The Louisiana I Know

The Louisiana I Know
Joseph Tran
Every year, my cousins from Texas always find a reason to pay my family a visit. During Labor Day weekend, they come for the Shrimp and Petroleum Festival. During the winter, they come for the Louisiana oysters. During the spring, they come for the crawfish. And every summer, they come for New Orleans, usually strolling in the French Quarter or taking a boat tour. For my cousins, Louisiana seems to be recognized in a series of images, an “it’s that time again” mentality. It’s fun for them, I guess, to get to pick the best part of Louisiana and re-experience it every year, whether it is a culinary experience or a boat tour through the Louisiana swamplands. For me, New Orleans is Louisiana; it is as much a cultural impact for the world as it is the poster child for Louisiana. In many ways, Louisiana is a state of corruption and controversy, but it is also a state of pride, tradition, and hope. From having the first Indian-American governor to being a state known for its carefree nature, Louisiana has always had an interesting and unique clash of cultural influences.

The image I chose to represent Louisiana may be a little different from what my cousins think about Louisiana. I took this picture on my way to the French Quarter during the Mardi gras break. It’s a photo of the New Orleans Arena with a New Orleans Hornets poster on the side. Also visible are Mardi Gras floats that are lined in front of the arena in preparation for the big parade later that night. The reason I chose this picture is because it has more meaning than the obvious. It’s not just a picture of a basketball team or just a picture of floats; it shows hope and progress.

After Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, widespread destruction across Louisiana prompted the media to focus on Louisiana more than before. People around the nation paid more attention to the Pelican State, more specifically, New Orleans, and while many people did everything they could to help rebuild New Orleans, some saw this event as a lesson for the people of New Orleans (which is not a popular idea of mine). Whatever the perception was, I think it was important that the people of Louisiana, through the support of others, rebuild their own city and, eventually, their state: that’s exactly what happened.

In September 2006, the New Orleans Saints played a home game opener that lead to win against the Atlanta Falcons. It was the first game post Hurricane Katrina, and audiences across the nation watched the game with high hopes and anticipation as fans and the people of New Orleans eagerly cheered on the New Orleans Saints. In 2007 the official return and of the improved New Orleans Hornets, marked with a record-breaking season, helped progress the rebuilding of New Orleans by giving the people more to believe in. And who could not know about LSU’s 2007 National Championship win?

For now, hope and encouragement (and of course all the Louisiana classics like Mardi Gras and crawfish) are integral in my Louisiana.