LAPLACE, La. ( WGNO ) — In line with Black History Month, the Descendants Project announced the acquisition of Woodland Plantation, the site of the largest slave revolt in American history.
The acquisition brought the plantation under Black ownership for the first time in its 231-year history. The founders of the Descendants Project, sisters Dr. Joy and Jo Banner, say they are dedicated to protecting the legacy of those who fought for their freedom.
Banner spoke on why the Descendants Project gained ownership of the site. “We eradicate the legacies of slavery, and that’s through the preservation of historic assets,” she added. “We as a descendant community are still living with those legacies. So, in order to learn, we need to preserve places like this.”
More than 5K pounds of New Orleans Mardi Gras throws, waste to be recycled
While it is still in the planning phase, Banner emphasized they are not planning the site as a tourist attraction; instead, “It is a site of learning, a site of memory and dedication.”