August 28th is the 60th anniversary of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom where the moral leader of our nation, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered the famed I Have a Dream speech. Todays episode commemorates this day with a replay of the speech by President Barack Obama at the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington.
He reminds us of “that steady flame of conscience and courage” that fuels the struggle; and that we would dishonor those hero’s who gave their lives if we, “suggest that the work of this nation is some how complete.” Where do we find that steady flame of conscience and courage today?
It took a hundred years from the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation to get to the March on Washington. As civil rights legend Ronnie Moore has said “this is a hundred year struggle.” And we are only sixty years in, what can we do over the course of the next 40 years to make real the vision of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. proclaimed on August 28, 1963.
Count Time Podcast – The 60th Anniversary of the March on Washington
Selected quotes and notes from Count Time Podcast with LD Azobra – The March on Washington
The March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, also known as simply the March on Washington or The Great March on Washington,[1][2] was held in Washington, D.C., on August 28, 1963.[3] The purpose of the march was to advocate for the civil and economic rights of African Americans. At the march, final speaker Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., standing in front of the Lincoln Memorial, delivered his historic “I Have a Dream” speech in which he called for an end to racism.[4]
The march was organized by A. Philip Randolph and Bayard Rustin, who built an alliance of civil rights, labor, and religious organizations[5] that came together under the banner of “jobs and freedom.”[6] Estimates of the number of participants varied from 200,000 to 300,000,[7] but the most widely cited estimate is 250,000 people.[8] Observers estimated that 75–80% of the marchers were black.[9] The march was one of the largest political rallies for human rights in United States history.[6]Walter Reuther, president of the United Auto Workers, was the most integral and highest-ranking white organizer of the march.[10][11]
Catalyst for the March were the success of mass movements and demonstrations across the U.S. and the Centennial signing of the Emancipation Proclamation. The Emancipation Proclamation, officially Proclamation 95, was a presidential proclamation and executive order issued by United States President Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863, during the American Civil War. The Proclamation changed the legal status of more than 3.5 million enslaved African Americans in the secessionist Confederate states from enslaved to free.
Did you know that August is National Black Business Month? We have some of the latest reports on the celebration and how it came about. Includes an LD excerpt from Who R U? and 8 Ways to Empower Black Businesses.
Black businesses have been around for centuries. Estimates are that Black entrepreneurs can earn over 10 times more than non-Black business owners. (All images below are also links)
US Chamber of Commerce
Count Time Podcast Inspiration – National Black Business Month
Smoke Bayou BBQ – Baton Rouge
Empire Wingz proudly serves delicious food to the greater Baton Rouge community.
The Main Library on Goodwood – Baton Rouge
Selected quotes and notes from Count Time Podcast with LD Azobra – Inspiration
The growth and success of Black-owned businesses is crucial for promoting economic equality, diversity, and social empowerment. Historically, systemic barriers have hindered the progress of these enterprises, but today, there are several effective ways to support and uplift Black businesses. By adopting intentional strategies, individuals and communities can play a vital role in fostering economic growth and reducing disparities.
Buy from Black-Owned Businesses: Purchasing products and services from Black-owned businesses is a direct and impactful way to support their growth. By consciously choosing to spend your money at these establishments, you contribute to their financial stability and help create a demand for their offerings. This can be as simple as buying groceries from a Black-owned supermarket, dining at Black-owned restaurants, or shopping online from Black-owned retailers.
IndyGeneUS AI
Spread the Word: Word of mouth is a powerful marketing tool. Sharing positive experiences with Black-owned businesses among your social circles and on social media can significantly boost their visibility. Positive reviews, testimonials, and recommendations can attract new customers and increase their customer base.
It’s a Watson
Collaborate and Partner: Establishing collaborations and partnerships between Black-owned businesses and other local or established businesses can provide mutual benefits. Joint events, promotions, and initiatives can draw in a larger audience, expand networks, and generate exposure for all involved parties.
Till Freedom Come Productions
Financial Support: Investing in Black-owned businesses or contributing to crowdfunding campaigns can provide much-needed financial resources. Initiatives such as community investment funds, microloans, or grants can empower entrepreneurs to grow their businesses, hire employees, and expand their operations.
Henry Turner Jr.’s Listening Room
Mentorship and Skill-Sharing: Experienced professionals can offer mentorship, guidance, and skill-sharing to aspiring Black entrepreneurs. This can help bridge the knowledge gap and equip business owners with the tools they need to navigate challenges, make informed decisions, and succeed in their endeavors.
Demby and Son Funeral Home
Advocate for Inclusivity: Promote inclusivity and diversity within your own community or workplace. Encourage organizations to actively seek out and support Black-owned suppliers, vendors, and partners. By advocating for inclusivity, you contribute to creating a more equitable business environment.
Russell’s Original Blends
Support Policy Changes: Advocate for policies that promote economic equality, fair lending practices, and reduced barriers to entry for Black entrepreneurs. Engaging in discussions, participating in local government initiatives, and supporting organizations that advocate for these changes can drive systemic improvements.
Educate Yourself and Others: Raise awareness about the historical and contemporary challenges faced by Black entrepreneurs. Educate yourself and others about the importance of supporting Black businesses and the positive impact it can have on both the economy and society as a whole.
Supporting Black-owned businesses is not only a gesture of economic empowerment but also a step towards promoting diversity, reducing inequality, and fostering a more inclusive society. By buying from, advocating for, and collaborating with Black entrepreneurs, individuals and communities can collectively contribute to the growth and success of these businesses, helping to create a more equitable economic landscape for all.
Opening the economy to include Black-owned businesses doesn’t mean less for current business owners. Just the opposite is true, an expanding economy means more opportunity for all.
A renowned civil rights attorney, our Living Legend reminisces about growing up in Baton Rouge and becoming successful.
Count Time Podcast Living Legend Robert Eames
Selected quotes and notes from Count Time Podcast with LD Azobra Interview with Attorney Robert Eames
Good evening. Good evening. Good evening it’s 4:00 PM. Stand up it’s count time, time for every man and woman to stand up and be counted. Welcome to another edition of Count Time podcast. I am brother LD Azobra. Thank you for joining us today.
Once again, we got someone here who got so much history to tell. Who is history, Part of history Civil rights attorney, civil rights activist. It was a part of so much in the Louisiana, particularly Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Today we have you on Count Time. A dear friend and brother. Brother Robert. Judge Eames. Welcome to Count Time.
RE Well, thank you. I’m so delighted to be a part of this program and to interact with you, Brother White, because I’ve known you seemed like I’ve known you forever. I’m just delighted to have the opportunity to contribute.
Freddie Pitcher, George Eames, Robert Eames
LD You have so much history to talk about. You’ve been a part of so much here in the Baton Rouge area. Now I call you Robert Judge Eames. People say, well, people who don’t know you say, Robert isn’t a Judge. Tell them why you are a judge.
RE Well, my mother, Earlene White Eames, she was a White, a Maiden White, and she had a brother, Johnny White, and a sister, Mary White, and other sisters and brothers as well. But these I think about inparticular.
LD Where’d you grow up at anyway?
RE Right here in Baton Rouge, Louisiana on south 12th street in Baton Rouge.
LD What year were you born?
RE In 1943. I went to Perkins Road elementary. I stayed about four or five blocks away from Perkins Road elementary, then onto McKinley Jr.
LD Well, you’re not far from where you went to school at right now, where you’re living at now?
RE Oh, yes. Perkins Road elementary was on south 14th street. And I grew up in the hood, as we used to call it. Blacks lived either on numbered streets or presidential streets. For example, washington Tyler, Alaska. They were either state streets or presidential streets, but the name, designation or numbered streets. So that was White’s way of kind of categorizing us. They knew if a person came off of South twelveTH Street, he was more likely black than white. Although there were a few scattering white, maybe.
Today we have an impromptu speech given by Ms. Lauryn Hill at a Jalen Brown-hosted Event in 2018 at NBA All-Star Weekend. We hope that you too are inspired. Lauryn Hill is a rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer. She is regarded as one of the greatest rappers of all time. The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill is one of the best-selling albums of all time. We will return with another Living Legend episode next Thursday at 4pm.
Count Time Podcast Inspiration – Ms. Lauryn Hill
Selected quotes and notes from Count Time Podcast with LD Azobra – Inspiration
Isiah Thomas I just want to introduce a big inspiration to myself my daughter my family and all the women who are in the audience today can you can you just come up and just let me let just let everybody see miss Lauren Hill just say hello.
[Applause]
Lauren Hill Hi everybody um yes what am I doing?
I came sort of late in the program I kind of listened to some of the things that people have had to say I think early on I was in arts and music I had a brother who was in who was in the tech space ironically. when I was a child, my father was a computer programmer and an entrepreneur my mother was an english teacher and uh we kind of grew up my brother and I the fusion of those energies and those focuses.
i heard you chameleon talk about your thirst for information I think that thirst for information is a thirst for empowerment which is also connected to a thirst for freedom. I remember this this was like I want to say you know late 90s early 2000s I saw my brother you know he had very high hopes about the potential of the tech space but I don’t think that at that point we had come together we weren’t walking together it was sort of there were people who were like makers of content and then there were text-based professionals and people who had a desire right to be in this space but I don’t think at that point that they understood to what degree they had to hold hands in order to make the relationship successful
i think since i’ve been away and as time has passed those two communities are holding hands much better they have a better respect for each other you know um I used to say something jokingly back in the day about how you had street folks who kind of legitimized the academics and the academics who legitimized what the people on the streets were doing even the concept that you mentioned just now about the inner nerd I think what’s happening is that everybody is sort of being allowed to be themselves meaning that the the street intellectual is acknowledging that he’s an intellectual you know what I mean or he also is an academic of something. and then you have the people who are in the academic space and they realize that they also have a world of experience and desires culturally creatively that they want to also aspire to.
i think before in the world there was this huge schism right there was kind of like uh the history of slavery where you had the the the house slave right in the and the slave in the field you had people who were given permission or who were granted permission to reach a certain academic status and in order to to get to that academic level they had to sort of divorce themselves of every other drive and all all the other energies. and then you had the people who were left in the fields who had these very raw energies you know they were life life force energies but they weren’t really allowed with the with the volatility you know and the hostility that came from the experience of slavery to touch the academic spaces. there were few people within that community who could touch both worlds they they crossed both spaces they were both academics and they were also they also had access to the streets. musicians many musicians people in music world were able to do that right. they were people say uh you know where’s your inner ceo if you’re a rapper but if you were a rapper you had to be ceo of something in order for you to be in a platform to be doing what you were doing in that place on any any level of of significance. um
i just want to say that i’m seeing the world sort of come come together more these energies have always been around you know this this thing we term it hustle. but it’s really just the ingenuity necessary to survive, you know and navigate in the world. we call it hustle because um I imagine that’s just you know our way of giving it a name because sometimes we want to divorce ourselves from from the academic space because that academic space was a source of brutality and hostility for a long time. but the reality of it of it is is it still wisdom it’s still knowledge it’s still invention it’s still development you know and it’s still progress.
so I think as we kind of pull back these labels we can acknowledge brilliance in the streets we can acknowledge soul in the academic space and we can allow these things to come together the world is filled with way too many bright people for us to still have the problems that we have in the world. it’s it’s going to be our shame you know what I mean that we don’t sit together and create people who do all these things all these thing that we do digitally technologically economically we can feed people we can we can educate people through poverty we can solve the problems of poverty poverty isn’t even something that should exist in this world at this point because we have wealth we have intellect we have the ability to develop and design and create whatever we want to.
the question is do we want to? that’s what we have to ask ourselves. um you know i’ve been away from a lot of things you know for for a while now and um and incubating you know ideas and doing what I needed to do to to to how do I say uh to deal with the resistance that comes with making change in the world. you know we ask ourselves you know how come these things haven’t been around or why was this thing not invented there was a reason there were forces that were set up to prevent you know certain patterns of evolution certain patterns of development right all this this this this street hustle right it it would have dominated if it really had you know access early on. which is why I was suppressed you know I mean which which is why I was met with resistance. but we have the ability now and go past it you know and I think it just takes courageous folks you know who are not afraid to see the new world that’s on the horizon you know separated by education and economics you know we actually can make spaces for everyone. but it requires that the creatives the academics you know the intellectuals those who think with their heart and emotional intelligent ones you know all come together you know in the same platform with the same kind of driving and unifying unifying forces
to see this world improve we have the answers we have so many of the answers we have the technology we have the wealth we just have to be willing to share it and in order for us to do that we have to do the work in and on ourselves so that we can be conduits of change and improvement for other people because that’s really what it’s about we have the ability we have to be in a position where we’re willing to do that for others because we’re so confident in our own abilities and our own grace and our own blessings that we can actually pass knowledge and information on to others but we can make a way you know. I think part of the reason why there’s so much invention in the technological space right now is because you have a lot of young cats who weren’t given the tools but they certainly have the ability and what the space does is it neutralizes so much so that you know if you don’t have on the right clothing or you don’t choose all the right words all the time you still have a way.
so in that respect we should be very proud you know what I mean very very happy very pleased with what’s happening um we just want to make sure that we retain freedom though you know and that we uh we always retain our right to our integrity. you know that no amount of money or no uh kind of relationships compromise our ability to make decisions that aren’t just money based
Isiah Thomas you know what it means say that one more time
Lauryn Hill to make sure that we’re we’re in a position always to make decisions that aren’t just money-based but that are moral that are ethical that are right that are right that we evolve you know uh we evolve morally emotionally spiritually uh ethically as we evolve technologically financially we just have to make sure that we we’re aligned you know. I wasn’t even prepared to talk
Isiah Thomas hey a voice that’s been missing for too long come on back sister come on back we need you we need you. jaylen brown thank you sir
Today we celebrate the dedication of the Heritage monument and the 75th Anniversary of the desegregation of the US Armed Forces. The Louisiana Heritage Monument honors the brave service and sacrifices of all African-American Veterans and their families from Louisiana and throughout the country. It was created by Count Time Living Legend Sheleen Jones. It is located in the Louisiana Veterans Memorial Park at the State Capitol. This episode includes remarks by Governor John Bel Edwards, Senator Royce Duplessis and more. On July 26, 1948, President Harry S. Truman signed Executive Order 9980, which eliminated discrimination in federal employment, and 9981, which banned segregation in the U.S. armed forces.
Count Time Podcast Living Legend Sheleen Jones Dedication of the Louisiana Heritage Monument
Selected quotes and notes from Count Time Podcast with LD Azobra 75th Anniversary of the Desegregation of the US Armed Forces
Good evening. Good evening. Good evening it’s 4:00 PM. Stand up it’s count time, time for every man and woman to stand up and be counted. Welcome to another edition of Count Time podcast. I am brother LD Azobra. Thank you for joining us today.
The Louisiana Heritage Monument was created by Act 432, which was signed into law by Gov. Edwards in 2021. Authored by Sen. Gerald Boudreaux, the legislation won overwhelming bipartisan support. Sen. Royce Duplessis helped secure prominent New Orleans artist, Sheleen Jones. The monument begins with recognizing the contributions of the formerly enslaved soldiers who fought for the Union and in the 1863 Siege at Port Hudson. They primarily made up the 1st and 3rd Louisiana Native Guard regiments and were critical to the battle, which historians regard as a major turning point in the Civil War. These brave soldiers were the first Black soldiers who fought in combat and paved the way for others to enter all branches of the military and serve from the battlefields to the highest ranks.
Governor Edwards and Sheleen Jones
Cast in bronze, the monument sits atop a limestone base, stands more than 9 feet tall and is 12 feet wide. It features military heroes beginning with America’s revolutionary war and reaches forward through the United States Space Force. Some of those depicted include the Tuskegee Airmen; the Buffalo Soldiers; Lieutenant General Russel Honoré; General Colin Powell; Lieutenant General Michael Langley; Brigadier General Sherian Cadoria; and Colonel Margaret Bailey; and others.
Artist, Sheleen Jones who is also a professor at Xavier University says, “It is an honor to create memorial sculptures for communities. I hope to continue creating images that capture and celebrate our humanity, our struggles, our beauty and our fortitude.”
Several of her sculptures are displayed throughout the New Orleans Metropolitan area. Commissioned sculptures include, Armstrong National Park “Chief Allison Tootie Montana”, Rev. Avery C. Alexander, “Forever a Crusader” of Civil Rights, the Memorial Plaza, and “Opening the Gates” A Memorial to A. P. Tureaud Sr.
Southern University and A&M College has partnered with the state and agreed to maintain the Heritage Monument website and share the stories of the veterans for many years to come.
Our Living Legend describes growing up and running a corner store that is quickly approaching its 80th anniversary of operation in Donaldsonville, LA. One of a few that have survived the heyday of corner grocery stores.
Count Time Podcast Living Legend Michel Bellina
Selected quotes and notes from Count Time Podcast with LD Azobra Interview with Michel Bellina
Good evening. Good evening. Good evening it’s 4:00 PM. Stand up it’s count time, time for every man and woman to stand up and be counted. Welcome to another edition of Count Time podcast. I am brother LD Azobra. Thank you for joining us today.
Now we got a special guest here today. We done look high low, we done traveled the country, even traveled the world to come right here to Donaldsonville, Louisiana and find the one and only here. We at Bellina’s Groceries. We got here Mr. Michel Bellina. Welcome to Count Time.
MB Good to be here.
LD We had traveled all over the world to get here. We’ve been a lot of places. Now this store here has been here for a long time. Quite a few just told me you need to go talk to Mr. Bellina you need to go talk to I have been here quite a few times to get those great ham bones and the good ham that you always delivered every day over here. Just so happened I came by and I got me some ham bones myself. So just get ready for them ham bones, putting them white beans and mustard greens.
MB That’s it.
LD I’d like to welcome you to Count time and you got so much history, your family got roots and foundation in Donaldsonville, Louisiana. Tell us about Michelle Bellini and the Bellini’s grocery. How long you all been here?
MB Well, we’ve been on this side of the street since 1955 but we’re on the other side of the street where the washerteria is since 1944 bought the store 1944 and they stayed there eleven years and they moved on this side in 1955 where we are now. There’s a little wooden frame grocery store and a house on the side just like we have here all in one and all wood, wood frame building and we bought it from Mr. Joe Fontana back in I wasn’t even born yet. And so they stayed over there eleven years on that side of the street and moved on this side 1955 and that’s where we are today.
LD Now your mother, father, now you all are Italians. So now how did your family end up in the Donaldsonville area?
MB Well, my dad worked for Shell Oil, I believe back in the day he worked for Shell Oil and they decided to they are from Donaldsonville but they bought the store from the Fontanas they were looking. They wanted to sell the store and my mother decided, well we’re going to try to make a run out of it at the grocery store so we’re going to go ahead and give it a try. And so they bought the store, took over from there and did like I say, eleven years and decided it was getting too small on that end over there we had four boys and so we said, look, we outgrowing this house over here, so come on this side. So you got to move across the street.
We had a big brick building, brick house and store and like I said, the store and the house is all in one. Everything was everything was all together. You walk out of the house and you’re in the store.
Our Living Legend the Ghetto Messiah discusses “family,” trauma, rebirth and the challenges of life all in his unique brand of humor, irreverence and insight.
Count Time Podcast Living Legend Arthur Reed
Selected quotes and notes from Count Time Podcast with LD Azobra Interview with Arthur “Silky Slim” Reed
Good evening. Good evening. Good evening it’s 4:00 PM. Stand up it’s count time, time for every man and woman to stand up and be counted. Welcome to another edition of Count Time podcast. I am brother LD Azobra. Thank you for joining us today.
Well, today we have a we say true Louisiana legend all the way from the dirty south. The bottom. We have what we call the ghetto messiah. We got the one And only a friend, a brother confidant, someone I got to know quite some time ago. We have the legendary, I don’t like to say gangster turn activist, that’s what they call him. But I just think he’s a brother that was lost for a while, who found his way. He was in the wilderness for quite some time, but now he’s here to make a difference. And making a difference I have my dear friend here. I have the one and only Arthur Silky Slim Reed. welcome to Count Time, man.
Arthur Reed and mother
AR I’m glad you cleared that up. I hate when people say former gangster because one of the things that I experienced in life is that for us as black folks, there are no true gangsters. There are many fools, but there are no true gangsters. And I learned that from walking into the penal institution and seeing the way that they handle us inside of these institutions. So gangsters go out feet first. Gangsters go out with the sheets.
And we take just about anything, any type of treatment in America, period. So we’re not true gangsters, but we act a role and we act like fools is what we really act like when we try to act like gangsters. But we act the role very well. We just act. We just actors.
We just act. We ain’t fool nobody. But I’ll see no the folks who run it back know who the real yeah, of course, if they thought you were gangsters, they wouldn’t be putting you through the pain and tyranny that they’re putting you through. So I always like to clear that up, because once I realize I found myself in a situation one day where I was actually fighting and I observed the situation and I heard something that keys and handcuffs coming down the hall. And I found myself sitting on the bed and the man opened up the door, said, who’s fighting? And nobody said nothing.
He said, Reed you fighting. And when he went out that door and he locked it, I say, D***. I say, that was the man. Who the h*** am I? I was the slave, the keys, conditioned to know that those handcuffs and keys meant what and master might come whip my a**. So once I realized that, I was like, hey, man, something is wrong with us. Something is wrong with us mentally. And something is wrong with us anytime we could see each other and hate each other the way that we do, and the real enemy walks by and smiles and you scratch when you ain’t even itching.
So something is wrong with us, mentally. We have to deal with that before we could deal with anything else.
An inspirational 4th of July episode that will make you think. A Jamaican-born immigrant, our Living Legend describes what happens when access and opportunity are given to young people. A sharp reminder of the folly of the recent Supreme Court ruling which killed Affirmative Action social justice policies.
Founder & Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of IndyGeneUS AI & IndyGeneUS Global (pronounced indigenous) a precision genomics company aiming to create the world’s largest blockchain-encrypted digital health platform of indigenous and diasporic African clinical and genomic data.
Count Time Podcast Living Legend Yusuf Henriques
Selected quotes and notes from Count Time Podcast with LD Azobra Interview with Visionary Yusuf Henriques
The Howard University graduate earned his Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry (Magna Cum Laude) and 95% of his IndyGeneUS team are also Howard Alums. Henriques is a sought after thought leader where he frequently speaks on the importance of precision health equity and the power of Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS), with an emphasis on BIPOC communities.
Prior to Henriques’ start-up ventures he was a sought after regulatory affairs expert. He launched his career in the regulatory space as the acting Branch Chief for the Ob/Gyn, Gastroenterology, and Urology Divisions in the Center for Device and Radiological Health at the Food & Drug Administration (FDA).
He served as Director of Regulatory Affairs for SAIC, where he oversaw regulatory compliance strategies for multi-site clinical trials. He was a lead regulatory scientist for the Strategic Innovation Group (SIG) at Booz Allen Hamilton and Senior Research Health Scientist for Outpatient Psychiatry at the James J. Peters Veteran Affairs Medical Center in The Bronx, NY.
Good evening. Good evening. Good evening it’s 4:00 PM. Stand up it’s count time, time for every man and woman to stand up and be counted. Welcome to another edition of Count Time podcast. I am brother LD Azobra. Thank you for joining us today.
As you all know, we always keeping it real. We’re always moving forward. We always got some fresh, innovative new information, new ideas. But this day, we have a, I’m about to say, very special young man here who I had had the pleasure of meeting through his working on a big case, what’s called a Henrietta Lacks case, with attorney Benjamin Crump.
I like to welcome welcome to Count Time. Yusef Henriques. Welcome to Count Time.
YH Appreciate it. Thanks for having me.
LD Now, this brother here, you have to give us a lot of information because you all going to hear it in his voice once he starts speaking, where he’s originally from, but he’s doing some big things, and he’s not from Louisiana. You grew up where?
YH I grew up in Kingston, Jamaica. I spent my early, younger years there and then got the pleasure coming to the US as a teenager to go to high school, where my dad was living in Florida. South Florida. huge population of first and second generation Jamaicans, kind of that’s where they migrate to if they don’t like the cold weather in New York.
So my dad, Joseph, came as a machinist for the MPA, the trains in New York, they were hiring a lot of smart machinists out of the islands. And so my dad came here as one of the engineers that worked on a train in New York. But, yeah, it was too cold. So he decided to migrate down to Fort Lauderdale, be back to our natural roots, sun and beaches.
A world renown artist, our Living Legend describes his life growing up in Louisiana and how he learned his craft. “Everybody’s got a story,” sums up the 40 years of the woodcarver creating 3D art from centuries old cypress to capture Louisiana life. Everybody needs a Watson!
Count Time Podcast Living Legend Henry Watson
Selected quotes and notes from Count Time Podcast with LD Azobra Interview with Artist Henry Watson
Good evening. Good evening. Good evening it’s 4:00 PM. Stand up it’s count time, time for every man and woman to stand up and be counted. Welcome to another edition of Count Time podcast. I am brother LD Azobra. Thank you for joining us today.
Today we decided to take a trip, cross the river and decide to go on a false river. We out here in Point Coupee Parish with one of the not just a legend, pioneer, innovator, artist, salesman, businessman, more importantly, an ambassador for the state of Louisiana. And we appreciate having him today. Welcome to Count Time, Mr. Henry Watson.
HW Thank you. Thank you. I’m glad you’re here.
LD I’m glad to be here. When you hear his story, you’re going to be amazed, not surprised because as you all know, these are the kind of people we keep on this show to keep things going, to keep it fresh, keep it new. Tell us a little bit about Henry Watson.
Henry Watson and Buddy Guy
HW Well, welcome, welcome again. And you couldn’t have picked a better time and a better place to come than on this great city of New Roads on the beautiful False River. So welcome and we’re glad you’re here. Now I’ll just tell you a little bit. I’m Henry Watson Woodcarver. For 43 years I’ve been capturing people’s history and life. once upon a time. You remember that? Once upon a time.
Well, people all got a story. And what you see today is not necessarily what was here 100 years ago. I like to capture what was here 100 years ago and what got me to that point. What got me to that point is I had a grandmother and she died at 92 and the life she lived became my story and I became telling her testimony. So you think about that for a second, telling your grandmother testimony.
She lived during the time. And I could tell you so many stories about that because it’s passionate for me when I was sit with her and we would talk about the things she did as a little girl and as she grew up in the little country town of Blanks, Louisiana.
And back in the day, the Greyhound buses used to stop there. You had a lot of people live there in the little town of Blanks because they had a saw mill and everything. So a lot of people went to that area to work. They came from everywhere to work at these saw meals we talking about back in the day. So that’s how these little communities got started and people lived up and down there until time came and then people end up moving off and moving out, got better jobs. And then next thing you know is only a few people down live in an area called Blanks.
So most people say, well, where is that? But I’m telling that story because my grandmother lived there.
LD Now, what was her name?
HW Her name was ElDora Williams. But here’s the fact. ElDora Hatch Williams. Because a lot of the hatch families still live through Blanks and Lottie. So I always put that in, because when you start saying, oh, I don’t know any Williams, but you say hatch, you say, oh, wait, we know some hatch that live in Lottie.
For information on Henry Watson’s artwork, follow him on Instagram @itsawatson
Our Living Legend an attorney and former LSU football great describes growing up in Lake Charles, the importance of mental health and of course some great LSU stories.
Thad Minaldi #38
Count Time Podcast Living Legend Thad Minaldi
Selected quotes and notes from Count Time Podcast with LD Azobra Interview with Thad Minaldi
Good evening. Good evening. Good evening it’s 4:00 PM. Stand up it’s count time, time for every man and woman to stand up and be counted. Welcome to another edition of Count Time podcast. I am brother LD Azobra. Thank you for joining us today.
This is gonna be this is gonna be a great podcast because we got so much happening today. But I got it My friend here attorney Thad Minaldi. Cause we go back a long ways. He decided to go to law school back in the day. First of all, give us a little background on yourself. Where is Thad Minaldi from? How’d you come about? Who your people?
TM I was born and raised in Lake Charles. Went to St. Lewis High School. My parents moved to Lake Charles from Morgan City and Burwick, Louisiana, so that my dad could work at the city service oil refinery out there. My mother was from Burwick. Her last name was Plessala and my father was from Morgan City and it was Minaldi Meat Market and the Russos, so that was our family.
LD So you’re Italians then?
TM Sicilians, I should say. I used to say Italian until one of my great uncles corrected me.
This is so many years ago. We drove through Franklin all the time, coming and going to Morgan City and Burwick. And probably one of my best memories as a young child is driving through Franklin at Christmas time, going down the main street with all the beautiful decorations and the music. That was just wonderful.
LD And they call it the post, the light post. We got the most beautiful light post right there in Franklin, Louisiana. We always like to spotlight it during the holiday season. It’s the best time to come through Franklin. I don’t remember your family being so you’re from the St. Mary Parish.
TM Yes, both my parents. Yes, they both came from big families and they were there all their lives until they moved to Lake Charles.
LD But you spent a lot of time in St. Mary Parish as a young child.
TM I was very lucky. My mother’s mother was a young grandmother and she would take my older brother and I water skiing, crabbing fishing, because she was so young. She’d play plastic bat and ball with us in the yard. And it was just really a wonderful summer experience. We would go I guess we’d spend about six weeks every summer until we were dumb enough to be playing serious sports and had to go report for training. And then we couldn’t go anymore.
And my father’s mother and her family had a meat market and a grocery store over in Morgan City, right by the railroad, right by the Catholic Church. And we would spend time there, too. And it was just the greatest old house. We hide up and down the stairs and just really had a wonderful time there.
