The Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire has named Brenda Bailey Lett its 2021 Citizen of the Year. Since moving from Chicago to the Granite State in 1993, Lett has been involved in numerous local and national social justice efforts and co-authored a book, Race Between Us: Racism — A Human Experience, which explores how people from different backgrounds can break down barriers to have honest dialogue about racism. Lett will receive the award at the 15th annual Black New England Conference Awards Dinner at Saint Anselm College in Manchester on Saturday, Oct. 23. Visit blackheritagetrailnh.org/black-new-england-conference for information about the conference and how to attend, either in person or virtually.
What kinds of social justice work have you done in New Hampshire?
I participated with the Outreach for Black Unity in Nashua … and the Manchester NAACP … and in creating the Ujima Collective, starting with [organizing] a commemoration of the death of Martin Luther King … to talk about why he was assassinated. We [held] film festivals and workshops, and worked with other organizations. … I was involved with the Greater Manchester Black Scholarship Foundation … and with the We Are One Festival, which [was created] with the combined efforts of the African Caribbean Celebration and the Latino Festival. I would say that, overall, the work I’ve done has been really [focused on] creating community.
What have you done on a national level?
I’m pretty heavily involved in the reparations movement. … I started out as a member-at-large on the N’COBRA [National Coalition of Blacks for Reparations in America] board, then became a life member. I was elected as the national secretary and served three two-year terms. Now I’m serving as the treasurer … [until] next year. … For me, reparations isn’t just about getting a paycheck. It’s really about repair … because it’s 2021, and people of African descent are still being treated poorly.
What inspired your book, Race Between Us?
When I was working at the New Hampshire Department of Corrections, a co-worker of mine [Laurielee Woodlock Roy], a woman of European descent, and I … became friends. … She went and did racism training at the People’s Institute … and it was then that she finally understood what racism really is. Then, she told me, she started seeing it everywhere. We ended up writing that book together, which is a parallel of our lives. … We realized that we had very similar lives. … Even though the melanin in our skin was different, we had many of the same issues in terms of being human. The book [centers on] the human experience, and racism as a human experience.
What keeps you going?
What keeps me going is that I’m committed to giving back as much as I can, in love and support of people, and not just people who look like me, but people who are also committed to this concept of truth. … I’ve been very fortunate to have a family that has supported and loved and provided for me; they’ve kept me going, as well, especially my grandchildren … because they are the next generation, and my job now, as an elder, is to support them [in the way that] I was supported, and to instill in them the values that I have received.
What does New Hampshire need most right now in terms of social justice?
I think the biggest need is the truth … and the truth is that, many times, people of African descent are not treated in the same way as people of European descent. … Eliminating racism is very difficult to do when people are not even clear on what racism is … so dealing with the truth, as difficult as it can be sometimes, is the only path.
What can the next generation do to build on the work you’ve done?
My hope for the next generation is that, when you hear a microaggression or someone is saying things in an effort to demean or dehumanize you, whether it’s meant to be taken seriously or taken as a joke, stop it where it happens. Respond with the truth. Be prepared so that, in that moment, you’re able to let that person know in a respectful and positive way that they insulted you, and that you are not to be played with or toyed with, because you are just as valuable and important as they are.
Featured photo: Brenda Bailey Lett. Courtesy photo.
Information from the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services
Covid-19 news
During an Oct. 13 press conference, state epidemiologist Dr. Benjamin Chan reported that New Hampshire had averaged more than 500 new infections of Covid-19 per day over the previous week, with the total number of deaths from the virus now exceeding 1,500 since March 2020. “To put this in perspective, in the last week there have been a total of 17 deaths that have been Covid-19-related that have been identified and reported out. The vast majority of these deaths are occurring outside of long-term care facilities, which is very different from the early days of the pandemic,” Chan said. As of Oct. 18 there were 4,430 active infections and 178 hospitalizations.
Also on Oct. 13, New Hampshire Department of Business and Economic Affairs Commissioner Taylor Caswell issued a statement following the U.S. federal government’s announcement that it will lift border restrictions for fully vaccinated travelers from Canada. “Our tourism industry has been anxiously awaiting this news for months,” Caswell said in part. “We are excited to welcome back our Canadian friends very soon and we fully expect to see an increase in visitation to the state in the coming months when our neighbors from the north return.” According to the announcement from U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas, the easing of restrictions is expected to occur in two phases, beginning in November with the admittance of fully vaccinated travelers to enter the U.S. from Canada and Mexico at land and ferry points of entry for non-essential reasons. Then, by early January 2022, all foreign nationals entering the country will be required to provide proof of vaccination, regardless of essential travel.
Last week, advisors to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration unanimously voted to recommend booster shots for both the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines, during respective meetings on Oct. 14 and Oct. 15, according to press releases. Booster doses had been approved for the Pfizer vaccine late last month. As with Pfizer, recommended booster doses for the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines apply to individuals over the age of 65 and to at-risk individuals.
Vax money, protest
On Oct. 13, the New Hampshire Executive Council rejected $27 million in federal funding to boost the state’s vaccination effort, according to a report from WMUR. All four Republicans on the council voted against the funds, the report said, despite Gov. Chris Sununu urging them to accept them. After the vote, he issued a statement: “… Today’s vote by members of my own party on the Executive Council was a total disservice to the constituents we serve,” he wrote. “The vote showed a reckless disregard for the lives we are losing while they turn away the tools our state needs to fight and win this battle against Covid.” According to the WMUR report, some councilors questioned language attached to the funds, worrying it could force the state to comply with federal vaccine mandates. The governor said it was not the case and pointed out the council had already accepted other grants earlier this year with the same language included.
During the meeting, nine of the protesters who were there opposing mask and vaccine mandates were arrested after state police told them that if they disrupted the meeting, there would be arrests. “The individuals arrested at today’s Governor and Council meeting failed to comply with a lawful order from the New Hampshire State Police and intentionally disrupted the meeting,” state police said in a press release sent out after the meeting.
School forums
The Manchester School District is inviting the community to a series of forums on long-term planning for the district’s facilities. The first two forums were held Oct. 19, and the next two are scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 21, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at McDonough Elementary School and Wednesday, Oct. 27, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Highland-Goffe’s Falls Elementary. According to a press release, the forums are the next step in a process of developing a long-term plan for school facilities in the city. Earlier this year Superintendent John Goldhardt presented recommendations based in part on recently completed studies of facilities and city demographics, the release said. Goldhardt wrote to the board that years of avoiding making difficult decisions on school facilities means that the district is “left with … aging buildings that are costly to operate and are not suitable as a modern educational facility.” His recommendations include consolidation of high schools, creation of magnet schools, continuation of the move to the 5-8 model for middle schools and renovation of elementary schools. Anyone with questions about the forums can email [email protected]; use the subject line “Facilities forums.”
Transgender bills
Last week Republicans on the House Education Committee voted on party lines against a bill that would require schools to update documents and software to include the option of identifying a student as non-binary, then moved to recommend killing the bill outright. Rep. Joshua Query (D-Manchester), Vice Chair of the Stonewall Democrats and Chair of the LGBTQ+ Legislative Caucus, released a statement after the vote: “A huge population of Granite State students would benefit from this simple bill. As one of two non-binary legislators in the country, I can attest how crucial this legislation is and how life-affirming an acknowledgment of gender identity can be to a non-binary student. If this was an option when I was a student, it could have allowed me to come to terms with my gender earlier in life.” But the committee also rejected legislation that would have allowed transgender girls to be banned from participation in all-female athletics. According to a report from WMUR, the House Education Committee voted unanimously to declare the bill “inexpedient to legislate.” The Republican sponsor of the bill said legislation was “not ready for prime time” but concerns over protecting girls’ sports remain, the report said.
Reports to IRS
Last week, New Hampshire Attorney General John M. Formella and 19 other Attorneys General sent a letter to President Biden and Secretary Yellen opposing the Biden administration’s proposal to require all banks, credit unions and financial institutions to report information to the IRS on every bank account that has a balance of at least $600 and exceeds $600 per year in transactions, according to a press release from the Office of the Attorney General. Meanwhile, Gov. Chris Sununu sent a letter urging members of New Hampshire’s congressional delegation to oppose the proposal as well, according to a press release from the Governor’s Office.
United Way
Granite United Way and the Greater Seacoast Region are aligning service areas to achieve greater community impact, according to a press release, with the full alignment expected to be completed by Jan. 1. Patrick Tufts, president and CEO of Granite United Way, said in the release that the partnership is a natural evolution that will allow them to leverage their collective resources. Some of the Greater Seacoast team’s strengths include fostering early childhood development, advancing housing stability, supporting youth, capacity and systems building, strategic planning and strong volunteer engagement, the release said.
For the past few weeks Dartmouth’s Family Medicine Residency at Concord Hospital has been participating in the Frontline Healthcare Worker Project Pilot, an effort that combines arts and medicine to help promote wellness in frontline health care workers who are experiencing stress and trauma. According to a press release, the program was created by Newfields, New Hampshire-based nonprofit Articine and features short guided experiences like meditations, breathing exercises and artist performances, accessed via smart devices. The effectiveness and interest of different video experiences will be assessed at the end of the pilot, with the goal of expanding the program to health care organizations throughout the country, the release said.
The New Hampshire Institute of Politics & Political Library at Saint Anselm College in Manchester has resumed its Bookmark Series of speakers in person after an 18-month hiatus, according to a press release. Coming up next, Washington Examiner correspondent and author David M. Drucker will discuss his book In Trump’s Shadow on Tuesday, Oct. 26, and on Monday, Nov. 1, author Sasha Issenberg will speak with the Institute’s executive director, Neil Levesque, about his recent book, The Engagement: America’s Quarter-Century Struggle over Same-Sex Marriage. Both events start at 6 p.m. and are free and open to the public with advance registration; masks are required. Visit anselm.edu/nhiop.
Nashua High School South is hosting a regional college fair for any junior or senior from southern New Hampshire on Monday, Oct. 25, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. According to a press release, more than 100 colleges and universities will be represented at the fair, including local colleges like UNH, Keene State College, Plymouth State University, Nashua Community College and Rivier University.
I like to hike and to write. Both activities demand focus. One foot, or one word, in front of another. The effort distracts me from problems and surfaces memories and ideas.
As if the foliage on the Kancamagus Highway weren’t glorious enough, I recently hiked the Champney Falls Trail up Mt. Chocorua. Golden, orange and red leaves floated down from the treetops. Balsam and damp moss scented the air. Just out of sight the waterfall hummed like a highland bagpipe. Poking my poles into the leaves in search of solid ground, I picked my way among the rocks and roots. I was thinking about my mother.
Chocorua was the last big mountain my mother climbed before multiple sclerosis confined her to lower ground. Due to that disease, even her vinyl kitchen floor proved rough terrain on bad days. Remembering her determination to enjoy life and help others despite her condition, I backtracked in my mind to the stories she told us of growing up in the Depression and World War II. As a child in rural New Hampshire, she didn’t know that much about the interplay of economic, political and military forces at work. What she did understand from a young age was that she and her family and neighbors could make a difference. They needed to help with “the war effort.” They could, and did, grow victory gardens for food self-sufficiency; collect and donate scrap metal and rags; save quarters to buy war bonds; and make do with rationing. My grandmother sometimes served “peanut butter oatmeal chops” for supper. My mother knew it was her patriotic duty not to complain.
As in the 1940s, the U.S.A. now faces multiple fronts: the Covid pandemic, substance abuse, and mental health crises; financial precariousness; economic, educational and racial disparities; political stalemate; and, above all, climate change. Where are the 21st-century equivalents of those ebullient World War II posters urging Americans to do their part? Too few of us are getting the message that there is something we each can do. Too many are obsessed with protecting individual rights and ignoring societal responsibilities. Our republic is in dire danger. What to do? For starters, just get vaccinated.
I have to pause, breathing in-in-in and out-out-out. Above the treeline, granite boulders loom between me and the summit, grating my knees as I scramble up. But at the top, the blue sky, the distant lakes, the company of the other mountains, steadies me. Everything seems possible — even the resolution of our nation’s problems. It is not enough to hike, though. I have to write.
Susan Hatem, former Director of Programs and Grant Making at New Hampshire Humanities, is a CASA of NH guardian ad litem and a connector, mentor and writer. Email her at [email protected].
Arcade games, bowling, Dungeons & Dragons… they were fun way back when, and they’re still fun today. Find out where to go to play some classic games, plus how they’ve changed over the years.
Also on the cover, follow the Great New Hampshire Autumn Tour with the Hippo’s exclusive pull-out map, p. 24 & 25. And try some new beers or old favorites at Manchester Brewfest, p. 26, and fresh bagels at the new Simit Cafe, p. 27.
Along with his work with Yes and a large catalog of solo albums, Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Rick Wakeman has made music with everyone from David Bowie to Black Sabbath. He even played A&R man when he steered theatrical rockers The Tubes to A&M Records. At his upcoming show in Derry, Wakeman will perform and reminisce about his life, often reprising the standup comedy skills that made him a hit at Yes’s 2017 Hall of Fame induction. Wakeman spoke with the Hippo via Zoom from his home in England.
How did things go for you during the pandemic?
Well, it wasn’t good, but having said that, it wasn’t good for anybody…. I played the piano every day, but there were some days I thought to myself, how long is this going to go on for? I’m just playing the piano and I don’t know why…. The thing that brought everything home to me was … I lost 19 friends from Covid. That hit home very hard.
Will these shows be your first live audience experience since shutdown?
Yeah, they are [except for] a few weeks ago. When restrictions lifted here, I phoned my great friends at the Ronnie Scott club in London and said … I need to play in front of an audience, however small. … I didn’t plan anything to say; I walked on stage, went up to the microphone and without thinking I went, ‘Wow, there’s real people!’ [And] somebody shouted back, ‘Yeah, and there’s somebody on stage — it doesn’t get any better!’
Are you really grumpier this time around?
It’s grumpy but actually funny. … It won’t offend. There are a lot of things to be grumpy about [but] I’m not going to make a meal of the whole Covid thing. I want people to have fun. There will be a moment where I remember a few friends. It’s just going to be so great to walk out and play for my friends — pretty much everywhere I go in America I’ve got friends.
Tell me about working with Black Sabbath.
When they were putting Sabbath Bloody Sabbath together, we were in the same complex of studios. … Ozzy said we’ve got some synthesizer, mini-Moog lines we want, would you come and do it? I said I’d love to. So I went into the studio just after midnight. The entire band and engineers were comatose, they were completely out of it, there were quite a few bottles lying around. The taper was there, and was looking terrified. … He said, ‘I can play you the track; Ozzy said you’d know what to do,’ [and] I recorded it. Then Ozzy opened his eyes and looked at me. I can’t repeat the exact words he said, but he basically went, that’s perfect. He actually went, ‘That’s f-ing great!’
How are you choosing songs for this tour?
I’m at the stage right now where I’ve got a short list [of 20 songs, and] 10 will have to go. Having said that … sometimes I can throw everything out the window…. It’s happened on a few occasions. I’m certain there will be a few I haven’t played before. It’s a mixture of certain pieces that people in the nicest sense like to hear when I come along, a few they might not expect, and a few total surprises.
What’s the status of Anderson Wakeman Rabin?
I’d like to think something over the next few years will happen for sure, because none of us are getting any younger and we all love what we do … I mean, I love playing Yes music, it’s my life, so obviously if the offers come in and Jon and Trev are up for it, yeah, I’m sure there will be stuff.
How’d you discover The Tubes?
I first saw them in the ’70s. I think it was Halloween and we had a night off in San Francisco. I went out to this club where the Tubes were playing. … There was a lot of drinking and noise. Not a lot of people were taking notice [and] I thought it was a shame that at the time people weren’t really listening to them. Fee Waybill walked off and I thought, is he gone? He came back on completely naked and sang the next song — yeah, that got their attention. He went, now you’re listening. And I thought, I liked you before, I love you guys now. After, I asked, who are you signed to? They said nobody will touch us, they’re all frightened of us. I said, I’ll get you a deal, I promise you. I flew down to L.A. and saw Jerry Moss [and] he said yeah, we know all about The Tubes. Everybody’s a bit frightened of them. I said they are fantastic, so so good. He said, I’ll tell you what, Rick, we’ll sign them, but the deal is you produce them. … Problem was, I’m solidly on tour with Yes [so] someone else came in. Of course, they had a massive album. We remain friends.
Rick Wakeman – The Even Grumpier Old Rock Star Tour
When: Thursday, Oct. 14, 8 p.m. Where: Tupelo Music Hall, 10 A St., Derry Tickets: $55 and $60 at tupelohall.com
