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Jack Daniel’s and Nearest Green Distillery Announce $5 Million Pledge to Advance African American Leadership in Whiskey

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The Jack Daniel Distillery and the Nearest Green Distillery announced today the Nearest & Jack Advancement Initiative to further diversity within the American whiskey industry.

The two companies are starting their partnership with a pledge of $5 million to start the Nearest Green School of Distilling, develop the Leadership Acceleration Program (LAP) for apprenticeships and establish the Business Incubation Program (BIP), focused on providing expertise and resources to African Americans entering the spirits industry as entrepreneurs.

The curriculum was developed by Motlow State College in Tenessee. Motlow has a relationship with both companies over the past year. The STEM-based and employable skills focused program has passed Motlow State requirements and is now awaiting approval from the Tennessee Board of Regents to begin moving toward accreditation by the institution’s accrediting body SACSCOC. That certificate can be as available as early as Fall 2021.

The LAP will provide apprenticeships for African Americans currently in the whiskey industry who have the ambition of head distiller, head of maturation, or production manager. BIP will also offer African American entrepreneurs mentorship in all areas of distilling business with access ranging from marketing firms to expanded distribution networks.

“Generally, when companies talk about the need to improve diversity, few immediate action steps follow,” said Fawn Weaver, CEO, Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey. “Our group is different. We are doers, and we all agreed to work together to improve diversity in our industry, and specifically, a way to get African Americans into top positions within our industry. Nearest Green taught Jack Daniel how to make Tennessee whiskey and we’re incredibly proud our companies are joining forces to further their legacies of excellence, and to make distilling and the whiskey industry we love more diverse.”

“Given our deep commitment to diversity and inclusion, I am thrilled we are coming together in this way today,” said Lawson Whiting, President and Chief Executive Officer, Brown-Forman Corporation, the parent company of Jack Daniel’s. “This collaboration allows the extraordinary friendship of Nearest and Jack, and the hope they embodied during racially divided times in our country’s history, to help us advance the next generation of African American leaders in our industry.”

The post Jack Daniel’s and Nearest Green Distillery Announce $5 Million Pledge to Advance African American Leadership in Whiskey appeared first on The Source.

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White African American History & Culture Museum Hip-Hop Exhibit Curator Sparks Twitter Debate

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Facade of the new 'National Museum of African American History and culture' at night

Source: Allan Baxter / Getty

Twitter is ablaze with an ongoing debate about how Hip-Hop should be presented at the National African American History and Culture Museum, and by whom. Timothy Anne Burnside, a cultural historian and museum specialist with the Smithsonian, happens to be a white woman, and a question raised by a Twitter user has morphed into varying strands of opinions.

Twitter user @DJChubbESwagg caught wind of the fact that Burnside has been the curator of the museum’s ongoing Hip-Hop exhibit. On Thursday, he wrote, “THERE IS A WHITE WOMAN CURATING THE HIP HOP PART OF THE NMAAHC SMITHSONIAN?!?!?!?!?!?!? WHO LET THIS SH*T HAPPEN!?!?!”

From there, many of Burnside’s compatriots and colleagues have come to her defense despite getting a strong co-sign from Public Enemy’s Chuck D earlier this year when the exhibit was announced to the public. In @DJChubbESwag’s question, he pondered openly how Burnside became the best point person for such an exhibit, and he took on heavy criticism for his initial salvo.

From there, others began to chime in from all sides of the debate, largely supporting Burnside as a qualified figure for this venture

“that’s a wild thing to say. This is a museum created specifically to highlight Black people and our experience in America and you’re talking about diversity? Really? We crave inclusion and acceptance that much? God bless,” @StefIsDope wrote.

In contrast, Twitter user @_viciwill writes, “[N]o one said Timothy Anne wasn’t qualified to do this role. that’s not even what was up for discussion. the discussion was “were there no Black people who could have filled this role?” which is a valid question to ask about the curators of the Blackest museum in the US.”

A fair point that has been contended by some of Black Twitter’s more visible voices who supported Burnside, and bandied about by some who feel the point of @DJChubbESwagg’s question was missed overall.

“I don’t know the white woman curating the hip hop section in the NMAAHC, but I hear she is knowledgeable, respected, and an ally. But question is, wouldn’t a true ally feel it’s not their place to take a role such as that? As a straight male, I wouldn’t curate an LGBTQ exhibit,” @FredTJoseph wrote.

For context, Burnside has been collecting Hip-Hop related artifacts for the museum and the exhibit for years, including the late J Dilla’s MPC machine among other items since 2006.

She has built strong relationships in the music community and abroad and has been noted as someone who respects Black music and culture without centering herself in the work. She has remained relatively silent on the matter, while a quick look on @DJChubbESwagg’s page proves that the debate is still onging and “NMAAHC” is now trending on Twitter.

What are your thoughts? Is this debate worthy tackling? Sound off in the comments.

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Photo: Getty

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