In the 1860 U.S. census, New Orleans ranked as the 6th largest city in the United States. It was the only city in the South with over 100,000 people and one of the most important places in the country. Since then, we’ve found ourselves dropping steadily on almost every meaningful list and now find our city ranked around 60th largest.
Whether the city’s fall from prominence was the result of crooked politicians, hurricanes, desensitized citizens or any other factor, one thing was clear—New Orleans was struggling and had been for quite some time. Since its founding, New Orleans has been fighting longstanding negative stereotypes, both internally and externally, that have stymied our growth. Here, now, we address those stereotypes head on as the new New Orleans.
STEREOTYPE #1—New Orleans parties too much.
You sing in the shower. We sing in the streets. We’re your crazy uncle who likes to have fun at weddings. We celebrate any and everything, and know how to have a good time. Our culture is unlike any other in the world because we celebrate life—always. Even in death our Jazz bands lead funeral processions down the streets as we dance the second line. Death isn’t the end. It’s when we finally get to be in that number that marches in with the original saints.
Mark Twain once said, “Dance like no one is watching. Sing like no one is listening. Love like you’ve never been hurt and live like it’s heaven on Earth.” Our lifestyle is such that we do all those things even when everyone is looking. Everyone dies, but not everyone truly lives.
Here, we gather around our tables to do more than just eat. We gather for community. We love how food draws us together and helps create memories we’ll hold dear forever. It’s part of a colorful legacy that allows us to share spirits, not just meals.
STEREOTYPE #2—New Orleans is nothing but booze, boobs and beads.
If Bourbon Street is your image of New Orleans, then you’re really, really missing out. Sure, we locals know how to do it big, but 9 times out of 10, the people projecting that Bourbon perception are usually tourists who decide to cut loose and act like they see on TV.
As for booze, we don’t just imbibe. We’ve turned the cocktail into an art form of priceless value, creating drinks that come with a kick…and a story. Our city is a masterpiece novel. Venture beyond the first chapter called Bourbon Street and delve into our city’s story to see what we’re really about. The characters and adventure await.
STEREOTYPE #3—New Orleans is racist.
Mayor-Elect Mitch Landrieu, the first white mayor of New Orleans since 1978, won the office by crossing racial, social and economic lines and captured a whopping 64 percent of the vote, including the majorities for black, white and minority voters.
Through Hurricane Katrina, we learned that we must face our problems together or die. We’ve experienced things that almost no one can or should imagine. Experiences that stretched us to the limit, yet also united us as brothers and sisters in arms. We’ve battled through hell and have come out alive. We see things differently. We feel different.
STEREOTYPE #4—New Orleans has its priorities mixed up. Renovating the Superdome after Hurricane Katrina was dumbfounding.
It’s been reported that crime in New Orleans plummets during Saints games almost to the point of not existing.
I was there when Garrett Hartley nailed the game-winning kick to send the Saints to our first ever Super Bowl. As the crowd erupted, I saw grown men cry and absolute strangers hug. I saw black and white meld into black and gold. In a world where bad can seem to rule, good had shown up like it owned the place. In fact, it had owned the place since the Superdome’s emotional reopening in 2006; an amazing 9-month miracle rebuilding that saved our team from becoming the San Antonio or Los Angeles Saints.
But they were back. In that one glorious moment, every New Orleanian released decades of frustration, heartache and always finding ourselves behind the 8-ball. Our entire world had changed forever and everyone here was a part of something greater than ourselves. The Saints were different. And so were we. No longer were they the Aints. No longer was our city a bunch of underachievers. The Superdome became a symbol of our rebirth. Back from the brink of hell and devastation, we both stood anew.
STEREOTYPE #5—New Orleans is made up of losers. Always have been. Always will be.
After 43 years, the New Orleans Saints are Super Bowl champions. Read that again. Several times if you have to. Of 32 teams and after 19 games, the Saints are ranked #1. With a newly elected mayor, a new year and a new attitude, the landscape of New Orleans has changed.
Prior to the Super Bowl, almost every expert picked against New Orleans. Most football fans picked against us. Why wouldn’t they? They were on the outside looking in. To them we looked like the same old losers. But they didn’t get it and others still don’t. And that’s okay, because unless you’re from New Orleans it’s something that can’t be explained.
The Saints, long known as a symbol of futility, overcame their star-crossed history during our amazing championship season and swept three postseason games after winning only two in the previous 42 years. The team was composed of outcasts and castaways who had been doubted or given up on, much like the city they represented. But this time, the underdog prevailed. The world had been turned upside down. Hell had frozen over. “Anything is possible” or “You can do anything you put your mind to” seemed more credible than ever.
“Four years ago, who ever thought this would be happening when 85 percent of the city was under water?” said quarterback Drew Brees just after the historic Super Bowl win. “Most people left not knowing if New Orleans would ever come back, or if the organization would ever come back. We just all looked at one another and said, `We are going to rebuild together. We are going to lean on each other.’ This is the culmination in all that belief.”
STEREOTYPE #6—That feeling can’t last. New Orleans will go back to how they were.
It’s been three and a half weeks since the Saints won the Super Bowl and the feeling in the city is still unbelievable. I almost keep waiting for Ashton Kucher to jump out and say we’ve all beenpunk’d. But I know better. We all know better. New Orleans has changed forever for the better. It’s everywhere we go, on every channel we watch, every radio station we hear and website we surf. It’s on our streets and in our hearts. We feel it.
A Way of Life
Political pundit and transplanted New Orleans resident James Carville recently said, “I’ve lived all over. In most cities it’s about maintaining quality of life. Here, it’s about maintaining a way of life.” Living in New Orleans always has been a unique experience, but now more so than ever. Even after reading all of this, you still may not believe a word of it, which is fine. We don’t really expect you to. But know that New Orleans is rising…and our “it’s never going to happen” Super Bowl victory has given you fair warning.