The Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire (BHTNH) invites the public to attend the third panel in its 2025 Elinor Williams Hooker Tea Talk Series, themed “The Art of War: Conflict and the African American Philosophy.” The panel discussion will take place on February 16, 2025, at the Portsmouth Public Library, starting at 2:00 PM. The event will be both in-person and available virtually.

The 90-minute panel, titled “The Great Migration: Military Service and the Shaping of a Diversified New Hampshire,” will explore how military service provided African Americans with opportunities for social mobility, financial security, and the assertion of full citizenship. Drawing on Sun Tzu’s The Art of War, which emphasizes the importance of using terrain to one’s advantage, this panel will examine the intersection of African American military service and its role in diversifying the state of New Hampshire.

Panelists will focus on the integration of military bases in New Hampshire—including Pease Air Force Base, the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, and Grenier Field in Manchester—and how these institutions contributed to the state’s demographic and cultural shifts. The discussion will also highlight how military service became an important tool for African Americans in asserting their rights and claiming full citizenship.

The panel will feature:

  • Timothy August, a West Point graduate, former Army captain, Tillman Scholar, and writer. Timothy’s work explores the intersection of Black military service, institutional transformation, and personal identity. 
  • Andrea Williamson, a Financial Advisor with Edward Jones Investments, previously served in the U.S. Air Force in the European Joint Command and at the Pentagon. Andrea’s career includes leadership roles at Allstate Insurance and Edward Jones, where she currently serves as an inclusion leader.
  • Leah Dearborn, Assistant Director of the Aviation Museum of New Hampshire, was recently promoted to Associate Director. Leah holds a Master’s in International Relations from the University of Massachusetts Boston and brings expertise in policy and global studies to the conversation.

The discussion will be moderated by Sharon Tarleton, Program Manager at the University of New Hampshire’s Office of Community, Equity, and Diversity (OCED). Sharon holds a Master of Public Administration (MPA) from UNH and a B.A. in Psychology and Sociology. 

“This panel is an opportunity for the public to engage with the history and legacy of African American military service in New Hampshire, and its ongoing impact on the state’s social and political landscape.” explains Dariya Steele, BHTNH Program Assistant who coordinates the Tea Talk Series. 

BHTNH invites all who are interested in learning more about New Hampshire’s history, its role in broader national movements, and the ongoing efforts to ensure a fair and equitable society to join this enlightening discussion. All talks are free and open to the public with registration required for either in-person or virtual options. 

 

For more information and to register, please visit the Elinor Williams Hooker Tea Talk page here.

This project was made possible with support from New Hampshire Humanities, in partnership with the National Endowment for the Humanities. Learn more at www.nhhumanities.org.