There has been widespread conversation about the River Parishes Tourism Commission’s “RPTC” rebrand to “Plantation Country.”

One of the several issues with the “Plantation Country” language is that it winks at the “Plantation System.” On that “Plantation System” labor and merit are devalued; one group benefits greatly from oppression and other groups are systematically hurt.

Language matters and there’s a much higher calling for the River Parishes beyond the shameful plantation days.

In regard to the (March 20) “Tourist Commission relocating” story, several questions can be raised about the organization’s lack of a strategic plan and so forth, but please see research which was ordered and paid for by the commission itself.

The results unequivocally recommend that the tourism commission “not” use “New Orleans Plantation Country.”

That information has been totally disregarded, just as the commission disregards the rule of law, the voice of the community and tourism industry best practices. The brand “Plantation Country” is both oppressive and embarrassing for the mainstream.

All of us are God’s children, we should work and live together as one.

A great author says, “If you can only be tall because somebody else is on their knees, you have a serious problem.”

The opposition to “Plantation Country” is not about pushing back, it’s about bringing people “in” together and towards a moral high ground. The opposition is about letting the light in, being inclusive, being creative, being innovative, unity, removing the limits from region to region, and the region becoming a tourism leader and not being left to the devices of New Orleans and Baton Rouge.

Some of the world’s greatest were born in the River Parishes, including Louis Armstrong, Kid Ory, Dave Bartholomew, Fats Domino and so forth.

Andouille, Germans, the Acadians, the Maroons, Hattians and more; there are so many stories to be told. On one hand, and though business of the commission is unsettling, there seems to an effort to bring real and varied stories to life such as those told at The Whitney and Destrehan Plantations.

On the other hand, it’s hard to appreciate the efforts of the commission, after having to filter through the “Plantation Country” culture, which is pervasive and goes far beyond the brand. Step one is creating an environment of fairness and a brand that everyone can feel proud of.

— Gary C. Watson Jr.,

New Orleans