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Exhibit Opening for "The Second Side"

  • Shadows-on-the-Teche 320 E. Main Street New Iberia, LA 70560 (map)

The Shadows-on-the-Teche and The Iberia African American Historical Society would like to announce the opening of an oral traditions listening exhibit titled The Second Side: A Historical Retelling of African American Life in Iberia Parish. The exhibit features oral histories from African American residents and natives who participated in interviews conducted by high school students as part of the Oral Traditions class, a partnership between the Shadows and Iberia Parish Schools, that ran from 1992 to 2007.

The exhibit, curated by Breighlynn M. Polk, will open on Saturday, December 10, 2022, at 1 p.m. at the Shadows Visitor Center (320 E. Main Street, New Iberia). The program is free and open to the public. It will also be livestreamed via Zoom here.

For questions, please contact the Shadows at 337.369.6446 or Shadows@ShadowsOnTheTeche.org.

ABOUT THE SPEAKERS

  • Mrs. Elaine P. Campbell: Mrs. Campbell is a native and life-long resident of the “Lil’ Brooklyn” community in New Iberia. Aside from being a prominent community leader, Mrs. Campbell taught English in the Iberia and St. Mary Parish school systems for over 60 years where she experienced the highs and lows of segregation and integration in Iberia Parish. Devoted to the advancement and acknowledgment of African Americans in her community, Mrs. Campbell also established The Ebony Journal, Iberia Parish’s first Black-owned newspaper since the age of Reconstruction.

  • Ms. Jalana Durall: Ms. Durall is a resident of New Iberia and participated in the inaugural Oral Traditions class, one of the first African American History courses offered in Iberia Parish. A member of New Iberia Senior High’s class of 1994, Ms. Durall has stated her gratitude for having the opportunity to participate in the class since it was one of the first of its kind developed in the state of Louisiana. Ms. Durall continues to be an advocate for the education of students in New Iberia as she currently works with the Iberia Parish School Board.

  • Ms. Patricia Kahle: Ms. Kahle, who recently announced her retirement, currently serves as the Interim Executive Director of the Shadows and was instrumental in the creation of the Oral Traditions class.

ABOUT THE CURATOR:
Breighlynn is currently a graduate student in the American Studies program at Kennesaw State University located in Kennesaw, Georgia. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from Clark Atlanta University in 2017 and has participated in various professional conferences and presentations. She anticipates graduating with her master’s degree in May of 2023.

A native of New Iberia, Breighlynn has a deep desire for using oral histories as a method of research throughout the interdisciplinary scope of history-making. With the focus of exemplifying the narratives of marginalized communities, she remains dedicated to unveiling the hidden histories of those whose experiences have been epistemically erased from traditional historic doctrine.

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