Rediscovering Your Roots

Yes, that is me and my family. I am the one on the far right and my grandmother has a vice grip on my little wrist. One of the first things I did when I decided to start my life over was to go back to my roots, my home town of New Orleans. I wanted to learn where I came from. I wanted to know my heritage, my culture, my values, and know who are my people? There was much confusion as to whether I was Cajun or Creole. No one really agreed and it was just accepted if you were light skin and European looking then you were Cajun. I knew I was Irish, Italian, IsIenos, German, French, Swiss, and a melting pot of so many other cultures. However, I was also American Indian and there was no denying members of my family had an Egyptian Morrocan influence. My family and I went to see King Tut's exhibit when I was a child. We barely took any trips and I clearly remember going to King Tut's exhibit it was huge for me! We also went to NASA, the Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral, Disney World, EPCOT, Circus World, and my favorite Reptile World! I loved the snakes and still love snakes! I guess the earlier we are exposed to new things the more we are apt to explore and investigate. I guess you could say I was a very curious child who loved learning.

I was born in a small subarb of New Orleans called Algiers. It is the second oldest neighborhood in the city. My parents grew up in Algiers Point along the Mississippi River, which was known as the "Brooklyn of the South". There was a ferry which would cross the Mississippi River taking you from Algiers Point to the French Quarter. My grandmother, Matilda Fortmayer, lived in Algiers Point and supported her family playing music and singing in the French Quarter. She played piano by ear and was an incredible entertainer. Her husband died when her youngest twins were 5 years old, my dad was one of the twins. My grandmother supported her family singing, playing music, and cleaning homes. She was beloved and the military men loved her!

My grandmother, Tillie, as her friends called her is sitting on the porch swing in the picture above. My parents are standing to the left of her. I remember as a child the one place I could seek refuge and solace was at my grandmother's home. She made life worth living! It was an adventure and she treated me like a little lady. Now don't get me wrong she would discipline me and she was super strict but she loved like no one I have ever known. My home life with my family was chaotic, rough, and at times violent. I was the youngest of seven children and my family was poor which made it stressful. Even as a young child I knew the intense struggles my parents faced trying to put food on the table. I loved going to stay at my grandmother's where I was treated like a young lady even at the age of 4. She spoke to me as though I was an adult and I loved the way she treated me with such respect. Everyone else treated me like "the baby" since I was the youngest. Not my grandmother, she knew I was wise beyond my years. She taught me how to play cards, clean house, and most importantly taught me the importance of getting to know your neighbors. We would often sit on her front porch and she would introduce me to all her neighbors as they walked by. My grandmother knew everyone and everyone, especially the men, stopped to talk and laugh with her. She was an incredible storyteller. She influenced me more than anyone else in my life. She taught me the power of connection, love, and being a strong independent woman! She kept me safe and taught me how to stay tough in the darkest times. I believe it was her love of music which helped me to find peace as a child. I would turn on the radio and just start to sway. I could feel the rhythm in my bones. I could feel it in my soul! Music told the story of my pain and could take me away to a place where I could float from note to note. I craved movement and music! My grandmother showed me how to have fun and enjoy life! She was always entertaining and the military men loved her as seen in the photo below!

It is no wonder I began to question who I was as I learned Algiers was not originally a city rather the site of the "King's Plantation". It was here newly enslaved Africans were brought before they were sold into a lifetime of slaverly to French landowners. As I looked at pictures from my past I came across a picture of Plantation Athletic Club, home for youth sports. I was raised calling it PAC and it was a soccer field. I never knew the original name was Plantation Athletic Club and the field was named Torres Baseball Field after my family who were coaches and athletes.

I began to learn that I was actually Creole. Digging deep into the culture and archives I learned Creole and Cajun are really interchangeable labels given by different settlers. Creole was most often referred to people born in Louisiana. Some even say Creole was French with an American Indian and Carribean or Spanish influence. Others say Cajuns were the exiled Acadians. What ever you want to call me, it doesn't really matter to me. I embrace my Louisiana heritiage, my ethnicities, the folklores, the cuisine, the architechure, the music, and the city. I am proud of who I am and love the big melting pot I am! It is pretty amazing to know all I need is some soul music, a little dancing, and I can have fun! I encourage you to find out who you are by retracing your ancestry. Embrace all of you and learn to love all those who made you! I am naturally N'awlins! I am a fiesty, fun loving, kind, free spirit who loves hard, plays hard, works hard, and simply enjoys life!