Since 1994 I have been fighting the Archbishop of New Orleans, La. and the Sisters of the Holy Family (the organization which was founded by Henriette Delille when she lived from 1812 to 1862.) They have insisted on identifying her as a Native Born African American (ONLY) in their efforts to get her canonized as a saint.
Historically Henriette Delille was known to be a Free Person of Color, which meant that besides her African ancestry, she had French, Italian and Spanish ancestry.
Should these entities get their wish, the greatest tragedy will be perpetuated by this lie. It seems that the Archbishop and the Sisters want to keep the One Drop Policy (which was outlawed as far back as 1975) going, with no regard to the fact that Henriette Delille was more than just African-American. Historically, when she lived she was considered a French Creole American.
The Archbishop and the Sisters see that by making her the first Native Born African American as a boone to their financial and political racism to the detriment of millions of Creole Americans here in the United States and in other continents over the world. I am sorry that they haven't been able in two centuries to find a Native Born African American (ONLY) for sainthood.
I have written them a letter of protest which will be my final letter before I go to the public to bring my cause to the their attention.
Sincerely Mrs. Marion I. Ferreira, Founder and President of The Associates for the Preservation of Creole Cultural Heritage, Inc.