Duluth – Learning from Place: African American History and the Duluth Lynchings of 1920
September 19 @ 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm CDT
$35
Join us for a Learning from Place experience exploring the history and legacy of the 1920 Duluth lynchings.
Through personal stories, historical context, and community perspectives, event participants will examine and reflect upon one of Minnesota’s most significant acts of racial terror. Beginning at Zeitgeist Arts, participants will walk to the Clayton Jackson McGhie Memorial, which honors Elias Clayton, Elmer Jackson, and Isaac McGhie—the three Black men who were lynched in Duluth in 1920.
Along the walk, participants will visit the site of a former city jail and learn about the events of 1920, the community’s efforts to preserve and share this history, and the Memorial’s ongoing role in fostering dialogue, remembrance, and understanding. The group will then travel by bus to Park Hill Cemetery, where the three men were laid to rest. There, participants will learn how community members worked to ensure they were no longer buried in unmarked graves, culminating in the dedication of permanent headstones in 1991.
Upon returning to Zeitgeist, participants will have time to reflect on the experience, engage in conversation with one another, and consider how this history continues to shape our understanding of place, memory, and community.
As the nation commemorates the 250th anniversary of the United States, this experience invites participants to consider how a fuller understanding of our shared history – including stories that have too often been overlooked – strengthens our democracy and informs the future we build together.
This experience is presented in collaboration with the Clayton Jackson McGhie Memorial, whose mission is to preserve the history of the 1920 Duluth lynchings, honor the lives of Clayton, Jackson, and McGhie, and inspire ongoing dialogue, education, and action toward racial justice.
Carl Crawford is a founding member of the Clayton Jackson McGhie Memorial and a longtime Duluth community leader. He served as the City of Duluth’s Human Rights Officer from 2016–2024 and currently serves as the Accessibility and Engagement Senior Coordinator for St. Louis County. Crawford has been a longtime advocate for human rights and community engagement, helping draft Duluth’s original Human Rights Ordinance and serving as chair of the Human Rights Commission. His contributions have been recognized with the MLK Jr. Drum Major for Peace Award and the Juneteenth Community Griot Award for outstanding servant leadership.
Henry Banks is a longtime Duluth community leader, educator, storyteller, and advocate with more than 35 years of volunteer service dedicated to strengthening the region and supporting a more inclusive community. He is a founder of the Clayton Jackson McGhie Memorial and played a key role in bringing forward the effort to honor the lives and legacy of Elias Clayton, Elmer Jackson, and Isaac McGhie. Henry has served in numerous community leadership roles, including as vice president of the Duluth Transit Authority, president of the Damiano Center, and a member of the Duluth School Board. He is the creator, senior producer, and host of the People of Color with Henry Banks Show and has worked as a cultural consultant, facilitator, and anti-racism educator. Through storytelling, advocacy, and community engagement, Henry continues to help preserve local history and inspire meaningful conversations about justice and belonging.
Dr. Lynn Goerdt is a faculty member in the Social Work Program at the University of Wisconsin–Superior, where she teaches courses focused on social welfare policy and macro practice. Her work centers on community advocacy, organizational change, and strengthening communities through research, evaluation, and collaboration. Lynn has spent more than 17 years working as a human services consultant in the Duluth area, partnering with local organizations on needs assessments, program evaluation, and community initiatives. She is also a Board Emeritus member of the Clayton Jackson McGhie Memorial and has been deeply engaged in preserving and sharing the history and legacy of the 1920 Duluth lynchings. Lynn holds a Master of Social Work degree and a Doctor of Education degree.
K-12 educators will receive three clock hours upon completion of the event.
Registration
To ensure that cost is not a barrier, we have a limited number of complimentary spaces available for Minnesota residents. If you would like to receive a complimentary spot, please register with the discount code FEEWAIVER.
Registration Questions: registrations@mnhum.org | Cancellation Policy
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