Madison Norwood - Uncle Nearest Retreat to Tennessee Reflection Blog
Historical Consciousness
What can being in this place—the Uncle Nearest Distillery in Tennessee—teach you about history and legacy that reading alone could not? How does traveling from Atlanta to Tennessee shape the way you think about the past and its ties to the present?
Visiting the Uncle Nearest Distillery was an enlightening experience that taught me a tremendous amount about legacy, representation, and the importance of logging history correctly. Through visiting the distillery in person I now have a better understanding of the imagery that was written in the book. Prior to the visit, I had a general understanding about who Uncle Nearest was and his contributions to whiskey making, but only as much as I could through reading a text. Now, after physically visiting the distillery I have a new appreciation and understanding of the whiskey making process and of Nearest’s contributions. Seeing everything labeled with Nearest’s initials showed me how much has really changed and how it is important for people to fight for what they believe in because it just might turn out that you have one of the largest distilleries in America with every building labeled with your initials. Visiting in person also allowed me to have a better grasp of the imagery that was presented in the text surrounding Mr and Mrs. Weavers journey to Tennessee. Seeing the environment in Tennessee especially following recent events surrounding Charlie Kirk and the backlash HBCUs received because of it, it was interesting to enter a very patriarchal, conservative, red state as an all women HBCU to visit a distillery solely dedicated to a black man receiving his due credit for creating a recipe that used to be related to a white man. This was powerful and thought provoking as I put myself in Mr. and Mrs. Weavers shoes in a sense. As we approached the distillery, I found myself reflecting on the community, specifically the neighborhood directly across from the distillery. I wondered how the members of the community in a predominately white space might react to this celebration of a black historical figure in their community. With the ongoing tensions between race and culture, especially considering recent events I wonder how Nearest’s story is perceived by locals and how it compares to Jack Daniels distillery down the street. It made me realize the importance of reclaiming black narratives in spaces that have previously been dominated and controlled by white perspectives. Speaking of Jack Daniels distillery, I found it incredibly interesting that Jack Daniels distillery was so close to Nearest’s. I wish that we could have visited Jack Daniels distillery to see how they decided to portray their version of the story, and how the narratives compare. All in All, I have a deep respect for Mr. and Mrs. Weaver and their dedication to discovering and publishing Nearest’s place in American history. It makes me wonder how many stories are untold where black people should be receiving credit that they are rightfully due, but are stripped of. This reminds me that I have a responsibility to sharing this story and ensuring historical justice is served by sharing the truth about history. I admire Mrs. Weaver’s dedication to ensuring that the right individuals receive the credit that they are due, not just in books but in physical monuments that represent them. It is so important to uplift, remember, and continue to share the stories that were once ignored or erased and visiting this distillery reminded me of this.
Ethical Discernment
What does it mean to succeed through something that delights even as it wounds? When does entrepreneurship cross into responsibility for what you sell?
To succeed through something that delights even as it wounds is exactly what Mrs. Weaver did by bringing a once forgotten story that had already received backlash to life and is a powerful form of resilience. By bringing the once forgotten story of Nearest Green to life she purposefully fought against the “status quo” and accepted the consequences. This accomplishment is not just a victory for Nearest, his family, or Mrs. and Mr. Weaver but for an entire culture and community. Mrs. Weaver gave a voice to Nearest Green that had previously been silenced, this serves as both a celebration and a disappointment to specific communities. This is because not everyone receives truth with the same open - mindedness that Mrs.Weaver did. Those attracted and committed to traditional versions of American history might meet this story with some resistance. Conservative, white nationalists might take offense to people who claim that Jack Daniels did not invent the recipe for whiskey himself, but that the credit was due to a Negro man. This reminds me how much one's perspective and narrative is tied to power and pride. Mrs. Weaver reminds us that telling the truth isn’t easy and will never be universally accepted, but that it is necessary and impactful. This challenges society to not always accept stories without questions or fact checking the claims because we might be told lies and run the risk of silencing voices and truth when we do. Mrs. Weaver succeeded through something that delights even as it wounds because she retold history with truth and integrity as it always should have been written. Entrepreneurship becomes an act of responsibility for what one sells when the entrepreneur takes the time to consider not only what they are selling, but also who they are selling it to and how it will affect their targeted and surrounding communities. Depending on the community that the entrepreneur is selling to their product can either uplift and strengthen the community or harm them. Especially, if the entrepreneur is a member of that community I feel one must ask themselves prior to releasing the product if the profit that they might gain is worth the potential damage it might do to their community. Mrs. Weaver understood this responsibility when publishing the story of Nearest Green. She understood the responsibility and gravity to reintroduce a truth that had been ignored for generations. The truth is that Jack Daniels did not create the recipe for whiskey on his own, but that it was created by a formerly enslaved black man and this challenged a prior long accepted historical narrative that not everyone wanted to alter. To certain communities this correction in history was long overdue, but for others it was controversial and a threat to their previous success and legacy’s. Even so, Mrs. Weaver knew she held a greater responsibility to Nearest and the community and knew she had to unveil the truth. When entrepreneurship is guided by integrity it can be a powerful tool that strengthens communities. Her example reminds us that we cannot create or think for personal gain only, but that we have to consider the communal impact that our actions and creations have. Entrepreneurs must remember that they have a responsibility to create and share things that benefit and protect communities, not just financially, but culturally and morally as well.
Curated Inwardness
What is the value of stepping outside the classroom and into a setting like this? How might this retreat invite you to see yourself differently—as an honors student, as part of a community, or as part of a larger story?
Stepping outside the classroom and into a setting like this provides a more tangible understanding of the impact that Nearest had and the generational impact it continues to have to this day. I believe it was very impactful for my peers and I to take our education and research to the next level by being physically present in such a historically significant place. Stepping out of the classroom also offers the opportunity for my peers and I to form our own opinions, perspectives, and emotional reactions to the situation that we could not form solely by reading the text alone. This retreat allowed me the opportunity to reflect not only on Nearest’s story, but also on my own position in my community and in the world. I had to contemplate the responsibilities that I carry as an honors student and as a member of the black community. As an honors student, I understand that my education is not for personal gain solely, but for the uplifting and enrichment of my community. This experience reminded me that part of the responsibility that I have to the community and my culture is to ensure that the contributions of those who came before me are acknowledged, celebrated, and not forgotten or overlooked. Mrs. Weaver's commitment to telling Uncle Nearest’s story is a good example of what it looks like to take on communal responsibility. When a historical injustice came before her she decided to not ignore the injustice but to instead act. This correlates with what we’ve been learning from the Director of the Honors Program, Dr. Michelle Hite when speaking to loving blackness and what it does. Mrs. Weaver traveling and dedicating her and her husband's time to uncovering the truth shows what loving blackness can look like as we know that loving blackness cannot be sentimental but that it has to do something. This was not only beneficial to Uncle Nearest and his family, but by uncovering the story of Nearest, Mrs. Weaver opened a pathway for historical clarity for all black people. She decided to do work that others were unwilling to do and as a result she brought dignity to a man whose legacy was foundational to America, yet overlooked and unrecognized. Mrs. Weaver sacrificing spending enjoyable time with her husband to go and recover the lost history of Uncle Nearest is a portrayal of loving blackness. It shows a communal responsibility that we have to one another when you are a part of a community. After traveling outside of the classroom I am now contemplating how far I am willing to go for truth and for my community. I wonder what I am willing to sacrifice to ensure that the members in my community's stories are honored and told correctly. This visit challenges me to contemplate my role and responsibility that I have in my own communities. Also, the extent of responsibility that I have in ensuring that truth and history be correctly recalled. As we see from Mrs. Weavers actions, it is not enough to just know better, now that we know better we have to as a result do better.
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