Sheryl Kennedy Haydel is an assistant professor in public relations at Louisiana State University's Manship School of Mass Communication. She holds a bachelor's degree from Clark Atlanta University, master's degrees from the University of Wisconsin and the University of Maryland, and a Ph.D. from the University of Southern Mississippi. Prior to her academic career, she was a journalist for publications including Chicago Tribune, Detroit News, Detroit Free Press and Austin American-Statesman.

Some of your research focuses on historical influences of the Black College Press. How did you become interested in that topic?

My research area is an extension of my commitment to uplift and empower marginalized communities – especially Black Americans. It’s also reflective of my lived experiences. As the former editor of my college newspaper – the Clark Atlanta University Panther – I’m riveted by how these Black spaces with scant resources managed to carve out space for students to express themselves on their terms and advocate for unapologetic progress. Being editor was one of the most demanding and rewarding times of my collegiate years. The Black college press is an under-mined part of the movement for civil rights and an extension of the Black press.

Also, I’m always curious about the layered effort needed to bring about liberation for Black American men and women. History is the necessary thread that authentically tells the stories of oppression and triumph of Black people. Considering how our ancestors arrived in this country and then were denied education and many other birthright resources, yet still carved a path for themselves and their descendants, leaves me speechless, humbled, and inspired. Once I discovered that student-run newspapers on Black college campuses in the early twentieth century beat the same drum to end systemic racism, I had found my calling as a researcher. Black people who faced punishment if they were caught reading then leveraging newspapers to speak their truth is worthy of exploration.

Now, I must thank Dr. Vanessa Murphree because she taught me my first media history course. One of our assignments was to visit an archive and find something interesting to share with the class. An archivist at the Amistad Research Center on Tulane University’s campus asked me one simple question: “Tell me something about yourself? Maybe this will help us find you something to explore?” I said, “Well, I’m from New Orleans and I earned my undergraduate degree from an HBCU.” Out he came with a box full of newspapers from historically Black colleges and universities. I took pictures, scribbled notes, and immediately said, ‘this is it!’ This class assignment evolved into a class paper and then my 400-page dissertation. I can vividly remember the sense of urgency to get it right and to keep the paper relevant. Going through hundreds of newspapers from the 1920s to the 1950s is something I will never forget.

What are some of the most important things you've discovered in that research?

In the early twentieth century, student journalists on Black college campuses were deeply engaged in the fight for racial equality. They cared about Black political currency and building a stronger sense of Black excellence. These student editors and writers advocated for change long before the modern-day civil rights movement of the 1960s. They were activists and clearly understood the power of words, the value of higher education, and how to strategically use media to inspire their peers. They also were equally resistant to censorship. Much like their mentors in the Black press, they were constantly pushing back on murmurings that their work wasn’t their own. I admire their sense of proud ownership and accountability for what appeared on the pages of the Black student-run press. Finally, they had an irreverent sense of humor. Not everything was so serious. They teased each other about fashion, flirting, and how they behaved at school dances. For example, the Southern University Digest published jokes. They were well-rounded students who understood that they had a role to play in the fight for liberation.

You also look at topics like first-time minority voting and social movements such as #BlackLivesMatter--two topics that are especially relevant these days. How does your historical knowledge enrich your study of these contemporary issues?

Black students in the twentieth century cared about the same things that Black student change-makers do today. They are equally as passionate about racial equality, political justice, and communal solidarity. Black students will use whatever platform they can to share the same messages of advocacy. I keep this at the forefront of all of my contemporary projects because it reminds me of the connection between then and now.   

How do you bring your historical perspective into the classroom?

I use historical research in each of my classes (for example Principles of Public Relations, Public Relations Writing and Applications, Public Relations Campaigns (undergraduate) and Strategic Communication Campaigns (graduate)) to ground students in the mission and purpose of our industry. I use it to provide a foundation that fosters an enduring passion, dedication, and understanding of the symbiotic relationship between journalism and public relations since the inception of our industries. Knowing this history keeps us all accountable and prepares them to be a valuable asset as communicators. Of course, I pull from David Sloan’s books, especially The Media in America: A History, and the other scholars such as Jinx Broussard. I also invite guest speakers to share from a historical lens such as an editor from The Louisiana Weekly or The New Orleans Tribune – both Black New Orleans-based publications – which means a diverse offering including retired practitioners, seasoned scholars, and younger representatives of the aforementioned areas. In my graduate course, I employ a mix of older peer-reviewed articles and contrast them with peer-reviewed articles that have been published in the last two to three years to see how history continues to shape the profession. 

What are some of your interests and hobbies outside of academia?

I love riding my bike with my two teenagers (I can’t! I just wrote I have teenagers, but it’s true). We do at least 10 miles but try to do 15 or more miles each outing. I enjoy working out, taking walks, and dancing to some of my favorite music.

Anything else you want to add that AJHA members would want to know about you?

Stay tuned for a book project I’m the co-editor of coming out in August 2021. It’s titled Black Identities and Media and will be published by Louisiana State University Press. The book is comprised of original essays, ranging in theoretical applications and methodologies, exploring media representation, media effects, and historical accounts of media practices relating to Black communities and their varying identities. Scholarship centered in Black identities often frames racial identity as a monolith, erasing the group’s intersections, including such attributes as gender, sexuality, class, and ability status. Moreover, literature often overlooks how these identities are represented across media platforms, including newsprint, radio, television, social media, and more. This volume provides a much-needed exploration of those intersections and centers the role of Black media creators -- including producers, journalists, and social media influencers -- to highlight Black representation in various genres of mass media. This text will be ideal for use in college classrooms and among general audiences and scholars seeking to explore and discuss the spectrum of Black identities represented within mass media.