Tea Talk #1 | Sunday, February 1 | 2:00 PM | Portsmouth Public Library
A More Perfect Union: The Legacy of African American Speechmaking
This opening conversation traces the evolution of Black speechmaking, from the fiery antislavery addresses of Frederick Douglass delivered here in New Hampshire to the soaring cadences of Sojourner Truth, W.E.B. Du Bois, and Malcolm X. Participants will explore how oratory served as both a survival strategy and a weapon of resistance, affirming African American speech as a vital force for social change.
Featured Art: Lale and the Children by L’Merchie Frazier
Presenters: Dr. Dottie Morris- Associate Vice President for Institutional Equity and Diversity Keene State College
Timothy Adkins-Jones- Associate Professor of Homiletics, Boston University
Shawn Caliber- Grammy-Nominated Musician and Performer
Click here to register in-person and online- 2026 Tea Talks | A More Perfect Union