Carencro has unveiled a historical marker honoring lynching victims Louis Senegal and Antoine Domingue, marking the first recognition of such victims in Lafayette Parish. This event seeks to promote awareness of racial terror lynchings and encourage community reconciliation. The marker serves as a reminder of the painful legacy of racial violence in America, aiming to educate residents on this dark chapter in history.
The Carencro community recently unveiled a historical marker in honor of Louis Senegal and Antoine Domingue, two Black men who were lynched in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. This marker, located at 409 Veterans Dr. in Carencro, marks the first acknowledgment of lynching victims in Lafayette Parish, aiming to raise awareness about the history of racial terror and promote reconciliation among residents.
On March 29, the Move the Mindset organization, alongside the Lafayette Parish Community Remembrance Project, commemorated the lives of Senegal and Domingue. The memorial serves as a lasting tribute to both individuals who fell victim to the severe racial violence that affected the Southern United States during that era.
Ola Prejean, president of Move the Mindset, emphasized the importance of this event, stating that it reflects a grim chapter in American history when white supremacy overshadowed justice. As she noted, “They took the law into their own hands whenever they felt the need to.” The memorial is designed to educate the community about the historical significance of Senegal and Domingue’s deaths as part of the broader legacy of lynching in America.
During the period between 1865 and 1950, over 6,500 Black individuals were lynched, with Louisiana accounting for at least 615 victims, including six from Lafayette Parish. This significant marker represents the first of its kind in Lafayette Parish to acknowledge such victims and their stories. Prejean highlighted the opportunity for truth-telling and reconciliation, indicating that Senegal and Domingue have remained largely unrecognized in historical accounts.
Maya, a descendant of Louis Senegal, expressed profound personal significance in the unveiling. She has been researching her family history and regards this event as a special tribute to her great-great-grandfather. “This is a blessing,” she remarked, conveying her emotional connection to the memorial. Maya is dedicated to preserving her family’s legacy and aims to pass their story on to future generations, stating, “Hopefully, they will have the interest that I had to keep the family history going.”
The unveiling of the historical marker in Carencro represents a significant step in acknowledging the brutal legacy of lynchings in Louisiana. By honoring Louis Senegal and Antoine Domingue, the community aims to educate future generations and foster conversations around reconciliation. As descendants like Maya carry these stories forward, there exists a hopeful opportunity for truth-telling and healing in recognizing the past.
Original Source: www.theadvertiser.com
