The town of Laveau sat in St. Gerard’s Parish, just outside of New Orleans. It was home to a proud, hardworking community of black and white residents. It was also home to a lie which held the people of Laveau unknowingly captive for decades. They sat comfortably in the shadow of falsehoods that previous generations had left behind. As sheriff, Jean “Pap” Papillon swore an oath to protect the community of St. Gerard Parish; even when it meant hiding the truth to protect the residents from themselves. Within the first year of his term, a murder gave birth to a lie. A lie that would hold the community captive for decades. Over the thirty years he served as Sheriff, he protected the community from a truth that, if revealed, could disturb the balance of power. Unfortunately, one small, seemingly insignificant incident would bring the truth out of the shadows. In "Bastards of the Bayou" Donald R. Guillory gives his audience a glimpse of the secrecy within a small southern town. Based on a series of true stories, the author demonstrates race, money, and jealousy can topple the peace of a sleepy rural town.
