Published on May, 2024
(NOLA) 2nd Line Tours – Whitney Plantation
Many thanks to Dennis for making the ride to the Whitney plantation fun, which we did on 18 May 2024. The history lessons and stories along the way were informative! Your recommendation to “We Dats” was PERFECT for lunch! The tour was with a small group, maybe a dozen people on the bus.
This was our first time visiting a plantation, and we were looking forward to discussing our perspectives and take-aways as my wife is African American and I am Caucasian.
My wife described the experience as heavy, heartbreaking, enlightening, and powerful. Her tears flowed as she listened to the stories and viewed the exhibits, remembering stories told to her by her great-grandfather about his life. She commented that the resilience and strength of those men and women caused her to feel grateful and blessed.
My experience was difficult as well. To realize that we could treat other people in such a horrible way. And to occasionally, even today, see someone who disapproves glaring at a mixed couple is depressing as hell.
We highly recommend this tour. The grounds were beautiful and the exhibits, audio stories and additional display inside the gift shop were very impactful. You may even catch sight of a few alligators!
Recommendations- bug spray for the mosquitos and tissues….
At the end of the tour, Dennis suggested a second tour to us discussing the cultural history of New Orleans.
(NOLA) 2nd Line Tours – History of New Orleans
Thanks to Jay for this informative cultural tour! We appreciated his love for his city and his “tell it like it is” attitude.
Studio Be was amazing! Everyone needs to view Brandan’s talent.
Visiting the McDonogh 19 Elementary School building was powerful. Hearing her story about her experience and then walking up those steps was like taking a walk back in time. The back mural…just WOW!
The Lower Ninth Ward part of the tour was heartbreaking. Being in the exact places we saw underwater on the news and seeing the levy and the area that broke was crazy! The worst was the recognition that the condition of the 9th Ward has not improved much over these years. It’s sad to see that an area that once represented Black Ownership now resembles remnants of a battleground. Sadly, gentrification is coming.
Thank you for offering us insight and first-hand views in places that most tours don’t venture to. It was enlightening! There’s so much more than Food, Jazz, Bourbon St and Mardi Gras if you care to learn about it! This tour shows you REAL TIME history.