Founder of the International French-Creole Cultural Society
Gilbert Martin, a leading Creole Activist and author passed on to a better life on Nov. 19, 2005 at the age of 80.
Mr. Martin was a Creole rights activist and one of a kind. He was a leading voice for Creoles nationwide. With his passing we have lost more than just a good person but a powerful man who has stood up for our Creole rights. Many times he has confronted the mighty government and the federal bureaucracy and held his ground in belief that our Creole people could get the recognition they rightfully deserve.
Our hats go off to him and we know we have lost a good leader who has done much to further the Creole cause. Not only has he awakened the government to the plight of the Creole people but he has also increased the self awareness of Creole people here in America. Not only was he a political activist but he was also the author of several Creole publications, a spokesman for the Creole cause and also a carpenter/ contractor in his own right.
We hope that in his memory we may be able to achieve greater and better progress for all Creoles...
Biographical Sketch of Gilbert Martin
Exerpt:
"On November 30, 1803, according to stipulations in the Louisiana Purchase Treaty and by formal action, the French rendered the entire Louisiana Territory an absolutely free country. And it remained that way until circa 1818, when the legislature of the newly formed state of Louisiana ruled otherwise.
By those acts, in deliberate violation of the LPT, Louisiana became just another Jim Crow State in the Deep South. At the time of the American takeover of the vast Louisiana Territory, tens of thousands of people with lineage to Africa were among the inhabitants.
Some were free, but most were slaves. Nevertheless, neither free or slave was ever apprised of their treaty rights. Consequently, both the so-called free people of color and the slaves were forced to suffer the realities of degradation, hostility, and other forms of inequities brought about segregation, discrimination, racism and bigotry.
Naturally, an undercurrent of resentment against the Americans flowed throughout the Creole community. And that resentment did not began to abate until after World War II. Prior to that war, the older Creoles did not refer to themselves as Americans.They considered it an offense should anyone else referred to them as Americans. I saw many older Creoles spit on the ground after mentioning the word "Merican.""
Louisiana Creole Gilbert E. Martin, Creole Treaty Rights
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Gilbert E. Martin : Your Creole Voice Remains Forever
E Pluribus Unum:
May Thine Spirit Rest In Creole Peace
Faithful Warrior & Friend
Ean Bordeaux, pro per
Creole Interests Reporter
Citizen Complainant
