The Descendants Project is committed to reversing the harms of slavery, especially the legacy pollution of Cancer Alley Black land loss, economic injustice, and cultural erasure.

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Liberating Louisiana’s Descendant Communities from the Legacies of Slavery

The Descendants Project is an emerging organization founded by Jo Banner and Dr. Joy Banner in 2021.

TDP is committed to the intergenerational healing and flourishing of the Black descendant community in the Louisiana river parishes. The lands of the river parishes hold the intersecting histories of enslavement, settler colonialism, and environmental degradation.

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WE STOPPED THE WALLACE GRAIN ELEVATOR

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Woodland plantation

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Upcoming events

We had an amazing time connecting with students at the 4th Annual St. John the Baptist Parish High School College & Career Fair! Our table highlighted The Descendants Project’s mission and the many career paths connected to our work, inclu
💥 Did You Know? In the summer of 1955, St. John the Baptist Parish was the site of intense labor unrest and violence. Over 900 workers at the Godchaux Sugar Refinery in Reserve, LA, went on strike, demanding fair wages and better working conditions.
🌟 Exciting News! 🌟 We’re proud to share that our Co-Founder and Co-Director, Jo Banner, has been selected as a 2025 Rachel’s Network Catalyst Award finalist! 💫 The Catalyst Award honors women environmental leaders who are creating la
🎀 October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. In the River Parishes, where families live in the shadow of Cancer Alley, this fight hits home. Residents here face a 95% increased risk of developing cancer compared to the national average. Let’s s
💧 What’s really in our tap water? Join The Water Collaborative of Greater New Orleans for the release of the 2025 Louisiana Industrial Corridor Residential Testing Study Report. 🧪 This virtual webinar, "Behind the Tap: A Look at PFAS in
🔥 Fireside Reflections at Woodland 🔥 Under the night sky, we sat in a circle at Woodland Plantation—not just to talk, but to remember, to honor, and to heal. We shared stories about our ancestors. We held space for the past, reflected on the
🎬✨ Last week at The Broadside Theater was unforgettable. Our screening of Vacation Plantation was followed by a powerful panel filled with truth-telling, reflection, and community care. 🧡 Thank you to everyone who showed up, leaned in, and shared
Plantations remain popular tourist destinations even though most sites do not address slavery and its legacies. Join us tonight for the screening of "Vacation Plantation", a documentary that critically explores plantation tourism. The viewi
Join us at the Broadside for a screening of "Vacation Plantation" on Friday, September 5th. Following the screening will be a panel discussion with Joseph McGill of the Slave Dwelling Project, Jo Banner of The Descendants Project and Ashley
Co-Founder, Jo Banner met with General Russel Honoré last week during the 20th year commemoration of Hurricane Katrina. The General took time from his busy schedule, which included juggling national interviews, to advocate for us and the meani