Nashua Library To Host Black Heritage Trail's Final 2026 Traveling Tea Talk Sunday

NASHUA, NH — The Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire will present its final Traveling Tea Talk of 2026 on Sunday, Nov. 15, at Nashua Public Library.

The program closes a year of community conversations centered on Black history, culture, and the power of the spoken word.

The afternoon will feature a moderated discussion led by Kevin Pajaro-Mariñez with Professor Darrell Hucks of Keene State College. The program will open with a poetry performance by Shawn Caliber. Organizers also said the event is designed to explore African American history, expression, and cultural legacy.

The discussion will examine the enduring influence of Black voices and the role of storytelling, public speech, and artistic expression in shaping American history. The organization said African American oratory has long served as an instrument of resistance, a means of cultural expression and a force for social and political change. The announcement points to figures including Frederick Douglass, Sojourner Truth, W.E.B. Du Bois and Malcolm X as part of that tradition.

The November event builds on the group's 2026 programming theme, Echoes of Power: The Tradition of African American Oratory, according to the announcement. That program explored the influence of Black voices across generations and the continuing importance of public speech in shaping American society.

The Traveling Tea Talks are part of the nonprofit's effort to extend educational programming beyond Portsmouth and into communities across New Hampshire, according to the announcement. The organization said the series is intended to connect local history with the broader African American experience through dialogue, reflection, and shared learning.

The Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire describes itself as a nonprofit focused on educating the public about the often-overlooked history of African Americans in New Hampshire and throughout New England. According to the organization, its work includes guided tours, educational programming, community events, and historic preservation.

Additional event information and registration details are available at blackheritagetrailnh.org.