Black History Month offers expanded discussion and exploration of the events and accomplishments that define African-American culture. Members of the University of Houston faculty are available to offer insight on Black History Month topics. Members of the media can contact Mike Emery at pemery@uh.edu to coordinate interviews or connect directly with these professors.
- Gerald Horne, John J. and Rebecca Moores Chair of History and African American Studies, can address topics related to slavery and Jim Crow laws.
- Rheeda L. Walker, associate professor of psychology, can discuss the psychological impact of racial identity and how acknowledging one’s heritage creates psychological resiliency.
- Linda Reed, associate professor of history, has written articles and books on the legacy of civil rights activist Fannie Lou Hamer. Reed also can address the adversities experienced by African American women in America.
- Kenneth Brown, professor of archaeology, has conducted much research on the influence of West African culture in communities in the American South – particularly on plantations. Through his archaeological work, he’s discovered the adaptation of European and Christian beliefs in both slave and emancipated communities. Brown is currently writing a book on the Levi Jordan Plantation in Brazoria County.
- Matthew J. Clavin, associate professor of history, is focusing his latest research on topics such as the Underground Railroad, interracial resistance to slavery during the Civil War and fugitive slaves. He also can address topics related to slavery and abolition.
- Eric H. Walther, professor of history, teaches courses focused on U.S. history in the 19th century and the Old South. He also has authored books on the Civil War including “Shattering of the Union: America in the 1850s.” He recently contributed a chapter on enslaved women in Texas to the book “Texas Women: Their Lives and Times.”
Throughout February, UH’s African American Studies program will host several events focused on Black History month. For a complete schedule, view this calendar.