From Freedom Rides to Youth Advocacy: Jerome “Big Duck” Smith Leaves a Historic New Orleans Legacy

 The New Orleans community is mourning the reported passing of Jerome “Big Duck” Smith, a longtime civil rights advocate and Freedom Rider whose life connected the historic fight against segregation with the continuing work of educating younger generations. Smith became involved in the movement during the 1960s, when challenging racial discrimination could bring arrests, intimidation and serious personal danger. His reported death marks the loss of a figure whose activism and community work remained closely connected to New Orleans history.

Smith was among the activists who participated in Freedom Rides challenging segregation in interstate transportation. The 1961 Freedom Rides became a pivotal moment in the American civil rights movement as Black and white activists traveled together on interstate buses to challenge laws and practices enforcing segregation. Riders faced violent resistance in several Southern communities, drawing national attention to the gap between federal protections and conditions experienced by Black Americans. Smith’s participation placed him within a generation of activists willing to confront that injustice directly.

His contribution to New Orleans did not end with the civil rights campaigns of the 1960s. Smith became known locally as “Big Duck” and continued working with young people while emphasizing the importance of preserving Black history and the cultural traditions of New Orleans. For Smith, remembering the past was not simply an academic exercise. It was a way of helping younger people understand the sacrifices, organizing and determination that shaped the freedoms and cultural identity they inherited.

That philosophy was reflected in Tamborine & Fan, the organization Smith founded to educate and empower young people while preserving New Orleans culture. Through that work, he helped create opportunities for younger generations to connect with the city’s history and understand the people who helped shape it. His efforts reflected a broader belief that communities become stronger when their history is remembered accurately and passed forward rather than allowed to disappear with older generations.

Smith’s legacy therefore reaches across several chapters of American history. He belonged to a generation that challenged segregation directly, but he also understood that civil rights history had to remain connected to everyday community life. His work with young people provided another avenue for carrying those lessons forward. In New Orleans, where Black cultural traditions have profoundly influenced music, food, art, neighborhood life and civic identity, his efforts to preserve local stories represented an important form of community service.

Details surrounding Smith’s reported passing remain limited. Information currently available does not fully establish his exact age, cause of death or funeral arrangements, and those details should be confirmed through his family or an official announcement. Avoiding speculation is especially important when reporting the death of a person whose life has significant historical meaning. What can be recognized is the public record of his activism and the impact described by people who knew or worked alongside him.

Jerome “Big Duck” Smith leaves behind a legacy that extends beyond a single chapter of the civil rights movement. His story connects the courage of the Freedom Rides with the continuing responsibility to teach history, support young people and protect cultural memory. As New Orleans mourns his reported passing, many will remember the activist who challenged segregation and the community leader who spent later years helping others understand where they came from. His life of service offers a lasting reminder that history remains alive when people choose to carry it forward.