One of the goals of our Introduction to the Humanities class is to provide students with a wide range of experiences related to our field. We were thrilled that Jackson State hosted a fantastic panel this week and we were able to take some of our students. Twelve students, along with Holtzclaw grant participants Jean Greene, Sharon Melton, and Kristi Melancon from MC attended the session.

The keynote speaker, Dr. LaShonda Katrice Barnett, shared some great information with the students. Dr. LaShonda Katrice Barnett is a literature and history scholar who has taught at Columbia University and Northwestern University and published a well-received novel last year, Jam on the Vine, which chronicles the rise of African American activism in the early 20th century through the life of a poor Texas girl who creates a groundbreaking career in journalism. Serendipitously, the panel timed perfectly with our course syllabus, as Kristi Melancon started her mini-unit on Coding the Black Press that morning! The panel dovetailed nicely with what the humanities class covered. The panel discussion featured Dr. Elyane H. Anthony, Dean of the JSU School of Journalism & Media Studies and Dr. Will Norton, dean of the Meek School of Journalism & New Media at Ole Miss. It also included two JSU students from the School of Journalism & Media Studies: Deirdra Harris Glover and Gerald Harris.  The panel was co-sponsored by our friends at the Margaret Walker Center and the Mississippi Humanities Council.
Dr. Barnett sharing her talk with the assembled group.
The Utica Crew with the panel! Dr. Anthony and Dr. Barnett are on the front row. Sharon Melton, Jean Greene, Dr. Norton and Kristi Melancon are on the back row.
Utica students enjoying a lighthearted moment before the talk.