GSD BloG: Honoring Freedom and Resilience

... At The Free People of Color Museum

​In honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the Get Stuff Done for Social Good blog is spotlighting The Free People of Color Museum (Le Musée de f.p.c), a museum in New Orleans that profoundly impacted me during my recent visit. Le Musée de f.p.c. is a testament to the resilience, courage, and enduring stories of free people of color, offering a rich narrative that intertwines history, art, storytelling, and culture. ​

A Poem That Inspired a Movie
My visit began with a story that captivated me: a poem titled Ima Take Care of You. This powerful piece, narrated at the museum by the voice of a free Black man whose loved one was enslaved, hangs prominently on the wall. With the push of a button, visitors can hear this soul-stirring narrative conveying love and pain. Astonishingly, Quentin Tarantino spent five days in the museum listening to this poem, which inspired his Academy Award-winning screenplay for Django Unchained. Sadly, the museum was never credited in the film or its promotions, a stark reminder of the ongoing struggle for recognition and justice.

A Tour Worth Taking
The museum’s tours, available by appointment, are led by insightful and knowledgeable docents, many with deep connections to the free people of color community. During my visit, the museum director and docent guiding the tour brought a wealth of expertise and a warm, approachable demeanor. Their use of humor added a thoughtful layer to the experience as they playfully checked in with the few white attendees to ensure comfort in a room filled with Black individuals—a poignant nod to the historical reality that, at one time, the mere congregation of Black people was deemed illegal out of the fear it instilled among white Americans.  

Preserving History and Reframing Language
Our docent skillfully connected the history of the past to the present, emphasizing the power of intentional language choices. One compelling example was the distinction between using the term “enslaved” instead of “slave.” The noun "slave" implies a fixed state of being, as though it simply happened, erasing the deliberate actions of those responsible. In contrast, the verb "enslaved" underscores the humanity of those subjected to this atrocity while explicitly attributing accountability to the perpetrators. This was just one of several examples the docent shared to illustrate the profound impact of language, reminding us how thoughtful word choices can help ensure we are not perpetuating false narratives.  

Le Musée de f.p.c. illuminates the unique history of New Orleans, where before the Civil War, the free people of color made up a more significant proportion of the population than anywhere else in the United States. By the time of the Louisiana Purchase, free Black residents constituted about 20% of the city’s population, mainly due to French and Spanish policies that allowed enslaved individuals to purchase their freedom. 
The docent also highlighted the three primary paths to freedom for Black individuals in the United States:

1. Escape or Self-Emancipation: Taking one’s freedom despite immense danger.
2. Government or Military Service: Service often came with limited rights upon return.
3. Manumission: The act of granting freedom by a master, typically through a will. While often portrayed as an act of altruism, it was frequently motivated by the master’s desire to prevent his property from being transferred to another owner.

Later, individuals could purchase their freedom, with costs ranging from $11,000 to $20,000 for women and double that for men, perpetuating the idea that women were less valuable than men. The tour was filled with rich history and culture, which is too much for me to share here. Likewise, given the extensive staff knowledge, I suspect that each tour offers a unique experience. 

Why This Matters
As Martin Luther King Jr. said in his Letter from a Birmingham Jail, "Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed." Le Musée de f.p.c. lifts up stories that might otherwise remain untold, making it an essential stop for anyone interested in understanding the full tapestry of American history. 
As we honor Dr. King’s legacy, let us also honor the freedom fighters whose stories must continue inspiring us. Their courage reminds us that the fight for justice and equality is unending—a call to action that feels especially urgent as we reflect on the inauguration of a new era where many of our hard-won rights are under attack.

For more information or to schedule a tour, visit Le Musée de f.p.c.’s website.

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