Tulane University

The Stone Center for Latin American Studies and the Ogden Museum of Southern Art are hosting a screening of the film Rebel on January 17th. Research for the film, written and directed by María Agui Carter, was conducted in 2002-2003 while Agui Carter was a Rockefeller Fellow at the Stone Center.

Rebel explores the secret life of Loreta Velázquez, New Orleans Cuban immigrant and Confederate Soldier turned Union Spy. Shrouded in mystery and long the subject of debate, the story of Loreta Velázquez is one of the Civil War’s most gripping forgotten narratives. Loreta Janeta Velázquez, a Cuban immigrant raised in New Orleans’ French Quarter, was one of the estimated 1000 women who secretly served as soldiers during the American Civil War. Who was she? Why did she fight? And what made her so dangerous that she has been virtually erased from history?

Actors and historians bring Velázquez’ story to life in this beautifully directed documentary, weaving drama and animation with historical and archival material to unravel the mystery of this secret soldier in a riveting detective story about a woman, a myth, and the politics of national memory.

The film will be introduced by Tulane Professor and Latin American film scholar Ana López and will conclude with a Q & A session with María Agui Carter.

This event is sponsored by Tulane University’s Stone Center for Latin American Studies, the Newcomb College Institute, and the Silverstein Fund. The screening is open to the public and is free with Ogden membership or a Tulane ID. For others, tickets may be purchased at the door for $10. Please contact the Ogden Museum for more information on tickets at ebalkin@ogdenmusuem.org or 504-539-9608 or visiting here.