480. James 'Jed' Dobson

<div>480. We <a href="https://archive.org/download/480-jed-dobson/480--Jed_Dobson.mp3" target="_blank">talk</a> to James 'Jed' Dobson on Samuel Clemens. Mark Twain wrote <i>Life on the Mississippi</i>, a memoir about his time as a cub river boat pilot. Twain's version of the Mississippi River has colored the way the nation looks at the river. <a name='more'></a> Jed discusses the difference in the way Clemens looked at Mardi Gras when he was in his 20s versus the more negative account in <i>Life on the Mississippi</i>, when he was in his late 40s.<br /> </div><ol type="a"><li>This week in Louisiana history. July 30, 1812. William Charles Cole Claiborne becomes the 1st American Governor of Louisiana. </li><li>This week in New Orleans history. On July 30, 1866 New Orleans descended into racial violence that, by the end of the day, would leave an estimated 38 individuals dead and dozens injured. Racial tensions, which were already high soon after the close of the Civil War, flared after African Americans were denied the right to vote. The enactment of the so-called “Black Codes” infuriated Republicans determined to secure citizenship rights for all Americans, and they ultimately reconvened the Louisiana Constitutional Convention in hopes of seizing control of the state government. During a break in the Convention, violence broke out between armed white supremacists and African Americans marching in support of suffrage—and the African Americans were not prepared for the fight. Unarmed African Americans were attacked and murdered, and many law enforcement officials perpetrated the crimes.<br /> </li><li>This week in Louisiana. <br /> Chemin-A-Haut State Park<br /> 14656 State Park Road<br /> Bastrop, LA 71220-7078<br /> 318-283-0812<br /> 1-888-677-2436<br /> <a href="mailto:cheminahaut@crt.l