Collection:LPB

Genre: Panel

Place Covered: Louisiana

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 2015-07-22

Duration: 00:56:03

Subjects: Filmed panel discussions | Confederate States of America | Monuments | Civil War | History | Slavery

Contributors:

• Courtney, Beth Host
• Mann, Bob Host
• Gautreaux, Kevin Producer
• Connelly, Kelly Producer
• Gramling, Paul Interviewee
• Foster, Gaines Interviewee
• Thompson, Lloyd Interviewee
• Rogers, Ashley Interviewee
• Joiner, Gary Interviewee
• Boyd, Kevin Speaker
• Taylor, Thomas Speaker
• Samuels, Albert Speaker
• Jarreau, Randy Speaker
• Plummer, Joyce Speaker
• Miller, Bettsie Speaker
• McLarty, Stoney Speaker
• Peters, Jacob Speaker
• Martin, Andrew Speaker
• Carroll, Tim Shea Speaker
• West, Christopher Porche Speaker
• Branson, Taryn Speaker
• Bester, Alfreda Tillman Panelist
• Hyde, Samuel Panelist
• Diamond, Raymond Panelist
• Upton, Mark Panelist

This episode of the series “Louisiana Public Square” from July 22, 2015, features Bob Mann leading a discussion between the audience members and panelists on whether Confederate monuments belong in front of public buildings. A background report on the topic precedes the discussion. It includes interviews with: Paul Gramling of the Sons of Confederate Veterans; Dr. Gaines Foster, a history professor at LSU; Lloyd Thompson, the president of the Shreveport chapter of the NAACP; Ashley Rogers, the director of operations at Whitney Plantation; and Dr. Gary Joiner, a history professor at LSU-Shreveport. The audience members discuss: their view of Confederate monuments; whether monuments should be changed to incorporate other viewpoints; the causes of the Civil War; and New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu’s proposal to remove the statue of Robert E. Lee from Lee Circle. A panel of experts then joins the audience to answer their questions. The panelists are: Alfreda Tillman Bester, the general counsel for the Louisiana State Conference of the NAACP; Dr. Samuel Hyde, the director of the Center for Southeast Louisiana Studies at Southeastern Louisiana University; Raymond Diamond, a professor at the LSU Law Center; and Mark Upton, the chairman of the board for the Foundation for Historical Louisiana. They discuss: the message that Confederate monuments send to the public; the symbolism of the Confederate battle flag; the different perspectives on the history of the Civil War; their stance on moving Confederate monuments; how schools teach students about slavery; and the need to expand the way we look at history. Hosts: Beth Courtney and Bob Mann