© Clayton Jackson McGhie Memorial 
On October 10, 2003 the Clayton Jackson McGhie Memorial was dedicated to the memory of three young African American men whose lives were cut short when they were lynched in downtown Duluth on June 15th, 1920 for a crime they did not commit. The creation of the Memorial is a testament to the public’s commitment to acknowledge its painful history and move forward to build a more just and inclusive community. The Clayton Jackson McGhie Memorial is the only U.S. monument of its scale dedicated to victims of lynching.
Please register here for our sixth annual dinner, Honoring the Past, Building the Future. This year we are pleased to honor the work of Duluth native, Wing Young Huie.
Registration Link
Clayton Jackson McGhie Memorial, Inc. Selects Wing Young Huie as 2013 Gala Honoree
Duluth, MN - Tuesday, January 29th, 2013 - Clayton Jackson McGhie Memorial, Inc. holds its sixth annual dinner, Honoring the Past, Building the Future, 6:00-9:00 pm, April 6, 2013 at Northland Country Club.
This year’s honoree is renowned artist and photographer Wing Young Huie. Born to Chinese immigrant parents in Duluth, Huie established himself by documenting urban life in Minnesota.
Huie has exhibited nationally and internationally and is recognized for his large-scale public installations, including Frogtown (1995), Lake Street USA (2000), and The University Avenue Project (2010).
The Minneapolis Star Tribune named Huie “Artist of the Year,” citing Lake Street USA as “likely to stand as a milestone in the history of photography and public art,” and also hailing its resulting book as one of the 25 greatest books published about Minnesota.
Huie has conducted hundreds of lectures and workshops at home and abroad, engaging participants in constructing “a collective window and mirror of them who are really us.” In November of 2012, Huie spent three days at the University of WI Superior doing his chalkboard community photo workshop, Chalk Talk, with students who live in the Twin Ports area.
Huie’s photographs are featured in the national traveling exhibition, RACE: Are We So Different?. CJMM, Inc. brought a condensed version of this exhibit, managed by the Science Museum of Minnesota, to Duluth in June of 2012 and Huie was featured as the guest presenter at the Closing Reception held on September 27th.
“We chose Wing as CJMM Inc.’s 2013 honoree because he exemplifies the work of reconciliation, education, and bridge building that has been CJMM’s mission since its founding,” says board member Jodi Broadwell.
To learn more about Huie and his work, please visit: www.wingyounghuie.com. You can also find him at his gallery, The Third Place, which opened in 2012 on the corner of 38th Street and Chicago Avenue in South Minneapolis.
CJMM, Inc. is asking those interested in attending the fundraiser to Save the Date, April 6th, 2013, and check back for updates closer to the event.
Community Stand Against Racism Sign
Download it here
Duluth News Tribune
Anti-racism effort in Duluth vows to fight on
City Leaders View: Response, not racism, defines Duluth
“An event has happened, upon which it is difficult to speak and impossible to remain silent.” Those words are carved atop of the Clayton Jackson McGhie Memorial, dedicated to the three black men senselessly lynched by an angry white mob in downtown Duluth in 1920. This dark and disgusting chapter of Duluth’s history will forever serve as our reminder of our collective civic duty as a community to stand up to racism and all other forms of discrimination and hatred.
Our community and society have come a long way since then. However, an unfortunate string of recent racist actions has reminded us we still have a long way to go. From the hanging effigy of our president on Election Day to the recent incidents involving blackface, it’s sadly very clear racism remains an ongoing problem in our country and our community. These particular events made headlines, yet we must also acknowledge that there is a more insidious and constant racism that burdens people of color every day.
These latest incidents should serve as a reminder of the progress yet to be made. They are disgusting examples of hateful racism that clearly do not represent the Duluth I know and love. Yet, our collective response at this very moment can represent the community I believe in, a community where we are proud to raise our children. We have an opportunity to use this unacceptable and hurtful behavior to demonstrate Duluth’s true values. Once again, it may be difficult to speak, but it is absolutely impossible to remain silent.
As a community, we must stand united against these actions and make clear we have zero tolerance for racism. I strongly believe the vast majority of people in Duluth are compassionate, accepting people willing to stand up together for the sake of the entire community and combat racism, bigotry and other forms of oppression. Sadly, the actions of a few can disparage the entire community. Yet the collective response of many can inspire not only our own community but others as well.
Fortunately, we already know we have many courageous citizens and local organizations ready to step up and do this often difficult but crucial work. It already has been taking place right here in Duluth. Fellow partners of the Un-Fair Campaign already have been working together to end racism. I’ve been proud to stand with them and remain as committed as ever to continue our mission.
The process hasn’t been without controversy or misunderstanding from some, yet it’s clearer than ever the vital work must continue and expand. I urge all residents to become engaged in our effort. I hope folks will both join us in speaking out against these recent racist acts and, more importantly, further our collective commitment to eliminate racism from our entire community, ensuring everyone can enjoy the beautiful community we share here in Duluth.
Don Ness is mayor of Duluth.
November 8th 2012
“An Event has happened, upon which it is difficult to speak and impossible to remain silent.” Edmund Burke
On Election Day, an effigy of President Barack Obama was discovered hanging on a billboard in the city of Duluth.
As stewards of a memorial, commemorated in our city on October 10, 2003 honoring the memory of three black men lynched here in 1920, CJMM,Inc. is compelled to speak out.
The Clayton, Jackson, McGhie Memorial is a testament to the public’s commitment to acknowledge its painful history and to move forward to build a more just and inclusive community.
One of the quotes carved in the Memorial wall reads, “An event has happened, upon which it is difficult to speak and impossible to remain silent.” (Edmund Burke)
Tuesday’s symbolic act was another such event, and an assault on our community’s integrity. It was an act of injustice and exclusion. It was an ugly, hateful and blatantly racist way to express one’s opposition to our nation’s first African American President, seeking reelection on Election Day.
As a community, we cannot tolerate bigotry and hate. We cannot ignore or remain indifferent to the heinous nature of this act.
We can speak out and defy such behavior in our community. We can commit to actively eradicate racism and hatred in our midst.
Clayton, Jackson, McGhie, Inc. Board of Directors
In Solidarity with the following Un-Fair Campaign Partners – Office of the Mayor, University of Wisconsin – Superior, Duluth Human Rights Commission, Lutheran Social Services, CHUM, Peace Church, YWCA, League of Women Voters and Men As Peacemakers
As well of the Office of Cultural Diversity at UMD, Carl Crawford, Jay Newcomb The Center for Just Living, College of St. Scholastica, and Emily Johnson and Nam Provost, Office of Institutional Diversity, College of St. Scholastica
Congratulations to our 2012 Scholarship recipients! Scholarship in the amount of $1000 is awarded to Mariah Preap, who will be attending the College of St. Scholastica in the Fall. Honorable Mention Scholarship in the amount of $500 is awarded to Marilyn Bermudez, who will be attending the University of Wisconsin-Stout in the Fall. CJMM, Inc. has been able to raise the 2013 Scholarship to $1500. We welcome graduating seniors in the Duluth/Superior area (Douglas, Carlton or southern St. Louis counties) who will attend an accredited, non-profit technical school, community college or four-year university (public or private) in the fall following his or her senior year.
CJMM, Inc. becomes a partner in the Un-Fair Campaign. This campaign is a collaboration of community organizations working to address white privilege. Learn more, get involved, and keep up to date HERE.
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