Black History Commission Of Arkansas/Arkansas State Archives Event
By Staff, 01/13/17 4:25 PMLITTLE ROCK – The Black History Commission of Arkansas and the Arkansas State Archives will be hosting a symposium on Saturday, February 4th at its sister agency, Mosaic Templars Cultural Center, from 10:00am to 3:00pm, Department of Heritage Director Stacy Hurst has announced. The symposiums theme, ‘Black Political Engagement In Arkansas’, will feature speakers Dr. John Graves, Dr. Cherisse Jones-Branch, Elmer Beard and Dr. R.J. Hampton.
Topics include African American Women and the Arkansas Republican Party, 1960s-1970; John Gray Lucas: Pioneer Champion of Civil Rights; The Challengers: Untold Stories of African Americans Who Changed the System in One Small Southern Municipality; and Dr. R.J. Hampton’s career in Arkansas’s political arena.
“The seminars coordinated by the Black History Commission and the State Archives play such an important role in fostering greater understanding of the important role that African Americans have played in all aspects of Arkansas history,” said Hurst.
State Historian and Arkansas State Archives director Dr. Lisa Speer remarked, “In this post-election year as we reflect on the accomplishments of outgoing U.S. President Barack Obama, it seems particularly fitting to take a closer look at the struggles and triumphs of African Americans in the political arena in Arkansas.”
The seminar is free to attend but registration is required. The deadline for registration is Monday, January 30th. Registration is limited, so be sure to make reservations soon. Check-in will begin at 9:00am on February 4th. Teachers can earn up to four professional development hours through attendance. Lunch will be provided.
The mission of the Black History Commission of Arkansas is to collect materials pertaining to African American history for the Arkansas State Archives, to encourage research of the state’s African American history, and to cooperate with the Arkansas Department of Education to develop materials that support the teaching of African American history in our public schools.
