Presented by Clayton Jackson McGhie Memorial in Duluth and Walker West Music Academy in St. Paul

Remembrance • Reflection • Resilience

An online streamed performance about Black strength, history and resilience featuring Twin Cities visual, spoken word and musical artists

with special appearances by Jayanthi Rajasa, Alicia Steele and Tish Jones and featuring the artwork of Miko Simmons. 

This event is FREE and open to the public.

The event will broadcast from the Crowdcast platform. Click the button and then choose “Save Your Spot.”

The concert will also stream on the Clayton Jackson McGhie YouTube channel and the Walker West Facebook page.

6:30PM CDT Streaming Concert

(Find local time)

Sarah M. Greer – vocals
Anthony Cox – bass
Levi Schwartzberg – vibes
Davu Seru – drums

“I am honored and grateful to be a part of this series recognizing the centennial of the the lynchings of Elias Clayton, Elmer Jackson and Isaac McGhie. As a Black artist, living in South Minneapolis at the time of the George Floyd murder (and now the Chauvin trial), I feel a connection to the Black people who lived during the time of the 1920 Duluth lynchings. I and the other Black artists I am privileged to have join this performance know what it is to experience the murder of a community member in our hometown. We come together to remember, to reflect and to remind ourselves of our resilience as we work toward a day and world when this resilience is no longer needed.”

6PM CDT Walker|West Pre-show Panel

(Find local time)

Before the concert, join Walker|West Music Academy moderator Sherine Onukwuwe and actor, vocalist and University of MN College of Liberal Arts Affiliate Professor, T. Mychael Rambo as they explore the role music plays in healing trauma and cultivating joy as part of a centennial commemoration of the lynchings of Elias Clayton, Elmer Jackson and Isaac McGhie in Duluth, Minnesota.

“At Walker|West we strongly believe in the healing power of music. We have been through some challenging times throughout history. Those challenges continue, especially now — with a health crisis, social unrest and collective grief as we navigate systemic injustice. We know that through community we are resilient. We know that when we come together, we cultivate faith that the dark past taught us, filling ourselves with hope for the present. Walker|West is honored to host this event with CJMM in our virtual music hall.”

ABOUT THE CONTRIBUTORS

Jayanthi Rajasa is an archivist songstress collecting songs that speak to her struggle and empowerment and ability to be, change, and move forward while honoring the unremembered changers and movers of yore. She sings for people passing worlds (new or old or hardly used – meaning births and children, hospice and funerals),  in many ensembles, and has the heart of a mother.

Alicia Steele is a seeker of expressive arts, finding joy in dance, visual and theater art, mainly finding a home in vocal performance – as long as it’s live. Alicia has love for improv, often finding outdoor or public spaces to sing/dance solo and with friends.

Tish Jones is a poet, educator, cultural strategist and cultural producer from Saint Paul, Minnesota. She has performed poetry in venues throughout the United States and is the founder and executive director of TruArtSpeaks, an arts & culture nonprofit. For more on Jones’ personal praxis, see her TEDxMinneapolis Talk on Spoken Word as a Radical Practice of Freedom. www.truartspeaks.org

Miko Simmons – Blurring the lines between art and technology, theater and cinema, media and medium, Miko Simmons is an international award-winning Multimedia Artist/Theatrical Projection Designer/ Composer who has been innovating in the convergence of digital techniques for Film, Animation and Theater for more than twenty years. Miko is now focused on reimagining the art gallery space in these pandemic times with his theatrically inspired paintings. www.moduslocusmpls.com

Formed in June 2000, the mission of Clayton Jackson McGhie Memorial, Inc. (CJMM is to foster racial justice and promote healing and reconciliation in the Duluth community and beyond. The work of CJMM is the culmination of years of work from individuals — each in their own way — keeping alive the stories of what happened to Isaac McGhie, Elmer Jackson and Elias Clayton on June 15, 1920.