From planters to hairdressers, the Creoles contributed to the unique personality of New Orleans, which still attracts tourists today. When tourists and natives alike visit the french quarter, they may not realize that much of what they see and taste is due to the Creoles of Color. The beautiful iron work on the balconies of houses and atop cemetery crypts is due to the artisans of iron work that brought this craft from Africa in colonial times. The wonderful coffee that we drink in the french Market can be traced back to an enterprising femme de couleur who formulated the idea of selling hot coffee in the market to shoppers, theatre goers and business men. Creole dishes are a main attraction to visitors to New Orleans. The blending of spices, local produce, seafoods and meats along with African methods of cooking has produced food that is known worldwide. Cigar making techniques were brought with refugees from St.Dominque and Cuba. Cigar manufacturers such as George Alcees' and his uncle, Lucien "Lolo" Mansion, who was also a poet, employed at least 200 workers in the mid 1800's with the largest cigar manufacturing operation in New Orleans. (See Also Madame Alcees)
(Portraits from the Louisiana State Museum website)
Other occupations of Creoles of Color included leather work, undertaking, teachers, composers, musicians, doctors, poets, writers, newspaper publishing, hairdressing, tailoring and other business owners. . Some femmes de couleur, women of color, were property owners either by wise business ventures or were given property by either inheritance or through placage.
Placage was an arrangement between a free woman of color and a white "protector". As it was illegal for a woman of color to marry a white man, these arrangements benefitted both parties involved. Noted as women who's beauty was renowned, they were presented at "Quadroon" balls, similar to todays debutante affairs. Highly chaperoned by the girl's mother and other relatives these balls allowed meetings between potential protectors and the lovely women. After dancing with a man, if the girl was attracted to the gentleman, he would be allowed to speak with her mother to see if a suitable arrangement could be made. He had to be able to provide her a home, which she would own. The home would be furnished and supplied with servants. All children of the union would have to be well provided for and educated. Male children would often be sent to France , while the daughters were educated in local convent schools. Children were often left substantial inheritances from both their fathers and mothers. These unions would often last for the lifetime of both parties or would end upon the marriage of the man. White Creole men would often marry when in their 30's to white Creole women, combining family fortunes. As many of these marriages were arranged by family the Creole mans relationship with his placee would continue. If it did not continue, the free women of color would pursue other means of support if needed through business ventures, room rentals and occupations such as hairdressing and sewing. Placage was by no means the only opportunity Free Women of Color had to make a living. The majority of women were married and had typical households for the times in which they lived.
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