Faith & Freedom Symposium
In celebration of Juneteenth, The Shadows and The Iberia African American Historical Society partnered to host the Faith & Freedom Symposium. The symposium explored how African Americans have used religious beliefs, spiritual practices, and sacred spaces as tools of community organization across freedom movements—including Abolition, Civil Rights, and Black Lives Matter.
The symposium began with the panel Jim Crow South and the Catholic Church: Uncovering the History of Desegregation at Loyola University New Orleans featuring Em Lessley, Mare Lodu, and Janine Smith from Loyola University. Following, Dr. Phebe Hayes, founder of The Iberian African American Historical Society, presented on Rural Churches as Tradition Keepers. The symposium wrapped with the keynote Voodoo and Power, The Politics of Religion in New Orleans by Dr. Kodi A. Roberts, Associate Professor of History at Louisiana State University. Dr. Roberts explored race, resistance, and community through the lens of faith and faith-based traditions. After his keynote, Dr. Roberts signed copies of his book Voodoo & Power: The Politics of Religion in New Orleans.
ABOUT THE KEYNOTE
Dr. Kodi A. Roberts is an Associate Professor of History at Louisiana State University specializing in African American history, with a focus on the intersections of race, religion, and resistance in the United States. He earned his Ph.D. in History from the University of Chicago, along with degrees from Louisiana State University and the University of New Orleans. Dr. Roberts is the author of Voodoo and Power: The Politics of Religion in New Orleans, 1881–1940, a widely recognized study of the cultural, political, and economic dimensions of Voodoo in New Orleans. His research and teaching explore Afro-Atlantic religions, racial ideologies, and movements for social change, with particular attention to the historical and contemporary significance of African diasporic spiritual traditions.
FUNDED BY
Funding for the 2026 Program Mini Grant has been provided by the State of Louisiana and administered by the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities. The views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed by this organization do not necessarily represent those of either the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities or the State of Louisiana.