Collection:LPB

Genre: Newsmagazine

Place Covered: New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 1982-02-25

Duration: 00:28:57

Subjects: History | Battle of Liberty Place | Reconstruction (U.S. history, 1865-1877) | Louisiana. Constitutional Convention (1867-1868) | White League (La.) | Monuments | White supremacy movements | Politics

Contributors:

• Sexton, Sharon Elizabeth Host
• Taylor, Joe Gray Interviewee
• Vincent, Charles Interviewee
• Haase, Edward F. Interviewee
• Von Trufant, William Interviewee
• Salaam, Kalamu Ya Interviewee

This episode of the series “Folks” from February 25, 1982, features Sharon Elizabeth Sexton’s look back at the Battle of Liberty Place in New Orleans on September 14, 1874. Her report covers: the political climate of the Reconstruction era in New Orleans, which was serving as the state capital following the Civil War; the Louisiana Constitutional Convention of 1868; the high number of black elected officials under this Constitution; the creation of the White League in 1874; the Battle of Liberty Place between the White League and the Metropolitan Police in New Orleans; the 1898 erection of a monument on Canal Street honoring the White League men who died in the battle; and the ongoing controversy over the monument. Sexton interviews: Dr. Joe Gray Taylor, historian; Dr. Charles Vincent, historian; Dr. Edward F. Haase, the chief curator of the Louisiana Historical Center; William Von Trufant of the Louisiana Historical Society; and Kalamu ya Salaam, social activist.