![](//www.4rfv.com/images/no_image.jpg)
Lacretia Johnson Flashs Ancestral Journey Is a Call to Stay Connected to History Featured on Reuters and NBCs Nightly News, the Berklee senior vice president reckons with how her ancestors were enslaved by a family whose descendants include a current U.S. congressman.
By
Bryan Parys
October 6, 2023
Image by Sasha Pedro
Keep in touch.
It's a common phrase, something often rattled off at the end of a phone call or a quick coffee with an old friend.
Flash looks through photos that trace her ancestry from Linden, Tennessee.
Image by Sasha Pedro
For Lacretia Johnson Flash, senior vice president for DEI, community, and campus culture and climate at Berklee, the implications of that phrase have a deep personal significance and, as a recent series by Reuters shows, a significance that's woven into the fabric of U.S. history. In the four-part series, Reuters takes a long, hard look at the ancestry of enslaved Black people and those of their enslavers with a political lens, finding that a fifth of U.S. congressmen, living presidents, Supreme Court justices and governors have direct ancestors who enslaved Black people, the report says.
Part four of the series opens with a focus on Flash's experience reconnecting 20 years ago with her heritage in Perry County, Tennessee, and how she recently learned that the descendants of her enslaved ancestors owners include U.S. congressman Representative Brett Guthrie of Kentucky. It has been illuminating to learn about how my familys story intersects with one of this nations leaders, Flash said.
NBC's Nightly News with Lester Holt also reported on the Reuters story and included a feature interview segment between Flash and NBC correspondent Blayne Alexander.
This story gives the world a vivid example of the intergenerational consequences of systemic racism carried out through routine policies and practices.
- Lacretia Johnson Flash
The coverage follows generations of inequity, going beyond the stats to give names and faces to the untold stories of formerly enslaved Black people struggling to establish themselves with land, commerce, an education, and a sense of safety in an area where lynchings, unjust land seizures, and other such practices were common. Reflecting on the experience, Flash said that This story gives the world a vivid example of the intergenerational consequences of systemic racism carried out through routine policies and practices.
Flash's journey to reconnect with her lineage began in 2001 when her mother, Alma Craig Johnson, who had been diagnosed with cancer, wrote this note before her death, saying Keep in touch with family. Flash's story from that moment is a sobering, moving reminder of how keeping in touch is as much about family as it is about survival in the face of great adversity.
Watch the NBC Nightly News interview segment featuring Lacretia Johnson Flash:
Related Categories
News
Most Popular
Elena Pinderhughes
Image courtesy of the artist
Berklee Announces 2023 Fall Signature Series Lineup This years series will feature Elena Pinderhughes, Braxton Cook, Pavel N ez, and the Pletenitsa Balkan Choir, as well as a career-spanning tribute to Madonna.
Latest
Image by Solen Feyissa/Upsplash
TikTok Is Changing the DNA of Hit Songs, and Artists Are Taking Note Berklee songwriters explain how the smallest details of a song's structure and themes can help musicians connect with users on the career-launching app.
Taylor Deneen performs onstage during season 24 of The Voice.
Image by Greg Gayne/NBC
Four Berklee Artists Move to Battle Round on The Voice With two vocalists on Team Legend and one each on Team Gwen and Team Reba, Berklee talent is set to heat up the competition.
The Berklee Indian Ensemble
Image by Holy Smoke Photography
Berklee Indian Ensemble Presents the Shuruaat Tour Reloaded The Grammy-nominated ensemble will perform in several U.S. cities this December.
Read All
Subscribe The latest sounds, stories, and ideas, sent to your inbox weekly.
More from Berklee
06/09/2024
Student Spotlight: Mateo Londo o The producer talks about leaving Berklee to grieve the passing of a close friend and fellow student and then returning to fin...
05/09/2024
Boston Conservatory Adds a Robust Roster of Artists to Its Faculty Nearly 30 new faculty across the Dance, Music, and Theater divisions bring industry experti...
05/09/2024
Why Music Educators Choose Berklee's Graduate Programs Explore Berklees flexible master's degrees and certificate in music education, and get advice f...
29/08/2024
Berklees Africana Studies Division Launches New Degree Program in Black Music an...
27/08/2024
Berklee's Signature Series Celebrates Brazilian Composers Caetano Veloso and...
23/08/2024
Karen A. Bell Named Chair of Performance Studies The associate dean will expand her responsibilities to manage performance studies courses and oversee departm...
22/08/2024
How Freedom by Beyonc Became a Campaign Anthem Emmett G. Price III discusses the history of political campaign music and what makes Freedom such a versatile ...
21/08/2024
Berklee Announces 2024 Fall Signature Series Lineup This season's performances celebrate musical traditions from country music to the music of Brazil and ...
20/08/2024
Boston Conservatory at Berklee Gets Serious About Clowning With the launch of its newest minor in fall 2024, Boston Conservatory brings circus arts to academi...
20/08/2024
Berklee and Spelman Colleges Student Exchange Program Returns for Fall 2024 The initiative celebrates Black music, culture, and the power of sisterhood.
By
...
09/08/2024
Flora Sullivan Named 2024 Jimmy Lyons Scholarship Recipient The Berkeley, California, native will perform at this year's Monterey Jazz Festival.
By
Cole...
09/08/2024
Leo Luna Roblejo Receives the Latin Grammy Cultural Foundations Sebasti n Yatra ...
09/08/2024
Watch Anita Hill Perform with Boston Conservatory Orchestra at Symphony Hall The attorney, scholar, and civil rights activist narrated the words of Martin Lut...
09/08/2024
Berklee City Music Awards Scholarships at Concert This year, 19 students received scholarships, housing awards, and aid to attend Berklee College of Music.
B...
29/07/2024
Berklee's Music Business/Management Department Hosted Summer Program with Po...
26/07/2024
Berklee Alumni Nominated for 2024 Emmy Awards Twenty-one Berklee alumni received Emmy nominations this year for music composition, sound mixing, and sound editi...
23/07/2024
Alum Notes: Spring/Summer 2024 The most recent news from your fellow alumni.
July 10, 2024
Emily McGuire B.F.A. '18 of Glendale, CA, found a new love f...
18/07/2024
Faculty Notes: Spring/Summer 2024 Recent accomplishments, releases, and events by Berklee faculty.
July 8, 2024
Boston Conservatory at Berklee Assistant Pro...
18/07/2024
Jim McNeely and Miguel Zen n Named the 2024-2025 Ken Pullig Visiting Scholars in...
18/07/2024
Jim Lucchese Named Berklee's Fifth President A 20-year music industry veteran and a committed artist advocate with deep Berklee roots, Lucchese sets the t...
16/07/2024
Dr. Judith Christie McAllister Joins Gospel Performance Summer Program as Artist...
15/07/2024
Berklee Alumni Publications Win CASE Awards The magazine Berklee Today received a gold award and podcast Pass the Mic earned bronze from the Council for Advan...
11/07/2024
Berklee NYC Honors Largest Class of Master Scholars at 2024 Commencement Grammy and Tony Award-winning alum Charlie Rosen delivered the commencement address a...
09/07/2024
Legendary African Musician Youssou N'Dour Receives Honorary Degree at Berkle...
08/07/2024
Berklee City Music Celebrates Three Decades Empowering Young Artists The program has given generations of musicians-sometimes within the same family-the tools...
08/07/2024
Renate Rohlfing Awarded Mass Cultural Council Grant The music therapy faculty member will use the grant to help foster more opportunities to create in-person co...
06/07/2024
Berklee Online Offers Courses to Students in Juvenile Justice Centers To date, Berklee Online classes are offered at nearly 30 such centers across the United ...
06/07/2024
Working to Make Music More Accessible to All New technologies and changing attitudes mean more disabled musicians are playing instruments.
By
Adrian Ananta...
29/06/2024
Students Help Bring Nona Hendryxs Dream Machine to Life at Lincoln Center A group of electronic production and design majors created sonic landscapes for Hend...
28/06/2024
Dr. Trineice Robinson-Martin Named Chair of the Ensemble Department A renowned vocalist, arranger, and educator, Robinson-Martin is known for developing innov...
26/06/2024
LGBTQ Student Group to Hold Inaugural Pride Music Festival Lavanda, founded by student Emma Whitney, will host Camp Fest, an outdoor music festival and commu...
15/06/2024
What Exactly Is Dad Rock? 21 Songs that Explain the Totally Not Embarrassing Gen...
14/06/2024
Dr. Lenora Helm Hammonds Named Dean of the Professional Education Division A renowned jazz vocalist, educator, and Berklee alumna, Hammonds is known for her i...
13/06/2024
Final Exams or NBA Finals? For These Boston Conservatory Students, It's Both Two commercial dance students joined the Boston Celtics dancers for a memorab...
05/06/2024
Taylor Swifts Global Popularity Explained (Berklees Version) Music business, songwriting, and live production faculty weigh in on what makes Taylor Swift unst...
05/06/2024
Professor and Two Alumni Receive Fulbright Awards Faculty member Stacy Mattingly and alumni Shanelle Villegas and Lili Chey Warren have been selected for Fulb...
05/06/2024
Music and Sustainability at Berklee and Beyond Integrating sustainability practices into music not only helps address environmental concerns but also contribute...
24/05/2024
Boston Conservatory Plays a Leading Role at the 41st Annual Elliot Norton Awards With six wins and eight additional nominations, the Conservatory's theate...
22/05/2024
Berklee's Summer in the City Brings Free Concerts to Boston Area The series will feature Berklee students, faculty, and alumni performing at popular venue...
21/05/2024
Dr. Ray Seol Awarded Grant for Creative Individuals from Mass Cultural Council The grant will expand his Seu Aprendiz project designed to help individuals bui...
15/05/2024
Berklee Artists to Perform at Major US Music Festivals this Summer and Fall The Berklee Popular Music Institute arranged placements at top festivals including...
12/05/2024
Berklee Honors Ledisi, Q-Tip, and Gilberto Santa Rosa at Commencement This years honorary doctorate recipients were recognized for their profound influence as...
10/05/2024
Berklee Announces 2024 Songs for Social Change Contest Winners Student songwriters shine in the annual contest that recognizes music with a socially conscious...
10/05/2024
Meet Graduates from Berklees Class of 2024 Members of this years graduating class reflect on their proudest moments at Berklee and look ahead to whats next.
...
10/05/2024
Berklee and Audio Engineering Society to Host Symposium on AI in Music The inaugural AES International Symposium on AI and the Musician will highlight excitin...
08/05/2024
Q&A with Visiting Artist Lei Liang The acclaimed composer discusses his collaboration with Boston Conservatory, his work as a research artist, and what it mea...
04/05/2024
Three Boston Conservatory at Berklee Alums Nominated for Tony Awards An additional eight alums and two current students performed in nominated productions.
...
02/05/2024
Two Boston Conservatory at Berklee Alums Nominated for Tony Awards An additional eight alums and two current students performed in nominated productions.
By...
30/04/2024
Next Jazz Legacy Announces 2024 Cohort of Women and Nonbinary Awardees The program was created by New Music USA and the Berklee Institute of Jazz and Gender J...
27/04/2024
Berklee's Music and Health Institute Launches Community Health Musician Cert...