NO MAN’S LAND | Louisiana Public Broadcasting | 2023

It’s a story of outlaws, bandits, pirates, and brave pioneers and it all happened right here in Louisiana in a place that was fittingly known as No Man’s Land. Slow to be settled, and marked by a pivotal moment in history, the Neutral Strip (as it was sometimes called) was used as an official buffer between Louisiana and Spanish Texas for years. The film explores the western part of the state as a separate folk region made up of groups - like Native Americans, remnants of early Spanish colonies, Scots-Irish pioneers, African Americans, and others - who, to this day, fiercely hold on to their multi-generational traditions and notions of identity. Emmy Award-winning filmmakers Bill Rodman and Flo Ulmer-Rodman explore how No Man’s Land is best understood as a bastion for those cultural groups who wished to preserve the unique way of life they cherished.

[@kdh3706]

Born and raised here, we host the Sabine Free state Festival each November here in Florien to celebrate this unique area.

[@robertortiz-wilson1588]

This was very well done, thank you!

[@melindawhite5198]

Very interesting

[@paulson6270]

Interesting, Was born and raised un in the area, Mom had told me about that land. This video help me understand more about No Mans Land.

[@justinrabun6160]

I was born in this area. Thank you for sharing this.

[@terryderush2657]

Just as very proud of being born and raised right here in No Mansland .

[@miguellogistics984]

And thus, family from Beaumont, and being Cajun, the family history of a Great Great Great grandmother dancing with Lafite is not out of the question.

[@robertortiz-wilson1588]

Epic

[@EastTexasSports]

Born and raised in No Man's Land. Deep East Texas. Shelby County. It's a very beautiful place, but also very backward.

[@Vera-td6ku]

My grandma's family ( Youngblood) is from your area my grandfather from Leesville Louisiana. My family has a church and cemetery in Timpson called Corinth. They and another family started that church. It started out over a neighbor feud. Both people were buried there is the story I was told by my great Aunt. I have lots of ancestors buried their from my grandmother up. Been in that part of Texas a few times for funerals. The piney woods looks a lot like Leesville. To me they do anyhow.

[@jerrieyum]

My peeps from five forks road deep into Creston, Campti and Natchitoches

[@cenlatgr_22]

My father was raised in the Toro Hills area. Ive just recenly heard this story.Need to learn more !

[@GucciHarris]

Coushatta Louisiana Shreveport Louisiana in the building

[@scwiggie]

My family is Gibson from West Mississippi, Louisiana. Mixture of European, African and native. Married to another multigenerational mixed family Griffin.

[@Vera-td6ku]

I was born and raised in Texas 2 hrs from the Louisiana state line. My dad's father's mother is a Bass. My 4th Great grandfather John Bass and His Wife Delaney Taylor aka Sweat. grandfather was the first of my Bass grandfather's in No Man's Land. Actually I believe the Church that Joseph Had the land came from Delaney. I have Jane Parker MCManus Bass's linage Book (A Glance Backwards )that tells me everything about my dad 's familywho was also born and raised in Leesville. Bass family history. You named Gibson and Griffin. Those Surnames are listed in this book. I do believe our linage is related through the Bass family. Through marriages. My Bass linage also arrived from Mississippi. But their linage goes all the way back to Jamestown Virginia and the Nansemond Native American's. I'm also related to the Groves and Nash's. I'm a Lawrence my grandfather's mother is a Bass.

[@marythompson8633]

Very interesting, l knew of this place but never had any knowledge of the area or why it had come to be.

[@nichmon3221]

I was born and raised in Negreet, Louisiana. I had no idea of this history. No wonder my dad and his dad were so fiesty!

[@Hema1400]

Wazzap peeps no knife.

[@Minnesotayankee]

Seen Joseph Willis’ grave. I think he’s one of my mom’s ancestors

[@phatboychef]

This is good. Except for one glaring omission.
Not one mention of Creole culture. It is very important to the story of No-Man’s Land and West Louisiana.

[@AustinB.3322]

I am from here. There is still no rule of law.

[@AustinB.3322]

Kinda exciting because you are literally not required to follow any laws.

[@nichmon3221]

I agree with you. I was born and raised in Sabine Parish.

[@christianwitness]

The music is inappropriate...

[@HotaruGlaive]

You mean the music the tribal people are playing? Their personal music they are literally being filmed playing?