What do Black History Month, Valentine’s Day and Dave Robicheaux’s Hometown Literary Festival have to do with one another? Well, for one thing, the first two occur in February — as well as National Heart Month and National Library Lover’s Month — which is a great prelude to next month’s kickoff of the second annual Dave Robicheaux’s Hometown Literary Festival. Tying all three together is a little trickier, unless you write for the Teche Life section during the month of Mardi Gras.

Features by Branton have been few and far between this month. Thanks for all the inquires about not seeing my “byline” recently. During the Teche Area Mardi Gras season, tradition has meant publishing the costumed krewe royalty with their authored stories about this year’s event. Thus, removing the need for personal interviews.

Great news when moving into a different house that takes time away from meeting Teche Area residents in order to tell their stories. Even Wednesday food layouts have been thematically pulled from editorial services to save time — but I’ve still done my part behind the scenes. Glad to know I’ve been missed.

That makes today’s feature even more exciting to share and why it may be a little more personal than the normal Teche Life subjects.

Celebrating Black History Month is important and something that shouldn’t be missed. Telling special love stories goes without saying — love to tell them.

Add to that preparation for Iberia Parish’s celebration of its most noted author via his character detective Dave Robicheaux and truly, space for this story comes at the perfect time.

Back From the Future

Dave Robicheaux’s Hometown Literary Festival will be held March 31 through April 2 in and around downtown New Iberia. If interest holds true to last year’s international fans of James Lee Burke, visitors from around the world and across the nation will descend upon the area to explore Dave’s world.

Before telling you about a special event that’s been added this year to the back-to-back offerings and parties spanning the three-day weekend, let’s start by talking about Black History Month.

It began in 1976 when President Gerald R. Ford called upon the public to “seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of black Americans.”

There is much to be said of the history of the Civil Rights Movement and a growing awareness of black identity but it may be far more important to make history now. We can seize opportunities at hand to become educated and build awareness of positive role models and at the same time draw wisdom from the accomplishments of yesterday’s heros.

Have You Seen It?

Last Sunday afternoon in a sparsely filled movie theater, “Hidden Figures” became my latest crusade. Few movies accomplish what this one does across so many platforms. It brought forth a controversial, historically significant subject with truth and inspiration. Both blacks and whites were portrayed — in my opinion — with great depth of character and compromise.

The movie is appropriate for all ages. Cathy Indest reported her young grandchildren saw it. They may not have experienced the racial tension of the 1960s, but they understood what was wrong in the way the black women were treated. They have been taught the right way to treat others — with respect.

Seeing “Hidden Figures” is a great way to celebrate Black History Month.

No Time Like The Present

Living in the South, as one person said during a committee meeting for the Dave Robicheaux festival, has left a racial mark on blacks and whites. Far too often the subjects of historical wounds and misunderstandings between the races have been swept under the rug or totally ignored until they erupt in uncontrolled anger. Bitterness and resentment are symptoms of unhealed wounds that have perhaps been passed down from generation to generation.

Award-winning author Margaret Wrinkle experienced a shock when she learned of the rumor that her slave-owning grandfather was a “breeder” of slaves. Research into the truth was limited. Most stories from black perspectives were oral. True genealogy of black families is nearly impossible to find except for documents of property exchanges or rosters of slaves. Yet reading diaries and other research paints a pretty clear picture, and one that Wrinkle penned as “Wash.”

The historic fictional novel tells the story of a slave owner and his slave — breeding stock. Like Abraham, the male slave built more than a plantation. Generationally his genes created legacies that carried forward into modern times.

To bridge the great divide between black and white cultural misunderstandings, Wrinkle has been invited to New Iberia to share her research and heartfelt concerns for the legacy her grandfather and others like him created in the decades since the war between the states ended.

As part of Dave Robicheaux’s Hometown Literary Festival, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. April 1 in the fellowship hall at First United Methodist Church, Wrinkle will introduce her book. An open discussion toward positive resolutions will follow led by New Iberia resident Dr. Phoebe Hayes, a retired professor spending much of her time researching black history in the area as well as continuing to discover the roots of her own family.

Hayes will be joined by Jari Honora, one of four founders and a consultant for The Creole Genealogical and Historical Association, a group of family historians and genealogists researching and documenting the lives of ethnically diverse Louisiana and Gulf Coast Creole families.

Together the discussion will explore the realities experienced by blacks and whites because of slavery and the consequences that still remain. The public is invited to bring a desire for healing and wholeness regardless of which side of the equation an ancestor might have carried forward.

February is a great time to begin reading “Wash” in anticipation of the April 1 exchange.

Living With Love

February marks the second anniversary for this Teche Life editor. Interviewing area residents has been inspiring to see the love and faith represented by both blacks and whites from St. Martin Parish, throughout Iberia Parish and into St. Mary Parish. As readers you have joined me on this journey to explore the people and places of the area. How exciting it has been.

Without question, the greatest common denominator has been faith. Although predominately Catholic, the joy and hope of Protestants, inspiration from the congregation of Gates of Prayer as well as the kindness of friends in the Laotian and Cambodian communities have kept my faith alive in the dreams of what this community can do when the hearts of its people realize they share more in common if love leads the way. And so we arrive at the final component of this unusual equation of Black history, literature and Valentine’s Day.

February 14 is the day we celebrate love. Just as Christmas often reminds us of the best in ourselves and others, may you remember to carry warm thoughts about your family, friends and strangers that you meet not just as a one-day-a-year valentine, but all year long. Together, the communities we live in can affect future generations before they are even born.

Hug your inner child this Valentine’s Day. You may be the first in a very long time to recognize how uniquely special you are and how important you are to the rest of us. Live life loving one another. It is the greatest commandment — well almost.