NABS on the Road: Mother Minter - Charlotte, NC

Documenting 2024 Black Appalachian Storyteller Fellows (with NABS Family visits)

A Ten-Post Series by Ilene Evans Editor: Karen Abdul-Malik

It was a day of NABS love being extended all around, in Charlotte! After visiting Baba Jamal and before setting out to meet with our next Black Appalachian Storyteller Fellow, we were blessed to visit Rev. Elisha Minter. Elisha met us at the door with exuberance. I caught the photo of the excitement and love. Brother Blue Circle of Elders member, Elisha is known as Mother Minter to most of us and is the Co-Director of the National Youth Program and a member of North Carolina Storytellers Affiliate (NCABS), also home to Fellow Beverly Burnette. Membership of the Affiliate spreads throughout state.

NABS family, like Cheryl “Sparkle” Mosley are on quick dial. Sister Sparkle was FaceTimed for the visit. Laughter and familiar stories passed around like the bowl of greens and cornbread at dinner the dinner table. Then, it was our turn to eat, the food was hot and oh my, my.…. we got some good southern down home cooking from Mama Minter…uh uh uh… and Yummmmmmm. Collards, cabbage, mash potatoes, turkey wings, fried chicken wings and GRAVY! Queen had been in search of southern gravy since starting her trip south. Couldn’t get no better.

Mother Minter is not just a master storyteller and cook, she is an actress, a musician, a writer, poet and, an exemplary mentor for our youth. Now retired after 36 years from Charlotte Public Library, she dedicates her time to bring others into the sweet arms of story. African stories , African American stories and stories of healing.

Award winner of the Linda Jenkins Brown Award, Mother Minter has directed the youth programs and the Baba Jamal Youth Concert featured at the Annual National ” In the Tradition… Black Storytelling Festival and Conference. Our beloved inspired us with her kind and gentle spirit in the face of personal tragedy. She was rebounding from a recent house fire that destroyed many of her treasured books and instruments. The fire was devastating, but here she was hosting us in her temporary home, that she filled with #blackjoy and stories; even tickling the keys some and lifting her beautiful voice in song.

Sometimes we forget just how many miles our storytellers have travelled in their education, their creative offerings, contributions, publications, and performances. Mother Minter is also an award-winning North Carolina Humanities Council Road Scholar. For many years she has led us in the Kwanzaa Experience: See the link below.

The Kwanzaa Experience celebrates the gathering of people during the seven-day period from December 26 to January 1. Its roots are in the African idea of harvest gathering. Storyteller, musician, actress, and author Elisha Minter explains the seven principles, or “Nguzo Saba,” demonstrates the symbols that give meaning to each day’s celebration, emphasizes the holiday’s focus on the central ideas of African health and wholeness, and leads participants in a discussion on the concepts of each principle.

Elisha carries the heart of the storyteller. She exemplifies the many roles we play as part of a community. As a teacher, she has led youth camps and projects in the National Association of Black Storytellers to keep young people learning the traditional arts and building the next generation of culture keepers. As a musician, she keeps the songs that weaves the soul of her stories together. As an elder, she is an example of how to live. Elisha’s creativity, resourcefulness, kindness, and attention to detail pave the way for others to follow. As a humorist and light bearer, she knows how to laugh and how to help the rest of us laugh when that is the best medicine. What a joy to be hosted in her kitchen around the table with good food seasoned smiles, giggles, and yes, tears.