Ani DiFranco is well known as being one of the leading feminist musicians in the United States today. So, when the "Both Hands" singer planned her four-day Righteous Retreat at one of Louisiana's largest former slave plantations, Nottoway Plantation, it understandably raised a few eyebrows. Following a wave of outrage from DiFranco's fan and active Internet blogs, the singer has now decided to cancel the retreat.
In a blog post on her website, righteousbabe.com, DiFranco explained that she initially did not know where the retreat was going to be held but when she found out it was at a former plantation, she thought it could be a learning experience.
"later, when i found out it was to be held at a resort on a former plantation, I thought to myself, "whoa", but i did not imagine or understand that the setting of a plantation would trigger such collective outrage or result in so much high velocity bitterness. i imagined instead that the setting would become a participant in the event. this was doubtless to be a gathering of progressive and engaged people, so i imagined a dialogue would emerge organically over the four days about the issue of where we were," she wrote. "i have heard the feedback that it is not my place to go to former plantations and initiate such a dialogue."
Read DiFranco's full explantion for the retreat's cancellation here.
The Righteous Retreat was to be held by DiFranco and some of her musician friends outside of New Orleans and was to be a four-day experience where songwriters could bond, share ideas and exchange dialogue. The retreat was also to include a field trip to New Orleans proper and the Roots of Music school for underprivileged children.
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