Peggy Trotter Dammond Preacely

Acclaimed activist-artist and speaker, Peggy Trotter Dammond Preacely is a former Freedom Rider and working member of the historic Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee (“SNCC”) that included among its founding members two civil rights legends—Rep. John Lewis, while a student protest leader in Nashville and Julian Bond, then a Morehouse College student—both of whom Peggy worked with during that history-changing time, along with other civil rights stalwarts. She also captured that experience with her essay "It was Simply in My Blood" in the acclaimed book, Hands on the Freedom Plow.  In addition, her time, along with others, was visually captured by SNCC photographer Danny Lyon in the book, Memories of the Southern Civil Rights Movement.

Beyond her own involvement in history-making events, Ms. Preacely is the descendant of a historic multi-faceted family tree. Among her ancestors are: Mary Hemings Bell, the sister of Sally Hemings; esteemed early civil rights activist, William Monroe Trotter, whose home is now a National Historic Landmark; and famed abolitionists, Ellen & William Craft, who escaped enslavement through Mrs. Craft passing as the white male owner of Mr. Craft.

The Second Annual Power of Truths Arts & Education Festival will feature the world premiere of Self-Evident Education’s newest film, “If You Cross This Boundary, We All Die”, about Ms. Preacely’s great great grandparents, Ellen and William Craft. Ms. Peggy served as the head script advisor and will also be featured in the film. She will join us to discuss the film and will also play a role as a storyteller and a poet.