Photo by MICHELLE ELMORE

CELEBRATION — Interviewee from the film, musician Glen David Andrews as king of the “Money Wasters Social, Aid & Pleasure Club” annual second line parade.

By DARLENE DONLOE

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Lolis Eric Elie wanted to know more.

He wanted to know who. He wanted to know what. He wanted to know where, when and why.

And he wanted to document it.

A reporter for the The Times-Picayune in New Orleans, Elie wanted to share his findings with the world.

The result is the engaging, informative and poignant award-winning documentary, “Faubourg Tremé: The Untold Story of Black New Orleans,” set to air Feb. 26 at 10 p.m. Pacific Standard Time (PST) on KLCS, as part of Black History Month programming.

The documentary highlights the attributes, contributions, historical significance, downward spiral, devastation, and strength and resilience of Tremé, located on the far side of the edge of the French Quarter in New Orleans. It’s a place considered to be one of the oldest African American neighborhoods in the country.

Reportedly, during slavery, the area was home to the largest concentration of free black people in the South. It’s a place full of tradition, including lots of dance, food and music. It’s a place where people lived in homes for several generations, some of which were built by their ancestors.

Filled with proud residents, it is a fascinating and unique place satiated in a rich New Orleans history and tradition that has received little attention.

Elie wanted to rectify that snub. So he takes the viewer on a personally guided tour of his world – seen through his eyes and those of some local residents.

He got the idea to document his neighborhood’s history a couple of years before Hurricane Katrina hit in 2005. It came to him after he decided to buy and renovate a house in Tremé, where he grew up.    

What he found was eye-opening. The history books don’t talk about it, but according to the documentary, in the early 1800s free black people in Tremé were publishing newspapers and poetry and conducting symphonies, while most African Americans were breaking their backs on plantations. The neighborhood was also the staging area of the largest slave revolt in this country. Many died in Congo Square, which is recognized as the heart of Faubourg Tremé. Black residents back then, even as slaves, stood firm and won the right to earn wages and receive an education.

Later, organized sit-ins and protests desegregated the city’s streetcars and schools.

And, Rosa Parks notwithstanding, the documentary readily sets the origin of the southern Civil Rights Movement and the birthplace of jazz squarely in Faubourg. And, while most people have heard of Plessy v. Ferguson, probably few know that the 1896 case in which the Supreme Court ruled in favor of racial segregation was rooted in Faubourg Tremé. The decision led to the “separate but equal” Jim Crow laws across the South. All the goodwill that Tremé had formed was quickly abolished and segregation ruled the day.

Intent on presenting a balanced portrayal of his community, the documentary, which makes great use of archival footage, divulges how Faubourg didn’t always live up to its ideals. Hard times fell on the area — and it became known for being a drug den. The luster had faded and the neighborhood suffered.

Along his journey Elie sought out insight from other residents of the neighborhood. Hearing their impassioned views on the place they call home is heartwarmingly presented as authentic with a tinge of pride and a sizeable amount of hope.

The residents include Irving Trevigne, a 75-year-old carpenter who, when we meet him, is restoring Elie’s home to its original glory. Trevigne is a kind of griot, who remembers a great deal of the area’s history. And there’s Glen David Andrews, a musician who wants the story of his hometown told right and who, after the government’s dismal response to Hurricane Katrina, doesn’t care much for the ideals that America expounds.

There is also Brenda Marie Osbey, a local poet who would rather take the optimistic route and holds out hope that her neighborhood will one day reclaim its vigor and brilliance.

They all have a story and perspective to tell. Unfortunately, before Elie finished his documentary, Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans. Faubourg was damaged and many residents were and are still unable to return home.

Reverential is the prevailing adjective in “Faubourg Tremé.”

It’s clear that Elie’s objective is to have his community recognized for its place in history as well as its tenaciousness when faced with adversity.

“Faubourg Tremé” is a wonderful, celebratory history lesson.

Elie and his crew have created a celluloid tribute that won’t soon be forgotten.

Although the area has seen better days, one gets the sense that the rhythmic beat that collectively kept the heart of Faubourg alive can still be heard and felt, and that the culture and roots remain firmly planted.

The documentary had its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York and won best documentary awards at the San Francisco International Film Festival, the San Francisco Black Film Festival, and the Martha’s Vineyard Black Film Festival.

Bravo. A masterwork! Fabulous story, delightful interviews, captivating footage.

“Faubourg Tremé” is directed by Dawn Logsdon, written and co-directed by Elie, executive produced by Stanley Nelson and Wynton Marsalis, produced by Lucie Faulknor, Logsdon and Elie. Running time: 68 minutes.

On the Donloe Scale — “D” (don’t bother); “O” (oh, no); “N” (needs work); “L” (likable); “O” (OK); and “E” (excellent) — “Faubourg Tremé” gets an E (excellent).