Who knew that during the early years of the Great Depression, culinary schools for Black women sprang up in numerous U.S. cities? For anthropology student and enthusiastic foodie Madisyn Montgomery ’22, the research revelation whet her appetite to learn more.

Montgomery got hooked on the cooking school story while exploring a database of historically Black newspapers. The more she learned, the more she connected the dots to reveal fascinating insights about cultural trends of the day as well as economic norms that still feed workplace dynamics.

Her project is one of eight produced by Chapman University students in the cross-disciplinary course “Unsung Stories and New Expressions: Black Lives,” co-taught by Professor of Film Leah Aldridge and Professor of History Charissa Threat.

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