BATON ROUGE, La. – The Louisiana Center for the Book commemorated Black History Month with a 2026 virtual program examining Creole identity, migration and resilience. The presentation featured historian and author Wendy A. Gaudin and her book, Sunset Limited: An Autobiography of Creole, published by LSU Press.
The recorded discussion debuted Feb. 25 on the Louisiana Book Festival YouTube channel and Facebook page and is available free to the public. In Sunset Limited, Dr. Gaudin traces her grandparents’ journey from Jim Crow-era New Orleans to Los Angeles, where they sought new opportunities while carrying with them the traditions and memories of home. Blending memoir, oral history, poetry and archival research, she explores how centuries of migration, enslavement, freedom and cultural exchange shaped Louisiana Creole identity.
During the program, Dr. Gaudin reflects on why her ancestors left Louisiana, what was lost and gained in their departure, and how language, foodways and family bonds endured despite segregation and displacement. The discussion underscores the broader impact of the Great Migration on Creole and Black communities and highlights the resilience that continues to define Louisiana’s cultural heritage.