughing, yeah.
With you laughing.
The US will, you know.
I'd like to acknowledge my lovely wife, Millie.
Baby, we've had so many volunteers.
And the only known noise.
When if it if it got my way.
Take the highway.
That's the best way to get your keys up.
66 to 1.
Now.
It was used from Chicago to L.A.. More than 2000 miles all the way to get your kids.
Are you 66?
This is the heritage.
This is the culture.
And we will not make it.
Because for music was born, right?
I was made for a king.
My platinum Mercedes Benz, GCB, baby.
And I give it to you.
Hey.
Yes, but you know that love makes me treat you the way that I do it better.
0GG baby, you know I'm good to you.
Don't hurt yourself.
I know that.
Yeah.
Now there's nothing in it who do good work, girl, that's so true G. Baby, I'm getting right in this funny key.
Just for you.
There's certain things that make an individual who they are.
And playing music for me is what makes me who I am.
And all the musicians who work, we work together.
It's all one.
It's all what makes a person inside.
They.
I'm the 11 and I'm the shit.
Oh my.
Somehow.
And I find.
And I the.
And I'm not.
Oh my seven.
Shit.
Not that shit.
Should they go home on Monday?
Drunk as woman.
That Lord show one more sugar.
Put your voice on.
It will make all my models and whatever they will come.
I got to show.
And I got it.
I got it, I'm thirsty for my summer.
All the musicians in mind.
Come on up, everybody.
It's your best defense, girl.
Yes.
This man.
Get up.
They don't mess.
This can get up.
Bring it home.
Home.
Boom.
Oh.
You know, there's nowhere better to hear music like this.
Great Louisiana music that we are loving right now than on the Louisiana Public Broadcasting.
Welcome back everyone.
I'm Chloe Ferry, and we're taking just a short break to ask you to call MPB at eight, eight, eight, seven, six, nine, 5000 and make that pledge a financial support.
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That speaks to why you love LPB and why you will make the difference when you join the LPB family and become a member to support the quality programing all year round.
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Let's take a look.
If you love films like this, become a member right now to help LPB produce the next great story about Louisiana.
We have fantastic thank you gifts available for you during this broadcast.
For $25 a month sustaining membership, choose the American Creole combo that includes the Dooky Chase cookbook, featuring a collection of Creole recipes from Leah Chase and memories about her celebrated restaurant.
Plus the book Becoming American and Creole New Orleans and a festive New Orleans mug.
Support LPB at $10 a month and receive the book Becoming American and Creole New Orleans.
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You know, I'm good to you.
Don't hurt yourself.
Okay.
And welcome.
Welcome, Glenn.
Back into the studio here for this second break here on the American trio.
Yeah, exactly.
And again, you know, we were talking to the last break about, you know, Louisiana's no less strange when it comes to, all these disasters that we've got and that it's always great to pick ourselves up and and it's certainly a privilege to be part of it with this program that we're having here tonight.
Just a little bit more about this show.
What I mean, the, the, the idea here was partly to see, you know, what people do after such a disaster.
How do you when everything is washed away, how do you like Bill.
Yeah, but it was also a look at one of the as so many of our projects we've been at one of the cultures that make up this melting pot that is Louisiana, this case, Creole culture.
Yeah.
And if folks are interested in Creole culture and Cajun culture at OPB is worthy of your support because they're putting so much that doesn't show up or on on commercial networks and, and telling those stories.
If there is more French language pull if you're interested in preservation of French Louisiana, there is more French language programing coming down the pike on LP than there has been in decades.
There's a lot of French programs out there.
Stuff, I love you.
Yeah, we got another season of that coming up.
We've done programs coming up with total and basically is also on broadcast as well as digital.
So please, please check out our LPB digital channels as well.
And was there are two major Nicci general about the why you why don't they play the Sea-Tac at Pasadena's I opine may at last yep I may I Doncaster I don't care who puts good drama shock sunk to down so I don't L.A man but I wanted to show off and say okay John.
Okay.
So local TV dramatic throughout.
See they tell me about them.
Okay.
Gwen, I'm going to put that down.
There's another, LPB French program in itself right now, as a matter of fact.
So thank you very much for that.
If you if you want to hear more about the culture of Louisiana, you can do it.
But now with that pledge of support that you see right there.
So you can call 88769 5000, go online to help PBS.org or use the QR code.
And we got a challenge, don't we?
We got a challenge for you, Martin, because, the lumber company is proud to support so proud to support LPB that they are willing to match whatever you send in during this broadcast.
So there's no better time to make your contribution than now, because they will effectively double anything you put up and put that in the pot to get you more programing on Cajun, Creole and all the other aspects of Louisiana culture and news and politics and everything else that makes this state, you know, you know, they have watching.
Absolutely.
It's a very unique state.
Our history is unique.
Our culture is unique.
A lot of people come to Louisiana.
What is this all about?
What a parishes.
What is this with?
With Cajun culture and everything like that.
And and we are so proud to take those programs, put them together, work with independent producers and directors and send them out to the rest of the state, as well as the world to help us help other people understand us, but also help us understand ourselves.
Exactly.
See, to hold that the mirror to all we have.
That's special.
I tell you what, it's special.
And Louisiana is going to be proud of so much of it.
You know, that's one thing that LPB does.
We will give you what's going on in the news and talk about problems with where like hurricanes are so like that.
But we really celebrate the culture, the music, the food and so much more.
That is Louisiana.
It is something that you as a as a, as an independent filmmaker and so many of your, your brothers have done with so many programs that we are so proud to present here on LPB and we want to continue that, don't wait, but we want to continue it.
Forget me, I don't know.
Blowhards, the next generation.
We want to have a place where they can go to so they can go to LPB and get their shows on the air and get that technical expertise that will elevate what they're doing by taking their all their energy and all their ideas and make it to something.
They can find a national audience and worldwide audience.
The stories are here, the talent is here, and if you help other people, that extra edge of technical expertise so they can they can meet the standards of a worldwide link is so important.
It really, really is.
So we know even in Louisiana, we know you believe in Louisiana.
We know that you enjoy the program here on LPB.
We want to continue that.
We can do it again with your place of support.
Let's go over that number again.
It's 888769 5000.
You can go to npr.org.
Make that pledge of support.
And if you do it now it's doubled.
It's doubled because of Royal Martin.
Right.
It's quite a challenge.
This is a great time to do it.
Right now operators are standing by.
If you call that number that you see on your screen.
Now of course go in.
There is the great programing.
But we've also had a tradition of some really great gifts here at LPB.
We want you guys to keep watching LPB, and we want you to have some wonderful thank you gifts to take away with you, which is part of a part of our thank you for helping us support Louisiana programing.
So do that right now with that call.
888769 5000 online@opb.org.
Use a QR code that is sitting behind right now, and let's take a look at those thank you gifts.
If you love films like this, become a member right now to help LPB produce the next great story about Louisiana we have.
Fantastic.
Thank you gifts available for you during this broadcast.
For a $25 a month sustaining membership, choose the American Creole combo that includes the Dooky Chase cookbook, featuring a collection of Creole recipes from Leah Chase and memories about her celebrated restaurant, plus the book Becoming American and Creole New Orleans and a festive New Orleans mug.
Support LPB at $10 a month and receive the book Becoming American and Creole New Orleans.
Perfect for history buffs and anyone who appreciates Louisiana Creole culture or for just $8 a month, receive a festive New Orleans mug with iconic logos of Louisiana brands.
All this, plus visions LP, B's monthly program Guide, and LPB passport to stream the Very Best of LPB and PBS.
You know I'm good to you.
Don't hurt.
Bring it on home.
Bring it on home.
At times it's possible to think New Orleans can be like it used to be.
But we know it never will.
How do we save the things that are most important?
How do we even figure out what they are?
Most.
If.
Mom decided she needs her own space, I told her her house is not an option.
Hey, mom, I got to check.
Oh, good.
Damn.
So that right there.
Oh, this is good.
All right.
Very comfortable.
Good.
Good spot.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Well, this is your place now.
Yeah, I think it's very nice.
The people are nice.
Okay?
And we get food every day.
Catholic charity bring us food.
When I was cooking at home, you said my food wasn't season, but you said it's okay.
Oh, yeah.
Oh, okay.
I was doing it real wrong with it.
You have to do the cooking for the Catholic Charities.
Yeah, good.
Yeah, but my beans won, all right?
Yeah, but, the Red cross don't season.
They just dump the food out.
They can eat it.
Okay, maybe I can get a job with the Red cross right.
Well, you do better.
I do go with the red.
Yeah, I think you do them up.
You do season the whole season.
More than that.
Yeah.
That's right.
I'm not at the bottom.
No, you're not at the bottom.
You're not at the top either.
Okay.
But do I have the Creole touch you need?
I got you, mama, I don't have.
No, no, no, you didn't have it on that.
Well, it's elbow damn.
And at least you can survive on it, you know.
Yeah, that means a lot.
But you couldn't survive on mine.
That's what I say.
Oh, mercy.
Oh, well, I'm not going to say that.
I merely, you know, that's okay for.
Just moving my mom into an apartment out of a house she lived in for 45 years or so.
You know, they worked so hard.
You know, they didn't finish school.
And enough.
You know, they they bought a house, and they did a lot for me.
I really did.
I should be a good parent.
You.
Hello, John.
He has.
Yeah.
You got everything, I have two grandsons.
Hey, if I move, how often would I see them?
Oh.
All right.
The last song.
All right.
Okay.
It was like baby things.
You've got the cutest little baby thing.
You sing that everybody's going nuts because they look at you.
Oh, look, he's got such a cute baby face.
Okay, we'll try that for my poor heart is jumping.
You sure?
Yes, but it's something that.
No, you sure got in.
So you see a different.
It was a one, two, three baby face.
You got the this little baby thing.
I'm up in there when you're in your face.
When you're in.
When I was saying your.
I'm saying I'm you saying, I'm saying you I'm messing up.
General.
Put your hands.
Yeah.
My grandson just a baby face.
You.
And that is little baby.
If I say Creole heritage to Jordan, he'd probably think I'm talking about a video game.
This.
But when the day comes that he wants to know about it, how much will be left?
Yeah.
Scott Joplin supposedly brought to the United States, to the world, to jazz.
The syncopated rhythms from his ragtime that that that started out of the letter that it I guess what we have a song called Me to Banjo, which came from the 1830s here in New Orleans.
And it goes that after that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that same kind of that is syncopated rhythm that when it's jazz.
And we had it before Scott Joplin, who showed his face about 40 years before that.
Some of the Creole songs are three and almost 500 years old, cultures not permanent.
A couple of generations ago, most creoles spoke their own dialect of French.
The the mother country.
That's almost gone now.
But I'll never forget that day at the church.
And I started singing some of those Creole tunes that I learned just from the records.
And and I'm singing these tunes and you got me what were they?
That this guy is Sonny Durham.
Sonny.
Don't move.
I said no while growing a lot out of.
That so those two was it.
That's one thing I will not translate.
Okay, here we go.
Let's go.
Oh my God.
So my new CD, that's.
Just up the Mississippi.
I have cousins who never moved to New Orleans.
Even here, music is part of every conversation.
Duke Ellington's bass player will bro.
You will see that.
I'll go down two to him.
Sidney Ermine, keepers of the family history is easy to get confused, you see, because that bro.
Brothers married.
I played in the French court.
Yeah, yeah, I played, I played with Smiley Louis.
You remember him?
Yeah, well, I played he played guitar and I played.
Homer was Barber by day.
A rhythm and blues piano, man by night.
But I had badges with me.
Betty, we playing jazz.
You want to play jazz, I say bad, let me call an admiral or somebody get killed on your.
Head nostalgia.
The cousin who speaks his mind.
This is my great grandfather.
He, married a white French lady.
So when you really look at it, I'm not really true black.
And you're a legend.
You know, everybody talks about.
You know what you hear?
There's dancing.
Yeah.
This in France.
You're saying lovey Marie, he he, Whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa, bruh.
When I was growing up, they didn't mix at all.
Yeah, it was the Creoles on one side, the whites on one side, and then the blacks on the other side is on the drive home.
There's a plantation built during the glory days of the area.
E this is the gentleman's parlor.
Oh.
Well, the men hang out in is beautiful.
This was the smoking room.
The drinking room and the gambling room.
There were many plantations lost in this room.
And some of my ancestors could have been slaves at places like this.
But then some of my ancestors could have owned places like this, you know, see some of the carvings and statues and all.
I mean, the I mean, they were blacks in the house too, right?
Oh, yes.
So far, so, you know, blacks like many servants, it wasn't evident that they were free people of color here in Louisiana that became very wealthy.
And they owned plantations and they on their own slave any of the blacks.
It came into the house where they free people of color as opposed to being a slave or.
Oh, you mean like a guest being involved with a guest?
That was mid 1800s.
They had money to hit land and probably owned slaves.
So I guess the division was just.
I don't know how to answer that.
I really don't.
Yes.
Oh.
Okay.
It's probably one of the most historic places in America.
This part of the city.
See the tracks here?
This is.
This is very close to where Homer Plessy was arrested.
I've heard the name, but, you know, I'm not familiar with the story.
I mean, well, what did he do?
Well, he was a young, shoemaker, 29 years old.
He was a Creole, his, great grandmother had had a slave, but pretty much everyone else in his lineage was white.
He bought a first class ticket, and he gets on and he calls the conductor over and says, you may not realize it, but I'm an African American and I'm exercising my constitutional rights, whenever I want.
And of course, the conductor responds, well, no, we have a separate law.
Let me see.
Yeah.
And you've got to get to the to the a black car because he said, well, no, I'm not going to.
But very much like Rosa Parks in 1955, she refuses to give up her seat.
And of course, the rest is history.
Well, I'm requesting to do the same thing back in 1892.
I don't know if I have the nerve to do what he did.
And there's Judge Ferguson looking out across the courtroom to this man who looks white, and he's sentencing him to a $25 fine and 20 days in jail for being black.
For being black.
Exactly.
So this whole thing ended up going to the Supreme United States Supreme Court denied his appeal, but most importantly, they issued the Plessy versus Ferguson separate but equal doctrine, which will soon be extended beyond railway cars to that to cradle to grave segregation.
Plessy versus Ferguson created this whole separate but equal.
Yeah, but later in the Black Power years, a hero with a light skin like that one would not being particularly fashionable.
You know, I remember my dad telling me about the screens on the streetcar.
He he sat in the behind the screen, and then the guy in front says, you don't have to sit back here because he thought my dad was white.
My dad says, you know, you made the room.
When I'm touring on the road and cities are still functioning, I've got to admit, life might be easier somewhere else to do.
D doo doo doo doo doo doo de de de de de de de de de de de de de de de de de de de de de de de de de de de de de de de de de de de de de de de de de de de de dude.
It, de de de de de de de de de de oh more that.
You girls have to be Afro-Latin.
Yeah, I got, I still got picture.
Yeah.
You went to high school before me, so I always knew about you.
Was famous, you know.
Man down pat.
Are you, like, a pioneer, right?
No one cannot survive in this environment, you know, be black and be it to the south.
Man, we never could be out of gas.
Was talking to me, doing a day when doctor made a walk.
But then walking home was like, oh, saying go on a white school.
You know what I'm saying?
We all.
Yeah, you dealt with me.
And what did you think I went through with the banjo?
Oh, it was hey, what's even with, And you mean, so that's the bro that's got a plantation connotation.
It's a wonderful.
It is a great instrument.
You know, when you when you hear thing.
Oh, glad you like this.
Last thing I was on is are you from New Orleans or are you black from, I mean, you know, would you tone you can be treated the 70.
Man, I know you in the 1970s.
I said I'm from New Orleans, man.
I'm everything.
That's kind of what Creole is to me when I say we we all like, I call we call the white labels black or white.
Culturally, we're Creole.
Yeah.
You know, we have Creole bass.
You know, I mean, out here, we got Creoles, we got.
But I mean, at this point, man, move forward, up.
Not just for this go up.
A lot of people won't be able to come back.
Just by the nature of this circumstance.
You know, a lot of people are going to be so disgusted, they will just won't come back.
They lost is going to leave such a bad taste in their mouth.
But for Egypt, each of those people is going to be a time they go some way will get a breeze or something.
They will smell a poor voice down.
Damn, you know they will think something about the New Orleans accent.
If people talk with whatever makes us be where we are now.
Oh damn, I miss home and still trying to get home.
I a lot of people just home.
It's like your mom home.
It will go wherever you situation is with your mama.
Still your mama know what happened?
Your mom, she refused to live anywhere else.
That's is, a man, you know, people like being where they from.
Especially from New Orleans.
Oh, man, oh, man.
Oh, the.
It's hard to know.
It's not there for you.
That is our thing.
And If you love films like this, become a member right now to help LPB produce the next great story about Louisiana we have.
Fantastic.
Thank you gifts available for you during this broadcast.
For $25 a month sustaining membership, choose the American Creole combo that includes the Dooky Chase cookbook, featuring a collection of Creole recipes from Leah Chase and memories about her celebrated restaurant, plus the book Becoming American in Creole New Orleans and a festive New Orleans mug.
Support LPB at $10 a month and receive the book Becoming American and Creole New Orleans.
Perfect for history buffs and anyone who appreciates Louisiana Creole culture.
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All this, plus visions.
LPB is monthly program guide and LPB passport to stream the very best of LPB and PBS.
You know, I'm good to you.
Don't hurt yourself.
God, no.
Well hello everyone.
I'm Clay for you, and it has been a pleasure to host American Creole New Orleans Reunion.
Thank you for joining us.
Now, we'll be back to the conclusion of the program in just a few moments.
But this break is your last chance to support the programs you love here on LPB.
Become a member during this broadcast to choose from the fantastic thank you gifts you just heard about.
Call us at 888769 5000.
Make a few clicks over there to lpb.org or scan the QR code that's on your screen right now.
It is support from members last year that allows you and your family to enjoy all the music, science, history, dramas and everything that we are presenting an LP this year and when you contribute today, you will be making our 50th year possible, providing Louisiana with the very best programs and educational resources found anywhere.
You make the difference.
We need you to be a part of this legacy so LPB can continue to tell Louisiana story.
And in that the truth who we are.
We've gone through most of this program now, and we want to bring the rest of the program to them.
We enjoy the program and we enjoy what you guys have done so much, but we can only do it with that pledge of support.
Absolutely.
Abso.
It is so important, folks.
The the dollars you contribute, they're not going to come to me.
They're going to come to the nuts and bolts of running the station.
And I know some of you thinking, well, I can't afford much and it's not going to make a difference.
You know, my Cajun grandmother had an expression as a frog, the buffalo, the red buffalo from buffalo nickels with these people.
So I followed the suit.
They were pennies together.
This beautiful desk is sitting behind.
It's second hand.
They got a second half of the commercial broadcast station.
They your dollars here makes so much difference.
They get so multiplied.
They don't know Ferrari's in the parking lot of this place.
These people are working hard and they're taking every penny you send them.
And multiplying it and getting it on, getting it on the air.
Oh, you know what you need to say again because it's very important.
This is our last break for this program.
And so if you're going to contribute, if you now's the time.
Now's the time to put it off.
888769 5000 operators are standing by, as they say at pbs.org.
If you don't want to talk to someone, you can go right up there.
Use the QR code.
It's all very simple.
Three but we want more program, more great Louisiana programing.
You need to come right now and do it.
And it's you who does it.
That's right.
It's you who does it.
For every filmmaker, there need a lot of folks like you supporting Louisiana Public Broadcasting.
So the shows we get, you can reach the audiences who deserve them and hopefully, hopefully enjoy them.
That's right.
And of course, is the corporate challenge.
Break is an absolutely, absolutely perfect time.
I last break in this in the show, a perfect time because Rachel Martin, the mommy company, is so proud to support OPB, they are doubling any contribution, so whatever you send in, they will match.
That's right.
And so up to the first $1,500 to the first 1500, it's going to double Yellow Pledge.
And we'll get more programing here because of that now.
Absolutely.
In addition to the great programing there, gifts, let's say one more to makes a gift.
Go for it.
If you love films like this, become a member right now to help LPB produce the next great story about Louisiana.
We have fantastic thank you gifts available for you during this broadcast.
For a $25 a month sustaining membership, choose the American Creole combo that includes the Dooky Chase cookbook, featuring a collection of Creole recipes from Leah Chase and memories about her celebrated restaurant.
Plus, the book Becoming American in Creole New Orleans and a festive New Orleans mug.
Support LPB at $10 a month and receive the book becoming American and Creole New Orleans.
Perfect for history buffs and anyone who appreciates Louisiana Creole culture.
Or for just $8 a month, receive a festive New Orleans mug with iconic logos of Louisiana brands.
All this, plus visions LP B's monthly program Guide and LPB passport to stream the Very Best of LPB and PBS.
You know I'm good to you.
Don't hurt yourself.
Great.
Gets great programing here on LPB.
I wanted to ask you something about that.
That Don Valley, guy.
How did you meet him?
You know, it's interesting.
My wife and I were doing a movie.
Like a movie with actor using Academy Award winner Tatum O'Neal.
Tim Curry.
So that's a big time for you?
Well, it was bigger than other documentaries.
Okay, so we're doing the movie shooting at Lafourche Parish.
Where are you from?
Okay.
And the opening scene is a it's a it's a World War two homefront drama.
Okay, Louisiana.
But the opening scene is, the Sunday afternoon dance when the word comes at Pearl Harbor has been bombed.
Okay.
And so we needed a band that would sound like the band would play in that dance hall in 1941.
Well, and, went spoke to scholars and everybody says, Don Bobby dance to what he is playing, the kind of music that would have been played.
And so 100 him down and, you know, he was a natural fit.
And but of course, he started pitching me an idea.
Of course, he came from a musical family.
And had, you know, one cousin who was Ray Charles was bandleader and another cousin was without cash, and another cousin who played the theme for the Pink Panther and the piccolo in Rock and Robin and so, so on and on and on.
So let me ask you something.
So did it start out as just a music program or a family reunion?
What?
It started out because I know then suddenly here came Katrina.
Katrina.
So it started out as here's just the legend, local legend of traditional jazz, who is part of a nationwide network of of of famous musicians.
And and then Katrina happened.
Yeah.
And then there was the pool.
Does Don stay or does he move because he he could have gone anywhere.
He could have played with anybody.
He was you know, he was that good.
That's right.
You know.
But he said, he said that, you know, it might be easier somewhere else.
But there are so many reasons that there's no place like home.
Absolutely.
Yeah.
And that's the spirit of Louisiana public Broadcasting.
It is it is it, you know, why are we putting this?
Why we adopted.
Why is this, why is LPB putting local programing on the air when it will be easier and less expensive in a whole lot less trouble to just run the networks?
That's it.
Just a few hours a day and not have to think about it.
Because this state and this network believe in Louisiana programing and we can continue that programing for with only that pledge of support for you.
So Gwen, one more time, we've got Royal Martin.
Right.
Royal Martin who's going to double your play.
Whatever you put up, they will put it during this broadcast.
It ends in the end.
But wherever you put up, they will match it down effectively.
Dollar for dollar is effectively double your country.
So call us.
All right.
There there it is.
888769 5000 going online to help org make that pledge.
Or you can use the QR code.
You get the programing.
Go ahead.
Thank you so much.
Preciate it.
And you get a great thank you gifts.
And you get the gifts and you get the gifts.
If you love films like this, become a member right now to help LPB produce the next great story about Louisiana.
We have fantastic thank you gifts available for you during this broadcast.
For a $25 a month sustaining membership, choose the American Creole combo that includes the Dooky Chase cookbook, featuring a collection of Creole recipes from Leah Chase and memories about her celebrated restaurant.
Plus, the book Becoming American and Creole New Orleans and a festive New Orleans mug.
Support LPB at $10 a month and receive the book becoming American and Creole New Orleans.
Perfect for history buffs and anyone who appreciates Louisiana Creole culture.
Or for just $8 a month, receive a festive New Orleans mug with iconic logos of Louisiana brands.
All this, plus visions LP B's monthly program Guide and LPB passport to stream The Very Best of LPB and PBS.
You know I'm good to you.
Don't hurt yourself.
God, don't hurt yourself.
and.
That's.
My name is Don from New Orleans.
Thank you.
Where are you from?
I'm from Bangladesh.
All right.
Bangladesh, let me ask you, man.
You know that typhoon you guys in 1988 is was how long did it take to rebuild all that damage?
Pumping is still down, is there not in it.
Wow.
That's.
Hum.
Wow.
You know, whenever I'm in New York, I try to visit my cousin Rachel.
We were in Bangor, Maine when the storm hit, so we went back.
The system near Dayton, you know.
But I still think about it.
I mean, now, you know, where I could buy something up there.
I mean, I'm close to three airports because really, I could just focus on traveling and make a living and be kind of traveling with the kind of town.
Wow.
And then, I don't know, you'll get that New Orleans steamer you somewhere along the line.
You miss noise, you know.
Yeah.
No, but I mean.
I could go visit and I got to go out, see?
Yeah.
You know, but I'm wondering if me being there is going to make a difference.
Not a bad.
And New Orleans, why did you leave?
Yeah, well, I tell you what.
I don't talk about this too much, but, you know, you always looking for that utopia.
You know, that's true.
Yeah, I know a lot of them.
Stay home.
You ask, ten people with Creole means get ten different answers and all of them correct, but none of them enough.
If my culture was washed away, can I still call New Orleans home?
I just don't know.
Things we loved and took for granted or gone.
Things we hated but put up with or gone to.
Now what can we do besides improvise?
Oh, yeah, I. Play.
Okay, okay.
All I've ever wanted was to be judged on merit for my work.
Don't tell me.
Wow.
Look, you know, I'm from New Orleans.
I'm a product of 200 years of people melding.
God made me way I look.
So you can put a label on me and say, oh, well, he's not really from you.
On the way.
He looks Cuban, he looks Spanish, he looks French, you know, on paper colored or Negro, black, African American.
You know, I'm I'm a New Orleans.
I'm down that I'm a New Orleans.
Yeah.
I'm come out of this Creole culture, that's all.
Check out my work.
You.
And.
Boy.
To hear.
What do you save?
So cedar chest.
Oh.
Oh oh.
These chairs, I mean, it's the.
She's had this stuff all day that I've been alive.
Oh.
She never took that down.
Looks just like I left it when I moved.
I was messy.
And this is what?
My mom, she was afraid that all the photographs would be ruined.
They might all be ruined.
But I still got water in it.
I think that's Sean.
O radio survived.
That's a good thing.
I got him.
It had some mold on it.
I cleaned it off.
Yeah, that's really old.
That was our first radio.
I hope you can say some other things when you go back.
Well.
This was on top of ship, but really, everything else was kind of, you know, so you have to take me to get whatever I'm going to get.
Bed had collapsed.
The dresser where the TV was on top that fell over and collapsed.
The all you furniture in your bedroom, it just came apart.
I mean, it just sat in the water so long.
Yeah.
Things change and you accept the change.
You never know what's going to happen next time.
And you think you did this?
Yeah.
Before Katrina, every couple of years, my family would gather for a big reunion.
After the storm, it looked like that might not happen, but now it's more important than ever.
And Katrina taught us anything.
But you got to feel well, we're here.
It's that we're all in this together.
We got to go.
And, so less than a year after the hurricane in this building that had flooded.
But it's been restored, we all gather for a New Orleans reunion when he was 12.
So I can't even imagine you as a child.
But.
That's.
My.
How many y'all know?
Class.
Me?
And.
My.
We.
You know, the people that are from New Orleans.
They are the coast.
Like me.
Like my musician friends.
I mean, we're all different.
We all have our opinions, but we also are all very much the culture.
We are the culture.
It's in the people.
It's not in the building.
It's not in any particular house.
It's how you live in a house, how you decorate the house, how you build the house.
That's a, we we are it.
I believe.
Way he will close to dee dee dee dee dee dee.
Let me.
Whoa whoa whoa whoa whoa, y'all.
Oh, close to the E. Hey, you.
I need.
Jesus.
You pray for.
I'll be satisfied.
Oh, as I walk through.
You should be.
Just help me to walk with you I need to get to that.
This where?
On this will be the end.
If me walk the Lord.
There we go.
Strong.
Jesus, keep me from all who said for me and before you, Lord.
This me.
Friend to Jesus say warm and cozy.
Give me your name.
Oh, yes.
So this program was made possible by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and by grants from the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities, the Southern Humanities Media Fund, the Louisiana State Arts Council through the Louisiana Division of the Arts, and the New Orleans Musicians Creek Fund through the year.
Hurricane Centennial.
The American Creole DVD, including bonus material now available by calling 1-800-973-7246.
We are a PBS.
Support for PBS provided by:
American Creole: New Orleans Reunion is a local public television program presented by LPB













