What Defines Us?

I was born and raised in Louisiana, in a suburb of New Orleans called Metairie. I saw a lot of racism growing up even though it did not define me or my friends. However, in the 80’s and 90’s, I was a repeated witness in my home state to straight out venomous hatred of someone because of their skin color to what I call “casual racism” where someone has friends of many colors but still uses derogatory words to classify strangers who fall into certain categories. In light of recent events publicized in the national news, it seems that sadly some of Louisiana still has not grown past those outdated notions that skin color defines who we are.

While the days when David Duke, former Grand Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan, could win a special election to the LA State House of Representatives or when laws in Arizona and Florida prohibited a Caucasian person from marrying an African American are long gone…sadly the tentacles of racism are still alive in Louisiana and all over the world today (look at every state’s racial profiling statistics or what the indigenous people of Peru recently said about their government, for a few examples). Unfortunately for us natives of Louisiana, our great State has made the national news again on the subject of racism through the actions of Louisiana Justice of the Peace Keith Bardwell who denied a marriage license to an interracial couple last month. His actions not only pronounce to the world that there are still people in positions of power who think that skin color defines your options even today (in defiance of the law even) but also give people reason to continually associate Louisiana with the heritage given to us by Jim Crow, David Duke, and many others. I am not denying that there is a history of racism in Louisiana, but I am saying while no one should ever forget the past, what should also be remembered is that many of us have in fact learned from it. So in light of Louisiana Justice of the Peace Keith Bardwell very recent discriminatory actions, the question is…what are we learning from him? I suggest two things, although I am sure there are many more.

Racism is not completely a thing of the past, in Louisiana or in America;

But it does not define Louisiana or America either.

I wonder if anyone outside of Louisiana knows how disgusted my family, friends and I are that our state is once again known for its racial discontent instead of its ability to band together and make it through tough economic, political, education, and weather related trauma which we endure every year. In light of this new negative press, should the world being reminded that we almost elected David Duke to the State governorship in 1991 or the fact that in adversity, we unite and will stay united as the People of Louisiana long after Justice of the Peace Keith Bardwell has taken his personal prejudices off the bench? I vote the latter, as I am a proud native of Louisiana who has weathered dozens of hurricanes and dozens of years of “politics as usual” in my home state, but who has seen her friends and family stand together during those times to remind each other that our actions define us, not skin color, economic level, or the actions of one Justice of the Peace.

Written by Melissa Mongogna