Congo Square by Fernanda

Congo Square means a lot to the population of New Orleans and the history of the city. Every statue represents the creation of Jazz music and dance. It was a place where slaves would get together on Sundays with Native Americans and they would dance and create beats. Congo Square was the place where they were “free” to forget about all the pain they had to face during slavery and also make some extra money by selling their foods such as rice and beans. 

       

   In the southern corner of Armstrong Park is Congo Square, an open space where slaves and free blacks gathered throughout the 19th century for meetings, open markets, and the African dance and drumming celebrations that played a substantial role in the development of jazz. Local voodoo practitioners still consider Congo Square a spiritual base and gather at the Square for rituals.

Today, Congo Square holds a special symbolic importance to African-Americans. It is significant because of the role the square played in New Orleans' musical heritage and as a symbol of the early African contributions to the origins of jazz and other American musical forms. In the 21st century, standing in tribute to the accomplishments of the tightly knit New Orleans musical community, 

Congo Square remains a memorial to the artists who transformed their sound and exported it throughout the world. Congo Square was recently listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Work Cited

"Congo Square, the Soul of New Orleans." Congo Square, the Soul of New Orleans. African American Registry, n.d. Web. 12 Dec. 2015. http://www.aaregistry.org/historic_events/view/congo-square-soul-new-orleans

"Congo Square." Congo Square. The Official Tourism Site of the City of New Orleans, n.d. Web. 12 Dec. 2015. <http://www.neworleansonline.com/directory/location.php?locationID=2317>.