Research to Preserve African American Stories and Traditions sheds light on Auburn’s rich Black history

An initiative in the Auburn University College of Human Sciences works to fill in the missing pieces of Auburn’s history by sharing Black stories and traditions. Research to Preserve African American Stories and Traditions, or rPAAST, presents at local schools, academic conferences and engages the community to collaborate on historical research, storytelling and cemetery preservation.

Robert Bubb, PhD, lecturer in Human Development and Family Science, coordinates the collaborative effort to elevate local Black history and share stories forgotten over time.

“It really centers around people. That’s really where our success is. Whether it’s educating or people discovering something about themselves or just getting the stories out there through the collaborations we have in the community,” Bubb said. “Every town, every city has its own very unique Black history that needs to be told. If we can present what we do, hopefully that inspires people to do the same within their own local communities.”

Read more about Research to Preserve African American Stories and Traditions here.