Students attend SGA-sponsored trip to Finding Our Roots African American Museum

On Feb. 15, the Student Government Association held a bus trip to the Finding Our Roots African American Museum in Houma as an event for Black History Month.

“I was kind of curious about the African American center since it was based in Houma,” said Wayne Yelling, a sociology senior from Franklin.

The students on the trip said that they agreed the museum focused a lot on the history of slavery in the Houma, Thibodaux and St. Mary Parish areas.

“We did learn a lot because it was different than the rest of black history museums. It was more local history than the stuff you learn in social studies class,” said Victoria Caraballo, a nursing freshman from New Orleans.

Caraballo said she thought the trip would be a good experience to participate in something around campus.

The group consisted of around 20-30 students.

At one point on the trip, the students were brought to a room that was made to mimic a Baptist church in the time of slavery. The students sang “Wade in The Water” as they sat in chairs scattered around the room. In the middle of the room, there was a bucket that was about half filled with water in which made their voices echo throughout the room.

Students participated in this activity to experience one of the ways slaves communicated with other slaves.

“The fact is, it was a very amazing and informative trip,” said Elizabeth Springstead, animation freshman from Vacherie.