The set.

Delve into the intriguing background of "The Secret Files," where female mystery adventures meet a touch of sci-fi. Explore the inspirations, settings, and unique elements that shape these thrilling stories.

Inspired by life

THE BACKGROUND IS SET DURING THE SPACE RACE BETWEEN THE uNITED STATES AND THE sOVIET uNION DURING THE 60'S.

Louisiana's secrets

The story unfolds against the backdrop of Louisiana during the years of segregation in America, a setting rife with tension, mystery, and untold secrets..

 

Between 1960 and 1970, Louisiana was a primary battleground for the American Civil Rights Movement. The decade began with the state firmly entrenched in de jure segregation—a legal system of racial apartheid—and ended with the dismantling of most of these laws, though social and economic friction remained.

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⚖️ The Laws of Segregation

Segregation in Louisiana was maintained by a web of state statutes and local ordinances collectively known as Jim Crow laws. These were built on the "Separate but Equal" doctrine established in the 1896 New Orleans-based case Plessy v. Ferguson.

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  • The Separate Car Act: Though older, this remained a foundation for segregating all forms of public transportation, including buses and trains.

  • Louisiana Education Acts: Despite the 1954 Brown v. Board ruling, Louisiana passed multiple state laws in the late 1950s and early 60s to block integration, including laws that allowed the governor to close any school ordered to desegregate.

     

     

  • Voter Disenfranchisement Laws: Louisiana utilized literacy tests and "understanding clauses" (where a registrar could ask a voter to interpret a complex section of the Constitution) to systematically prevent Black citizens from registering to vote.

     

     

  • Public Accommodations Statutes: State laws mandated separate entrances, ticket windows, and seating for "whites" and "colored" in circuses, tent shows, and restaurants.

     

     

✊ The Fight for Change

The people of Louisiana utilized a mix of legal challenges, nonviolent direct action, and community organizing to break the system.

 

 

1. School Integration (1960)

On November 14, 1960, four six-year-old girls—Ruby Bridges, Leona Tate, Tessie Prevost, and Gail Etienne—became the first to integrate all-white elementary schools in New Orleans. They faced screaming mobs and required federal marshals for protection, but their courage began the collapse of educational segregation in the Deep South.

 

 

2. The Sit-In Movement (1960–1961)

Students from Southern University in Baton Rouge and activists in New Orleans (led by CORE) staged sit-ins at "whites-only" lunch counters.

 

 

  • Garner v. Louisiana (1961): After students were arrested for "disturbing the peace," the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that peaceful sit-ins could not be prosecuted as crimes, a massive legal victory.

     

     

3. The Baton Rouge Legacy & Boycotts

Louisiana was home to the 1953 Baton Rouge Bus Boycott, which served as the blueprint for the more famous Montgomery boycott. Throughout the 60s, activists used this model of "free ride" systems and economic withdrawal to force businesses on Canal Street and beyond to desegregate.

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4. Marches and Self-Defense

  • The Bogalusa to Baton Rouge March (1967): Activists marched 105 miles to protest police brutality and job discrimination.

     

     

  • Deacons for Defense and Justice: Unlike the strictly nonviolent wings of the movement, this Louisiana-founded group provided armed protection for civil rights workers against the Ku Klux Klan, ensuring that activists could organize in rural areas without fear of assassination.

The End of the Era

 

By the late 1960s, federal intervention through the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 effectively nullified Louisiana’s segregation statutes. By 1970, the focus shifted from removing "Whites Only" signs to the much harder work of economic equity and "de facto" segregation in housing.

 

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A haunted heroine

What sets this female protagonist apart is her deeply personal connection to the mysteries she unravels, haunted by the tragic death of her parents in a swamp drowning, adding layers of vulnerability and determination to her character.

Historical accuracy

Potential readers will be intrigued by the accuracy and historical correctness woven into the fabric of these mysteries, providing an immersive and educational reading experience.

The Segregation in Louisiana: 1966 and Its Origins

In 1966, Louisiana was entrenched in a system of segregation that influenced nearly every aspect of life for its residents. Rooted in the post-Civil War era and reinforced by Jim Crow laws, this segregation represented a pervasive form of racial discrimination, creating stark physical and social divides between Black and white communities. Black individuals were systematically denied access to what were labeled as "white services," encompassing schools, restaurants, transportation, and public facilities. These restrictions were not mere societal norms; they were codified by state laws and local ordinances, effectively prohibiting Black participation in many public spheres. For instance, Black patrons were often confined to separate entrances and inferior facilities, highlighting the widespread inequity. The roots of this segregation lay in the belief in white superiority and a profound fear of racial equality. While the national civil rights movement was gaining momentum, Louisiana remained resistant to change, perpetuating a cycle of inequality and injustice that would take decades to dismantle. The struggle against such overt discrimination marked a significant chapter in the ongoing fight for civil rights, showcasing the resilience of those striving for equality and the harsh realities they faced daily.