Uncovering the Story about Jordon B. Noble with Alex Trapps-Chabala

Research at the National Archives and Beyond

Jordan Bankston Noble, commonly known as the Drummer Boy of New Orleans was easily one of the Reconstruction era's most prominent Black men, known internationally for his military and musical career. From childhood, Jordan was enslaved and ordered to enlist in the Battle of New Orleans, Seminole, Mexican American, and Civil Wars. He was sold at least 6 times, raised a family, and spent at least 60 years of his life as a Free Man of Color. Despite all of this, his story is still not well known by the public and what has been written about him has largely been falsified. In this episode, meet Jordan Noble's 5X great grandson Alex Trapps-Chabala to give clarity to his life and his legacy. Alex Trapps-Chabala is a Bay Area-based historian and genealogist on a mission to help all BIPOC people learn about their family histories in a safe, informative, and engaging way. He is a 4th generation Bay Area native, deeply connected to his roots on the Gulf Coast. Alex is a Black Queer activist with a knack for disrupting harmful norms, deconstructing anti-Black ideas about our pasts, and facilitating healing via our ancestors' experiences.