Black Heritage Trail Of New Hampshire Welcomes New Board Officers, Begins Virtual Tea Talks (And More!)

Member news from the Chamber Collaborative of Greater Portsmouth:

January 4, 2021

HOPE FOR 2021

"As president of the Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire’s board of directors, I’m excited by what we have in store for 2021. We resolve to continue bringing high quality, informative programs that give us all a truer picture of New Hampshire’s rich history. We will share stories of African American life in New Hampshire that both challenge preconceived notions about the Granite State and who lives here and inspire us to build upon a history of African American resilience, versatility, and courage in order to foster a more inclusive state. And in 2021, we are especially committed to reaching out to new communities--to documenting histories of, and bringing new programs to, towns we have not yet had a relationship with."

"Years ago on New Year’s Eve, before my life changed completely, I created a bucket list of 100 things that I had to accomplish in this lifetime. Sitting here on the eve of 2021, I realize I’ve made good progress. Some of my deepest desires I will have to let go – item #48, have dinner with Maya Angelou. Some I have faced, like my fear of heights, and passed the hurdle – item #78, go sky diving. Some items were elaborate fantasies - item #52, see a ghost. Looking at the next item on my list, maybe in 2021 I will add guests to that dinner with Maya and make #52 a reality. To check off item #79 – complete reading poems by the top 50 most influential historic Black poets – I will prepare a table for Maya, Lucille, Gwendolyn and Audre and dine with them through their works."

Read more from Hope for 2021: Seacoast shares New Year's resolutions here

CONGRATULATIONS BOARD OFFICERS

The BHTNH community welcomes the incoming 2021 board officer, President Dennis Britton, Vice President Selina Choate, Treasurer Stanford Cross, and Secretary Allyson Rider. We are looking forward to continued growth and an exciting season under your leadership.

LOVE OPENS OUR YEAR

Thursday, January 21, 5:00 PM

Join us for the final program in The Black Matter Is Life poetry series. The theme is Love, Love, Love. Professors Reginal Wilburn and Dennis Britton will facilitate. The special guest is Pulitzer Prize winning poet Jericho Brown. This program is devoted to the most fundamental of human experiences, love. Explore how African American poetry shows that love is still possible despite racism and injustice. The featured poems for discussion are:

George Moses Horton—The Lover’s Farewell
Gwendolyn Brooks—Lovely Love
Nikki Giovanni—Resignation
Jericho Brown—Like Father

Read more here

Register here

VIRTUAL TEA TALKS BEGIN

Sunday, February 7, 2021

Racism, Land & The American Farming Landscape

This panel will investigate the contributing factors to the enormous land loss by African American farmers which includes discriminatory practices, such as the denial of USDA loans. and slow handling of civil rights complaints. Presenters will also share the innovative ways Black New England Farmers are reclaiming the land and sowing the seeds of health and empowerment.

Presenters:

Reginald Jackson, Lydia Clemmons, Chris Newman (TBC)
Moderator: Meghan Howey

Read more here

Register here

This event is sponsored in part by a grant from New Hampshire Humanities.

NH'S BLACK HISTORY IN THE NEWS

Southwest Portland’s Woodrow Wilson High School will be renamed after one of five history-making Black women chosen as finalists by a committee of students, educators and community members. Milford's (NH) Harriet Wilson is the top name on the list.

Read the article, Portland’s Wilson High School will be renamed after a history-making Black woman, here

2 GREAT COMMUNITY EVENTS

January 11, 2021, 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. via ZOOM

REPARATIONS: The Midpoint Between Truth and Reconciliation

Sponsored by the Social Justice Committee of FUUSE*

Reparations as a response to centuries of racial injustice will be the focus of a presentation by Woullard Lett, a member of the National Coalition Of Blacks For Reparations In America (N’COBRA), and an activist in the NAACP in Manchester. The rationale for reparations and forms reparations can take, as well as a review of perceptions and misconceptions about reparations will be highlighted.

Use this link to join the event: https://uuma.zoom.us/j/97822171370.
For more information, contact pyosha@comcast.net.

January 19 - February 18th

AN INVITATION FROM TMS

Telling My Story for Humanity (TMSH): Race, Class, and Gender is a free virtual (online) interdisciplinary program for residents of New Hampshire that develops self-awareness and communication skills. By practicing listening, speaking and withholding judgment in a group, we build relations based on trust, communication, and dialogue.

Read more here

DID YOU KNOW?

Trailer for the documentary "Shared Legacy"

Shared Legacies: The African-American Jewish Civil Rights Alliance

The modern alliance between African-Americans and Jewish Americans dates to the NAACP founding in 1909. Since then, both groups have endured segregation and racism, from the codified bigotry of southern Jim Crow laws to blatant bias in real estate, employment, higher education and politics.

Read more about the documentary here

Temple Israel will hold a screening of the film. Stay tuned for more information

2021 A TIME TO HEAL

Please consider making a gift online at blackheritagetrailnh.org/giving in support of our work to raise awareness of New Hampshire’s Black history and culture.

This press release was produced by the Chamber Collaborative of Greater Portsmouth. The views expressed are the author's own.