Ghost of a Chance – Bonus Episode 3: "The Headstone"

Minnesota Star Tribune | November 11, 2025

Episode Overview

In this moving bonus episode, reporter Eric Roper and co-producer Melissa Townsend detail the journey from investigating the lives of former Minneapolis homeowners Harry and Clementine Robinson to finally unveiling a long-overdue headstone for Clementine—whose grave had gone unmarked for six decades. Through community action, conversations across divides, and collective reckoning, the episode explores how uncovering local Black history can galvanize a neighborhood, bridge generations, and contribute to the city’s ongoing dialogue about race and remembrance.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Origins of the Headstone Project

• Eric Roper shares the catalyst for the headstone: visiting Crystal Lake Cemetery and being struck by Clementine’s unmarked grave.

  "Why am I here at Crystal Lake Cemetery? Well, this is where Clementine is buried, but there's no marker." (01:00)

• Community members, including listeners, advocated for action:

  “I wish there was a way to honor Mrs. Robinson with the grave marker she deserves.” (09:23) “Are you collecting funds to purchase a headstone for Clementine Robinson? If so, I'm willing to donate.” (09:37)

• A GoFundMe campaign was launched on what would have been Harry and Clementine’s shared birthday (May 2).

2. Community Reception: Validation and Skepticism

• Ralph Crowder, a respected member of the local Black community, initially felt skepticism toward Eric and Melissa’s work as outsiders telling an insider story—but ultimately felt the podcast handled the material responsibly.

  “We're so used to our stories and our pain being exploited, especially by mainstream media. ... But I think the way you handled this responsibility, I grew to respect it.” (04:15, 05:40)

• The podcast also prompted reflection and discussion in Eric’s own, mostly white, neighborhood.

  “How come we didn’t know about this?” — Neighbor, Sandy Parnell (06:53)
  “For a lot of particularly white people in the community, this was new information. ... That is the success.” — Eric Roper (08:39)

Timestamped Segment

• 03:34–05:51: Ralph Crowder’s skepticism, reflection, and ultimate endorsement

3. Intergenerational Reckonings: The Blake School Encounter

• A poignant segment unfolds when Tracy Grimm, a teacher at the Blake School, unexpectedly discovers her own great-grandfather was mentioned in the podcast as a leader who actively pushed Black residents out of Southwest Minneapolis.

  “I started listening to this one, and at the very end, I think it was episode two, I heard a name referenced, and it was Ewan Cameron.” (12:07)
  “Ewan Cameron was my great grandfather.” (12:35)

• Tracy candidly reflects on the discomfort:

  “It doesn't feel good to know that someone who is part of your family is making life hard for other families. ... It just made things so hard and unfair for their neighbors of color.” (14:21)

• Yet, she processes this in the context of her own ongoing work to understand and teach about privilege.

Timestamped Segment

• 11:19–16:22: Tracy’s realization, family conversation, and personal reflection

4. Teaching Hard History: Fourth Grade Action

• Jason Benjamin ("Mr. B"), a fourth grade teacher at an elementary school in a historically white neighborhood, invites Eric to speak about the Robinsons’ story and explores local racial covenants with his class using Mapping Prejudice maps.

  “When you teach hard history, you want to be careful. ... There's something called ‘safely in, safely out.’” — Mr. B (18:36) “The kids were really engaged with looking at their house and the houses near their house and connecting that back to today.” (20:28)

• One student, discovering a racial covenant on his own home, wrestled with guilt and discomfort. His mother, Kate Manthey, discusses balancing honesty and reassurance.

  “He just said, ‘Mom, there's a racial covenant on our house…’” (21:33) “Things happened that weren't right. How can we make it right? How can we be better?” — Kate Manthey (22:16, 22:22)

• The class raises money for the headstone with a change jar, ultimately donating $100, inspiring parents to give as well.

  “We raised, I think, like $76, and then I just bumped it up to 100 to make it look good on the GoFundMe page.” — Mr. B (23:11)

Timestamped Segment

• 17:01–24:45: Classroom visit, Mapping Prejudice activity, and the change jar fundraiser

5. The Headstone Unveiling: A Communal Ritual

• On a hot October day, dozens gather at the cemetery: neighbors, church members, podcast listeners, descendants of Clementine, and choir singers.

  “Today we come together in an act of love, an act of remembrance and celebration to unveil the headstone of a truly remarkable woman.” — Rev. Dr. Tracy Gibson, St. Peter’s AME (28:02)

• Rev. Dr. Gibson and others speak to Clementine’s legacy:

  “She was a force of nature, a skilled dermatologist... and a vibrant socialite.” (28:18) “A headstone serves as more than a marker ... It's a symbol of dignity, resistance, and remembrance.” (33:34)

• Descendants unveil the headstone; emotions run high as they reflect on finally closing a historic gap:

  “This is beyond, like, the story it tells of Minneapolis. It's really just a personal story. And it's filling in a lot of gaps of my own family history.” — Bridget Marsh, great-grandniece (39:03)

Timestamped Segment

• 27:13–39:32: The ceremony, family reflections, and the symbolism of the headstone

6. The Broader Significance: Memory, Action, and the Future

• The episode emphasizes that memorialization is more than symbolic, but foundational for community repair and ongoing education.

  “Some people may say a headstone is just a drop in the bucket, but someone told me that it takes a drop to eventually create ripples, and I think we're seeing those ripples already.” — Melissa Townsend (39:32)

• Ralph Crowder offers a final reminder:

  “These kinds of things are not necessarily meant to be a one off ... some of these things have to be revisited to explain where we are now and potentially where we're going.” (40:34)

Timestamped Segment

• 39:32–40:52: Community legacy, ripple effects, and the need for sustained reflection

Memorable Quotes

• Ralph Crowder (on outsider storytelling):
  "We're so used to our stories and our pain being exploited, especially by mainstream media. ... But I think the way you handled this responsibility, I grew to respect it." (04:15, 05:40)

• Rev. Dr. Tracy Gibson (at the unveiling):
  "Today, we not only honor Clementine, but also her beloved husband, Harry Robinson...a sacred moment of reflection and tribute.” (28:50)

• Tracy Grimm (on family reckoning):
  “It doesn't feel good to know that someone who is part of your family is making life hard for other families. ... It just made things so hard and unfair for their neighbors of color.” (14:21)

• Eric Roper (on collective action):
  "So 60 years after her passing, we're here today to grant one of Clementine's final wishes." (31:54)

• Melissa Townsend (on commemoration's power):
  "A headstone serves as more than a marker... It's a declaration. It's a promise that you mattered and you will not be forgotten." (33:34)

Episode Timeline: Important Segments

• 01:00 — Clementine's unmarked grave and the roots of the campaign
• 03:34–05:51 — Ralph Crowder’s critique and ultimate validation
• 09:23–10:03 — Community calls for a headstone, GoFundMe launched
• 11:19–16:22 — Tracy Grimm's revelation about her great-grandfather
• 17:01–24:45 — Mr. B’s classroom, Mapping Prejudice lesson, kids’ change drive
• 27:13–39:32 — Cemetery ceremony: choir, speeches, descendants, unveiling
• 39:32–40:52 — Reflection on impact and the importance of ongoing reckoning

Tone & Final Reflections

The episode is intimate, candid, and profoundly respectful—blending honest discomfort with pride and hope. The hosts and participants speak plainly about the complexity of confronting the past. The story is driven equally by grassroots momentum, personal reckoning, and the desire for a more truthful, engaged present. The episode moves from sadness and absence to joy, presence, and a deeper sense of community—a journey shaped by acknowledgment, action, and shared responsibility.

For more resources and to see photos from the episode, visit: startribune.com/ghostofachance