Erin-Michael Tyler(CO'29)-Observations and thoughts into the Distillery

             Physically being at the Uncle Nathan “Nearest” Green Distillery allows for a connection to history that reading alone cannot fully give you. Standing where this history unfolded makes the past no longer just words on a page but something lived and real. The site tells of the history of Nathan “Nearest” Green, an African American whose contributions to whisky making were overlooked for generations. Traveling to this site from Atlanta to Tennessee really made me think that there is still so much of the past that I do not know. But it also makes me think about how the past is never distant but continuously shaping the present in ways we don’t often realize. I also realized the importance of reclaiming history, searching for those names likely forgotten or overlooked, and fighting for the truth, which may seem challenging in the present day and age. 

To succeed through something that delights even as it wounds is benefiting from a legacy that includes both cultural value and historical injustice. Whiskey, in the case of Nearest Green and Love and Whiskey, is both a painful reminder of history and a source of celebration. Whiskey as a drink itself is a symbol of craft and culture, maybe even joy, but it also is a legacy of names forgotten and labor exploited. For Fawn Weaver selling whiskey is not just about creating a product, but about restoring Nathan “Nearest” Green’s name and ensuring that future generations know and benefit from his contributions. This is where entrepreneurship becomes ethical responsibility, when it takes accountability for history and creates opportunities. True entrepreneurship asks not just what you are selling, but why you are selling it and for whom you are selling it to. One must also recognize that every product carries a story and tell that story with purpose. 

Stepping outside of the classroom and into a place like this changes everything. It is one thing to read about legacy, entrepreneurship, and justice, but it’s another to physically enter the space where that story is being made. In that space I saw myself not just as a student absorbing information, but as someone connecting the history around me and responding to it. It also reminded me of Frank X Walker’s “Turn Me Loose”, where voice, place, and memory collide to force reckoning. In a way this retreat was a reckoning that helped me recognize both the privilege and responsibility of being in the Honors Program. It also changed how I think about community. There was something special about sharing that moment with my peers and being in a space together that allowed for both celebration and discomfort. It reminded me that the best learning happens not alone, but when you are surrounded by people learning with you. Ultimately, this retreat showed me that education doesn’t only have to stay in a classroom or behind a desk. Some of the most lasting and important lessons come when one allows themselves to step into spaces of history, discomfort, and inspiration. 

-Erin-Michael Tyler CO'29