Brian Foster, a fall visiting teaching fellow in the Africana Studies Program, spent two weeks at Lehigh discussing his sociological research on the experiences of black communities in the rural South.
He has presented his work through screenings of two short films he has produced and discussion of one of his books, and has also contributed to talkbacks at theater performances and walkthroughs at art exhibitions. did.
He also spent time in classrooms on campus and shared his research and publications.
His first public event was a post-performance audience talkback with the cast and director of Trouble in Mind on October 11th at the Diamond Theater at the Zellner Arts Center.
Set in the 1950s, the show depicts rehearsals for a fictional play and tells the story of Willetta Meyer, a black actress who struggles with racial stereotypes about her role and the disdain of her director and fellow actors.
Foster said the play can be summed up by one of Meyer’s lines: “You have to swallow what you care about.” He said the film depicts the conflict between pursuing her dreams and facing the realities of racism and sexism.
Foster, director Kasi Johnson, and the nine cast members agreed that the show’s message resonated with modern audiences, even though it was written in 1955.
Many cast members also said they were able to connect what they learned about racial injustice during that time with their own experiences and observations. They said this gave them a stronger personal connection to the show’s characters and stories.
Victoria Wagner ’24 ’26G said she heard about the show from a friend who enjoyed it and could relate to the story’s portrayal of racism and sexism. This is because she has faced both as a minority and as a woman in society. stem.
“It was gratifying to see it actually shown to an audience and recognized in a way that everyone could understand. I thought it was very impactful,” Wagner said.
Later that week, Foster screened two short films he co-directed, “We Travel” and “We Dance,” which depict sociological research. The screening was held on October 11th at the Sinclair Lab Auditorium.
The first film, “We Travel,” follows the story of four generations of men in the Foster family. He used the family’s practice of butchering pigs to draw parallels with the racial violence the family witnessed in eastern Mississippi.
The second, “We Dance,” tells the story of a husband and wife dance duo, both separately and as a couple.
It also depicts their connection to Southern food and their relationship with their mothers.
Foster said she first decided to make the film when she realized she wanted to dig into her family’s history and tell that story visually, not just in books. He has since made two other films, one of which has yet to be released, furthering this goal of combining visual and oral history.
Trinity Price, 25, said Ms. Foster spoke in one of her classes, “The Sociology of Black Families,” and she was interested in storytelling and film, so she was interested in hearing Mr. Foster talk about her work in filmmaking. He said he enjoyed it.
The class allows students to participate in educational events in lieu of assignments, and she said she saw Foster’s event on the list and knew she wanted to go.
“I especially value stories that depict the Black experience and stories that are sometimes left untold on a large scale,” Price said.
Price felt particularly connected to the stories Foster’s work tells because her family is from the areas depicted in her work and she learned about her family’s history by visiting her grandparents in Mississippi and Chicago. said.
This series of events continued on October 15th, when Foster and LUAG curator Stacey Brennan gave a walkthrough of “Really Free,” an exhibit of Nellie Mae Lowe’s artwork.
A civil rights activist and folk artist, Lowe began his artistic career late in life and is known for his unique style and creative use of recycled materials.
Foster explained how growing up in the rural South influenced Lowe’s work and how she made sense of her life experiences through art.
He connected Lowe’s story to one of his books, “I Don’t Like the Blues: Race, Place, and the Backbeat of Black Life,” and discussed the exhibit in the context of his research on black rural communities. did.
Dorothy Tan, 27, who came to the event for a class, said she found Foster’s explanation of Lowe’s work interesting.
“It was my first time visiting an art gallery, and it was nice to have someone to guide me through the exhibits from a different perspective,” Tan said.
The final event in the series was held on October 17th at the Business Innovation Building, where Mr. Foster released his latest book, “The Specter of Racism: America’s Racism, Hidden and Visible.” This work is a collection of essays about Foster’s life and his reflections on how people and circumstances have shaped it.
The book features more than 100 photographs, which Foster said provide context for her life in an area where systemic racism remains rampant.
At the event, he shared excerpts from the book and explained the lessons and ideologies he used to write it.
Janiahya Rozier, 28, said she was encouraged to attend the lecture by her first-year seminar professor, but when she learned more about the event, she felt a personal connection.
“When I looked at the (LUAG) website to learn more, I felt drawn to it,” Rozier said. “As a Black person, I’m inspired when I hear stories about people’s trials and what they’ve been through. It makes me feel proud of myself and more about who I am. Makes you feel proud.
Foster said she hopes her work inspires people, especially students, to be intentional about what they do and how they live.
John Villanova, one of the African Studies faculty members who organized Foster’s visit, said he hopes to learn from the sociologist and apply some of the concepts shared during the past two weeks to his own research.
Villanova also said Foster’s time at Lehigh was a success because different groups within the university were able to work together to coordinate events.
“This trip was a success because we had great collaborators across campus,” Villanova said. “It wasn’t just interacting with different departments. We worked with all the different stakeholders on campus.”
