Southeastern to celebrate Black History Month
Friday, February 10, 2017
by: Tonya Lowentritt
HAMMOND – The Department of History and Political Science at Southeastern Louisiana
University will host Black History Month during February featuring a free lecture
series. This year’s series is dedicated to the memory of former Southeastern Professor
Albert J. Doucette, Jr.
“We have quite a varied and interesting set of lectures this year,” said Bill
Robison, head of the Department History and Political Science. “Tim Chauvin will discuss
Congo Square, where African and European music and culture met and something unique
to New Orleans emerged. Ron Traylor will describe how black slaves in America managed
to enjoy their own entertainments even while held in bondage and how those changed
with emancipation.”
Robison said his lecture will use audio and video examples to shatter common stereotypes
about the supposed differences in the ability of men, women, and various ethnic groups
to play particular kinds of music, whether it be classical, jazz, blues, gospel, country,
rock, or hip hop.
All the lectures are free and open to the public. All Black History Month lectures
will take place in the Student Union Theatre and include the following:
▪ Tuesday, Feb. 14, 11 a.m. – “Congo Square: A Collison of Cultures,” history
instructor Tim Chauvin;
▪ Wednesday, Feb. 22, 12:30 p.m. – “Black Celebrations in Slavery and into Freedom,”
history instructor Ronald Traylor;
▪ Tuesday, March 7, 2 p.m. – “Who’s Got Natural Rhythm? Racial and Gender Stereotypes
in the Music World,” History Professor and department head William B. Robison.
For additional information about Southeastern’s Black History Month, contact
Robison at 985-549-2413 or wrobison@southeastern.edu.
