The Maine’s Black Future podcast boldly visits stories of historic Black Mainers and the legacies they carved into the state. Then we connect this longstanding history to Black changemakers weaving Maine’s Black future today!
We define terminology, keep it real, and invite you to connect deeply with Black Mainers creating the future that we want to live in. We showcase Black excellence occurring all over Maine and feature original music production from the GEM CITY Maine collective, throughout.
Episode 6 opens with Genius Black telling the story of John D. Carter, who lived in Augusta during the 19th century.
In the 1830s and 1840s, Carter and his wife Mary lived above his barbershop. Carter was a successful businessman, and a vocal opponent of slavery, which he considered a sin. He proposed anti-slavery resolutions that challenged First Baptist Church of Augusta’s commitment to act against enslavers and the institution of slavery. He was an early activist, paving the way.
Later in the episode, Genius and Lisa Jones connect about founding Black Travel Maine, growing up in the Tri-State area, and lobbying on behalf of small businesses in Washington D.C.
Genius touches on the Black history that drew Jones to the state of Maine, and how much the people of Maine mean to her.
She talks about entering the travel industry, and early impact she created there. Jones recalls some of the reasons for starting Black Travel Maine, and how she connects travelers’ needs to the solutions she offers.
She also highlights the economic impact of increasing tourism, particularly Black tourism to the state.
As Jones shares a list of career honors and reflects on their relevance, we get a peek into Black excellence within the travel industry. The conversation concludes with a discussion about her vision and proclamations for Maine’s Black future.
You can listen below to the episode or you can find it on some of your favorite podcast hosting platforms including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, iHeart Radio, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, TuneIn + Alexa, Podcast Addict, Podchaser, Deezer, Player FM, Listen Notes, Podcast Index, Goodpods and Pocket Casts.
Past Episodes
Episode 1: The history of London Atus and an interview with Alfine Nathalie.
Episode 2: The history of Pedro Tovookan Parris and an interview with Junes Thete
Episode 3: The history of John Brown Russwurm and an interview with Adilah Muhammad
Episode 4: A story of Sherman Kentucky Ferguson and an interview with David Patrick
Episode 5: A story of Gerald E. Talbot and an interview with Angela Okafor
Podcast Series Notes
Maine’s Black Future Podcast is supported by Maine Initiative’s Grants for Change program and receives editing and multimedia support from The Maine Monitor, which also serves as the fiscal sponsor for Maine’s Black Future.
This relationship also means you can now give your tax deductible gift or donation to the Maine’s Black Future Podcast, via The Maine Monitor.
Genius Black, or Jerry Edwards, was awarded the 2024 Media Arts Fellow for the Maine Arts Commission. This podcast is funded in part by a grant from the Maine Arts Commission, an independent state agency supported by the National Endowment for the Arts.
Theme music produced by Genius Black, composed by Genius along with Bill Giordano on bass and Ben Noyes on acoustic piano.
Podcast recorded, and produced by Genius Black at Portland Media Center, for The Maine Monitor.
Episode References & Links
Maine’s Visible Black History, The First Chronicles of its People by H.H. Price and Gerald E. Talbot.
Up and Down the Kennebec Valley: Blacks in Maine – Part 2
Visit Black Travel Maine
Connect with Genius on Instagram
