825: You Can’t Unknow the Truth — Preserving Black History with Historian JerriAnne Boggis

In this powerful and timely episode, I’m honored to connect with historian JerriAnne Boggis — Executive Director of the Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire — for a deeply resonant conversation about history, healing, and holding onto the truth.

JerriAnne shares her personal journey from Jamaica to New Hampshire, the legacy of Black women trailblazers, and the 450-year untold story of Black lives in one of America’s whitest states. She reminds us that Black history isAmerican history — and once you know the truth, you can’t unknow it.

Together, we talk about:

• 🧭 The importance of preserving stories that are often erased

• 📚 The groundbreaking legacy of Harriet Wilson, the first Black woman to publish a novel in English

• 🧠 Why beliefs are harder to change than policies — and how deep-seated bias still shapes resistance to truth

• 🧬 Her organization’s powerful Juneteenth program and how descendants of both enslaved people and presidents are reclaiming history together

• 💃🏾 The role of joy, dancing, and family stories in our collective healing

JerriAnne’s work is a powerful reminder that preserving and sharing our history isn’t just about the past — it’s how we shape our future.

IN THIS EPISODE, YOU’LL LEARN:
📍 Why Black history matters everywhere — even in places you wouldn’t expect
📍 How one woman’s novel shifted a state’s sense of place and belonging
📍 Why cultural erasure is intentional — and how we resist it
📍 The healing power of community, movement, and remembering who we are
📍 How the Black Heritage Trail is using tech, tours, and truth-telling to shift minds and hearts

✨ Listen in to be inspired, grounded, and reminded that we’ve survived worse. And they’re not going to take our joy.

🖤 Visit the Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire: blackheritagetrailnh.org

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Support is Sexy podcast host Elayne Fluker is an author and ICF-trained Executive Coach for high-performing women who are transitioning to their next level. Her clients have worked for organizations such as Pfizer, Amazon, Expedia, Bain & Company and more. She is creator of Next Level Navigator -- a dynamic 3-month coaching program for women leaders. Elayne is also an author, speaker, and facilitator of leadership development workshops for Fortune 500 companies and organizations. Her LinkedIn Learning courseshave been attended by more than 70,000 students. Click here to get in touch with Elayne.