By Simran Gupta, CCSRC Student Writers & Researchers Panel
Tulane University, McKay Connor Scholarship Fund Fellow

New Orleans street names are storytellers. You ride the St. Charles Streetcar through Napoleon’s victorious battles, tales of Greek muses, and former plantations. Your experience is enhanced by the symbolic street names on every corner, each unveiling a peak into another chapter of the city’s complicated book. One significant chapter is suppressed, however, by our history of glorifying the Confederacy. 

The city is a melting pot stunted by this chapter of our story. The glamorous retelling of the South’s history overshadows how New Orleans was home to the largest slave trade market; instead of positively compensating for the horrors of the past, we choose to uplift Confederate oppressors for the sake of “remembrance.” Myths teach morals; yet, our past continues to characterize the streets of the 21st century. 

Do not be fooled by the triumphant depiction of Southern history — from the birth of the Confederacy’s Cornerstone speech, Confederate street names and statutes were enacted for the sole purpose of maintaining white supremacy. Confederate New Orleans street names maintain our standing in a shameful time and culturally enslave African-Americans to this day.

In former Lieutenant Governor Mitch Landrieu’s speech about the removal of Confederate monuments in the city, he illustrated a scene of an African-American mother and daughter in Lee Circle. He presented the question, “Can you look into that young girl’s eyes and convince her that Robert E. Lee is there to encourage her?” 

Our generation is empowered by our ability to expedite change. The successful protests of Summer 2020 following George Floyd’s death proved young people’s dedication to creating an equitable future. The New Orleans City Council Renaming Commission acted on this tragic event by addressing our city’s inclusion of Confederate street names. 

After receiving numerous suggestions from our constituents of their recommendations for new street names, it became evident that this project was long overdue. Rather than celebrate a false narrative, new street names credit those who succeeded despite the Confederacy and its legacy. Young New Orleanians yearn for a tomorrow where all of us are “in that number.” 

Change in familiarity is uncomfortable. What is simply Calhoun Street or Beauregard Avenue to most is someone else’s childhood neighborhood. However, a foundation of acceptance is paramount. Young locals have witnessed the shift in our standard culture of equality. While we are dedicated to preserving our beloved history, we also strive to discredit glorified corners of our story. Improved street names finally uncover the chapter untold and celebrate a fresh avenue of pride.

By David Gross, CCSRC Student Writers & Researchers Panel
Millsaps College, McKay Connor Scholarship Fund Fellow

I remember during the Landrieu administration when the statue of Confederate General Robert E. Lee was taken down. It was highly controversial, but it was many people’s first introduction to just how deep-rooted white supremacy was in our city. Before the removal of the statue, I was neutral to the issue because I was uneducated. Now, it’s been a few years since I realized the issue was about removing lasting remnants of white supremacy.

I was conscious of my place in this discussion as well. Even though I come from a Hispanic background, I would generally identify as a white man, so when I had an offer to intern for the Commission I wasn’t sure about accepting due to my identification. However, I realized it was also important to truly show my allyship and dedication to justice by helping the committee achieve their aims and make their final submission. 

Obviously, the renaming of streets to a more representative group of names isn’t the end all be all in the road of finding justice and eliminating white supremacy, but what it means to me, and hopefully my generation (and even other generations), is that our voice is beginning to be heard. Maybe not at the highest level, but at least locally. The Commission took into account local voices on street renaming in regards to what the new names should be. 

Not only that, but we, as citizens, can tangibly see these changes. It helps us recognize the power of our collective voice, which can be used as we travel toward a just society and dismantle white supremacy. Hopefully, the use of this voice will encourage others around the city, and the country, to be active in demanding more from their government, which is supposed to represent them but often does not. The city you live in should be an embodiment of the people who live there, rather than still being representative of the unjust past.

Of course, it is necessary to not forget the past, and sometimes the scars from the past will still be. Even though our previous wrongdoings may not be obvious to us anymore, as long as we continue educating future generations about the past, we will hopefully not recreate the past. However, with that being said, producing tangible change invokes hope in people, which during the past year has been in dearth. 

The one thing that we, as in my generation, cannot accept, however, is contentedness. As I said earlier, just renaming streets isn’t enough; it’s part of the long journey to reach a just and equal society. There are many scars in the city of New Orleans that are memories of segregation and white supremacy. The I-10 overpass that cuts through the city is a major representation of minority degradation and suppression. Not only that, but the way the East and West Bank are serviced by city services are lackluster; the East also lacks most of the amenities it had pre-Katrina, and those are just a few grievances among many. 

As we strive toward a more just and equal America and New Orleans, it is important to educate people about the white supremacy that still impacts our city. Not only this, but it is key to keep pushing for change. If it weren’t for organizations like Take Em’ Down NOLA, getting people educated on why the issue is important, and the people of New Orleans calling for action from their representative leaders, then it’s very likely nothing would be done. As long as people continue to make their voice heard, through protest, petition, voting, or even running for office, then hopefully we can do more, in terms of policy, to create a more just and equal city.