"Still Rising: Free People of Color in St. Landry Parish" Exhibition at the Opelousas Museum
Opelousas Museum & Interpretive Center 315 N. Main St., Opelousas, Louisiana 70570
The Opelousas Museum and Interpretive Center presents a new project and accompanying exhibition, Still Rising: Free People of Color in St. Landry Parish from 1700 to the Present, that delves into the history of Free People of Color in St. Landry Parish—which at one point was home to the largest number of Free People of Color in Louisiana beyond New Orleans. This important community was massively influential in St. Landry's culture, business, and other areas prior to the Civil War, and now artifacts and information about their lives will be on display at the Opelousas Museum. Those who worked to develop the exhibition include historian Sarah Senette, genealogist Etha Simien Amling, designer Jerome Ford, researcher Taylor Suir, education specialist Brandi Meche and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion specialist Kristi Guillory Reid, and museum director Patrice Melnick.
An opening reception featuring brief talks from some of the scholars who worked on the exhibition will take place on March 30 from 5 pm–7 pm. Three special presentations about St. Landry's Free People of Color related to the exhibition will take place on April 1 from 1 pm–3 pm. Free. cajuntravel.com.
