Reese Tompkins - A Cheers to Legacy, Uncle Nearest Retreat

 
        The Uncle Nearest Distillery can teach us to look deeper into the stories of those silenced by those with a louder voice. Being at the distillery made it all feel more real. I was able to see the strength, resilience, and tenacity of Nearest Green, and truly understand the weight of what I read. Physically being in the place where the reading came from allowed me to fully immerse myself and understand the importance of his story. It also taught me the importance of building a lasting legacy. The legacy of Uncle Nearest was put on a pedestal, and his story is being made known to future generations. It is as much our past as it is our future. It is important that African American people know their history, and can continue to celebrate the success of one of their own, especially if no one else will. The short distance between Atlanta and Tennessee made me reflect on how close yet how far people’s history can seem from my own. The ride to and from the distillery made me reflect on the silenced stories of my ancestors, but also be inspired by the triumphs that our people had while being put down. I was reminded of just how deep the roots of our people go. 

        To me, succeeding through something that delights even as it wounds means to celebrate whatever you   accomplished—no matter how small—even in the face of adversity. It means to not let hurt or challenges that you may still face allow you to ignore your wins and successes. It also makes me think of whiskey itself. Whiskey is something that people use to make them feel good, but they also do not think of the backs upon which it was made. The history of Nearest Green and Tennessee Whiskey is something that was for so long overshadowed by Jack Daniels. Fawn Weaver’s book brought much needed attention to the true father of Tennessee Whiskey. Entrepreneurship crosses into responsibility for what you sell when what you choose to sell can either amplify or silence a history. The responsibility is to preserve history, especially ones that have been silenced, before all else. Entrepreneurs carry the responsibility of not letting marketing overshadow the story to earn profit, but instead use marketing to uplift that story. The way in which things are marketed defines how its legacy is carried out, and Fawn Weaver’s approach honors Nearest Green the right way: with respect, reverence, and truth.

        The value of stepping outside the classroom and into a setting like the Uncle Nearest Distillery is self-reflection. On this trip, I was able to emotionally connect to not just the story of Nearest Green, but also with the struggles and strength of my ancestors. Being at Spelman, I am surrounded by generations of women who made a choice to change the world, and I am constantly inspired to continue that legacy. Visiting the distillery gave me that same feeling. The retreat invited me to ask myself what kind of legacy I want to leave when I exit those Spelman gates. I am called to be the kind of person that works for the betterment of their community, and create a legacy that makes an impact on generations upon generations after my time, just like Nearest Green did.

- Reese Tompkins C/O 2029

Love Story:

Complication or Tension:

Brand vs. History