28. Lettie Elizabeth

What this episode covers

On today's episode I get to interview my friend Lettie Elizabeth about what it means to be an actual historian and why it's important for history to be taught by people of color. Lettie also shares why this country has a fear of Black history and how education was kept from Black people. Lettie goes on to discuss the following: —How she practices self-care —Productivity vs self-worth —How she shows up authentically —The importance of doing what you're called to do —How she honors her ancestors —What she wants people to learn from her lessons Lettie Shumate is a historian, educator, and facilitator in Wilmington, NC. She is also the host and owner of her podcast "History Shows Us" where she educates about history and bridges the past to the present, she discusses racial and social issues, and she doesn’t hold back the truth. Her gift and ability to "connect the dots" is something that is critical to learning from the past. The love she has for history is evident! Lettie received her M.A. in History in 2015 where she focused on American history and specialized in Black history and race studies. She also completed her M.A. in Conflict Management & Resolution in May 2020 which equipped her with skills to incorporate effective communication with hard topics and how to navigate these situations, mediation and facilitation knowledge, and this MA contributed greatly to her work as both a historian and antiracism educator. Lettie's story and journey is filled with strength and resilience, receiving "noes" and continuing to have faith and be obedient, regardless, and learning what it means to truly choose and cultivate joy while growing and healing.