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A Peace of My Mind

A Peace of My Mind

Building community and bridging divides through portraits and personal stories.

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Monthly Archives: December 2020

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It’s been a year…

December 31, 2020 by johnnoltner

There was a part of me that wanted to forgo the typical end of year review. 2020 has been hard. Our programming was cancelled. Our income went away. We worried about the health of our loved ones. We missed our friends. We lost our beloved pup, Bailey. As challenging as it’s been for us, we recognize it has been downright devastating for others. A part of me wanted to just push it all aside, put my head down and forge […]

Categories: Blog • Tags: a peace of my mind, commitments, loss, pandemic, peace, resolutions, unity, year in review

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Alphonso Brown

December 30, 2020 by johnnoltner

Alphonso Brown is the founder and owner of Gullah Tours, in Charleston, South Carolina. Born and raised in Rantowles, a dozen miles south of Charleston, he is a retired band director. With a deep love for his city, Alphonso started a tour company dedicated to telling the stories of the many contributions Black Charlestonians made to the area. “When you know better, you do better.” -Alphonso Brown I interviewed Alphonso on his bus after he had given a tour. His Gullah […]

Categories: Podcast • Tags: a peace of my mind, alphonso brown, American Stories, Black History, Charleston, Gullah, gullah tours, oral history, South Carolina

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Dr. Elijah Heyward III

December 26, 2020 by johnnoltner

Dr. Elijah Heyward III is the Chief Operating Officer for the International African American Museum being built in Charleston, South Carolina, and due to open in 2022. The museum is being built on the site of the historic Gadsen’s Wharf, where up to 40% of enslaved Africans brought to America against their will disembarked after the transatlantic journey. “There is power in learning from the past…the mistakes, the triumphs and examples of inspiration and perseverance.” -Dr. Elijah Heyward III “Our […]

Categories: Podcast • Tags: american history, American Stories, Black History, Charleston, Dr. Elijah Heyeward III, Gadsen's Wharf, History, IAAM, Slavery, South Carolina, storytelling, Transatlantic slave trade

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Birmingham

December 22, 2020 by johnnoltner

We passed through Birmingham, Alabama on our drive toward home. It was just a quick overnight while traveling, but we’ll return later in the spring for a longer stay and to explore more of the history of the town. It was a cool evening in the trailer, and we were confident our battery wouldn’t last through the night, but before retiring under a stack of blankets and beneath the light of a single bulb, I thought it would be a […]

Categories: Blog • Tags: a peace of my mind, Birmingham, Birningham jail, Black History, civil rights, cr king, diret action, History, jail, MLK, nonviolent

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Rev. DeMett Jenkins

December 19, 2020 by johnnoltner

Rev. DeMett Jenkins is the granddaughter of businessman, preacher and civil rights activist Esau Jenkins. She works as the Lilly Director of Education and Engagement for Faith-Based Communities for the International African American Museum in Charleston, South Carolina. “My grandfather was born in 1910. He came out the womb fighting for justice like it was just in his DNA. And he just always found ways to be bold and courageous, especially during the time where he could be killed for […]

Categories: Podcast • Tags: a peace of my mind, Black History, Charleston, DeMett Jenkins, Gullah, History, John's Island, oral history, Praise House, South Carolina, storytelling

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I remember

December 17, 2020 by johnnoltner

Some memories grow into myths. The one that visited me today feels like a dream, with hazy images drifting in and out of focus…but I know it is true. More than ten years ago, I met an older woman by chance and only briefly. Within moments she had led me into a deep and intimate conversation, revealing closely held truths in a way that is only possible with someone you know you will never see again. She was in her […]

Categories: Blog • Tags: lessons, listening, stories, storytelling, wisdom

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Joseph McGill

December 12, 2020 by johnnoltner

Joseph McGill is the founder of The Slave Dwelling Project. I interviewed him at the Magnolia Plantation and Gardens in Charleston, South Carolina. Ten years ago, Joe started spending the night in historic slave quarters and has slept overnight at more than 150 such sites across the country. He uses the experience to talk about the importance of preserving these historic structures so that we may have full and honest conversations about our country’s history. When you’re uncomfortable, that’s when the learning starts.” – […]

Categories: Podcast • Tags: Black History, History, Joseph McGill, Magnolia Plantation, oral histpry, photography, plantations, slave dwellings, Slavery, social issues, society, South Carolina, storytelling, the south, travel

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New Voices

December 4, 2020 by johnnoltner

It’s 1,300 miles from Minnesota to South Carolina. With our trailer in tow, we are learning that transit days are slower than we expected. You can’t drive as fast. If you stop, it takes longer to park. It gets dark early this time of year, and as we get used to setting up camp, I’d prefer to do it in the daylight. There are other lessons, too. In our first week, we’ve learned how long our battery will last on […]

Categories: Blog • Tags: Black History, Charleston, History, Magnolia Plantation, photography, plantation, rv, Slavery, south, South Carolina, storytelling

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