Heart Warming Experience!

Inner:

Today we learned a lot about Catholicism and how it came to in New Orleans. What really spoke to me was how discrimination was not a huge deal in New Orleans during slavery time and even now. It is really touching to know that slaves that lived here during slavery had a chance to worship and were not pushed to the back of the church or had to stand or anything like that. There was a possibility that they were not able to sit in the first pew, but besides that they could worship like every other person. Hearing our tour guides talk about slavery and how things differed in New Orleans rather than all over the world put a warm feeling in my body. Being that I am an African-American woman slavery is something that is hard to imagine being a part of. The things that those people had to go through was just not right.

In New Orleans was the first place African-Americans were able to own their own house, business, and life pretty much. Before slavery was abolished there were priest who admired the people of color and even helped some women of color become nun’s and serve through the church. There was this beautiful christening bath in the St. Louis Cathedral that has been around since the 1700’s I believe. What stood out most to me about this item is that the first baby to be christened in it was a baby of color. That speaks volumes too me. It’s not like they were guinea pigs because it was not an experiment; this was a legit meaningful christening that took place. Now when I really think about it (although I’m not Catholic), these people were accepted as a person, a human being! The fact that this was not a secret and people are still talking about it today just warms my heart.

Let’s talk about the convent and how it warmed my heart to hear the story about the stained-glass windows and this one particular window. Now to some it may just seem like oh cool it is not that big of a deal, but as I’ve mentioned before being an African-American woman it warms your heart to hear about people of color being treated like a person and not some type of foreign creature.  I will post a pic below of the window. ANYWAY. The painters that painted the window refused to paint the people white because they said it was not right and everyone who portrays Jesus, His disciples, and family always has them as white figures when they are from a country and area that were not white. The church said agreed but said Jesus had to be white and everyone else can have color. People who stick up for what is right no matter the race, gender, or beliefs always have a special place in my heart. The funny thing about this is that when they painted this glass they not only said ok you want Jesus to be white? I have white for you, and they made Jesus so white He looks like he’s glowing.

My take away from today not only from the tours but the town in general is that so many people are friendly and that’s probably why New Orleans thrives so much. You can be who you want, not be judged, and live a happy life. My type of city!

*WHY HATE WHEN YOU CAN LOVE? IT’S SO MUCH EASIER! *