@jeremyksimien: Seven years ago, I came across a Civil War–era photo album online. It was being broken apart and sold piece by piece. I begged the seller not to split it further—and managed to acquire it whole. Inside were the who’s who of wealthy antebellum New Orleans families. But between two portraits, I found someone they forgot about? Her name is Nanette Fortin. She was born enslaved in St. James Parish, Louisiana, under the Fortin–Duplantier–Parent family. She endured years of forced servitude, even accompanying the Duplantiers on at least two transatlantic voyages to France. But Nanette’s story did not end in bondage. She gained her freedom and later died a Free Woman of Color in the Vieux Carré (French Quarter). Nanette remained connected to her enslaved and free relatives—both blanc and de couleur. She is mentioned in at least three known legal documents, each addressing her with respect. Her likeness survives in two period mediums: a lithograph and this rare photograph tucked away in that album. Do I find these things—or do they find me? One thing is certain… what you seek is seeking you. The ancestors guide us. #HiddenHistory #NanetteFortin #NewOrleans #BlackHistory #History

Jeremy K. Simien

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Tuesday 26 August 2025 21:50:07 GMT