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Early Civil Rights
This novel weaves in relatively unknown pioneer civil rights struggles in Louisiana during the post- American Civil War era . . . notably the watershed case Décuir v Benson.
Antoine Décuir (day-kwee) II and Madame Josephine Dubuclet (du-bu-clay)Décuir were prominent Creoles of Color and owners of several large plantations in Pointe Coupée (koo-pay) Parish, LA. Their largest, as well as their principal residence, was Austerlitz Plantation until 1855. Widow Decuir's case was a landmark discrimination suit against John Benson, captain of the steamboat Governor Allen.