Episode Details

Leonard Smith III, a New Orleans native, spent four decades unraveling his family’s hidden past—culminating in the haunting yet triumphant story of his third great-grandmother, Louise, a 12-year-old girl sold for $500. Now immortalized in his book “The Story of Louise: From Five Hundred Dollars to Priceless,” this isn’t just a personal journey—it’s a roadmap for Louisianans seeking to reclaim their enslaved ancestors’ stories through courthouse records and wills. Smith’s work proves that even lost voices lived rich, complex lives right in our own neighborhoods—and that with tools like FamilySearch, Ancestry.com, and groups like the Louisiana Creole Research Association, anyone can begin their own search. Published by his own LS3 Studios, LLC, the book invites others to share their archives, turning private histories into public legacies.

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