Elinor Williams Hooker Tea Talks 2025

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2025 | 2:00 PM

Things They Carried: An African Philosophy on War, Surviving Enslavement and Citizenship

‘If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the results of a hundred battles.’ – Sun Tzu.

African societies have deep-rooted traditions of military strategy and guerrilla warfare, which were often used to defend against invaders or internal conflict. Enslaved Africans carried these traditions with them, applying their knowledge of strategy, resistance, and rebellion to resist oppression.

This panel will explore how African philosophies of war and cosmology helped enslaved Africans endure and cope with the trauma of enslavement. Panelists will discuss how these spiritual and communal frameworks fostered resilience, resistance, and hope, empowering the enslaved to recognize their internal strength and resist dehumanization.

Presenters:

Anthony Van Der Meer, Department: Africana Studies, University of Massachusetts, Boston, MA 

Grant E. Stanton, Assistant Professor of History and Africana Studies, Drew University, NJ 

TBC

Moderator: Akeia des Barros Gomes, Sr. Curator of Maritime Social Histories, Mystic Seaport Museum, CT

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SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2025 | 2:00 PM

Hopes and Impediments: War and Strategies for Belonging

“If you are beforehand with your adversary, you should occupy the raised and sunny spots and there wait for him to come.” – Sun Tzu

The principle of maneuvering in war emphasizes flexibility and adapting to changing conditions. Historically, African Americans had to navigate oppressive political and social environments, using spiritual and cultural tools to maneuver within systems designed to suppress them.

This session will highlight how, rather than passively accepting their imposed status, African and African American involvement in early wars like the Revolutionary War and the Civil War was both an offensive strategy and a spiritual defiance against a society that deemed them inferior.

Presenters:

Glenn Knoblock, Independent Scholar, Historian, Author, NH

Bob Sheppard, Lecturer, "Maine's Tuskegee Airman: A Son's Perspective"

Moderator: Mack Scottn III, Director of Undergraduate Studies, Brown University, RI

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SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2025 | 2:00 PM

The Great Migration: Military Service and the Shaping of a Diversified New Hampshire

"If it is to your advantage, make a forward move; if not, stay where you are .” – Sun Tzu.

In The Art of War, Sun Tzu highlights the importance of using terrain to one's advantage. For African Americans, navigating the U.S. political and social landscape often required knowing when and where to engage. Many viewed military service as a means of achieving social mobility, financial security, and proving their patriotism.

This panel will examine the integration of military bases in New Hampshire—such as Pease, the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, and Grenier in Manchester—and how these bases contributed to the state's diversification. Panelists will also discuss how military service became a tool for asserting rights and claiming full citizenship.

Presenters:

Andrea Williamson, Financial Advisor, Edward Jones, Kennebunk, ME

Leah Dearborn, Assoc. Director, Aviation Museum, Manchester, NH

Moderator: Nadine Petty, Chief Diversity Officer and Associate Vice President, University of New Hampshire

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SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2025 | 2:00 PM

Eyes on the Prize: Protests, Movements, and the Road Ahead

“There is no instance of a nation benefiting from prolonged warfare.” – Sun Tzu

African American civic movements and participation in wars have often been driven by deep moral and ethical goals—freedom, equality, and human dignity. The Civil Rights Movement, for instance, was led by individuals who invoked faith as a unifying force, drawing from Christian theology, African spiritual traditions, and a collective consciousness of liberation. Effective leadership, like in The Art of War's "unity of command," was essential. Many African American leaders were inspirational not just through strategy but through moral and spiritual authority, grounding their calls for justice in deeply held spiritual principles.

This panel will explore African American protest movements, past and present, focusing on nonviolence and self-determination. Panelists will discuss the current state of these movements, highlighting African American spiritual resilience, the strength of unity, and the enduring importance of community.

Presenters:

Noelle Trent, President & CEO, African American Museum Boston/Nantucket

L’Merchie Frazier, Visual Activist, Educator, Artist, Executive Director of Creative / Strategic Planning for SPOKE Arts

Richard Josey, Founder and Principal Consultant for Collective Journeys LLC.

Moderator: Jason Sokol, Professor of History,  University of New Hampshire.

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