Winnie Wilkinson is originally from Jamaica but she spent half her life in New York City before moving up to St. Albans, Vermont, where black people make up 2.52 percent of the population. Winnie has family all over the country, and she has a lot of family members who’ve been harassed by the police, which is what I went to talk with her about. But it’s not what we talked about. Instead, we talked about God and about slavery–two things that have a profound impact on how Winnie thinks about everything else, including police brutality.
Thank you David Glidden for introducing me to Winnie. And thank you Winnie for going to look for my glasses. And thank you Tobin for bearing with me.
To learn more about Winnie’s seasonings, spices, hot pepper sauce and African products, visit her here.
Thank you for introducing us all to Winnie. I wish I had her grace.
Here is a link to a news report on the racist, obviously wrongful arrest of a black family that she mentions:
https://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/local-news/aurora-police-detain-black-family-after-mistaking-their-vehicle-as-stolen
This is an everyday occurrence.
Thanks for sharing this Kelly. So fricking enraging.
Another outstanding show girlfriend!
Thank you Bob!
Thank you, profoundly, Erica and Winnie, for this story. I smiled and I wept and I raged.
The faith in love, the shea butter, the 7 x 7 hole. I don’t even know what to say, except that it seems to me to be absolutely vital that these stories are told.
Thank you Stan. After my first interview with Winnie I went home and slept for three hours…feeling much as you describe feeling here.
Winnie’s story is exactly what we need. If we can just hear each other’s stories, we can close the divides between us. The pain that lives in our bodies from our collective past can be transformed. But we must acknowledge that some of us have – in our way and in our time – tossed crumbs in that 7-inch hole in the floor that Winnie so vividly describes. May we be transformed, may we heal, may we learn to love in the oneness of all things, of all people, of all there is.
Thank you Erica for this story, thank you Winnie for sharing so generously.
Thank you for this note Clark. It’s exactly right.
Winnie. Thank you. What remarkable insights into the still-fresh pain and relevance of ancestral hurt. And I loved listening to you sing. There was such a purity and openness in it. Beautiful.
I am so glad you made this show.
Great voice–what a wonderful storyteller Winnie is!
I am grateful to Winnie for her sermon on the example of Christ’s love, which each of us can choose to embody. I am grateful to Clark for his remark that “we must acknowledge that some of us have – in our way and in our time – tossed crumbs in that 7-inch hole in the floor that Winnie so vividly describes.” And I am grateful to Erica for sharing the light of this life with us all.
Thomas
Thank you Thomas. I love talking with religious people when love is their paramount…rule.
What a vivid description of what dicrimination, prejudice (racism), classism looks like
Master in prayer, rapes slave, slave blamed for all consequences to Master’s action.
How can we bear one anothers burdens without Love?
Erica, another Amazing interview. How fortunate you are to meet Winnie personally! Thank you for bringing in her into my world too:). Excellent…
Thank you for listening Robin
“We’ve wasted so much time hating”….that about sums it up. So much wasted energy, resources, and time hating and oppressing. thank you for this amazing piece of radio.
Thank you for bringing Winnie to us.
She is a lady of love and truth and I hear her.You bless us with your thoughts Winnie.
Deborah
I echo the comments previously posted. I wanted to stop listening half way through the podcast because it was so sad to hear how people were treated. But I pushed myself to finish. I’m glad I did! Understanding each other’s struggles will help each of us to be more understanding. Thank you for bringing us Winnie. I wish everyone knew her story.
I love rumblestrip, every episode is unique, this particular episode was a beautiful listen. Winnie what a beautiful woman you are, the world needs more Winnie’s.
Thank you for this podcast, Winnie and Erica.Winnie’s witness is powerful. Thank you for sharing your strength and faith, Winnie. I’m grateful for your presence in Franklin County.