Plenary speaker

Randy J. Sparks

Professor Randy J. Sparks teaches history at Tulane University, in New Orleans. His research revolves around three broad areas of interest: Southern History, American Religious History, and the Atlantic World. His research in Southern history has focused on race and religion, particularly the history of biracial worship in the Old South. His first two books, On Jordan's Stormy Banks (1994) and Religion in Mississippi (2001), explored the interplay between race and religion in the South. His interest in Atlantic history has also focused on race, slavery, and religion: The Two Princes of Calabar (2004; French tranlation: 2007), Where the Negroes are Masters (2014). His co-edited volumes of essays in Atlantic history also reflect his interest in race and religion. Pr. Sparks is currently co-editing a volume of essays on the impact of Hurricane Katrina on New Orleans with Pr. Romain Huret from the EHESS. His current book-length project focuses on the United States' involvement in the illegal slave trade of the 19th century.

Personal page at Tulane University.