Slavery discussed from cultural perspective

With a focus on slavery, the fall 2006 symposium of the Arts and Humanities College at SUNY Fredonia will be held Monday, Dec. 11 at 4 p.m. in Fenton Hall Room 105. A panel of three faculty members will present individual commentaries on the theme, “The Cultural Legacy of Slavery in the United States.” 

Music from the African Drumming Ensemble and Professor Bernard Woma will add a non-verbal dimension to the theme. The public is invited and refreshments will be served.

Tracing the evolution of banjo music in the 19th century, Professor James Davis of the School of Music will present, “Boys, Girls, and Banjos in 19th-Century America.”

Describing how traditions and beliefs coming from the slave culture were depicted in the Mark Twain novel, Huckleberry Finn, History Professor Jennifer Hildebrand will present, “I awluz liked dead people, en done all I could for ‘em.” Her title comes directly from a quote in the novel.

English Professor Saundra Liggins will explore the impact of slavery on literature across two centuries with her presentation, titled, “Literary Slavery Then and Now: Douglass, Jacobs and Morrison.”