Sunday, January 28, 2007
Black History Symposium, Lessons from New Orleans
Princess Anne, MD- Visiting scholars will join faculty at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore to present “New Orleans: Past, Present, and Future,” the sixth annual Black History Symposium, Wednesday, February 21, from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. at the Richard A. Henson Center.
Sessions begin at 8:30 a.m. in the Henson Center lobby. There is no cost to attend, although your donation for the noon luncheon will benefit the UMES New Orleans Education Project.
“Our symposia have been very successful in looking at one topic from many perspectives,” said Kathryn Barrett-Gaines, Ph.D., director, African and African American Studies, UMES. “New Orleans is one of the most fascinating places in the Americas. Recent events there also have made it one of the most important places in the United States for many reasons.”
Featured presentations will include “Iko! Iko! The Black Indians of Mardi Gras,” “The Many and Varied Musical Traditions of New Orleans” and “There Is No Such Thing as a Natural Disaster: Race, Poverty & Hurricane Katrina,” followed by a roundtable discussion of issues facing the people of New Orleans with students and staff members who recently returned from a work/study trip as part of the UMES New Orleans Education Project.
Presenters include Michael White, Ph.D., Keller Endowed Chair, Xavier University of Louisiana; Chester Hartman, Ph.D., author of “There Is No Such Thing as a Natural Disaster;” and Barrett-Gaines.
John Lamkin II, Ph.D., and the UMES Jazz Band will entertain symposium participants during lunch.
The day-long program will conclude with a social hour allowing participants to meet guest presenters.
The event is sponsored by UMES and supported, in part, by a grant from Delmarva Power.
For more information, contact Barrett-Gaines by email atkbarrett-gaines@umes.eduor by telephone at 410-651-7934. Luncheon reservations are required no later than February 15.
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Contact: Ann Wilmer, assistant director, UMES Office of Public Relations, 410-651-7580,awilmer@umes.edu.
