Cherished Memories

CHERISHED MEMORIES takes a memorable journey back to New Orleans of the 1950s. Professor Beverly Jacques Anderson shares stories from her childhood and from her elementary school classmates providing a fascinating look atthe experience of growing up in the Creole culture of the Seventh Ward of New Orleans. This culture indelibly shaped the character personality and aspirations of Anderson and her elementary school classmates many of whom became hard workingfamily-oriented service-oriented productive self-assured citizens.<p>Creole culture in the Seventh Ward was rooted in close family ties hard work creativity high expectations independence the Golden Rule Catholicism shared language/manner of speaking and a shared sense of belonging to a unique community. Teachers parents and principals-all African Americans-valued education and set high standards for student achievement. According to interviews with twelve of the author's classmates these beliefs along with the unwavering support of parents and teachers helped to produce competitive individuals in all walks of life. The Creole culture was also rooted in racial ethnic andreligious segregation that affected individualsin surprising ways.<p>Anderson also examines the history of public and Catholic education for children of color in the Seventh Ward of New Orleans and addresses the impact of the school on the community and vice versa.<p>Explore this fascinating community and its educational history with <i>Cherished Memories</i>.