New Orleans

Five original Freedom Riders arrived in New Orleans on Wednesday, completing a journey that was violently interrupted 65 years ago. The homecoming, marked by a brass band and dancing Zulu members at Xavier University of Louisiana, serves as a living bridge between the 1961 struggle against Jim Crow laws and the current fight for voting … Read more

The future of the Essence Festival of Culture in New Orleans is uncertain as city leaders and organizers deal with the absence of a finalized contract for 2027 and reports of unpaid vendors from the 2026 event. The annual July festival serves as a primary economic driver for the city during slower summer tourism months. … Read more