New Orleans is called “The Most Interesting City in America” and it is one of the most diverse, cultural, artistic, historical, and fun places you’ll ever visit!
See the sites of the American civil rights story up close in-person in New Orleans!
In New Orleans, it feels like the arts are everywhere -- like the city is bursting with the celebration of life. Those same celebrations are also expressions of the need for change, the need for equality – the arts in New Orleans are an intrinsic part of the American civil rights movement.
Writers, musicians, cooks, visual artists, and costume makers have preserved the stories, values, and traditions of people who fought (and continue to fight) inequality. Gay Mardi Gras is amazing and beautiful and fierce, and the street art and murals are world-class. And of course, New Orleans’ beloved jazz music became the soundtrack for the civil rights movement of the 20th century.
Class will examine how civil rights movements happened in this city, from the earliest days all the way to the removal of confederate monuments and Black Lives Matter. Learn about the passing down of native and West African folktales, the writings of gay authors in the 19th and early 20th centuries, and a legendary Creole restaurateur who was also a painter and civil rights leader.
Instructor
Your teacher, Libby Bollino, an extraordinary New Orleans historian and 10th generation Louisiana native, will take you to the French Quarter, the vibrant, colorful, musical heart of New Orleans. This is the city’s oldest neighborhood and the center of the city’s exciting nightlife. You will see famous sites such as Bourbon Street, Jackson Square, the Mississippi River, and St. Louis Cathedral. You will visit art in the NOMA Sculpture Garden and learn about the birth of jazz in Armstrong Park. Libby will guide you through Congo Square, the very location where enslaved people gathered to keep their African culture alive, and the monuments to important contributors to American music.
More Information
To read specifics about class schedules and requirements, click here.
Prerequisites
There are no prerequisites for taking this course.
Cost and Credits
Each class carries 36 educational hours, or 3 credits for the purposes of the J-1 visa. Students should always check with their counselor or agency when signing up for classes.
The cost of one class is $275, or two classes for $500. Students who are registering for two classes should reach out to us by phone in order to receive a $50 discount on the second class. Please call us at (646) 204–6865 or email with questions at aupair@bmcc.cuny.edu.
Registration and Enrollment
This course meets in person. There are two mandatory online orientations.
To register, add to cart and check out.
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