Every society has its collective memories. The U.S. has, among others, Washington and the cherry tree, Paul Revere’s ride, and Benjamin Franklin’s inventions. The Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire’s annual event, the Elinor Williams Hooker Tea Talks, is a series of participatory lectures related to New Hampshire’s hidden history of people of color. This year the series will explore how memory is shaped and how it operates to create a value system even if what is collectively remembered deviates from facts.
Presented by the Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire in partnership with the Portsmouth Public Library, these Sunday afternoon “Tea Talks” will be held at the Portsmouth Public Library, Livingston Room, 175 Parrott Ave., from 2 to 4 p.m.
All events are free and open to the public unless where noted.
This year’s theme of memory and memorials involves many aspects of how we look at historical events, through narrative, art or memorials, and how this relates to our current social environment. From Native American depictions to the Civil War, from examining gender within society to understanding current youth issues, the Tea Talks cover a broad range of subjects with something to interest and inform everyone. More a facilitated and inspired discussion than lecture, the Tea Talks are a way the BHTNH opens minds and hearts while safely sharing views and voicing opinions.
One of the features of this year’s series is a presentation about and actor portrayal of the first black magician, Richard Potter. Author John Hodgson will speak about his recent book and Potter’s connection to New Hampshire, as well as hold a Q & A session and a book signing.
The Tea Talks are named in honor of Elinor Williams Hooker, a longtime New Hampshire resident, educator and activist, and the wife of Thomas L. Hooker, who served from 1966 to 1974 as director of the New Hampshire Division of Welfare.
"Talk is healing. Tea keeps us civil."
The Tea Talks are inspired by the concept of taking tea as a communal event, which occurs as a tradition around the world. Executive Director JerriAnne Boggis explained how the name began and the meaning of a “tea talk.”
“Recently, a dear friend told me she was concerned about the title of our winter program, not the Elinor Williams Hooker part, but the ‘Tea Talk’ section. She felt the title may be 'off putting' as it conjured images of an ‘old fashioned white meeting.’”
“This made me think of my conversation with Valerie Cunningham five years earlier when we started the series. Since our main goal was to create an informal and safe space where people would feel comfortable discussing difficult topics, we labored over the title. A lecture sounded as if we would be talking down to the audience when what we wanted were conversations – a space for us all to learn. We didn’t want a dinner conversation or a breakfast conversation as both times were reserved for family.”
“Now the in-between-time, tea time, sounded just about right and besides being a mealtime, tea drinking is a long-held global tradition for all classes. Since the beginning of the Ming dynasty, people of all ages have come together at all hours of the day to drink tea and enjoy each others’ company. In the Chinese ceremony of tea drinking, humility and respect are expected of the guests and the host. In Japan, every detail of the ceremony is savored because of the uniqueness of the moment. That particular moment in time can never be recreated.”
Taking tea together has a strong and relevant African background as well. Tea is always served to visitors in West African homes. Every African “attaya” ceremony consists of three rounds. It is said; The first round of tea is bitter and represents the beginning of life and the difficulties of growing up. The second round is sweeter signifying the sweetness of mid-life, love and marriage. The third and final round is mostly very weak tea with plenty of sugar symbolic of old age.
During this West African tradition, guests are expected to express their opinion about the tea, saying whether they think it too strong, too weak or just right. They are truly open affairs, where just about any subject is up for discussion, and friendly argumentation is encouraged and appreciated.
Boggis sees the Tea Talks as a way to facilitate open and safe sharing of ideas within the community. “It is this camaraderie and good cheer that accompanies each glass of African mint tea that we had hoped to recreate in our Elinor William Hooker Winter Tea Talk Series. A time to reflect, to honor one another's opinions, a place to learn and grow and, in so doing, move the needle a little closer to equality and justice for all.”
For more information about the Tea Talks, please visit http://blackheritagetrailnh.org/programs/tea-talks/
2018 Tea Talks
Sunday, Feb. 4
Reclaiming Native American Culture
Contrary to popular belief, New Hampshire’s history did not begin with the arrival of European settlers and all of New Hampshire’s indigenous people were not killed off by disease and war. At 6 million strong, Native Americans are a vibrant part of America’s present. This talk will explore current debates, including the perennial discussion over an art panel in the U.S. Post Office in Durham and the effects of race on reclaiming indigenous spaces of remembrance not only in New Hampshire but across the country.
Presenters:
Paul Pouliot, Chief Speaker for the Cowasuck Band of the Pennacook and Abenaki People
Siobhan Senier, Professor of English, UNH
Liz Green Charlebois,
Sunday, Feb. 11
Black Men as Ritual Sacrifice for the Creation of White Identity
Most conversations about race focus on inter-racial violence and competition (whites versus people of color). This talk explores intra-racial violence and competition (elite whites versus working class and poor whites) as the origin and purpose behind the creation of what we call “white” and how this designation is maintained through ritual violence and the ritual use of a sacrificial class of underprivileged people to diffuse that competition.
Warning: PowerPoint presentation contains graphic images.
Presenter: Rev. Ian White Maher
Sunday, Feb. 18
Sites of Memory: Reconstructing the Past
In a compelling speech about race in America, Mitch Landrieu said, "There is a difference between remembrance of history and reverence of it." Through discussing physical and artistic sites of memory, including the Confederate memorial in York, Maine; a cellar hole in Hancock, N.H.; and the pages of a graphic novel, this panel will explore how a narrative picture of the past develops an identity for our present.
Presenters:
Senator David Watters, Retired Professor of English, UNH
Eric Aldrich, Independent Scholar
Joel Christian Gill, American cartoonist, comics artist, graphic novelist
Sunday, Feb. 25
Ain’t I a Woman?
Black women and girls have continually been on the front lines of progressive change movements, using their voices and stories to mobilize intersectional coalitions to dismantle oppressive systems. Yet, they are routinely portrayed in television and film as sassy, neck-rolling harpies with major attitude problems. Black women say these depictions have real world consequences in their lives and careers.
A film and TV discussion.
Presenters:
Delia Konzett, Professor of English, University of New Hampshire
Courtney Marshall, Instructor in English, Philips Exeter Academy
Professor Aria Halliday
Professor Kabria Baumgartner
Sunday, March 4
Richard Potter: America’s First Black Celebrity
Author Presentation, Living History Performance, Book Signing & Tour
Apart from a handful of exotic and almost completely unreliable tales surrounding his life, Richard Potter is mostly unknown today. Two hundred years ago, he was the most popular entertainer in America — n fact, the first showman to win nationwide fame. His story is even more remarkable in that Richard Potter was also a black man. Working as a magician and ventriloquist, he personified for an entire generation what a popular performer was and made an invaluable contribution to establishing popular entertainment as a major part of American life.
Join author John Hodgson as he shares his work on one of the most captivating personalities in the history of his craft. Get a rare peek backstage at the dawning of the entertainment industry, the rise of American celebrity and learn of Potter’s New Hampshire connection.
This event will also offer a living history performance featuring Bob Olson, a book signing, and a guided backstage tour of the Portsmouth Music Hall.
Presenters: Author John Hodgson and Living History Performer Bob Olson. Olson, from Old Sturbridge Village, has spent the past 30 years studying and recreating Potter's magic.
Schedule
12:30 to 1:30 p.m. Tour of Portsmouth Music Hall
2 to 2:30 p.m. Living History Performance, Temple Israel, Portsmouth
2:30 to 3:15 p.m. Author Presentation, Temple Israel, Portsmouth
3:15 to 4 p.m. Q&A, Temple Israel, Portsmouth
Book signing and refreshments follow
Tickets are $10. Registration is required.
Sunday, March 11
I Can’t Breathe: Musings from a New Generation of New Hampshirites
When we mark down our history through a form of memorialization, we not only ensure that we will not forget the person or event paid tribute to, but that our future generations will have this knowledge as well. Hear from a group of young New Hampshire residents about their journey to self-discovery as "people of color" in a state often described as “lily white."
Presenters:
Jubilee Byfield, University of New Hampshire, Class of 2019
Nya Barnette
Grace Wilson
NOTE: In case of inclement weather, a cancelled talk will be rescheduled for Sunday, March 18 or Sunday, March 25.