Symposium to emphasize African-American Civil War experience

MEDIA ADVISORY
Top scholars, reenactments and historical tours present alternative views of the era
 
KENNESAW, Ga. (March 15, 2010) -The Center for the Study of the Civil War Era at Kennesaw State University  will present an alternative view of the Civil War - from the perspective of African Americans - at its Seventh Annual Symposium on New Interpretations of the American Civil War March 19-21.  
 
What:
The symposium, "Alternative Southern Realities: African Americans and the American Civil War - Freedom, Memory and Identity," is a precursor to the upcoming 150th anniversary of the Civil War that begins in 2011. It will emphasize slavery, the emancipation and African-American military participation in the war, areas many scholars say were downplayed during the centennial celebration in 1961. 
 
Free public events include:

• A demonstration by a Charleston-based reenactment group depicting the 54th Massachusetts Colored Infantry Regiment, the subject of the movie "Glory." 
• An African-American heritage tour of Mableton, Marietta, and Acworth, and an Atlanta History Center exhibit tour.

Who:
A dozen top scholars from universities across the country including:

• Keynote speaker John Vlach, professor of American Studies and anthropology at George Washington University, and author of three books on plantation culture, architecture, art and folklore 
• Margaret Humphreys, Josiah Charles Trent professor in history at Duke University and author of "Intensely Human: The Health of the Black Soldier in the American Civil War"

When and Where:
Friday-Sunday, March 19-21
Conference begins at 9 a.m. Friday, March 19
 Burrus Building on the KSU campus
1000 Chastain Rd, Kennesaw, Ga., 30144
 
Battlefield demonstrations are 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. at the Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park.
 
View full conference schedule here. 
 
To register, click here.
 
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This symposium is sponsored through a joint partnership with Kennesaw State University's Center for the Study of the Civil War Era, National Park Service/Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park, and the Georgia Humanities Council.
 
Kennesaw State University is the third-largest university in Georgia, offering more than 70 graduate and undergraduate degrees, including new doctorates in education and business. A member of the 35-unit University System of Georgia, Kennesaw State is a comprehensive, residential institution with a growing student population of more than 22,500 from 142 countries.