Josephine Butler
Josephine Butler talks about her determination to come back to the lower 9th ward, where she has lived since 1949.
Directed by Luisa Dantas
Cinematography by Micheal Boedigheimer
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Two years after Katrina, the Gulf Coast is still recovering, and thousands of personal stories remain unheard. Experience them here. Tell us yours.
Harlette Washington said:
My heart cries out for Ms. Butler and others from New Orleans. My parents, brothers, nieces and nephews were also displaced.
I visted the St Bernard Project in July 2006. I grew up there from 8 years old till I was 21. My heart cried out for the memories, the love, the good and bad times. It was as if death had come and taken all the souls away.
My parents finally settled in Raeford, N.C. (just outside Fort Bragg/Fayetteville, N.C.). Mama died July 21, 2007, never having an opportunity to return to her home on Sere St. If I could do nothing else for Mama during her illness, I wanted to one more time be able to bring her home to New Orleans to see her house on Sere Street. We will never be able to do that.
With some financial struggle, but with help from God and Mama's home church, Gloryland Mt. Gillion Bapt Church, we were able to bring Mama home and have her funeralized in New Orleans. She is buried in the Port Hudson National Cemetery in Zachary, La (just outside of Baton Rouge).
I pray every day for those I know and love, and their decisions to try one more time to return to the home that they love...New Orleans, Louisiana.
Affectionately,
Harlette Smith Washington
a New Orleans daughter
who now resides in Chicago, IL
Permalink | Posted: August 24, 2007 10:00 AM
Dee said:
My heart go out to you & your family. May your mama finally R.I.P. I know personally, she will be missed, but never will she be forgotten by her family. She sounded like a wonderful mama & lady.
Dee
Shreveport, LA.
Permalink | Posted: August 24, 2007 11:16 AM
Susan said:
Josephine you are my hero. To have the determination to move back after such devastation is a quality that is sorely lacking in communities all over the nation. This courage encourages other folks to come back, and in turn the culture of New Orleans begins to settle back in place.
I visited New Orleans only one time, and its energy, and lovely voice spoke to me. I am an artist living in Denver,CO and when Katrina hit, and the reaction from the adminstration sunk in I immediately researched the stories, scoured the papers for information; videos, news reports, and compiled them in my brain and began to paint.
I always send out Press Releases to the art critics in town whenever I have a show, but for some reason I didn't my Katrina show. Why? I don't know it felt too personal.
Permalink | Posted: August 24, 2007 3:53 PM
Allaha said:
God Bless You Ms. Butler. My heart is with you!
Permalink | Posted: August 27, 2007 3:30 PM