The Bayou Recalls
Let the Bayou tell it and tell it all.
Join us as we explore the rich stories of our Southern American history and culture. The Bayou Recalls tells stories from the Southern American experience from our own words in order to preserve Southern black thought. Through these accounts, we will learn and unlearn patriotic biases. Dive deep into the narratives that shape our community, our lives, and our future.
Why was The Bayou Recalls created?
The Bayou Recalls is an oral history website dedicated to telling stories of the Black Southern American experience in relation to specific topics in our culture relating to race, color, spirituality, class, and social mobility. My name is Jemima Joèl Brady, and I am the founder of this site. I am an interdisciplinary storyteller, holding titles such as singer, painter, writer, historian, community organizer, and more. The Bayou Recalls was founded in 2025, as an addition to my social practice as a storyteller where I spend time exploring lesser-known historical events in Southern American History. I analyze how these events affect black folk in the African Diaspora and what our people did to resist oppressive laws and dominant culture.
When I began to exhibit my art, I would have folks tap me on my shoulder and say, "Hey, I know someone who went through that." These viewers were referencing a thematic instance in my art that they have or know others who have also experienced. I realized that I wanted to know those stories and record those stories so that one day someone researching lesser-known historical events, can hear about it through our own words.
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