Students in Port Arthur Independent School District were treated to a unique cultural lesson on Zydeco music and the Creole culture Tuesday.

Port Arthur-based photographer Rita Manuel’s exhibit Memories of Zydeco: Past and Present, is currently featured at the Museum of the Gulf Coast until Dec. 28.

She, along with husband and Zydeco musician Pete Manuel and her brother-in-law/artist and musician John Manuel brought history to life through photographs, the accordion and the washboard.

The music and the message

Seated on a stool wearing a cowboy hat and boots and holding an accordion, Pete Manuel spoke of what it’s like to share his experiences with the younger generation of students.

“They are blind to this because they never were taught this. It’s a pleasure for me, telling them as much as I know,” Pete Manual said. “The Creole culture is an art, an art of living.”

A Louisiana native, Rita Manuel told of the Creole people. She described her ancestry like a pie. She has European roots as well as Native American and African American. It was her Creole ancestry that led her to Zydeco music, she said.

With Pete at the accordion, John Manuel wore the scrub board. The metal musical instrument is patterned after a scrub board that was used to wash clothes. It sits on the wearer’s shoulders and is played by rubbing an object across the ridges.

The metal scrub board has its roots locally. The late Clifton Cheniere — known as the King of Zydeco, and his brother Clarence was working in Port Arthur in the 1940’s at what was then the Gulf refinery. Cleveland drew the musical instrument in the dirt and Willie Landry, a Cajun metal craftsman, created the scrub board.

Students from Port Arthur ISD elementary schools had a chance to play the accordion and scrub board as Zydeco music played in the background.

Antwan Torres was one of the students who took a try at playing the accordion as classmates watched. The fifth grader said he had fun. His brother has a small one, he said, but he’s never played a big accordion before.

Herby Rivera enjoyed the new experiences at the Museum.

Rivers said he learned about the Creole culture and their music.Rita Manuel, Pete Manusl

Rita Manuel

Rita Manuel brought the students around the room where her photos of Zydeco musicians are on display. As she walked she told of the people and the music thus connecting them with her culture.

As the students moved on Rita Manuel sat down and talked about the experience and how it came about.

“I wanted to make sure the young people in the area got to see the exhibit and find out what has all transpired in Port Arthur, Texas between Houston and Southwest Louisiana,” she said. “We are a strong culture here in Port Arthur, Texas, the Creoles.”

Rita got in contact with PAISD Superintendent Dr. Mark Porterie with the idea of the Museum visit.

Rita also hopes to have another chance to bring the information to students during Black History Month next year, she said.

The Museum of the Gulf Coast is located at 700 Procter St.