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The Whole Staircase: Films Celebrating 400 Years of African American History & Culture

Faubourg Tremé: The Untold Story of Black New Orleans (2008)Faubourg Treme

Presented by the Library. 

"Past and present collide in this powerful documentary about Faubourg Tremé, the fabled New Orleans' neighborhood that gave birth to jazz, launched America's first black daily newspaper, and nurtured generations of African American activists.

Executive produced by Wynton Marsalis and Stanley Nelson, with commentary from renowned scholars John Hope Franklin and Eric Foner, Faubourg Tremé is the riveting story of one community's epic struggle for racial equality - from slave revolts and underground free black antebellum resistance, through the challenges of post-Katrina rebuilding today - all set to a fabulous soundtrack of New Orleans music through the ages. This award-winning film gives the depth of history to current racial strife and challenges viewers to think historically and critically about the links between race, class, conflict, and cultural expression in our modern communities." - distributor's synopsis

Run time: 57 minutes

This documentary premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival. It won the 2008 San Francisco International Film Festival and San Francisco Black Film Festival. This film is not rated. 

Screening Dates and Locations

February 26, 2019
Location: Palatka Campus, Building A, Valhalla Hall
Start time: 10:00 a.m.

February 27, 2019
Location: St. Augustine Campus Library, room L-112
Start time: 11:00 a.m.

Location: Orange Park Campus, Building D, room D-14
Start time: 1:00 p.m.

February 28, 2019
Location: Orange Park Campus, Building D, room D-14
Start time: 1:00 p.m.

June 27, 2019  The Whole Staircase Film Series - Faubourg Tremé: The Untold Story of Black New Orleans

Location: Palatka Campus Library
Time: 5:30 p.m. 
An informal discussion with members of The Turning Table's Race Issues Study Circle will be held after the film.
All are welcome to this free event! 

Resources for Further Exploration - Faubourg Tremé

Online Resources

A brief history of New Orleans' Treme neighborhood - from NOLA.com

"Fabourg Tremé reminds us that not only is it our obligation as a nation to restore it, but that parts of its history could be a model for a brighter future for the city—and for the rest of us." - Mother Jones

NEW ORLEANS PRESERVATION TIMELINE PROJECT: FAUBOURG TREMÉ - from the Tulane School of Architecture

Books and eBooks at the SJR State Library

Books may be checked out by community patrons as well as SJR State students faculty and staff. If a title is located at another campus, the book may be sent to another campus upon request.

Please note: eBooks are only accessible to currently registered SJR State students, faculty, and staff via MySJRstate due to licensing restrictions.

Celebration • Education • Reflection

H.R.1242/Public Law 115-102, the 400 Years of African American History Commission Act, establishes 2019 as a year of "commemoration of the 400th anniversary of the arrival of Africans in the English colonies, at Point Comfort, Virginia, in 1619."  The commemoration is intended “to recognize and highlight the resilience and contributions of African-Americans since 1619; to acknowledge the impact that slavery and laws that enforced racial discrimination had on the United States; and to educate the public about the arrival of Africans in the United States; and the contributions of African-Americans to the United States.” In recognition of this commemoration and with the Act serving as a guide, the SJR State Library has organized a year-long series of events that will provide educational experiences and resources to students and the community that celebrate the history and culture of African Americans.

Site created and maintained by Dr. Christina Will. Pages will be added and maintained throughout 2019.
Maintenance will cease at the end of 2019 but this site will remain accessible.