A short walk from the Mississippi River in New Orleans’ Bywater neighbourhood, there is a 30,000 square-foot cultural landmark called StudioBe. Larger than life murals by artist Brandan ‘BMike’ Odums line the space, honouring legends in the movement for Black liberation: Albert Woodfox, Fannie Lou Hamer, the New Orleans Chapter of the Black Panther Party, Malcolm X, and others.
A huge painting of Black men and women erecting an American flag hangs on the back wall. Beneath them, a question: “What do we build on the ashes of a nightmare?” Though in Louisiana, the nightmare remains ever-present. It has not yet turned to ash.
In January 2024, Jeff Landry was sworn in as Governor of Louisiana, and his first order of business was to call a special session on crime for the Louisiana Legislature. Within three months of his inauguration, 20 years-worth of hard-fought incremental reforms were rolled back, and then some.
