Local Projects Focus on African American Heritage and History

Organized in 2008 by the late Melba Smith a descendant of enslaved people in Washington County, Arkansas and Sharon Killian, a descendant of enslaved people in Jamaica and the Caribbean, the mission of this organization is to document and preserve African American heritage in Northwest Arkansas and to highlight African American participation in the development of this region that began before Arkansas statehood was granted in 1836.

Most recently, the organization collaborated with Art Ventures and the organizers of the Fayetteville in Living Color event to create the No Justice, No Peace mural at the Fayetteville, Arkansas “protest corner” on Dickson and College. The event was created and led by Taliyah Brooks, professional athlete and University of Arkansas instructor, and Markus Ballengee, junior biomedical sciences major and SEC heptathlon Silver medalist, to bring awareness to the Black Lives Matter movement—and raised over $6,000 which was donated to the NWA African American Heritage Association.

The organization has an active Facebook page and regularly shares upcoming events, posts on African American history, and content highlighting the contributions and perspectives of Black people both locally and across the globe. You can visit and follow the Facebook page below.

Following the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King in 1968, Black students at the University of Arkansas formed the Black Americans for Democracy and launched the BAD Times newspaper when the Traveler failed to deliver fair coverage. This fall, Charles Robinson, the interim provost and professor of history, will revisit that era by bringing Black activists — past and present — to campus to participate in his Honors College Forum BAD Times.

All on-campus and in the community are invited to view recordings of the lectures. If you are interested, please fill out and submit this interest form.

Although the course will focus on the 1960s and ’70s, Robinson will provide context by discussing the 1919 Elaine Massacre in rural Phillips County, Arkansas, possibly the bloodiest racial conflict in the history of the United States.

In addition, BAD Times will feature guest appearances by original members of the organization; other prominent African American alumni, faculty and administrators; and current student leaders. Learn more below. (Original source: University of Arkansas)