Kodi Roberts
In celebration of Juneteenth, the Shadows-on-the-Teche and the Iberia African American Historical Society are hosting the Faith and Freedom Symposium on Fri., June 19, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Shadows Visitor Center (320 E. Main St., New Iberia). The symposium is free to attend, and registration is encouraged.
The Faith and Freedom Symposium will explore 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. Attendees may register for the in-program online or join via the livestream.
Keynote Speaker:
The keynote address will be delivered by Dr. Kodi A. Roberts of Louisiana State University, whose research examines race, resistance, and community through the lens of faith and faith-based traditions. Dr. Roberts is the author of Voodoo & Power: The Politics of Religion in New Orleans. He will speak at 11:15 a.m., followed by a book signing at 12:15 p.m.
For a limited time, signed copies of Voodoo and Power are available at the Shadows Museum Shop (320 E. Main Street, New Iberia) for 15% off, in person or online.
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.
Schedule:
- 9:15 a.m. — Jim Crow South and the Catholic Church: Uncovering the History of Desegregation at Loyola University New Orleans
Em Lessley, Mare Lodu, and Janine Smith – Loyola University New Orleans - 10:15 a.m. – Rural Churches as Tradition Keepers
Phebe Hayes, PhD – Iberia African American Historical Society
Harlan Mark Guidry, MD – St. Augustine Historical Society - 11:15 a.m. — Keynote: Voodoo and Power, The Politics of Religion in New Orleans
Kodi A. Roberts – PhD, Louisiana State University - 12:15 p.m. — Book Signing with Dr. Kodi Roberts
Upcoming in the Series:
Thursday, July 16 – Southern Jewish Experience with Kenneth Hoffman
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