Lunchtime Lagniappe: North Central Louisiana in the Great War

During World War II, African American men and women answered the call to serve in unprecedented numbers, navigating both the demands of global conflict and the realities of segregation at home. In this Lunchtime Lagniappe program, educator and museum professional Gaynell Brady explores the wartime and postwar experiences of a Louisiana African American soldier through the broader lens of military service, family history, and memory. 

Using genealogical research and oral history, Brady examines how World War II service reshaped lives, expectations, and identities for Black veterans returning home after the war. Lunchtime Lagniappe is an ongoing series of brown-bag talks that start at 12:15 p.m. and last approximately thirty minutes. This event is FREE and open to the public.

About the Speaker
Gaynell Brady is an educator and museum professional who is passionate about learning, genealogy, and museums.  She currently serves as the Owner/Educator at Our Mammy’s LLC, where she teaches families about genealogy and African American history. In her role at Our Mammy’s, she develops and implements hands-on history and genealogy lessons for participants using information from her own family tree.  

Past professional experiences include the National World War II Museum, the Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve, the New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park, the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and Northwest Louisiana History Museum, and River Road African American Museum. Gaynell holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in History and a Master of Arts degree in Museum Studies from Southern University at New Orleans.  

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