User:AshleyQman/Storyville, New Orleans

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History

In 2002, an archaeological dig was authorized to recover artifacts from 1303, 1307, and 1309 Bienville St. which would have been a part of Storyville.

The influence of the Octaroons

The influence of the French and Spanish "gens de couleur libre", or free people of color, was responsible for the multiple racial categories occupied by the prostitutes of Storyville and in the greater New Orleans area. Octaroons were considered neither black or white and thus occupied a different societal position than either their white or black peers. It was precisely this occupying of liminal spaces that allowed mixed race madams and prostitutes to be some of the most successful in The District. Octaroons would play off of the "tragic mulatta" stereotype that insisted women with black heritage were naturally more promiscuous and sexual, and their light skin made them more desirable. This stereotype would help prominent brothel owners like Lulu White and Willie Piazza, who self-identified as octaroons, to establish profitable houses exclusively featuring octaroon women. While it was not exclusively available in New Orleans, Storyville did boast the reputation of octaroon availability across the United States. This sort of prostitution across color lines made Storyville infamous, and led to a general mixing of the races among the more well-known brothels of the time. This included hiring entertainers of all races. Lulu White often employed black musicians to play at her piano, including Jelly Roll Morton.

The Blue Book

Blue Books were created for advertising the services of the sex workers of Storyville and included the names of working prostitutes in New Orleans. Arranged by name or address, the prostitutes were also distinguished by race and religion, with special markings for each category. Sex workers could be identified by such categories as black, white, octaroon, jewish or French.